ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 25 -- United States Patent no. 12,336,594, issued on June 24, was assigned to Skechers U.S.A. Inc. II (Manhattan Beach, Calif.).

"Footwear heel counter for easier foot entry or removal" was invented by John Maxwell Weeks (Los Angeles), Scott Kelley (Redondo Beach, Calif.), Frank Chuang (Cypress, Calif.), Pei-Chun Liao (Torrance, Calif.), Johnson Tja (Foshan, China), Hui Xie (Dongguan, China) and Kurt Stockbridge (Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.).

According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "The shoe includes a sole and an upper including at least one layer of elastic material positioned to stretch and create tension that enhances securement of a foot inserted into the shoe. The shoe includ...