US 12274325

US patent 12274325, titled "Rapid-entry footwear having a stabilizer and an elastic element," was issued on April 15, 2025. The patent is currently assigned to Fast IP LLC, with inventors Michael Pratt and Craig Cheney. It was filed on October 13, 2022, as a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 16/942,335, which claimed priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/879,883 filed on July 29, 2019. [cite: The full patent text details this information]

Abstract:
The patent describes a rapid-entry shoe featuring an elastic element designed to enlarge the foot opening for easier entry and a stabilizer that prevents the shoe's rear portion from collapsing downward during the donning process. [cite: The full patent text details this information]

Independent Claims Overview:

• Claim 1 (Shoe Apparatus): This claim describes a rapid-entry shoe comprising a sole, an upper, and a rigid stabilizer located at the rear of the sole. The stabilizer has a base portion near the sole and an elevated portion extending upwards. The base portion, including lateral, medial, and mid-portions, forms a convex structure that partially surrounds the heel. The elevated portion extends rearward from this convex structure and functions as a shoehorn. Crucially, a foam liner is attached to the stabilizer's base portion, spanning between its medial and lateral sides. This foam liner has a downward-facing orientation towards the sole and is designed to retain the heel within the shoe. [cite: The full patent text details this information]

• Claim 10 (Method of Donning): This claim outlines a method for putting on a rapid-entry shoe. It involves inserting a foot, first partially and then fully, into the shoe's opening. As the foot is inserted, its bottom portion makes contact with an elevated part of a stabilizer located in the shoe's rear. This stabilizer includes a cup-shaped base with a foam liner that has a convex surface and extends beyond the medial and lateral parts of the stabilizer, curving downward towards the sole. The foot's contact causes the stabilizer to pivot partially rearward. Simultaneously, the top of the foot contacts the shoe's upper, which contains an elastic element. This elastic element expands the foot opening in response to the foot contacting both the stabilizer and the upper. [cite: The full patent text details this information]

Litigation Status:
As of April 26, 2026, the patent family associated with US12274325 is involved in litigation, with a case filed in the Texas Eastern District Court (case number 2:25-cv-00744). [cite: The full patent text details this information] However, a search of CAFC 2026 dockets for US patent 12274325 did not yield any specific results for this patent number.