US-12616277-B2 - Footwear heel counter for easier foot entry or removal

Abstract

The shoe includes a sole and a layer of elastic material positioned to stretch and create tension that enhances securement of a foot inserted into the shoe. A polymer heel cup is coupled to the sole and upper and has an S-wave in a vertical cross-section of a rearmost portion. The heel cup has diagonal beams separated by apertures, and the diagonal beams include beams of at least two different widths. A compressible interior foam layer is near a forward-facing surface of the upper portion of the heel cup and extends into the shoe opening, providing securement of the foot once inserted.

Inventors

• John Maxwell Weeks
• Scott Kelley
• Frank Chuang
• Pei-Chun Liao
• Johnson Tja
• Hui Xie
• Kurt Stockbridge

Assignees

• SKECHERS U.S.A., INC. II

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20250709

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A shoe, comprising: a sole; an upper, including at least one layer of elastic material positioned to stretch and create tension that enhances securement of a foot inserted into the shoe; a heel cup, comprised of polymer material, coupled to the sole and upper, wherein the heel cup is comprised of an upper portion, a midportion, and a lower portion, a vertical cross-sectional shape of a rearmost portion of the heel cup comprises an S-wave, and the heel cup is comprised of a plurality of diagonal beams separated by apertures, wherein the plurality of diagonal beams includes beams having at least two different widths; an interior foam layer adjacent to at least a forward-facing surface of the upper portion of the heel cup, wherein the interior foam layer is compressible, wherein the interior foam layer extends into the shoe opening, facilitating securement of the foot once inserted.
2. 2 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein the interior foam layer is positioned to extend around portions of an ankle region of the foot.
3. 3 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein a profile of the heel cup has a pear-like shape.
4. 4 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein the at least one layer of elastic material is positioned on at least one of a medial and a lateral side of the upper.
5. 5 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein the polymer material comprises a thermoplastic.
6. 6 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein the polymer material comprises an elastomer.
7. 7 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein, in a first configuration, the upper portion of the heel cup has a downward incline with a first angle relative to a vertical line that is normal to a horizontal surface of a floor; and the upper portion is capable of distorting into a second configuration under a load of the foot when donning the shoe, wherein in the second configuration the upper portion has a downward incline with a second angle relative to the vertical line, the second angle being greater than the first angle.
8. 8 . The shoe of claim 1 , further comprising: at least one fabric material covering the heel cup.
9. 9 . The shoe of claim 8 , wherein the at least one fabric material extends above the heel cup to form an extension of a heel collar.
10. 10 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein the heel cup is coupled to an inner lining of the upper.
11. 11 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein the upper portion of the heel cup is configured to be lowered and extended backward away from the foot when donning the shoe.
12. 12 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein the interior foam layer is bonded to the forward-facing surface of the upper portion of the heel cup.
13. 13 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein the interior foam layer is also adjacent to a midportion forward-facing surface of the heel cup and a lower portion forward-facing surface of the heel cup, and a portion of the interior foam layer that is adjacent to the forward-facing surface of the upper portion is thicker than portions adjacent to the midportion forward-facing surface and the lower portion forward-facing surface.
14. 14 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein the interior foam layer is comprised of at least one of EVA and polyurethane foam.
15. 15 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein the interior foam layer is covered by an elastic textile.
16. 16 . The shoe of claim 15 , wherein the elastic textile has wicking properties.
17. 17 . The shoe of claim 15 , wherein the elastic textile is form fitted to the shape of the interior foam layer.
18. 18 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein the heel cup includes at least one enhanced flexibility region.
19. 19 . The shoe of claim 18 , wherein the at least one enhanced flexibility region is configured to facilitate compression of the heel cup under load of the foot during donning of the shoe to widen the shoe opening and allow for the donning of the shoe without use of a wearer's hands.
20. 20 . A shoe, comprising: a sole; an upper, including at least a portion comprising elastic material positioned to stretch and create tension that enhances securement of a foot inserted into the shoe; a heel cup, comprised of polymer material, coupled to the sole and upper, wherein the heel cup is comprised of an upper portion, a midportion, and a lower portion, a vertical cross-sectional shape of a rearmost portion of the heel cup comprises an S-wave, and the heel cup is comprised of a plurality of diagonal and lateral beams separated by apertures, wherein the plurality of diagonal and lateral beams includes beams having at least two different widths; an interior foam layer adjacent to at least a forward-facing surface of the upper portion of the heel cup, wherein the interior foam layer is compressible, wherein the interior foam layer extends into the shoe opening, facilitating securement of the foot once inserted.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 18/199,250, filed on May 18, 2023, which claims the benefit of priority to International Application No. PCT/US2022/46726, filed on Oct. 14, 2022, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/256,521, filed on Oct. 15, 2021. These applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure generally relates to a heel counter or a component of a heel counter of a shoe, and in particular a heel counter that is designed to allow for easier entry of the wearer's foot into the shoe. BACKGROUND Conventionally, when donning footwear such as sports shoes, the user must often use one or both hands or operate a shoehorn separate from the shoe to properly insert the foot into the shoe and secure the quarter from collapsing under the heel. BRIEF SUMMARY OF DISCLOSURE Aspects of this invention relate to an article of footwear that has a structure capable of distortion to support easier foot insertion. In one aspect of the invention, a heel cup may be uniformly molded with an upper portion, midportion, and lower portion, and the upper portion has a smaller mediolateral length than the midportion. The midportion and lower portion may form a concave structure configured to receive the heel. The upper portion of the heel cup has a first configuration in its native state and is capable of distorting into a second configuration under a load of a user's foot when the user is donning the footwear. In the second configuration, at least part of the upper portion is lowered relative to the first configuration and the upper portion is capable of returning to the first configuration after the load of the user's foot is removed. The midportion may include a peripheral portion having a first thickness and a central portion having a second thickness, and the second thickness is less than the first thickness. In another aspect of the invention, the upper portion of a heel cup has a first configuration in its native state and is capable of distorting into a second configuration under a load of a user's foot when the user is donning the footwear and the heel cup is capable of returning to the first configuration after the load of the user's foot is removed. In the first configuration, the upper portion has a downward incline with a first angle relative to a vertical line that is normal to a horizontal surface of the floor, and the upper portion in the second configuration has an incline with a second angle greater than the first angle. Additionally, in the second configuration, a lower region of a central portion of the heel cup extends outward in a direction away from the shoe opening that causes the shoe opening to widen along the mediolateral direction. In another aspect of the invention, an upper of an article of footwear includes a U-shaped foamed ankle collar that is substantially tubular in shape and forms the topmost region of the foot receiving shoe opening. The foamed ankle collar may extend at least partially around and over the foot receiving shoe opening and may be compressed by the user's heel during foot insertion. The ankle collar may exert pressure on the user's ankle once the foot is inserted into the footwear. The ankle collar may also have a flattened region along its length forming a downward angle from the topmost region toward the front of the article of footwear. In another aspect of the invention, a heel counter support is located on the upper and above the sole structure. The heel counter support may have at least two hollow receptacles with backward angles. Additionally, each one of the two hollow receptacles receive one end of a compressible component. The compressible component has a first configuration in its native state, and the compressible component is capable of distorting into a second configuration under a load of a user's foot when the user is donning the footwear and is capable of automatically returning to the first configuration after the user's foot in fully inserted into the footwear. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS By way of example only, selected embodiments and aspects of the present invention are described below. Each description refers to a figure (“FIG.”) which shows the described matter. Some figures shown in drawings or photographs that accompany this specification may be for footwear that is for either the left or right foot. Each figure includes one or more identifiers for one or more part(s) or elements(s) of the invention. Various embodiments are described with reference to the drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a front view of a compressible heel cup. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the compressible heel cup of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a side view of the compressible heel cup of FIG. 1. FIGS. 4A and 4B are a side-by-side front perspective view of the compressible heel cup of FIG. 1 in its compre