U.S. patent application number 12/896581 was filed with the patent office on 2012-04-05 for heel-end slip shoe.
This patent application is currently assigned to CONVERSE INC.. Invention is credited to Chris Ferreira, Kenji Nakayama, Pamela Bogert Stauffer.
Application Number | 20120079746 12/896581 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45888601 |
Filed Date | 2012-04-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120079746 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ferreira; Chris ; et
al. |
April 5, 2012 |
Heel-End Slip Shoe
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention relate to the construction
of a shoe that is comprised of a disengageable-heel portion that
may be disengaged from an upper. Disengagement of the heel portion
from the upper allows the heel portion to fold away from the upper,
which exposes a heel-end opening that a foot may pass through to
gain entry to the interior of the shoe. Additionally, a stretchable
lacing material may be utilized to allow the shoe to absorb energy
exerted on to it by a wearer of the shoe without disengaging the
heel portion from the upper.
Inventors: |
Ferreira; Chris; (Hampton,
NH) ; Nakayama; Kenji; (Boston, MA) ;
Stauffer; Pamela Bogert; (Andover, MA) |
Assignee: |
CONVERSE INC.
North Andover
MA
|
Family ID: |
45888601 |
Appl. No.: |
12/896581 |
Filed: |
October 1, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/105 ;
36/50.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43C 1/02 20130101; A43C
11/1493 20130101; A43C 11/008 20130101; A43B 1/0081 20130101; A43B
11/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/105 ;
36/50.1 |
International
Class: |
A43B 21/00 20060101
A43B021/00; A43C 11/00 20060101 A43C011/00 |
Claims
1. A shoe construction comprising: a sole having a toe end and an
opposite heel end and having opposite medial and lateral sides
extending between the toe end and the heel end; an upper of
flexible material attached to the sole, the upper extending
upwardly from the sole to an upper top edge, the upper top edge
defining a forefoot opening; a disengageable-heel portion attached
to the sole at the heel end, the disengageable-heel portion
extending upwardly from the sole to a heel portion top edge; the
disengageable-heel portion having a medial-front edge extending
from the sole to the forefoot opening on the medial side of the
sole and an opposite lateral-front edge extending from the sole to
the forefoot opening on the lateral side of the sole; and the
disengageable-heel portion disengageably attached to the upper, the
heel portion top edge defining an ankle opening when disengageably
attached to the upper.
2. The shoe construction of claim 1, further comprising: a first
plurality of apertures in the upper and arranged in a line on a
medial side of the forefoot opening; and a second plurality of
apertures in the upper and arranged in a line on a lateral side of
the forefoot opening.
3. The shoe construction of claim 2, further comprising: a third
plurality of apertures in the disengageable-heel portion and
arranged proximate the medial edge; and a fourth plurality of
apertures in the disengageable-heel portion and arranged proximate
the lateral edge side.
4. The shoe construction of claim 2, further comprising: a fastener
extending between the first plurality of apertures and the second
plurality of apertures across the forefoot opening.
5. The shoe construction of claim 4, wherein the fastener is an
elastic material.
6. The shoe construction of claim 5, wherein the fastener extends
through a first aperture of the first plurality of apertures and
the fastener extends through a second aperture of the second
plurality of apertures, and the fastener is attached to the upper
proximate the first aperture and the second aperture.
7. The shoe construction of claim 3, wherein at least one aperture
of the first plurality of apertures aligns with at least one
aperture of the third plurality of apertures and at least one
aperture of the second plurality of apertures aligns with at least
one aperture of the fourth plurality of aperture when the
disengageable-heel portion is disengageably attached to the
upper.
8. The shoe construction of claim 1, wherein the upper defines a
heel-end opening.
9. The shoe construction of claim 1, wherein the upper is
discontinuous around the ankle opening.
10. The shoe construction of claim 1, wherein the front-lateral
edge and the front-medial edge of the disengageable-heel portion
extends from a heel end near the sole toward a toe end at the ankle
opening.
11. The shoe construction of claim 1, wherein the
disengageable-heel portion is disengageably attached to the upper
along the medial-front edge and the opposite lateral-front
edge.
12. The shoe construction of claim 1, wherein the
disengageable-heel portion is disengageably attached to the upper
along either the medial-front edge or the opposite lateral-front
edge.
13. The shoe construction of claim 1, wherein the
disengageable-heel portion is disengageably attached to the upper
utilizing a hook and loop fastener.
14. The shoe construction of claim 1, wherein the
disengageable-heel portion has a permanently attached hook or loop
portion extending from the heel top edge down towards the sole
along the medial-front edge or the lateral-front edge, wherein the
width, measured from the toe end to the heel end, of the hook or
loop portion decreases, in part, as it extends down toward the
sole.
15. A shoe construction comprising: a sole having a toe end and an
opposite heel end and having opposite medial and lateral sides
extending between the toe end and the heel end; an upper with
opposite interior and exterior surfaces, the upper is attached to
the sole along the medial and lateral side, the upper extending
upwardly from the sole to an upper top edge, the upper top edge
defining a forefoot opening, the upper forming a heel-end opening
proximate the heel end of the sole; a disengageable-heel portion of
flexible material with opposite interior and exterior surfaces, the
disengageable-heel portion is attached to the sole at the heel end,
the interior surface of the disengageable-heel portion is
disengageably attachable to the exterior surface of the upper
enclosing the heel-end opening of the upper; and the
disengageable-heel portion having a medial-front edge extending
from the sole to the forefoot opening on the medial side of the
sole and an opposite lateral-front edge extending from the sole to
the forefoot opening on the lateral side of the sole.
16. The shoe construction of claim 15, further comprising: a first
plurality of apertures in the upper and arranged in a line on a
medial side of the forefoot opening; a second plurality of
apertures in the upper and arranged in a line on a lateral side of
the forefoot opening; a third plurality of apertures in the
disengageable-heel portion and arranged proximate the medial edge;
and a fourth plurality of apertures in the disengageable-heel
portion and arranged proximate the lateral edge side.
17. The shoe construction of claim 16, further comprising: a
fastener extending from a first aperture of the first plurality of
apertures to a second aperture of the second plurality of
apertures, wherein the fastener is attached to the interior surface
of the upper.
18. The shoe construction of claim 17, wherein the fastener is a
stretchable lacing that is stitched to the interior surface of the
upper proximate the first aperture and the second aperture.
19. The shoe construction of claim 15, further comprising: a first
portion of a hook and loop material attached to the interior
surface of the disengageable-heel portion; a second portion of the
hook and loop material attached to the exterior surface of the
upper; and wherein the first portion is one of a hook material or a
loop material and the second portion is the opposite of the hook
material or the loop material of the first portion.
20. A shoe construction comprising: a sole having a toe end and an
opposite heel end and having opposite medial and lateral sides
extending between the toe end and the heel end; an upper of
flexible material with opposite interior and exterior surfaces, the
upper is attached to the sole along the medial and lateral side,
the upper extending upwardly from the sole to an upper top edge,
the upper top edge defining a forefoot opening, the upper forming a
heel-end opening proximate the heel end of the sole, such that the
heel-end opening prevents the upper from extending around an
Achilles region; a disengageable-heel portion of flexible material
with opposite interior and exterior surfaces, the
disengageable-heel portion is attached to the sole at the heel end,
the interior surface of the disengageable-heel portion is coupled
to a hook or loop material disengageably attached to a hook or loop
material coupled to the exterior surface of the upper, the
disengageable-heel portion enclosing the heel-end opening of the
upper; a first plurality of apertures in the upper and arranged in
a line on a medial side of the forefoot opening; a second plurality
of apertures in the upper and arranged in a line on a lateral side
of the forefoot opening; and a stretchable lacing attached to the
interior surface of the upper extending through a first aperture of
the first plurality of apertures, the stretchable lacing extending
through a second aperture of the second plurality of apertures, the
stretchable lacing is attached to the interior surface of the upper
proximate the second aperture.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] An athletic style shoe typically requires a foot to be
received through an ankle opening along a top edge of the upper.
Traditionally, a wearer of this athletic style shoe loosens a
lacing structure to allow entry of his or her foot into the shoe.
The wearer then may tighten the lacing structure to secure the shoe
to the received foot. However, the entry into the shoe through the
ankle opening may not be desired by a wearer. Further, a wearer of
the shoe may not desire to work with a traditional lacing structure
to gain entry to the shoe and to secure the shoe to a foot of the
wearer.
SUMMARY
[0002] Embodiments of the present invention relate to the
construction of a shoe that is comprised of a disengageable-heel
portion that may be disengaged from an upper portion of the shoe.
Disengagement of the heel portion from the upper allows the heel
portion to fold away from the upper, which exposes a heel-end
opening that a foot may pass through to gain entry to the interior
of the shoe. Additionally, a stretchable lacing material may be
utilized to allow the shoe to absorb energy exerted on to it by a
wearer of the shoe without disengaging the heel portion from the
upper.
[0003] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of
concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in
the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify
key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter,
nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of
the claimed subject matter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are
described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing
figures, which are incorporated by reference herein and
wherein:
[0005] FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary shoe having a disengageable-heel
portion that is engaged to an upper, in accordance with embodiments
of the present invention;
[0006] FIG. 2 depicts a medial side view of a shoe having a
disengageable-heel portion that is engaged to an upper, in
accordance with embodiments of the present invention;
[0007] FIG. 3 depicts a disengageable-heel portion partially
engaged with an upper, in accordance with embodiments of the
present invention;
[0008] FIG. 4 depicts a disengageable-heel portion disengaged from
an upper, in accordance with embodiments of the present
invention;
[0009] FIG. 5 depicts a heel-end view of a shoe having a
disengageable-heel portion disengaged from an upper, in accordance
with embodiments of the present invention; and
[0010] FIG. 6 depicts a lacing structure attached to an interior
surface of an upper, in accordance with embodiments of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] The subject matter of embodiments of the present invention
is described with specificity herein to meet statutory
requirements. However, the description itself is not intended to
limit the scope of this patent. Rather, the inventors have
contemplated that the claimed subject matter might also be embodied
in other ways, to include different elements or combinations of
elements similar to the ones described in this document, in
conjunction with other present or future technologies.
[0012] Embodiments of the present invention relate to the
construction of a shoe that includes a disengageable-heel portion
that may be disengaged from an upper. Disengagement of the heel
portion from the upper allows the heel portion to fold away from
the upper, which exposes a heel-end opening that a foot may pass
through to gain entry to the interior of the shoe. Additionally, a
stretchable lacing material may be utilized to allow the shoe to
absorb energy exerted on to it by a wearer of the shoe without
disengaging the heel portion from the upper.
[0013] Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention provides a
first shoe construction. The shoe construction includes a sole
having a toe end and an opposite heel end and having opposite
medial and lateral sides extending between the toe end and the heel
end. The shoe construction further has an upper of flexible
material attached to the sole. The upper extends upwardly from the
sole to an upper top edge and the upper top edge defines a forefoot
opening. The shoe construction additionally has a
disengageable-heel portion attached to the sole at the heel end.
The disengageable-heel portion extends upwardly from the sole to a
heel portion top edge. The disengageable-heel portion has a
medial-front edge that extends from the sole to the forefoot
opening on the medial side of the sole and an opposite
lateral-front edge that extends from the sole to the forefoot
opening on the lateral side of the sole. The disengageable-heel
portion is disengageably attached to the upper and defines an ankle
opening when attached to the upper.
[0014] In another aspect, the present invention provides a second
shoe construction including a sole having a toe end and an opposite
heel end and having opposite medial and lateral sides extending
between the toe end and the heel end. The shoe construction also
has an upper with opposite interior and exterior surfaces. The
upper is attached to the sole along the medial and lateral sides.
The upper extends upwardly from the sole to an upper top edge. The
upper top edge defines a forefoot opening. The upper also forms a
heel-end opening proximate the heel end of the sole. The shoe
construction also includes a disengageable-heel portion with
opposite interior and exterior surfaces. The disengageable-heel
portion is attached to the sole at the heel end. The interior
surface of the disengageable-heel portion is disengageably
attachable to the exterior surface of the upper, enclosing the
heel-end opening of the upper. The disengageable-heel portion has a
medial-front edge extending from the sole to the forefoot opening
on the medial side of the sole and an opposite lateral-front edge
extending from the sole to the forefoot opening on the lateral side
of the sole.
[0015] A third aspect of the present invention provides a third
shoe construction that includes a sole having a toe end and an
opposite heel end, and opposite medial and lateral sides extending
between the toe end and the heel end. The shoe construction further
has an upper with opposite interior and exterior surfaces. The
upper is attached to the sole along the medial and lateral side and
extends upwardly from the sole to an upper top edge. The upper top
edge defines a forefoot opening. The upper also forms a heel-end
opening near the heel end of the sole, such that the heel-end
opening prevents the upper from extending around an Achilles
region. The shoe construction also includes a disengageable-heel
portion with opposite interior and exterior surfaces. The
disengageable-heel portion is attached to the sole at the heel end.
The interior surface of the disengageable-heel portion is coupled
to a hook or loop material that is disengageably attachable to a
hook or loop material coupled to the exterior surface of the upper.
The disengageable-heel portion encloses the heel-end opening of the
upper when attached to the upper. The shoe construction further has
apertures in the upper arranged in a line on a medial side and a
lateral side of the forefoot opening. A stretchable lacing is
attached to the interior surface of the upper extending through an
aperture on the medial side to an aperture on the lateral side.
[0016] Having briefly described an overview of embodiments of the
present invention, a more detailed description follows.
[0017] The construction of a slip athleisure shoe 10 of the present
invention has the basic construction of a basketball-type shoe.
However, the slip athleisure shoe 10 is comprised of a
disengageable-heel portion 402 that may be removeably attached to
an upper 202 in an as-worn position (as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2)
and un-attached from the upper 202 to provide an opening to the
shoe's interior (as best seen in FIG. 4). Additionally, the slip
athleisure shoe 10 may include a stretchable lacing 310. The
disengageable-heel portion 402 and/or the stretchable lacing 310
provide the shoe with a unique opening and fastening
configuration.
[0018] In embodiments, the shoe 10 is a high-top basketball style
shoe. However, it should be understood that the novel concept of
the invention could be employed on other types of shoes. Because
much of the construction of the shoe 10 is the same as that of a
conventional high-top shoe, the conventional features of the
constructions will be described only generally herein.
[0019] The shoe 10 has a shoe sole 102 that is constructed of
resilient materials that are typically employed in the construction
of soles of athletic shoes. The sole 102 can be constructed with an
outsole, a midsole, and an insert, as is conventional. The shoe
sole 102 has a bottom surface that functions as the traction
surface of the shoe, and an opposite top surface in the interior 12
of the shoe 10. The size of the shoe 10 has a length that extends
from a rear sole heel end 106 to a front toe end 104 of the sole
102. As best seen in FIG. 5, the sole 102 has a width that extends
between a medial side 108 and a lateral side 110 of the sole
102.
[0020] The shoe 10 also is constructed with the upper 202. The
upper 202 is secured to the sole 102 and extends upwardly from the
shoe sole top surface. The upper 202 is constructed of a flexible
material, for example leather, polymer, or a fabric such as canvas.
However, unlike a traditional upper, the upper 102 may not include
a traditional heel portion that would extend around the sole top
surface at the sole heel end 106. Instead, as will be discussed in
greater detail hereinafter, a disengageable heel portion may be
utilized in the construction of the shoe 10.
[0021] The upper 202 has a medial side portion 216 and a lateral
side portion 218 that extend along the respective sole medial side
108 and the sole lateral side 110. The upper medial side portion
216 extends upwardly from the sole medial side 108 to an upper
medial side edge 206. The upper lateral side portion 218 extends
upwardly from the sole lateral side 110 to an upper lateral side
edge 208. As illustrated in the figures, the upper medial side edge
206 and the upper lateral side edge 208 extend rearwardly from
opposite sides of the front toe end 104 of the sole 102. As best
seen in FIG. 1, the length of the upper medial side edge 206 and
the upper lateral side edge 208 define a forefoot opening 220 in
the upper 202 that opens to the shoe interior 12.
[0022] The upper 202 is also constructed with a toe box 204 that
extends around and across the sole top surface at the sole toe end
104. The toe box 204 is connected between the upper medial side
portion 216 and the upper lateral side portion 218 and encloses a
portion of the shoe interior 12 adjacent the sole toe end 104. The
upper medial side edge 206 and the upper lateral side edge 208
extend rearwardly from the toe box 204.
[0023] A first plurality of apertures 302 are provided on the upper
medial side portion 216 and a second plurality of apertures 304 are
provided on the upper lateral side portion 218. The apertures 302
and 304 are lacing openings in an exemplary embodiment. A lacing
opening is an opening that is typically occupied by a portion of a
fastener, such as lacing that close the shoe upper over the
forefoot opening of the shoe. The apertures 302 and 304 may provide
any type of lacing openings on the shoe, for example, D-rings or
speed lacing hooks. However, in an exemplary embodiment, the
apertures 302 and 304 are an eyelet or grommet style aperture. The
apertures 302 and 304 are arranged in lines along the upper medial
side portion 216 and the upper lateral side portion 218, as is
conventional. As illustrated in the figures, the apertures 302 and
304, in an exemplary embodiment, extend substantially the entire
length of the upper medial side edge 206 and the upper lateral side
edge 208.
[0024] The shoe upper 202 includes a vamp 222 or a throat
positioned rearwardly of the toe box 204, and a tongue 224 that
extends rearwardly from the vamp 222 through the forefoot opening
210. The tongue 224 extends along the lengths of the upper medial
side portion 216 and the upper lateral side portion 218 to a distal
end of the tongue, a tongue upper edge 230, near an ankle opening
410. As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the tongue 224 has a width
between a medial side edge 226 and a lateral side edge 228 of the
tongue. The length and width of the tongue position the tongue side
edges beneath the upper medial side portion 216 and the upper
lateral side portion 218, respectively, and extend the tongue over
the forefoot opening 210 of the shoe.
[0025] In an exemplary embodiment, the construction of the shoe 10
includes the disengageable-heel portion 402. The disengageable-heel
portion 402 is secured to the sole 102 around the sole heel end 106
and extends upwardly from the sole 102. The disengageable-heel
portion 402 is constructed, in an exemplary embodiment, from a
flexible material. For example, disengageable-heel portion 402 may
be constructed of the same material as the upper 202, or in an
exemplary embodiment, the disengageable-heel portion 402 may be
constructed of a different material than the upper 202.
[0026] The disengageable-heel portion 402 extends upwardly from the
sole 102 to a heel portion top edge 404. The heel portion top edge
404 defines the ankle opening 410, which provides an entry to the
interior 12 of the shoe 10. As best seen in FIG. 4, the
disengageable-heel portion 402 is comprised of a heel medial side
portion 420 and a heel lateral side portion 422. The heel medial
side portion 420 extends from the sole 102 upwardly to the heel
portion top edge 404 along the medial side of the shoe. Similarly,
the heel lateral side portion 422 extends from the sole 102
upwardly to the heel portion top edge 404 along the lateral side of
the shoe. In an exemplary embodiment, a forward edge of the heel
medial side portion 420 is a medial front edge 406 that extends
from the sole 102 to the forefoot opening 210. Similarly, a forward
edge of the heel lateral side portion 422 is a lateral front edge
408 that extends from the sole 102 to the forefoot opening 210. As
will be discussed hereinafter, the disengageable-heel portion 402
may be removeably affixed to the upper 202 that defines the
forefoot opening 210; therefore, depending on a method of affixing
(e.g., location of hook and loop attachment by a user), the medial
front edge 406 may only extend proximate to the forefoot opening
210. Consequently, when it is stated herein that an edge, portion,
or the like extends to another edge, portion, or the like, it is
understood that an approximate positional relationship is
implied.
[0027] In an exemplary embodiment, the medial front edge 406 angles
forward as it extends upwardly. For example, the farthest forward
(e.g., toe end) point of attachment along the sole 102 of the
medial front edge 406 and the lateral front edge 408 is rearward of
the uppermost ends of the respective front edge. Therefore, in an
exemplary embodiment, the medial front edge 406 and the lateral
front edge 408 trend forward as they extend upward away from the
sole 102. Consequently, the disengageable-heel portion 402 is
adapted to provide additional ankle support without constricting
the side portions of a wearer's foot near the sole 102.
[0028] In an exemplary embodiment, as best seen in FIG. 5, the
disengageable-heel portion 402 includes a plurality of apertures
306 on the heel medial side portion 420 and a plurality of
apertures 308 on the heel lateral side portion 422. One or more of
the plurality of apertures 306 may appear as if aligned or in line
with the plurality of apertures 302 of the upper 202 when the
disengageable-heel portion 402 is affixed to the upper 202, as
illustrated in FIG. 1. Similarly, one or more of the plurality of
apertures 308 may appear as if aligned or in line with the
plurality of apertures 304 of the upper 202 when the
disengageable-heel portion 402 is affixed to the upper 202.
Alignment of the respective apertures on the upper 202 and the
disengageable-heel portion 402 provides aesthetic continuity of the
apertures. Additionally, in an exemplary embodiment, the alignment
of respective plurality of apertures allows for a fastening
mechanism, such as a lace, to extend through at least one of the
plurality of apertures on the upper 202 to an aperture on the
disengageable-heel portion 402. In this example, the
disengageable-heel portion 402 may be affixed to the upper 202 by
way of the fastening mechanism.
[0029] FIG. 2 depicts a medial side view of the shoe 10 in
accordance with embodiments of the present invention. As previously
discussed, the sole 102 has a toe end 104 and a heel end 106. The
medial side portion 216 of the upper 202 extends upwardly from the
sole 102 to the upper medial side edge 206. Also illustrated in
FIG. 2 is the lacing 310 extending through the apertures 302. Also
illustrated are the apertures 306 on the heel medial side portion
420 of the disengageable-heel portion 402. The medial front edge
406 of the disengageable-heel portion 402 is illustrated extending
in a forward trend as it upwardly extends from the sole 102.
[0030] FIG. 3 depicts the disengageable-heel portion 402 partially
engaged with the upper 202, in accordance with embodiments of the
present invention. The disengageable-heel portion 402 is attached
to the sole 102 around the heel end 106. In an exemplary
embodiment, the disengageable-heel portion 402 is attached by
stitching, adhesive, or other conventional methods to the sole 102.
The affixing method utilized between the sole 102 and the
disengageable-heel portion 402, in an embodiment, allows the
disengageable-heel portion 402 to remain pliable or flexible
proximate the sole 102. This pliability allows the
disengageable-heel portion 402 to fold away from the upper 202,
which facilitates exposing a heel-end opening 412.
[0031] The disengageable-heel portion 402, in an exemplary
embodiments depicted in FIG. 3, has affixed to an interior surface
418 a loop material 414. Further, a corresponding hook material 416
is affixed to an exterior surface 214 of the upper 202. The hook
material 416 and the loop material 414, when used in combination
are referred to as a hook and loop material. While the hook
material 416 is illustrated as being affixed to the upper 202 and
the loop material 414 is illustrated as being affixed to the
disengageable-heel portion 402, it is contemplated that the hook
material 416 and the loop material 414 may be used in any
combination to allow the disengageable-heel portion 402 to be
engaged with the upper 202 (e.g., any combination of hook and/or
loop materials may be disposed on any portion of the shoe 10). The
hook and loop materials may be permanently attached to the shoe.
For example, the hook and loop materials may be sewn, stitched,
glued, or otherwise attached. It is contemplated herein that other
coupling structures may be implemented in place of a hook and loop
material. For example, lacing, cord, snaps, buttons, zippers,
clasps, or the like may be utilized to attach, even temporarily,
the disengageable-heel portion 402 to the upper 202.
[0032] At least one of the plurality of apertures 302 on the upper
202 may be aligned with at least one aperture of the plurality of
apertures 306 on the disengageable-heel portion 402. For example,
as best seen in FIG. 3, an aperture 312 is positioned such that
when the disengageable-heel portion 402 is engaged (e.g., a
substantial portion of the hook material 416 is mated to a
substantial portion of the loop material 414), the aperture 312 is
aligned with an aperture 316. As previously discussed, the
alignment of apertures on the upper 202 with apertures on the
disengageable-heel portion 402 may facilitate maintaining a
consistent appearance and/or allow a fastener to extend through the
aligned apertures.
[0033] As illustrated in the FIG. 3, the aperture 316 is disposed
within at least a portion of the loop material 414. Similarly, the
aperture 312 is disposed, at least partially, within the hook
material 416. The close proximity, if not complete encompassment,
of the hook and loop material with one or more apertures allows the
disengageable-heel portion 402, when engaged (e.g., affixed,
attached) to the upper 202, to maintain a close locational
relationship (e.g., alignment) of the aperture 316 and the aperture
312. Consequently, advantages of such a proximal relationship among
the apertures may be achieved.
[0034] FIG. 4 depicts the disengageable-heel portion 402 disengaged
from the upper 202 in accordance with embodiments of the present
invention. The upper 202 has both an interior surface 212 and the
exterior surface 214. The interior surface 212 of the upper 202 in
combination with the interior surface 418 of the disengageable-heel
portion 402 partially define the shoe interior 12 when the
disengageable-heel portion 402 is engaged with the upper 202.
However, when the disengageable-heel portion 402 is disengaged from
the upper 202, as depicted in FIG. 4, a heel-end opening 412 is
exposed.
[0035] The heel-end opening 412 is formed by a heel-end edge 424 on
a lateral side of the upper 202 and a heel-end edge 426 on a medial
side of the upper 202. In an exemplary embodiment, the heel-end
opening 412 extends upwardly from the sole 102. As a result of the
heel-end opening 412, the upper is discontinuous around the ankle
opening 410. For example, without the disengageable-heel portion
402 engaged to the upper 202, the ankle opening 410 is not
continuously defined at a location conventionally associated with
such an opening.
[0036] The disengagement of the loop material 414 from the hook
material 416 allows for the disengageable-heel portion 402 to fold
downwardly from the ankle opening 410 to expose the heel-end
opening 412. Consequently, a wearer of the shoe 10 may insert a
foot into the shoe 10 through the heel-end opening 412 without
adjusting the lacing 310. For example, a child or other wearer that
has difficulty adjusting a typical lacing structure may instead
disengage the disengageable-heel portion 402 from the upper 202 to
allow the shoe 10 to be removed from or placed on a foot.
[0037] A disengageable fastener, such as hook and loop material,
may be implemented to engage the disengageable-heel portion 402 to
the upper 202. The disengageable fastener, in an exemplary
embodiment, provides a greater degree of disengaging force
proximate the upper portion of the disengageable-heel portion 402.
For example, the loop material 414 covers a greater surface area as
the material extends upwardly from the sole 102. This greater
amount of surface area may translate into a greater degree of
engaging force by the hook and loop materials. This greater degree
at the upper portion may be desired to prevent unintentional
disengagement of the disengageable-heel portion 402 from the upper
202 because of the greater distance from a folding location of the
upper portion of the disengageable-heel from the sole 102.
[0038] In an exemplary embodiment, the lacing 310 is a stretchable
lacing. For example, an elastic lace material may be utilized to
connect one or more apertures on the medial side of the shoe 10 to
one or more apertures on the lateral side of the shoe 10. In an
exemplary embodiment, a stretchable or elastic structure, such as
an elastic lacing, may be desired to provide flexibility to the
shoe 10. For example, when a wearer of the shoe 10 exerts force on
the shoe, that force may cause the hook and loop material that is
used to mate the disengageable-heel portion 402 to the upper 202 to
disengage when not desired. Therefore, it is contemplated that
utilization of a stretchable lacing across the forefoot opening 220
provides flexibility and absorption of the force exerted by the
wearer in a magnitude sufficient to prevent the hook and loop
materials from unintentionally disengaging. Additionally, a
stretchable material across the forefoot opening 220 may also
provide a securing force to form the shoe 10 to a foot of a wearer
without a user having to tie or otherwise manipulate a traditional
lacing.
[0039] A fastener may not be a continuous piece of material among
all or even some of the apertures. For example, a pairing of
apertures along the medial side and the lateral side may be
implemented (e.g., a most toe-end aperture on the medial side is
paired with a most toe-end aperture on the lateral side; a second
most toe-end aperture on the medial side is paired with a second
most toe-end aperture on the lateral side, etc). This pairing may
be implemented so that a discrete portion of fastener extends
through each aperture within a pairing. For example, a portion of a
fastener may extend through a first aperture on the medial side to
a first aperture on the lateral side; a second discrete portion of
a fastener may extend through a second aperture on the medial side
to a second aperture on the lateral side.
[0040] FIG. 5 depicts a heel-end view of the shoe 10, in accordance
with embodiments of the present invention. The disengageable-heel
portion 402 is disengaged from the upper 202 to be in a folded down
position. As a result of the disengageable-heel portion 402 being
in a folded down position, the heel-end opening 412 is exposed
allowing entry of a foot into the interior 12 of the shoe 10. The
heel-end opening 412 is defined, in part, by the medial heel-end
edge 426 and the lateral heel-end edge 424 of the upper 202
extending upwardly from the sole 102. The heel-end opening 412 is
also defined, in part, by an upper portion of the medial side edge
226 and the lateral side edge 228 of the tongue referred to as a
tongue upper edge 230. Therefore, as illustrated in the FIG. 5, the
heel-end opening 412 is defined as extending upwardly from the sole
102 along the medial heel-end edge 426, along the tongue upper edge
230, and extending downwardly to the sole 102 along the lateral
heel-end edge 424. In an exemplary embodiment, the heel-end opening
412 is an opening of the shoe 10 that corresponds to an area
proximate an Achilles heel of a wearer of the shoe 10 when wearing
the shoe 10.
[0041] FIG. 6 depicts the interior surface 212 of the upper 202 in
accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The
disengageable-heel portion 402 is illustrated at least partially
disengaged from the upper 202 proximate the heel medial side
portion 420. The medial side of the upper 202 includes the
plurality of apertures 302, which is comprised of an aperture 324
and a second aperture 328 in the illustrated embodiment. In an
exemplary embodiment, a fastening structure, such as a lace extends
through one or more of the plurality of apertures 302. In a further
embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 6, a separate fastening
structure passes through the aperture 324 than that which passes
through the aperture 328.
[0042] In an exemplary embodiment, a lacing material 326 extends
through the aperture 324 to terminate proximate the interior
surface 212 of the upper. The lacing material 326 may pass through
an opening 314 of the interior surface 212 of the upper. The lacing
structure may be secured to the upper 202 as being stitched or
otherwise affixed to the upper. For example, a first stitching 320
and a second stitching 322 may be effective for securing a portion,
such as an end, of the lacing structure 326 to the shoe 10.
Similarly, in the illustrated embodiment, a lacing structure 330
extends through the aperture 328 to be secured proximate the
interior surface 212 by passing through an opening 318 of the
interior surface 212 by stitching 320 and/or stitching 322.
Therefore, in this example, the lacing structure 326 and the lacing
structure 330 are discrete lacing portions, which unlike
traditional lacing that utilizes a common lacing structure to
extend through at least a majority of apertures, the lacing
structures 326 and 330 are separate fastening structures.
[0043] Additionally, unlike traditional lacing of a shoe that may
be adjusted, the lacing structures 326 and 330 are secured to the
shoe in a manner that prevents traditional adjustments (e.g.,
tightening by tying). However, in an exemplary embodiment, the
lacing structures 326 and 330 are constructed from a stretchable
(i.e., elastic) material, as previously discussed. Consequently,
unlike a traditional lacing that required a tightening of the
lacing through a tying action, properties of a stretchable material
allows for the lacing material 326 and 330 to tighten around a
wearer's foot. Additionally, the attachment location of the
disengageable-heel portion 402 may be adjusted when engaged to the
upper 202 to facilitate "tightening" of the shoe 10 to a wearer's
foot. However, it is contemplated that a continuous lacing
structure may extend through the apertures 324 and 328 as would be
utilized in a traditional shoe.
[0044] Although the shoe construction is described above by
referring to particular embodiments, it should be understood that
the modifications and variations could be made to the shoe
construction described without departing from the intended scope of
protection provided by the following claims.
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