US-12622488-B2 - Footwear heel counter for easier foot entry or removal

US12622488B2US 12622488 B2US12622488 B2US 12622488B2US-12622488-B2

Abstract

The article of footwear further includes a heel cup attached to the upper and extending from the sole structure to at least a portion of the rear heel collar of upper. Additionally, the heel cup is uniformly molded with an upper portion, midportion, and lower portion and the upper portion has a smaller mediolateral length than the midportion, and the midportion and lower portion form a concave structure configured to receive the heel. The midportion includes 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.

Inventors

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

Assignees

SKECHERS U.S.A., INC. II

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20240604

Claims (19)

1 . A shoe comprising: an upper and sole structure, the upper defining a foot receiving shoe opening; a heel counter comprising a heel cup attached to the upper and extending from the sole structure to at least a portion of the rear heel collar of upper, the heel cup with a rearmost portion having an overall vertical S wave cross-sectional shape, wherein the heel cup is uniformly molded with an upper portion, midportion, and lower portion, the upper portion having a smaller mediolateral length than the midportion; a heel region of the upper having a rearward facing upper concavity and a forward facing lower concavity, the upper concavity having a first depth, the lower concavity having a second depth, the second depth being greater than the first depth; an interior compressible foam layer attached to the heel cup, wherein the foam layer protrudes into a shoe opening, the foam layer configured to compress under a load during the donning or removal of the shoe, and wherein the interior compressible foam layer is configured, after the foot is inserted into the shoe, to expand fully or partially to its uncompressed state.
2 . The shoe of claim 1 , further comprising: at least two layers of textile material, wherein the interior compressible foam layer is affixed between the at least two layers of textile material.
3 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein an upper amplitude of the upper concavity is approximately ⅓ of a lower amplitude of the lower concavity.
4 . The shoe of claim 3 , wherein the upper amplitude of the upper concavity is approximately 3 millimeters, and a lower amplitude of the lower concavity is approximately 9 millimeters.
5 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein an upper portion arc width of the vertical S wave cross-sectional shape is approximately 0.44 times a lower portion arc width of the vertical S wave cross-sectional shape.
6 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein an upper portion arc width of the vertical S wave cross-sectional shape is approximately 2 centimeters, and a lower portion arc width of the vertical S wave cross-sectional shape is approximately 4.5 centimeters.
7 . The shoe of claim 1 , the upper portion having a first configuration; the upper portion capable of distorting into a second configuration under a load of a user's foot; the upper portion capable of returning to the first configuration after the load of the user's foot is removed; and wherein the upper portion in the first configuration has a downward incline with a first angle relative to a vertical line that is normal to a horizontal surface of the floor; the upper portion in the second configuration has an incline with a second angle; and the second angle is greater than the first angle; and a lower region of a central portion extends outwardly in the second configuration in a direction that causes the shoe opening to widen along the mediolateral direction.
8 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein the shoe opening is configured to widen along the mediolateral direction by approximately 50%.
9 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein the heel cup is constructed of a rigid material that does not substantially compress under the load of the user's foot.
10 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein the interior compressible foam layer is at least adjacent to the upper portion and midportion of the heel cup.
11 . The shoe of claim 10 , wherein the compressible foam layer is thicker than the lower portion.
12 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein the interior compressible foam layer that is at least adjacent to the upper portion and midportion of the heel cup is thicker than other areas of the interior compressible foam layer.
13 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein the interior compressible foam layer is configured, after the foot is inserted into the shoe, to be located above the calcaneus bone region of the foot and extend around at least portions of the ankle region of the foot.
14 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein the interior compressible foam layer is rearwardly inclined.
15 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein, in a vertical cross-section, the upper portion has a first thickness in a first location, the midportion has a second thickness in a second location, and the lower portion has a third thickness in a third location; wherein the second thickness is smaller than at least one of the first thickness and the third thickness.
16 . The shoe of claim 15 , wherein the second thickness is smaller than both of the first thickness and the third thickness.
17 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein the interior compressible foam layer may extend at least a portion along the mediolateral length and configured to curve around at least a portion of the ankle above the heel.
18 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein the interior compressible foam layer has a uniform thickness.
19 . A shoe comprising: an upper and sole structure, the upper defining a foot receiving shoe opening; a heel counter comprising a heel cup attached to the upper and extending from the sole structure to at least a portion of the rear heel collar of upper, the heel cup with a rearmost portion having an overall vertical S wave cross-sectional shape, wherein the heel cup is uniformly molded with an upper portion, midportion, and lower portion, the upper portion having a smaller mediolateral length than the midportion; a heel region of the upper having a rearward facing upper concavity and a forward facing lower concavity, the upper concavity having a first depth, the lower concavity having a second depth, the second depth being greater than the first depth; wherein an upper amplitude of the upper concavity is approximately 3 millimeters, and a lower amplitude of the lower concavity is approximately 9 millimeters; an interior compressible foam layer attached to the heel cup, wherein the foam layer protrudes into a shoe opening, the foam layer configured to compress under a load during the donning or removal of the shoe, and wherein the interior compressible foam layer is configured, after the foot is inserted into the shoe, to expand fully or partially to its uncompressed state.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 18/199,262, 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 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 compressed configu