Patent Application
20100018081
The present invention relates to footwear and, more particularly, to footwear accessories.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A heel accessory in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown in
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
As shown in
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
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 (
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
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.
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
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
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 (
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
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.
In another embodiment, a heel accessory for a footwear article may be integrally formed with another element of the footwear article. As shown in
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.
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.
