Heel retainers for open-heeled footwear
Disclosed is a heel retainer for retaining a heel of a wearer on an open-heeled shoe or a closed-back shoe with a low counter. The heel retainer includes a pad having opposed first and second adhesive surfaces. The first adhesive surface is adapted to contact the heel of the wearer and the second adhesive surface is adapted to be detachably adhered to a heel area of a shoe sole. The first adhesive surface retains the heel of the wearer on the heel area of the shoe sole and reduces the possibility slippage during use, thereby providing more comfort and ease to the wearer. In one form, the heel retainer can be easily attached/removed to/from the shoe according to the needs of a wearer without adversely affecting the integrity of the shoe.
The present disclosure relates generally to footwear and more particularly to retaining devices for open-heeled footwear and closed-back footwear having a relatively low counter.
BACKGROUNDThe statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
In certain footwear designs, particularly open-heeled shoes and closed-back shoes with a low counter (the rear-most part of the shoe, at the back of the heel above the sole, which is rigid and provides support), slippage often occurs during use due to the lack of, or insufficient support for, the heel of a wearer. The slippage problem is significant in open-heeled footwear due to the absence of a shoe counter. It has been known to use a shoe retainer on the inner surface of the counter for increasing friction between the back of the heel of the wearer and the inner surface of the counter to help retain the feet of the wearer in the shoes. These type of retainers, however, cannot be used in open-heeled footwear due to the absence of a counter.
Some prior art shoe retainers are permanently secured to the shoes by shoe manufacturers and are thus an integral part of the shoes. As such, it is not possible to remove these types of shoe retainers after they become worn without damaging the shoes. Therefore, these types of shoe retainers do not allow a wearer to attach/remove the shoe retainers to/from the shoes according to the needs of the wearer.
SUMMARYIn one form, a heel retainer for retaining a heel of a wearer on an open-heeled shoe includes a pad. The pad includes opposed first and second adhesive surfaces. The first adhesive surface is adapted to contact the heel of the wearer and the second adhesive surface is adapted to be detachably adhered to the heel area of the shoe sole. The first adhesive surface retains the heel of the wearer on the heel area of the shoe sole during use.
In another form, an open-heeled shoe includes a shoe body and a pad. The shoe body includes a shoe sole having a heel area. The pad is disposed on the shoe sole proximate the heel area. The pad includes a first adhesive surface and an opposed second adhesive surface. The second adhesive surface is adhered to the heel area of the shoe sole. The first adhesive surface is adapted to contact the heel of a foot of a wearer such that the first adhesive surface retains the heel of the wearer on the heel area of the shoe sole during use.
In yet another form, a retaining system for retaining heels of a wearer on open-heeled shoes is provided. The retaining system includes a pair of pads including opposed first and second adhesive surfaces. The first adhesive surfaces are adapted to contact the heels of the wearer and the second adhesive surfaces are adapted to be detachably adhered to the heel areas of the shoe soles. The first adhesive surfaces retain the heels of the wearer on the heel areas of the shoe soles during use.
In still another form, a retainer for retaining a foot of a wearer on a shoe is provided, wherein the shoe includes a shoe sole extending along substantially the entire length of the shoe and a heel area. The retainer comprises a pad including opposed first and second adhesive surfaces, wherein the first adhesive surface is adapted to contact the foot of the wearer and the second adhesive surface is adapted to be detachably adhered to the shoe sole of the shoe. The first adhesive surface retains the foot of the wearer on the shoe sole during use. In one form, the pad is sized to cover the heel area, and in another form, the pad is sized to cover substantially the entire area of the shoe sole.
Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the certain embodiments of the disclosure, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.
Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONThe following description of the preferred embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the disclosure, its application, or uses. Further, the terms “shoe” or “shoes” and “footwear” are used interchangeably throughout the present disclosure.
Referring to
Referring to now
As further shown in
The first adhesive surface 14 is adapted to be adhered to a heel of the wearer during use for retaining the heel of the wearer on the heel area 108/208 of the shoe sole 106/206. As such, the heel of the wearer is less prone to slipping away from the shoe 100/200 during use, and thus a more stable design is provided by the heel retainers 10 in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure.
In one form, the first adhesive surface 14 includes a layer of first adhesive material 26 to provide the requisite amount of adhesiveness to retain the heel of the wearer if, for example, the pad 12 does not exhibit the requisite adhesive properties. Such a pad 12 may include, by way of example, foam, cork, and rubber, among others, and may be designed to provide the additional property of cushion to the heel of the wearer for even more improved comfort.
The second adhesive surface 16 is adapted to be attached to the shoe sole 106/206 proximate the heel area 108/208 and includes a layer of second adhesive material 28 in one form of the present disclosure. The second adhesive surface 16 has a higher adhesiveness than the first adhesive surface 14 and has sufficient adhesiveness so that when the wearer takes off the shoe 100/200, the second adhesive surface 16 retains the heel retainer 10 on the shoe 100/200. Moreover, the second adhesive surface 16 has an adhesiveness such that the pad 12 can be peeled off from the shoe sole 106/206 by simply using fingers without causing damage to the shoe sole 106/206. As such, the wearer can attach/remove the pad 12 to/from the shoe 100/200 according to their needs. Further, the wearer can also replace a used pad 12 with a new one when the old pad 12 has lost its adhesiveness and cannot effectively retain the heel of the wearer on the shoe 100/200 after repeated use. The wearer can also replace a used pad 12 with a new one when the old pad 12 has lost its cushion if the pad 12 is so provided as previously set forth. Preferably, the adhesiveness of the second adhesive surface 16 is such that when the pad 12 is removed from the shoe sole 106/206, the pad 12 does not adversely affect the integrity of the shoe 100/200. However, it should be understood that the pad 12 can be provided as an integral part of the shoe 100/200 rather than being replaceable while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure.
Generally, the adhesive materials 26 and 28 are preferably pressure-sensitive adhesives, or “PSAs.” PSAs can be defined as category of adhesives that in dry form are aggressive and permanently tacky at room temperature. PSAs will adhere to a variety of substrates when applied with pressure, do not require activation by water, heat, or solvents, and have sufficient cohesive strength to be handled with the fingers. The primary mode of bonding for a PSA is not chemical or mechanical but rather a polar attraction to the substrate, and always requires pressure to achieve sufficient wet-out onto the surface to provide adequate adhesion.
More specifically, the PSA for application to the present disclosure is an acrylic type adhesive or alternately a rubber-based adhesive. Formulated from acrylic polymers, acrylic PSAs offer resistance to solvents, UV light, elevated temperatures, plasticizers, chemical reagents, and sterilization methods. Acrylic adhesives tend to be more costly than rubber-based varieties, but provide better long-term aging and environmental resistance. Acrylic adhesives also demonstrate low to moderate initial tack and adhesion, and generally do not adhere well to low-surface-energy materials. Generally clear in color, acrylic PSAs can be made porous (breathable) and constitute the majority of adhesives suitable for use on human skin and are thus advantageous for use in the present disclosure.
To facilitate handling of the heel retainers 10, in one form the heel retainer 10 preferably includes a first peel-off label 30 on the first adhesive surface 14 and/or a second peel-off label 32 on the second adhesive surface 16. Therefore, it is easier to handle and package the heel retainers 10 and to preserve their adhesive qualities prior to use. As such, the wearer simply peels off the labels 30 and/or 32 and attaches the pad 12 onto the shoe sole 106/206 when ready for use.
In one form of the present disclosure, the pad 12 includes perforations 33, (also shown in
Referring to
Referring now to
It should be appreciated and understood that while the heel retainers 10, 10′, and 50 have been described to be attached to the heel area 108/208 of the shoe sole 106/206, they can be attached to any area other than the heel area 108/208, depending on the needs of the wearer. Moreover, the heel retainers 10,10′, and 50 can be made to be large enough to cover a substantial area of the shoe sole 106/206. As a result, a substantial area of the plantar area of the foot of the wearer can remain in contact with the shoe during walking or use, thereby improving the retaining effect of the teachings of the present disclosure.
With the construction of the heel retainers 10, 10′ and 50 described in the present disclosure, the foot of a wearer can have improved contact with the shoe sole 106/206 during walking or use, thereby providing improved comfort, safety, and ease of use to the wearer. Moreover, because the heel retainers 10, 10′, and 50 are in one form detachable from the shoe sole 106/206, the wearer can decide whether or not to use the heel retainers 10, 10′, and 50 according to his/her needs. Further, the construction of the heel retainers 10, 10′, and 50 makes it easier to carry and handle, and to apply the heel retainers 10, 10′ and 50 whenever the need arises.
It should be noted that the shoe retainers 10, 10′, and 50 described in the present disclosure may be used in a variety of shoes in addition to the specific shoes as illustrated and described. Accordingly, the description of the present disclosure is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the present disclosure are intended to be within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, although the pads 12 and 12′ are preferably a single-piece, they may be provided in the form of multiple pieces while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
Claims
1. A heel retainer for retaining a heel of a wearer on an open-heeled shoe, the open-heeled shoe including a shoe sole having a heel area, the heel retainer comprising:
- a pad including opposed first and second adhesive surfaces, the first adhesive surface adapted to contact the heel of the wearer and the second adhesive surface adapted to be detachably adhered to the heel area of the shoe sole, the first adhesive surface retaining the heel of the wearer on the heel area of the shoe sole during use.
2. The heel retainer according to claim 1, wherein the pad further comprises a first peel-off label on the first adhesive surface and a second peel-off label on the second adhesive surface.
3. The heel retainer according to claim 1, wherein the second adhesive surface has a higher adhesiveness than the first adhesive surface.
4. The heel retainer according to claim 1, wherein the pad is made of a soy based material.
5. The heel retainer according to claim 1, wherein the pad is made of a silicone gel material.
6. The heel retainer according to claim 1, further comprising a first adhesive material applied on the first adhesive surface, the adhesive material comprising a pressure sensitive adhesive.
7. The heel retainer according to claim 6, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive is rubber-based.
8. The heel retainer according to claim 1, further comprising a second adhesive material applied to the second adhesive surface, the second adhesive material comprising a pressure sensitive adhesive.
9. The heel retainer according to claim 8, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive is rubber-based.
10. The heel retainer according to claim 1, wherein the pad defines a variable thickness.
11. The heel retainer according to claim 1, wherein the pad defines a constant thickness.
12. The heel retainer according to claim 1 further comprising perforations disposed along the pad such that the size of the pad is adjustable according to the size of the shoe.
13. An open-heeled shoe comprising:
- a shoe body including a shoe sole having a heel area; and
- a pad disposed on the shoe sole proximate the heel area, the pad including a first adhesive surface that is adapted to contact the heel of a foot of a wearer such that the first adhesive surface retains the heel of the wearer on the heel area of the shoe sole during use.
14. The shoe according to claim 13, wherein the pad is made of soy based material.
15. The shoe according to claim 13, wherein the pad is made of a silicone gel based material.
15. The shoe according to claim 13, wherein the pad is integral with the shoe body.
16. The shoe according to claim 13, wherein the shoe is selected from a group consisting of sandals, slippers and flip-flops.
17. A retaining system for retaining heels of a wearer on open-heeled shoes, the open-heeled shoes including shoe soles having heel areas, the retaining system comprising:
- a pair of pads including opposed first and second adhesive surfaces, the first adhesive surfaces adapted to contact the heels of the wearer and the second adhesive surfaces adapted to be detachably adhered to the heel areas of the shoe soles, the first adhesive surfaces retaining the heels of the wearer on the heel areas of the shoe soles during use.
18. The retaining system according to claim 17, wherein the pair of pads comprise single-piece pads.
19. The retaining system according to claim 17, wherein the pair of pads further comprise peel-off labels on the first adhesive surfaces and the second adhesive surfaces.
20. The retaining system according to claim 17, wherein the second adhesive surfaces have higher adhesiveness than the first adhesive surfaces.
21. The retaining system according to claim 17, wherein the pair of pads define substantially identical geometries.
22. The retaining system according to claim 17, wherein the pair of pads define different geometries.
23. The retaining system according to claim 17, wherein the pair of pads defines a decorative pattern.
24. The retaining system according to claim 17, wherein the pair of pads comprises a scented material.
25. A retainer for retaining a foot of a wearer on a shoe, the shoe including a shoe sole extending along substantially the entire length of the shoe and a heel area, the retainer comprising:
- a pad including opposed first and second adhesive surfaces, the first adhesive surface adapted to contact the foot of the wearer and the second adhesive surface adapted to be detachably adhered to the shoe sole of the shoe, the first adhesive surface retaining the foot of the wearer on the shoe sole during use.
26. The retainer according to claim 25, wherein the pad is sized to cover substantially the entire area of the shoe sole.
27. The retainer according to claim 25, wherein the pad is sized to cover the heel area.
28. The retaining system according to claim 25, wherein the pad defines a decorative pattern.
29. The retaining system according to claim 25, wherein the pad comprises a scented material.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 21, 2007
Publication Date: Aug 21, 2008
Inventor: Colleen Small-Vollmann (Columbia, MO)
Application Number: 11/709,177
International Classification: A43B 3/12 (20060101); A43B 23/28 (20060101);