Patent Application
20230119456
This invention relates to footwear, and, more particularly, to adjustment mechanisms used with footwear, including adjustment mechanisms that are molded as part of the footwear.
Components (e.g., the soles, the uppers, the buckles, etc.) that make up footwear are typically produced in mass volume using molding, die cutting, extrusion, and other manufacturing processes. The components are made separately in bulk and then manually configured together (e.g., sewn and/or glued) to form a final product.
Secondary assembly and labor account for a significant percentage of the overall cost of footwear. For example, sewing and/or gluing the uppers onto the soles, sewing and/or gluing the buckles onto the uppers, and configuring the buckles together all add additional cost to the final product.
It is desirable and an object hereof to provide footwear with reduced secondary assembly and labor costs. It is also desirable and an object hereof to provide a manufacturing process that reduces the secondary assembly required to produce the design of footwear.
The present invention is specified in the claims as well as in the description.
One general aspect includes a shoe comprising: a rear portion and a front portion having at least one gap therebetween, wherein relative positions of the rear portion and the front portion define a size of the shoe; and a rail configured with the rear portion; a slider configured with the front portion, the slider engaging the rail, wherein the rail provides multiple distinct and discrete positions for the slider, and wherein a position of the slider in the rail determines a size of the at least one gap, and wherein the front portion and the rear portion comprise molded plastic, and wherein the rail is molded in the rear portion.
Implementations may include one or more of the following features, alone or in combination(s):
The following numbered embodiments also form part of the invention.
Below is a list of device (shoe) embodiments. Those will be indicated with a letter “S”. Whenever such embodiments are referred to, this will be done by referring to “S” embodiments.
The above features along with additional details of the invention, are described further in the examples herein, which are intended to further illustrate the invention but are not intended to limit its scope in any way.
Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
As used herein, footwear may include any type of footwear including, e.g., athletic shoes, dress shoes, casual shoes, high heel shoes, sandals, clogs, boots, slippers, etc. For the purposes of this disclosure however, embodiments hereof will be described with respect to a single article of footwear, specifically, a rubber or plastic sandal.
In addition, while the description describes footwear for a right foot, it is understood that the embodiments described herein also pertain to a corresponding left foot article of footwear when a pair of footwear is provided. The left article of footwear is generally symmetric and a mirror of the right article of footwear. It is also understood that the embodiments described herein may pertain to any type of footwear.
With reference again to
The upper 116 includes a front upper portion 122 and a back upper portion 124. The front upper portion 122 generally covers at least a portion of the bridge and/or the toes of the wearer's foot, and the back upper portion 124 generally extends around at least a portion of the wearer's heel when worn. The back upper portion 124 may also be referred to as a heel strap, a heel support, or a back strap.
A top opening 126 is formed between the front upper portion 122 and the back upper portion 124 through which the wearer's ankle may extend when worn. The fit of the footwear 100 may be adjusted, e.g., by changing the relative positions of the front upper portion 122 and the back upper portion 124. For example, the fit of the footwear 100 may be adjusted by moving the front and back upper portions 122, 124 towards or away from one another (to reduce or expand the size of the opening 126 and thereby tighten or loosen the footwear 100).
The front upper portion 122 may include a back edge 128, and the back upper portion 124 may include a front edge 130. The back edge 128 and front edge 130 may overlap or have a gap G therebetween. In the drawings the gap G is shown by two dashed lines. The size of the top opening 126 may be reduced or expanded by, respectively, decreasing or increasing the distance between the back edge 128 and front edge 130 (or by adjusting the overlap between the back edge 128 and front edge 130). That is, the size of the top opening 126 may be reduced or expanded by, respectively, decreasing or increasing the size of the gap G.
For the purposes of this specification, the adjustable portion will be described in relation to the right side 112 of the footwear which, for the right foot, is on the outside of the footwear. Preferably, the front upper portion 122 and the back upper portion 124 are joined on the inside (the left side 110, as shown in
In exemplary embodiments hereof, the footwear 100 may include an adjustment mechanism that may decrease and/or increase the size of the gap G and/or adjust the overlap between the back edge 128 and front edge 130, thereby reducing and/or expanding the size of the top opening 126 and adjusting the fit of the footwear 100.
With reference to
With reference to
Aspects of an exemplary tab 202 are shown in greater detail in
In an alternate embodiment, e.g., as shown in
The ridges or segments of the track 134 define distinct and discrete engagement positions for the mount portion. The track 134 preferably has a circular cross section (e.g., as shown in
The track 134 may be configured with the back upper portion 124, and the mount 204 may be configured with the front upper portion 122. Alternatively, the positions of the track and mount may be reversed.
The mount 204 may be slidably configured with the track 134 to move laterally along the track's length in either direction as depicted by the arrow AA′ in
As shown in
The rail 134 may include a generally circular cross-section as shown, although other cross-sectional shapes such as oval, square, rectangular, triangular, octagonal, trapezoidal, and/or other shapes are contemplated and may also be used.
As shown in
The configuration in
The tab 202 may include a slide locking mechanism 212 (e.g., in
As described above with reference to
As described, the rail 134 is raised above the surface of the footwear 100. In other exemplary embodiments hereof, as shown, e.g., in
The recess 516 may include a generally rectangular cross-section as shown, although other cross-sectional shapes such as circular, oval, square, triangular, octagonal, trapezoidal, and/or other shapes are contemplated herein and may also be used.
As shown in
As shown in
The slot 514 and/or recess 516 may include at least one notch positioned along their length that may engage the post 518 and/or head 520, respectively. The details of the notch may resemble the details of the notch described above in relation to the rail 134.
A person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the above embodiments of the track and the mount 204 formed as a rail 134 and a slider, and as a slot/recess 214/216 and a post/head 218/220 are meant for demonstrational purposes and that the track and/or the mount 204 may be provided in other forms that may accomplish the same or similar outcomes. It is also understood that the scope of the adjustment mechanism, the track, the mount 204 and the footwear 100 is not limited in any way by the form of the adjustment mechanism.
The track 134 is shown in
As the mount 204 moves from position P1 to position P2, the front upper portion is moved closer to the back upper portion, the size of the gap is reduced (and/or the overlap is increased), the opening is reduced, and the footwear is tightened. Conversely, as the mount moves from position P2 to position P1, the front upper portion is moved away from the back upper portion, the size of the gap is increased (or the overlap is decreased), the opening is expanded and the footwear 100 is loosened.
While
In exemplary embodiments hereof, the footwear 100 and the associated adjustment mechanisms may be manufactured in combination to reduce secondary assembly and labor costs normally associated with producing footwear.
For example, in some embodiments, the elements of the footwear 100 (e.g., the front upper portions and/or the back upper portions) and the components of the adjustment mechanisms (e.g., the track and/or the mount) are molded as a single unit in a single cavity. In other embodiments, insert molding may be used to combine prefabricated parts (e.g., the track and/or the mount) with the molded parts (e.g., the uppers) during the molding process.
In another exemplary embodiment hereof, the components of the adjustment mechanism (e.g., the track and the mount) may be produced fully configured, with the mount properly placed on the track, during the molding process.
In another exemplary embodiment hereof, the footwear 100 and the associated adjustment mechanisms are formed fully configured using a single molding process.
In exemplary embodiments hereof, the upper, the adjustment mechanism (including the track and/or the mount) and the sole may be molded using known molding techniques (e.g., injection molding, compression molding, over molding, insert molding, centrifugal molding, foaming, and any combination thereof). The upper and the sole may be molded together as a single piece or molded separately and configured together thereafter. The footwear may be molded using polyurethane (PU), ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), other types of elastomers, artificial rubbers, polymers, rubbers, plastics and/or other suitable materials and any combination thereof.
If any of the parts require distinct materials, over molding may be used.
In some exemplary embodiments hereof, the rail and/or the slider may be produced separately and then insert molded with the back upper portion and/or the front upper portion during the molding process. The rail and/or the slider may be produced using a different mold, an extrusion die and/or a different manufacturing process.
The slider may be formed with the front upper portion using insert molding in a similar manner.
In one exemplary embodiment hereof, the mount is molded in position on the track during the molding process of the footwear. This may require the use of one or more insert areas as well as one or more additional mold sliders within the mold.
In one exemplary implementation of this embodiment, the rail may be molded as part of the back upper portion as described above, the slider may be molded as part of the front upper portion, and the slider may be configured on the rail during the molding process.
In another exemplary implementation of this embodiment, the rail may be molded as part of the back upper portion as described above, the slider be insert molded with the front upper portion, and the slider may be configured on the rail during the molding process.
The result is a rail molded as part of the back upper portion, a slider insert-molded with the front upper portion, and the slider configured onto the rail.
In another exemplary implementation of this embodiment, the slider may be configured onto the rail and the combination may be insert molded with the back upper portion and/or the front upper portion.
The result is a rail insert molded with the back upper portion, a slider insert-molded with the front upper portion, and the slider configured onto the rail.
In the embodiments described herein, the sole may be molded in combination with the footwear and the adjustment mechanism to form a fully configured footwear. Alternatively, the sole may be produced separately and attached to the other molded parts to create a fully configured footwear.
It is understood that not all of the acts or steps disclosed in the manufacturing processes in any of the embodiments must be taken. For example, the slider may be configured on the rail during the molding process but may not necessarily be configured with the front upper portion during the process. Instead, the slider may be configured with the front upper portion after the molding process (e.g., by stitching).
A person of ordinary skill in the art will understand, upon reading this specification, that the manufacturing processes described herein are meant for demonstrational purposes and are not all-inclusive, and that other manufacturing processes and/or additional steps not disclosed may be used and/or taken to accomplish the same or similar outcomes.
Where a process is described herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the process may operate without any user intervention. In another embodiment, the process includes some human intervention (e.g., a step is performed by or with the assistance of a human).
As used herein, including in the claims, the phrase “at least some” means “one or more,” and includes the case of only one. Thus, e.g., the phrase “at least some ABCs” means “one or more ABCs,” and includes the case of only one ABC.
As used herein, including in the claims, the term “at least one” should be understood as meaning “one or more,” and therefore includes both embodiments that include one or multiple components. Furthermore, dependent claims that refer to independent claims that describe features with “at least one” have the same meaning, both when the feature is referred to as “the” and “the at least one.”
As used in this description, the term “portion” means some or all. So, for example, “A portion of X” may include some of “X” or all of “X.”
As used herein, including in the claims, the phrase “using” means “using at least,” and is not exclusive. Thus, e.g., the phrase “using X” means “using at least X.” Unless specifically stated by use of the word “only,” the phrase “using X” does not mean “using only X.”
In general, as used herein, including in the claims, unless the word “only” is specifically used in a phrase, it should not be read into that phrase.
As used herein, including in the claims, the phrase “distinct” means “at least partially distinct.” Unless specifically stated, distinct does not mean fully distinct. Thus, e.g., the phrase, “X is distinct from Y” means that “X is at least partially distinct from Y,” and does not mean that “X is fully distinct from Y.” Thus, as used herein, including in the claims, the phrase “X is distinct from Y” means that X differs from Y in at least some way.
It should be appreciated that the words “first” and “second” in the description and claims are used to distinguish or identify, and not to show a serial or numerical limitation. Similarly, the use of letter or numerical labels (such as “(a),” “(b),” and the like) are used to help distinguish and/or identify, and not to show any serial or numerical limitation or ordering.
As used herein, including in the claims, the terms “multiple” and “plurality” mean “two or more,” and include the case of “two.” Thus, e.g., the phrase “multiple ABCs,” means “two or more ABCs,” and includes “two ABCs.” Similarly, e.g., the phrase “multiple PQRs,” means “two or more PQRs,” and includes “two PQRs.”
The present invention also covers the exact terms, features, values and ranges, etc. in case these terms, features, values and ranges etc. are used in conjunction with terms such as about, around, generally, substantially, essentially, at least etc. (i.e., “about 3” shall also cover exactly 3 or “substantially constant” shall also cover exactly constant).
As used herein, including in the claims, singular forms of terms are to be construed as also including the plural form and vice versa, unless the context indicates otherwise. Thus, it should be noted that as used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Throughout the description and claims, the terms “comprise,” “including,” “having,” and “contain” and their variations should be understood as meaning “including but not limited to,” and are not intended to exclude other components unless specifically so stated.
It will be appreciated that variations to the embodiments of the invention can be made while still falling within the scope of the invention. Alternative features serving the same, equivalent, or similar purpose can replace features disclosed in the specification, unless stated otherwise. Thus, unless stated otherwise, each feature disclosed represents one example of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
Use of exemplary language, such as “for instance”, “such as”, “for example” (“e.g.,”) and the like, is merely intended to better illustrate the invention and does not indicate a limitation on the scope of the invention unless specifically so claimed.
While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/950,382, filed Dec. 19, 2019, the entire contents of which are hereby fully incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. This patent document contains material subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the reproduction of this patent document or any related materials in the files of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, but otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2020/061794 | 12/11/2020 | WO |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62950382 | Dec 2019 | US |
