HEEL ACCESSORY

Abstract

A heel accessory for a footwear article is adapted to engage a foot support, such that the wearer's legs can be stretched and the back of the wearer's heels can be comfortably rested on the foot support of a motorcycle. The heel accessory includes a base portion connected to the footwear article and a block portion extending from the base portion. The block portion includes an interface that is shaped to correspond to the foot support, such that the wearer's legs can be stretched and rested while riding.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to footwear and, more particularly, to footwear accessories.

Most motorcycles include a frame having a seat on which an operator sits in a straddle fashion. A pair of foot pegs are carried at the lower end of the frame at opposite sides for the operator's feet to be placed when riding. In a standard riding position, the bottom of the operator's boots or shoes rest on the top of the foot pegs, and the operator sits on the seat with knees slightly bent. This riding position can be tiring and uncomfortable for an operator to maintain, especially for extended periods of time. While it may be desirable for the operator to stretch the legs and rest the back of the heels on the foot pegs or “highway bars,” this position is impractical because the rear heel portion of the shoes or boots can easily slip or slide off of the pegs, which could seriously injure the operator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a heel accessory for a footwear article, such as a shoe or boot, that is adapted to engage a foot support, thus allowing the wearer's legs to stretch and the back of the wearer's heels to rest on the support.

According to one embodiment, the heel accessory includes a base portion connected to a footwear article and a block portion extending from the base portion. The block portion includes an interface that is shaped to correspond to a foot support.

Optionally, the footwear article may include an upper, to which the heel accessory can be connected. The base portion may optionally be stitched to the upper at a groove formed in the base portion. The groove may be positioned at or near the periphery of the base portion. Optionally, the footwear may also include a heel counter. In such an embodiment, the base portion may be stitched to both the upper and the heel counter.

The foot support may optionally be a motorcycle foot peg, such that the wearer's legs can be rested while riding a motorcycle. The motorcycle foot peg may be generally cylindrical, and the interface of the heel accessory may be concave to correspond to the foot peg. Optionally, the heel accessory may be positioned in alignment with or below a bursa point on the heel of the wearer.

Thus, the present invention provides a heel accessory that allows a motorcycle rider's legs to stretch and the rider's heels to comfortably rest on the motorcycle foot pegs while riding. The heel accessory sufficiently engages the motorcycle peg to resist the possibility that the operator's feet will slip or slide off of the motorcycle foot pegs. This resting position may help the operator to conserve energy and reduce fatigue so that the operator may enjoy a higher level of comfort and concentration on the road.

These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be more readily understood and appreciated by reference to the detailed description of the invention and the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a footwear article having an heel accessory in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the footwear article shown resting on a foot peg.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a heel accessory in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the heel accessory.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the heel accessory.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the heel accessory.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the heel accessory.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the heel accessory taken along lines 8-8.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the heel accessory taken along lines 9-9.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the heel accessory taken along lines 10-10.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the heel accessory taken along lines 11-11.

FIG. 12 is a side view of a footwear article having an heel accessory that is integrally formed with a heel counter in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a side view of a footwear article having a heel accessory that is integrally formed with an external heel counter in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an anatomical diagram of a foot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT EMBODIMENT

A heel accessory in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 at the heel portion of a boot 100, and is generally designated 10. The heel accessory 10 is adapted to engage a foot support, such as foot peg 116, so that the wearer's legs can be extended and the back of wearer's heels can be rested on foot pegs 116 (see FIG. 2).

To facilitate disclosure of the present invention, reference will be made to general areas of the foot, such as the heel. When used to refer to locations on a boot or shoe or other article of footwear, the term “heel” should be interpreted to include those areas that are disposed generally (and not necessarily directly) adjacent to the heel of the foot. For purposes of general reference only, the heel is shown in the anatomical diagram of the foot 400 in FIG. 14, in the general area designated 412. It should be understood, however, that the boundaries of the heel area are not precise and that this term should be interpreted loosely and with a great deal of flexibility.

As shown in FIGS. 3-11, the heel accessory 10 includes a base portion 12 adapted to be connected or affixed to an article of footwear, such as boot 100, and a block portion 14 extending from the base portion 12. The block portion 14 includes an interface 16 that is shaped to correspond to a foot support, such as the foot peg 116 shown in FIG. 2.

The base portion 12 of the heel accessory 10 includes a front surface 26 and rear surface 24 adapted to engage the footwear article. Optionally, the rear surface 24 may be shaped to correspond to the contour of the heel portion of the footwear article. In the illustrated embodiment, the base portion 12 is generally oval shaped, and the rear surface 24 of the base portion 12 corresponds to the contour of the heel portion of the boot 100 (see FIGS. 5 and 6). However, the base portion 10 may be selectively formed and shaped to correspond to a variety of footwear types.

The base portion 12 may be attached to the footwear article using any suitable connector adapted to securely retain the heel accessory 10 to the footwear article. In the illustrated embodiment, the heel accessory 10 is stitched to the upper 111 of the boot 100 (FIG. 1). However, the heel accessory 10 may alternatively or additionally be cemented or adhered or clipped to the boot 100.

Optionally, a groove 18 may be formed in the base portion 12 to provide a thinner area or strip of material at which the heel accessory 10 can be stitched to the boot 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the groove 18 is formed near the periphery of the generally oval-shaped base portion 12, which may prevent the outer edges of the heel accessory 10 from lifting away from the boot 100 (see FIGS. 6-11).

The base portion 12 may be stitched to the outermost layer of an article of footwear, such as the upper 111 of the boot 100. In another embodiment, the boot 100 may also include a heel counter that wraps around the heel of a wearer to assist in centering the heel and to provide additional structural integrity. The heel counter can be positioned inside the boot, for example, against an inside surface of the upper 111. To securely retain heel accessory 10 to the boot 100, the heel accessory 10 may be stitched to both the upper 111 and the heel counter. The boot 100 may also include a protective liner positioned inside the boot to cover the heel counter. Optionally, the heel accessory 10 may be stitched to the upper, the heel counter and the liner.

The block portion 14 of the heel accessory 10 is formed as an extension or protrusion extending from the front surface 26 of the base portion 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the block portion creates a distance between the boot 100 and the foot peg 116 (see FIG. 2). The distance that the block portion 14 extends from the base portion may be selectively chosen to achieve a desired distance between the boot 100 and the foot peg 116. For example, the further the block portion 14 extends from the base portion, the further the boot 100 will be from the foot peg 116 in the resting position.

The block portion 16 may be formed in any suitable shape. In the illustrated embodiment, the block portion 14 slopes outward from the front surface 26 of the base portion 12 to the interface 16, which is positioned at or near a bottom portion 30 of the heel accessory 10. As shown in FIG. 4, the slope 20 from the top 28 of the heel accessory 10 to the interface 16 is longer than the slope 22 from the bottom 30 of the heel accessory 10 to the interface 16. The longer slope 20 may provide additional support to the wearer's heel and/or ankle. Additionally, because the slope 20 of the block portion 14 can be easily seen by others when the wearer is not resting the foot on a foot support, such as when the wearer walking, the slope 20 can provide a surface on which a logo or brand name can be attached, engraved or otherwise featured.

The interface 16 can be shaped to correspond to a variety of foot supports. In the illustrated embodiment, the interface 16 is concave, so that it corresponds to the cylindrical foot peg 116 (FIG. 2). While most motorcycle foot pegs are generally cylindrical or rounded, some foot pegs may vary in appearance depending on the intended application or riding conditions. Accordingly, the interface 16 may be shaped to correspond to any of the various foot peg designs. Moreover, the concave design of the interface 16 shown in the illustrated embodiment can optionally rest on a cylindrical peg of a different diameter or on a square peg and still adequately support the wearer's foot and leg.

The heel accessory 10 may be selectively positioned on a footwear article to provide the most comfortable resting position for the wearer's feet and legs. For example, the heel accessory 10 may be positioned on the boot 100 below a bursa point 410 on the heel 412 of the wearer, i.e. between the ground and the bursa point when the wearer is standing up (see FIG. 14). The bursa 410 is a sac-like structure that protects soft tissues from injuries that could be caused by pressure from nearby bones. Thus, it may not be comfortable for the wearer if the heel accessory 10 is positioned directly on the bursa 410. Further, if the heel accessory 10 is positioned above the wearer's bursa point 410, the wearer's foot may begin to slide or stretch over the foot support. However, the heel accessory 10 can be positioned as desired to achieve a comfortable resting position for a particular wearer.

The heel accessory 10 may be formed from any suitable material and using any conventional techniques and apparatus. For example, the heel accessory 10 may be formed from natural and synthetic rubbers, plastic or wood. In the illustrated embodiment, that heel accessory 10 is formed from rubber that has been injection molded using a conventional injection molding apparatus (not shown) and using conventional injection molding techniques. For example, the rubber may be injected at high pressure into a product cavity that is shaped to form the heel accessory.

In another embodiment, a heel accessory for a footwear article may be integrally formed with another element of the footwear article. As shown in FIG. 12, a heel accessory 210 is integrally formed with a heel counter of boot 200. In the illustrated embodiment, the heel counter wraps around the heel portion of the boot 200 and is positioned inside the boot 200, under the upper 211. To allow the heel accessory 210 to project from the boot 200 through the upper 211, the upper 211 includes a cutout 220 corresponding to the heel accessory 210. Alternatively, the upper 211 may be applied or stitched to the boot 200 in multiple pieces around the heel accessory 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the heel accessory 210 and the heel counter may be integrally molded, for example through an injection molding process, and may be formed from any moldable material, including plastics, rubber and the like. Heel accessory 210 may otherwise be substantially similar to heel accessory 10 described above.

In yet another embodiment, a heel accessory 310 may be integrally formed with an external heel counter 318 of a boot 300. In the illustrated embodiment, the heel counter 318 wraps around the heel portion of the boot 300 and is stitched to the upper 311. However, the heel counter 310 may alternatively or additionally be adhered, cemented or otherwise connected to the upper 311. The heel counter 318 is positioned on the boot 300 such that the heel accessory 310 is positioned on or aligned with the heel portion of the boot 300. The heel accessory 310 and heel counter 318 may be integrally molded through an injection molding process and may be formed from any moldable material, including plastics, rubber and the like. The heel accessory 310 may otherwise be substantially similar to heel accessories 10 and 210 described above.

The above description is that of current embodiments of the invention. Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention as defined in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents. Any reference to claim elements in the singular, for example, using the articles “a,” “an,” “the” or “said,” is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular.

Claims

1. A heel accessory for a footwear article, comprising:

a base portion connected to said footwear article;

a block portion extending from said base portion; and

an interface on said block portion, wherein said interface is shaped to correspond to a foot support.

2. The heel accessory of claim 1, wherein said footwear article includes an upper, wherein said base portion is connected to a heel portion of said upper.

3. The heel accessory of claim 2, wherein said base portion is stitched to said upper.

4. The heel accessory of claim 3, wherein a groove is formed in said base portion, wherein said base portion is stitched to said upper in said groove.

5. The heel accessory of claim 4, wherein said footwear article includes a heel counter, wherein said base portion is stitched to said upper and said heel counter.

6. The heel accessory of claim 1, wherein said footwear article includes a heel counter, wherein said heel accessory is integrally formed with said heel counter.

7. The heel accessory of claim 1, wherein said heel accessory is positioned below a bursa point on the heel of a wearer.

8. The heel accessory of claim 1, wherein said foot support is a motorcycle foot peg.

9. The heel accessory of claim 1, wherein said heel accessory is injection molded.

10. The heel accessory of claim 9, wherein said heel accessory is formed from rubber.

11. A footwear article, comprising:

an upper;

an outsole; and

a heel accessory having a base portion connected to said upper and a block portion extending from said base portion, wherein said block portion includes an interface shaped to correspond to a foot support.

12. The footwear article of claim 11, wherein said base portion is stitched to said upper.

13. The footwear article of claim 12, including a heel counter, wherein said base portion is stitched to said upper and to said heel counter.

14. The footwear article of claim 13, wherein said heel accessory is positioned below a bursa point on the heel of a wearer.

15. The footwear article of claim 14, wherein said foot support is a motorcycle foot peg.

16. A boot, comprising:

an upper;

an outsole; and

a heel accessory having a base portion positioned at a heel portion of said boot and a block portion extending from said base portion, wherein said block portion includes an interface shaped to correspond to a foot support.

17. The boot of claim 16, wherein a groove is formed in said base portion, wherein said base portion is stitched to said upper at said groove.

18. The boot of claim 17, including a heel counter, wherein said base portion is stitched to said upper and to said heel counter.

19. The boot of claim 16, including a heel counter, wherein said heel accessory is integrally formed with said heel counter.

20. The boot of claim 19, wherein said heel accessory and said heel counter are injection molded.