This invention relates to footwear entry. Specifically it relates to footwear entry for the use of toddlers and children ages 1-5.
The majority of manufactured shoes are constructed with an opening around the collar, a tongue, and adjustable laces to create space allowing a foot to enter into the shoe. For parents of toddlers and kids, the task of getting their child's foot into footwear with this construction method through the collar is significantly difficult.
Inventors have created several types of footwear to solve this issue. Many require expensive mold tooling, technical parts and engineering. Others have more complicated methods to solving the issue, choosing different parts or areas of the shoe to base their solutions.
U.S. Pat. 8,161,669 (Keating) 2008 discloses a complex molded outsole, specifically designed to be flexed/pivot and separate. Upon flexing, the outsole pivots (not the back counter) creating more opening in the collar. The extra room created in the collar area is minimal for foot entry. However this invention requires expensive, non-traditional manufacturing process to create the special type of outsole.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,044,063 (STRIDE RIGHT LLC) 2015 also address the need for an easier way to get an infants foot into a shoe. The major difference is in the entry point. Stride Right uses a lateral to medial closure instead of heal. This close replaced the traditional tongue and lace area and does not address rear entry. In addition, the closure overlay is cemented between upper and outsole.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,793,438 (Busse and Marvin, Reebok International Ltd) 2010 also address the need rear foot entry in a highly technical men's athletic shoe. This footwear design differs in its mechanics and overly technical engineering. The rear entry differs, as there is a separated upper and outsole. A pivoting shank mechanism on a fixed axis allows the outsole to pivot once the inner counter portion is separated from the outsole cage. This is also, a very expensive manufacturing process.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,189,239 (Gasparovic, NIKE INC) 2012 addresses footwear closure to receive the foot in highly technical men's athletic shoe. This footwear design differs in its mechanics and overly technical engineering as it features a hinge within a socket allowing the movement of footwear parts. This is also, a very expensive manufacturing process.
U.S. Pat. No. D575,938 (Richardson) 2008 also address the need for an easier way to get baby's foot into a shoe. This shoe also addresses rear counter entry. The major difference the use of elastic that is attached to the upper. The flexibility of the elastic part limits the amount of opening created in the collar area for foot entry. This does not create a full range opening entry point like my invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,119,436 B1 (Ardell) 2014 also address the need for an easy shoe entry specific to triathletes. This shoe is made for triathletes. and features cleated spikes that are specific and used directly in the function of triathlete sports. Furthermore, based on description and drawings, Mr. Ardell has no technical knowledge of footwear and construction methods. He claims “in
U.S. Patent: 20120079746 A1 (Ferreira, Nakaymama, Stauffer, CONVERSE INC) 2012 also addresses the need for rear shoe entry featuring a fold away counter. However in this patent, the counter is stitched down to the upper, not allowing full disengagement or pivoting as per claim. This construction limits the range of motion to just folding, not full disengagement and/or full pivoting, thus limits the amount of space to secure a foot into the shoe. My invention, completely allows the upper and counter to completely disengage. Thus allowing full pivoting as the counter is not stitched down (attached) to the upper. This allow a full 180 degrees of pivoting creating the most foot entry area of any footwear with out mechanics.
A toddlers shoe comprised with an upper and a separated pivoting back counter affixed to a standard, non pivoting outsole. The pivoting counter is cemented to the standard, non pivoting, outsole. The counter cemented to the outsole underneath the strobel board. Shoe counter is fastened to upper through various methods including Velcro, laces and button.
The pivoting counter creates an easier dressing experience for the parent by creating a large rear entry space area to insert, receive and secure a toddlers foot into a shoe.
Accordingly, besides the objects and advantages of the shoe upper with pivoting counter in my patent, several objects and advantages of my patent are:
Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from the consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.
The preferred embodiment of the shoe of the invention is illustrated in
The preferred construction of the shoe of the invention is illustrated. The counter tail (FIG.4) is cemented on the bottom side to the heal cup area of the outsole (
The upper (upper+counter) is made of common footwear materials (leathers, synthetics, non-woven, digital knit uppers, and no-sew uppers. In the counter, these materials will be sandwiched around super-tough reinforcement. This reinforcement will allow the counter to pivot, up and down, opening and closing, without fracture or tear while retaining structure over time. The thickness of the tail is 0.5-3 mm in thickness. The shape will very to cover the top surface area of the outsole it will be attached to.
Upper (
Counter (
The reader will see that the toddlers shoe with the rear entry construction design of this invention can be used by parents of toddlers for an easier experience securing footwear on their toddlers. Furthermore, this footwear construction has the following additional advantages: