Prior art — US Patent 11633006

Prior Art Analysis for U.S. Patent 11,633,006

This analysis examines the prior art cited during the prosecution of U.S. Patent 11,633,006 ("the '006 patent"). Each reference is evaluated for its potential to anticipate the claims of the '006 patent under 35 U.S.C. § 102. The analysis is based on the information available as of today's date, April 30, 2026.

Cited Prior Art References

The following patents and patent applications were cited by the examiner during the prosecution of the '006 patent.

1. U.S. Patent No. 11,191,320 B2 ("Hedgepeth '320")

Full Citation: US 11,191,320 B2, "Footwear with vertically extended heel counter," filed by Nike, Inc.
Filing Date: December 28, 2018
Publication Date: December 7, 2021
Brief Description: The Hedgepeth '320 patent describes a shoe with a heel counter that extends upward from the sole. This counter is designed to be semi-rigid and has a curved or "scooped" upper portion that functions as a shoehorn, guiding the user's foot into the shoe. The design is intended to prevent the heel portion of the shoe from collapsing when the user slides their foot in.
Potential Anticipation of Claims:
- Claim 1: Hedgepeth '320 discloses a stabilizer (termed a "heel counter") at the rear portion of the shoe that extends from the sole to resist collapse, similar to the stabilizer in claim 1. It also features a flared upper portion that acts like a shoehorn, which corresponds to the "flare portion" in claim 1. However, Hedgepeth '320 does not explicitly teach or suggest an elastic element at the side portion that extends from the topline to the sole portion, nor does it describe the specific "closed cup" structure of the stabilizer base or the progressively lessening curvature as recited in claim 1. Therefore, Hedgepeth '320 likely does not anticipate all elements of claim 1.
- Claim 4: This claim requires an elastic element on the side portion and a stabilizer with an "arch structure" that defines a "window." Hedgepeth '320 does not appear to disclose this combination of features. Its heel counter is a solid or semi-solid structure without the claimed window or expansion zone.

2. U.S. Patent No. 10,638,810 B1 ("Pratt '810")

Full Citation: US 10,638,810 B1, "Rapid-entry footwear having a compressible lattice structure," filed by Fast IP, LLC.
Filing Date: January 7, 2019
Publication Date: May 5, 2020
Brief Description: The Pratt '810 patent, from the same assignee as the '006 patent, discloses a shoe with a heel stabilizer that forms an arch or "window." Within this window is a compressible lattice structure. When a user inserts their foot, the lattice compresses to allow the heel to pass and then recovers, helping to secure the foot. This is a key technology behind the "Kizik" brand of hands-free shoes.
Potential Anticipation of Claims:
- Claim 1: This claim requires the stabilizer base to define a "closed cup portion extending completely between lateral and medial sides of the sole portion." The arch structure in Pratt '810, which defines a window, is fundamentally different from this "closed cup" design. Therefore, Pratt '810 does not anticipate claim 1.
- Claim 4: Pratt '810 is highly relevant to claim 4. It clearly discloses a stabilizer with an arch structure that defines a window, as recited in the claim. The compressible lattice structure within that window serves a similar function to the "expansion zone" of claim 4, as both are designed to deform during foot entry and are located within the stabilizer's window. While the '006 patent's "expansion zone" is described more broadly as an "elastic or resiliently deformable material," the lattice structure of Pratt '810 would likely be considered an embodiment of such a zone. Pratt '810 also describes elastic elements in the shoe's upper. A combination of these teachings could be seen to anticipate or, at a minimum, render obvious the invention described in claim 4.

3. U.S. Patent No. 8,516,721 B2 ("Donnadieu '721")

Full Citation: US 8,516,721 B2, "Articles of footwear," filed by Saucony IP Holdings LLC.
Filing Date: January 10, 2011
Publication Date: August 27, 2013
Brief Description: The Donnadieu '721 patent describes an article of footwear with an upper that includes an elastic gore or panel. This elastic panel is located in the midfoot region and is designed to provide a snug but flexible fit, adapting to the shape of the wearer's foot. The invention is focused on providing a comfortable and secure fit during athletic activities.
Potential Anticipation of Claims:
- Claim 1 & 4: Donnadieu '721 discloses an "elastic element" at the side portion of a shoe, which is a key component of both independent claims of the '006 patent. Specifically, Figures 2 and 3 of Donnadieu show an elastic gore (element 22) that extends from near the sole to the topline. However, Donnadieu '721 does not teach or suggest the specific stabilizer structures required by either claim 1 (the closed cup with a flare) or claim 4 (the arch structure with a window and expansion zone). The focus of Donnadieu is on fit and comfort around the midfoot, not on a hands-free entry mechanism supported by a rigid heel structure. Therefore, this patent does not anticipate the claims of the '006 patent.

4. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017/0303632 A1 ("Pratt '632")

Full Citation: US 2017/0303632 A1, "Rapid-entry footwear with rebounding fit system," filed by Kizik Design, LLC.
Filing Date: April 22, 2016
Publication Date: October 26, 2017
Brief Description: This application, which is part of the same patent family and from the same inventors as the '006 patent, discloses the foundational technology for a hands-free shoe. It describes an external heel cage or "arch" made of a semi-rigid material that guides the foot into the shoe and prevents the heel from collapsing. It also describes a rebounding mechanism within the arch, such as a spring or elastic band, that deforms upon entry and then returns to its original position to secure the shoe.
Potential Anticipation of Claims:
- Claim 1: The '632 application does not describe the "closed cup" stabilizer base as required by claim 1. Instead, it focuses on an external arch or cage structure.
- Claim 4: The '632 application is highly relevant prior art for claim 4. It describes a stabilizer with an arch structure defining a window. The "rebounding fit system" within this window functions as an "expansion zone" that facilitates entry. This reference discloses the core combination of an arched stabilizer with an internal deformable element to allow for hands-free entry, which is the central novelty of claim 4. An argument for anticipation could be made if the "expansion zone" of claim 4 is interpreted broadly enough to read on the "rebounding fit system" of the '632 application.

Summary of Potential Challenges:

The prior art cited against US 11,633,006 presents a mixed landscape. While references like Hedgepeth '320 and Donnadieu '721 disclose individual elements of the claims (a rigid heel counter and an elastic side panel, respectively), they fail to teach the specific combination of elements required by the independent claims of the '006 patent.

The most significant prior art appears to be Pratt '810 and the Pratt '632 application, which originate from the same inventors and assignee. These documents disclose the core concept of a rapid-entry shoe featuring a rigid arch-like stabilizer at the heel with a window containing a deformable element. This combination is very close to the invention described in Claim 4. The patentability of Claim 4 will likely depend on whether the "expansion zone" is considered a non-obvious variation of the "compressible lattice structure" (from '810) or the "rebounding fit system" (from '632).

Claim 1 appears more distinct from the cited art due to its specific requirements for a "closed cup" stabilizer base and the particular geometry of its curvature. None of the cited references appear to disclose this specific structure in combination with the claimed elastic element.