Improved footwear item

Abstract

A footwear article (10) comprising a sole (13) and an upper (15), wherein the upper (15) comprises a receiving opening (16) for the foot of a user and, below the foot receiving opening (16), a cavity for receiving the foot of the user, wherein the upper (15) includes a heel section (17) extending from the sole (13) and configured to receive a heel of a user of the footwear article (10), wherein the heel section (17) includes a heel cap (11) extending from the sole (13) and a spoiler (12) arranged above the heel cap (11), wherein the spoiler (12) includes an upper spoiler section (12c) extending to an upper end (12'c) of the spoiler (12), the upper spoiler section (12c) being inclined away from the forefoot, wherein the spoiler (12), as seen from the cavity intended to accommodate the user's foot, has a convex curvature (126) with respect to a first axis (z) perpendicular to the sole (13), wherein the spoiler (12) has a concave curvature (122) as seen from the cavity intended to accommodate the user's foot, wherein the concave curvature (122) extends around the heel of the user of the footwear article (10), wherein the spoiler (12) is designed to elastically rotate backwards relative to the footwear article (10) independently of the heel cap (11) under a force acting backwards relative to the footwear article (10) and to widen the opening (16), and wherein the elasticity of the spoiler (12) is designed such that the spoiler (12) returns to its initial position as soon as the force is no longer acting.

Description

Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to an improved article of footwear comprising a sole and an upper structure, the upper structure comprising a receiving opening for the foot of a user, the upper structure including a heel portion extending from the sole and configured to receive a heel of the user of the article of footwear, the heel portion being configured to facilitate penetration of the foot of the user of the article of footwear into the footwear, preferably without the use of a shoehorn or hands. Background of the invention

[0002] Today, a high percentage of footwear items feature reinforcement elements called heel cups, which are positioned in the rearfoot or heel area of ​​the footwear, usually between the upper and the lining, to support both the footwear and the wearer's foot. Such reinforcement elements are shaped to correctly follow the anatomy of the foot, thus facilitating walking movements and preventing incorrect movements, such as excessive pronation (inward rotation of the foot while resting on the ground) or supination (outward rotation of the foot while resting on the ground), which could cause injuries, including serious ones.

[0003] A particularly well-known heel counter is described in patent application WO 2023 / 064568 A1, which describes various embodiments of a heel counter for facilitating foot insertion into an article of footwear. The known heel counter is capable of changing from a non-deformed resting configuration to a deformed configuration, thus widening the opening of the article of footwear to facilitate foot insertion under the weight of the wearer's foot. The heel counter returns to the non-deformed resting configuration once the foot has been fully inserted into the article of footwear. However, the heel counter according to WO 2023 / 064568 A1 is not without disadvantages, as it has a limited deformation capacity.

[0004] Another known heel counter for an article of footwear is described in Italian patent application IT102023000010761, assigned to the applicant of the present invention. This heel counter is a so-called "articulated heel counter" and comprises a shell made of a first material and a plurality of inserts made of a second material coupled to the shell. The first material has a higher deformation coefficient than the second material, and the first material deforms more than the second material under the same load. In this way, the known heel counter has an articulated movement that better accommodates the movement of the user's foot penetrating the article of footwear than a single rigid body.

[0005] While the solutions described above have several advantages, they also have the significant disadvantage of requiring the manufacture of a specific or ad hoc heel counter. Therefore, the use of commercially available (so-called "standard") heel counters is not possible. Summary of the invention

[0006] The aim of the present invention is to provide an article of footwear which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0007] Within the scope of the above-mentioned aim, it is a particular object of the present invention to provide an article of footwear which enables the foot of the user of the article of footwear to penetrate the footwear without the use of a shoehorn or the hands.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide an article of footwear capable of facilitating the penetration of the foot of the user of the article of footwear into the footwear without untying the footwear, or into a footwear without laces.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide an article of footwear having a high degree of stability of the foot in the article of footwear during walking.

[0010] An additional object of the invention is to provide an article of footwear that can be manufactured at low cost.

[0011] The above aim and other aims are achieved and the objects and other objects which will become more apparent hereinafter are achieved by an article of footwear according to claim 1.

[0012] Further advantageous aspects of the invention are set out in the dependent claims.

[0013] Advantageously, an article of footwear according to the present invention comprises a sole and an upper structure, wherein the upper structure defines a foot-receiving opening and, below the foot-receiving opening, a cavity configured to receive the user's foot, wherein the upper structure includes a heel portion extending from the sole and configured to receive a heel of the wearer of the article of footwear, wherein the heel portion includes a heel counter extending from the sole and a spoiler arranged above the heel counter, wherein the spoiler includes an upper spoiler portion extending to an upper end of the spoiler, wherein the upper spoiler portion is inclined away from the forefoot, wherein the spoiler, viewed from the cavity serving to receive the user's foot, has a convex curvature with respect to a first axis perpendicular to the sole (or the ground,on which the sole rests in use), and wherein the spoiler has a concave curvature, as viewed from the cavity designed to receive the user's foot; wherein the concave curvature extends around (or surrounds) the heel of the user of the article of footwear, wherein the spoiler is constructed to resiliently rotate backwards relative to the article of footwear and widen the opening under a force acting backwards relative to the article of footwear, independently or substantially independently of the heel counter, and wherein the resilience of the spoiler is such that the spoiler returns to, or substantially returns to, the initial position once the force is removed. Advantageously, the degree of reverse rotation is sufficient to trigger the widening of the opening to such an extent that a shoehorn or other means is not necessary to facilitate penetration of the foot into the article of footwear.

[0014] The feature that the spoiler has a convex curvature as seen from the cavity serving to receive the user's foot (i.e. that the inner surface of the spoiler facing the user's foot is curved or rounded outwards with respect to the cavity serving to receive the user's foot), and that the spoiler has a concave curvature as seen from the cavity serving to receive the user's foot (i.e. that the inner surface of the spoiler is curved or rounded inwards with respect to the cavity serving to receive the user's foot), thus extending around the heel of the user of the article of footwear, can also be referred to as double curvature.

[0015] Advantageously, the force acting backward relative to the article of footwear is the force exerted by a user of the article of footwear when putting on the article of footwear.

[0016] The article of footwear may advantageously further comprise a collar extending around the opening, the collar extending at the upper end of the spoiler and being made of a material that allows it to follow the elastic reverse rotation and return of the spoiler to its original position. Such materials are well known in the art and are therefore not described below.

[0017] According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, the heel counter can be designed to maintain an unchanged or substantially unchanged position during the elastic reverse rotation and return of the spoiler to its original position. This feature increases the stability of the footwear article, particularly during walking.

[0018] The heel cap can also be designed to limit the elastic backward rotation of the spoiler.

[0019] Furthermore, the heel cap can be designed to limit the downward lowering of the spoiler.

[0020] Advantageously, the heel cap and the spoiler can be arranged in a partially overlapping configuration with respect to the first axis perpendicular to the sole. Furthermore, the heel cap and the spoiler can be arranged in a configuration directly adjacent to the first axis perpendicular to the sole. Furthermore, the heel cap and the spoiler can be arranged in a non-overlapping configuration with respect to the first axis perpendicular to the sole. The different relative positions of the spoiler and the heel cap enable a better adaptation of the footwear article to the anatomy of the foot.

[0021] The heel counter and the spoiler can advantageously both be arranged within the upper structure, or they can both be arranged outside the upper structure; alternatively, either the heel counter or the spoiler can be arranged within the upper structure, and the other component is arranged outside it. In the context of the present invention, the upper structure is understood, as is generally conventional in the art, to comprise an inner lining in contact with the foot of a user of the article of footwear and an upper extending outside the lining. However, the upper structure can also comprise only the upper without the lining.

[0022] According to a particularly advantageous aspect of the present invention, the heel cap and the spoiler are firmly connected to the shaft structure, and preferably the connection is made by sewing and / or gluing.

[0023] According to another particularly advantageous aspect of the present invention, the heel cap and / or spoiler are mounted within the upper structure, namely between the upper and the lining. This provides better protection for the heel cap and / or spoiler and also does not impair the overall appearance of the footwear article.

[0024] According to another particularly advantageous aspect of the present invention, a lower edge of the spoiler, which directly adjoins an upper edge of the heel counter, acts as a fulcrum for the elastic reverse rotation and the return of the spoiler to its original position. In this way, the reverse rotation is advantageously performed along a predefined trajectory.

[0025] According to another particularly advantageous aspect of the present invention, the heel cap is cup-shaped or substantially cup-shaped and surrounds the heel of the wearer of the footwear article. This aspect of the invention also improves the stability of the footwear article during use.

[0026] Advantageously, the heel cap has a hardness between approximately 70 Shore A and approximately 90 Shore A, which is also useful with regard to the stability of the footwear article in use or otherwise.

[0027] Furthermore, the spoiler is advantageously made of harder material than the shaft structure, so that the backward rotation or movement of the spoiler is not or only slightly affected by the shaft structure.

[0028] Advantageously, the spoiler has a hardness between approximately 70 Shore A and approximately 80 Shore A, which is also useful with regard to the stability of the footwear article in use or otherwise.

[0029] According to one aspect of the present invention, the spoiler is positioned at the level of or around the area between the heel bone and the upper part of the heel bone of the user of the article of footwear.

[0030] Preferably, the heel cap and / or spoiler are made of a polymer material, in particular polyamide, polyester, or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). Alternatively, the heel cap and / or spoiler can be made of a polyester-based nonwoven impregnated with a thermoadhesive material, in particular with a thermoadhesive material based on ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). According to a further alternative, the heel cap and / or spoiler can be made of bonded leather. Finally, the heel cap and / or spoiler can also be made of metal or metal alloys, such as steel, aluminum, or the like.

[0031] In some preferred aspects of the invention, the spoiler further comprises, on a side thereof facing the cavity for receiving the user's foot, a lower portion adjacent to the heel counter and inclined from the heel counter to the forefoot, and a spoiler connecting portion between the lower spoiler portion and the upper spoiler portion. Preferably, the ratio of a height along the first axis perpendicular to the sole between the upper spoiler portion and the lower spoiler portion is between approximately 1:1 and approximately 1:2, and / or the ratio of the height along the first axis perpendicular to the sole between the spoiler connecting portion and the lower spoiler portion is between approximately 1:0.5 and approximately 1:1.5. This feature ensures a stable configuration of the spoiler.

[0032] According to a further advantageous aspect of the invention, the spoiler is symmetrical with respect to a vertical plane extending from the sole, wherein the vertical plane extends midway or substantially midway between a medial portion of the foot of the user of the footwear article and a lateral portion of the foot of the user. In other words, the vertical plane is determined by a calcaneal axis of the user of the footwear article. The medial portion corresponds to the inside of the foot, and the lateral portion to the outside of the foot.

[0033] In a further advantageous alternative, the spoiler is asymmetrical with respect to a vertical plane extending from the sole, while the vertical plane extends midway or substantially midway between a medial portion of the foot of the user of the article of footwear and a lateral portion of the user's foot. In other words, the vertical plane is determined by a calcaneal axis of the user of the article of footwear. Preferably, a portion between the vertical plane and the medial portion of the foot of the user of the article of footwear is higher than a portion between the vertical plane and the lateral portion of the user's foot. Short description of the drawings

[0034] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a footwear article according to the invention, illustrated as a non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1A is a side view of an embodiment of an article of footwear according to the present invention, Fig. 1B is a rear view of the embodiment of the footwear article in Fig. 1A is, Fig. 2 a side view of the footwear article in Fig. 1A, wherein the upper structure is shown transparently and also shows the bone structure of a user of the footwear article, Fig. 3 another side view of the footwear article in Fig. 1A, wherein the upper structure is omitted and the heel cap is removed, and further the bone structure of the user of the footwear article and a heel cap according to the teaching of IT102022000023604 are shown in dashed lines, Fig. 4 an axonometric view of the spoiler of the footwear article in Fig. 1A is, Fig. 5 a side view of the spoiler of the footwear article in Fig. 1A is, Fig. 6 another side view of the spoiler of the footwear article in Fig. 1A is, Fig. 7 another axonometric view of the spoiler of the footwear article in Fig. 1A is, Fig. 8 a rear view of the spoiler of the footwear article in Fig. 1A is, Fig. 9 another side view of the spoiler of the footwear article in Fig. 1A is, Fig. 10A is a left side view (lateral view) of the spoiler of the footwear article in Fig. 1A is, Fig. 10B is an external rear view of the footwear article of the spoiler in Fig. 1A is, Fig. 10C a right side view (medial view) of the spoiler of the footwear article in Fig. 1A is, Fig. 10D a cross-sectional view along the cross-sectional plane 10D-10D in Fig. 10B is, Fig. 10E is a rear view from the inside of the footwear article of the spoiler in Fig. 1A is, Fig. 10F is a cross-sectional view along the cross-sectional plane 10F-10F in Fig. 10B is, Fig. 11A is a first embodiment of the relative positioning of the heel counter and the spoiler of the present invention to each other, Fig. 11B is a second embodiment of the relative positioning of the heel counter and the spoiler of the present invention, Fig. 11C is a third embodiment of the relative positioning of the heel counter and the spoiler of the present invention, Fig. 12A is a fourth embodiment of the relative positioning of the heel counter and the spoiler of the present invention, Fig. 12B is a fifth embodiment of the relative positioning of the heel counter and the spoiler of the present invention to each other, Fig. 13A is a side view of an embodiment of an article of footwear according to the present invention prior to insertion of the foot, Fig. 13B is a side view of the embodiment of the footwear article according to Fig. 13A during the insertion of the foot and Fig. 14 is a partial cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an article of footwear according to the present invention, showing the structure of an upper assembly and the arrangement of the spoiler according to the present invention with respect to the upper assembly. Detailed description of the invention

[0035] With reference to the side view in Fig. 1A and the rear view in Fig. 1B: A footwear article 10 according to the invention comprises, in a preferred embodiment, a sole 13, an upper structure 15 extending above the sole 13, a heel cap 11 attached to the rear lower side of the upper structure 15, a spoiler 12 extending above the heel cap 11, and a collar 14 extending above the spoiler 12 and defining a foot-receiving opening 16. The upper structure 15 defines a cavity below the opening 16, which serves to receive the foot of a user. Both the heel cap 11 and the spoiler 12 are arranged on a heel portion 17 of the footwear article 10. The upper structure 15 can, in a known manner, comprise an upper 15a, i.e., the outer layer of the upper structure 15, and a lining 15b, which in Fig. 14. The upper 15a may be made of fabric, leather, or the like in a known manner. As is known in the art, the lining 15b is in practice an inner layer facing the foot of a user.

[0036] In the embodiment in the Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B, the heel cap 11 is arranged outside the upper structure 15, i.e., outside the upper 15a. In this case, the heel cap 11 is arranged on the outer surface of the upper 15a, i.e., facing the environment. The connection of the heel cap 11 to the upper 15a or upper structure 15 can be achieved, for example, by gluing and / or sewing.

[0037] However, the heel cap 11 can also be arranged within the upper structure 15, i.e., within the upper 15a within the cavity designed to accommodate the user's foot. In this embodiment, the heel cap 11 can be inserted between the upper 15a and the lining 15b, which form the upper structure 15, and can be connected to the upper 15a and / or the lining 15b, for example, by gluing and / or sewing. The lining 15b can also be omitted.

[0038] Preferably, the heel cap 11 is of commercially available type and consists, for example, of a polymer material, in particular polyamide, polyester, or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). Alternatively, the heel cap 11 can be made of a polyester-based nonwoven impregnated with a thermoadhesive material, in particular based on ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). In a further alternative, the heel cap can be made of bonded leather, known to those skilled in the art as recycled leather. The bonded leather can be supplied, for example, by the company Texon International Group of Skelton (UK). The spoiler 12 can be made of the same materials as the heel cap 11.

[0039] In the embodiment in the Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B, the spoiler 12 can be connected externally to the upper structure 15, i.e., externally to the upper 15a, e.g., by gluing and / or sewing. In some embodiments, the spoiler 12 can be covered with fabric, leather, or the like, e.g., the same material as the upper. In some embodiments, the spoiler 12 can be positioned within the upper 15a or the upper structure 15, and in particular between the upper 15a and the lining 15b, in a manner similar to that described above with respect to the heel counter 11.

[0040] As in Fig. 2, the spoiler 12 can be positioned substantially in the area between the calcaneus, designated by reference numeral 18, and the upper portion of the calcaneus 18, as described in detail below.

[0041] With further reference to Fig. 2, which shows the bone structure of a user of the article of footwear 10, the following is shown: the talus 19, the second largest bone at the back of the foot (hindfoot), the fibula 20, a long bone in the lower extremity positioned on the lateral side of the tibia 21, and the tibia 21 is the larger of the two bones in the lower leg.

[0042] Fig. Figure 2 shows a preferred superposition of the bones of a user's foot with the heel counter 11 and the spoiler of the present invention.

[0043] The heel counter 11 may be manufactured according to the teachings of Italian patent application IT 102022000023604, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. Specifically, the heel counter according to the teachings of Italian patent application IT 102022000023604 may comprise a shell having an inner and an outer surface whose patterns substantially correspond to each other, and retaining means for retaining a user's foot within the footwear, the shell having an arcuate profile with a concave-convex pattern when viewed from the outer surface upwards in the configuration of use of the heel counter within the footwear. However, the retaining means may also be omitted.

[0044] With reference to Fig. 3: The height h of the spoiler 12 according to the present invention is determined by subtracting the height h' of the heel counter 11 of the present invention from the height of a heel counter determined according to the teachings of IT 102022000023604. Typically, the height h' in the men's footwear article with French size 42 is approximately 45 mm to approximately 55 mm, and the height of the heel counter according to the teachings of IT 102022000023604 in the men's footwear article with French size 42 is between approximately 75 mm and approximately 85 mm. That is, a typical height h of the spoiler 12 is on the order of approximately 20 mm to approximately 40 mm, preferably on the order of approximately 25 mm to approximately 30 mm, and more preferably approximately 30 mm.

[0045] With reference to Fig. 4: The spoiler 12 is shown in use in a position separate from the article of footwear 10 for which it is intended and separate from the heel cap 11. In the axonometric view in Fig. 4, the spoiler 12 has a concavity inward of the cavity intended to receive a user's foot. This concavity is illustrated by concave or sectional curves 122, which indicate the intersection of the spoiler 12 with cutting planes parallel to the ground on which the article of footwear 10 rests.

[0046] The concave curves 122 in Fig. 4, three sections of the spoiler 12 delimit, namely, on a side thereof facing the cavity serving to receive the user's foot, a lower section 12a of the spoiler, which at its lowest end 12'a adjoins the heel counter 11 and is inclined from its lowest end 12'a towards the forefoot, a spoiler connecting section 12b between the lower spoiler section 12a and an upper spoiler section 12c, wherein the upper spoiler section 12c extends from the spoiler connecting section 12b to a highest point 12'c of the upper spoiler section 12, wherein the upper spoiler section 12c is inclined away from the forefoot. The lowest end 12'a of the lower spoiler section 12a and the highest point 12'c of the upper spoiler section 12c are also shown in Fig. 6 shown.

[0047] Preferably, the ratio of a height along a first axis z of the upper spoiler section 12c to the lower spoiler section 12a is between approximately 1:1 and approximately 1:2, and / or the ratio of the height along the first axis z of the spoiler connecting section 12b to the lower spoiler section 12a is between approximately 1:0.5 and approximately 1:1.5. The first axis z is, as in Fig. 7, defined as perpendicular to the sole 13 or to the ground on which the article of footwear 10 rests (hereinafter also referred to as “ground”).

[0048] With further reference to Fig. 5, which schematically shows the spoiler 12 in a side view: The lower spoiler section 12a is inclined upwards from bottom to bottom toward the forefoot of the footwear article, and the upper spoiler section 12c is inclined upwards from bottom to top, away from the forefoot, i.e., backwards. The vertical extension of the spoiler 12 is limited by an upper vertical extension line 124 and a lower vertical extension line 123, which are parallel.

[0049] Preferably, the spoiler connecting portion 12b has a radius of curvature of at least 1 mm, more preferably between approximately 5 mm and approximately 150 mm.

[0050] Further with reference to Fig. 6: A tangent Ta to the lowest end 12'a of the lower spoiler section 12a and a tangent Tc to the highest point 12'c of the upper spoiler section 12c form an angle α and an angle γ with the supporting plane or the ground G on which the footwear article 10 rests. The value of α is preferably generally between about 75° and about 90° with respect to the supporting plane, while the value of γ is generally between about 40° and about 60° with respect to the supporting plane. In the example in Fig. 6, α is approximately 83°, while γ is approximately 43°.

[0051] With further reference to Fig. 7: The double curvature of the spoiler is further illustrated here. In this figure, x, y, and z denote the Cartesian coordinates. A first element of the double curvature is the concave curvature 122, which corresponds to the Fig. 4. The concave curvature 122 is determined by a concave parametric curve with respect to the first axis z, taking into account the footwear article 10 in use. A second element of the double curvature is a convex curvature 126, determined by a convex parametric curve, determined by the intersection of the x-z plane with the spoiler 12. The ground or ground plane is determined by the Cartesian coordinates x, y (see Fig. 7).

[0052] The double curvature may be defined such that the spoiler 12 has a convex curvature 126, viewed from the cavity for receiving the user's foot with respect to the first axis z perpendicular to the sole 13, and the spoiler 12 has a concave curvature 122, viewed from the cavity for receiving the user's foot, the concave curvature 122 extending around the heel of the user of the article of footwear 10.

[0053] In other words, the double curvature of the spoiler 12 can be defined to have a first curvature with respect to the first axis z perpendicular to the ground G, considering the spoiler 11 in use in the article of footwear 10, and a second curvature determined by the intersection of the plane x-z with the spoiler 12 when the spoiler 12 is in use in the article of footwear. The outer surface of the spoiler 12 is the surface facing away from the foot, and the inner surface of the spoiler 12 is the surface facing the foot. Preferably, the two curvatures, as in Fig. 7, an angle of 90° or approximately 90° between them, and the convex curve 126 extends from the ground to the top of the heel counter.

[0054] In Fig. 8, the spoiler 12, schematically shown in rear view, has a width w of approximately 60 mm and a height h of approximately 35 mm for a French men's size 42. It is understood that deviations of approximately 5% to approximately 15% are possible for the same French size to better fit the shaft. The width and height dimensions will, of course, be adjusted accordingly for other sizes.

[0055] As soon as the Fig. 8 exemplary lengths and widths are known, the concave curvatures or sectional curvatures 122 in Fig. 4, taking into account an appropriate offset due to the thickness of the material used for the upper structure 15, from the curvatures easily obtained by cutting the molds or lasts normally used for the manufacture of footwear. This procedure is well known in the art and will therefore not be discussed below.

[0056] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 9, the first, second, and third profiles p1, p2, and p3 of the spoiler 12 are suitably connected to one another on the inner side thereof facing the foot-receiving opening 16 by a radius of curvature designated by the reference symbol R, which is preferably at least 1 mm. The curvature R can be manufactured according to aesthetic criteria, i.e., such that it matches the aesthetics of the footwear article 10 while remaining within the previously defined dimensions.

[0057] The thickness of the spoiler 12 is preferably between approximately 1.2 mm and approximately 2 mm.

[0058] According to the invention, the spoiler 12 is practically a separate element from the heel cap 11. Preferred practical materials from which the spoiler 12 can be made are polyamide, carbon, metal, acetate, and polycarbonate. The spoiler 12 can preferably also be made of a different material than the heel cap 11.

[0059] The actual height h of the spoiler 12 may also be greater than that determined according to the method with reference to Fig. 3 shown calculation, where, as in Fig. 2, the spoiler 12 and the heel cap 11 are arranged in a directly adjacent position during normal use of the footwear article, ie not during the insertion phase of the foot.

[0060] In a practical embodiment, for example, an overlap may be provided between the lowermost end 12'a of the lower spoiler portion 12a and the upper end of the heel counter 11. Such an embodiment may be used, for example, to position the spoiler 12 in the area between the heel bone 18 and the upper portion of the heel bone 18 when using a prefabricated heel counter 11, which may be higher. In this case, the overlap is preferably less than approximately 8 mm, more preferably less than approximately 6 mm.

[0061] That is, according to the present invention, the degree of overlap or non-overlap between the spoiler 12 and the heel counter 11 can be adjusted to accommodate the dimensions of a prefabricated heel counter 11, while at the same time correctly positioning the spoiler 12 in the area between the calcaneus 18 and the upper portion of the calcaneus 18.

[0062] Fig. 10A is a left side view (lateral view) of the spoiler 12 of the footwear article 10 in Fig. 1A, and Fig. 10C is a right side view (medial view) of the spoiler 12 of the footwear article 10 in Fig. 1A. As already mentioned, the vertical extension of the spoiler 12 is limited by an upper vertical extension line 124 and a lower vertical extension line 123, which are parallel to each other. The vertical direction is determined along a line V, which is vertical and perpendicular to the lines 123 and 124. The vertical line V corresponds to the first axis z.

[0063] Fig. 10B is a rear view, from the outside of the footwear article 10, of the spoiler 12 of the footwear article 10 in Fig. 1A, wherein a vertical plane of symmetry A of the spoiler 12 is illustrated. The vertical plane of symmetry A includes the vertical line V or the first axis z. The vertical plane A extends midway between a medial portion of the foot of the user of the article of footwear 10 and a lateral portion of the foot of the user of the article of footwear 10. As mentioned above and known in the art, the medial portion corresponds to the inside of the foot, and the lateral portion corresponds to the outside of the foot.

[0064] Fig. 10D is a cross-sectional view taken along the cross-sectional plane 10D-10D in Fig. 10B, in which the thickness of the spoiler 12 is visible.

[0065] Fig. 10E is a rear view, from the inside of the footwear article 10, of the spoiler 12 of the footwear article 10 in Fig. 1A, in which the thickness of the spoiler 12 is visible.

[0066] Fig. 10F is a cross-sectional view taken along the cross-sectional plane 10F-10F in Fig. 10B, which shows the vertical symmetry plane A of the spoiler 12 and the thickness of the spoiler 12.

[0067] In a particularly useful aspect of the present invention, the spoiler 12 works in synergy with the heel counter 11 as explained below. When a user inserts a foot into the foot-receiving opening 16 of the article of footwear 10, he or she exerts a certain pressure on the collar 14 surrounding the cavity intended to receive the user's foot, which is located below the foot-receiving opening 16, by the foot resting on the collar 14. As explained above, the spoiler 12 is located substantially at the level of the area between the calcaneus 18 and the upper portion of the calcaneus 18 and thus at the collar 14 of the footwear 10, as shown in Fig. 1A or Fig. 1B.

[0068] The heel cap 11 has, particularly but not only when manufactured according to the teachings of Italian patent application IT 102022000023604, a hardness preferably between approximately 70 Shore A and approximately 90 Shore A. The spoiler 12 is preferably made of harder material than the shaft or shaft structure 15 and has, for example, a hardness between approximately 70 Shore A and approximately 80 Shore A.

[0069] Advantageously, the above-mentioned physical property of the spoiler 12, together with the geometric feature of the double curvature and the dimensioning of the lower spoiler section 12a and the upper spoiler section 12c, allows the collar 14 to be kept rearwardly facing and prevented from bending forward by buckling under the weight of the foot. This facilitates the insertion of the foot into the article of footwear 10.

[0070] Furthermore, the presence of two separate elements, such as the heel counter 11 and the spoiler 12, as opposed to the sole presence of the heel counter as described in Italian patent application IT 102022000023604, results in a discontinuity that allows a greater backward inclination of the upper structure 15, limited to the area of ​​the spoiler 12, to allow a greater number of directions for inserting a user's foot into the article of footwear 10. Under the weight of the foot, the spoiler 12 rotates backward and descends toward the heel counter 11. The rear portion of the collar 14, where the spoiler 12 is located, expands due to the elastic nature of the collar 14, thus widening the foot-receiving opening 16.

[0071] In practice, according to the invention, the spoiler 12 can move independently of the heel counter 11. While the spoiler 12 rotates and lowers, the position of the heel counter 11, which, as already mentioned, is a separate element from the spoiler 12, remains virtually unchanged, advantageously resisting excessive lowering of the spoiler 12. The heel counter 11 advantageously acts as a kind of "stroke limiter," preventing excessive lowering of the upper structure 15 and, in practice, a collapse of the footwear 10.

[0072] Further embodiments of the relative positions between the heel cap 11 and the spoiler 12 are shown in the Fig. 11A to 12B. Of course, as in all figures of the application, the relative positions of the heel counter 11 and the spoiler 12 are shown during normal use of the footwear article, i.e., not during the foot insertion phase.

[0073] In the first embodiment in Fig. 11A, the heel counter 11 and the spoiler 12 are shown schematically in side view, and there is an overlap between the heel counter 11 and the spoiler 12. Under the pressure of a user's foot, the spoiler 12 rotates backward about a fulcrum F (located practically at the lowest end 12'a of the lower spoiler portion 12 and resting on the highest point of the heel counter 11), thus widening the foot-receiving opening 16 to allow penetration into the cavity designed to receive a user's foot. Once the foot enters the cavity, the elastic retraction forces rotate the spoiler 12 forward, to its initial position.

[0074] In the second embodiment in Fig. 11B, the spoiler 12 can rest with the lowermost end 12'a of the lower spoiler section 12a exactly against the upper end of the heel cap 11. This means that the lowermost end 12'a of the lower spoiler section 12a is exactly complementary to the upper end of the heel cap 11. In this embodiment, the lever pivot point F acts as the center of rotation.

[0075] In the third embodiment in Fig. In Figure 11C, the heel counter 11 and the spoiler 12 are shown schematically in side view, and there is no overlap between the heel counter 11 and the spoiler 12. Otherwise, the operation of the heel counter 11 and the spoiler 12 is the same as described with reference to the first and / or the second embodiment.

[0076] In the fourth embodiment in Fig. 12A, the heel counter 11 and the spoiler 12 are schematically shown in a side view, and there is no overlap between the heel counter 11 and the spoiler 12. Here too, under the force of a user's foot, the spoiler 12 rotates backward and lowers until it hits the heel counter 11, which, as already mentioned, acts as a stop. In this embodiment, there is no direct contact between the heel counter 11 and the spoiler 12 because, as already mentioned, the heel counter 11 and the spoiler 12 can be inserted separately, e.g., the heel counter 11 inside the upper structure 15 (i.e., between the upper 15a and the lining 15b) and the spoiler 12 outside the upper structure 15 (i.e., outside the upper 15a). Even if the heel counter 11 and the spoiler 12 were inserted on the same side relative to the upper structure 15, e.g.,between the shaft 15a and the lining 15b, there would still be material between the heel cap 11 and the spoiler 12, e.g. shaft material, lining material, reinforcement material, padding material.

[0077] In the fifth embodiment in Fig. 12B, there is a partial overlap of the spoiler 12 with the heel cap 11, which is particularly useful for combining, for example, the need to position the spoiler 12 in the area between the heel bone 18 and the upper portion of the heel bone 18 with the need to use a heel cap as is available at that time.

[0078] The operation of the fourth and fifth embodiments is similar to that of the first, second and third embodiments.

[0079] A common feature of the embodiments in the Fig. 11A to 12B is that they advantageously allow the height of the spoiler 12 to be adapted to the anatomy of the foot of the user of the article of footwear 10, starting from an existing heel counter 11. This result is achieved as a general aspect of the invention by providing the heel counter 11 and the spoiler 12 as separate elements.

[0080] The spoiler 12 can be constructed symmetrically with respect to the axis of the calcaneus 18, i.e. symmetrically with respect to the vertical plane A, which is in the Fig. 10B and Fig. 10F is shown.

[0081] However, the spoiler may also be constructed non-symmetrically, so that the section between the vertical plane A and a medial portion of the foot (corresponding to the inside of the foot) is slightly higher (e.g., 1-3 mm) than the section between the vertical plane A and the lateral portion of the foot (corresponding to the outside of the foot) to allow better accommodation of the foot in the footwear article 10.

[0082] Fig. 13A is a side view of an embodiment of an article of footwear according to the present invention prior to insertion of the foot, and Fig. 13B is a side view of the embodiment of the footwear article in Fig. 13A during insertion of the foot. In Fig. 13A, the spoiler 12 is shown in the original non-rotated position, while the spoiler 12 is shown in Fig. 13B in the rearwardly rotated position as it is assumed due to the force exerted by a user of the footwear article 10 when putting on the footwear article 10. As soon as this force is no longer exerted, the spoiler returns to its initial position in Fig. 13A back.

[0083] Fig. 14 is a partial cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an article of footwear according to the present invention, showing the structure of an upper assembly 15 and the arrangement of the spoiler 12 and the heel counter 11 according to the present invention with respect to the upper assembly 15. In the embodiment in Fig. 14, the heel cap 11 is arranged outside the upper 15a, and the spoiler 12 is mounted between the upper 15a and the lining 15b. However, as mentioned above, the heel cap 11 and the spoiler 12 can be provided in different configurations, ie both outside the upper 15a or upper structure 15, and both inside the upper structure 15, e.g., between the upper 15a and the lining 15b. A reverse configuration with respect to that in Fig. 14 is also possible, in which the heel cap 11 is arranged between the upper 15a and the lining 15b, and the spoiler 12 is arranged outside the upper 15a or the upper structure. In all variants, the lining 15b can be omitted in whole or in part.

[0084] It is obvious that numerous modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art and can be readily made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the claims is not limited to the illustrations or preferred embodiments given by way of example in the description, but the claims encompass all features of patentable novelty of the present invention, including all features that would be considered equivalents by those skilled in the art.

[0085] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, these reference signs have been included solely for the purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and, accordingly, such reference signs have no limiting effect on the protection of any element exemplarily designated by such reference signs. List of reference symbols 10 footwear items 11 Heel cap 12 spoilers 12a lower spoiler section 12'a lowest end of the lower spoiler section Ta tangent to the lowest end of the lower spoiler section 12b Spoiler connection section 12c upper spoiler section 12'c highest point of the upper spoiler section Tc tangent to the highest point of the upper spoiler section 13 Sole 14 collars 15 Shaft construction 15a shaft 15b Feed 16 Foot receiving opening 17 Heel section 18 Heel bone or calcaneus 19 Ankle bone 20 Fibula 21 Tibia h' height of the heel cap 122 concave curvature 123 lower height extension line 124 upper height extension line 126 convex curvature G Ground, or the ground on which the sole rests during use V vertical direction z first axis x, y coordinates corresponding to the ground plane W Width of the spoiler h Height of the spoiler p1 first spoiler profile p2 second spoiler profile p3 third spoiler profile R radius of curvature F Lever pivot point QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] WO 2023 / 064568 A1

[0003]

Claims

[1] An article of footwear (10) comprising a sole (13) and an upper structure (15), wherein the upper structure (15) comprises a receiving opening (16) for the foot of a user and, below the foot receiving opening (16), a cavity for receiving the foot of the user, wherein the upper structure (15) includes a heel portion (17) extending from the sole (13) and configured to receive a heel of a user of the article of footwear (10), wherein the heel portion (17) includes a heel cap (11) extending from the sole (13) and a spoiler (12) arranged above the heel cap (11), wherein the spoiler (12) includes an upper spoiler portion (12c) extending to an upper end (12'c) of the spoiler (12), the upper spoiler portion (12c) being inclined away from the forefoot, wherein the spoiler (12), seen from the cavity intended to receive the user's foot, has a convex curvature (126) with respect to a first axis (z) perpendicular to the sole (13), wherein the spoiler (12) has a concave curvature (122) as seen from the cavity intended to receive the user's foot, the concave curvature (122) extending around the heel of the user of the article of footwear (10), wherein the spoiler (12) is constructed to elastically rotate backward relative to the article of footwear (10) independently of the heel cap (11) under a force acting backward relative to the article of footwear (10) and to widen the opening (16), and wherein the elasticity of the spoiler (12) is designed such that the spoiler (12) returns to its initial position as soon as the force no longer acts. [2] The article of footwear (10) of claim 1, wherein the force acting rearward relative to the article of footwear (10) is the force exerted by a user of the article of footwear (10) when putting on the article of footwear (10). [3] The article of footwear (10) according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a collar (14) extending around the opening (16), the collar (14) extending at the upper end (12'c) of the spoiler (12), the collar (14) being constructed to follow the elastic reverse rotation and return of the spoiler (12) to its initial position. [4] The article of footwear (10) according to one or more of the above claims, wherein the heel cap (11) is constructed to maintain an unchanged position during the elastic reverse rotation and the return of the spoiler (12) to its initial position, and / or wherein the heel cap (11) is constructed to limit the elastic reverse rotation of the spoiler (12), and / or wherein the heel cap (11) is constructed to limit a lowering of the spoiler (12). [5] The footwear article (10) according to one or more of the above claims, wherein the heel counter (11) and the spoiler (12) are arranged in a partially overlapping configuration with respect to the first axis (z); or wherein the heel cap (11) and the spoiler (12) are arranged in a directly adjacent configuration with respect to the first axis (z); or wherein the heel counter (11) and the spoiler (12) are arranged in a non-overlapping configuration with respect to the first axis (z). [6] The footwear article (10) according to one or more of the above claims, wherein the heel cap (11) and the spoiler (12) are arranged within the shaft structure (15); or wherein the heel cap (11) and the spoiler (12) are arranged outside the shaft structure (15); or wherein the heel cap (11) is arranged outside the shaft structure (15) and the spoiler (12) is arranged inside the shaft structure (15); or wherein the heel cap (11) is arranged inside the shaft structure (15) and the spoiler (12) is arranged outside the shaft structure (15). [7] The footwear article (10) according to one or more of the above claims, wherein the heel cap (11) and the spoiler (12) are firmly connected to the upper structure (15), the connection preferably being made by sewing and / or gluing. [8] The footwear article (10) according to one or more of the above claims, wherein the upper structure (15) comprises an upper (15a) and a lining (15b) and wherein the heel cap (11) and / or the spoiler (12) are mounted between the upper (15a) and the lining (15b). [9] The footwear article (10) according to one or more of the above claims, wherein a lower edge of the spoiler (12) directly adjacent to an upper edge of the heel cap (11) serves as a fulcrum (F) for the elastic reverse rotation and the return of the spoiler (12) to its initial position. [10] The article of footwear (10) according to one or more of the above claims, wherein the heel cap (11) is cup-shaped and surrounds the heel of the user of the article of footwear (10), and wherein the heel cap (11) preferably has a hardness between approximately 70 Shore A and approximately 90 Shore A. [11] The article of footwear (10) according to one or more of the above claims, wherein the spoiler (12) is made of harder material than the upper structure (15) and wherein the spoiler (12) preferably has a hardness between about 70 Shore A and about 80 Shore A. [12] The article of footwear (10) according to one or more of the above claims, wherein the spoiler (12) is positioned at the level of the area between the heel bone and the upper portion of the heel bone of the user of the article of footwear (10). [13] The footwear article (10) according to one or more of the above claims, wherein the heel cap (11) and / or the spoiler (12) are made of a polymer material, in particular polyamide, polyester or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), or wherein the heel cap (11) and / or the spoiler (12) are made of a polyester-based nonwoven fabric impregnated with a thermoadhesive material, in particular a thermoadhesive material based on ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA); or wherein the heel cap (11) and / or the spoiler (12) are made of leather fiber. [14] The article of footwear (10) according to one or more of the above claims, wherein the spoiler (12) further comprises, on a side thereof facing the cavity intended to receive the foot of a user, a lower spoiler portion (12a) adjacent to the heel counter (11) at its lowermost end (12'a) and inclined from the heel counter (11) to the forefoot, and a spoiler connecting portion (12b) between the lower spoiler portion (12a) and the upper spoiler portion (12c), and wherein preferably the ratio of a height along the first axis (z) of the upper spoiler portion to the lower spoiler portion (12a) is between approximately 1:1 and approximately 1:2 and / or the ratio of the height along the first axis (z) of the spoiler connecting portion (12b) to the lower spoiler portion (12a) is between approximately 1:0.5 and approximately 1:1.

5. [15] The article of footwear (10) according to one or more of the above claims, wherein the spoiler (12) is symmetrical with respect to a vertical plane (A), the vertical plane (A) extending midway between a medial portion of the foot of the user of the article of footwear (10) and a lateral portion of the foot of the user of the article of footwear (10); or wherein the spoiler (12) is asymmetrical with respect to a vertical plane (A), wherein the vertical plane (A) extends midway between a medial portion of the foot of the user of the article of footwear (10) and a lateral portion of the foot of the user of the article of footwear (10), such that preferably a portion between the vertical plane (A) and the medial portion of the foot of the user of the article of footwear (10) is higher than a portion between the vertical plane (A) and the lateral portion of the foot of the user of the article of footwear (10).

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