Patent Application
20170188656
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to articles of footwear having an adjustable length, and more particularly to articles of footwear capable of allowing a wearer to selectively alter the length of an article of footwear.
2. Background of Related Art
The fit of articles of footwear, such as athletic shoes, is often critical to the wearer's performance or comfort. Most footwear is sold in a discrete number of sizes, with each size having a characteristic length and width. Such a system typically provides enough variety for most people to find a size that fits well enough to wear without significant discomfort. However, because the lengths and widths are inextricably linked by the discrete sizes, some people find their closest fit size is either slightly too long or too short for one of both of a person's feet.
Particularly in the case of children and adolescents, rapidly (and/or unevenly) growing feet may cause a shoe or pair of shoes to be too small in a short period of time. The potential cost of buying sizes that are too large for children and adolescents to “grow into” may be that injuries occur or performance and/or comfort are limited. Relatedly, many people of all ages have left and right feet that are slightly different, potentially making an identically sized matched pair less than ideal. Compromising on the fit of one shoe for the benefit of the other is a common occurrence, and one that can potentially be an issue for people with a larger than usual size discrepancy or those that desire a closer, consistent fit on both of their feet.
Further, a number of factors may cause a wearer to desire a longer or shorter fit at different times. For example, a person's foot is known to change size in response to a number of factors such as the time of day, the temperature, or a medical condition. Even aside from actual changes in a person's foot size, other factors may influence the desired fit such as the type of sock worn, braces or wraps on the foot or ankle, and/or personal preference for different fits in different situations.
For instance, winter runs may call for thicker socks than summer runs, and this sock difference may slightly change the size of the shoe needed to accommodate the wearer's foot. In the event of a minor injury or during recovery from an injury, one shoe may need to be larger than the other to accommodate a brace or wrap on the injured foot or ankle. Particularly in the event that a wearer has properly fitting shoes to begin with, the addition of extra layers on the foot and ankle may cause a poor fit. In some cases, athletes may simply have a preference for a tighter fit during a game, competition, or race than they desire for non-competition activities like warm-ups. All these reasons and more evidence a need to provide an article of footwear that allows a wearer to adjust the length to suit their needs.
Past attempts to address this need have been met with limited success. Mechanisms such as pumps and lacing/strapping systems have been employed in the past to provide some level of adjustability. These mechanisms each have shortcomings. Some of these shortcomings can be in one or more of: durability, ease of adjustment, comfort, stability, and range of adjustment. In the case of an athletic shoe, shortcomings in one or more of these areas may result in the wearer suffering a loss of performance, reduced comfort, or a shortened lifespan of the shoe.
What is needed, therefore, is an article of footwear that allows the wearer to adjust a dimension of the shoe, such as the length. The article should provide for simple and reliable adjustment, while preserving the comfort and durability of the article. It is to such an article of footwear that embodiments of the present invention are primarily directed.
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an article of footwear having an adjustable length. In some embodiments, an article of footwear according to the present disclosure can include a length adjustment mechanism. The article can have a sole, one or more anchors connected to the sole portion, a heel cup, and one or more length adjustment mechanisms. The heel cup can be movable between a fore position for an effectively shorter article, and an aft position for an effectively longer article. The one or more length adjustment mechanisms can each be connected to one or more of the anchors. Each length adjustment mechanism can have an unlocked state (in which heel cup is movable with respect to the anchors), and a locked state (in which heel cup is not movable with respect to the anchors).
Each of the one or more length adjustment mechanisms can have an adjustment frame attached to the heel cup, and a retention mechanism. The length adjustment mechanisms can also include a locking tab connected to the adjustment frame, such that the locking tab abuts the retention mechanism when the length adjustment mechanism is in a locked state. In some embodiments, the locking tab is pivotally connected to the adjustment frame and is movable from a stowed position to a deployed position. In the stowed position, the locking tab may be substantially within the adjustment frame, and in the deployed position it may protrude. The locking tab may also have a locking tab detent such that the locking tab detent contacts the adjustment frame in the stowed position to aid in keeping the locking tab in position.
The anchors in the sole can have a set of anchor teeth and an anchor track portion. In some embodiments, the length adjustment mechanisms can be attached to the anchor track portion to keep the length adjustment mechanisms from moving up-and-down or side-to-side. The engagement portion of the retention mechanism may have engagement teeth that are sized and shaped to mate with the set of anchor teeth. In the unlocked state of some embodiments, the engagement teeth can move in a direction substantially parallel to the set of anchor teeth, while in the locked state of such embodiments, they cannot do so because of the locking tab's position abutting the retention mechanism.
A heel strap may also be provided to an article according to the present disclosure. The heel strap can be connected to both the sole portion and an upper portion of the article of footwear. This way, the heel strap can cover any portion of the article between the heel cup and the sole that becomes exposed as the heel cup moves between the fore and aft positions.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures.
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to articles of footwear, and more particularly to articles of footwear including an adjustable length mechanism. In some embodiments, an upper portion of an article of footwear can have its length adjusted by manipulating a mechanism located in the heel portion of the article. In some embodiments, the length adjustment mechanisms can be located on the sides of the heel portion of the shoe, and can allow a wearer to manipulate locking tabs and move the inner heel cup forward towards the toe, or backward away from the toe. This movement effectively lengthens or shortens the length dimension of the upper portion of the article of footwear, and can provide the wearer with an improved or desired fit.
To simplify and clarify explanation, the invention is described herein as an athletic shoe having a length adjustment feature. One skilled in the art will recognize, however, that the invention is not so limited.
The materials described hereinafter as making up the various elements of the present invention are intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many suitable materials that would perform the same or a similar function as the materials described herein are intended to be embraced within the scope of the invention. Such other materials not described herein can include, but are not limited to, materials that are developed after the time of the development of the invention.
As described above, a general problem with conventional footwear is that it is sold in a discrete number of sizes, with each size having a characteristic length and width. While this is economical for manufacturers and retailers, it often means that consumers do not get an optimal fit. A poorly fitting article of footwear can have a number of adverse effects ranging from mild discomfort to serious injury. The present disclosure relates to solutions to the problem of footwear fit that is durable, easy to adjust, and comfortable.
As shown in
As shown in
In some embodiments, anchor 20 can be attached to sole 14 at an angle. This arrangement can potentially provide some spring or energy return to a wearer during the stride. Anchor 20 could also be integrally formed into sole 14, such that this energy return is reduced or not provided. However in many athletic endeavors, energy return can both provide comfort as well as aid in athletic performance. By varying the material properties of anchor 20 as well as the angle and manner of attachment to sole 14, varying degrees of springiness and energy return may be achieved.
An exploded view of heel portion 10 is depicted in
The exploded view of
In some embodiments, the gap between heel cup 12 and sole heel portion 32 may be covered by heel strap 36. Heel strap 36 can be nylon, or any other sufficiently flexible and strong material to help prevent the entry of debris or foreign objects in to the gap created by heel cup 12 moving forwards with respect to sole heel portion 32. By covering this gap, the mechanism may be made more durable and avoid obstructions that would prevent normal operation or cause damage to the mechanism.
In some embodiments, as in
In the embodiment of
As heel cup 10 moves with respect to sole 14, the user may receive tactile feedback such as feeling the ‘clicks’ associated with the teeth on the engagement portion sliding over the anchor teeth. In some embodiments, the teeth are sized and shaped to allow the force necessary to move heel cup 10 forward and backward to be substantially the same. Or the teeth may be designed to allow movement in one direction, such as backward, to require more force than forward motion.
In some applications, it may be desired that locking tabs 16 be a single piece to lock or unlock both sides of heel cup 10. Such arrangements may require a wearer to slide a locking tab forward or backward around the back of the heel or below the sole. This type of one-piece locking and unlocking may require more material to be used so that the mechanism can address both sides of the heel, and this may add weight and complexity to the shoe. In some embodiments, locking tabs 16 are provided with a linking component that allows both tabs to be manipulated at a single touch point. Other possible solutions to this weight and complexity issue could include only having locking on one side of the heel, but this may result in undesired durability or other related issues. In some embodiments, the locking tabs may also be slidably engaged with the mechanism such that rather than pivoting to selectively lock and unlock the retention mechanisms, they are instead translated. These and other arrangements as known in the art may be used to selectively constrain the retention mechanisms.
While several possible embodiments are disclosed above, embodiments of the present invention are not so limited. For instance, while several possible configurations have been disclosed, other suitable mechanism configurations and designs could be selected without departing from the spirit of embodiments of the disclosure. In addition, the location and configuration used for various features of embodiments of the present invention can be varied according to a particular article of footwear that requires a variation due to, for example, the size, necessary features, the wearer's preference, or cost considerations. Variations of a length adjustment feature according to the present disclosure may be incorporated into any desired article of footwear, including but not limited to athletic shoes, roller skates, ski bindings, and boots. Such changes are intended to be embraced within the scope of the invention.
The disclosed article including a length adjustment feature may also include other adjustable features as known in the art. Such an article is contemplated, and could potentially aid the wearer by offering additional adjustability. Additional features may be combined with the disclosed mechanism without departing from the scope of this disclosure.
The specific configurations, choice of materials, and the size and shape of various elements can be varied according to particular design specifications or constraints requiring a device, system, or method constructed according to the principles of the invention. Such changes are intended to be embraced within the scope of the invention. The presently disclosed embodiments, therefore, are considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims, rather than the foregoing description, and all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalents thereof are intended to be embraced therein.
