U.S. patent application number 13/806697 was filed with the patent office on 2013-07-18 for shoe with conforming upper.
This patent application is currently assigned to AETREX WORLDWIDE, INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is Evan Schwartz. Invention is credited to Evan Schwartz.
Application Number | 20130180131 13/806697 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45371839 |
Filed Date | 2013-07-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130180131 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schwartz; Evan |
July 18, 2013 |
Shoe with Conforming Upper
Abstract
The invention comprises articles of footwear that have a
conforming upper to provide comfort and support to the wearer. The
upper portion may comprise a cushioning layer of polyurethane foam
or other materials having similar characteristics. In addition to
the cushioning layer, the shoe upper is also composed of a fabric
layer. In preferred embodiments, the stretch fabric is 4-way
elastic fabric. 4-way stretch fabric may be comprised of e.g.,
nylon or other elastane or spandex material or a combination
thereof.
Inventors: |
Schwartz; Evan; (Teaneck,
NJ) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Schwartz; Evan |
Teaneck |
NJ |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
AETREX WORLDWIDE, INC.
Teaneck
NJ
|
Family ID: |
45371839 |
Appl. No.: |
13/806697 |
Filed: |
June 24, 2011 |
PCT Filed: |
June 24, 2011 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US2011/041837 |
371 Date: |
March 29, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61358714 |
Jun 25, 2010 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/88 ; 36/45;
36/55 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 23/07 20130101;
A43B 23/0205 20130101; A43B 23/0215 20130101; A43B 1/0045 20130101;
A43B 3/107 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/88 ; 36/45;
36/55 |
International
Class: |
A43B 23/02 20060101
A43B023/02 |
Claims
1. An article of footwear comprising: a sole; and an upper
comprising polyurethane foam.
2. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the upper further
comprises a fabric.
3. The article of footwear of claim 2, wherein the fabric comprises
nylon.
4. The article of footwear of claim 2, wherein the upper further
comprises a lining.
5. The article of footwear of claim 4, wherein the lining comprises
a knit fabric.
6. The article of footwear of claim 2, wherein the fabric is
layered on top of the polyurethane foam.
7. The article of footwear of claim 4, wherein the polyurethane
foam is layered on top of the lining and wherein the fabric is
layered on top of the polyurethane foam.
8. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the polyurethane
foam has a density of between about 10 kg/m.sup.3 to about 200
kg/m.sup.3.
9. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the polyurethane
foam has a density of between about 25 kg/m.sup.3 to about 175
kg/m.sup.3.
10. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the polyurethane
foam has a density of between about 50 kg/m.sup.3 to about 150
kg/m.sup.3.
11. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the polyurethane
foam has a density of between about 75 kg/m.sup.3 to about 100
kg/m.sup.3.
12. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the upper further
comprises an antimicrobial.
13. The article of footwear of claim 12, wherein the antimicrobial
comprises triclosan, organofunctional saline, silver, trichlocarban
or a combination thereof.
14. An upper for an article of footwear comprising polyurethane
foam.
15. The upper of claim 14 further comprising a fabric.
16. The upper of claim 15, wherein the fabric comprises nylon.
17. The upper of claim 15 further comprising a lining.
18-19. (canceled)
20. The upper of claim 17, wherein the polyurethane foam is layered
on top of the lining and wherein the fabric is layered on top of
the polyurethane foam.
21-24. (canceled)
25. The upper of claim 14 further comprising an antimicrobial.
26. (canceled)
27. A method of alleviating foot ailments of a wearer comprising
providing an article of footwear to the wearer, wherein the article
of footwear comprises a sole; and an upper which conforms to the
wearer's foot upon insertion of the foot into the article of
footwear.
28-41. (canceled)
Description
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/358,714, filed Jun. 25, 2010, the contents of
which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Shoes typically consist of an upper portion and a sole. The
upper portion of the shoe contours most of the sides, top, and back
of the foot, while the sole contours the bottom of the foot. As the
bottom of the foot is the portion of the foot which receives the
most impact, most footwear manufacturers concentrate on providing a
comfortable sole for their footwear.
[0003] However, the upper portion of the shoe is often overlooked
in terms of comfort. Everyday wearing of some shoes may lead to
discomfort for the wearer as a result of many factors such as
friction, rigidness, tightness and non-conformity to the foot.
Additionally, foot ailments such as bunions, calluses, hammertoes,
corns and blisters can be extremely painful, as the friction caused
by having the shoe upper rub against those sore spots may
exacerbate the pain. Therefore, even with an extra cushioned and
supportive sole, the upper portion may be the most uncomfortable
portion of the shoe. This may be especially problematic not just
for the normal wearer, but also if a wearer has foot ailments that
affect the top or sides of the foot.
[0004] Moreover, the tightness of a shoe upper may even be the
cause of such ailments. A narrow toe box can crowd the toes
together, leaving them in a triangular shape. The combination of
the narrow toe box along with an upper comprised of a
non-stretchable material leaves the wearer's toes with insufficient
room.
[0005] In addition, people's feet expand when they stand, reduce
when they sit, and expand and reduce at different times of the day
and month. The constant expansion and reduction of the size of the
foot is not taken into consideration with typical shoes, as the
uppers maintain in constant position, regardless of the change in
the wearer's foot.
[0006] Stability and support can also be a problem. Many shoes,
such as flip-flops, lack a supportive upper, which can lead to foot
and back pain.
[0007] Therefore, there remains a need in the art to provide a shoe
which incorporates an upper portion which addresses the issues of
comfort, flexibility, and stability/support for the wearer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a shoe which has a conforming upper portion to assist in
the comfort of the shoe and to provide support for the foot for the
normal wearer with no foot ailments.
[0009] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
shoe which has a conforming upper portion to assist in the comfort
of the shoe and to provide support for the foot for the normal
wearer with foot ailments.
[0010] In certain embodiments, the present invention is directed to
a shoe with a conforming upper portion, wherein the conforming
upper portion surrounds at least a portion of the top, sides, and
back of the wearer's foot.
[0011] In certain embodiments, the present invention is directed to
a shoe comprising a sole and an upper comprising a cushioning
layer. In preferred embodiments, the cushioning layer comprises
polyurethane foam, or other material having similar characteristics
to polyurethane foam.
[0012] In certain embodiments, the present invention is directed to
an upper portion of a shoe, wherein the upper portion comprises a
cushioning layer comprising polyurethane foam, or other material
having similar characteristics to polyurethane foam.
[0013] In preferred embodiments, the present invention is directed
to a shoe comprising a sole and an upper, wherein the upper
comprises a lining layer, a cushioning layer, and a 4-way stretch
fabric layer.
[0014] As used herein, the terms "memory foam" and "polyurethane
foam" are used interchangeably.
[0015] As used herein, the terms "footwear" and "shoe" are used
interchangeably, and are meant to encompass any style of footwear,
including, but not limited to, boots, clogs, sandals, Mary-Jane,
slip-ons, sneakers, etc.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0016] FIG. 1 depicts a detailed view of the layers of a shoe upper
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 2 depicts an embodiment of the present invention in
which the style of the shoe is a clog.
[0018] FIG. 3 depicts an embodiment of the present invention in
which the style of the shoe is a Mary Jane.
[0019] FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment of the present invention in
which the style of the shoe is a slip-on.
[0020] The figures referred to above should be understood to solely
provide representative embodiments of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] The shoes of the present invention allow the wearer to have
stylish footwear without sacrificing comfort, particularly comfort
on the top, sides, and back of the foot. The upper-foot comfort is
achieved by providing a conforming upper which conforms to the
wearer's foot upon insertion of the foot into the shoe. The
conforming upper is beneficial to the wearers with normal feet, as
it provides extra comfort, flexibility and support. Moreover, the
conforming upper is particularly advantageous for the wearer who
suffers from foot ailments such as bunions, calluses, hammertoes,
corns and blisters. As the upper portion of the shoe has
elastic-type properties, the upper can expand when the foot expands
and return to its initial position when the foot reduces in size.
Therefore, if the wearer has, e.g., a bunion, the upper will
conform even to the portion of the foot which has the bunion.
[0022] Another advantage of the present invention is that the
conforming upper also provides support by countering the wearer's
foot upon insertion of the foot into the shoe. This provides
stability which may help reduce foot and back pain.
[0023] For added all-around comfort, the conforming upper can be
combined with shock absorbing insoles/soles (such as those
described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,493,230, which is hereby incorporated
by reference).
[0024] The cushioning layer of the upper of the present invention
has conforming and countering characteristics , and requires a
material which specifically exhibits these characteristics. Memory
foam is therefore the preferred material used to create the
cushioning layer of the conforming upper used in the present
invention. Memory foam is a polyurethane material, often referred
to as visco-elastic foam. Memory foam typically comes in two forms,
a high-density foam which conforms to objects in reaction to warm
temperature, and a lower density foam which conforms to objects as
a result of pressure sensitivity. The present invention
contemplates the use of both high and low density memory foam. In
preferred embodiments, the density of the foam used is such to
allow for slow recovery. Preferably, the foam density is from about
10 kg/m.sup.3 to about 200 kg/m.sup.3, from about 25 kg/m.sup.3 to
about 175 kg/m.sup.3, from about 50 kg/m.sup.3 to about 150
kg/m.sup.3, or from about 75 kg/m.sup.3 to about 100 kg/m.sup.3.
The most preferred density range of the memory foam used in the
present invention is from about 75 kg/m.sup.3 to about 100
kg/m.sup.3.
[0025] It is important to note that the present invention
contemplates the use of any material having characteristics similar
to those of memory foam for use in the cushioning layer. For
example, in place of memory foam, any material which provides
cushioning, support and flexibility, and having a density similar
to that of memory foam can be used. Thus, materials having a
density of from about 10 kg/m.sup.3 to about 200 kg/m.sup.3, from
about 25 kg/m.sup.3 to about 175 kg/m.sup.3, from about 50
kg/m.sup.3 to about 150 kg/m.sup.3, or preferably from about 75
kg/m.sup.3 to about 100 kg/m.sup.3, while still providing
cushioning, support and flexibility are contemplated for use in the
uppers of the present invention. For example, neoprene can also be
used as the cushioning layer.
[0026] In preferred embodiments, the cushioning layer makes up
greater than 20% of the upper, greater than 40% of the upper,
greater than 60% of the upper, or greater than 80% of the
upper.
[0027] In addition to the cushioning layer, the shoe upper is also
composed of a fabric layer. The fabric is preferably a stretchable
fabric. In preferred embodiments, the stretch fabric is 4-way
elastic fabric. 4-way stretch fabric may be comprised of, e.g.,
nylon or other elastane or spandex material or a combination
thereof.
[0028] In certain embodiments, the shoe upper also has a lining
layer. The lining can be composed of any thin material which allows
for integrity of the memory foam to be maintained. Preferably, the
lining is a knit fabric such as jersey, wool, rayon, cotton or a
cotton-synthetic blend, or a combination thereof, although any thin
fabric which maintains the integrity of the memory foam while still
providing comfort to the wearer may be used.
[0029] Additionally, antimicrobial agents may be used in the shoe
upper. In certain embodiments, antimicrobial agents are
incorporated into a fabric used in the lining and/or the cushioning
layer. In other embodiments, antimicrobial solution may be layered
or sprayed onto the lining and/or cushioning layer. Examples of
antimicrobial agents which may be used in the present invention
include, but are not limited to, tricolsan, organofunctional saline
(known as Aegis.RTM.), silver, trichlocarban, or other similar
agents or a combination thereof.
[0030] In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the
layers of the shoe upper are arranged as shown in FIG. 1. In FIG.
1, the top layer is the fabric layer 101. The fabric layer 101 is
the outermost layer which is exposed to the environment. The fabric
layer can be any color and/or pattern and is preferably composed of
a 4-way stretch fabric. In FIG. 1, the cushioning layer 102 is the
intermediate layer. However, in embodiments where there is no
lining present (not shown) the cushioning layer will be the layer
that is exposed to the wearer's foot. In embodiments wherein the
lining is present, the lining 103 will be the inner-most layer,
exposed to the wearer's foot and the cushioning layer 102 will be
the intermediate layer.
[0031] In certain embodiments, the layers are attached to each
other by way of an adhesive suitable for use with the materials,
such as, e.g., hot melt adhesives, double component adhesives,
volatile solvent adhesives, water based adhesives, etc. In other
embodiments, the layers may be molded together by way of heat
processing. In alternate embodiments, the layers may be attached to
each other by any suitable means known in the art.
[0032] The upper portions of the shoes described herein may be used
in any type of shoe, boot, etc., which would benefit from the
support and comfort provided by the fabric and the memory foam and
may be used for any suitable style, such as a clog, slip-on, Mary
Jane, boot, etc.
[0033] For example, FIG. 2 depicts a shoe contemplated by the
present invention in the form of a clog 200. In such an embodiment,
the fabric layer 101 of the upper surrounds the entire top and side
portions of the foot and a portion of the heel, as does the lining
103. The sole of the shoe 104 is connected to the upper by any
means known in the art.
[0034] FIG. 3 depicts an embodiment of the present invention
wherein the shoe is in the style of a Mary Jane 300. As shown in
FIG. 3, the fabric layer 101 of the upper extends over only a
portion of the top of the foot.
[0035] FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment of the present invention
wherein the shoe is in the style of a slip-on 400. In such an
embodiment, the fabric layer 101 of the upper extends over the
entire top and sides portions of the foot, as well as the entire
heel.
[0036] In light of the foregoing disclosure of the invention and
description of various embodiments, those skill in the art will
readily understand that modifications and adaptations can be made
without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. All
such modifications and adaptations are intended to be covered by
the following claims.
* * * * *