Patent landscapes › Clothing & accessories
Is a heel cushion patented?
Short answer: specific designs of a heel cushion have been patented many times, but "a heel cushion" as a general idea is not what is protected. What matters is the exact combination of features in your version.
What our index shows
- 99 US and WO patent publications since 2000 have a title matching “heel cushionpadgripprotector” or a close variant (our index of 9.7 million patent families; one publication per family).
- Among the 50 best keyword matches we examined, 13 were published in 2020 or later, and the earliest was published in 2000.
- Most frequent assignees in those matches: NIKE INC (3), INTRICATE FORTE INC (3), ACUSHNET CO (2), ARIAT INT INC (2).
- Most common patent classes (CPC subclasses): A43B (35), A61F (6), A43C (5), A41D (4).
Counts come from keyword matching on titles and abstracts, so they are indicative, not a legal count. Some matches are different products that share a word.
14 real patent publications related to a heel cushion
- Midsole with heel cushioning WO-2026180289-A1 2026 · ON CLOUDS GMBH
Disclosed herein is a midsole (1) for a sports shoe, the midsole (1) comprising a plurality of tapered channels (2a-d) being arranged in a heel area (HA) of the midsole (1), the heel area (HA) having a curved outer periphery (3), …
View on Google Patents - Article of footwear with heel cushion US-12295451-B2 2025 · FUERST GROUP INC
An article of footwear is provided. The article of footwear includes a sole with a heel cushion mechanically engaged with a first end of a shank at an interface that includes one or more connectors in the shank that are snap-fitte…
View on Google Patents - Bio heel pad, bio heel pad shoe and methods of manufacturing same US-10334907-B2 2019 · BIOFOOTPAD INC
A shoe having a bio foot pad, including a plurality of circumferential elastic fibers surrounded by a viscoelastic material; wherein said fibers impart a biphasic characteristic to said viscoelastic material; and wherein said fibe…
View on Google Patents - Replaceable heel cushion cavity US-2013167405-A1 2013 · FORSEY MICHAEL
A footbed can be removed from a shoe that includes an outsole, an insole board above the outsole and cemented to the outsole, an upper cemented to the insole board, and a first heel cushion in a cavity formed in a heel portion of …
View on Google Patents - Adhesive backed heel pad with loop attachment and ankle strap US-2013333242-A1 2013 · WHITING JEWEL LINDA
The invention pertains to an adhesive backed heel pad application of a predetermined shape which is designed from a cushioned material with a loop attachment made from leather, vinyl, plastic or fabric material of various colors. …
View on Google Patents - Footwear sole with forefoot stabilizer, ribbed shank, and layered heel cushioning US-7380353-B2 2008 · ARIAT INT INC
A footwear sole includes a footwear sole base with a forefoot region, a mid-foot region, and a heel region. A lower heel cushion is positioned in the heel region. An upper heel cushion is positioned over the lower heel cushion. A …
View on Google Patents - Heel cushion structure for a sneaker US-7228648-B2 2007 · YANG TENG-JEN
The present invention relates to a heel cushion structure for a sneaker capable of adjusting the characteristic of the sneaker flexibly. The main body of the heel cushion structure is provided with plural separable elastic element…
View on Google Patents - Shoe sole having heel cushioning member US-2006096125-A1 2006 · YEN CHAO H
A shoe sole includes a resilient cushioning device engaged in the heel portion for cushioning heel portions of users, the resilient cushioning device includes one frame member resiliently supported above another frame member, and …
View on Google Patents - Shoes including heel cushion US-6874257-B2 2005 · ACUSHNET CO
The present invention is directed toward a shoe comprising an upper and a sole. The sole has a heel portion that includes an outsole and a gel cushion. Preferably, the heel portion has a cushioning factor of at least about 1.18.
View on Google Patents - Shoe sole having heel cushioning device US-2005102857-A1 2005
A shoe sole includes a resilient cushioning device engaged in the heel portion for cushioning heel portions of users, the resilient cushioning device includes two frame members cross to each other to form an X-shape structure as s…
View on Google Patents - Shoe sole having heel cushioning member US-2005102858-A1 2005
A shoe sole includes a resilient cushioning device engaged in the heel portion for cushioning heel portions of users, the resilient cushioning device includes one frame member resiliently supported above another frame member, and …
View on Google Patents - Removable heel cushion US-6775927-B2 2004
A removable heel cushion is described. The cushion is comprised of a heel pocket and a resilient shock absorber configured for placement within the heel pocket. The assembled removable heel cushion is easily connected to a shoe by…
View on Google Patents - Heel cushion US-6497057-B1 2002 · ARIAT INT INC
A shoe cushion system integrated in a heel portion of a shoe includes a cavity in the heel of the sole for housing a honeycomb cushion and a strike pad to reduce foot fatigue. A spring is located directly above the strike pad and …
View on Google Patents - Ankle support and heel cushioning device US-6059744-A 2000 · SPENCO MEDICAL CORP
A unitary ankle supporting and heel cushioning device being an ankle strap attached to a heel cushioning portion which can be worn with or without a shoe. The device allows a portion of the foot to be exposed which allows for acti…
View on Google Patents
What this means for your idea
Because patents cover specific combinations of features, the useful question is not “has a heel cushion been patented?” but “has my combination of features been described before?” Accessories and apparel are often protected by design patents as much as utility patents; how something fastens, adjusts or is shaped is usually the difference.
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Guides that help with this
First-look landscape. Not exhaustive. Not legal advice. This page lists keyword-matched publications from a limited database; it does not say whether any product is or isn't covered by a patent, whether a patent is still in force, or whether your idea is patentable. Consult a registered patent attorney or agent.