U.S. patent application number 12/180819 was filed with the patent office on 2010-01-28 for heel accessory.
This patent application is currently assigned to WOLVERINE WORLD WIDE, INC.. Invention is credited to Christopher J. Loveder.
Application Number | 20100018081 12/180819 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41567359 |
Filed Date | 2010-01-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100018081 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Loveder; Christopher J. |
January 28, 2010 |
HEEL ACCESSORY
Abstract
A heel accessory for a footwear article is adapted to engage a
foot support, such that the wearer's legs can be stretched and the
back of the wearer's heels can be comfortably rested on the foot
support of a motorcycle. The heel accessory includes a base portion
connected to the footwear article and a block portion extending
from the base portion. The block portion includes an interface that
is shaped to correspond to the foot support, such that the wearer's
legs can be stretched and rested while riding.
Inventors: |
Loveder; Christopher J.;
(Rockford, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WARNER NORCROSS & JUDD LLP
900 FIFTH THIRD CENTER, 111 LYON STREET, N.W.
GRAND RAPIDS
MI
49503-2487
US
|
Assignee: |
WOLVERINE WORLD WIDE, INC.
Rockford
MI
|
Family ID: |
41567359 |
Appl. No.: |
12/180819 |
Filed: |
July 28, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/136 ;
36/69 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 5/145 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/136 ;
36/69 |
International
Class: |
A43B 23/00 20060101
A43B023/00; A43B 23/08 20060101 A43B023/08 |
Claims
1. A heel accessory for a footwear article, comprising: a base
portion connected to said footwear article; a block portion
extending from said base portion; and an interface on said block
portion, wherein said interface is shaped to correspond to a foot
support.
2. The heel accessory of claim 1, wherein said footwear article
includes an upper, wherein said base portion is connected to a heel
portion of said upper.
3. The heel accessory of claim 2, wherein said base portion is
stitched to said upper.
4. The heel accessory of claim 3, wherein a groove is formed in
said base portion, wherein said base portion is stitched to said
upper in said groove.
5. The heel accessory of claim 4, wherein said footwear article
includes a heel counter, wherein said base portion is stitched to
said upper and said heel counter.
6. The heel accessory of claim 1, wherein said footwear article
includes a heel counter, wherein said heel accessory is integrally
formed with said heel counter.
7. The heel accessory of claim 1, wherein said heel accessory is
positioned below a bursa point on the heel of a wearer.
8. The heel accessory of claim 1, wherein said foot support is a
motorcycle foot peg.
9. The heel accessory of claim 1, wherein said heel accessory is
injection molded.
10. The heel accessory of claim 9, wherein said heel accessory is
formed from rubber.
11. A footwear article, comprising: an upper; an outsole; and a
heel accessory having a base portion connected to said upper and a
block portion extending from said base portion, wherein said block
portion includes an interface shaped to correspond to a foot
support.
12. The footwear article of claim 11, wherein said base portion is
stitched to said upper.
13. The footwear article of claim 12, including a heel counter,
wherein said base portion is stitched to said upper and to said
heel counter.
14. The footwear article of claim 13, wherein said heel accessory
is positioned below a bursa point on the heel of a wearer.
15. The footwear article of claim 14, wherein said foot support is
a motorcycle foot peg.
16. A boot, comprising: an upper; an outsole; and a heel accessory
having a base portion positioned at a heel portion of said boot and
a block portion extending from said base portion, wherein said
block portion includes an interface shaped to correspond to a foot
support.
17. The boot of claim 16, wherein a groove is formed in said base
portion, wherein said base portion is stitched to said upper at
said groove.
18. The boot of claim 17, including a heel counter, wherein said
base portion is stitched to said upper and to said heel
counter.
19. The boot of claim 16, including a heel counter, wherein said
heel accessory is integrally formed with said heel counter.
20. The boot of claim 19, wherein said heel accessory and said heel
counter are injection molded.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to footwear and, more
particularly, to footwear accessories.
[0002] Most motorcycles include a frame having a seat on which an
operator sits in a straddle fashion. A pair of foot pegs are
carried at the lower end of the frame at opposite sides for the
operator's feet to be placed when riding. In a standard riding
position, the bottom of the operator's boots or shoes rest on the
top of the foot pegs, and the operator sits on the seat with knees
slightly bent. This riding position can be tiring and uncomfortable
for an operator to maintain, especially for extended periods of
time. While it may be desirable for the operator to stretch the
legs and rest the back of the heels on the foot pegs or "highway
bars," this position is impractical because the rear heel portion
of the shoes or boots can easily slip or slide off of the pegs,
which could seriously injure the operator.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention provides a heel accessory for a
footwear article, such as a shoe or boot, that is adapted to engage
a foot support, thus allowing the wearer's legs to stretch and the
back of the wearer's heels to rest on the support.
[0004] According to one embodiment, the heel accessory includes a
base portion connected to a footwear article and a block portion
extending from the base portion. The block portion includes an
interface that is shaped to correspond to a foot support.
[0005] Optionally, the footwear article may include an upper, to
which the heel accessory can be connected. The base portion may
optionally be stitched to the upper at a groove formed in the base
portion. The groove may be positioned at or near the periphery of
the base portion. Optionally, the footwear may also include a heel
counter. In such an embodiment, the base portion may be stitched to
both the upper and the heel counter.
[0006] The foot support may optionally be a motorcycle foot peg,
such that the wearer's legs can be rested while riding a
motorcycle. The motorcycle foot peg may be generally cylindrical,
and the interface of the heel accessory may be concave to
correspond to the foot peg. Optionally, the heel accessory may be
positioned in alignment with or below a bursa point on the heel of
the wearer.
[0007] Thus, the present invention provides a heel accessory that
allows a motorcycle rider's legs to stretch and the rider's heels
to comfortably rest on the motorcycle foot pegs while riding. The
heel accessory sufficiently engages the motorcycle peg to resist
the possibility that the operator's feet will slip or slide off of
the motorcycle foot pegs. This resting position may help the
operator to conserve energy and reduce fatigue so that the operator
may enjoy a higher level of comfort and concentration on the
road.
[0008] These and other objects, advantages and features of the
invention will be more readily understood and appreciated by
reference to the detailed description of the invention and the
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a side view of a footwear article having an heel
accessory in accordance with the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a side view of the footwear article shown resting
on a foot peg.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a heel accessory in
accordance with the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a side view of the heel accessory.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the heel accessory.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a top view of the heel accessory.
[0015] FIG. 7 is a front view of the heel accessory.
[0016] FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the heel accessory taken along
lines 8-8.
[0017] FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the heel accessory taken along
lines 9-9.
[0018] FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the heel accessory taken
along lines 10-10.
[0019] FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the heel accessory taken
along lines 11-11.
[0020] FIG. 12 is a side view of a footwear article having an heel
accessory that is integrally formed with a heel counter in
accordance with the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 13 is a side view of a footwear article having a heel
accessory that is integrally formed with an external heel counter
in accordance with the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 14 is an anatomical diagram of a foot.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT EMBODIMENT
[0023] A heel accessory in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention is shown in FIG. 1 at the heel portion of a boot
100, and is generally designated 10. The heel accessory 10 is
adapted to engage a foot support, such as foot peg 116, so that the
wearer's legs can be extended and the back of wearer's heels can be
rested on foot pegs 116 (see FIG. 2).
[0024] To facilitate disclosure of the present invention, reference
will be made to general areas of the foot, such as the heel. When
used to refer to locations on a boot or shoe or other article of
footwear, the term "heel" should be interpreted to include those
areas that are disposed generally (and not necessarily directly)
adjacent to the heel of the foot. For purposes of general reference
only, the heel is shown in the anatomical diagram of the foot 400
in FIG. 14, in the general area designated 412. It should be
understood, however, that the boundaries of the heel area are not
precise and that this term should be interpreted loosely and with a
great deal of flexibility.
[0025] As shown in FIGS. 3-11, the heel accessory 10 includes a
base portion 12 adapted to be connected or affixed to an article of
footwear, such as boot 100, and a block portion 14 extending from
the base portion 12. The block portion 14 includes an interface 16
that is shaped to correspond to a foot support, such as the foot
peg 116 shown in FIG. 2.
[0026] The base portion 12 of the heel accessory 10 includes a
front surface 26 and rear surface 24 adapted to engage the footwear
article. Optionally, the rear surface 24 may be shaped to
correspond to the contour of the heel portion of the footwear
article. In the illustrated embodiment, the base portion 12 is
generally oval shaped, and the rear surface 24 of the base portion
12 corresponds to the contour of the heel portion of the boot 100
(see FIGS. 5 and 6). However, the base portion 10 may be
selectively formed and shaped to correspond to a variety of
footwear types.
[0027] The base portion 12 may be attached to the footwear article
using any suitable connector adapted to securely retain the heel
accessory 10 to the footwear article. In the illustrated
embodiment, the heel accessory 10 is stitched to the upper 111 of
the boot 100 (FIG. 1). However, the heel accessory 10 may
alternatively or additionally be cemented or adhered or clipped to
the boot 100.
[0028] Optionally, a groove 18 may be formed in the base portion 12
to provide a thinner area or strip of material at which the heel
accessory 10 can be stitched to the boot 100. In the illustrated
embodiment, the groove 18 is formed near the periphery of the
generally oval-shaped base portion 12, which may prevent the outer
edges of the heel accessory 10 from lifting away from the boot 100
(see FIGS. 6-11).
[0029] The base portion 12 may be stitched to the outermost layer
of an article of footwear, such as the upper 111 of the boot 100.
In another embodiment, the boot 100 may also include a heel counter
that wraps around the heel of a wearer to assist in centering the
heel and to provide additional structural integrity. The heel
counter can be positioned inside the boot, for example, against an
inside surface of the upper 111. To securely retain heel accessory
10 to the boot 100, the heel accessory 10 may be stitched to both
the upper 111 and the heel counter. The boot 100 may also include a
protective liner positioned inside the boot to cover the heel
counter. Optionally, the heel accessory 10 may be stitched to the
upper, the heel counter and the liner.
[0030] The block portion 14 of the heel accessory 10 is formed as
an extension or protrusion extending from the front surface 26 of
the base portion 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the block
portion creates a distance between the boot 100 and the foot peg
116 (see FIG. 2). The distance that the block portion 14 extends
from the base portion may be selectively chosen to achieve a
desired distance between the boot 100 and the foot peg 116. For
example, the further the block portion 14 extends from the base
portion, the further the boot 100 will be from the foot peg 116 in
the resting position.
[0031] The block portion 16 may be formed in any suitable shape. In
the illustrated embodiment, the block portion 14 slopes outward
from the front surface 26 of the base portion 12 to the interface
16, which is positioned at or near a bottom portion 30 of the heel
accessory 10. As shown in FIG. 4, the slope 20 from the top 28 of
the heel accessory 10 to the interface 16 is longer than the slope
22 from the bottom 30 of the heel accessory 10 to the interface 16.
The longer slope 20 may provide additional support to the wearer's
heel and/or ankle. Additionally, because the slope 20 of the block
portion 14 can be easily seen by others when the wearer is not
resting the foot on a foot support, such as when the wearer
walking, the slope 20 can provide a surface on which a logo or
brand name can be attached, engraved or otherwise featured.
[0032] The interface 16 can be shaped to correspond to a variety of
foot supports. In the illustrated embodiment, the interface 16 is
concave, so that it corresponds to the cylindrical foot peg 116
(FIG. 2). While most motorcycle foot pegs are generally cylindrical
or rounded, some foot pegs may vary in appearance depending on the
intended application or riding conditions. Accordingly, the
interface 16 may be shaped to correspond to any of the various foot
peg designs. Moreover, the concave design of the interface 16 shown
in the illustrated embodiment can optionally rest on a cylindrical
peg of a different diameter or on a square peg and still adequately
support the wearer's foot and leg.
[0033] The heel accessory 10 may be selectively positioned on a
footwear article to provide the most comfortable resting position
for the wearer's feet and legs. For example, the heel accessory 10
may be positioned on the boot 100 below a bursa point 410 on the
heel 412 of the wearer, i.e. between the ground and the bursa point
when the wearer is standing up (see FIG. 14). The bursa 410 is a
sac-like structure that protects soft tissues from injuries that
could be caused by pressure from nearby bones. Thus, it may not be
comfortable for the wearer if the heel accessory 10 is positioned
directly on the bursa 410. Further, if the heel accessory 10 is
positioned above the wearer's bursa point 410, the wearer's foot
may begin to slide or stretch over the foot support. However, the
heel accessory 10 can be positioned as desired to achieve a
comfortable resting position for a particular wearer.
[0034] The heel accessory 10 may be formed from any suitable
material and using any conventional techniques and apparatus. For
example, the heel accessory 10 may be formed from natural and
synthetic rubbers, plastic or wood. In the illustrated embodiment,
that heel accessory 10 is formed from rubber that has been
injection molded using a conventional injection molding apparatus
(not shown) and using conventional injection molding techniques.
For example, the rubber may be injected at high pressure into a
product cavity that is shaped to form the heel accessory.
[0035] In another embodiment, a heel accessory for a footwear
article may be integrally formed with another element of the
footwear article. As shown in FIG. 12, a heel accessory 210 is
integrally formed with a heel counter of boot 200. In the
illustrated embodiment, the heel counter wraps around the heel
portion of the boot 200 and is positioned inside the boot 200,
under the upper 211. To allow the heel accessory 210 to project
from the boot 200 through the upper 211, the upper 211 includes a
cutout 220 corresponding to the heel accessory 210. Alternatively,
the upper 211 may be applied or stitched to the boot 200 in
multiple pieces around the heel accessory 10. In the illustrated
embodiment, the heel accessory 210 and the heel counter may be
integrally molded, for example through an injection molding
process, and may be formed from any moldable material, including
plastics, rubber and the like. Heel accessory 210 may otherwise be
substantially similar to heel accessory 10 described above.
[0036] In yet another embodiment, a heel accessory 310 may be
integrally formed with an external heel counter 318 of a boot 300.
In the illustrated embodiment, the heel counter 318 wraps around
the heel portion of the boot 300 and is stitched to the upper 311.
However, the heel counter 310 may alternatively or additionally be
adhered, cemented or otherwise connected to the upper 311. The heel
counter 318 is positioned on the boot 300 such that the heel
accessory 310 is positioned on or aligned with the heel portion of
the boot 300. The heel accessory 310 and heel counter 318 may be
integrally molded through an injection molding process and may be
formed from any moldable material, including plastics, rubber and
the like. The heel accessory 310 may otherwise be substantially
similar to heel accessories 10 and 210 described above.
[0037] The above description is that of current embodiments of the
invention. Various alterations and changes can be made without
departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention as
defined in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted in
accordance with the principles of patent law including the doctrine
of equivalents. Any reference to claim elements in the singular,
for example, using the articles "a," "an," "the" or "said," is not
to be construed as limiting the element to the singular.
* * * * *