Footwear with tongue reinforcement material

Abstract

To provide a footwear article having a tongue reinforcer.SOLUTION: A footwear article (10, 310, 410, 510B, 510, 610) includes a tongue (42, 560B, 560) and a tongue reinforcer (590, 690), which helps the tongue (42, 560B, 560) maintain a shape and position when the tongue (42, 560B, 560) is subjected to forces or adjustments, such as from other footwear-article elements or from a wearer. For example, the tongue reinforcer (590, 690) may help the tongue (42, 560B, 560) maintain a shape and position when a wearer is inserting his or her foot into the footwear article (10, 310, 410, 510B, 510, 610) or when medial and / or lateral quarters (515) press inward on the tongue (42, 560B, 560).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to footwear having a tongue reinforcement.

Background Art

[0002] Some footwear includes an ankle collar that is manipulated when the footwear is donned. For example, the ankle collar may be pushed toward the sole when the wearer's foot slides into the upper. Also, some such footwear includes a collar elevator operable to move the ankle collar from a pushed or lowered state to a standing state. An example regarding one type of collar elevator is described in U.S. Patent No. 9,820,527, and other examples of collar elevators are described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2018 / 0110292 and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2018 / 0289109.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0003] Some of the subject matter described in the present disclosure is referred to the drawings, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. [Figure 1] A side view of a footwear according to an aspect of the present disclosure is shown. [Figure 2] A top view of the footwear of FIG. 1 according to an aspect of the present disclosure is shown. [Figure 3A] Another footwear having a collar elevator according to an aspect of the present disclosure is shown. [Figure 3B] Another footwear having a collar elevator according to an aspect of the present disclosure is shown. [Figure 3C] Another footwear having a collar elevator according to an aspect of the present disclosure is shown. [Figure 4A] Another footwear having an alternative collar elevator according to an aspect of the present disclosure is shown. [Figure 4B] Another footwear having an alternative collar elevator according to an aspect of the present disclosure is shown. [Figure 4C] Another footwear having an alternative collar elevator according to an aspect of the present disclosure is shown. [Figure 5]Another footwear article according to the embodiments of this disclosure is shown. [Figure 6] Figure 5 shows a footwear item with a portion of the tongue leather cut out according to the embodiments of this disclosure. [Figure 7] Figure 5 shows footwear in which the collar around the ankle is in a lowered position according to an aspect of this disclosure. [Figure 8] Aspects of this disclosure show alternative footwear having a tongue different from that of the footwear in Figure 5. [Figure 9] Figure 5 shows a top view of the footwear according to an aspect of this disclosure. [Figure 10A] Various cross-sectional views of the tongue leather according to the embodiments of this disclosure are shown. [Figure 10B] Various cross-sectional views of the tongue leather according to the embodiments of this disclosure are shown. [Figure 10C] Various cross-sectional views of the tongue leather according to the embodiments of this disclosure are shown. [Figure 10D] Various cross-sectional views of the tongue leather according to the embodiments of this disclosure are shown. [Figure 11] Another cross-sectional view of the footwear shown in Figure 5 according to an aspect of this disclosure is shown. [Figure 12] An example of footwear having a hook-and-loop connector according to an aspect of this disclosure is shown. [Figure 13] Various figures of footwear articles having a tongue reinforcement on the outward surface of the tongue according to aspects of this disclosure are shown. [Figure 14] Various figures of footwear articles having a tongue reinforcement on the outward surface of the tongue according to aspects of this disclosure are shown. [Figure 15] Various figures of footwear articles having a tongue reinforcement on the outward surface of the tongue according to aspects of this disclosure are shown. [Figure 16] Various figures of footwear articles having a tongue reinforcement on the outward surface of the tongue according to aspects of this disclosure are shown. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0004] The subject matter is described specifically and in detail throughout this specification to satisfy statutory requirements. The embodiments described throughout this specification are illustrative, not restrictive, and the descriptions themselves are not necessarily intended to limit the scope of the claims. Rather, the claimed subject matter may be implemented in other ways, including various elements or combinations of elements that are identical to those described herein and relate to other current or future technologies. As one reads this disclosure, alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art who are engaged in the art relating to the embodiments described, without departing from the scope of this disclosure. It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are practical and may be adopted without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is taken into consideration by the claims and falls within the scope of the claims.

[0005] Generally, the subject matter described herein relates to footwear having tongues and tongue reinforcements, and includes related manufacturing, machinery, and methods. In some embodiments, tongue reinforcements help maintain the shape and position of the tongue when the tongue is subjected to force or adjustment from other footwear elements or the wearer. For example, tongue reinforcements may help maintain the shape and position of the tongue when the wearer inserts their foot into the footwear or when the inner and / or outer quarters compress the tongue inward. Some embodiments of this disclosure relate to footwear having tongue reinforcements and collar elevators.

[0006] Before providing a more detailed description of the drawings, some further explanations of certain terms that may be used in this disclosure are provided below.

[0007] The singular forms ("a," "an," "the"), "at least one," and "one or more" may be used interchangeably to indicate that there is at least one of the items. Where these terms are used, there may be multiple items unless otherwise explicitly stated in the context. In this specification, all numerical values ​​of parameters (e.g., quantities or conditions) should be understood to be modified in all cases by "about," whether the term "about" actually precedes the numerical value, unless otherwise explicitly or clearly indicated in the context including the appended claims. "About" indicates that the stated numerical value allows for some degree of inaccuracy (some proximity to the exact value, roughly or reasonably approximating the value, approximately). Where the inaccuracy provided by "about" is not otherwise understood in the industry in such a general sense, "about" as used herein indicates the minimum variation that may occur in the usual way of measuring and using such parameters. Furthermore, a disclosure of a range should be understood to specifically disclose all values ​​and any further subdivided ranges within that range. All references cited are incorporated herein in their entirety.

[0008] The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are inclusive and therefore identify the presence of a described feature, step, action, element, or component, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, step, action, element, or component. Steps, processes, and actions may be modified where possible, and further or alternative steps may be employed. As used herein, the term “or” includes any one and all combinations of the related items listed. The term “any of” is understood to include any possible combination of the referenced items, including “any one of” the referenced item. The term “any of” is understood to include any possible combination of the referenced claims from the appended claims, including “any one of” the referenced claims.

[0009] For the sake of consistency and convenience, directional adjectives may be employed throughout this detailed description corresponding to the illustrated examples. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that terms such as "upper", "lower", "above", "below", "upper end", "lower end", etc. may be used as descriptions related to the drawings without representing limitations to the scope of the present invention, as defined by the claims.

[0010] The term "longitudinal direction" that may be used throughout this detailed description and in the claims refers to the direction extending along the length of a component. For example, the longitudinal direction of a shoe extends between the forefoot region and the heel region of the shoe. The terms "forward" or "front" are used to refer to the general direction from the heel region to the forefoot region, and the terms "rearward" or "rear" are used to refer to the opposite direction, i.e., the direction from the forefoot region to the heel region. In some cases, a component may be identified not only by its longitudinal axis but also by its longitudinal front-rear direction along that axis. The longitudinal direction or longitudinal axis may be referred to as the front-rear direction or front-rear axis.

[0011] The term "lateral direction" that may be used throughout this detailed description and in the claims refers to the direction extending along the width of a component. For example, the lateral direction of a shoe extends between the outer side and the inner side of the shoe. The lateral direction or lateral axis may also be referred to as the left-right direction or left-right axis, or the inside-outside direction or inside-outside axis.

[0012] The term "vertical" that may be used throughout this detailed description and in the claims generally refers to a direction perpendicular to both the lateral direction and the longitudinal direction. For example, when the sole is flatly attached to the ground surface, the vertical direction may extend upward from the ground surface. It will be understood that these directional adjectives may be applied to individual components of the sole respectively. The term "above" refers to the vertical direction towards the upper end of a component and may include the top of the shoe, the fastening region, and / or the throat of the upper. The term "below" refers to the vertical direction opposite to the upward direction towards the lower end of a component and may generally refer to the lower end of the sole structure of a footwear item.

[0013] The "inside" of a footwear item such as a shoe refers to the portion of the space occupied by the wearer's foot when the shoe is worn. The "inner side" of a component refers to the side or surface of the component that is (or is to be) oriented towards the inside of the assembled footwear item or towards the component's interior. The "outer side" or "outside" of a component refers to the side or surface of the component that is (or is to be) oriented away from the inside of the assembled shoe. In some cases, other components may be located between the inner side of a component and the inside of the assembled footwear item. Similarly, other components may be located between the outer side of a component and the external space outside the assembled footwear item. Also, the terms "inward" and "inwardly" refer to the direction towards the inside of a footwear item such as a shoe or a component, and the terms "outward" and "outwardly" refer to the direction towards the outside of a footwear item such as a shoe or a component. Further, the term "proximal" refers to the direction closer to the center of a footwear component or the direction closer to the foot when the user inserts the foot into the footwear item by wearing the footwear item. Similarly, the term "distal" refers to the relative position farther away from the center of a footwear component or the direction farther away from the foot when the user inserts the foot into the footwear item by wearing the footwear item. Thus, the terms proximal and distal are generally understood to provide opposite terms for describing relative spatial positions.

[0014] To assist in the description and understanding of the aspects of this specification, the elements of a typical footwear item 10 that may include a tongue reinforcement will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 shows the outside of the footwear item 10, and FIG. 2 shows the upper end of the footwear item. When describing the various drawings referred to in this disclosure, like reference numerals refer to like components throughout all the figures.

[0015] The footwear 10 comprises at least two main elements, including a sole structure 12 and an upper 14. When the footwear 10 is worn (as intended on the foot), the sole structure 12 is typically positioned near the plantar surface (i.e., the lower end of the foot). The sole structure 12 can protect the lower end of the foot, and further dampen ground reaction forces, absorb energy, provide static friction, and control foot movements such as pronation and supination. The upper 14 is coupled to the sole structure 12 and together with the sole structure 12 forms a foot-receiving cavity 16. That is, the sole structure 12 generally surrounds the lower end of the foot, while the upper 14 extends over the dorsal portion of the foot (i.e., the upper end or instep of the foot), covering it at least partially and securing the footwear 10 to the foot. The upper 14 includes a foot insertion opening 18 into which the foot is inserted when the foot is positioned within the foot-receiving cavity 16 when the footwear 10 is worn.

[0016] As shown in Figure 1, the footwear 10 may include a forefoot region 20, a midfoot region 22, a heel region 24, and an ankle region 26. The forefoot region 20, the midfoot region 22, and the heel region 24 extend through the sole structure 12 and the upper 14. The ankle region 26 is located as part of the upper 14. The forefoot region 20 generally includes a portion of the footwear 10 corresponding to the toes and joints that connect the metatarsals to the phalanges. The midfoot region 22 generally includes a portion of the footwear 10 corresponding to the arch region of the foot and the instep. The heel region 24 corresponds to the posterior portion of the foot, including the calcaneus. The ankle region 26 corresponds to the ankle. The forefoot region 20, midfoot region 22, heel region 24, and ankle region 26 are not intended to define precise areas of the footwear 10, but rather to indicate general areas of the footwear 10 to aid in understanding the various embodiments of this specification. Furthermore, parts of the footwear may be described in relative terms using these general areas. For example, a first structure may be described as being closer to the heel than a second structure, in which case the second structure is closer to the toes and closer to the forefoot.

[0017] The footwear 10 also has an inner portion 28 (visible in Figure 2, hidden in Figure 1) and an outer portion 30 (visible in Figure 2, seen in Figure 1). The inner portion 28 and the outer portion 30 extend through the forefoot region 20, the midfoot region 22, the heel region 24, and the ankle region 26, respectively, corresponding to both sides of the footwear 10, and as will be understood by those skilled in the art, each is located opposite the longitudinal midline reference plane 29 of the footwear 10. For example, the longitudinal midline reference plane 29 may pass through the foremost point of the sole structure and the rearmost point of the sole structure. Thus, the inner portion 29 is considered to be opposite the outer portion 30. Typically, the inner portion corresponds to the medial portion of the foot (i.e., the surface facing the other foot), and the outer portion corresponds to the lateral portion of the foot (i.e., the surface facing the other foot away from the other foot). In another embodiment, the footwear includes a front portion 33 and a rear portion 35 located opposite the latitudinal midline reference plane 31 of the footwear 10. The latitudinal median reference plane 31 extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal median reference plane 29 and the ground surface, and is positioned at equal intervals between the foremost point and the rearmost point of the footwear 10. These terms can also be used to describe the relative positions of various structures. For example, a first structure closer to the inner portion of the footwear can be described as being inside a second structure (closer to the outer area and further out).

[0018] When describing footwear, relative terms such as "lower" and "upper" may also be used. For example, the upper part generally corresponds to the upper end that is oriented closer to the human head when the human foot is placed flat on a horizontal surface and the person is standing upright, while the lower part generally corresponds to the lower end that is oriented away from the human head and closer to the ground surface.

[0019] The sole structure 12 may be composed of a variety of materials and may include a variety of elements. For example, the sole structure 12 may include a midsole 32 and an outsole 34. The midsole 32 may be formed of a compressible polymer foam element (e.g., polyurethane or ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA) foam) that dampens ground reaction forces (i.e., provides cushioning) when compressed between the foot and the ground during walking, running, or other walking activities. In a further embodiment, the midsole 32 may include a fluid-filled chamber, a plate, a regulator, or other elements that further dampen forces, improve stability, or influence foot movement. The midsole 32 may be a single one-piece midsole or a number of components integrated as a single unit. In some embodiments, the midsole 32 may be integrated with the outsole 34 as a unisole. The outsole 34 may be a one-piece design or may consist of several outsole components, and may be formed from an abrasion-resistant rubber material that can be textured to provide static friction, and / or may include static friction elements such as a tread or cleat fixed to the midsole 32. The outsole 34 may extend over the entire length and width of the sole, or only partially over the length and / or width.

[0020] The upper 14 may also be composed of a variety of materials and may have a variety of characteristics. For example, the upper 14 may be made of leather, woven fabric, or other synthetic or natural materials. Furthermore, the upper 14 may be knitted fabric, woven fabric, braided fabric, nonwoven fabric, laminate, or any combination thereof. The upper 14 may have a variety of material properties related to breathability, elasticity, flexibility, wicking, water resistance, and so on.

[0021] The upper 14 typically includes a portion that overlaps with and connects to the sole structure 12, the joint of such connection may be called the biteline. The upper 14 may also include a “strobel” which is a material panel extending from the upper 14 across at least a portion of the foot-facing surface of the sole structure 12, and the strobel may be used to hold the upper 14 in place of the shoe last when the sole structure 12 is attached to the upper 14. In other words, the sole structure 12 integrated with the footwear 10 includes the foot-facing surface, and in some cases the upper 14 may include a panel (called the strobel) that extends inward from near the biteline area and covers at least partially the foot-facing surface. In this case, the strobel is positioned under the foot when the footwear is worn. The strobel may be covered with an insole or other material layer.

[0022] The upper 14 includes other features. For example, the upper 14 includes an ankle collar 36 that forms a periphery around at least a portion of the foot insertion opening 18. The upper 14 also often includes a throat 38 extending from the ankle collar 36, which forms a periphery along at least one side of the elongated opening 40. A tongue 42 is located in the elongated opening 40, and the size of the elongated opening 40 can be adjusted using various closure systems. For example, Figure 1 illustrates a lace 44, and other closure systems may include elastic bands, hook-and-loop straps, zippers, buckles, etc. The position of the tongue 42 and the connection points of the closure systems can be adjusted to change the size of the foot insertion opening and the elongated opening, for example, by making the opening larger when putting on or taking off the footwear and smaller when securing the footwear to the foot. As described elsewhere in this disclosure, the tongue 42 may include tongue reinforcements that can help maintain the shape and position of the tongue when the tongue is subjected to force or adjustment from other footwear elements or the wearer.

[0023] Footwear 10 may include, for example, athletic shoes that can be worn while running or walking, and the description of footwear 10 including the elements described with respect to Figures 1 and 2 may also apply to other types of shoes, such as basketball shoes, tennis shoes, American football shoes, soccer shoes, leisure or casual shoes, dress shoes, work shoes, sandals, slippers, boots, hiking shoes, etc.

[0024] While Figures 1 and 2 have been described, several other aspects of this disclosure will be described below with reference to Figures 3A-3C and 4A-4C. Figures 3A, 3B, and 3C each show a footwear article 310 including an upper 314 coupled to a sole 312, the upper 314 including a heel region 324 and an ankle region 326 having an ankle collar 336. The ankle collar 336 is movable between a lowered position (shown in Figure 3C) and an upright position (shown in Figures 3A and 3B). In the lowered position, the ankle collar 336 is positioned closer to the sole 312, and in the upright position, the ankle collar 336 is positioned further away from the sole 312. Similarly, footwear article 410 includes an upper 414 coupled to a sole 412, the upper 414 including a heel region 424 and an ankle region 426 having an ankle collar 436.

[0025] Furthermore, the footwear 310 includes a collar elevator 350, which is coupled to the upper 314 near the heel region 324 and / or the ankle region 326 and is operable to move the ankle collar 336 from a lowered position to an upright position. More specifically, the collar elevator 350 includes a portion positioned in the heel region 324 and extending to the ankle region 326. As previously mentioned, there is not necessarily a precise delineation between the heel region 324 and the ankle region 326, and instead, describing the positioning of the collar elevator 350 relative to these regions is one way of describing that the collar elevator 350 extends from a lower portion (closer to the sole) to a higher portion (closer to the ankle collar 336). As long as the collar elevator 350 is coupled to the upper 314 (near the heel region 324 and / or the ankle region 326), the form of such coupling can be diverse. For example, the collar elevator 350 may be coupled to the upper at the heel region 324, to the ankle region 326, to the ankle collar 336, or any combination thereof. The collar elevator 350 is an example of one type of collar elevator that is operable to move the ankle collar from a lowered state to an upright state, and as described elsewhere in this disclosure, the collar elevator may include one or more alternative structures other than those shown in Figures 3A–3C. For example, Figures 4A–4C show a footwear item 410 with a collar elevator 450 of a different structure from collar elevator 350, which is operable to move the ankle collar 436 from a lowered state (e.g., Figure 4C) to an upright state (e.g., Figures 4A and 4B).

[0026] For illustrative purposes, uppers 314 and 414 are shown by imaginary dashed lines, and the collar elevator may be positioned in a variety of locations relative to the upper. For example, the collar elevator may be at least partially, and possibly completely, attached between the outer layer and the inner lining in the heel area, ankle area, ankle collar, or any combination thereof. In another embodiment, the collar elevator may be at least partially exposed and positioned on the outside or outer surface of the upper. In a further embodiment, at least a portion of the collar elevator may be positioned on the foot-facing surface inside the inner lining. In another embodiment, the collar elevator may be positioned on the outside of the footwear and attached to the heel portion of the ankle collar by tabs, rivets, adhesives, stitches or other fasteners.

[0027] Collar elevators (for example, collar elevators 350 and 450) may include a variety of elements. In one embodiment, a collar elevator includes an inner lever arm, an outer lever arm, and a central connecting band that connects the inner lever arm to the outer lever arm and is located at the heel portion of the ankle collar. In a further embodiment, each lever arm is attached to a base, which is maintained stationary relative to the lever arm by the deformation of the lever arm when the ankle collar moves to a lowered position. The base may be part of the footwear, for example, part of the sole or part of the upper. Alternatively, the base may be one or more other anchors attached directly or indirectly to the sole, the sole itself, or any combination thereof. U.S. Patent No. 9,820,527 describes one or more collar elevators, some of which may be referred to as deformable members (one or more) (with or without a base), and the entire disclosure of U.S. Patent No. 9,820,527 is incorporated herein by reference. In one aspect of this disclosure, at least a portion of the deformable member described in U.S. Patent No. 9,820,527 includes an inner lever arm, an outer lever arm, and a central connecting band connecting the inner lever arm to the outer lever arm. In other examples, U.S. Patents 2018 / 0110292 and 2018 / 0289109 each describe several other collar elevators, some of which are referred to as control bars (with or without a base), and the entire disclosures of U.S. Patents 2018 / 0110292 and 2018 / 0289109 are incorporated herein by reference. In one aspect of this disclosure, at least a portion of the control bars described in U.S. Patents 2018 / 0110292 and 2018 / 0289109 include an inner lever arm, an outer lever arm, and a central connecting band connecting the inner lever arm to the outer lever arm.

[0028] Each of the illustrated collar elevators 350 and 450 shows examples of inner lever arms 352 and 452, respectively. Each of the illustrated collar elevators 350 and 450 also shows examples of outer lever arms 354 and 454, respectively, and examples of central connecting bands 356 and 456, respectively. The lever arms 352 and 354 are attached to a base 358, and the lever arms 452 and 454 are attached to a base 458 of a different structure from the base 358. The base 358 is attached to or near the foot-facing surface of the sole 312, and the base 358 may be part of the outsole, part of the midsole, part of the insole, part of the strobel, a plate or sheet of material laminated between any of these sole layers, or any combination thereof. In particular, the base 358 may include a rigid part or section to which the lever arms 352 and 354 are fixed. Figures 4A to 4C show other embodiments, where the base 458 may be attached to a part of the upper (e.g., the heel counter), a part of the midsole sidewall, or any combination thereof, and the base 458 wraps around the underside of the footwear, in contrast to extending through the insole in the manner described for the base 358.

[0029] The inner lever arm, the outer lever arm, and the central connecting band may be a single continuum, and therefore there may not be a clear boundary between the inner lever arm, the outer lever arm, and the central connecting band. For example, the inner and outer arms, as well as the central connecting band, may be molded, cast, 3D printed, or otherwise formed as a single, integrally formed unit. In other embodiments, the inner and outer lever arms may be separate, distinct, and individual elongated members connected to the central connecting band by mechanical or chemical bonding, friction fitting, coating, or other bonding.

[0030] While some structural elements of the collar elevator have been generally described, some operational aspects of the collar elevator will now be described. Briefly as previously mentioned, the collar elevator moves the ankle collar from a lowered position to an upright position. More specifically, at least some of the inner lever arm, outer lever arm, central connecting band, or any combination thereof are attached to a part of the upper. In one embodiment, the central connecting band may be attached near the heel portion of the ankle collar. For example, as described elsewhere in this disclosure, the central connecting band may be attached to the heel portion of the ankle collar by adhesive, connecting tabs, heat riveting, stitching, etc. Thus, as the ankle collar moves closer to the sole in a lowered position, the inner and outer lever arms are deformed into a more compressed or more loaded position. In other words, the collar elevator stores potential energy by elastically deforming from a less compressed configuration (e.g., Figures 3A and 4A) to a more compressed configuration (e.g., Figures 3C and 4C) when an applied force moves the ankle collar from an upright to a lowered position. This potential energy returns the collar elevator to its less compressed configuration when the applied force is removed, and the collar elevator is pressed against the upper, causing the ankle collar to also move from a lowered to an upright position. While the compression of the collar elevator may increase when the ankle collar moves to a lowered position (compared to the upright position), in the upright position the collar elevator can still store potential energy from at least a partially deformed state (i.e., pre-compression), allowing the rear of the ankle collar, i.e., the heel portion, to be held in place around the wearer's heel. For example, if the collar elevator is attached to the upper heel region and / or upper ankle region, a portion of the upper may hold or maintain the collar elevator in a pre-pressure configuration when the ankle collar is upright. In other embodiments, the collar elevator may not be subjected to any load when the ankle collar is upright.

[0031] In one embodiment, the upper portion 325 or 425 below the central connecting band may include one or more fabric walls that are more flexible than the rest of the upper. The more flexible area of ​​the upper may be, for example, at least partially in the heel counter area. In particular, such a more flexible portion 325 or 425 of the upper may fold more easily when the ankle collar moves to a lowered position and may provide less resistance to the collar elevator when the collar elevator returns to a less compressed state (compared to the rest of the footwear or a less flexible upper in a typical footwear).

[0032] In some embodiments, the combination of the inner lever arm, the outer lever arm, and the central connecting band may be referred to as a deformable element. The term “deformable element” refers to an elastically flexible member that can be bent or compressed but has a bias toward moving toward an unbent or uncompressed state. The deformable element may include a single, integrally formed deformable element that extends continuously from the inner lever arm to the outer lever arm. In other embodiments, the inner and outer lever arms may be two or more separate, individual deformable elements connected to the central connecting band, which may also be called a heel piece.

[0033] In some embodiments, the deformable element may be directly coupled, fitted, or attached to the base. In other embodiments, the base may include one or more anchors that engage and maintain the deformable element in place. For example, anchors may be located at the joint between the lever arm and the base (e.g., 359 and 459). Such anchors may be integrally formed with and / or coupled to and / or located inside, between, or outside a portion of the sole (e.g., insole, midsole, outsole). For example, anchors may be located in a block, plate, or wedge stacked between, at the top, or below the sole. In some cases, a portion of the sole (e.g., midsole) may be sculpted or cut out to be attached to or accommodate the anchor. In another embodiment, a base extending inward and outward (e.g., base 358) includes an anchor-like receiving portion into which the anchor engages by resistance fitting, compression fitting, snap fitting, or via an interlocking mechanism / configuration. In other embodiments, anchors may be integrally formed with and / or joined to the upper portion and / or located inside, between, or outside it. For example, anchors may be located in the upper, heel counter, or a combination thereof. A single anchor may extend the entire width of the footwear, or two anchors may be positioned on both sides of the footwear (e.g., on the inside and outside). Deformable members may be attached obliquely to the base or anchor. For example, a deformable member may be attached at an angle perpendicular to the base and then curve or arc toward the rear. In another embodiment, a deformable member may be attached at an angle tilted forward (i.e., upward and forward) or backward (i.e., upward and backward) before arcing toward the rear.

[0034] The connection between the deformable member and the base or anchor can be described in various ways. For example, in one embodiment, the deformable element does not pivot around the base (e.g., around the insole, midsole, or outsole) (i.e., it is non-pivotal). In other words, the deformable element may be coupled to the base in a way that prevents rotation. In various embodiments, there is no play in the engagement between the deformable element and the base (or anchor), which means there is little or no relative movement between the two components.

[0035] The deformable element may include one or more of the following: tubes, wires, springs, shape memory structures, or materials. The deformable element may also include one or more materials, such as carbon steel, stainless steel, titanium, nickel-titanium (nitinol), and other metals and alloys (shape memory or otherwise), polymers (shape memory or otherwise), composite materials, foam materials, graphite, carbon fiber, glass fiber, TPC-ET, silicon, TPU, and polycarbonate. For example, the deformable element may contain titanium or be titanium wire. One or more deformable elements may be made of a first material, such as titanium, and one or more additional deformable elements may be made of a second material, such as graphite.

[0036] In some embodiments, the deformable element may include a single piece. For example, the first end of the deformable element (e.g., the end of the inner lever arm) may be incorporated into or attached to the inner anchor, the second end of the deformable element (e.g., the end of the outer lever arm) may be incorporated into or attached to the outer anchor, and the middle portion of the deformable element (e.g., the central connecting band) may extend around the heel or ankle portion of the upper or be incorporated into some additional heel piece structure.

[0037] In other embodiments, the deformable element may comprise multiple distinct components. For example, the deformable element may comprise two distinct components, the first component (e.g., an inner lever arm) having a first end that is housed in or attached to an inner anchor and a second end that is housed in or attached to the inside of a heel piece or central connecting band. Thus, the second component (e.g., an outer lever arm) may similarly comprise a first end that is housed in or attached to an outer anchor and a second end that is housed in or attached to the outside of a heel piece or central connecting band. Multiple distinct components can be secured together by one or more of the following, for example, tape wrap, woven encasing, overmolding (e.g., TPU), heat shrink tubing, etc., each of which can provide different levels of stability and strength. For example, the deformable element may comprise one or more wires housed independently or together in a cover, sleeve, overmolding, or heat shrink tubing. To facilitate the elastic deformation of the deformable element, one or more wires can bend, bend, and oscillate before returning to their initial / normal state.

[0038] A deformable element may have variable mechanical properties along its length and / or at separate points along that length. Such deformation may be provided by the deformable element (e.g., a wire or a bundle of two or more wires), a fixing device surrounding all or part of the deformable element(s), or any combination thereof. For example, the deformable element and / or fixing device may have a variable cross-section, variable density, variable material, etc., along its length. Thus, a variable cross-section can be provided by changing the thickness or shape, or, if the thickness or shape of the deformable element is constant, by twisting the deformable element along its length.

[0039] As briefly mentioned above, a deformable element may include a cover, sleeve, overmolding, or other appropriate structure which may protect other elements of the deformable element (e.g., wires, springs, etc.), control and / or guide and / or support the bending or compression of the deformable element, and / or influence it in other ways. In some embodiments, the cover may be configured, based on its manufacturing material, shape, geometry, etc., to facilitate the distribution of mechanical stress by transmitting mechanical bending / deformation forces from the deformable element (e.g., from wires or springs) to the cover, thereby preventing or at least suppressing damage or breakage of the deformable element, otherwise such damage or breakage may occur due to concentrated and repeated mechanical stress on the deformable element. For example, the cover may have dimensions that vary along its length (e.g., a funnel-shaped tapered shape) to facilitate stress distribution and contribute to the dynamic bending of the deformable element. If the deformable element is damaged, the cover may help move the ankle collar from a lowered position to an upright position by still providing at least some degree of bias. The cover may also provide additional padding and / or support to the deformable element to prevent, or at least suppress, the wearer from feeling the deformable element.

[0040] As briefly mentioned above, the central connecting band may also be called the heel piece. The central connecting band may be integrally formed with the inner and outer lever arms as a single continuous unit. In other embodiments, the central connecting band may be a separate piece extending between the inner and outer lever arms, bridging them. In particular, the central connecting band may provide a connection to the upper and provide a frame to the ankle collar to prevent the ankle collar from folding into the foot receiving opening when the foot is inserted.

[0041] When worn by a wearer, footwear having collar elevators (e.g., collar elevators 350 and 450) is footwear that can be worn by the wearer without the wearer using their hands to manipulate the footwear. For example, the wearer's toes can be inserted through the foot insertion opening 318 or 418, while the arch or heel of their foot is used to compress the ankle collar 336 or 436 downward toward the sole 312 or 412. In this way, the size of the foot insertion opening 318 or 418 can be increased by adjusting the ankle collar 336 or 436 to a lowered position closer to the sole. Once the wearer's foot slides into the foot receiving cavity 316 or 416, the collar elevators 350 or 450 help to move the ankle collar from a lowered position (i.e., Figures 3C and 4C) to an upright position (i.e., Figures 3A and 4A) to secure the footwear to the wearer's foot.

[0042] In particular, the collar elevators 350 and 450 may reduce the likelihood of structural failure of the upper heel and upper ankle regions over time, which may result from repeated hands-free donning by providing a frame that acts to return to an upright position or to be biased. Also, the collar elevators 350 and 450 may enable the user to easily put on (i.e., slip on) their shoes without using their hands and / or bending down to tie laces, without using a shoehorn, or without using any other such adjustment mechanism, element, or mechanism for fit. Furthermore, the footwear articles 310 and 410 may easily receive or guide the wearer's foot into the foot receiving opening or otherwise accommodate the wearer's foot into the foot receiving opening. Such ease of donning may be due in particular to the collar elevators 350 and 450 which help provide a large foot insertion opening while preventing the upper edge line of the ankle collar from bending inward toward the foot receiving cavity.

[0043] The operation of footwear 310 and 410 can be described in various ways. For example, the ankle collars 336 and 436 may be elastic or may include a goring element that allows the foot insertion openings 318 and 418 to expand when, for example, the ankle collar moves to a lowered position. In the lowered position, the foot insertion openings 318 and 418 may expand by at least about 5%, or at least about 10%, or at least about 15%. Such measured expansion can be detected in various ways. For example, the first circumference of the foot insertion opening may be measured when the ankle collar is in a first position, and the second circumference may be measured when the ankle collar is in a second position, closer to the sole (compared to the first position). In the first and second states, the distance from the sole to the ankle collar may be measured in a vertical plane (i.e., perpendicular to the horizontal reference plane and including a flat ground surface on which the ground contact surface sits in the at-rest position), and the distance may be measured from the rearmost point of the edge of the upper edge line of the ankle collar to the edge of the upper edge line of the sole (e.g., where the sole connects to the upper at the bite line). Thus, the distance in the first state is longer than the distance in the second state, and in one embodiment, the second distance is 75% or less of the first distance. Following the above example, in the second state, where the distance is 75% or less of the distance in the first state, the circumference may expand by at least about 5%, at least about 10%, or at least about 15%. In a further example, the circumference of the foot insertion openings 318 and 418 may expand by at least about 1.0 inch (about 2.54 cm) when the ankle collar is in the second state, where the distance is 75% or less of the distance in the first state. The amount of expansion of the foot insertion openings 318 and 418 may vary depending on the style and size of the shoe. In another embodiment, the height of the ankle collars 336 and 436 above the soles 312 and 412 in the lowered position is about 50% lower than the height in the upright position, but like other parameters, this may vary depending on the style and size of the shoe.

[0044] As described elsewhere in this disclosure, the collar elevators 350 and 450 provide a restoring force when moving the ankle collars 336 and 436 from a lowered position to an upright position. In some embodiments, the restoring force is about 1 pound-force to about 15 pounds-force, which can be measured at various positions of the ankle collar. For example, as described above, the ankle collar may include a first state having a first distance from the sole and a second state having a second distance from the sole (shorter than the distance in the first state). In one embodiment, the collar elevators 350 and 450 provide a restoring force of about 1 pound-force to about 15 pounds-force in the second state having a distance of about 85% or less of the distance in the first state. In a further embodiment, the collar elevators 350 and 450 provide a restoring force of about 1 pound-force to about 15 pounds-force in the second state having a distance of about 75% or less of the distance in the first state. Furthermore, the collar elevators 350 and 450 may provide a restoring force of about 1 pound to about 15 pounds in a second state having a distance of about 50% or less of the distance in the first state. The restoring force may be strong enough to cause the rear of the ankle collar to spring back from the second state and fit snugly around the wearer's heel. For example, the ankle collars 336 and 436 may rise from a lowered state to an upright state in less than about 1 second if the distance between the ankle collar and the sole in the lowered state is less than 85%, 75%, or 50% of the distance in the upright state. In other embodiments, the ankle collars 336 and 436 may rise from a lowered state to an upright state in less than about 0.5 seconds if the distance between the ankle collar and the sole in the lowered state is less than 85%, 75%, or 50% of the distance in the upright state. In a further embodiment, the ankle collars 336 and 436 can rise from a lowered position to an upright position in less than approximately 0.2 seconds if the distance between the ankle collar and the sole in the lowered position is less than 85%, 75%, or 50% of the distance in the upright position. The rebound time is measured without any offset by external forces (e.g., friction that may be applied by the wearer's heel).

[0045] The following describes another footwear item 510 having an upper 514 attached to a sole 512, with reference to Figures 5-9, 10A-10D, 11, and 12. The upper 514 includes an inner quarter 515, the portion of which is seen in Figures 9, 10A-10D, and 11. For example, the exterior of the inner quarter 515 is seen in the top view of Figure 9, and the interior of the inner quarter 515 is seen in the cross-sectional view of Figure 11. The inner quarter 515 is also identified in Figures 10A-10C. The upper 514 also includes an outer quarter 517, the portion of which is seen in various other drawings. For example, the exterior of the outer quarter 517 is seen in the outer front perspective view of Figure 5 and the top view of Figure 9. The outer quarter 517 is also identified in Figures 10A-10C.

[0046] The footwear 510 also includes a heel region 524 having an ankle collar 536. The ankle collar 536 is movable between a lowered position (e.g., Figure 7) where it is positioned closer to the sole 512 and an upright position (e.g., Figure 5) where it is positioned further away from the sole 512. The footwear 510 also includes a collar elevator 550 coupled to the heel region 524 and operable to move the ankle collar 536 from the lowered position to the upright position. The collar elevator 550 illustrated in Figures 5 to 8 is an example relating to one type of collar elevator, and in other embodiments of this disclosure, the footwear 510 may include any of the various other collar elevators disclosed herein.

[0047] The footwear also includes a tongue 560 having an inner edge 562, an outer edge 564, and an outward-facing surface 566. At least portions of the inner and outer edges of the tongue may be concealed in the configuration during normal wear, although the drawings show the tongue edges in various ways. For example, the inner edge 562 is identified in the cross-sectional views of Figures 10A–10D and Figure 11. In Figure 6, a portion of the outer quarter is cut out to expose the outer edge 564, which is also identified in the cross-sectional views 10A–10D. The tongue 560 is also concealed by the forefoot toe cap portion 570 of the upper 514, which includes a foremost edge 568, indicated by a dashed line in Figure 6. In one embodiment, one or more connectors 572 (e.g., stitching, joining, integral molding, etc.) may be positioned near the foremost edge 568 to provide a connection between the tongue 560 and the upper 512. The tongue leather 560 also includes an edge 574 of the upper end line along the rearmost portion of the tongue leather 560.

[0048] The tongue 560 of the footwear article 510 is an example of one type of tongue; in other embodiments, the tongue may be integrally formed with the forefoot toe cap portion of the upper, so that the upper extends continuously from the forefoot toe cap portion to the edge of the upper edge line of the tongue. Figure 8 illustrates an example of such a tongue configuration, where the tongue 560B extends continuously together with the forefoot toe cap portion 570B, which may be a panel separated from the medial quarter 515B and the lateral quarter 517B. Unless the context explicitly states otherwise or clearly indicates otherwise, parts of this description relating to the tongue 560 are equally applicable to the tongue 560B. For example, the cross-sectional views in Figures 10A–10D are equally accurate and applicable to both footwear article 510 and footwear article 510B. Examples of differences between tongue leather 560 and tongue leather 560B may include the presence of an anterior edge (e.g., 568) and the tongue leather length measured from the anterior edge 568 to the edge 574 of the upper edge. As may be described elsewhere in this disclosure, the length of tongue leather 560B may be determined using different techniques.

[0049] The tongue 560 generally comprises a panel of one or more material layers. For example, the tongue 560 may include a woven, woven, braided, laminated, or nonwoven panel. For example, Figures 10A–10D and 11 show cross-sectional views of the tongue 560 and tongue 560b, identifying the outer tongue layer 576 and the inner tongue layer 578. The outer tongue layer 576 includes an inward-facing surface 567 that faces the foot-receiving cavity. The tongue 560 may also comprise a first and second layer with a cushioning layer between them. Although shown as a single layer, each of layers 576 and 578 may alternatively comprise multiple layers. As described elsewhere in this disclosure, the tongue 560 is positioned in the throat of the footwear and is particularly useful for covering an elongated opening. The illustrated multilayer tongue is an example relating to one type of tongue; in other embodiments, the tongue may include single material layers such as a single woven layer, a single fabric layer, a single braided layer, a single nonwoven material layer, or a single laminated material layer.

[0050] In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the footwear article 510 includes an outer connector 580 for attaching an outward-facing surface 566 to an outer quarter 517, and an inner connector 582 for attaching the outward-facing surface 566 to an inner quarter. For example, Figure 10A shows a cross-sectional view showing not only the exemplary positions of the connectors 580 and 582, but also the interface between the outward-facing surface 566 and the quarters 515 and 517.

[0051] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the inner connector 582 and the outer connector 580 can transmit forces between the tongue 560 and the inner quarter 515 and the outer quarter 517. For example, in some cases, the upper 514 may be shaped such that the inner quarter 515 and the outer quarter 517 are tilted or biased inward toward the foot receptacle in the directions indicated by arrows E and F. Such inward tilt or bias may result from the shape of the upper, the way the upper is fitted to the shoe last, gravity, or any combination thereof. Furthermore, such inward tilt applies shear forces to the tongue transmitted through the inner and outer connectors.

[0052] In other cases, the medial and lateral quarters 515 and 517 may fold inward when the ankle collar 536 is pressed down, for example, when the wearer slides their foot into the foot insertion opening. For example, when the ankle collar 536 is pressed, the throat edges 538A and 538B may be pulled as a result. Referring to Figure 9, when the ankle collar 536 is pressed near X, the throat edges 538A and 538B may be pulled backward and inward, as illustrated by arrows C, D, E, and F. As a result, the medial and lateral throat edges 538A and 538B (as well as the medial and lateral quarters) may fold toward each other. Thus, when the throat edges and quarters fold toward each other, a shear force is applied to the tongue, transmitted through the medial and lateral connectors.

[0053] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the tongue 560 includes an outer shear force region 585 and an inner shear force region 587 (see, for example, Figure 10B). The shear force regions represent the respective portions of the tongue 560 to which shear forces from the quarter are directed. In one embodiment, the shear force regions include at least a portion of the outward-facing surface 566. The location of the shear force regions may vary depending on a variety of factors, such as the type and size of the connector.

[0054] In one embodiment, referring to Figure 10C, connectors 580 and 582 may be releasable fasteners and include quarter-side connectors 583A and 583B and releasably mating tongue-side connectors 581A and 581B. For example, Figure 12 illustrates an exemplary footwear, where the releasable fastener is a hook-and-loop connector, so that the tongue-side connectors 581A / B are either the hook portion or the loop portion, and the quarter-side connectors 583A / B are either the hook portion or the loop portion. In particular, releasable and adjustable fasteners may allow the user to adjust and customize the fit of the footwear by adjusting the coupling position of the releasable fastener. A hook-and-loop connector is one type of releasable fastener, and the connector may include other known releasable and adjustable fasteners. Alternatively, non-releasable fasteners 580 and 582 may connect the tongue to the inner and outer quarters. For example, the quarters may be connected to the tongue by stitching, welding, joining, or other types of connectors. In further examples, the outer connector 580 may be one type of connector, and the inner connector 582 may be another type of connector. For example, the outer connector 580 may include a detachable connector, and the inner connector 582 may be a non-detachable connector, or vice versa. The outer connector 580 may be a stitch, and the inner connector 582 may be a hook-and-loop, or vice versa. The outer connector 580 may include integral formation with the quarter (e.g., braiding), and the inner connector 582 may be a detachable fastener (e.g., hook-and-loop). In yet another embodiment, at least one of the inner and outer connectors may be omitted, so that at least one side of the tongue is detached from its respective quarter.

[0055] Referring again to Figure 10C, the tongue-side connector 581A includes an innermost connector edge 584A positioned closest to the midline reference plane 529 and an outermost connector edge 586 positioned furthest from the midline reference plane. In one embodiment, when the quarter-side connector 583A is coupled to the tongue-side connector 581A, at least a portion of the shear force is transmitted to the innermost connector edge 584A before it is ultimately transmitted to the tongue 560. Another portion of the shear force may be transmitted to other areas of the tongue-side connector 581A between the innermost connector edge 584A and the outermost connector edge 586 before it is transmitted to the tongue 560. Connectors 581A and 583B operate in a similar manner; that is, when the quarter-side connector 583B is coupled to the tongue-side connector 581B, at least a portion of the shear force is transmitted to the innermost connector edge 584B before it is ultimately transmitted to the tongue 560. Another portion of the shear force may be transmitted to other areas of the tongue-side connector 581B between the innermost connector edge 584B and the outermost connector edge 586B before being transmitted to the tongue 560.

[0056] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the footwear article 510 includes a tongue reinforcement 590 extending outward across the tongue 560. For example, Figure 6 shows a portion of layer 576 cut out to reveal a tongue reinforcement 590 laminated between an outer layer 576 and an inner layer 578. Generally, the tongue reinforcement 590 includes an additional material portion combined with one or more tongue material layers. In one embodiment, the tongue reinforcement 590 is fixedly attached to an inward surface 567. For example, the tongue reinforcement 590 may be glued, bonded, or welded to the inward surface. In another example, the tongue reinforcement 590 may be stitched to the inward surface 567. In particular, the additional material portion may add at least some rigidity to the tongue 560, which may prevent the tongue 560 from folding, bending, or deforming under forces otherwise applied to the tongue (e.g., shear forces transmitted from the quarter and / or throat rim through the connectors). The tongue reinforcement 590 may include a variety of materials and structures. In one embodiment, the tongue reinforcement is made of a material harder than the outer layer 576 based on one or more test standards that can be selected by those skilled in the art. One example of a test standard that can be used to compare the stiffness of the tongue reinforcement material with that of the outer layer 576 is ASTM D1388, and other appropriate test methods can be used. In another embodiment, the tongue reinforcement is made of a woven panel, a fabric panel, a mesh panel, etc. The tongue reinforcement may also be made of plastic such as nylon, TPU, or other appropriate polymers or composites. The tongue reinforcement may be made of a natural material such as leather or a synthetic fabric. In another embodiment, the tongue reinforcement may be a bistable spring element.

[0057] The tongue leather reinforcement includes an inner edge 592, an outer edge 594, an upper edge 596, and a lower edge 598. The tongue leather reinforcement 590 also includes a width extending from the inner edge 592 to the outer edge 594 and a length extending from the upper edge 596 to the lower edge 598. In one embodiment of the present invention, the tongue leather reinforcement 590 includes a size, position, or combination thereof that suppresses deformation of the tongue leather, otherwise deformation of the tongue leather may occur due to shear forces transmitted from the quarter and / or throat edge through the connector. For example, as shown in Figure 10C, the inner edge 592 of the tongue leather reinforcement 590 extends beyond the innermost edge 584B of the tongue leather side connector 581B. In other words, the innermost edges 584A and 584B are spaced apart. This distance may be the sum of the lengths of one or more arcs taken along a reference plane (for example, along reference line 10-10 in Figure 9) (if the tongue is in a curved configuration). Similarly, the tongue reinforcement 590 includes the width measured from the inner edge 592 to the outer edge 594 along the same reference plane as the distance between the innermost edges, and the tongue reinforcement width is greater than this distance. When measuring distance and width using this methodology, in one embodiment the width and distance are measured along arcs having the same radius (for example, 600A, 600B, or 600C), where the reference line passes through a common arc center and each endpoint.

[0058] In a similar embodiment, and referring to Figure 10D illustrating a tongue 560 with a flat configuration, the tongue reinforcement includes a width 595 between the inner edge 592 and the outer edge 594. The distance 591 also extends between the innermost edge 584A of the outer connector 581A and the innermost edge 584B of the inner connector 581B. The tongue reinforcement width 595 is greater than the distance 591 extending between the innermost edges of the connectors 581A / B. In another similar embodiment, the innermost edge 584A of the outer tongue-side connector 581A and the outer edge 594 of the tongue reinforcement 590 overlap each other (as shown in Figures 10C and 10D), and the innermost edge 584B of the inner tongue-side connector 581B and the inner edge 592 of the tongue reinforcement 590 overlap each other.

[0059] The overlap between the tongue leather reinforcement 590 and the tongue leather side connectors 581A / B is at least partially created by making the width of the tongue leather reinforcement greater than the distance between the innermost edges 584A / B. When the tongue leather side connectors 581A / B and the tongue leather reinforcement 590 are fixedly attached to the tongue leather 560 in this overlapping area 589A and 589B, the tongue leather 560 provides a medium for transmitting shear force from the connectors 581A / B to the tongue leather reinforcement 590. For example, the tongue leather side connectors 581A / B may be attached to the outward-facing surface 566 in the overlapping area, and the tongue leather reinforcement 590 may be fixedly attached to the inward-facing surface 567 within the overlapping area. A variety of different couplings may be used. In one embodiment, the tongue-side connectors 581A / B and the tongue-side reinforcement 590 may be joined, welded, stitched, thermoset, laminated, integrally braided, integrally woven, integrally woven, or a combination of all of these to the tongue-side connectors 581A / B. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the tongue-side reinforcement extends outward beyond the innermost edge of the connectors 581A / B, thereby at least partially suppressing deformation of the tongue-side that may result from shear forces transmitted to the innermost edges 584A and 584B.

[0060] As described in other embodiments, shear forces can be transmitted to various parts of the tongue-side connectors 581A / B in addition to the innermost edges 584A / B. For example, shear forces can be transmitted to the central portion of the tongue-side connectors 581A / B. In one embodiment, the tongue-side connectors 581A / B include intermediate points 588A (outer connector intermediate point) and 588B (inner connector intermediate point) positioned between the innermost edges 584A / B and the outermost edges 586A / B, respectively. Figure 10D also illustrates the distance 599 between the intermediate points 588A / B, and the tongue-side reinforcement width 595 is greater than the distance 599. As described above, such overlap in the region indicated by reference arrows 597A and 597B provides a medium for transmitting shear force from the connector 581A / B to the tongue reinforcement 590 through the tongue 560 when the tongue side connector 581A / B and the tongue reinforcement 590 are fixedly attached to the tongue 560 in such portions of the overlapping region 589A / B.

[0061] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the tongue reinforcement width (e.g., 595) may be greater than the distance between the innermost edges 584A / B and greater than the distance between the midpoints 588A / B. In other embodiments, the tongue reinforcement width (e.g., 595) may be greater than the distance between the innermost edges 584A / B and shorter than the distance between the midpoints 588A / B. In further embodiments, the tongue reinforcement width (e.g., 595) may be greater than the distance between the innermost edges 584A / B, greater than the distance between the midpoints 588A / B and greater than the distance between the outermost edges 586A / B. The configuration of the relationship between the width 595 and other distances (for example, between the outermost edges 586A / B, between the midpoints 588A / B, and between the innermost edges 584A / B) can be based on a variety of factors, such as the amount of shear force applied by the quarter, the rigidity or flexibility of the tongue leather, the rigidity or flexibility of the tongue leather side connector, the rigidity or flexibility of the tongue leather reinforcement, or any combination of these.

[0062] In another aspect of this disclosure, the positioning of the tongue reinforcement 590 also contributes to offsetting the shear forces applied by the quarter and tongue 560. For example, in some cases, the tongue reinforcement 590 is positioned closer to the edge 574 of the upper end line, as opposed to being positioned off-center towards the forefoot toe cap or the foremost edge 568. Such further rearward positioning may be configured based on the location of greater forces applied by the quarters 515 and 517. Referring to Figure 9, for example, various portions of the throat are identified, including 538A, 538B, 538C, 538D, and 538E. Portions 538C and 538D are closer to the throat base 538E, while portions 538A and 538B are further away from the throat base 538E. Thus, the throat base 538E provides greater resistance to inward movement toward portions 538C and 538D than portions 538A and 538B. Furthermore, portions 538A and 538B are closer to forces C, D, E, and F. Thus, portions of the tongue 560 that are generally located towards the heel or rear receive greater shear forces from quarters 515 and 517 than portions that are located forward or anterior.

[0063] Referring to Figure 11, a longitudinal reference plane and a latitudinal reference plane 531 are shown, perpendicular to the flat ground surface, extending from the inside to the outside, and positioned midway between the foremost point and the rearmost point of the footwear 510. The latitudinal reference plane 531 divides the footwear 510 into a front portion 533 and a rear portion 535, and divides the tongue 560 into an upper tongue portion 561 and a lower tongue portion 563. The upper tongue portion 561 includes a length 565 measured from the tongue reference point 565A (where the latitudinal reference plane 531 intersects the tongue 560) to the edge 574 of the upper edge line. The length 565 is measured along a line that follows the contour of the outward-facing surface 566. As illustrated in Figures 10C and 10D, the tongue reinforcement 590 includes a portion having a width 595, the width being at least greater than the distance between the innermost edges 584A / B, and may be greater than the distance between the midpoints 588A / B and greater than the distance between the outermost edges 586A / B. In one aspect of the present disclosure, the portion having a width 595 is positioned between the tongue reference point 565A (where the parallel reference plane intersects the tongue) and the edge 574 of the upper edge of the tongue. In a further embodiment, the distance between the portion of the tongue reinforcement having a width and the tongue reference point 565A is a length of 565 or more. In a further embodiment, the portion of the tongue reinforcement is the upper edge 596.

[0064] As shown elsewhere in this disclosure, the tongue reinforcement 590 includes a length extending from the upper edge 596 to the lower edge 598. The length dimension can be based on a variety of factors. For example, as described elsewhere, the position and width of the tongue reinforcement 590 may be based on the shear force closer to the edge 574 of the upper edge. When sufficient force dissipation is achieved at the upper tongue portion 561, the length of the tongue reinforcement may be reduced in some cases. In particular, a shorter tongue reinforcement length can help to lighten the footwear and make it fit more snugly to the body. Thus, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the length of the tongue reinforcement is less than the width of the tongue reinforcement. In another embodiment, the length of the tongue reinforcement is less than the length 565.

[0065] In Figures 5 to 12, the footwear article 510 includes a tongue reinforcement 590 bonded to the inward surface 567 of the tongue. In an alternative embodiment, the tongue reinforcement may be bonded to the outward surface of the tongue. For example, referring to Figures 13 to 16, the footwear article 610 includes a tongue reinforcement 690 bonded to the outward surface 666 and below the tongue-side connector 681A. Unless otherwise clearly indicated or stated in the context, the tongue reinforcement 690 operates in a similar manner to the tongue reinforcement 590, and the description relating to the tongue reinforcement 590 applies similarly to the tongue reinforcement 690. For example, like the tongue reinforcement 590, the tongue reinforcement 690 includes an inner edge 692 and an outer edge 694. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the tongue reinforcement 690 includes a portion having a width 695, the width being at least greater than the distance between the innermost edges 684A / B, and may be greater than the distance between the midpoints 688A / B and greater than the distance between the outermost edges 686A / B. Referring to Figure 16, in a further embodiment, the portion having a width 695 (greater than or equal to the distance between the innermost edges 684A / B) is positioned between the tongue reference point 665A (intersecting the parallel reference plane 631) and the edge 674 of the upper edge of the tongue. In another embodiment, the distance between the portion of the wide tongue reinforcement and the tongue reference point 665A is more than half of the length 665. In a further embodiment, the portion of the wide tongue reinforcement is the upper edge 696.

[0066] As can be seen from the foregoing, the present invention, along with other advantages inherent to the structure and achievable by those skilled in the art, is well suited to achieving all the aforementioned goals and objectives.

[0067] It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations are practical and can be adopted without reference to other features and sub-combinations. This is taken into consideration by the claims and falls within the scope of the claims.

[0068] Since numerous possible embodiments can be created in this invention without departing from its scope, it should be understood that all matters described herein or shown in the accompanying drawings should be construed as illustrative and not as limiting.

[0069] Some aspects of this disclosure are described with respect to examples provided in the drawings. Further aspects of this disclosure, which may be one or more claims or clauses of this application at the time of filing, or related subject matter included in one or more related applications, are described below, but the claims or clauses are not limited to the subject matter described below in this description. These further aspects may include features illustrated in the drawings, features not shown in the drawings, and any combination thereof. When describing these further aspects, elements shown in the drawings for illustrative purposes may be referenced.

[0070] The term “any of the clauses” or similar variations thereof, as used in connection with the present invention and the claims listed below, is intended to be interpreted as meaning that the features of the claims / clasps can be combined in any combination. For example, Exemplary Clause 4 may describe any one method / apparatus from Clauses 1 through 3, which is intended to be interpreted as meaning that features of Clauses 1 and 4 can be combined, and / or elements of Clauses 2 and 4 can be combined, and / or elements of Clauses 3 and 4 can be combined, and / or elements of Clauses 1, 2, and 4 can be combined, and / or elements of Clauses 2, 3, and 4 can be combined, and / or elements of Clauses 1, 2, 3, and 4 can be combined, and / or other variations may exist. Furthermore, the term “any of the clauses” or similar variations thereof is intended to include “any one of the clauses” or other variations thereof, as shown by some of the examples provided above.

[0071] The following provisions are aspects considered in the present invention.

[0072] Clause 1. Footwear comprising: an upper coupled to a sole, comprising: an inner quarter, an outer quarter, a heel region, and an ankle collar movable between a lowered state positioned closer to the sole and an upright state positioned further away from the sole; a collar elevator positioned at least in the heel region and operable to move the ankle collar from a lowered state to an upright state; a tongue having an outward-facing surface; an inner connector for attaching the outward-facing surface to the inner quarter, including an inner connector midpoint; an outer connector for attaching the outward-facing surface to the outer quarter, including an outer connector midpoint separated by a first length from the inner connector midpoint; and a tongue reinforcement coupled to the tongue, having an inner tongue reinforcement edge and an outer tongue reinforcement edge separated by a second length from each other, wherein the second length is greater than or equal to the first length.

[0073] Clause 2. A collar elevator is a device as described in any of the Clauses, which stores potential energy by elastically deforming from a first configuration to a second configuration when an applied force moves the collar of the ankle from an upright position to a lowered position, and when the applied force is removed, the collar elevator returns to the first configuration.

[0074] Clause 3. A collar elevator is a device according to any of the Clauses, comprising an inner lever arm, an outer lever arm, and a central connecting band that connects the inner lever arm to the outer lever arm and is located at the rear portion of the collar at the ankle.

[0075] Clause 4. The apparatus according to any of the clauses, wherein the tongue leather comprises a first material layer having a first rigidity; and the tongue leather reinforcement comprises a second material layer having a second rigidity greater than or equal to the first rigidity.

[0076] Clause 5. The apparatus according to any of the Clauses, wherein the tongue leather comprises a first material layer having an outward-facing surface and an inward-facing surface, the inward-facing surface being located between the tongue leather reinforcement and the outward-facing surface.

[0077] Clause 6. The apparatus according to any of the Clauses, wherein the tongue leather comprises a first material layer having an outward-facing surface and an inward-facing surface, the outward-facing surface being located between the tongue leather reinforcement and the inward-facing surface.

[0078] Clause 7. The apparatus as described in any of the Clauses, wherein the inner connector includes a first portion of a first hook-and-loop connector, the second portion of the first hook-and-loop connector being attached to the inner quarter, and the outer connector includes a first portion of a second hook-and-loop connector, the second portion of the second hook-and-loop connector being attached to the outer quarter.

[0079] Clause 8. The apparatus according to any of the Clauses, wherein the tongue includes a tongue reference point relating to the midline reference plane in the latitude direction of the footwear, and a portion of the tongue reinforcement having a second length is positioned between the tongue reference point and the edge of the upper end line of the tongue.

[0080] Clause 9. Footwear comprising: an upper coupled to a sole, comprising: an inner quarter; an outer quarter; a heel region; and an ankle collar movable between a lowered position positioned closer to the sole and an upright position positioned further away from the sole; a collar elevator positioned at least in the heel region and operable to move the ankle collar from a lowered position to an upright position; a tongue having an edge of an upper end line, an outward-facing surface, and a tongue reference point intersecting a midline reference plane in the latitudinal direction of the footwear; and the outward-facing surface A footwear article comprising: an inner connector attached to an inner quarter; an outer connector spaced a first distance from the inner connector and with an outward-facing surface attached to an outer quarter; and a tongue reinforcement bonded to the tongue, having at least a portion of which an inner edge of the tongue reinforcement, an outer edge of the tongue reinforcement, and a tongue reinforcement width from the inner edge to the outer edge of the tongue reinforcement, wherein the tongue reinforcement width is greater than the first distance, and at least a portion of which is positioned between the tongue reference point and the edge of the upper end line.

[0081] Clause 10. The apparatus as described in any of the Clauses, wherein the second distance between the tongue leather reference point and at least a portion of it is more than half of the third distance extending from the tongue leather reference point to the edge of the upper end line.

[0082] Clause 11. A collar elevator is a device as described in any of the Clauses, which stores potential energy by elastically deforming from a first configuration to a second configuration when an applied force moves the collar of the ankle from an upright position to a lowered position, and the potential energy returns the collar elevator to the first configuration when the applied force is removed.

[0083] Clause 12. A collar elevator is a device according to any of the Clauses, comprising an inner lever arm, an outer lever arm, and a central connecting band that connects the inner lever arm to the outer lever arm and is located in the rear portion of the collar at the ankle.

[0084] Clause 13. The apparatus as described in any of the Clauses, wherein the inner connector includes a first portion of a first hook-and-loop connector, the second portion of the first hook-and-loop connector being mounted on the inner quarter, and the outer connector includes a first portion of a second hook-and-loop connector, the second portion of the second hook-and-loop connector being mounted on the outer quarter.

[0085] Clause 14. The apparatus according to any of the Clauses, wherein the tongue leather comprises a first material layer having an outward-facing surface and an inward-facing surface, the inward-facing surface being located between the tongue leather reinforcement and the outward-facing surface.

[0086] Clause 15. The apparatus according to any of the Clauses, wherein the tongue leather comprises a first material layer having an outward-facing surface and an inward-facing surface, the outward-facing surface being located between the tongue leather reinforcement and the inward-facing surface.

[0087] Clause 16. Footwear comprising: an upper coupled to a sole, comprising: an inner quarter; an outer quarter; a heel region; and an ankle collar movable between a lowered position positioned closer to the sole and an upright position positioned further away from the sole; a collar elevator positioned at least in the heel region and operable to move the ankle collar from a lowered position to an upright position; and a top edge, an outward-facing surface, and a tongue reference point intersecting a midline reference plane in the latitudinal direction of the footwear. A footwear article comprising: a tongue leather; an inner connector for attaching its outward-facing surface to an inner quarter; an outer connector for attaching its outward-facing surface to an outer quarter; and a tongue leather reinforcement bonded to the tongue leather, having a tongue leather reinforcement width extending from the inner edge of the tongue leather reinforcement to the outer edge of the tongue leather reinforcement, and a tongue leather reinforcement length extending from the upper edge of the tongue leather reinforcement to the lower edge of the tongue leather reinforcement, wherein the tongue leather reinforcement width is greater than the tongue leather reinforcement length, and the upper edge of the tongue leather reinforcement is located between the tongue leather reference point and the edge of the upper edge line.

[0088] Clause 17. The lower edge of the tongue leather reinforcement is positioned between the tongue leather reference point and the edge of the upper edge line, as described in any of the Clauses.

[0089] Clause 18. The width of the tongue reinforcement is greater than the distance between the inner connector and the outer connector, as described in any of the clauses of the device.

[0090] Clause 19. The upper edge of the tongue reinforcement material comprises the width of the tongue reinforcement material, as described in any of the Clauses.

[0091] Clause 20. The lower edge of the tongue reinforcement material has the width of the tongue reinforcement, as described in any of the Clauses.

Claims

1. Footwear, An upper coupled to the sole, comprising an inner quarter, an outer quarter, a heel region, and an ankle collar movable between a lowered position positioned closer to the sole and an upright position positioned further away from the sole; A tongue leather having an outward-facing surface; A collar elevator positioned at least in the heel region and operable to move the collar of the ankle from the lowered state to the upright state, the collar elevator including a flat base attached to the foot-facing surface of the sole; An inner connector for attaching the outward-facing surface to the inner quarter, including an inner connector midpoint; An outer connector having an outward-facing surface attached to the outer quarter, the outer connector including an outer connector midpoint that is separated by a first length from the inner connector midpoint; A tongue leather reinforcing member, which is attached to the tongue leather and has an inner edge and an outer edge of the tongue leather reinforcing member that are separated from each other by a second length, wherein the second length is equal to or greater than the first length; The tongue leather includes a first material layer having an outward-facing surface and an inward-facing surface, the inward-facing surface being located between the tongue leather reinforcing material and the outward-facing surface, Footwear.

2. The footwear article according to claim 1, wherein the collar elevator accumulates potential energy by elastically deforming from a first configuration to a second configuration when an applied force moves the collar of the ankle from the upright state to the lowered state, and the potential energy returns the collar elevator to the first configuration when the applied force is removed.

3. The footwear article according to claim 2, wherein the collar elevator includes an inner lever arm, an outer lever arm, and a central connecting band that connects the inner lever arm to the outer lever arm and is located at the rear portion of the collar at the ankle.

4. The footwear article according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first material layer has a first rigidity; and the tongue reinforcement material includes a second material layer having a second rigidity greater than the first rigidity.

5. The footwear article according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the inner connector includes a first portion of a first hook-and-loop connector, the second portion of the first hook-and-loop connector being attached to the inner quarter, and the outer connector includes a first portion of a second hook-and-loop connector, the second portion of the second hook-and-loop connector being attached to the outer quarter.

6. The footwear article according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the tongue includes a tongue reference point that intersects with the midline reference plane in the latitude direction of the footwear article, and a portion of the tongue reinforcing material having the second length is positioned between the tongue reference point and the edge of the upper end line of the tongue.

7. Footwear, An upper coupled to the sole, comprising an inner quarter, an outer quarter, a heel region, and an ankle collar movable between a lowered position positioned closer to the sole and an upright position positioned further away from the sole; A collar elevator positioned at least in the heel region and operable to move the collar of the ankle from the lowered state to the upright state, the collar elevator including a flat base attached to the foot-facing surface of the sole; A tongue having an edge of the upper end line, an outward-facing surface, and a tongue reference point that intersects with the midline reference plane in the latitude direction of the footwear; An inner connector for attaching the outward-facing surface to the inner quarter, including an inner connector midpoint; An outer connector having an outer connector midpoint separated by a first length from the inner connector midpoint, and having its outward-facing surface attached to the outer quarter; A tongue leather reinforcement member, which is attached to the tongue leather and has an inner edge of the tongue leather reinforcement member, an outer edge of the tongue leather reinforcement member, and a tongue leather reinforcement member width from the inner edge of the tongue leather reinforcement member to the outer edge of the tongue leather reinforcement member, wherein the tongue leather reinforcement member width is greater than the first length, and the tongue leather reinforcement member is positioned between the tongue leather reference point and the edge of the upper end line; The tongue leather includes a first material layer having an outward-facing surface and an inward-facing surface, the inward-facing surface being located between the tongue leather reinforcing material and the outward-facing surface, Footwear.

8. The footwear article according to claim 7, wherein the second distance between the tongue leather reference point and the upper edge of the tongue leather reinforcing material is more than half of the third distance extending from the tongue leather reference point to the edge of the upper edge line.

9. The footwear article according to claim 7, wherein the collar elevator accumulates potential energy by elastically deforming from a first configuration to a second configuration when an applied force moves the collar of the ankle from the upright state to the lowered state, and the potential energy returns the collar elevator to the first configuration when the applied force is removed.

10. The footwear article according to claim 9, wherein the collar elevator includes an inner lever arm, an outer lever arm, and a central connecting band that connects the inner lever arm to the outer lever arm and is located at the rear portion of the collar at the ankle.

11. The footwear article according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the inner connector includes a first portion of a first hook-and-loop connector, the second portion of the first hook-and-loop connector being attached to the inner quarter, and the outer connector includes a first portion of a second hook-and-loop connector, the second portion of the second hook-and-loop connector being attached to the outer quarter.

12. Footwear, An upper coupled to the sole, comprising an inner quarter, an outer quarter, a heel region, and an ankle collar movable between a lowered position positioned closer to the sole and an upright position positioned further away from the sole; A collar elevator positioned at least in the heel region and operable to move the collar of the ankle from the lowered state to the upright state; A tongue having an edge of the upper end line, an outward-facing surface, and a tongue reference point that intersects with the midline reference plane in the latitude direction of the footwear; The outward-facing surface is attached to the inner quarter by an inner connector; An outer connector that attaches the outward-facing surface to the outer quarter; A tongue leather reinforcement is attached to the tongue leather and has a tongue leather reinforcement width extending from the inner edge of the tongue leather reinforcement to the outer edge of the tongue leather reinforcement, and a tongue leather reinforcement length extending from the upper edge of the tongue leather reinforcement to the lower edge of the tongue leather reinforcement, wherein the tongue leather reinforcement is laminated between the outer and inner layers of the tongue leather, the tongue leather reinforcement width is greater than the tongue leather reinforcement length, and the upper edge of the tongue leather reinforcement is between the tongue leather reference point and the edge of the upper edge line; The outer layer has an inward-facing surface, and the inward-facing surface is located between the tongue leather reinforcement and the outward-facing surface. The width of the tongue reinforcement is greater than the distance between the midpoint of the outer connector and the midpoint of the inner connector. Footwear.

13. The footwear article according to claim 12, wherein the lower edge of the tongue reinforcement is positioned between the tongue reference point and the edge of the upper edge line.

14. The footwear article according to claim 12, wherein the upper edge of the tongue reinforcement material has the width of the tongue reinforcement material.

15. The footwear article according to claim 14, wherein the lower edge of the tongue reinforcement material has the width of the tongue reinforcement material.

Images