U.S. patent application number 10/137902 was filed with the patent office on 2003-11-06 for easy-to-wear footwear.
Invention is credited to Liu, Kun-Chung.
Application Number | 20030204969 10/137902 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29269205 |
Filed Date | 2003-11-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030204969 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Liu, Kun-Chung |
November 6, 2003 |
EASY-TO-WEAR FOOTWEAR
Abstract
An anchoring assembly on a footwear body includes a stationary
member, a pivotable member, a pivot unit and a releasable fastener
unit. The stationary member is fixed on the footwear body. The
pivotable member is provided with a footwear lace stringing part
that is formed with at least one eyelet. The pivot unit is provided
on the stationary and pivotable members to permit pivoting movement
of the pivotable member relative to the stationary member about a
pivot axis between a footwear tightening position and a footwear
loosening position. The releasable fastener unit is provided on the
stationary and pivotable members and releasably retains the
pivotable member at the footwear tightening position.
Inventors: |
Liu, Kun-Chung; (Taichung
Hsien, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KNOBBE MARTENS OLSON & BEAR LLP
2040 MAIN STREET
FOURTEENTH FLOOR
IRVINE
CA
92614
US
|
Family ID: |
29269205 |
Appl. No.: |
10/137902 |
Filed: |
May 2, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/50.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 1/0081 20130101;
A43C 11/1406 20130101; A43C 7/04 20130101; A43C 11/008
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/50.1 |
International
Class: |
A43C 011/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A footwear, comprising: a footwear body having a top opening,
said footwear body including a vamp, a tongue, a first eyelet tab
and a second eyelet tab, said tongue having a front portion
connected to said vamp and a rear portion extending in a
longitudinal direction to said top opening, said tongue further
having an opposite pair of lateral sides that are spaced apart from
each other in a transverse direction transverse to the longitudinal
direction and that extend from said vamp to said top opening, said
first and second eyelet tabs being connected to said vamp and being
respectively disposed adjacent to said lateral sides of said
tongue, said first eyelet tab being formed with a plurality of
eyelets, said second eyelet tab including a front portion proximate
to said vamp, a rear portion proximate to said top opening, and an
intermediate eyelet-free portion between said front and rear
portions of said second eyelet tab, each of said front and rear
portions of said second eyelet tab being provided with at least one
eyelet; an anchoring assembly including a stationary member fixed
on said eyelet-free portion of said second eyelet tab, a pivotable
member provided with a footwear lace stringing part that is formed
with at least one eyelet, a pivot unit provided on said stationary
and pivotable members proximate to said tongue of said footwear
body to permit pivoting movement of said pivotable member relative
to said stationary member about a pivot axis that extends in the
longitudinal direction between a footwear tightening position, in
which said pivotable member is turned toward said stationary member
so as to be superimposed on said stationary member, and a footwear
loosening position, in which said pivotable member is turned away
from said stationary member, and a releasable fastener unit,
provided on said stationary and pivotable members, for releasably
retaining said pivotable member at said footwear tightening
position; and a footwear lace unit having a first portion and a
second portion, said first portion of said footwear lace unit being
strung through said eyelets of said first eyelet tab, said eyelets
of said second eyelet tab and said at least one eyelet of said
footwear lace stringing part of said pivotable member to form a
criss-cross pattern on said first and second eyelet tabs, said
second portion of said footwear lace unit being disposed proximate
to said top opening.
2. The footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pivot unit
includes: a pair of upright pivot lugs formed on said stationary
member; a pivot ear formed on said pivotable member and disposed
between said pivot lugs; and a pivot pin that extends in the
longitudinal direction and that couples pivotally said pivot ear to
said pivot lugs.
3. The footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein said releasable
fastener unit includes: a hook unit provided on one of said
stationary and pivotable members; and a rod unit provided on the
other one of said stationary and pivotable members; one of said
hook and rod units being movable relative to the other of said hook
and rod units between an engaging position, where said hook and rod
units engage each other to retain said pivotable member at said
footwear tightening position, and a disengaging position, where
said hook and rod units disengage from each other to permit
movement of said pivotable member to said footwear loosening
position.
4. The footwear as claimed in claim 3, wherein said rod unit
includes: a guide hole formed in said pivotable member; an
operating member movably disposed in said guide hole; and an anchor
rod having opposite rod ends, and an intermediate rod part coupled
to said operating member, said anchor rod being disposed below said
pivotable member.
5. The footwear as claimed in claim 4, wherein said hook unit
includes a pair of hook retainers which extend from said stationary
member, each of said hook retainers being formed with a rod
receiving slot to receive one of said rod ends of said anchor rod
therein, said rod receiving slot being confined by a top retainer
wall with a downward limiting flange to restrict outward movement
of the respective one of said rod ends from said receiving
slot.
6. The footwear as claimed in claim 3, wherein said anchoring
assembly further includes a resilient member which is disposed
between said stationary and pivotable members and which provides a
biasing force to bias said pivotable member away from said footwear
tightening position.
7. The footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein said anchoring
assembly further includes a resilient member which is disposed
between said stationary and pivotable members and which provides a
biasing force to bias said pivotable member away from said footwear
tightening position.
8. The footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein said footwear lace
stringing part includes a pair of eyelet units spaced from each
other in the longitudinal direction and fixed on said pivotable
member.
9. The footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pivotable
member includes a rectangular guiding hole extending in the
transverse direction, said footwear lace stringing part including
an eyelet unit having a guiding pole extending through said guiding
hole to permit movement of said footwear lace stringing part in the
transverse direction when said pivotable member is turned relative
to said stationary member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a footwear, more particularly to a
footwear which is easy to wear and remove.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] A conventional footwear usually includes a footwear body
with a top opening, and a footwear lace. The footwear body includes
a vamp, a tongue, and a pair of eyelet tabs. The tongue has a front
portion connected to the vamp, and a rear portion extending to the
top opening. The tongue further has an opposite pair of lateral
sides that extend from the vamp to the top opening. Each of the
eyelet tabs is connected to the vamp, and is disposed adjacent to
one of the lateral sides of the tongue. Each of the eyelet tabs is
formed with a plurality of eyelets that are aligned with each other
in a direction from the vamp to the top opening. The footwear lace
has a front portion, and a rear portion. The front portion of the
footwear lace is strung through the eyelets to form a criss-cross
pattern on the eyelet tabs. The rear portion of the footwear lace
can be tied together so as to tighten the footwear. However, it is
time-wasting to tie and untie the footwear lace when wearing and
removing the footwear.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 5,469,640 discloses a quick adjusting footwear
lace system for adjusting footwear lace tension in a single
movement. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the footwear lace system
disclosed in this U.S. patent includes a cinch plate 3 having
eyelets 301 which are spaced apart by about the same distance as
eyelets 201 formed in the eyelet tabs of the footwear. The footwear
lace 1 is strung through the eyelets 301 at the cinch plate 3 along
with the eyelets 201 in the eyelet tabs of the footwear. A strap 4,
fixably attached at a lower end to the footwear body 2 and loopable
at an upper end through a slot in the cinch plate 3, is used to
adjustably pull the cinch plate 3 and the footwear lace 1 looped
through the eyelets 301 downwardly and thus increase the footwear
lace tension so as to tighten the footwear. However, the footwear
lace system disclosed in this U.S. patent is merely configured to
adjust tension of the footwear lace, and does not facilitate
wearing and removal of the footwear.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 4,414,761 discloses a footwear having an
improved closure. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the closure of the
footwear 6 disclosed in this U.S. patent includes a first elongate
area 601 provided with a plurality of eyelets, a second
non-apertured elongate area 602 provided with a male VELCRO.TM.
fastener 702, a footwear lace 5, and a panel 7 provided with a
plurality of eyelets corresponding to the eyelets of the first
elongate area 601 and a female VELCRO.TM. fastener 701 on the inner
surface of the panel 7. The footwear lace 5 is strung through the
eyelets of the first elongate area 601 and the eyelets of the panel
7 to form a criss-cross pattern. The panel 7 can releasably engage
the second non-apertured elongate area 602 through the engagement
between the male and female fasteners 702, 701.
[0007] Although the footwear disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,414,761
facilitates wearing and removal of the footwear, the VELCRO.TM.
fasteners are liable to loosen during use and easily accumulate
dirt thereon.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide
a footwear which is easy to wear and remove and which has fasteners
that can prevent undesired loosening.
[0009] The footwear according to this invention includes a footwear
body, an anchoring assembly, and a footwear lace unit.
[0010] The footwear body has a top opening, and includes a vamp, a
tongue, a first eyelet tab and a second eyelet tab. The tongue has
a front portion connected to the vamp, and a rear portion extending
in a longitudinal direction to the top opening. The tongue further
has an opposite pair of lateral sides that are spaced apart from
each other in a transverse direction transverse to the longitudinal
direction and that extend from the vamp to the top opening. The
first and second eyelet tabs are connected to the vamp and are
respectively disposed adjacent to the lateral sides of the tongue.
The first eyelet tab is formed with a plurality of eyelets. The
second eyelet tab includes a front portion proximate to the vamp, a
rear portion proximate to the top opening, and an intermediate
eyelet-free portion between the front and rear portions of the
second eyelet tab. Each of the front and rear portions of the
second eyelet tab is provided with at least one eyelet.
[0011] The anchoring assembly includes a stationary member, a
pivotable member, a pivot unit and a releasable fastener unit. The
stationary member is fixed on the eyelet-free portion of the second
eyelet tab. The pivotable member is provided with a footwear lace
stringing part that is formed with at least one eyelet. The pivot
unit is provided on the stationary and pivotable members proximate
to the tongue of the footwear body to permit pivoting movement of
the pivotable member relative to the stationary member about a
pivot axis that extends in the longitudinal direction between a
footwear tightening position, in which the pivotable member is
turned toward the stationary member so as to be superimposed on the
stationary member, and a footwear loosening position, in which the
pivotable member is turned away from the stationary member. The
releasable fastener unit is provided on the stationary and
pivotable members, and releasably retains the pivotable member at
the footwear tightening position.
[0012] The footwear lace unit has a first portion and a second
portion. The first portion of the footwear lace unit is strung
through the eyelets of the first eyelet tab, the eyelets of the
second eyelet tab and at least one eyelet of the footwear lace
stringing part of the pivotable member to form a criss-cross
pattern on the first and second eyelet tabs. The second portion of
the footwear lace unit is disposed proximate to the top
opening.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent in the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings,
of which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional footwear
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,469,640;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the footwear of
FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another conventional
footwear disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,414,761 in an opened
state;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the footwear of FIG. 3 in a
closed state;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the first preferred
embodiment of a footwear according to this invention in a closed
state;
[0019] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing an anchoring
assembly of the first preferred embodiment of FIG. 5;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the first
preferred embodiment of FIG. 5, showing the anchoring assembly in a
closed state;
[0021] FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of the first
preferred embodiment of FIG. 5, showing how the anchoring assembly
is opened;
[0022] FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of the first
preferred embodiment of FIG. 5, showing the anchoring assembly in a
fully-opened state;
[0023] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the first preferred
embodiment of a footwear according to this invention in an opened
state;
[0024] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another preferred
embodiment of a footwear according to this invention;
[0025] FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view of still another
preferred embodiment of a footwear according to this invention in a
closed state; and
[0026] FIG. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view of the preferred
embodiment of FIG. 12 in an opened state.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0027] Referring to FIGS. 5, 6, 7, the footwear 100 according to
this invention is shown to be embodied in a shoe that includes a
footwear body 10, an anchoring assembly 30, and a footwear lace
unit 20.
[0028] The footwear body 10 has a top opening 11, and includes a
vamp 14, a tongue 15, a first eyelet tab 12 and a second eyelet tab
13. The tongue 15 has a front portion 151 connected to the vamp 14,
and a rear portion 152 extending in a longitudinal direction to the
top opening 11. The tongue 15 further has an opposite pair of
lateral sides that are spaced apart from each other in a transverse
direction transverse to the longitudinal direction and that extend
from the vamp 14 to the top opening 11. The first and second eyelet
tabs 12, 13 are connected to the vamp 14, and are respectively
disposed adjacent to the lateral sides of the tongue 15. The first
eyelet tab 12 is formed with a plurality of eyelets 121. The second
eyelet tab 13 includes a front portion 133 proximate to the vamp
14, a rear portion 134 proximate to the top opening 11, and an
intermediate eyelet-free portion 132 between the front and rear
portions 133, 134 of the second eyelet tab 13. The front portion
133 of the second eyelet tab 13 is provided with a plurality of
eyelets 131. The rear portion 134 of the second eyelet tab 13 is
provided with an eyelet 131.
[0029] The anchoring assembly 30 includes a stationary member 40, a
pivotable member 50, a pivot unit 70, a releasable fastener unit
80, and a resilient member 60.
[0030] The stationary member 40 is a curved rectangular member and
is fixed on the eyelet-free portion 132 of the second eyelet tab 13
in a well-known manner, such as riveting.
[0031] The pivotable member 50 has a curvature corresponding to
that of stationary member 40, and is provided with a footwear lace
stringing part 53'. The footwear lace stringing part 53' includes a
pair of eyelet units 53 spaced from each other in the longitudinal
direction and fixed on the pivotable member 50 in a well-known
manner, such as riveting. The space between the pair of eyelet
units 53 is equal to that between the corresponding eyelets 121 of
the first eyelet tab 12. Each of the eyelet units 53 has a bottom
part 531 fixed to the pivotable member 50, and a top part 532 fixed
to the bottom part 531 of the eyelet unit 53 and formed with an
eyelet 533.
[0032] The pivot unit 70 is provided on the stationary and
pivotable members 40, 50 proximate to the tongue 15 of the footwear
body 10 to permit pivoting movement of the pivotable member 50
relative to the stationary member 40 about a pivot axis that
extends in the longitudinal direction between a footwear tightening
position, in which the pivotable member 50 is turned toward the
stationary member 40 so as to be superimposed on the stationary
member 40, and a footwear loosening position, in which the
pivotable member 50 is turned away from the stationary member 40.
The pivot unit 70 includes: a pair of upright pivot lugs 421 formed
on the stationary member 40; a pivot ear 511 formed on the
pivotable member 50 and disposed between the pivot lugs 421; and a
pivot pin 422 that extends in the longitudinal direction and that
couples pivotally the pivot ear 511 to the pivot lugs 421. The
pivotable member 50 further includes a grip portion 512 opposite to
the pivot ear 511 of the pivot unit 70 in the transverse
direction.
[0033] The releasable fastener unit 80 is provided on the
stationary and pivotable members 40, 50 and releasably retains the
pivotable member 50 at the footwear tightening position. The
releasable fastener unit 80 includes a hook unit 43' provided on
the stationary member 40, and a rod unit 52' provided on the
pivotable member 50. The rod unit 52' is movable relative to the
hook unit 43' between an engaging position, where the hook and rod
units 43', 52' engage each other to retain the pivotable member 50
at the footwear tightening position, and a disengaging position,
where the hook and rod units 43', 52' disengage from each other to
permit movement of the pivotable member 50 to the footwear
loosening position. The rod unit 52' includes a guide hole 515
formed in the grip portion 512 of the pivotable member 50, an
operating member 52 movably disposed in the guide hole 515, and an
anchor rod 54.
[0034] The guide hole 515 is a stepped hole, i.e. the upper part of
the guide hole 515 has a cross section larger than that of the
lower part of the guide hole 515. The operating member 52 includes
a finger operating portion 521 and a rod coupling portion 522
extending downwardly from the finger operating portion 521 and
through the guide hole 515. A rod coupling hole 523 is formed
through the rod coupling part 522. The anchor rod 54 has opposite
rod ends, an intermediate rod part coupled to the operating member
52 via extension through the rod coupling hole 523, and a stop ring
541 between the rod end and the intermediate rod part. The anchor
rod 54 is disposed below the pivotable member 50. The hook unit 43'
includes a pair of hook retainers 43 which extend from the
stationary member 40. Each of the hook retainers 43 is formed with
a rod receiving slot 433 to receive one of the rod ends of the
anchor rod 54 therein. The rod receiving slot 433 is confined by a
top retainer wall 431 with a downward limiting flange 432 to
restrict outward movement of the respective one of the rod ends of
the anchor rod 54 from the receiving slot 433.
[0035] The resilient member 60 is disposed between the stationary
and pivotable members 40, 50, and provides a biasing force to bias
the pivotable member 50 away from the footwear tightening position.
The resilient member 60 is made of a resilient material, such as a
metal sheet, and includes a biasing end 62 and a fixing end 61
fixed to the stationary member 40 in a well known manner, such as
riveting.
[0036] The footwear lace unit 20 has a first portion 21 and a
second portion 22. The first portion 21 of the footwear lace unit
20 is strung through the eyelets 121 of the first eyelet tab 12,
the eyelets 131 of the second eyelet tab 13 and the eyelets 533 of
the footwear lace stringing part 53' of the pivotable member 50 to
form a criss-cross pattern on the first and second eyelet tabs 12,
13. The second portion 22 of the footwear lace unit 20 is disposed
proximate to the top opening 11 and can be tied to form a
double-bow configuration.
[0037] Referring to FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, when the wearer desires to
take off the footwear, the rod unit 52' is moved to the disengaging
position by simply moving the operating member 52 in the transverse
direction toward the pivot ear 511 so as to disengage the anchor
rod 54 from the receiving slots 433 of the hook retainers 43. At
this time, the resilient member 60 provides a biasing force to bias
the pivotable member 50 away from the footwear tightening position.
Therefore, the footwear can be taken off quickly and easily.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 11, the anchoring assembly 30' of this
invention can be applied to another footwear in the form of boot
100'. The configuration, functions and effects of the anchoring
assembly 30' used in the boot 100' are similar to those of the
anchoring assembly 30 of the aforesaid preferred embodiment, and
will not be described further for the sake of brevity.
[0039] Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, the pivotable member 50" of
yet another embodiment of this invention is formed with a pair of
spaced rectangular guiding holes 516" extending in the transverse
direction. Each of the guiding holes 516" has a first end (I)
proximate to the pivot ear 511" and a second end (II) opposite to
the first end (I). A pair of eyelet units 53" are spaced from each
other in the longitudinal direction. The space between the pair of
eyelet units 53" is equal to that between the corresponding eyelets
121" of the first eyelet tab 12". Each of the eyelet units 53" has
a bottom part 531" disposed on top of the pivotable member 50", a
top part 532" fixed to the bottom part 531" of the eyelet unit 53"
and formed with an eyelet 533", and a guiding pole 534" extending
downwardly from the bottom part 531" and through the corresponding
guiding hole 516". Each of the eyelet units 53" is movable in the
transverse direction between the first end (I) and the second end
(II) of the corresponding guiding hole 516" when the pivotable
member 50" move pivotally relative to the stationary member 40"
between the footwear tightening position shown in FIG. 12 and the
footwear loosening position shown in FIG. 13.
[0040] While the present invention has been described in connection
with what is considered the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to
the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and
equivalent arrangements.
* * * * *