Retractable Type Lining Foot-Wears
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a footwear comprises a base and a retainer being coupled to the base for forming a cavity and an opening thereto. The footwear further comprises a heel counter being coupled to at least one of the base and the retainer. The heel counter is biased in an up position and is positionable between the up position and a down position. When a foot interacts with the heel counter, the heel counter is positioned away from the up position towards the down position for facilitating access of a foot to the opening. Subsequently, when the foot is fully inserted into the cavity, the heel counter returns to the up position for engaging the heel of the foot in order for preventing dislodgement of the foot from the cavity.
This invention generally relates to footwear. In particular, it relates to easily wearable and removable footwear that allows for adaptable visual expressions.
BACKGROUNDFootwear is generally for protecting our feet from rough surfaces and elements and as time goes by, footwear evolved. Newer and better technologies have been incorporated to protect the user wearing the footwear. Modern footwear provides better support for runners while running, allows a soccer player to better kick a soccer ball, and even allows a basketball player to jump higher.
These days, footwear has become an integral part of our daily lives, be it when going out for a party or when walking within indoor premises. Footwear has even evolved into a fashion accessory. It is important that our outfit or attire, for example shirt and pants, match before any fashion conscious individual steps out of the house.
However, our fast pace lifestyle does not allow most of us the time to consider whether a shirt or a pair of pants matches the footwear. Most people try to slip into their footwear as fast as possible by forcing their feet into their footwear. However, this usually causes damage to the top of the shoe by creating creases and wear marks. Therefore, new ways for facilitating the wearing of footwear needs to be re-examined.
Japanese Patent No. 2004236860 (Suminosuke) describes a footwear having a movable heel portion which is movable between opened and closed positions. The movable heel portion further couples the footwear to a bottom plate such that when a foot is inserted into the footwear, the heel of the foot engages the footwear bottom plate to position the heel portion in a closed position. However, the user is required to constantly and consciously interact with the footwear bottom plate to prevent accidental disengagement of the heel of the foot away from the footwear bottom plate which will result in the footwear bottom plate being positioned away from the closed position.
From the foregoing, this clearly affirms the need for a footwear to allow ease of wearing while ensuring the footwear is secured to the user has been clearly affirmed.
SUMMARYIn accordance with an aspect of the invention, a footwear comprises a base for supporting a foot thereon and a retainer being coupled to the base for forming a cavity and an opening thereto. The cavity receives a foot therein through the opening. The footwear further comprises a heel counter being coupled to at least one of the base and the retainer. The heel counter is biased in an up position and is positionable between the up position and a down position. When a foot interacts with the heel counter, the heel counter is positioned away from the up position towards the down position to facilitate access of a foot to the opening. Subsequently, when the foot is fully inserted into the cavity, the heel counter returns to the up position to engage the heel of the foot for substantially preventing dislodgement of the foot from the cavity.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSEmbodiments of the invention are described hereinafter with reference to the drawings, in which:
With reference to the drawings, the invention, a footwear, is described hereinafter for ease of wear, which allows a user to slip on the footwear without using the hand or shoehorn.
Footwear generally protects the feet of a user from different types of walking surface conditions. However, footwear is also slowly evolving into a fashion accessory. Designers want more room for design creativity on footwear while preserving the original function of the footwear. Footwear without shoelaces is one of many ideas. While this idea provides more space for designers to develop their designs, the construction of the shoe introduces some difficulties for a user to slip on the footwear. In addition, the footwear is not as secured without the laces when the eyelets for the laces are removed or incapacitated for improving the appearance for the footwear.
A footwear, according to embodiments of the invention, therefore allows a user to wear the footwear with minimum or no assistance from our hands while ensuring the footwear is secured to the user's feet. The footwear further allows for more creative design possibilities on the footwear.
For purposes of brevity and clarity, the description of the invention is limited hereinafter to applications related to footwear. This however does not preclude the invention from other areas of application that requires similar operating function and performance for wearing personal apparel.
The invention is described in greater detail in relation to a footwear therefore for easy wearing. In the detailed description provided hereinafter and illustrations provided in FIGS. 1 to 5 of the drawings, like elements are identified with like reference numerals.
An opening 110, as shown in
By dispensing with the shoelaces, a larger bare vamp 104 area is provided for designers to improve on the aesthetics of the footwear 100. Further applying this idea, the vamp 104 area of the footwear 100 allows for an additional display layer 302 overlapping a main layer 304 of the vamp 104 and quarter 305 of the footwear 100 as shown in
The vamp 104 can further be extended to transform the footwear 100 into a boot 308, as shown in
When the user's foot engages the heel counter 102 at the opening of the footwear 100, the force from the user's foot depresses the three spring actuators 402. As the three spring actuators 402 are being depressed, the opening on the footwear 100 gradually enlarges. The enlarged opening of the footwear 100, as shown in
In a second embodiment of the invention, the control mechanism 400 is located at a quarter 305 of the footwear 500 as shown in
When the user engages the heel counter 502, the heel counter 502 moves towards the down position 108 from the up position 106 as shown in
With reference to
In the foregoing manner, a footwear which has a movable heel counter and facilitates creative expressions of designs thereon is disclosed. Although only a number of embodiments of the invention are disclosed, it becomes apparent to one skilled in the art in view of this disclosure that numerous changes and/or modification can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
Claims
1. Footwear for comfort wear comprising:
- a base for supporting a foot thereon;
- a retainer being coupled to the base for forming a cavity and an opening thereto, the cavity for receiving a foot therein through the opening; and
- a heel counter being coupled to at least one of the base and the retainer, the heel counter being biased in an up position and being positionable between the up position and a down position,
- wherein when a foot interacts with the heel counter, the heel counter is positioned away from the up position towards the down position to facilitate access of a foot to the opening, and wherein when the foot is fully inserted into the cavity, the heel counter returns to the up position to engage the heel of the foot for substantially preventing dislodgement of the foot from the cavity.
2. The footwear as claimed in claim 1, the retainer further comprising:
- a vamp having a main layer and a display layer, the display layer being removable and couplable to the main layer; and
- a quarter.
3. The footwear as claimed in claim 2, wherein the vamp comprising:
- a protection layer being formed between the main layer and the display layer for providing a physical barrier therebetween, the protection layer being detachable from the main layer and the display layer.
4. The footwear as claimed in claim 2, the vamp extending substantially away from the opening wherein the extended vamp is wrapable around the calf of a user.
5. The footwear as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:
- a control mechanism being shaped and dimensioned for positioning the heel counter between the up position and the down position.
6. The footwear as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
- a locking mechanism for locking the heel counter at the down position.
7. The footwear as claimed in claim 6, wherein the control mechanism is at least one of spring actuator and hydraulic actuator for biasing the heel counter at the up position.
8. The footwear as claimed in claim 6, wherein the control mechanism is incorporated in at least one of the heel counter and the quarter.
9. The footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein distance separating the up position and the down position is at least 20 mm.
10. The footwear as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
- a control mechanism being shaped and dimensioned for positioning the heel counter between the up position and the down position.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 28, 2006
Publication Date: Apr 5, 2007
Inventor: Ching LEONG (Singapore)
Application Number: 11/536,096
International Classification: A43B 13/42 (20060101);