WO2013054358A2

WO2013054358A2 - A sandal or a shoe

Info

Publication number: WO2013054358A2
Application number: PCT/IN2012/000664
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jose THAIKATTIL
Original assignee: Thaikattil Jose
Priority date: 2011-10-12
Filing date: 2012-10-04
Publication date: 2013-04-18
Also published as: WO2013054358A3; WO2013054358A4

Abstract

This invention provides closed footwear having a forefoot cover and a heel cap portion wherein an integrated shoe horn is provided outer to the heel cap portion of the footwear and a guide sheath member is provided bridging the said shoe horn and the said heel cap portion for guiding the heel into the heel cap portion, said shoe horn being positioned close towards the base and spaced towards the top edge of the said heel cap portion at the back.

Description

A sandal or a shoe.

Technical field

This invention relates to an article of footwear such as a sandal or a shoe. Background of the invention

Closed footwear such as a sandal or a shoe has a forefoot cover and a heel protector. A preferred shape for the heel protector is a heel cap. The heel cap portion may have vertically directed walls or preferably an inwardly positioned top edge. A cup shaped heel protector with an inwardly positioned top edge is preferred for an adequate grip on the foot. The forefoot cover may cover only a part or the entire forward portion of the foot including the toes and the instep.

A common problem that is encountered when the foot is introduced without the help of the hands into foot tight footwear having a heel cap portion is the buckling of the semi flexible counter of the footwear on contact with the heel. To overcome this disadvantage a rigid heel cap is provided in the prior art. And the preferred method to stiffen the heel cap is a rigid heel conforming insert. US patent 4608769 describes a rigid shoe horn insert fitted within the heel cap of a shoe. This would stiffen the heel cap enabling the introduction of the foot without the help of the hands. But the heel cap of such a shoe would then loose its semi flexible character and would not be very comfortable when used. An inwardly positioned top edge for the heel cap portion is usually one reason for needing the help of a finger or shoe horn for insertion of the foot. But even for footwear having vertically directed walls for the heel cap portion if the forefoot cover extends well backwards on to the instep portion of the foot the help of a finger or shoe horn will be required for pushing the forefoot into the cavity bounded by the forefoot cover. An object of this invention is to provide footwear that would still retain its semi flexible character but would resist buckling of the heel cap when the foot is inserted without the help of the hands . Another object of this inventio is^~t^prdp^se^—an a rticle^~of^" footwear provided with means for easy heel introduction into the heel cap - the foot being inserted with or without the help of the hands.

Disclosure of the invention.

This invention provides an article of footwear comprising a sole (1) and an upper, said upper having a forefoot cover (3), and a heel cap portion (4), attached to the sole, characterized in that an integrated laterally curved shoe horn member (5) is provided outer to the said heel cap portion, said shoe horn member extends towards the base of the heel cap portion and is attached to the sole (1) or to the said heel cap portion (4), said shoe horn member is positioned close towards the base and spaced towards the top edge of the said heel cap portion at the back, and a guide sheath member (7) attached to the shoe horn member is anchored to the heel cap portion towards the top edge of the heel cap portion or is provided over the heel cap portion at the front of the latter.

Preferably said shoe horn member extends above the top edge of the said heel cap portion. Preferably said guide sheath member is attached spaced above the top edge of the said heel cap portion.

Preferably said guide sheath member is attached to the shoe horn member spaced below the top margin of the said shoe horn member.

Said guide sheath member is attached to the said heel cap portion in a slide-able or non slide-able manner towards the top of the said heel cap portion. In the preferred embodiments the guide sheath member in its fitted position crosses the top edge of the heel cap portion.

In an embodiment the heel cap portion is continuous with the said guide sheath member that is attached towards its top to the said shoe horn member.

The invention is particularly useful for footwear that has an inwardly positioned top edge for the heel cap portion but is also useful when the footwear has a vertically directed heel cap portion and foot introduction requires the help of a finger or of a shoe horn. The gap bounded by the heel cap portion, the guide^heath member

horn member is preferably bridged by a resilient insert such as sponge. Preferably the said shoe horn member is stiff or semi flexible and is made of a material such as leather. Preferably the heel cap portion is stiff or semi flexible and is made of a material such as leather as for conventional footwear. Preferably said guide sheath member is less stiff than the said heel cap portion. The laterally curved shape and the spaced attachment of the guide sheath member below the top edge of the shoe horn member enable a semi flexible shoe horn made of a material such as leather to be used.

The shoe horn member may be made of relatively stiff leather or by any of the materials currently being used for making shoe horns such as plastic. Alternately a rigid shoe horn insert (similar to the one contemplated in US patent 4608769) made of a material such as plastic or metal may be interposed between the heel cap portion and the semi flexible shoe horn member, said shoe horn insert being positioned spaced at the back from the heel cap portion towards the top edge of the latter. This shoe horn insert may be fixed close to the said shoe horn member and would prevent collapse of the shoe horn member.

Alternately a separate heel cap may be attached at its base and front on to a sole fitted shoe horn member that is preferably continuous with the sole attached upper of the footwear towards the front.

In another embodiment of the footwear according to the invention the shoe horn member does not extend above the said heel cap portion and said guide sheath member is attached to the shoe horn member at the top level of the heel cap portion. The stiff shoe horn member in this case would help to steady the semi flexible heel cap for foot introduction.

This invention provides an article of footwear comprising a sole (1) and an upper, said upper having a forefoot cover (3), and a stiff or semi flexible heel cap portion (4), attached to the sole, characterized in that an integrated laterally curved stiff or semi flexible shoe horn member (5) is provided outer to the said heel cap portion, said shoe horn member extends towards the base and above the top edge of the heel cap portion and is attached to the said heel cap portion (4) above the sole (1), said shoe horn member is positioned close towards the base and spaced towards the top edge of the said heel cap portion at the back, a flexible guide sheath member (7) attached to the shoe horn member spaced above the heel cap portion is anchored to the heel cap portion towards the top edge of the heel cap portion or is provided over the heel cap portion at the front of the latter, and said guide sheath member in its fitted position crosses the top edge of the heel cap portion.

In the preferred embodiments said shoe horn member is positioned spaced from the said heel cap portion at the back by at least 0.4 cm. Preferably said shoe horn member extends above the said heel cap portion at the back for a height of at least 1 cm. Preferably said guide sheath member is attached spaced above the top edge of the said heel cap portion by at least 0.6 cm.

Preferably said article of footwear is a shoe or a sandal shoe having a sandal like front portion and a shoe like back portion. Preferably the forefoot cover of the said footwear is stretchable. Preferably at least one stretchable elastic segment is provided on the said forefoot cover, said stretchable segment involving the back end of the said forefoot cover. Preferably such a stretchable elastic segment is provided on the said forefoot cover on each side of the footwear. Preferably said stretchable elastic segment(s) on the forefoot cover is an elastic gusset(s). Preferably the side panels of the footwear are stretchable. Preferably at least one stretchable elastic segment is provided in front of the said heel cap portion. Preferably such a stretchable elastic segment is provided in front of the said heel cap portion on each side of the footwear. Preferably said stretchable elastic segment is provided between the heel cap portion and support members for the heel cap portion. Preferably said stretchable elastic segment(s) in front of the heel cap portion is an elastic gusset(s). Preferably the heel cap portion is discontinuous with the said support member on at least one side of the footwear and a strip of the wall of the upper of the footwear is provided between the base of the said discontinuity and the sole of the footwear.

The footwear according to the invention is easier to put on with the help of the hands than existing models as the foot more readily slips into the heel cap portion guided by the guide sheath member. Some embodiments are dimensioned to be put on solely with the hands and a pull-tab provided behind the shoe horn member would enable easy operation with the hands. Brief description of the drawings

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis being placed up on illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.

Fig.l: is the perspective view of a shoe according to the invention;

Figs.2: is the enlarged sectional view of the rear end of the shoe shown in Fig.l; the section being taken in the longitudinal plane.

Fig.3: is the enlarged sectional view of the rear end of another shoe according to the invention; the section being taken in the same longitudinal plane as for Fig.2.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

The article of footwear shown in the figures is a shoe having a sole (1) and an upper. The upper has a forefoot cover (3), heel cap portion (4) and support members (2) for the heel cap portion, all attached to the sole. The elastic gusset (6) is provided between the support member (2) and the forefoot cover (3).

According to the invention a laterally curved shoe horn member (5) is provided attached to the footwear outer to the heel cap portion (4). This shoe horn member extends above the said heel cap portion and is positioned spaced from the said heel cap portion towards the inwardly positioned top edge of the said heel cap portion at the back. At its base it is in contact with the heel cap portion. The heel cap portion is made of stiff or semi flexible leather as is the practice for making the counter of shoes. The shoe horn member is also made of stiff or semi flexible leather. The heel cap portion along with the rest of the upper may also be less stiff than the shoe horn member and this will ensure comfort for the wearer. The stiff shoe horn supports the back portion of the heel cap and prevents it from buckling. The shoe horn member (5) is positioned outer to the heel cap portion (4) and is stitched to the heel cap portion at the base of the latter as shown in Fig.2 - (Stitching line (10)). Alternately the shoe horn member is attached to the sole outer to the said heel_cap_ portion as shown in Fig.3. The former method (as shown in Fig.2) of fixing is easier and more economical than the latter method. In an embodiment the heel cap portion and shoe horn member are both attached to the sole, the shoe horn member is relatively stiff and said heel cap portion is more flexible than the said shoe horn member. The curved shoe horn member at its front is also stitched on the sides of the shoe to the heel cap portion (4) and the stitching line on the inside of the shoe is denoted by (10).

The guide sheath member (7) bridges the top gap between the heel cap portion and the shoe horn member. It is made of relatively thin and soft leather and is less stiff than the heel cap portion and the shoe horn member. It may also be made of canvas. It is stitched to the heel cap on the sides and bottom and to the shoe horn member at the top of the guide sheath member. These stitching lines on the inside of the shoe are denoted by (11). The stitching to the shoe horn member is made a little spaced below the top margin of the shoe horn member and this feature prevents buckling of the shoe horn member as the heel is inserted. For the shoe shown in Fig.3 the stitching between the heel cap portion and the guide sheath member is also done just below the top margin of the heel cap portion and this is denoted by (12). The stitching of the guide sheath member to the heel cap portion at the base and top of the heel cap portion is usually done prior to the fixing of the shoe horn member. In another embodiment a similar sized guide sheath member attached to the shoe horn member is not attached to the heel cap portion and is simply provided at the front of the heel cap portion. The heel cap portion and the shoe horn member together enclose a pocket (8) that is closed at the top by the guide sheath member. This pocket is filled by a resilient insert such as sponge (e.g. polyurethane sponge). This resilient insert is however not shown in the figures. This is particularly useful for the embodiment wherein the guide sheath member is not attached to the heel cap portion but is simply provided at the front of the heel cap portion. The guide sheath member besides guiding the heel into the heel cap also prevents dust from entering the said pocket. The broken line (9) denotes the upper margin of the heel cap portion that lies hidden outside the guide sheath member. A shoe lining may also be provided in front of the said guide sheath member to provide comfort for the foot.

The forefoot is introduced through theJo^tj¾cejyjng_ope_ning-of_the-shoe into the cavity— bounded by the forefoot cover and the forefoot cover stretched. Then the heel is pressed downwards on the guide sheath member. The heel then slides along the guide sheath member into the heel cap portion. The forefoot also simultaneously slides into the cavity bounded by the sole and the forefoot cover. The fitting of the shoe horn member on the sides of the heel cap towards the top is of great use especially when elastic members are incorporated in front of the heel cap. As the shoe horn member is positioned well spaced outer to the heel cap it will cause little discomfort to the ankle portion of the leg above the heel. For removing the shoe the part of the sole (1) towards the back of the shoe projecting outwards beyond the attachment of the upper is pressed down with the other foot and the inserted foot pulled out. The shoe horn member is fixed at a suitable inclination to the heel cap so as to provide adequate space for entry of the forefoot cover inserted foot and this is important for footwear having a forefoot cover extending backwards well over the instep. The shoe can also be put on in the conventional manner with the help of the hands. A pull tab provided behind the shoe horn member towards the top can be pulled to help insertion of the foot. The invention may also be applied to a sandal shoe having a heel cap portion. The back part of this sandal would then resemble the back part of the shoe shown in the figures. The forefoot cover of this sandal may also have the elastic segments or gussets as illustrated for the shoe. These sandals may also be provided with support members (2) for the heel cap on the two sides, a rubber and fabric based elastic strip being provided at the discontinuity between the said support member and the heel cap. The sandals according to the invention having elastic gussets between the heel cap portion and the support members for the heel cap portion are easier to put On as the heel cap along with the shoe horn of these sandals readily tilts back on pressing with the heel. The shoe illustrated is also preferably provided with an elastic gusset between the heel cap portion (4) and support member (2) for the heel cap portion on at least one side and this would greatly help in easy introduction of the foot.

The embodiment illustrated is mainly for the purpose of understanding the invention. The invention finds application in several other situations. To mention a few examples:

1) Shoe or sandal shoe with an integrated stiff or semi flexible shoe horn reaching up to the height of the more flexible heel cap and having a top closed gockei_aj5d _thatjs _put-on-with— or without the help of the hands. 2) Shoe or sandal shoe having an integrated almost vertical semi flexible shoe horn reaching a little above the more flexible heel cap and that is put on with or without the help of the hands.

3) Sandal shoe having a forefoot cover that extends only a little above the toes over the instep and having an integrated semi flexible shoe horn that reaches a little above the heel cap and that is put on with or without the help of the hands.

4) Shoe and boots having tall, almost vertical semi flexible shoe horns according to the invention that are operated by the hands.

5) Sandal shoe having elastic gussets between the heel cap portion and support members for the heel cap portion and provided with an integrated semi flexible shoe horn and that functions as a slip on.

A pull tab provided behind the shoe horn member in the above articles of footwear would enable easy operation with the hands.

The invention may be applied to footwear with and without stretchable elements.

Claims

Claims.

1. An article of footwear comprising a sole (1) and an upper, said upper having a forefoot cover (3), and a heel cap portion (4), attached to the sole, characterized in that an integrated laterally curved shoe horn member (5) is provided outer to the said heel cap portion, said shoe horn member extends towards the base of the heel cap portion and is attached to the sole (1) or to the said heel cap portion (4), said shoe horn member is positioned close towards the base and spaced towards the top edge of the said heel cap portion at the back, and a guide sheath member (7) attached to the shoe horn member is anchored to the heel cap portion towards the top edge of the heel cap portion or is provided over the heel cap portion at the front of the latter.

2. The article of footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shoe horn member extends above the top edge of the said heel cap portion.

3. The article of footwear as claimed in claim 2, wherein said guide sheath member is attached spaced above the top edge of the said heel cap portion.

4. The article of footwear as claimed in claims 2 to 3, wherein said guide sheath member is attached to the shoe horn member spaced below the top margin of the said shoe horn member.

5. The article of footwear as claimed in claims 1 to 4, wherein said guide sheath member in its fitted position crosses the top edge of the heel cap portion.

6. The article of footwear as claimed in claims 1 to 5, wherein the heel cap portion is continuous with the said guide sheath member, said guide sheath member being attached to the said shoe horn member.

7. The article of footwear as claimed in claims 1 to 6, wherein said article of footwear has an inwardly positioned top edge for the heel cap portion.

8. The article of footwear as claimed in claims 1 to 7, wherein said shoe horn member is stiff or semi flexible and is made of a material such as leather.

9. The article of footwear as claimed in claims 1 to 8, wherein said heel cap portion is stiff or semi flexible and is made of a material such as leather.

10. The article of footwear as claimed in claims 1 to 5 and 7 to 9, wherein said guide sheath member is less stiff than the heel cap portion.

11. The article of footwear as claimed in claims 1 to 10, wherein said heel cap portion and shoe horn member are both attached to the sole, the shoe horn member is relatively stiff and said heel cap portion is more flexible than the said shoe horn member.

12. An article of footwear comprising a sole (1) and an upper, said upper having a forefoot cover (3), and a stiff or semi flexible heel cap portion (4), attached to the sole, characterized in that an integrated laterally curved stiff or semi flexible shoe horn member (5) is provided outer to the said heel cap portion, said shoe horn member extends towards the base and above the top edge of the heel cap portion and is attached to the said heel cap portion (4) above the sole (1), said shoe horn member is positioned close towards the base and spaced towards the top edge of the said heel cap portion at the back, a flexible guide sheath member (7) attached to the shoe horn member spaced above the heel cap portion is anchored to the heel cap portion towards the top edge of the heel cap portion or is provided over the heel cap portion at the front of the latter, and said guide sheath member in its fitted position crosses the top edge of the heel cap portion.

13. The article of footwear as claimed in claims 1 to 12, wherein the gap bounded by the heel cap portion, the guide sheath member and the said shoe horn member is bridged by a resilient insert such as sponge.

14. The article of footwear as claimed in claims 1 to 13, wherein said shoe horn member is positioned spaced from the said heel cap portion at the back by at least 0.4 cm.

15. The article of footwear as claimed in claims 1 to 14, wherein said shoe horn member extends above the said heel cap portion at the back for a height of at least 1 cm.

16. The article of footwear as claimed in claim 15, wherein said guide sheath member is attached spaced above the top edge of the said heel cap portion by at least 0.6 cm.

17. The article of footwear as claimed in claims 1 to 16, wherein a rigid shoe horn insert made of a material such as plastic or metal is interposed between the heel cap portion and a semi flexible shoe horn member, said shoe horn insert positioned spaced at the back from the heel cap portion towards the top edge of the latter is fixed close to the said shoe horn member.

18. The article of footwear as claimed in claims 1 to 17, wherein said fore foot cover is stretchable or stretchable elastic segments are provided in front of the said heel cap portion.

19. The article of footwear as claimed in claims 1 to 18, wherein said article of footwear is a shoe or a sandal shoe having a sandal like front portion and a shoe like back portion.

20. An article of footwear substantially as herein described and illustrated.