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EP-3923759-B1 - FOOTWEAR HEEL SUPPORT DEVICE

EP3923759B1EP 3923759 B1EP3923759 B1EP 3923759B1EP-3923759-B1

Inventors

  • KILGORE, ELIZABETH A.
  • ORAND, AUSTIN
  • OWINGS, ANDREW A.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20200124

Claims (14)

  1. An article of footwear (140) comprising: an upper (42) defining a foot-receiving cavity (50) with a heel region; a heel support device (110, 210, 310, 410, 610) disposed at a rear portion of the upper, extending around the rear of a heel region, and including a plurality of slats (12) and a base (14); wherein each slat has a center segment (22) and an arm (24) extending downwardly and forwardly from the center segment to the base; each slat resiliently bendable between an unloaded position and a loaded position when depressed toward the base from the unloaded position to the loaded position, the center segment spaced further apart from the base in the unloaded position than in the loaded position; the plurality of slats including an uppermost slat (12A), a lowermost slat (12D) closer to the base than the uppermost slat, and at least one intermediate slat (12B, 12C) disposed between the uppermost slat and the lowermost slat; wherein the plurality of slats includes a progressive gradient of widths from the lowermost slat to the uppermost slat; and characterised in that the heel support device includes a peg (62) extending through an aperture (61) in the upper and secured at a surface (63) of the upper.
  2. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein: the lowermost slat is shorter and thinner than the at least one intermediate slat; and the at least one intermediate slat is shorter and thinner than the uppermost slat.
  3. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein: the upper includes an inner layer (54) and an outer layer (56); the aperture extends through the outer layer; and the heel support device is disposed between the inner layer and the outer layer.
  4. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the peg extends outward from the center segment of the lowermost slat of the plurality of slats.
  5. The article of footwear of claim 4, wherein the peg is the only peg extending outward from the plurality of slats.
  6. The article of footwear of claim 4, wherein the peg extends outward from a thickened region (64) of the center segment of the lowermost slat of the plurality of slats.
  7. The article of footwear of any of claims 1-6, wherein the center segment of one slat of the plurality of slats includes an elongated tip (70) extending rearwardly.
  8. The article of footwear of claim 7, wherein the elongated tip extends from the uppermost slat of the plurality of slats.
  9. The article of footwear of claim 7, wherein: the upper has a heel collar (51) defining an opening (52) into the foot-receiving cavity; the upper has a tapered extension (42A) extending rearward from the heel collar; and the tapered extension of the heel collar overlays the elongated tip.
  10. The article of footwear of claim 9, wherein the tapered extension of the heel collar forms an internal cavity (78), and the elongated tip is disposed in the internal cavity of the tapered extension of the heel collar.
  11. The article of footwear of claim 9, wherein an upper surface (72) of the elongated tip slopes downward and inward toward the foot-receiving cavity.
  12. The article of footwear of claim 11, wherein a slope of the upper surface of the elongated tip increases in a forward direction along a longitudinal midline of the article of footwear, providing a ramp.
  13. The article of footwear of claim 11, wherein an outer perimeter (76) of the center segment has a discontinuity point at the elongated tip.
  14. The article of footwear of any of claims 1-13, wherein: the base includes a relatively thick portion (14A) adjacent an uppermost extent (30) of the base and a relatively thin portion (14B) adjacent a lowermost extent (32) of the base; and the upper is sewn or adhered to the relatively thin portion of the base.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims the benefit of priority to United States Provisional Application No. 62/805,037 filed February 13, 2019. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure generally relates to an article of footwear with a heel support device configured for ease of foot entry. BACKGROUND Traditionally, placing footwear on a foot often requires the use of one or both hands to stretch the ankle opening of a footwear upper, and hold the rear portion during foot insertion, especially in the case of a relatively soft upper and/or an upper that does not have a heel counter secured to a flexible fabric rearward of the ankle opening. US 2018/110292 A1 describes a footwear heel spring device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only, are schematic in nature, and are intended to be exemplary rather than to limit the scope of the disclosure. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a heel support device.FIG. 2 is a front view of the heel support device of FIG. 1.FIG. 3 is a medial side view of the heel support device of FIG. 1.FIG. 4 is a lateral side view of the heel support device of FIG. 1.FIG. 5 is a rear view of the heel support device of FIG. 1.FIG. 6 is a top view of the heel support device of FIG. 1.FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the heel support device of FIG. 1.FIG. 8 is a lateral side view of an article of footwear with the heel support device of FIG. 1 in a use position.FIG. 9 is a lateral side view of the article of footwear of FIG. 8 with the heel support device in an access position.FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another heel support device.FIG. 11 is a rear view of the heel support device of FIG. 10.FIG. 12 is a lateral side view of the heel support device of FIG. 10.FIG. 13 is a medial side view of the heel support device of FIG. 10.FIG. 14 is a lateral side view of an article of footwear with the heel support device of FIG. 10 in an access position.FIG. 15 is a lateral side view of the article of footwear of FIG. 14 with the heel support device in a use position.FIG. 16 is a rear view of another heel support device.FIG. 17 is a rear view of another heel support device.FIG. 18 is a perspective view of another heel support device.FIG. 19 is a rear view of the heel support device of FIG. 18.FIG. 20 is a medial side view of the heel support device of FIG. 18.FIG. 21 is a lateral side view of the heel support device of FIG. 18.FIG. 22 is a perspective view of another heel support device.FIG. 23 is a lateral side view of an article of footwear with the heel support device of FIG. 18 in an access position.FIG. 24 is a lateral side view of the article of footwear of FIG. 23 with the heel support device in a use position.FIG. 25 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the article of footwear of FIG. 24 taken at lines 25-25 in FIG. 24.FIG. 26 is a rear view of another heel support device.FIG. 27 is a rear view of another heel support device.FIG. 28 is a rear view of another heel support device. DESCRIPTION Various heel support devices and articles of footwear having the heel support devices are disclosed herein that enable relatively easy foot entry and removal in a hands-free manner. According to the claimed invention, an article of footwear includes an upper and a heel support device. The upper defines a foot-receiving cavity with a heel region. The heel support device is disposed at a rear portion of the upper, and extends around the rear of the heel region. The heel support device includes a plurality of slats and a base. Each slat has a center segment and an arm extending downwardly and forwardly from the center segment to the base. Each slat is resiliently bendable between an unloaded position and a loaded position when depressed toward the base from the unloaded position to the loaded position. The center segment is spaced further apart from the base in the unloaded position than in the loaded position. The plurality of slats includes an uppermost slat, a lowermost slat closer to the base than the uppermost slat, and at least one intermediate slat disposed between the uppermost slat and the lowermost slat. The plurality of slats includes a progressive gradient of widths from the lowermost slat to the uppermost slat. Additionally, in some example heel support devices, the plurality of slats may include a progressive gradient of lengths from the lowermost slat to the uppermost slat. For example, the lowermost slat may be shorter and thinner than the at least one intermediate slat, and the at least one intermediate slat may be shorter and thinner than the uppermost slat. Each slat may be considered to act similar to a beam fixed at one end and free at the center segment when a downward load is applied to the center segment. For a given downward applied load to the center segment of such a slat, downward deflection is greater for a longer slat than for a shorter slat, and for a narrower slat than for a wider slat (e.g., where