HEEL PROSTHESIS FOR SHOE SLIP-OFF PREVENTION

Abstract

A heel prosthesis is disclosed. In one embodiment, the heel prosthesis comprises a back portion, a bottom portion, a first lateral portion, and a second lateral portion. The back portion, the bottom portion, the first lateral portion, and the second lateral portion form a concave receptacle that is configured to adhere to or clip onto a heel of a person.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit from U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/911,263, filed Oct. 5, 2019, the entire contents and disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to techniques for preventing shoe slip-offs and, more particularly, to a heel prosthesis that prevents shoe slip-offs.

BACKGROUND

Shoes without laces or straps, especially those with large openings or low-cut vamps (e.g., pumps, stilettos, slip-ons, loafers, etc.), require a person's heels to fit well into the heel counter of the shoes to prevent the shoes from slipping off while the person is walking, running, or performing other types of activities. However, the size and shape of the calcaneus (also known as the heel bone) and the muscle and fat surrounding the calcaneus vary significantly from individual to individual. Consequently, not all persons, whose feet are measured to correspond to the same size of a given pair of shoes, will have their heels fit snuggly into the heel counter and some may likely suffer from the shoes slipping off during walking, running, or other types of activities.

This problem is exemplified by the scenarios illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B. FIG. 1A illustrates a person A wearing a shoe 100. The shoe 100 is shown as a woman's pump for mere illustration. It is understood that the problem described herein applies to any shoe that has a wide collar, like collar 102 of shoe 100. Shoe 100 has a heel counter 104. As is conventional with most shoes, the heel counter 104 bulges outwards in order to provide a cavity inside of the shoe 100 to accommodate an average person's heel. In FIG. 1A, the person A's heel is illustrated as having a fulsome heel curve 110, which substantially occupies the inner cavity provided by the heel counter 104. As a result, when the person A's heel moves in an upward direction during walking, running, or otherwise, the person A's heel locks into the inner cavity and lifts the back portion of the shoe 100 in the upward direction. In this scenario, the person A is not concerned about the shoe 100 slipping off. Essentially, the heel is fulsome enough to provide an interlocking effect with the shoe, which is similar to the bottleneck effect when an object is inserted in a bottle with a neck that is slightly less wide than the object. It is understood that, although FIG. 1A is a two-dimensional representation, it is the overall three-dimensional shape of a person's heel that provides the interlocking effect. The more a heel fills the inner cavity, the better is the interlocking effect and the less likely is a shoe going to slip off.

On the other hand, FIG. 1B illustrates a person B wearing the same shoe 100 as the person A. Unlike the person A, the person B has a heel curve 112 that is substantially flatter (i.e., less fulsome) than the person A's heel curve 110. As a result, the person B's heel does not adequately fill in the inner cavity provided by the heel counter 104 of the shoe 100. And, when the person B's heel moves in an upward direction when walking, running, or otherwise, the person B's heel does not provide the interlocking effect to lift the back portion of the shoe 100. Clearly, the shoe 100 slips off from the person B's foot. Such slip-offs are undesirable and uncomfortable.

Slip-off is an issue regardless of the brand, quality, or price of the shoes. Wearers try to prevent slip-offs by making shoes tighter by, for example, choosing shoes of smaller size (by one size or a half-size when available) or adding insoles, inserts, or heel liners. However, these approaches do not always stop slip-offs and typically add more friction and pressure, thereby introducing discomfort that may be worse than slip-offs (e.g., abrasions to and soreness of the Achilles tendon, toes, etc.). On the other hand, shoemakers try use an elastic topline or collar to prevent slip-off. This, however, adds pressure to the Achilles tendon and other areas of the foot, does not necessarily prevent slip-offs, and limits the design of shoes.

In view of the foregoing, it may be understood that there is a need for techniques to prevent shoes from slipping off.

SUMMARY OF DISCLOSURE

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a heel prosthesis is disclosed. The heel prosthesis may comprise a back portion, a bottom portion, a first lateral portion, and a second lateral portion. The back portion, the bottom portion, the first lateral portion, and the second lateral portion may form a concave receptacle that is configured to adhere to or clip onto a heel of a person.

In accordance with other aspects of this one embodiment, the back portion may have a thickness profile that causes the back portion to bulge outwards from the concave receptacle.

In accordance with other aspects of this one embodiment, the first lateral portion may have a thickness profile that causes the first lateral portion to bulge outwards from the concave receptacle.

In accordance with other aspects of this one embodiment, the second lateral portion may have a thickness profile that causes the second lateral portion to bulge outwards from the concave receptacle.

In accordance with other aspects of this one embodiment, the heel prosthesis may be made of at least one of a polysiloxane, a polymer, or a polyamide.

In accordance with other aspects of this one embodiment, a surface of the concave receptacle may be lined with an adhesive material.

In accordance with other aspects of this one embodiment, the adhesive material may be one of a pressure-sensitive adhesive, a heat-activated adhesive, or a moisture-activated adhesive.

In accordance with other aspects of this one embodiment, the adhesive material may be at least one of removable, reusable, or washable.

In accordance with other aspects of this one embodiment, an overall thickness of the first lateral portion may be greater than an overall thickness of the second lateral portion.

In accordance with other aspects of this one embodiment, an overall thickness of the first lateral portion may be smaller than an overall thickness of the second lateral portion.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, an article of footwear is disclosed. The article of footwear may comprise a back portion, a bottom portion, a first lateral portion, and a second lateral portion. The back portion, the bottom portion, the first lateral portion, and the second lateral portion may form a concave receptacle that is configured to adhere to or clip onto a heel of a person.

In accordance with other aspects of this other embodiment, the back portion may have a thickness profile that causes the back portion to bulge outwards from the concave receptacle.

In accordance with other aspects of this another embodiment, the first lateral portion may have a thickness profile that causes the first lateral portion to bulge outwards from the concave receptacle.

In accordance with other aspects of this other embodiment, the second lateral portion may have a thickness profile that causes the second lateral portion to bulge outwards from the concave receptacle.

In accordance with other aspects of this other embodiment, the article of footwear may be made of at least one of a polysiloxane, a polymer, or a polyamide.

In accordance with other aspects of this other embodiment, a surface of the concave receptacle may be lined with an adhesive material.

In accordance with other aspects of this other embodiment, the adhesive material may be one of a pressure-sensitive adhesive, a heat-activated adhesive, or a moisture-activated adhesive.

In accordance with other aspects of this other embodiment, the adhesive material may be at least one of removable, reusable, or washable.

In accordance with other aspects of this other embodiment, an overall thickness of the first lateral portion may be greater than an overall thickness of the second lateral portion.

In accordance with other aspects of this other embodiment, an overall thickness of the first lateral portion may be smaller than an overall thickness of the second lateral portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to facilitate the understanding of the present disclosure, reference is now made to the accompanying drawings. These drawings should not be construed as limiting the present disclosure, but are intended to be illustrative only.

FIG. 1A illustrates a shoe non-slip-off scenario.

FIG. 1B illustrates a shoe slip-off scenario.

FIG. 2 illustrates a shoe slip-off prevention scenario according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a heel prosthesis according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3B is a front view of a heel prosthesis according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3C is a back view of a heel prosthesis according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3D is a side view of a heel prosthesis according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3E is a cross-sectional view of a heel prosthesis according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Described herein is a heel prosthesis that prevents shoe slip-off. The heel prosthesis may modify the shape of a person's heels rather than changing the size of the shoe or shape of the shoe cavities. The heel prosthesis may adhere to or clip onto a person's heel and may provide the needed interlocking effect to lock the person's foot in a shoe to prevent slip-off. The heel prosthesis may add volume to a person's heels and may fill up the cavity provided by a heel counter of a shoe without taking any additional room elsewhere within the shoe.

FIG. 2 illustrates a shoe slip-off prevention scenario according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 illustrates the same person B as in FIG. 1B wearing the same shoe 100. In this scenario, however, the person B has a heel prosthesis 200 adhered to or clipped onto her heel. The heel prosthesis 200 fills up the inner cavity between the person B's heel and the heel counter 104, and provides the necessary interlocking effect to prevent the shoe 100 from slipping off. It is important to point out that, if the same heel prosthesis 200 were adhered or attached to the inner lining of the shoe 100 to fill up the inner cavity, the heel prosthesis 200 may create some friction with the person B's heel but may not prevent the person B's heel from slipping off the shoe 100. In FIG. 2, the heel prosthesis 200 is shown to cover to the back of the person B's heel (i.e., at the heel curve 112) for ease of illustration. It is understood that the heel prosthesis 200 may cover portions of the sides and bottom of the person B's heel to effectively create a fulsome heel that fully occupies the inner cavity of the shoe 100.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a heel prosthesis 300 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The mesh rendering is only to facilitate visualization of the three-dimensional shape of the heel prosthesis 300. The heel prosthesis 300 comprises a back portion 302, a bottom portion 304, a first lateral portion 306, and a second lateral portion 308. The combination of the back portion 302, the bottom portion 304, the first lateral portion 306, and the second lateral portion 308 forms a concave receptacle that may accommodate a heel of a person. In one embodiment, the heel prosthesis 300 may be made of a material that is stiff enough (e.g., a plastic polymer such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, etc.) for the concave receptable to clip onto the heel of the person due to the somewhat partially spherical shape of the heel. In another embodiment, the entire heel prosthesis 300 or the surface of the concave receptacle may be made out of a material that adheres to human skin (e.g., an adhesive polymer) such that the heel prosthesis 300 adheres to a person's heel when placed into contact with the heel. In yet another embodiment, a reusable, removable, and/or washable adhesive material (e.g., nano gel, polyurethane double-sided adhesive tape, body adhesive, etc.) may be applied to the surface of the concave receptacle such that the prosthesis 300 adheres to a person's heel. The bottom portion 304 is illustrated as having a V-shape front edge, which bends inwards along the central plane of the heel prosthesis 300. In some embodiment, the extent to which the bottom portion 304 bends inward may be varied. For example, the bottom portion 304 may be manufactured to bend more or less inwards to respectively cover more or less of the bottom portion of a person's heel. More of the bottom portion 304 may be provided when additional heel cushion is desired.

FIG. 3B is a front view of the heel prosthesis 300 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The heel prosthesis 300 is illustrated as being symmetrical about the central vertical plane of the heel prosthesis 300. In some embodiment, the heel prosthesis 300 may be manufactured to be asymmetrical—i.e., the first lateral portion 306 and the second lateral portion 308 may be made of different sizes and shapes to account for asymmetry between a person's right and left feet. For example, for a left heel, the first lateral portion 306 may be made smaller, thinner, and/or shorter than the second lateral portion 308 and, for a right heel, the first lateral portion 306 may be made bigger, thicker, and/or longer than the second lateral portion 308. Alternatively, for a left heel, the first lateral portion 306 may be made bigger, thicker, and/or longer than the second lateral portion 308 and, for a right heel, the first lateral portion 306 may be made smaller, thinner, and/or shorter than the second lateral portion 308.

FIG. 3C is a back view of the heel prosthesis 300 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3C illustrates the back portion 302 as bulging outwards (i.e., perpendicular to the plane of the page of FIG. 3C), the first lateral portion 306 as bulging to the right, and the second lateral portion 308 as bulging to the left. The overall bulging shape of the heel prosthesis 300, when adhered to or clipped onto a person's heel thus enhances the fulsomeness of the person's heel to provide the necessary interlocking effect to prevent a shoe from slipping off the person's foot. The heel prosthesis 300 may be manufactured such that the extent to which the back portion 302, the first lateral portion 306, and the second lateral portion 308 bulge outwards may be varied. In some embodiment, the bulging extents of the first lateral portion 306 and the second lateral portion 308 may be manufactured to be unequal. For example, the first lateral portion 306 may be manufactured to bulge outwards more or less than the second lateral portion 308.

FIG. 3D is a side view of the heel prosthesis 300 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The side view is looking at the heel prosthesis 300 from the first lateral portion 306. The outward bulge of the back portion 302 is once again illustrated. FIG. 3D illustrates that the bottom portion 304 is substantially flat relative to the back portion 302, the first lateral portion 306, and the second lateral portion 308. In some embodiment, the bottom portion 304 may be manufactured to also bulge outwards (i.e., vertically downwards in FIG. 3D) in order to help to increase the fulsomeness of a person's heel to further improve the slip-off prevention. In FIG. 3D, the first lateral portion 306 is shown to be of a shape that may cover a substantial lateral portion of a person's heel. In some embodiment, the first lateral portion 306—and similarly for the second lateral portion 308—may be manufactured to cover more or less of lateral portion of a person's heel. For example, the first lateral portion 306 or the second lateral portion 308 may be manufactured to taper more or less from the topmost point of the back portion 302 towards the frontmost point of the bottom portion 304.

FIG. 3E is a cross-sectional view of the heel prosthesis 300 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3E illustrates a cross section 310 along the central vertical plane of the heel prosthesis 300. The cross section 310 illustrates a thickness profile that the heel prosthesis 300 may add to a person's heel to provide the necessary interlocking effect to prevent slip-off. As shown in FIG. 3E, the thickness profile tapers off at the edges of the heel prosthesis 300. The first lateral portion 306 and the second lateral portion 308 may have similar thickness profiles. The heel prosthesis 300 may be manufactured such that the cross section 310 is more or less thick around the back portion 302 or the bottom portion 304. For example, a thicker cross section 310 would be desired for a person with a flat heel (e.g., person B in FIGS. 1B and 2). In some embodiment, the thickness of the bottom portion 304 may be desired be minimal to improve the comfort for the person to or onto whose heel the heel prosthesis 300 is adhered or clipped.

The heel prosthesis 300 may be made of a polysiloxane (e.g., silicone), a polymer (e.g., urethane, polyurethane, polyurethane elastomers, plastic polymers, etc.), a polyamide (natural or synthetic), or a combination of these materials. As described above, the concave receptacle of the heel prosthesis 300 may be made of or lined with an adhesive material (e.g., an adhesive polymer) during manufacturing. Alternatively, an adhesive material (e.g., nano gel, polyurethane double-sided adhesive tape, body adhesive, etc.) may be applied to the surface of the concave receptacle after manufacturing and before being worn. In either case, the adhesive material may be a pressure-sensitive adhesive, a heat-activated adhesive, or a moisture-activated adhesive.

A person may adhere the heel prosthesis 300 to or clip the heel prosthesis 300 onto her or his heel before inserting his or her foot into a shoe. Importantly, no sock or other similar garment or means is needed to hold the heel prosthesis 300 in place, although a sock or other similar garment (e.g., legging, tights, etc.) may be worn on top of the heel prosthesis 300. The heel prosthesis 300 may not only prevent slip-off but also increase comfort by reducing rubbing of the heel and/or the foot against inner surfaces of the shoe. In some embodiment, the heel prosthesis 300 may take the shape of the person's heel and/or the shape of the shoe over time.

The heel prosthesis 300 may be manufactured in different sizes (e.g., based on a person's foot size or age). Additionally, for each size, the heel prosthesis 300 may be manufactured to be available in different thicknesses (e.g., small, medium, or large). Thus, people, who may need more toe room or instep space, may choose slightly looser shoes (e.g., one size or a half-size up) and rely on the heel prosthesis 300 to prevent the shoes from slipping off. Essentially, the heel prosthesis 300 allows a pair of shoes to fit more people without slipping off.

The present disclosure is not limited in scope by the specific embodiments described herein. Other various embodiments of and modifications to the present disclosure, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the foregoing description and accompanying drawings. Thus, such other embodiments and modification are intended to fall with the scope of the present disclosure. Further, although the present disclosure has been described herein in the context of at least one particular implementation in at least one particular environment for at least one particular purpose, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that its usefulness is not limited thereto and that the present disclosure may be beneficially implemented in any number of environments for any number of purposes.

Claims

1. A heel prosthesis, comprising:

a back portion;

a bottom portion;

a first lateral portion; and

a second lateral portion, wherein the back portion, the bottom portion, the first lateral portion, and the second lateral portion form a concave receptacle that is configured to adhere to or clip onto a heel of a person.

2. The heel prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the back portion has a thickness profile that causes the back portion to bulge outwards from the concave receptacle.

3. The heel prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the first lateral portion has a thickness profile that causes the first lateral portion to bulge outwards from the concave receptacle.

4. The heel prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the second lateral portion has a thickness profile that causes the second lateral portion to bulge outwards from the concave receptacle.

5. The heel prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the heel prosthesis is made of at least one of a polysiloxane, a polymer, or a polyamide.

6. The heel prosthesis of claim 5, wherein a surface of the concave receptacle is lined with an adhesive material.

7. The heel prosthesis of claim 6, wherein the adhesive material is one of a pressure-sensitive adhesive, a heat-activated adhesive, or a moisture-activated adhesive.

8. The heel prosthesis of claim 6, wherein the adhesive material is at least one of removable, reusable, or washable.

9. The heel prosthesis of claim 1, wherein an overall thickness of the first lateral portion is greater than an overall thickness of the second lateral portion.

10. The heel prosthesis of claim 1, wherein an overall thickness of the first lateral portion is smaller than an overall thickness of the second lateral portion.

11. An article of footwear, comprising:

a back portion;

a bottom portion;

a first lateral portion; and

a second lateral portion, wherein the back portion, the bottom portion, the first lateral portion, and the second lateral portion form a concave receptacle that is configured to adhere to or clip onto a heel of a person.

12. The article of footwear of claim 11, wherein the back portion has a thickness profile that causes the back portion to bulge outwards from the concave receptacle.

13. The article of footwear of claim 11, wherein the first lateral portion has a thickness profile that causes the first lateral portion to bulge outwards from the concave receptacle.

14. The article of footwear of claim 11, wherein the second lateral portion has a thickness profile that causes the second lateral portion to bulge outwards from the concave receptacle.

15. The article of footwear of claim 11, wherein the article of footwear is made of at least one of a polysiloxane, a polymer, or a polyamide.

16. The article of footwear of claim 15, wherein a surface of the concave receptacle is lined with an adhesive material.

17. The article of footwear of claim 16, wherein the adhesive material is one of a pressure-sensitive adhesive, a heat-activated adhesive, or a moisture-activated adhesive.

18. The article of footwear of claim 16, wherein the adhesive material is at least one of removable, reusable, or washable.

19. The article of footwear of claim 11, wherein an overall thickness of the first lateral portion is greater than an overall thickness of the second lateral portion.

20. The article of footwear of claim 11, wherein an overall thickness of the first lateral portion is smaller than an overall thickness of the second lateral portion.