Oh, patents! Kiziks lattice heel design (2)

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Another US design patent, USD1038607S1, titled footwear, was awarded for a more crisscrossed design of the Kizik,  compressible lattice, spring-back heel technology. This design, comprising increased crisscrossing, designated the Internal Cage™,  is actually hidden inside the heel portion of the corresponding Kizik footwear models. The patent was awarded on August 14, 2024. 

Below, the patent Figure 1 depicts a left view of the latticed heel structure for footwear, together with an image of an embodiment of the hidden technology, for the marketed Kizik Lima model, in the color grey for men. The dotted lines on the Figure 1 drawing indicate the portion of the design that is unprotected by the patent. As a result, the protected design might be used on a variety of models with different uppers.

Reference
KIZIK (website)
www.kizik.com

Oh, patents! Hickies

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

In the translation industry, localization is designed to prevent costly cultural bloopers… which makes me wonder how this “shoe closure system” became a “fastening device” and finally, a “hicky” -- of all possible designations… once marketed…

According to the inventors FRYDLEWSKI GASTON [US], WAINGARTEN MARIA RAQUEL [US], LEGETTE BRIAN [US], REEB DAVID [US] and TIPP ALAN [US]:

"We named our company HICKIES, which is a cheeky term for a mark of affection.  We believe the world needs more ‘marks of affection’, and we want to leave a mark of affection on your footwear”.

Ah Ha! Mystery solved!  For once, here is proof that a sneaker is not always a shoe…

 In any event, for the sake of this invention, it is probably supposed to be cute….to have Hickies on your toes… once you have swallowed the X-designation. 

Be gone shoelaces! Bows never look right. They get dirty, and break, and cause little children hours upon hours of small motor coordination practice and frustration.

Welcome Hickies! These are small, two-tone fastening bands that slip through each pair of shoelace holes, transforming all your lace-ups into slip-ons! They are flexible enough to let you slip in and out of your shoe, and resistant enough to keep your shoes on your feet. They come in many different vibrant and classic color combos, and button on and off, although you do not have to remove them to take off, or put on, your shoes.  

There is also a Hickies app that works with your phone camera to let you see how Hickies will look on your favorite sneakers.

Below is a picture of the marketed Hickies, and of Figures 1 & 8 of patent WO2013119268/US2013195020, titled: 

FASTENING DEVICES AND SYSTEMS AND METHODS THEREOF