US20150196095A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20150196095A1
Application number: US14/598,187
Authority: US
Inventors: Kiri Christa Chapman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-01-15
Filing date: 2015-01-15
Publication date: 2015-07-16

Abstract

A heel strap device configured to secure a person's heel to a shoe and properly guide the heel back into the shoe. The device has an elastic band that provides both a downward and forward force. The band has a bottom section, heel section, left side section, and right side section. The bottom section is affixed to the sole of a shoe. In a separate embodiment, the band also has a nub affixed to the top of the heel section that is configured to prevent the band from slipping down on the heel and to provide aesthetic benefits to the device. In another embodiment, the device is integrated with a shoe instead of being separately attached to the shoe insole.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 61/927958 filed Jan. 15, 2014, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure is related to shoe insert devices. More particularly, the disclosure discusses a device and method to secure a person's heel within a shoe and prevent the heel from slipping out of the shoe.

BACKGROUND

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure. Accordingly, such statements are not intended to constitute an admission of prior art.

Many times when walking with shoes, a person's heel can slip out of one of the shoes. In some cases, the person's heel doesn't re-enter the shoe properly. This can be painful to the person and can also damage the shoe. This phenomenon occurs especially frequently with women's high heeled shoes. Since a different shoe design is not always preferable, there exists a need to better secure a person's heel to the shoe or at least properly guide the heel back into the shoe.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, the device to secure a person's heel to a piece of footwear and properly guide the heel back into the footwear comprises: an elastic band that comprises a bottom section, a left-side section, a right-side section, and a heel section.

In an alternate embodiment, the left-side section comprises a front left arm and a back left arm, and the right-side section comprises a front right arm and a back right arm.

In an alternate embodiment, the heel section has a raised surface configured to increase a frictional resistance between the device and the footwear.

In an alternate embodiment, the bottom section further comprises a top cloth cover on a top portion of the bottom section and a bottom cloth cover on a bottom portion of the bottom section.

In an alternate embodiment, the bottom cloth cover is configured to attach to an insole of a shoe.

In an alternate embodiment, the device further comprises a shoe.

In an alternate embodiment, the band further comprises one or more nub(s) attached to a top of the heel section. The nub(s) can be a rhinestone, rubber stop, or the like.

In an alternate embodiment, the device further comprises a thin layer of fabric on top of the bottom section, wherein the thin layer of fabric is configured to keep a foot comfortable. The thin layer of fabric can be a breathable material.

In an alternate embodiment, the device further comprises a thin layer of foam beneath the front section, wherein the thin layer of foam is configured to distribute shear forces more evenly at the shoe insole. Alternately, the material of construction can be rigid plastic or the like instead of foam.

In an alternate embodiment, the device further comprises a hook and loop fastener (e.g. Velcro®) which is configured to attach the device to the shoe insole.

In an alternate embodiment, the shoe insole is not required and the elastic band is configured to attach directly to the interior of a shoe insole assembly.

In an alternate embodiment, the elastic band further comprises a clasp which is configured to vary the length of the elastic band.

The elastic band mid-section material of construction can be cloth or another material which has a higher frictional coefficient than cloth. This decreases slippage of the elastic band and helps the wearer keep their foot in the shoe. Note that the elastic band mid-section does not have to be elastic. Its purpose is to maintain contact with the heel, while the elastic portion provides force.

The elastic band maintains force on the heel in a predominantly forward direction, with an increasing amount of force in the downward direction as the foot exits the shoe. This increasing downward force helps to guide the foot back into the shoe when necessary.

The anchors that attach the device to the shoe may be clasps, ties, Velcro®, or any adhesive, or some combination thereof. The means to attach the elastic strap to the anchors can Velcro®, clasps, ties, or adhesives, or the like.

A method to use an embodiment of the device described above comprises: affixing the bottom section to a shoe insole assembly; and inserting a person's foot into the device.

The scope of the invention is defined by the claims, which are incorporated into this section by reference. A more complete understanding of embodiments on the present disclosure will be afforded to those skilled in the art, as well as the realization of additional advantages thereof, by consideration of the following detailed description of one or more embodiments. Reference will be made to the appended sheets of drawings that will first be described briefly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A clear understanding of the key features of the invention summarized above may be had by reference to the appended drawings, which illustrate the method and system of the invention, although it will be understood that such drawings depict preferred embodiments of the invention and, therefore, are not to be considered as limiting its scope with regard to other embodiments which the invention is capable of contemplating. Accordingly:

FIG. 1 is a perspective top view of a device according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective bottom view of a device according to one embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows a device according to one embodiment integrated with a shoe.

FIG. 4 is a device according to one embodiment with nubs and integrated with a shoe.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view showing the device attached to a shoe insole.

FIG. 6 is a cut-away view showing the device in a retracted position.

FIG. 7 is a cut-away view showing the device in a stretched position while the shoe and device are being worn around the heel of a wearer.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the device according to another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

There are several examples of prior art related to this present application. The most common can be found in any shoe store, or pharmacy, and is generally referred to as a heel pad or heel grip. This product is unsatisfactory, while it makes the shoe tighter, it does not establish a connection between the foot and the shoe. These products oftentimes exacerbate the problem by causing blisters and rubbing on the constrained foot. Several inventors have tried to overcome the shortcomings of this design, and these are their patents.

While prior art designs have tried to provide a way of retaining the wearer's heel in a shoe, these prior art designs are not functional for a majority of shoe designs. For example, there are several prior art designs that are required to loop around an anchor point, such as the “heel” of a high-heeled shoe in order for this design to function properly and effectively. One can only attach this invention to a shoe with a clearly defined high heel thereby limiting its scope of use to only one type of shoe. Another limiting factor for these prior art designs is that this strap is designed to be worn “around” the shoe and is consequently very visible and may distract from the original design of the shoe. Additionally, the straps that are worn outside the shoe only provides vertical tension between foot and heel, creating a downward force but not a forward force.

Other prior art designs that are designed to be located inside of shoes and include an elastic strip designed to be attached only to the shoe counter. These designs provide minimal retention and do not provide downward force for retaining the wearer's heel within the shoe.

FIG. 1 is a perspective top view of theheel retention device100 according to one embodiment of the present application. Theheel retention device100 includes aheel section101, a frontleft arm102, a backleft arm103, a frontright arm104, a backright arm105, atop cloth cover106 on a top portion of the bottom section (hidden), abottom cloth cover107 on a bottom portion of the bottom section (hidden), and a raisedsurface108 on theheel section101. The left and right sides are symmetrical and left and right sides have been identified based on the view of the drawings from the viewer's point of view, however when the device is worn the right and left sides may be reversed, however the left and right sides are symmetrical and can be interchanged depending on the point of view in relation to the device.

Theheel retention device100 is an elastic retainer that can be made of stretchy rubber, elasticized cloth, or stretchy plastic, it may be a solid band or several smaller bands interwoven, or a net-like structure. In another embodiment, theheel retention device100 can be constructed of a thermoplastic elastomer or like material with a Shore-A value between 10 and 30. In one embodiment, the Shore-A value is approximately18. For the purposes of this disclosure, the Shore-A of a material is determined using the ASTM D2240 Type A standard; or of a like-performing cloth elastic, urethane, or rubber. The tensile strength at break is 600 psi and the tensile elongation at break is 600% as determined by the test method ASTM D412. Theheel retention device100 may be formed to be transparent, opaque, or colored.

Theheel section101, the frontleft arm102, and the frontright arm104 are joined together to form a firstU-shaped loop120 defining an opening end for receiving the wearer's heel and foot. In an un-stretched or retracted position, loop may be have half-circle, half-diamond, half-ellipse, or any other suitable shape. The shape ofheel retention device100 may increase the surface area which is in contact with the heel, increasing friction and decreasing slippage between theheel retention device100 and the wearer's heel.

Theheel section101 and the left backarm103 and right backarm105 are also joined to form a secondU-shaped loop124. The backleft arm103, and backright arm105 function to exert a primarily downward force on the foot into the receiving shoe cavity. The two

back arms

103,105 form a continuous loop that meets underneath thetop cloth106. In another embodiment, they do not form a continuous loop and separate ends attach to the sole assembly at various points forward of the shoe counter.

Theheel retention device100 also includes a raisedsurface108 formed along arearward surface112 of theheel section101. In one embodiment, the raisedsurface108 is formed of a plurality of raised protrusions that extend from the rearward surface that is otherwise generally smooth. The raisedsurface108 on theheel section101 functions to exert a frictional resistance between therearward surface112 of theheel section101 and the inside of the shoe counter, making it less likely that the foot and/or theheel retention device100 will come up and out of the back of the shoe cavity. It is also contemplated that the raisedsurface108 may have any shape or surface finish that increases frictional resistance between the shoe and theheel retention device100.

FIG. 2 is a perspective bottom view of a device embodiment. Shown are thefootwear device100,heel section101, frontleft arm102, backleft arm103, frontright arm104, backright arm105,top cloth cover106 on a top portion of the bottom section (hidden), abottom cloth cover107 on a bottom portion of the bottom section (hidden), and a raisedsurface108 on theheel section101.

FIG. 3 illustrates aheel retention device100 installed in ashoe200, according to one embodiment. Theheel retention device100 is designed to be worn with ‘closed heel’ shoes where the wearer's heel is covered by the shoe. Theheel retention device100 may be worn in any shoe such as high heels, pumps, loafers or any shoe where the wearer requires greater retention to prevent the shoe from slipping off. As shown inFIG. 3, the heel retention device is in the retracted position and is un-stretched.

An example of a closed-heel shoe200 is shown inFIG. 3 where the shoe has asole assembly210 including an outer-sole212 and aninsole214. The outer-sole212 forms an outer surface of the shoe that is designed to contact the ground. The outer-sole212 may be formed of leather, or rubber or any suitable material that provides durability, traction, for example, for the particular shoe.

Theshoe insole214 forms the inner surface of the shoe that contacts the bottom of the wearer's foot. Theinsole214 can be made of leather, foam, gel, or materials generally used in the manufacture of existing insoles. Theinsole214 can also be a half insole or partial insole that extends along a portion of thesole assembly210. Theinsole214 can be attached at any point to the shoe or the outer-sole212, or theinsole214 may be removable.

A typical shoe also includes a shoe upper216 attached to the sole assembly and defining a cavity for receiving the foot of the wearer. The shoe upper216 extends between thetoe end218 toe end and acounter end220. Thetoe end218 may be enclosed to cover the toes of the wearer or be open-toed to reveal a portion of the wearer's toes. Theshoe counter220 encloses the wearer's heel.

FIG. 4 is a device embodiment that includesnubs401 defined along a top surface of theheel retention device100. Thenubs401 may be formed of the same elastic material as thedevice100 or may be an aesthetic attachment. Thenubs401 enable a wearer to easily adjust thedevice100 while it is worn on the foot by easily gripping thenubs401. Thenubs401 can be positioned above the top of the shoe to can prevent theheel retention device100 from slipping too low on the wearer's foot.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view showing one example of how theheel retention device100 may attach to the sole assembly of ashoe200. Theheel retention device100 includes afastening assembly150. Thefastening assembly150 includes thetop cover106 and thebottom cover107. As seen in this exploded view, theheel retention device100 also includes a bridge portion109 (also described as “bottom section” in previous figures). Thebridge portion109 connects

front arms

102,104 to form the firstcontinuous loop154. Thebridge portion109 also connects back

arms

103,105 to form the secondcontinuous loop158. Thebridge portion109 extends in the longitudinal direction and connects the two

continuous loops

154,158.

Thebottom cover107, along with thetop cover106 functions to sandwich thebridge portion109 in betweenbottom cover107 and thetop cover106 in order to keep a consistent distance between the two continuous loops. Since the elastomeric material of theheel retention device100 has a high amount of elasticity, a mechanical attachment is provided to securely attach the heel retention device. For this reason, thebridge portion109 has been made narrow, leaving space for thetop cover106 and thebottom cover107 are adhered together with a strong adhesive, and trap thebridge portion109 and two

continuous loops

154 and158 into position. Alternatively, thetop cover106 andbottom cover107 may be attached together with a heat stake or any other suitable process that securely sandwiches and retains thebridge portion109 of theheel retention device100.

Thetop cover106 is made of a cloth material such as leather, suede or any other breathable material that is comfortable to the wearer's foot. In one embodiment, the bottom cover is107 is cloth material having afastener material152 disposed on a lower side. The fastener material502 may be hook and loop fastener material that attaches theheel retention device100 into the shoe cavity. The corresponding fastener material503 that connects to thefastener material152, is attached to the shoe'ssole assembly210. Thefastener material152 may have hook material, while the corresponding fastener material may be loop material, or vice versa. In one embodiment, the corresponding fastener material may be attached to thesole assembly210 with an adhesive or an industrial strength tape which comes already installed on abottom side155 being opposite of theloop fastener material153.

FIG. 6-7 illustrate a cut-away view of theheel retention device100 installed in ashoe200.FIG. 6 illustrates theheel retention device100 in a retracted, or un-stretched position andFIG. 7 shows theheel retention device100 in a stretched position around the heel of a person when theshoe200 is worn.

Theheel retention device100 is adapted to be attached to thesole assembly210. Theheel retention device100 may be attached to theinsole214, or may attached to the outer sole212 where theinsole214 is removed.

Theheel retention device100 is attached to the sole assembly of theshoe200 at least at theforward end110 of the

front arms

102,104 to define theattachment location230. Theattachment location230, but can be moved forward or backwards depending on the elastic tension that is desired by the wearer of thedevice100. In one embodiment, theattachment location230 is positioned along thesole assembly210 at a mid-section or adjacent an arch of the wearer's foot.

Theforward end110 of the

front arms

102,104 is positioned approximately 2.75 inches forward of theback end219 of thetop cover106 and thebottom cover107 which have been aligned and adhered together, but can be within a range of 2 inches to 6 inches forward of theback end219. In one embodiment the wearer will place the place theheel retention device100 into the shoe cavity so that the back rounded end of thetop cloth106 andbottom cloth107 are flush with the shoe counter. In this configuration, thefront end110 of

front arms

102,104 will be approximately 2.75 inches forward of the back of the shoe, where the shoe counter meets the sole assembly. However, theheel retention device100 may be attached to the sole assembly at any point.

The frontleft arm104, and frontright arm102 function to exert both forward and downward pull toward theattachment location230. In one embodiment,

front arms

104,102 are connected by thebridge portion109 underneath thetop cover106 to form thecontinuous loop154 underneath the foot. In another embodiment, the

front arms

102,104 terminate at theforward end110 and do not form a continuous loop andseparate ends110 attach to thesole assembly210 at various points forward of theshoe counter220.

The

front arms

104,102 are longer than the

back arms

103,105 and subsequently have more stretch and can a greater amount when worn. In a retracted position, with no tension, theU-shaped loop120 formed by the

front arms

102,104 will measure approximately 6 inches, but may range in size from 5 inches to 7.5 inches. In a stretched position, theU-shaped loop120 formed by the

front arms

102,102 may range from 7 inches to 13 inches depending on the size and circumference of the foot they encompass.

The

back arms

103,105 are shorter than the

front arms

102,104 and consequently have less stretch. In a retracted position, with no tension, thecontinuous loop124 of the

back arms

103,105 will measure approximately 5 inches, but may range in size from 4 inches to 6 inches. In a stretched position, theU-shaped loop124 of the back arms may range from 6.5 inches to12 inches depending on the size and circumference of the foot they encompass.

FIG. 6 is an embodiment that shows the elastic strap in a retracted position with no stretch nor tension. Theheel section101 rests inside the receiving shoe cavity and remains unseen behind theshoe uppers216. Thedevice100 is positioned inside the shoe so that with no tension theheel section101 of thedevice100 is approximately 1.5 inches from the top ofshoe counter220, but can be within the range of 1 inch to 3 inches.

FIG. 7 is an embodiment that shows thedevice100 in a fully stretched position, as if it has been pulled around the back of the wearer's foot, providing the forward and downward pull that will keep the foot inside the shoe cavity, and flexibly attached to the shoe at the forward attachment points230, and the rear attachment points232. The top of theheel section101, remains below the top rim of theshoe counter220, and remains hidden from plain view on the inside of theshoe uppers216 when the wearer's stands with weight in the heel of the shoe. In another embodiment, a nub401-which can be made of a clear elastomeric material, or a design element: rhinestone, bow or the like, at the very top of theheel section101, peeks above the top rim of theshoe counter220 functioning as a stop to prevent theheel section101 from slipping off of the wearer's heel and down towards the sole assembly.

As shown inFIG. 7, theinsole214 can also be a half insole or partial insole that extends only along a portion of thesole assembly210. Theinsole214 can be attached at any point to the shoe or the outer-sole212, or theinsole214 may be removable.

FIG. 8 is an embodiment that shows thedevice100 with a singlecontinuous loop801 made up of aright arm802 andleft arm803 andheel section101. This elastic band will be sandwiched in betweentop cover106 andbottom cover107 just as previous embodiments have been put together.

While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the disclosed or illustrated embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover numerous other modifications, substitutions, variations, and broad equivalent arrangements.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A shoe comprising:

a sole assembly having attached outer-sole and insole portions;

a shoe upper attached to the sole assembly defining a foot receiving cavity having a toe end and a counter end; and

an elastic retainer having a U-shaped loop portion, the elastic retainer located within the foot receiving cavity with ends of the U-shaped loop portion attached to the sole assembly at an attachment location significantly forward of shoe upper counter end so that the U-shaped loop portion extends rearward and upward from the attachment location;

wherein, when the shoe is not being worn the U-shaped loop portion is in a retracted position forward of the shoe upper counter end, and when the shoe is worn the U-shaped loop portion is elastically stretched rearward about a heel of the wearer's foot to urge the wearer's foot forward and downward into engagement with the insole.

2. The shoe ofclaim 1 wherein the elastic retainer forms a closed loop having an attachment region connected to the sole assembly, with a remaining portion of the closed loop forming the U-shaped loop portion.

3. The shoe ofclaim 1 wherein the U-shaped loop portion has two free ends attached to the sole assembly within the foot receiving cavity on opposite lateral sides of the wearer's foot.

4. The shoe ofclaim 1 further comprising a heel connected to the outer-sole below the shoe upper counter end, wherein the attachment location of the elastic retainer is located near or forward of a forward edge to of the heel.

5. The shoe ofclaim 1 wherein the elastic retainer further comprises a transverse portion extending between the sides of the U-shaped loop portion to underlie the heel of the wearer's foot limiting the upward movement of U-shaped loop portion relative to the wearer's foot.

6. The shoe ofclaim 1 wherein the elastic retainer comprises a clear elastomeric material.

7. The shoe ofclaim 1 wherein the elastic retainer does not extend above the shoe upper when the wearer's heel is bearing weight on the sole assembly.

8. A device to secure a person's heel to a piece of footwear and properly guide the heel back into the footwear, the device comprising:

an elastic band that comprises a bottom section, a left-side section, a right-side section, and a heel section.

9. The device ofclaim 9, wherein the left-side section comprises a front left arm and a back left arm, and the right-side section comprises a front right arm and a back right arm.

10. The device ofclaim 9, wherein the heel section has a raised surface configured to increase a frictional resistance between the device and the footwear.

11. The device ofclaim 9, wherein the bottom section further comprises a top cloth cover on a top portion of the bottom section and a bottom cloth cover on a bottom portion of the bottom section.

12. The device ofclaim 11, wherein the bottom cloth cover is configured to attach to an insole of a shoe.

13. The device ofclaim 9, wherein the band further comprises at least one attached to a top of the heel section.

15. A method to use the device ofclaim 9, the method comprising:

affixing the bottom section to a shoe insole; and

inserting a person's foot into the device.

16. A heel retention device configured to be attached to a shoe, the device comprising:

an elastic band formed of an elastomeric material shaped as a U-shaped loop defined between forward ends, wherein the forward ends are configured to attach to an sole assembly of a shoe at an attachment location significantly forward of a shoe counter end so that the U-shaped loop portion extends rearward and upward from the attachment location, and stretched between a retracted position and a stretched position,

wherein in the retracted position, the U-shaped loop portion is spaced away from the shoe counter end, and in the stretched position, the U-shaped loop portion elastically stretched rearward adjacent the shoe counter end and about a heel of the wearer's foot to urge the wearer's foot forward and downward into engagement with the sole assembly.