SHOE COMFORT STRAP DEVICES AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE

Abstract

A shoe comfort device including a flexible length, a fixing end, and a detachable heel attachment, constructed to support a shoe substantially against the bottom of a human foot.

Description

FIELD

The subject technology generally relates to shoe comfort strap devices that are configured to detachably connect to the heel of a shoe, and their methods of manufacture. Preferably, but not exclusively, the strap devices are configured for use with a woman's high-heeled stiletto-style shoe.

BACKGROUND

Women love shoes. The appeal of a woman in a beautiful pair of shoes is nearly universal, across many cultures and backgrounds. Women wear high heels practically everywhere: to school, at work, and at play. Women often buy shoes for their aesthetics, for instance with a high heel to give swagger and poise. The higher the heel, however, the steeper the incline against which the arch of the foot rests, pushing and possibly crushing the toes into the point of a shoe, with the woman's heel then extending a great distance from the rear of the shoe, or what is typically called the heel collar.

When too much distance is present between a woman's heel and the heel collar, the shoe can “flop” with each step. When shoes flop around they can be dangerous to the wearer, causing them to be unstable and potentially fall. For these reasons women sometimes buy shoes that are actually a size or two too small for their feet, which forces their toes and balls of their feet against the structure of the shoe. This attempt at a solution can cause blisters, cramped/crushed toes, and even cause skeletal alignment issues. Even simply wearing the correct size in a high heel can actually cause muscle damage and permanent deformation, according to Drs. Neil Cronin, Rod Barrett, and Christopher Carty's article “Long-term Use of High Heeled Shoes Alters the Neuromechanics of Human Walking,” Journal of Applied Physiology, January, 2012. In sum, heels are admired but they can cause damage to the feet. Further, some women have high-heeled shoes they would like to wear, but choose not to because of “flopping” or due to an improper fit.

SUMMARY

The subject technology overcomes the previous problems by providing a shoe comfort strap device that is configured to support a shoe substantially against the bottom of a human foot. Individual embodiments of the instant invention may include all of the elements of the claims and written description as provided herein, or a portion or portions of the element(s) of the claims and written description as provided herein.

In accordance with the subject technology, a shoe comfort strap device is provided with a flexible length, a fixing end, and a heel attachment. The flexible length includes at least two ends, is typically no more than 2 inches in width and 18 inches in length. The fixing end is disposed at one end of the flexible length, with the heel attachment affixed between the fixing end and another end of the flexible length. The fixing end is configured to connect to the flexible length around a human foot or ankle area, with the heel attachment detachably connected to the heel of the shoe, to support the shoe substantially against the bottom of a human foot. The shoe comfort strap device may be manufactured using the steps of braiding or linking the flexible length, the fixing end, and the heel attachment together in a unitary body.

Additional features and advantages of the subject technology will be set forth in the description below, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the subject technology. The advantages of the subject technology will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof, as well as the appended drawings.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the subject technology as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide further understanding of the subject technology and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate aspects of the subject technology and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the subject technology. The features and nature of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference characters identify correspondingly throughout and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an illustration exemplifying potential problems with wearing high heels.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary shoe comfort strap device.

FIG. 3 illustrates an empty high-heeled shoe with an exemplary shoe comfort strap device deployed in use with the shoe.

FIG. 4 illustrates an empty high-heeled shoe positioned next to an exemplary shoe comfort strap device including a heel protector and an elastic fitting.

FIG. 5 illustrates the exemplary shoe comfort strap device previously of FIG. 4, as the shoe comfort strap's heel protector is placed upon and worked up the heel of the shoe.

FIG. 6 illustrates the exemplary shoe comfort strap device previously of FIGS. 4 and 5, with the heel protector substantially encapsulating the heel and the elastic fitting pulled up and over the heel collar of the shoe, thereby holding the shoe comfort strap in place on the shoe.

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary shoe comfort strap device deployed in use with a shoe filled with a human foot.

FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary shoe comfort strap device deployed in use with a shoe filled with a human foot.

FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary shoe comfort strap device deployed in use with a shoe filled with a human foot.

FIG. 10 is a method step chart illustrating basic, exemplary steps used in the creation of an exemplary shoe comfort strap device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a full understanding of the subject technology. It will be obvious, however, to one ordinarily skilled in the art that the subject technology may be practiced without some of these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques have not been shown in detail so as not to obscure the subject technology.

FIG. 1 illustrates some of the problems with wearing high heels. As shown in the Figure, a person's foot/ankle 1 extends from a high heel shoe 4. High heel shoe 4 includes the stiletto heel 3 and the heel collar 2. Due to the relative height of the stiletto heel 3, the foot/ankle 1 displaces from the heel collar 2, resulting in “gap” or space 5. Space 5 can cause the shoe 4 to be unstable and to “flop.” Unstable shoes can be dangerous. The movement of the foot/ankle 1 relatively “out” of the heel collar 2, followed by movement back within the heel collar 2 as a person walks, can cause blisters. Additionally, the crunching of the toes to the front of the shoe 4 caused by the height of the stiletto heel 3 can cause permanent deformities to the foot/ankle 1, including skin damage, muscle damage, and skeletal alignment issues between the many bones in the toes, foot, and ankle

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary, non-limiting embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 2, a shoe comfort strap device 6 is provided. The device includes a flexible length 9. While the callout for element 9 shows the flexible length as including an end portion of the device, the flexible length in various embodiments may be interpreted to include the entire length of device 6. In addition, the shoe comfort device strap 6 includes a fixing end 8 and a heel attachment 7.

The shoe comfort device 6 may comprise strips of leather than have been braided together and linked to a buckle or other fixing end 8, such as a snap, button, hook, latch, or additional fixing/connecting means. The shoe comfort device 6 may also comprise links of metal, for instance, steel or titanium links that form a portion or even an entirety or substantial majority of the shoe comfort device 6.

In an exemplary embodiment, the shoe comfort device 6 may be a centimeter or more in width, up to a width of substantially a few or more inches, and may be as long as up to 18-24 inches in length, with longer lengths potentially being used to wrap multiple times around a foot, as is further described in detail herein. In additional embodiments, the flexible length may be a thin string or strip of plastic or nylon, including variants of polyethylene.

Various embodiments of the shoe comfort strap device 6 have varying tensile strengths. For instance, an embodiment crafted entirely of titanium chain links would have an ultimate strength of approximately 1040 megapascals, while an embodiment comprised entirely of aromatic polyamide, or paramid, for instance Kevlar™ made by Dupont, would have an ultimate strength of approximately 2757 megapascals, and an embodiment comprised substantially of leather would have an ultimate strength of approximately 20-50 megapascals.

In an embodiment where the flexible length 9 is braided leather, the leather is braided and linked, or otherwise stitched to a buckle, acting as fixing end 8. During the braiding of the leather strips, preferably 2-5 strips of leather are used for a total width of typically less than 2 inches. For heel attachment 7, the leather strips are braided to form a fixed lariat-style loop located about three to seven inches from fixing end 8 and in-between fixing end 8 and the opposite end of flexible length 9. The leather strips are braided until an appropriate length of the shoe comfort strap device 6 is reached, typically about eight to twelve inches in length to connect in one loop around the typical human foot and for about twice those lengths for two loops around the typical human foot, in differing embodiments. The ordinarily skilled artisan comprehends that leather is shown by way of example only, and that various other materials, including plastics, metals, strips, strings, and various combinations of materials could be used to construct device 6.

FIG. 3 illustrates a leather embodiment of the shoe comfort strap device 6 including flexible length 9, fixing end 8, and heel attachment 7. As shown in the figure, device 6 has been deployed around an empty stiletto-style shoe 4, with stiletto heel 3 and heel collar 2. The fixed lariat-style loop comprising the detachable heel attachment 7 holds the device 6 in place on shoe 4 once the flexible length 9 has been fed through fixing end 8 and connected. Because no human foot occupies shoe 4, the flexible length 9 appears to dangle nearly to a ground surface.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the shoe comfort strap device 6 including flexible length 9, fixing end 8, heel attachment 7, annular heel tip opening 12, heel protector 11, and elastic portion 10. Also shown in FIG. 4 is empty shoe 4, including stiletto heel 3 and heel collar 2. The empty shoe 4 is provided for frame of reference in relation to FIGS. 5 and 6.

Heel protector 11 comprises a semi-form fitting material for covering stiletto heel 3 Annular heel tip opening 12 comprises an opening that my be elastic from a diameter of less than one centimeter to multiple centimeters in diameter, and provides means for keeping the bottom portion of heel protector 11 near the bottom of stiletto heel 3, once the device 6 is attached to shoe 4. This embodiment of device 6 is further explained in relation to FIGS. 5 and 6.

As shown in FIG. 5, shoe comfort strap device 6 includes flexible length 9, fixing end 8, heel attachment 7, annular heel tip opening 12, heel protector 11, and elastic portion 10. Shoe 4 is also shown with stiletto heel 3 and heel collar 2. The heel protector 11 partially covers stiletto heel 3 as the device 6 is moved onto shoe 4 Annular heel tip opening 12 is provided at the bottom of stiletto heel 3, its diameter “grasping” stiletto heel 3 and holding the bottom portion of heel protector 11 in place against heel 3. This embodiment of device 6 is further described in relation to FIG. 6.

As shown in FIG. 6, shoe comfort strap device 6 includes flexible length 9, fixing end 8, heel attachment 7, annular heel tip opening 12, heel protector 11, and elastic portion 10. Shoe 4 is also shown with stiletto heel 3 and heel collar 2. The heel protector 11 substantially encapsulates stiletto heel 3 as the device 6 has been moved onto shoe 4. Annular heel tip opening 12 “grasps” stiletto heel 3 and holds the bottom portion of heel protector 11 in place against heel 3.

Elastic portion 10 has been pulled up and over heel collar 2, pulling heel attachment 7 close in, against, and around heel 3. Once pulled over heel collar 2, elastic portion 10 keeps device 6 in an attached position on shoe 4 for use by a wearer/user by creating tension against stiletto heel 3 via heel attachment 7. Not all of elastic portion 10 need be elastic, but may include a smaller section 13 that is elastic nearly entirely around the top area of where heel collar 2 is located beneath device 6 at the top of shoe 4. Heel protector 11, elastic portion 10, flexible length 9 and fixing end 8 may comprise lace, or fanciful/colorful material. Flexible length 9 and fixing end 8 may comprise ribbon and may be located below the heel collar 2 along the periphery/edge of the opening of shoe 4, or may be located higher up and/or above heel collar 2.

FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment with shoe comfort strap device 6 including flexible length 9, fixing end 8, and heel attachment 7, disposed and in use around human foot/ankle 1, with foot/ankle 1 inserted into shoe 4. Shoe 4 comprises stiletto heel 3, and heel collar 2. Flexible length 9 has been fed around the foot and into fixing end 8, where the two connect, thereby keeping heel attachment 7 in place, and also keeping gap/space 5 to a minimum while a user walks wearing shoe 4. This gives the user a stable shoe that does not “flop” around, that does not rub the heel unnecessarily in the vicinity of heel collar 2, and that also allows the user to wear the correctly sized shoe 4, despite practically any height of stiletto heel 3.

FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment with shoe comfort strap device 6 including flexible length 9, fixing end 8, heel attachment 7, annular heel opening 12, heel protector 11, elastic portion 10 and smaller-elastic portion 13 disposed and in use around human foot/ankle 1, with foot/ankle 1 inserted into shoe 4. Shoe 4 comprises stiletto heel 3, and heel collar 2 (covered by elastic portion 10). Flexible length 9 has been fed around the ankle and into fixing end 8, where the two connect (not shown), thereby keeping heel attachment 7 in place, and also keeping gap/space 5 to a minimum while a user walks wearing shoe 4. This gives the user a stable shoe that does not “flop” around, that does not rub the heel unnecessarily in the vicinity of heel collar 2, and that also allows the user to wear the correctly sized shoe 4, despite practically any height of stiletto heel 3.

FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment with shoe comfort strap device 6 including flexible length 9, fixing end 8, heel attachment 7, annular heel opening 12, heel protector 11, elastic portion 10 and smaller-elastic portion 13 disposed and in use around human foot/ankle 1, with foot/ankle 1 inserted into shoe 4. Shoe 4 comprises stiletto heel 3, and heel collar 2 (covered by elastic portion 10). Flexible length 9 has been fed around the ankle and into fixing end 8, where the two connect in a stylish ribbon-bow, thereby keeping heel attachment 7 in place, and also keeping gap/space 5 to a minimum while a user walks wearing shoe 4. This gives the user a stable shoe that does not “flop” around, that does not rub the heel unnecessarily in the vicinity of heel collar 2, and that also allows the user to wear the correctly sized shoe 4, despite practically any height of stiletto heel 3. Heel protector 11 protects the stiletto heel 3 from nicks, marks, and mars caused through everyday use.

FIG. 10 illustrates the method steps required to manufacture the shoe comfort strap device 6. As shown in the first step, materials are braided together, for instance leather materials as described above, to create a flexible length, a heel attachment and a fixing end. Other materials may be used, for instance, metal links that are each linked together to the correct length and width, to create a flexible length, a heel attachment, and a fixing end. Other materials could also be utilized, as described herein and as known in the art.

As shown in the second step illustrated in FIG. 10, each of the flexible length, the heel attachment, and the fixing end are then made into a unitary body that comprises the shoe comfort strap device 6, as described herein. The individual parts may be braided together, linked together, sewn or glued together, or otherwise connected as known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

The description of the subject technology is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various configurations described herein. While the disclosure has been particularly described with reference to the various figures and configurations, it should be understood that these are for illustration purposes only and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the subject technology.

There may be many other ways to implement the subject technology. Various functions and elements described herein may be partitioned differently from those shown without departing from the sprit and scope of the subject technology. Various modifications to these configurations will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and generic principles defined herein may be applied to other configurations. Thus, many changes and modifications may be made to the subject technology, by one having ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject technology.

It is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps or blocks in the processes disclosed is an illustration of exemplary approaches. Based upon design preferences, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps or blocks in the processes may be rearranged. The accompanying method claims present elements of the various steps in a sample order, and are not meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented.

The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects shown herein, but is to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically so stated, but rather “one or more.” Unless specifically stated otherwise, the term “some” refers to one or more. Pronouns in the masculine (e.g., his) include the feminine and neuter gender (e.g., her and its) and vice versa. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various aspects described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims.

All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various configurations described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and intended to be encompassed by the subject technology. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the above description.

Claims

1. A strap configured to support a shoe substantially against the bottom of a human foot, comprising:

a flexible length comprising at least two ends, the flexible length being of no more than 2 inches in width and no more than 18 inches in length;

a fixing end on at least at one end of the flexible length; and

a heel attachment configured to detachably connect to a heel of the shoe;

wherein the fixing end is configured to connect to the flexible length around a human foot or ankle area, with the heel attachment connected to the heel of the shoe, to support the shoe substantially against the bottom of a human foot.

2. The strap of claim 1, wherein:

the heel attachment includes a heel protector that substantially encapsulates the heel of the shoe from near ground level to at least the point where the heel attaches to the bottom of the shoe.

3. The strap of claim 1, comprising:

an elastic portion connected with the heel attachment and configured to stretch around or against a rear, upper structure of the shoe, to create tension for the heel attachment against the heel and to hold the heel attachment in an attached position on the heel.

4. The strap of claim 1, wherein:

the flexible length has a tensile ultimate strength of 2000 megapascals or less, 1200 megapascals or less, 500 megapascals or less, and preferably 200 megapascals or less.

5. The strap of claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the fixing end, the flexible length, and the heel attachment comprise(s) at least one of leather and metal.

6. The strap of claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the flexible length and the fixing end comprise(s) ribbon.

7. The strap of claim 2, wherein:

the heel protector comprises lace material.

8. The strap of claim 3, wherein:

the elastic portion comprises lace material.

9. A method of manufacturing a strap configured to support a shoe substantially against the bottom of a human foot, the strap comprising: (i) a flexible length comprising at least two ends, the flexible length being of no more than 2 inches in width and no more than 18 inches in length, (ii) a fixing end on at least at one end of the flexible length, and (iii) a heel attachment configured to detachably connect to a heel of the shoe, wherein the fixing end is configured to connect to the flexible length around a human foot or ankle area, with the heel attachment connected to the heel of the shoe, to support the shoe substantially against the bottom of a human foot, the method comprising:

braiding or linking the flexible length, the fixing end, and the heel attachment into a unitary configuration comprising the strap.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising braiding or linking a heel protector with the heel attachment, wherein the heel protector substantially encapsulates the heel of the shoe from near ground level to at least the point where the heel attaches to the bottom of the shoe.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising braiding or linking an elastic portion to the heel attachment, wherein the elastic portion is configured to stretch around or against a rear, upper structure of the shoe, to create tension for the heel attachment against the heel and to hold the heel attachment in an attached position on the heel.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the flexible length has a tensile ultimate strength of 2000 megapascals or less, 1200 megapascals or less, 500 megapascals or less, and preferably 200 megapascals or less.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein:

at least one of the fixing end, the flexible length, and the heel attachment comprise(s) at least one of leather and metal.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein:

at least one of the flexible length and the fixing end comprise(s) ribbon.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the heel protector comprises lace material.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the elastic portion comprises lace material.