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EP-4736699-A2 - RAPID-ENTRY FOOTWEAR WITH REBOUNDING FIT SYSTEM

EP4736699A2EP 4736699 A2EP4736699 A2EP 4736699A2EP-4736699-A2

Abstract

A rapid-entry and rebounding fit shoe having one or both of a rapid-entry heel element and a rapid-entry tongue element and both snap back for fit. The rapid-entry shoe directs a user's foot into or otherwise accommodates a user's foot with respect to, a shoe opening, and thereafter secures a rear portion of rapid-entry shoe about a user's heel as well as forefoot.

Inventors

  • PRATT, MICHAEL JAMES
  • HERMANN, STEVEN
  • LYTLE, SETH
  • TSEN, JAMES KUANGCHENG

Assignees

  • Fast IP, LLC

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20170421

Claims (11)

  1. A rapid-entry shoe having left and right lateral sides and comprising: a sole; a rear portion formed of upper material and configured to be disposed around a heel of a user, the rear portion having a collapsed configuration and an uncollapsed configuration, in which in the uncollapsed configuration it is secured against the user's heel; a shoe opening into which a user's foot can be inserted; a heel structure comprising a base and a deformable element, and having a collapsed configuration and an uncollapsed configuration, and being biassed by the deformable element into the uncollapsed configuration, and being configured to return the rear portion from the collapsed configuration of the rear portion to the uncollapsed configuration of the rear portion, the base being closer to the sole than the deformable element; in which in the collapsed configuration of the heel structure, the heel structure is arranged to direct a user's foot into the shoe opening, in response to a user's foot pushing on the heel structure; the deformable element and the base both extending from the left side to the right side of the shoe.
  2. The shoe of claim 1, in which the base comprises a heel counter.
  3. The shoe of claim 2, in which the heel counter and the deformable element together form a closed perimeter and define a window between the heel counter and the deformable element.
  4. The shoe of claim 2 or claim 3, in which the heel counter is shaped to allow collapse of a heel of the shoe.
  5. The shoe of any preceding claim, in which the collapsed configuration, the shoe opening is larger than in the uncollapsed configuration, typically by at least 5% or 2.54 centimetres.
  6. The shoe of any preceding claim, arranged such that the heel structure is biassed such that, when a user's foot is inserted into the shoe, the heel structure returns to the uncollapsed configuration, typically within less than 1 second.
  7. The shoe of any preceding claim, in which the deformable element has a length and mechanical properties which vary along the length, the mechanical properties typically including cross-section, density and/or material.
  8. The shoe of any preceding claim, in which the deformable element comprises a cover, sleeve or overmould.
  9. The shoe of any preceding claim, in which the deformable element is completely contained within the rear portion of the shoe.
  10. The shoe of any preceding claim, in which the deformable element is visible to a user of the shoe.
  11. The shoe of any preceding claim, comprising a heel piece configured to direct the user's foot into the shoe opening when the heel structure is in the collapsed configuration.

Description

FIELD The present disclosure relates to footwear, and more particularly to rapid-entry footwear with rebounding fit system. BACKGROUND Shoes come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, functionalities, and purposes. While it is relatively easy to remove many types of shoes, it may not be so simple to put all such shoes back on again. Instead, many shoes require several steps to put the shoes on, including lacing and tying the shoes, using other fasteners, or the like, and such steps may include loosening and/or untying shoes that were not properly loosened or untied the last time the shoes were worn. In addition, many shoes require a shoe horn to make it easier to get the shoe on. SUMMARY Disclosed herein, according to various embodiments, is a rapid-entry and rebounding fit shoe having one or both of a rapid-entry heel structure and a rapid-entry tongue element, wherein both snap back for fit. The rapid-entry shoe directs a user's foot into or otherwise accommodates a user's foot with respect to, a shoe opening, and thereafter secures a rear portion of the rapid-entry shoe about a user's heel as well as forefoot. The forgoing features and elements may be combined in various combinations without exclusivity, unless expressly indicated herein otherwise. These features and elements as well as the operation of the disclosed embodiments will become more apparent in light of the following description and accompanying drawings. Various aspects of the invention are defined in the following clauses: 1. A rapid-entry shoe comprising: a base; anda deformable element coupled to the base, wherein the deformable element is embedded within or extends along a rear portion of the rapid-entry shoe, wherein the deformable element has a collapsed configuration and an uncollapsed configuration, wherein in the collapsed configuration the deformable element is in a compressed state and bends downward and in the uncollapsed configuration the deformable element is oriented upwards and is in a reduced compressed state, an uncompressed state, or a partially bent state.2. The rapid-entry shoe of clause 1, wherein the deformable element has a second radius of curvature in the uncollapsed configuration that is greater than a first radius of curvature in the collapsed configuration.3. The rapid-entry shoe of clause 1, wherein the deformable element is configured to follow natural contours of a user's foot/heel in both the uncollapsed configuration and the collapsed configuration.4. The rapid-entry shoe of clause 1, wherein a first side of the deformable element has a first curvature that is different than a second curvature of a second side of the deformable element.5. The rapid-entry shoe of clause 1, wherein engagement between the deformable element and the base is non-pivoting.6. The rapid-entry shoe of clause 5, wherein the engagement between the deformable element and the base is free of play.7. The rapid-entry shoe of clause 1, wherein the base comprises an anchor and an anchor receptacle, wherein the deformable element is coupled to the anchor and the anchor is coupled to the anchor receptacle.8. The rapid-entry shoe of clause 1, wherein the deformable element comprises a cover that affects flexure of the deformable element.9. The rapid-entry shoe of clause 1, wherein in response to moving from the uncollapsed configuration to the collapsed configuration, an opening of the shoe expands by at least about 10%.10. The rapid-entry shoe of clause 1, wherein a middle portion of the deformable element exhibits a return force toward the uncollapsed configuration of between 1 pound-force and 10 pound-force.11. The rapid-entry shoe of clause 1, wherein a middle portion of the deformable element returns from the collapsed configuration to the uncollapsed configuration in less than about 1 second.12. The rapid-entry shoe of clause 1, further comprising a heel piece including a paddle rotatably coupled to the deformable element.13. The rapid-entry shoe of clause 12, wherein the heel piece includes a ledge configured to facilitate retaining a user's heel within the rapid-entry shoe.14. The rapid-entry shoe of clause 12, wherein inward rotation of the paddle is prevented by upper and lower necks connecting the paddle to a second paddle.15. The rapid-entry shoe of clause 14, wherein outward rotation of the paddle is assisted by the collapsing of the heel piece.16. The rapid-entry shoe of clause 1, further comprising a rapid-entry tongue element comprising one or more of a tongue flare, a cross element or a tongue stiffener.17. The rapid-entry shoe of clause 1, further comprising a material stiffener configured to direct collapse of a more flexible heel material.18. The rapid-entry shoe of clause 1, wherein the base comprises one or more of an outsole, a midsole, an insole or a wedge.19. A rapid-entry shoe, comprising: a rear portion;a left paddle positioned within the rear portion; anda right paddle positioned within the rear portion.20. The rapid-