Rapid-Entry Footwear Having a Heel Arm and a Resilient Member

This application is a continuation of, claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Ser. No. 18/144,850 filed May 9, 2023 and entitled “RAPID-ENTRY FOOTWEAR HAVING A HEEL ARM AND A RESILIENT MEMBER” which is a continuation of, claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Ser. No. 17/406,430 filed Aug. 19, 2021 and entitled “RAPID-ENTRY FOOTWEAR HAVING A HEEL ARM AND A RESILIENT MEMBER” which is a continuation of, claims priority to and the benefit of PCT Serial No. PCT/US20/19943 filed Feb. 26, 2020 and entitled “RAPID-ENTRY FOOTWEAR HAVING A HEEL ARM AND A RESILIENT MEMBER.” PCT Serial No. PCT/US20/19943 claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/810,828, filed Feb. 26, 2019 and entitled “RAPID-ENTRY FOOTWEAR HAVING A HEEL ARM AND A FORWARD ELASTIC PORTION.” All of the aforementioned applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

The present disclosure relates to rapid-entry footwear, and more specifically to footwear having a heel arm and a resilient member.

Whether due to inconvenience or inability, donning and doffing of shoes, including tying or otherwise securing the same, and doing the foregoing for others, may be undesirable and/or present difficulties to some individuals. The present disclosure addresses this need.

A rapid-entry shoe, in accordance with example embodiments of the present disclosure, comprises a base, optionally an upper, a heel arm, and a resilient member. The heel arm can be coupled to the base at a rearward coupling point and can be configured to transition between a collapsed configuration (e.g., for easy donning and doffing of the shoe) and an uncollapsed configuration (e.g., for securing a foot inside the shoe). In the collapsed configuration the heel arm may be in a compressed state and bend or rotate downward, while in the uncollapsed configuration the heel arm can be oriented upwards and may be in an uncompressed state or a reduced compressed state. The resilient member can be coupled to the heel arm at a heel arm coupling point and can be further coupled to the base at a forward coupling point. The resilient member can be configured to bias the heel arm toward the uncollapsed configuration.

Example embodiments of the present disclosure are described in sufficient detail in this detailed description to enable persons having ordinary skill in the relevant art to practice the present disclosure, however, it should be understood that other embodiments may be realized and that mechanical and chemical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. Thus, this detailed description is for purposes of illustration and not of limitation.

For example, unless the context dictates otherwise, example embodiments described herein may be combined with other embodiments described herein. Similarly, references to “example embodiment,” “example embodiments” and the like indicate that the embodiment(s) described may comprise a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily comprise the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such references may not necessarily refer to the same embodiment(s). Any reference to singular includes plural embodiments, and any reference to plural includes singular embodiments.

Any reference to coupled, connected, attached or the like may be temporary or permanent, removeable or not, non-integral or integral, partial or full, and may be facilitated by one or more of adhesives, stitches, hook and loop fasteners, buttons, clips, grommets, zippers, magnets and other means known in the art or hereinafter developed.

As used herein, the transitional term “comprising”, which is synonymous with “including,” “containing,” or “characterized by,” is inclusive or open-ended and does not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps. The transitional phrase “consisting of” excludes any element, step, or ingredient not specified in the claim. The transitional phrase “consisting essentially of” limits the scope of a claim to the specified materials or steps “and those that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s)” of the claimed invention.

No claim limitation is intended to invoke 35 U.S.C. 112 (f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph or the like unless it explicitly uses the term “means” and includes functional language.

In describing example embodiments of the rapid-entry footwear, certain directional terms may be used. By way of example, terms such as “right,” “left,” “medial,” “lateral,” “front,” “back,” “forward,” “backward,” “rearward,” “top,” “bottom,” “upper,” “lower,” “up,” “down,” and the like may be used to describe example embodiments of the rapid-entry footwear. These terms should be given meaning according to the manner in which the rapid-entry footwear is most typically designed for use, with the rapid-entry footwear on a user's foot and with the user's shod foot disposed on or ready for placement on an underlying surface. Thus, these directions may be understood relative to the rapid-entry footwear in such use. Similarly, as the rapid-entry footwear is intended primarily for use as footwear, terms such as “inner,” “inward,” “outer,” “outward,” “innermost,” “outermost,” “inside,” “outside,” and the like should be understood in reference to the rapid-entry footwear's intended use, such that inner, inward, innermost, inside, and the like signify relatively closer to the user's foot, and outer, outward, outermost, outside, and the like signify relatively farther from the user's foot when the rapid-entry footwear is being used for its intended purpose. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the foregoing definitional guidance is contradicted by an individual use herein of any of the foregoing terms, the term should be understood and read according to the definition that gives life and meaning to the particular instance of the term.

As used herein, a “rapid-entry shoe” refers to an athleisure shoe, a casual shoe, a formal shoe, a dress shoe, a heel, a sports/athletic shoe (e.g., a tennis shoe, a golf shoe, a bowling shoe, a running shoe, a basketball shoe, a soccer shoe, a ballet shoe, etc.), a walking shoe, a sandal, a boot, or other suitable type of shoe. Additionally, a rapid-entry shoe can be sized and configured to be worn by men, women, or children.

As used herein, a “base” of a rapid-entry shoe refers to an outsole or portions thereof, a midsole or portions thereof, an insole or portions thereof, a wedge or portions thereof, or other suitable structure disposed between and/or adjacent to the foregoing parts of a rapid-entry shoe.

In various embodiments, and with reference to, a rapid-entry shoeincludes a heel armand a resilient member, both of which are coupled to a base(and/or upper, as described below) of the rapid-entry shoe. Generally, the resilient memberis coupled to baseat a location forward a location where heel armis coupled to base, and resilient memberthereby biases the heel armtoward an uncollapsed configuration, as described in greater detail below. That is, in response to a user inserting his/her foot into the shoe, the heel armmay pivot, rotate or otherwise collapse downward and/or backward, thereby tensioning (or further tensioning) the resilient member. With the foot inside the shoe, the tension in the resilient memberexerts a force on the heel armto pivot, rotate or otherwise move the heel armupward and/or forward, thereby closing the shoe opening.

While the heel armand/or the resilient memberare coupled to the basein example embodiments, in other embodiments, the heel armand/or the resilient memberare not coupled to the base, but instead, are coupled to an upper of the rapid-entry shoe. That is, the heel armand/or the resilient membermay be coupled to a medial and/or lateral side of an upper of the rapid-entry shoe, with the resilient member providing the forward and upward bias described above. In various embodiments, for example, the upper may have sufficient structure to prevent forward or backward movement of the points where the heel armand resilient memberare coupled, thereby enabling the resilient member to provide sufficient tension to pivot, rotate or otherwise move the heel armupward and/or forward to return the shoeto the uncollapsed configuration.

Turning to, in example embodiments, the heel armis embedded within, extends along, forms or is otherwise coupled to a rear portion of the rapid-entry shoe. The heel armis coupled to the baseat a rearward coupling point, and the heel arm is configured to transition between a collapsed configuration (open position of the rapid-entry shoe, in which an opening of the shoe is expanded for easier donning and doffing) and an uncollapsed configuration (closed position of the rapid-entry shoe, in which an opening of the shoe is unexpanded for securing a foot inside the shoe). In the collapsed configuration (), the heel armis in a compressed state and bends or rotates downward and in the uncollapsed configuration (), the heel arm is oriented upwards (i.e., vertical or at an angle) and is in at least one of an uncompressed state, a reduced compressed state, and a partially bent state.

In example embodiments, the transition between the collapsed configuration and the uncollapsed configuration occurs without any bending or flexing of the base. In example embodiments, the transition between the collapsed configuration and the uncollapsed configuration occurs without any inward deflection of the heel arm(e.g., around the user's heel). In example embodiments, a plurality of dimensions of the resilient memberchange during the transition between the collapsed configuration and the uncollapsed configuration, for example, length (greater in the collapsed configuration) and width (less in the collapsed configuration).

As contrasted in, respectively, heel armcan extend toward a rear portion of the shoegenerally in a single plane (i.e., be generally linear when viewed from the side, in two dimensions), or heel armcan extend toward a rear portion of the shoewith a curve or angle (i.e., be generally non-linear when viewed from the side, in two dimensions).

With specific reference to, and as described below, the heel armmay be comprised of a rigid or semi-rigid material, so maintain its shape between an uncollapsed configuration () and a collapsed configuration ().

With momentary reference back to, in example embodiments, the resilient memberis embedded within, extends along, forms or is otherwise coupled to a side portion of the rapid-entry shoe. The resilient memberis coupled to the heel armat a heel arm coupling point(and may terminate proximal such coupling point) and is further coupled to the baseat a forward coupling point(and may terminate proximal such coupling point). The resilient member is configured to bias the heel armtoward the uncollapsed configuration (closed position of the rapid-entry shoe).

In example embodiments, one or both of the heel armand the resilient memberare angled relative to the base. More specifically, one or both of the heel armand the resilient membercan be angled upward from their respective coupling points toward the rear portion of the shoe.

With reference back to, and particularly, to the dotted lines therein, in accordance with various embodiments, in an uncollapsed configuration, an angle measured between heel armand baseis greater than an angle measured between resilient memberand base.

With continued reference to the dotted lines in, in accordance with various embodiments, the difference in an uncollapsed configuration of an angle measured between heel armand baseand an angle measured between resilient memberand baseis greater than the difference in a collapsed configuration of an angle measured between heel armand baseand an angle measured between resilient memberand base.

In various embodiments, the forward coupling point, which is the point where the resilient memberis coupled to the base, is forward of the rearward coupling point, which is the point where the heel armis coupled to the base. Said differently, in example embodiments, the resilient memberextends farther forward (i.e., toward the toe-end of the shoe) than the heel arm.

In various embodiments, the heel armhas a side section and a heel section. The heel section is generally the section or piece of the heel armthat is disposed at the rear of the rapid-entry shoe, and thus the heel section wraps around an upper rear portion of the rapid-entry shoe. The side section is generally the section or piece of the heel armthat extends between the rearward coupling point and the heel arm coupling point. In various embodiments, the resilient memberis coupled to the heel armat a heel arm coupling pointsubstantially between the heel section and the side section. Said differently, one end of the resilient memberis coupled or indirectly coupled to the base, but the other end is coupled generally to a region of the heel armbetween the side section and the heel section, according to various embodiments.

As described above, the heel armmay be comprised of a rigid or semi-rigid material. In various embodiment, the heel armis resiliently deformable, such that it contributes, at least in part, to the upward and/or forward rebound caused by the resilient member. In various embodiments, the heel arm, in addition to imparting structure to the rear portion of the shoeand to help the rear portion of the shoerebound back upward and/or forward after a user's foot is inserted in to the shoe, the heel armmay prevent the rear portion of the shoefrom inward deflection into the shoe/foot opening.

In some embodiments, and with reference to, the portion of the heel armadjacent the rearward coupling pointmay be somewhat flexible/deformable in order to form a living hinge at the rearward coupling point. Stated another way, an interface between the heel armand the baseat the rearward coupling pointcan comprise a living hinge. In this regard,illustrates a close up view of the living hinge in. In such embodiments, the hinge movement is accommodated by a relative decrease in the thickness of the material in the plane, and at the axis, where the hinge rotation takes place.illustrates an alternate embodiment of a hinge having a flange, wherein the hinge movement is accommodated by the addition of the flangein the plane, but removed from the axis, where the hinge rotation takes place.

In other embodiments, the rearward coupling pointmay include a mechanical hinge. For example, and with reference to, a basecan have a socketto receive the end of a heel arm, and accommodate movement thereof between an uncollapsed configuration (FIG.A) and a collapsed configuration (). In such embodiments, the heel armmay be coupled (as that term is broadly defined herein) within the socket.

illustrates another embodiment of a socketto receive the end of a heel arm, wherein the heel armhas a locking extensionand wherein a dimension of the socketcorresponds to the locking extension, such that the heel armis securely retained within the socket.

In other embodiments of mechanical hinges, and with reference to, heel armcan be pivotably or rotatably coupled to baseat the rearward coupling point, to thereby accommodate movement thereof between an uncollapsed configuration () and a collapsed configuration (). This can be accomplished, for example, with a hinge pin, as illustrated.

More generally, in accordance with example, embodiments, each of the forward coupling pointand the rearward coupling pointcan be located on an exterior of a base or within a base(i.e., resilient memberand heel armcan extend into the base).

Importantly, in accordance with various example embodiments, the axis of rotation of heel armcan extend through baseor above base(e.g., in embodiments wherein heel armis coupled to an upper).

The resilient membermay be comprised of an elastic material, such as a textile or synthetic material, or may include springs or other biasing features configured to exert a forward and/or upward bias on the heel arm(and a corresponding forward and/or upward bias on an uppercoupled to the heel arm).

In this regard, and with reference to, the resilient membermay be used in connection with an upper. However, and with reference to, the resilient membermay comprised of an upper. That is, the uppermay itself be elastic and exert a forward and/or upward bias on the heel arm. In some embodiments, a distinct portion of the upper, e.g., an elastic gore, exerts a forward and/or upward bias on the heel arm.

With reference to, the resilient membermay pass from outside an upperto between layers of the upperand/or to inside the upper. In this regard, the uppermay comprise an openingto receive the resilient memberand may further comprise a sleeve(e.g., at the dotted lines) to receive the resilient member. In this regard, the resilient membercan be configured to move independent of the upper.

In various embodiments, the heel armand the resilient membercomprise the same material. In various embodiments, the heel armand the resilient memberare integrally formed and are thus sections of a unitary element. In various embodiments, the heel armand the resilient memberare molded together.

With momentary reference back to, the heel armmay have an arc shape or a horse-shoe shape, and thus may extend backward and upward from the rearward coupling pointto wrap around an upper rear portion of the rapid-entry shoe(at or below the topline of the upper rear portion). In this regard, the heel armmay comprise a heel section disposed between side two sections. The two side sections (e.g., a first side section and a second side section) may, in turn, be coupled to the base. That is, a first side section may be coupled to the baseat the rearward coupling pointand a second side section may be coupled to the baseat a rearward coupling pointon the opposite side of the rapid-entry shoe. In this regard, the heel armmay extend continuously between opposing sides of base. In various embodiments, a forward coupling pointis located forward of the rearward coupling point, and a forward coupling pointis located forward of the rearward coupling point. Thus, in various embodiments, resilient membermay be a first resilient member, and the rapid-entry shoemay have a second resilient member, with the first and second resilient membersextending on opposite sides of the rapid-entry shoe. In various embodiments, the forward coupling points/are disposed on a forefoot portion or forward half of the shoe and the rearward coupling points/are disposed on a heel portion or rear half of the shoe.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in various embodiments, the heel armmay only extend along one side of the rapid-entry shoe, and thus the heel armmay only be coupled to the baseon one side of the shoe. In such embodiments, the heel armmay still include a heel section that wraps all or partially around an upper rear portion of the rapid-entry shoe(despite not having a side section or other support on the opposing side). In various embodiments, the heel armmay actually include two separable elements. For example, there may be a first heel armon one side (e.g., lateral side) of the shoeand a second heel armon a second side (e.g., medial side) of the shoe.

In various embodiments, the rearward coupling point(e.g., the location where the heel armis coupled to the base) does not move forward or backward. That is, the end of the heel armthat extends from the basedoes not move forward or backward along the shoe, but instead rotates or pivots about the rearward coupling point. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the present disclosure contemplates embodiments wherein one or both of the heel armand the resilient membercan be coupled either at a point that moves, or at a plurality of different coupling points.

In use, the heel arm(s)may be biased toward an uncollapsed configuration by the resilient member(s). In the uncollapsed configuration, heel armcan secure a rear portion of rapid-entry shoeabout a user's heel. Said differently, in example embodiments, the heel arm(s)may be collapsed downward (i.e., towards the baseof the rapid-entry shoe) to the collapsed configuration and the heel armmay be returned upward (i.e., away from the baseof the rapid-entry shoe) to the uncollapsed configuration so as to extend around a user's heel. In various embodiments, while the compression of the heel armis greater in the collapsed configuration than in the uncollapsed configuration, the uncollapsed configuration of the heel armmay still be at least partially compressed (i.e., preloaded compression) so as to be able to hold the rear portion of the rapid-entry shoeabout the heel of the user. For example, the rear portion of the shoe may hold or retain the heel armin the preloaded, uncollapsed configuration. In various embodiments, in the uncollapsed configuration the heel structure may be disposed in a more upright/vertical orientation and/or may have little to no compression.

As mentioned above, the heel armand resilient membermay be manufactured to be integral with or within finished shoes. In various embodiments, the heel armmay be integrated within an upper rear portion of a shoe, or the heel armmay be coupled to an exterior of an upper rear portion of a shoe. For example, the heel armmay be coupled to or integrated within a heel or a heel cap, a heel counter or the like, or may be partially or fully exposed. In various embodiments, the heel armmay be coupled to an exterior of an upper rear portion of the rapid-entry shoe, and connected to the lower portion of the shoe.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present disclosure without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure.

As a non-limiting example, and with reference to, a plurality of heel armscan cross or otherwise intersect or overlap one another and be pulled toward one another by their respective resilient memberscoupled to the baseor the upper.

As another example, and with reference to, a rapid-entry shoecan comprise a heel armand a resilient member, each angled upward from their respective coupling points toward the front portion of the shoe.

As yet another example, and with reference to, a plurality of heel armscan cross or otherwise intersect or overlap one another and be pulled toward one another by a single resilient member, the resilient member being attached exclusively to the heel arms (i.e., not to the 120 base or the upper). With reference to, the heel armscan be attached to different coupling points on the base, for independent pivoting or rotation. Alternatively, and with reference to, the heel armscan be attached to the same coupling point on the base, for common pivoting or rotation.

As still another example, and with reference to, a heel armcan pivot or rotate at a coupling pointlocated above the baseand the heel armcan be pulled toward an uncollapsed configuration by a resilient memberextending from the heel armrearward toward the base.

Thus, it is intended that the embodiments described herein cover the modifications and variations of this disclosure provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the preceding description, including various alternatives together with details of the structure and function of the devices and/or methods. The disclosure is intended as illustrative only and as such is not intended to be exhaustive. It will be evident to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made, especially in matters of structure, materials, elements, components, shape, size and arrangement of parts including combinations within the principles of the invention, to the full extent indicated by the broad, general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. To the extent that these various modifications do not depart from the spirit and scope of the appended claims, they are intended to be encompassed therein.