Footwear strap and footwear having the footwear strap

Abstract

To provide a footwear strap for improving comfort and convenience in putting on and taking off footwear, and footwear having such a footwear strap.SOLUTION: Embodiments of the present application provide a footwear strap and footwear having the same. Among others, the footwear strap comprises a strap element and a rigid heel structural element; wherein the rigid heel structural element is disposed inside the strap element, and the rigid heel structural element comprises an upper rear portion; when the footwear strap is assembled to footwear, the upper rear portion extends in a direction from the position where the footwear contacts the heel toward the position where the footwear contacts the toe, and inclines downward of the footwear; the upper rear portion has a convex curvature which is adapted to a shape of the heel so as to facilitate easily receiving the heel; when the footwear strap is assembled to the footwear, an inner lower portion of the convex curvature faces an opening of the footwear.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3A

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the technical field of footwear, and more particularly to footwear straps and footwear having such footwear straps.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, for footwear such as sandals, a footwear strap is provided to fix the heel portion to the footwear. The footwear strap not only fits the heel and is firmly attached to the footwear, but also needs to be designed to facilitate the wearer to put on and take off the footwear. Therefore, the design of the strap plays an important role in the use and wearing of the footwear.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] Embodiments of the present application provide a footwear strap that improves the comfort and convenience of putting on and taking off footwear, and footwear having such a footwear strap.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] In a first aspect, embodiments of the present application include a strap element and a rigid heel structure element. The rigid heel structure element is disposed inside the strap element and includes an upper rear portion. When the footwear strap is assembled to the footwear, the upper rear portion extends in a direction from the position where the footwear contacts the heel to the position where the footwear contacts the toe and inclines downward of the footwear, and the upper rear portion has a convex curved portion adapted to the shape of the heel to facilitate the easy reception of the heel. When the footwear strap is assembled to the footwear, the lower inner portion of the convex curved portion faces the opening of the footwear, providing a footwear strap.

[0005] In one embodiment, the rigid heel structure element includes two connecting arms.

[0006] In one embodiment, the connecting arm includes an inner arm and an outer arm connected to the inner arm, the outer arm and the inner arm are integrally formed, and the outer arm is connected to the upper rear portion.

[0007] In one embodiment, when the footwear strap is assembled to the footwear, the outer arm extends downward to the footbed, insole or strobel sock of the footwear, and the inner arm extends downward to the footbed, insole or strobel sock of the footwear.

[0008] In one embodiment, when the outer arm extends downward to the insole of the footwear, it is directly or indirectly attached to the upper surface of the insole along the inside of the insole of the footwear, and when the inner arm extends downward to the insole of the footwear, it is directly or indirectly attached to the upper surface of the insole along the outside of the insole of the footwear.

[0009] In one embodiment, when the outer arm and the inner arm extend downward to the footbed of the footwear, the end of the outer arm and the end of the inner arm are attached to the footbed of the footwear.

[0010] In one embodiment, when the outer arm and the inner arm extend downward to the strobel sock of the footwear, the end of the outer arm and the end of the inner arm are attached to the strobel sock of the footwear.

[0011] In one embodiment, the rigid heel structural element is formed of a polymeric material.

[0012] In one embodiment, the polymeric material is a Hytrel thermoplastic polyester elastomer block copolymer or a thermoplastic polyurethane.

[0013] In one embodiment, the rigid heel structural element is covered with a fabric, textile material, leather, polyurethane, or other polymeric plastic well-known in the art.

[0014] In one embodiment, a compressible layer is provided inside the rigid heel structural element, and the compressible layer covers the upper rear portion, partially covers the inner arm and the outer arm, and gradually tapers or terminates along the inner side of the inner arm and the inner side of the outer arm.

[0015] In one embodiment, the convex curved portion has an upward-facing upper surface.

[0016] In a second aspect, embodiments of the present application provide footwear including a footwear strap provided according to any embodiment of the present application. The footwear provided by the embodiments of the present application can be sandals having a heel strap, or leather shoes, cloth shoes, sports shoes, and the like.

[0017] In one embodiment, the rigid heel structural element is connected to the footbed or insole of the shoe via an L-shaped anchor.

[0018] The above summary is merely for illustrative purposes and in no way limits the present application. By referring to the drawings and the following detailed description, additional forms, embodiments, and features of the present application will be readily understood in addition to the exemplary forms, embodiments, and features described above.

[0019] In the drawings, unless otherwise specified, the same reference numerals indicate the same or similar components or elements throughout the plurality of drawings. These drawings are not necessarily to scale. It should be understood that these drawings merely show some embodiments disclosed in accordance with the present application and should not be regarded as limiting the scope of the present application.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020]

Figure 1A

Figure 1B

Figure 1C

Figure 2

Figure 3A

Figure 3B

Figure 3C

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0021] In the following text, only some exemplary embodiments will be briefly described. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the described embodiments can be modified in various different ways without departing from the spirit or scope of the present application. Therefore, the drawings and the description should be regarded as being essentially exemplary and non-limiting.

[0022] Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 1A to 1C, FIG. 2, and FIGS. 3A to 3C, a rigid heel structural element 100 included in a footwear strap according to an embodiment of the present application will be described.

[0023] As shown in FIGS. 1A - 1C, the footwear strap includes a strap element (not shown in FIGS. 1A - 1C) and a rigid heel structure element 100. In particular, the strap element can be a fabric or textile material that wraps around the rigid heel structure element 100. The rigid heel structure element 100 disposed inside the strap element is configured to have a structure and material that withstands pressure from the foot to facilitate insertion of the foot into the footwear and prevent the rigid heel structure element 100 from collapsing under the pressure of the foot. Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, FIG. 1A is a three - dimensional schematic view of the rigid heel structure element according to the first embodiment of the present application. Specifically, FIG. 1A is a left - hand perspective view of the rigid heel structure element 100 according to the first embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 1A, the rigid heel structure element 100 is composed of a first part and a second part. The first part includes an upper rear portion 101, a connecting arm 102, and a convex curvature 103, and the second part is an L - shaped anchor 104. The connecting arm 102 is connected to the upper rear portion 101. The connecting arm 102 includes a lateral arm 102A and a medial arm 102B, and both the lateral arm 102A and the medial arm 102B are disposed substantially horizontally. The connecting arm 102 can be connected to the L - shaped anchor 104. As can be seen from FIG. 1A, the four above - mentioned parts 101 - 104 are generally arranged in the order from the upper right direction to the lower left direction.

[0024] Figure 1B is a three-dimensional schematic view of a rigid heel structural element according to a second embodiment of the present application. The difference between the rigid heel structural element of the second embodiment and that of the first embodiment is that the connecting arm of the rigid heel structural element of the second embodiment is L-shaped by itself. Specifically, Figure 1B is a left perspective view of a rigid heel structural element 100 according to a second embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 1B, the rigid heel structural element 100 includes an upper rear portion 101, a connecting arm 102, and a convex curved portion 103. The connecting arm 102 is L-shaped. The connecting arm 102 is connected to the upper rear portion 101. The connecting arm 102 includes an outer arm 102A and an inner arm 102B, and the inner arm 102B is substantially orthogonal to the outer arm 102A.

[0025] In one embodiment, the outer arm 102A and the inner arm 102B can be integrally formed. In another embodiment, the outer arm 102A and the inner arm 102B can be separately manufactured and then assembled or connected to each other.

[0026] Figure 1C is a schematic cross-sectional view of a first portion of a rigid heel structural element of the first embodiment. As shown in Figure 1C, the first portion of the rigid heel structural element 100 includes an upper rear portion 101, a connecting arm 102, and a convex curved portion 103. The connecting arm 102 includes an outer arm 102A and an inner arm 102B, and both the outer arm 102A and the inner arm 102B are substantially arranged in the lateral direction. The first portion of the rigid heel structural element 100 extends in an arc shape from the upper rear portion 101 in the lower left direction, and the connecting arm 102 of the first portion is connected to the upper rear portion 101 of the first portion. As shown by two arrows in Figure 1C, the inner surface of the rigid heel structural element 100 has a constant thickness and can have a compressible layer such as a foam cushioning element. The compressible layer can be attached to at least a part of the upper rear portion 101 of the rigid heel structural element 100 and the connecting arm 102.

[0027] In particular, the upper rear portion 101 is used to wrap around the heel portion of the foot. When the footwear strap is assembled to the footwear, the upper rear portion 101 extends in a direction from the position where the footwear contacts the heel to the position where the footwear contacts the toe. As shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C, the rigid heel structural element 100 extends arcuately leftward from the upper rear portion 101. On the other hand, when the footwear strap is assembled to the footwear, the upper rear portion 101 slopes downward along the direction from the position where the footwear contacts the heel to the position where the footwear contacts the toe.

[0028] In particular, the downwardly inclined portion of the upper rear portion 101 has a convex curved portion 103, and when the footwear strap is assembled to the footwear, the convex surface of the convex curved portion 103 protrudes toward the foot. Further, the shape of the convex curved portion 103 conforms to the heel and promotes easy reception of the heel portion. The convex curved portion 103 has an opening, and when the footwear strap is assembled to the footwear, the lower part of the opening of the convex curved portion 103 faces the sole of the footwear.

[0029] In one embodiment, the convex curved portion 103 has an upward upper surface.

[0030] In one embodiment, when the foot applies a downward pressure to the rigid heel structural element 100, the rigid heel structural element 100 can be instantaneously at least partially deformed. For example, when the foot applies a downward pressure to the rigid heel structural element 100, the outer arm 102A and the inner arm 102B can be partially bent rearward of the footwear, or bent outward to widen the opening of the footwear, or both. Due to the rigid yet sufficiently elastic material used for the integrally formed rigid heel structural element 100, when the downward pressure applied by the foot is released, the rigid heel structural element 100 can return to its original non-deformed shape and position.

[0031] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1A, the rigid heel structural element includes two connecting arms 102, and each connecting arm 102 can include an inner arm 102B and an outer arm 102A connected to the inner arm 102B. The connecting arm 102 can be connected to the vertical portion of the L-shaped anchor 104. The horizontal portion of the L-shaped anchor 104 is used to connect to the footbed, insole or strobel sock in the assembled state. The anchor can also be in various suitable shapes such as J-shaped and T-shaped.

[0032] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1B, the rigid heel structural element includes two connecting arms 102, and each connecting arm 102 can include an inner arm 102B and an outer arm 102A connected to the inner arm 102B. The connecting arm 102 is L-shaped. The L-shaped end of the connecting arm 102 includes an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface is at least partially connected to the upper surface of the insole, and the upper surface is at least partially connected to the lower surface of the footbed.

[0033] In one embodiment, when the footwear strap is assembled to the footwear, the outer arm 102A and the inner arm 102B extend downward to the footbed, insole or strobel sock of the footwear.

[0034] In one embodiment, when the outer arm 102A and the inner arm 102B extend downward to the insole of the footwear, the outer arm 102A is directly or indirectly attached to the upper surface of the insole along the medial side of the insole of the footwear, and the inner arm 102B is directly or indirectly attached to the upper surface of the insole along the lateral side of the insole of the footwear.

[0035] In one embodiment, when the outer arm 102A and the inner arm 102B extend downward to the footbed of the footwear, the ends of the outer arm 102A and the inner arm 102B can be attached to the footbed of the footwear via the anchor.

[0036] In one embodiment, when the outer arm 102A and the inner arm 102B extend downward to the strobel sock of the footwear, the end of the outer arm 102A and the end of the inner arm 102B are attached to the strobel sock of the footwear.

[0037] In one embodiment, the rigid heel structural element 100 is formed of a polymeric material.

[0038] In one embodiment, the polymeric material is a Hytrel thermoplastic polyester elastomer block copolymer (such as DuPont Hytrel) or a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU).

[0039] In one embodiment, the rigid heel structural element 100 is covered by a fabric or textile material. In particular, the fabric and textile material can be the same as the textile material on the outer surface of the shoe.

[0040] In one embodiment, a compressible layer is provided inside the rigid heel structural element 100. The compressible layer can be a foam cushioning element attached to the rear portion of the rigid heel structural element 100 and at least a part of the inside of the inner arm and the outside of the outer arm. The compressible layer covers the upper rear portion, partially covers the inner arm and the outer arm, and gradually tapers or terminates along the inside of the inner arm and the outside of the outer arm. The compressible layer can be compressed during insertion of the foot into the footwear. The compressible layer can expand or at least partially expand to its original uncompressed state after the foot is inserted into the footwear. The compressible layer is disposed around the ankle and can assist in fixing the foot within the footwear.

[0041] In a second aspect of the embodiments of the present application, there is further provided a footwear including a footwear strap provided according to any of the embodiments of the present application.

[0042] In one embodiment, the rigid heel structural element is connected to the footbed or insole of the footwear via an L-shaped anchor.

[0043] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an L-shaped anchor 200 as seen from above according to an embodiment of the present application. The L-shaped anchor 200 can be attached to the connecting arm 102 of the rigid heel structural element 100. The L-shaped anchor 200 can be molded separately. Referring to FIG. 2, the L-shaped anchor 200 can include a vertical portion 201 and a horizontal portion 202 corresponding to the L-shape. The vertical portion 201 corresponds to the long side of the L-shape, and the horizontal portion 202 corresponds to the short side of the L-shape.

[0044] FIGS. 3A to 3C are schematic views respectively showing different structures obtained after assembling a footwear strap to a footwear according to an embodiment of the present application. In one embodiment, referring to FIG. 3A in the assembled state, the connecting arm 301 of the footwear strap 300 is adhered to the vertical portion of the L-shaped anchor 302 so as to fix the heel to the illustrated sandal. As shown in FIG. 3B which is a bottom view of the footwear, the L-shaped anchor 302 is connected to the footbed or insole. Since the L-shaped anchor 302 is covered by the sole 306, the horizontal portion of the L-shaped anchor is not shown. In one embodiment, the connecting arm 301 of the footwear strap 300 is L-shaped. The L-shaped connecting arm 301 can be connected to the footbed or insole. As shown in FIG. 3B which is a bottom view of the footwear, the L-shaped connecting arm 301 is connected to the footbed or insole. The L-shaped end portion of the L-shaped connecting arm 301 is not shown since it is covered by the sole 306.

[0045] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3C, the footwear can incorporate a pair of boards 304 attached to the lower surface of the footbed or insole 303. Further, the boards 304 can be disposed on the inner and outer sides of the footbed or insole 303 and spaced apart from each other. The L-shaped anchors 302 can be connected to the boards 304. The boards 304 can be made of cellulose (such as texon). The bottom 305 of the sandal strap of the sandal shown in FIG. 3C can also be connected to the footbed or insole 303, or the board 304. The sole 306 as shown in FIG. 3B can be formed by covering the insole 303 with a sole portion.

[0046] In another embodiment, the L-shaped anchor can be connected to the footbed, insole, or strobel sock.

[0047] In one embodiment, the connecting arm 301 of the footwear strap 300 is L-shaped, and the L-shaped connecting arm 301 can be connected to the board 304.

[0048] In another embodiment, the L-shaped connecting arm can be connected to the footbed, insole, or strobel sock.

[0049] In the description of this specification, terms indicating orientation or positional relationship such as "central", "vertical", "horizontal", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc. are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element to be referred to must have a specific orientation or must be configured and operate in a specific orientation. It is only for facilitating the description of this application and simplifying the description, and thus should not be construed as limiting this application.

[0050] Also, the terms "first" and "second" are used only for descriptive purposes and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or indicating the number of technical features shown. Therefore, features defined using "first" and "second" can explicitly or implicitly include one or more of these features. The word "multiple" in the description of this application means two or more unless otherwise specified.

[0051] In this application, unless otherwise specified or limited, terms such as "mounting", "connecting", "connection", and "fix" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, these can be fixed connections, detachable connections, or integrated ones, can be mechanical connections or electrical connections, can be direct connections or indirect connections through a medium, and can also be communication between the interiors of two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements. A person skilled in the art should interpret the specific meanings of the above-mentioned terms in this application according to the specific situation.

[0052] In this application, unless otherwise specified and defined, the fact that the first feature exists "on" or "under" the second feature can include the case where the first feature and the second feature are in direct contact, and can also include the case where the first feature and the second feature are not in direct contact but are in contact with each other through another feature between them. Furthermore, the fact that the first feature exists "on", "above", and "over" the second feature means that the first feature exists directly above and diagonally above the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is higher in the horizontal direction than the second feature. The fact that the first feature exists "underneath", "below", and "under" the second feature means that the first feature exists directly above and diagonally above the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is lower in the horizontal direction than the second feature.

[0053] The above disclosure provides many different embodiments or examples that implement different structures of the present application. Above, for the purpose of simplifying the disclosure of the present application, the components and arrangements of specific examples have been described. Naturally, these are only examples and do not limit the present application. Also, in the present application, reference numerals and / or reference characters may be repeated in different examples. Such repetition is for the purpose of simplification and clarity and does not itself indicate the relationships between the various embodiments and / or arrangements being described.

[0054] The above is only a detailed description of the present application, and the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto. A person skilled in the art can easily conceive of various changes or substitutions that should be included in the protection scope of the present application within the technical scope disclosed in the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application should follow the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

**Claim 1** A footwear, comprising: a strap element; and a rigid heel structure element disposed inside the strap element, wherein the rigid heel structure element includes: an upper rear portion having a convex curved portion that is an upper rear part, slopes downward from the upper end of the upper rear part toward the front of the footwear, and faces an opening of the footwear through which a foot is inserted; and two connecting arms, each of the two connecting arms including an inner arm and an outer arm connected to the inner arm, the outer arm and the inner arm being integrally formed, and the outer arm being connected to the upper rear portion; and when the strap element is assembled to the footwear, the outer arm extends downward and is attached to an insole or a strobel sock of the footwear; the inner arm extends downward and is attached to the insole or the strobel sock of the footwear; a compressible layer is provided on an inner side of the rigid heel structure element facing a foot inserted into the footwear, the compressible layer completely covering the upper rear portion and at least partially covering the inner arm and the outer arm, and tapering or terminating gradually along an inner side of the inner arm facing the foot inserted into the footwear and an inner side of the outer arm facing the foot inserted into the footwear; the footwear. **Claim 2** When the outer arm extends downward to the insole of the footwear, it is directly or indirectly attached to an upper surface of the insole. When the inner arm extends downward to the insole of the footwear, it is directly or indirectly attached to an upper surface of the insole. The footwear according to claim 1. **Claim 3** When the outer arm and the inner arm extend downward to a footbed of the footwear, a lower end of each of the two connecting arms is attached to the footbed of the footwear. The footwear according to claim 1. **Claim 4** When the outer arm and the inner arm extend downward to the strobel sock of the footwear, a lower end of each of the two connecting arms is attached to the strobel sock of the footwear. The footwear according to claim 1. **Claim 5** The rigid heel structure element is formed of a polymer material. The footwear according to claim 1. **Claim 6** The polymer material is Hytrel thermoplastic polyester elastomer block copolymer or thermoplastic polyurethane. The footwear according to claim 5.

7. The rigid heel structural element is covered with a fabric, a woven material, leather, or a polymeric plastic. The footwear according to claim 1.

8. The convex curved portion further has an upward upper surface. The convex curved portion extends from the upper end to the lower end of the upper rear portion in a cross section taken along a vertical plane along the longitudinal axis. The footwear according to claim 1.

9. The rigid heel structural element is connected to the footbed, insole, or strobel sock of the footwear via an inner L-shaped anchor and an outer L-shaped anchor. Each of the inner L-shaped anchor and the outer L-shaped anchor is integrally formed with the rigid heel structural element or separately formed and attached to the rigid heel structural element. The footwear according to claim 8.

10. The rigid heel structural element is configured to at least partially deform when a downward pressure is applied by the foot so that the inner and outer connecting arms can be partially bent rearward of the footwear and / or outwardly to widen the opening of the footwear. The footwear according to claim 1.

11. A footwear, a strap element, and a rigid heel structural element disposed inside the strap element, wherein the rigid heel structural element has an upper rear portion that slopes downward from the upper end of the upper rear portion toward the front of the footwear, an inner connecting arm extending inwardly from the upper rear portion, and an outer connecting arm extending outwardly from the upper rear portion, wherein at least one of the inner connecting arm and the outer connecting arm extends vertically from one end, bends rearward of the footwear, and forms an arc shape in a side projection, a compressible layer is provided inside the rigid heel structural element, the compressible layer completely covers the upper rear portion, partially covers the inner connecting arm and the outer connecting arm, and gradually tapers or terminates along the inside of the inner connecting arm and the inside of the outer connecting arm. Footwear.

12. The footwear according to claim 11, wherein when the outer connecting arm and the inner connecting arm extend downward to the footbed of the footwear, the ends of the outer connecting arm and the inner connecting arm are attached to the footbed of the footwear.

13. The footwear according to claim 11, wherein when the outer connecting arm and the inner connecting arm extend downward to the strobel sock of the footwear, the ends of the outer connecting arm and the inner connecting arm are attached to the strobel sock of the footwear.

14. The rigid heel structural element is connected to the footbed, insole or strobel sock of the footwear via an inner L-shaped anchor and an outer L-shaped anchor, each of the inner L-shaped anchor and the outer L-shaped anchor is integrally formed with the rigid heel structural element or separately formed and attached to the rigid heel structural element, the footwear according to claim 11.

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