JP7711278B2 - Footwear strap and footwear having a footwear strap - Google Patents

Description

This application relates to the technical field of footwear, and more particularly to footwear straps and footwear having footwear straps.

Generally, footwear such as sandals are provided with a footwear strap to secure the heel to the footwear. The footwear strap must not only fit the heel and be securely attached to the footwear, but also be designed to make it easy for the wearer to put on and take off the footwear. Therefore, the design of the strap plays an important role in the use and wearing of the footwear.

Embodiments of the present application provide a footwear strap that improves comfort and convenience when putting on and taking off footwear, and footwear having such a footwear strap.

In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a footwear strap comprising a strap element and a rigid heel structural element, the rigid heel structural element being disposed inside the strap element and including an upper rear portion, the upper rear portion extending in a direction from where the footwear contacts the heel toward where the footwear contacts the toe and sloping below the footwear when the footwear strap is assembled to the footwear, the upper rear portion having a convex curved portion conforming to the shape of the heel to facilitate easy receipt of the heel, and the inner lower portion of the convex curved portion facing an opening in the footwear when the footwear strap is assembled to the footwear.

In one embodiment, the rigid heel structural element includes two connecting arms.

In one embodiment, the connecting arm includes an inner arm and an outer arm connected to the inner arm, the outer arm and the inner arm being integrally molded, and the outer arm being connected to the upper rear portion.

In one embodiment, when the footwear strap is assembled to the footwear, the outer arm extends downwardly to a footbed, insole, or straw bell sock of the footwear, and the inner arm extends downwardly to a footbed, insole, or straw bell sock of the footwear.

In one embodiment, the outer arm is attached directly or indirectly to the upper surface of the insole along the inside of the footwear insole when it extends downward to the footwear insole, and the inner arm is attached directly or indirectly to the upper surface of the insole along the outside of the footwear insole when it extends downward to the footwear insole.

In one embodiment, where the outer arm and inner arm extend downwardly to the footbed of the footwear, the ends of the outer arm and inner arm are attached to the footbed of the footwear.

In one embodiment, where the outer arm and inner arm extend downwardly to the strobel sock of the footwear, the ends of the outer arm and inner arm are attached to the strobel sock of the footwear.

In one embodiment, the rigid heel structural element is formed from a polymeric material.

In one embodiment, the polymeric material is Hytrel thermoplastic polyester elastomeric block copolymer or thermoplastic polyurethane.

In one embodiment, the rigid heel structural element is covered with fabric, textile material, leather, polyurethane, or other polymeric plastics known in the art.

In one embodiment, a compressible layer is provided on the inside of the rigid heel structural element, the compressible layer covers the upper rear portion, partially covers the inner arm and the outer arm, and gradually tapers or terminates along the inner side of the inner arm and the inner side of the outer arm.

In one embodiment, the convex curved portion has an upwardly facing upper surface.

In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides footwear including a footwear strap provided according to any embodiment of the present application. The footwear provided by the embodiment of the present application may be a sandal having a heel strap, or a leather shoe, a cloth shoe, a sports shoe, or the like.

In one embodiment, the rigid heel structural element is connected to the footbed or insole of the shoe via an L-shaped anchor.

The above summary is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the present application in any way. In addition to the exemplary aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features of the present application will be readily understood by reference to the drawings and the detailed description that follows.

In the drawings, unless otherwise specified, the same reference numerals throughout the drawings indicate the same or similar components or elements. The drawings are not necessarily to scale. It should be understood that the drawings are merely illustrative of some embodiments disclosed in accordance with the present application and should not be considered as limiting the scope of the present application.

FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a rigid heel structural element according to a first embodiment of the present application; FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional schematic view of a rigid heel structural element according to a second embodiment of the present application; FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a cross-section of a rigid heel structural element according to a first embodiment of the present application. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an L-shaped anchor viewed from above in accordance with an embodiment of the present application. 1A-1C are schematic diagrams illustrating different structures obtained after assembling a footwear strap according to an embodiment of the present application to footwear. 1A-1C are schematic diagrams illustrating different structures obtained after assembling a footwear strap according to an embodiment of the present application to footwear. 1A-1C are schematic diagrams illustrating different structures obtained after assembling a footwear strap according to an embodiment of the present application to footwear.

In the following text, only some exemplary embodiments are briefly described. As those skilled in the art will recognize, the described embodiments can be modified in a variety of different ways without departing from the spirit or scope of the present application. Accordingly, the drawings and description should be regarded as illustrative in nature and not limiting.

Below, a rigid heel structural element 100 included in a footwear strap according to an embodiment of the present application will be described with reference to Figures 1A to 1C, 2, and 3A to 3C.

As shown in Figures 1A-1C, the footwear strap includes a strap element (not shown in Figures 1A-1C) and a rigid heel structural element 100. In particular, the strap element can be a fabric or woven material that wraps the rigid heel structural element 100. The rigid heel structural element 100 disposed inside the strap element is configured to be of a structure and material that can withstand pressure from the foot to facilitate the insertion of the foot into the footwear and prevent the rigid heel structural element 100 from collapsing under the pressure of the foot. With reference to Figures 1A and 1B, Figure 1A is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a rigid heel structural element according to a first embodiment of the present application. Specifically, Figure 1A is a left perspective view of the rigid heel structural element 100 according to the first embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 1A, the rigid heel structural element 100 is composed of a first portion and a second portion, the first portion includes an upper rear portion 101, a connecting arm 102, and a convex curvature 103, and the second portion is an L-shaped anchor 104. The connecting arm 102 is connected to the upper rear portion 101. The connecting arm 102 includes a lateral arm 102A and a medial arm 102B, both of which are substantially arranged laterally. The connecting arm 102 can be connected to the L-shaped anchor 104. As can be seen from FIG. 1A, the above-mentioned four portions 101 to 104 are generally arranged in order from the upper right direction to the lower left direction.

Figure 1B is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a rigid heel structural element according to a second embodiment of the present application. The difference between the rigid heel structural element of the second embodiment and the rigid heel structural element of the first embodiment is that the connecting arm of the rigid heel structural element of the second embodiment is itself L-shaped. Specifically, Figure 1B is a left perspective view of a rigid heel structural element 100 according to a second embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 1B, the rigid heel structural element 100 includes an upper rear portion 101, a connecting arm 102, and a convex curved portion 103. The connecting arm 102 is L-shaped. The connecting arm 102 is connected to the upper rear portion 101. The connecting arm 102 includes an outer arm 102A and an inner arm 102B, and the inner arm 102B is substantially perpendicular to the outer arm 102A.

In some embodiments, the outer arm 102A and the inner arm 102B can be integrally formed. In other embodiments, the outer arm 102A and the inner arm 102B can be manufactured separately and then assembled or connected to one another.

1C is a schematic diagram of a cross section of a first portion of a rigid heel structural element of a first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1C, the first portion of the rigid heel structural element 100 includes an upper rear portion 101, a connecting arm 102, and a convex curved portion 103. The connecting arm 102 includes an outer arm 102A and an inner arm 102B, both of which are substantially arranged laterally. The first portion of the rigid heel structural element 100 extends in an arc shape from the upper rear portion 101 to the lower left, and the connecting arm 102 of the first portion is connected to the upper rear portion 101 of the first portion. As shown by the two arrows in FIG. 1C, the inner surface of the rigid heel structural element 100 has a certain thickness and can have a compressible layer, such as a foam cushioning element. The compressible layer can be attached to the upper rear portion 101 of the rigid heel structural element 100 and at least a part of the connecting arm 102.

In particular, the upper rear portion 101 is used to encase the heel portion of the foot. When the footwear strap is assembled to the footwear, the upper rear portion 101 extends in a direction from where the footwear contacts the heel to where the footwear contacts the toe. As shown in Figures 1A to 1C, the rigid heel structural element 100 extends in an arc to the left from the upper rear portion 101. Meanwhile, when the footwear strap is assembled to the footwear, the upper rear portion 101 slopes downward along a direction from where the footwear contacts the heel to where the footwear contacts the toe.

In particular, the downwardly sloping portion of the upper rear portion 101 has a convex curved portion 103, the convex surface of which protrudes toward the foot when the footwear strap is assembled to the footwear. Furthermore, the shape of the convex curved portion 103 conforms to the heel to facilitate easy reception of the heel portion. The convex curved portion 103 has an opening, the lower portion of which faces the sole of the footwear when the footwear strap is assembled to the footwear.

In one embodiment, the convex curved portion 103 has an upwardly facing upper surface.

In one embodiment, when the foot applies downward pressure to the rigid heel structural element 100, the rigid heel structural element 100 can at least partially deform in an instant. For example, when the foot applies downward pressure to the rigid heel structural element 100, the outer arm 102A and the inner arm 102B can partially bend toward the rear of the footwear, or bend outward to widen the opening of the footwear, or both. Due to the hard yet sufficiently resilient material used in the integrally molded rigid heel structural element 100, the rigid heel structural element 100 can return to its original undeformed shape and position when the downward pressure applied by the foot is released.

In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1A, the rigid heel structural element includes two connecting arms 102, each of which can include an inner arm 102B and an outer arm 102A connected to the inner arm 102B. The connecting arms 102 can be connected to a vertical portion of an L-shaped anchor 104. The horizontal portion of the L-shaped anchor 104 is used to connect to a footbed, insole, or strobel sock in an assembled state. The anchor can also be of various suitable shapes, such as J-shaped and T-shaped.

In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1B, the rigid heel structural element includes two connecting arms 102, each of which can include an inner arm 102B and an outer arm 102A connected to the inner arm 102B. The connecting arms 102 are L-shaped. The L-shaped end of the connecting arms 102 includes an upper surface and a lower surface, where the lower surface is at least partially connected to the upper surface of the insole and the upper surface is at least partially connected to the lower surface of the footbed.

In one embodiment, when the footwear strap is assembled to the footwear, the outer arm 102A and the inner arm 102B extend downwardly to the footbed, insole, or strawberry sock of the footwear.

In one embodiment, where the outer arm 102A and the inner arm 102B extend downwardly to the footwear insole, the outer arm 102A is attached directly or indirectly to the top surface of the insole along the medial side of the footwear insole, and the inner arm 102B is attached directly or indirectly to the top surface of the insole along the lateral side of the footwear insole.

In one embodiment, where the outer arm 102A and the inner arm 102B extend downwardly to the footbed of the footwear, the ends of the outer arm 102A and the inner arm 102B can be attached to the footbed of the footwear via anchors.

In one embodiment, when the outer arm 102A and the inner arm 102B extend downwardly to the strobel sock of the footwear, the end of the outer arm 102A and the end of the inner arm 102B are attached to the strobel sock of the footwear.

In one embodiment, the rigid heel structural element 100 is formed from a polymeric material.

In one embodiment, the polymeric material is Hytrel thermoplastic polyester elastomer block copolymer (such as DuPont Hytrel) or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU).

In one embodiment, the rigid heel structure 100 is covered with a fabric or textile material. In particular, the fabric or textile material can be the same as the textile material of the outer surface of the shoe.

In one embodiment, a compressible layer is provided on the inside of the rigid heel structural element 100. The compressible layer can be a foam cushioning element attached to the rear of the rigid heel structural element 100 and to at least a portion of the inside of the medial and lateral arms of the inner arm. The compressible layer covers the upper rear, partially covers the medial and lateral arms, and gradually tapers or terminates along the inside of the medial and lateral arms of the inner arm. The compressible layer can be compressed during insertion of the foot into the footwear. The compressible layer can expand or at least partially expand to its original uncompressed state after the foot is inserted into the footwear. The compressible layer can be positioned around the ankle to help secure the foot within the footwear.

In a second aspect of an embodiment of the present application, there is further provided footwear including a footwear strap provided according to any of the embodiments of the present application.

In one embodiment, the rigid heel structural element is connected to the footbed or insole of the footwear via an L-shaped anchor.

2 is a schematic diagram of an L-shaped anchor 200 from above according to one embodiment of the present application, which can be attached to the connecting arm 102 of the rigid heel structural element 100. The L-shaped anchor 200 can be molded separately. Referring to FIG. 2, the L-shaped anchor 200 can include a vertical portion 201 and a horizontal portion 202 according to the L-shape, where the vertical portion 201 corresponds to the long side of the L-shape and the horizontal portion 202 corresponds to the short side of the L-shape.

3A-3C are schematic diagrams respectively showing different structures obtained after assembling a footwear strap according to an embodiment of the present application to a footwear. In one embodiment, referring to FIG. 3A in an assembled state, a connecting arm 301 of a footwear strap 300 is glued to a vertical portion of an L-shaped anchor 302 to secure a heel to a sandal as shown. As shown in FIG. 3B, a bottom view of the footwear, the L-shaped anchor 302 is connected to a footbed or insole. The horizontal portion of the L-shaped anchor is not shown because the L-shaped anchor 302 is covered by a sole 306. In one embodiment, the connecting arm 301 of the footwear strap 300 is L-shaped. The L-shaped connecting arm 301 can be connected to a footbed or insole. As shown in FIG. 3B, a bottom view of the footwear, the L-shaped connecting arm 301 is connected to a footbed or insole. The L-shaped end of the L-shaped connecting arm 301 is not shown because it is covered by a sole 306.

In some embodiments, the footwear may incorporate a pair of boards 304 attached to the underside of the footbed or insole 303, as shown in FIG. 3C. Additionally, the boards 304 may be positioned on the medial and lateral sides of the footbed or insole 303 and spaced apart from each other. The L-shaped anchors 302 may be connected to the boards 304. The boards 304 may be constructed of cellulose (such as texon). The bottom 305 of the sandal strap of the sandal shown in FIG. 3C may also be connected to the footbed or insole 303 or the boards 304. The sole 306, as shown in FIG. 3B, may be formed by placing a sole portion over the insole 303.

In another embodiment, the L-shaped anchor can be connected to a footbed, an insole, or a straw-belt sock.

In one embodiment, the connection arm 301 of the footwear strap 300 is L-shaped, and the L-shaped connection arm 301 can be connected to the board 304.

In another embodiment, the L-shaped connecting arm can be connected to a footbed, insole or strawberry sock.

In the description of this specification, the following terms are used: "central," "vertical," "horizontal," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," etc. It should be understood that the orientation or positional relationship indicated by terms such as "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," "circumferential," and the like, is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and does not indicate or imply that the referenced device or element must have a particular orientation or be configured and operated in a particular orientation, but is merely intended to facilitate and simplify the description of this application, and therefore is not to be construed as limiting this application.

Additionally, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying a relative importance or number of technical features being presented. Thus, features defined using "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of those features. The word "multiple" in the description of this application means two or more unless otherwise specified.

In this application, unless otherwise specified and limited, terms such as "mounting", "connecting", "connection" and "fix" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, they may be fixed connection, detachable connection, or integral, may be mechanical connection or electrical connection, may be direct connection or indirect connection through a medium, may be communication between two elements or an interaction relationship between two elements. Those skilled in the art should interpret the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific situation.

In this application, unless otherwise specified and stipulated, the presence of a first feature "on" or "under" a second feature can include the first and second features being in direct contact with each other, and can also include the first and second features not being in direct contact with each other but being in contact with each other through another feature between them. Furthermore, the presence of a first feature "on", "above", and "over" a second feature only means that the first feature is directly above and diagonally above the second feature, or that the first feature is horizontally higher than the second feature. The presence of a first feature "underneath", "below", and "under" a second feature only means that the first feature is directly above and diagonally above the second feature, or that the first feature is horizontally lower than the second feature.

The above disclosure provides many different embodiments or examples that realize different structures of the present application. The components and configurations of certain examples have been described above to simplify the disclosure of the present application. Of course, these are merely examples and are not intended to limit the present application. In addition, the present application may repeat reference numerals and/or characters in different examples. Such repetition is for the purposes of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself indicate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations described.

The above is merely a detailed description of the present application, and the scope of protection of the present application is not limited thereto. A person skilled in the art can easily conceive of various modifications or substitutions that should be included in the scope of protection of the present application within the technical scope disclosed in the present application. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present application should be in accordance with the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims (14)

Footwear ,
A strap element;
a rigid heel structure disposed within the strap element ;
The rigid heel structural element comprises:
an upper rear portion that slopes downward from an upper end of the upper rear portion toward a front of the footwear and has a convex curved portion that faces an opening in the footwear through which a foot is inserted ;
two connecting arms, each of the two connecting arms including an inner arm and an outer arm connected to the inner arm, the outer arm and the inner arm being integrally molded, and the outer arm being connected to the upper rear portion;
Including,
When the strap element is assembled to the footwear ,
The outer arm extends downward and is attached to an insole or a straw-belt sock of the footwear;
The inner arm extends downwardly and is attached to the insole or the strobel sock of the footwear;
a compressible layer is provided on an inner side of the rigid heel structural element facing a foot inserted into the footwear, the compressible layer completely covers the upper rear portion, at least partially covers the inner arm and the outer arm, and gradually tapers or terminates along the inner side of the inner arm facing the foot inserted into the footwear and the inner side of the outer arm facing the foot inserted into the footwear;
footwear . the outer arm is attached directly or indirectly to an upper surface of the insole where it extends downwardly to the insole of the footwear;
The inner arm is attached directly or indirectly to an upper surface of the insole where it extends downwardly to the insole of the footwear.
Footwear according to claim 1 . When the outer arm and the inner arm extend downward to a footbed of the footwear, a lower end of each of the two connecting arms is attached to the footbed of the footwear.
Footwear according to claim 1 . When the outer arm and the inner arm extend downward to the strobel sock of the footwear, a lower end of each of the two connecting arms is attached to the strobel sock of the footwear.
Footwear according to claim 1 . The rigid heel structural element is formed of a polymeric material.
Footwear according to claim 1. The polymeric material is Hytrel thermoplastic polyester elastomeric block copolymer or thermoplastic polyurethane.
Footwear according to claim 5 . The rigid heel structural element is covered with fabric, textile material, leather, or polymeric plastic.
Footwear according to claim 1. the convex curved portion further has an upwardly facing upper surface;
the convex curved portion extends from the upper end to the lower end of the upper rear portion in a cross section taken along a vertical plane aligned with the longitudinal axis;
Footwear according to claim 1. the rigid heel structural element is connected to a footbed, an insole, or a strobel sock of the footwear via a medial L-shaped anchor and a lateral L-shaped anchor ;
Each of the medial L-shaped anchor and the lateral L-shaped anchor is either integrally molded with the rigid heel structural element or formed separately and attached to the rigid heel structural element.
Footwear according to claim 8 . 2. The footwear of claim 1, wherein the rigid heel structural element is configured to at least partially deform when downward pressure is applied by a foot such that the medial and lateral connecting arms can partially bend toward the rear of the footwear and/or outward to widen the opening in the footwear. Footwear,
A strap element;
a rigid heel structure disposed within the strap element;
The rigid heel structural element comprises:
an upper rear portion that slopes downward from an upper end of the upper rear portion toward a front of the footwear;
an inner connecting arm extending inwardly from the upper rear portion;
an outer connecting arm extending outwardly from the upper rear portion,
At least one of the inner connection arm and the outer connection arm extends vertically from one end and curves toward the rear of the footwear to form an arc shape in side projection;
a compressible layer is provided on the inside of the rigid heel structural element, the compressible layer completely covering the upper rear portion, partially covering the inner connecting arm and the outer connecting arm, and gradually tapering or terminating along the inner side of the inner connecting arm and the inner side of the outer connecting arm;
footwear. Footwear according to claim 11, wherein when the lateral connecting arm and the medial connecting arm extend downwardly to a footbed of the footwear, an end of the lateral connecting arm and an end of the medial connecting arm are attached to the footbed of the footwear. Footwear as described in claim 11, wherein when the outer connecting arm and the inner connecting arm extend downwardly to a strobel sock of the footwear, an end of the outer connecting arm and an end of the inner connecting arm are attached to the strobel sock of the footwear. the rigid heel structural element is connected to a footbed, an insole, or a strobel sock of the footwear via a medial L-shaped anchor and a lateral L-shaped anchor;
12. The article of footwear of claim 11, wherein each of the medial and lateral L-shaped anchors is integrally molded with the rigid heel structural element or is formed separately and attached to the rigid heel structural element.