Patent Application
20250234961
The present disclosure relates generally to footwear. In particular, but not by way of limitation, the present disclosure relates to systems, methods and apparatuses for slip-on footwear with improved fit.
Laced footwear tend to be difficult to get on or off and especially so with a taller collar shaft. Loosening or tightening laces and/or manipulating the tongue make it cumbersome to get footwear on one's foot and often requires both hands, bending over uncomfortably or sitting down. Most non-laced footwear which make it easier to put the footwear on or off come with compromises in fit, function and/or fashion. Zippered footwear make it difficult to be weatherized or waterproofed and can be jammed from ice and may still require a user to sit down to facilitate removal. Slip-on footwear can be quicker and easier to take on and off than other footwear with tightening mechanisms that are loosened and tightened for foot exit and entry. However, to account for foot entry and exit from slip-on footwear, the inner volume of slip-on footwear is often substantially larger than the volume of the foot that the footwear is intended to fit. The relatively large inner volume of such footwear can result in a poor fit, as the user's foot can substantially slide around in the footwear during use. In addition, the slip-on boots footwear often allows snow to come in from the open collar shaft.
The present disclosure provides a slip-on boot with fit features that enable an improved fit while still allowing for convenient foot entry and exit from the boot.
The following presents a simplified summary relating to one or more aspects and/or embodiments disclosed herein. As such, the following summary should not be considered an extensive overview relating to all contemplated aspects and/or embodiments, nor should the following summary be regarded to identify key or critical elements relating to all contemplated aspects and/or embodiments or to delineate the scope associated with any particular aspect and/or embodiment. Accordingly, the following summary has the sole purpose to present certain concepts relating to one or more aspects and/or embodiments relating to the mechanisms disclosed herein in a simplified form to precede the detailed description presented below.
In some embodiments, a footwear comprises a tongue coupled adjacent a vamp and between a first quarter and a second quarter, wherein the tongue extends upward between a first side and a second side of a collar shaft arranged around a top of portion of the footwear, a heel cap and a heel tongue stretchingly coupled to the footwear above the heel cap between a first back side and a second back side of the collar shaft. In some embodiments, the heel tongue is coupled to the footwear by one or more gussets. In some embodiments, a second elastic material is coupled adjacent to the heel tongue. In some embodiments, each of the heel tongue and the tongue are coupled to the footwear by one or more gussets. In some embodiments, the one or more gussets comprise kilties, raised eyelets, extra eyelets, zippered coverings or any kind of elastic or stretchy materials. In many embodiments, the footwear is made of a waterproof material. In some embodiments, the collar shaft comprises leather, synthetic materials, natural or synthetic fur, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, a padded cuff is coupled to an inside portion of the collar shaft. In many embodiments, the heel tongue and/or tongue have a pull loop to facilitate entry and exit of a foot into the footwear. In some embodiments, the footwear has a plurality of eyestays configured along a top end of the first quarter, a top end of the second quarter and the first and second sides of the collar shaft. In many embodiments, the footwear comprises one or more laces that are configured to be threaded through one or more eyestays. In some embodiments, the one or more laces comprise one of a stretchy material or a non-stretchy material.
Various objects and advantages and a more complete understanding of the present disclosure are apparent and more readily appreciated by referring to the following detailed description and to the appended claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:
Prior to describing the embodiments in detail, it is expedient to define terms as used in this document. For the purpose of this document, relational terms such as, without limitation, “lateral”, “longitudinal”, “perpendicular”, “parallel”, and “flat” shall be understood to mean “within reasonable manufacturing tolerances accepted in the footwear manufacturing industry”.
The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.
It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another element, component, region, layer or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the present disclosure.
Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “under,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” or “under” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary terms “below” and “under” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The footwear may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. In addition, it will also be understood that when a layer is referred to as being “between” two layers, it can be the only layer between the two layers, or one or more intervening layers may also be present.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items and may be abbreviated as “/”.
It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “connected to,” “coupled to,” or “adjacent to” another element or layer, it can be directly on, connected, coupled, or adjacent to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly connected to,” “directly coupled to,” or “immediately adjacent to” another element or layer, there are no intervening elements or layers present.
Embodiments of the disclosure are described herein with reference to cross-section illustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealized embodiments (and intermediate structures) of the disclosure. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, embodiments of the disclosure should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of regions illustrated herein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing. Accordingly, the regions illustrated in the figures are schematic in nature and their shapes are not intended to illustrate the actual shape of a region of a device and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and/or the present specification and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
Referring to
In some embodiments, heel gussets 101 and/or tongue gussets 107 and/or elastic material 103 are configured with waterproof materials and/or membranes, such as Gore-Tex, synthetic leather, rubber, neoprene and the like. In other embodiments, heel gussets 101 and/or tongue gussets 107 and/or elastic material 103 are configured with other, non-waterproof materials like polyesters, elastics, synthetic or natural fiber textiles, fabric, knit or woven materials, and the like.
In some embodiments, footwear 100 comprises a waterproof and lining laminate package 111 for waterproofness and breathability. In some embodiments footwear 100 comprises a waterproof membrane that is a thin layer of material made of a breathable and waterproof, material or another fabric that blocks liquid water and lets air pass through, such as Gore-Tex or similar materials. In some embodiments, the lining laminate is a layer of fabric that is attached to the membrane and provides insulation, protection, and comfort. For example, in some embodiments, a breathable and waterproof film is laminated to an interior lining. In some embodiments, a waterproof membrane is pre laminated to a lining material and then formed into a taped and sealed bootie within the footwear 100, which is attached only near a collar shaft. In some embodiments, the outer materials of footwear 100 do not get waterproofed since the membrane is intended to be as close to the foot as possible to maintain breathability of sweat vapor passing through it. The lining laminate can vary in thickness and material, depending on the climate and activity of the shoe. For example, some shoes have a GORE-TEX 2-layer insulated fabric, which has a unique insulation layer suspended freely between the membrane and the inner lining. In some embodiments, one or more portions of footwear 100 can comprise a waterproof leather (that is, one treated and/or impregnated with a silicone) that has few, if any, seams that are sealed with an adhesive from the interior side of footwear 100.
In some embodiments, and with reference to
In some embodiments, and with reference to
In some embodiments, and with reference to
In some embodiments, footwear 100 includes one or more laces 119 that can be threaded through one or more eyestays 123 and/or holes or other lace engaging features. In some embodiments, one or more laces 119 comprise a stretchy or elastic material that allows the lace to remain in a tied position during foot insertion and removal in and out of footwear 100. In other embodiments, one or more laces 119 comprise a non-stretchy or non-elastic material, such that the one or more laces 119 remain in a more fixed location during foot insertion and removal. As explained above, the heel tongue 125 and/or tongue 117 facilitate a user in putting on the footwear without having to untie the one or more laces 119. In some embodiments, footwear 100 can include a zipper (not shown), however, the footwear 100 is designed such that the zipper need not be unzipped in order for a user to put on the footwear.
In some embodiments, the shape and size of the interior of footwear 100 approximates the shape and size of a user's foot. In some prior art slip-on footwear, the interior shape and size is significantly larger than the foot to enable easier foot insertion and removal. As such, the prior art footwear cause the foot to move around within the interior leading to instability issues. However, in many embodiments, the interior of footwear 100 is configured to closely match the size of the user.
With further reference to
With further reference to
In some embodiments, to maintain the heel tongue 125 positioning, an elastic material 103 is affixed to the outside of heel tongue 125 and/or one or more heel gussets 101 to keep the footwear 100 in a closed position like a normal collar shaft. The elastic material 103 also allows footwear 100 to stretch to accommodate foot insertion and removal. As such, heel tongue 125 in combination with one or more heel gussets 101 facilitates a user in putting on footwear 100 without interfacing with lace 119. In some embodiments, the elastic material 103 is attached to collar shaft 121 by an “eyestay” pattern. In other embodiments, the elastic material 103 is attached to collar shaft 121 in another manner and not in by an “eyestay” pattern.
In other embodiments, and with reference to
In some embodiments, the total height of footwear 100 exceeds 4.5″ from ground to highest point of the footwear, and in other embodiments the total height of footwear 100 exceeds 4″ from ground to highest point of the footwear. In other embodiments still, the total height of footwear 100 is less than 4″ from ground to highest point of the footwear.
The terms and expressions employed herein are used as terms and expressions of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof. Each of the various elements disclosed herein may be achieved in a variety of manners. This disclosure should be understood to encompass each such variation, be it a variation of an embodiment of any apparatus embodiment, a method or process embodiment, or even merely a variation of any element of these. Particularly, it should be understood that the words for each element may be expressed by equivalent apparatus terms or method terms-even if only the function or result is the same. Such equivalent, broader, or even more generic terms should be considered to be encompassed in the description of each element or action. Such terms can be substituted where desired to make explicit the implicitly broad coverage to which this invention is entitled.
As but one example, it should be understood that all actions may be expressed as a means for taking that action or as an element which causes that action. Similarly, each physical element disclosed should be understood to encompass a disclosure of the action which that physical element facilitates. Regarding this last aspect, by way of example only, the disclosure of a “protrusion” should be understood to encompass disclosure of the act of “protruding”—whether explicitly discussed or not—and, conversely, were there only disclosure of the act of “protruding”, such a disclosure should be understood to encompass disclosure of a “protrusion”. Such changes and alternative terms are to be understood to be explicitly included in the description.
As used herein, the recitation of “at least one of A, B and C” is intended to mean “either A, B, C or any combination of A, B and C.” The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present disclosure. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.
