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EP-4240198-B1 - AN EASY-ENTRY SHOE WITH A SPRING-FLEXIBLE REAR

EP4240198B1EP 4240198 B1EP4240198 B1EP 4240198B1EP-4240198-B1

Inventors

  • BAR, AHARON

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20220816

Claims (6)

  1. A shoe (10) comprising a sole (12) and a shoe upper (13), the shoe upper (13) comprising a shoe opening (14) for entering the shoe, the shoe opening (14) defined by a rear part (15), a medial part (16), a lateral part (17), and a front part (18), wherein the shoe comprises an elastic element (31) in at least one of: the medial part (16) of the shoe, and the lateral part (17) of the shoe, the rear part (15) comprising a top portion (21), reinforced by a firm material, and a compression spring element (11) comprising: a top part (26) and a bottom part (27) being compressible towards each other by the application of a force on the top part, and whereby the compression spring element (11), being curved according to the curvature of the rear part (15) of the shoe, conforms to the shape of the rear part (15) of the shoe, wherein the compression spring element (11) is substantially centered between the left side and the right side of the rear part (15), wherein the top part (26) of the compression spring element is attached to the top portion of the rear part (15), wherein the rear part (15) further comprises a bottom portion (22), above the sole (12), reinforced by a firm material, and the bottom part (27) of the compression spring element is attached to the bottom portion of the rear part (15), or wherein the rear part (15) further comprises a flexible material (23), located between the top portion (21) and the sole (12), and the bottom part (27) of the compression spring element is attached to the sole (12).
  2. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the compression spring element is made of at least one of: a circular compression spring (24); a garter compression spring (25); and a sinusoidal compression spring (30).
  3. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the compression spring element is at least one of: curved vertically, upwards, and forward, according to vertical curvature of the rear part (15); and curved horizontally according to horizontal curvature of the rear part (15).
  4. The shoe according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the compression spring element is mounted inside a sleeve or embedded within the rear part.
  5. A method for entering a shoe, comprising the steps of: providing a shoe (10) comprising a sole (12) and a shoe upper (13), the shoe upper (13) comprising a shoe opening (14) for entering the shoe, the shoe opening defined by a rear part (15), a medial part (16), a lateral part (17), and a front part (18), wherein the shoe comprises an elastic element (31) in at least one of: the medial part (16) of the shoe, and the lateral part (17) of the shoe, the rear part (15) comprising a top portion (21) reinforced by a firm material, and a compression spring element (11) comprising: a top part (26) and a bottom part (27) being compressible towards each other by the application of a force on the top part, and whereby the compression spring element (11), being curved according to the curvature of the rear part (15) of the shoe, conforms to the shape of the rear part of the shoe, wherein the compression spring element (11) is substantially centered between the left side and the right side of the rear part (15), wherein the top part (26) of the compression spring element is attached to the top portion of the rear part (15), wherein the rear part (15) further comprises a bottom portion (22), above the sole (12), reinforced by a firm material, and the bottom part (27) of the compression spring element is attached to the bottom portion of the rear part (15), or wherein the rear part (15) further comprises a flexible material (23), located between the top portion (21) and the sole (12), and the bottom part (27) of the compression spring element is attached to the sole (12); exerting a downward force on the top portion (21) of the rear part when an object enters the shoe to push down the top portion of the rear part, and at the same time the elastic element (31) stretches, allowing the shoe opening to expand, and create enough space for the object to enter the shoe; and releasing the downward force on the top portion of the rear part to enable the compression spring element (11) to push the top portion of the rear part up and for the elastic element to contract for securing the object in the shoe.
  6. The method for entering a shoe according to claim 5, wherein the compression spring element is mounted inside a sleeve or embedded within the rear part (15).

Description

FIELD The field of the present disclosure and the related embodiments relate to the field of footwear, and, more particularly but not exclusively, to footwear, such as a shoe, enabling easy entry of a foot into the shoe. BACKGROUND A significant number of users have difficulties bending down to help put on shoes with closed heel design. However, when putting shoes on and taking them off, most shoes require bending down to lace or unlace the shoe, or help adjusting the rear part of the shoe to enter slip-on shoes. There is thus a widely recognized need for a shoe that enables a user to put it on and take it off without the need for bending down and employing the use of the user's hands. Many such easy-entry shoe are disclosed, such as disclosed in US patents US1686175, US9675132, US9820527, US9877542, US10306947, US10506842, US10555578, US10638810, US10653209, US10660401, US10813405, US10842222, US10905192, US10973279, and US application US20210106094, as well as PCT application WO2012077899. These solutions involve compression of the rear side of the shoe to enable the foot to enter the shoe, and a spring element that returns the compressed rear side to upright position. However, these constructions are costly to manufacture and uncomfortable to wear because of the rigid structure around the heel. Japanese patent publication JP2004275648A discloses a shoe which can be utilised either as a mule or as a normal shoe. Therefore, there is a need for a shoe with a more simplified construction that is easier and inexpensive to produce. SUMMARY In a first instance, the invention relates to a shoe according to claim 1. In a second instance, the invention relates to a method according to claim 5. According to one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure there is provided an article of wear such as a shoe including a sole and a shoe upper, the shoe upper including a shoe opening for entering the shoe, the shoe opening defined by a rear part, a medial part, a lateral part, and a front part, the rear part including a top portion, reinforced by a firm material, a bottom portion, reinforced by a firm material, a center portion, located between the top portion and the bottom portion, the center portion made of a flexible material, and a spring element. The top part of the spring element being attached to the top portion of the rear part, and the bottom part of the spring element being attached to the bottom portion of the rear part. According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure there is provided an article of wear such as a shoe including a sole and a shoe upper, the shoe upper including a shoe opening for entering the shoe, the shoe opening defined by a rear part, a medial part, a lateral part, and a front part, the rear part including a top portion, reinforced by a firm material, a flexible material, located between the top portion and the sole, and a compression spring element. The top part of the compression spring element being attached to the top portion of the rear part, and the bottom part of the compression spring element being attached to the sole. According to still another exemplary embodiment there is provided an article of wear such as a shoe where the spring element is made of a circular compression spring. According to yet another exemplary embodiment there is provided an article of wear such as a shoe where the spring element is made of a garter compression spring. Further according to another exemplary embodiment there is provided an article of wear such as a shoe where the spring element is made of a sinusoidal compression spring. At least one of the medial part and the lateral part of the shoe includes an elastic element. Yet further according to another exemplary embodiment there is provided an article of wear such as a shoe where the spring element is mounted vertically, at the horizontal middle of the rear part of the shoe. Even further, according to another exemplary embodiment there is provided an article of wear such as a shoe where the spring element is curved vertically, upwards and forward, according to vertical curvature of the rear part of the shoe; and/or curved horizontally according to horizontal curvature of the rear part of the shoe. Additionally, according to another exemplary embodiment there is provided a method for entering a shoe, including the steps of providing a shoe including a sole and a shoe upper, the shoe upper including a shoe opening for entering the shoe, the shoe opening defined by a rear part, a medial part, a lateral part, and a front part, Where the rear part of the shoe includes a top portion reinforced by a firm material, a bottom portion reinforced by a firm material, a center portion between the top portion and the bottom portion, the center portion made of a flexible material, and a compression spring element. Where the top part of the compression spring element is attached to the top portion of the rear part, and the bottom part of th