Heel retention construction for a sports shoe

Abstract

The disclosed invention consists of a heel retention construction (5) for attachment to an upper (2) of a sports shoe (1), comprising a heel counter (50) and a padding (51), for improving overall performance 5 and durability of the sports shoe (1), by providing extra support and stability, reducing the risk of injury and enhance the comfort of the wearer, particularly during high-impact activities. This is reached by a sheetlike formation and an asymmetrical base in the longitudinal or the envelope direction (L) of the heel counter (50), while at least two pads 10 are arranged separately from each other and fixed at the upper edge area of the heel counter (50) at an inner surface of the heel counter (50) forming the heel retention construction (5) integrally by the heel counter (50) and the at least two pads of the padding (51), wherein the pads are non-detachably attached to the heel counter (50) by 15 means of bonding and / or sewing and / or stitching and / or ultra sound welding and / or gluing in a secured relative position to the heel counter (50).

Description

[0001] Heel retention construction for a sports shoe

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present invention describes a heel retention construction for attachment to an upper of a sports shoe, comprising a heel counter and a padding, a sports shoe, comprising an upper, a midsole and an outsole and the manufacturing method of a sport shoe.

[0004] STATE OF THE ART

[0005] The upper of a sports shoe is the part of the sports shoe that covers the foot and is responsible for providing support, stability, and protection. Such upper is typically made of synthetic materials such as mesh, synthetic leather, or a combination of both. One of the important features of an athletic shoe and such upper is to hold the heel of the user well inside the heel portion of the upper so the heel doesn't slip and the user can actually perform at the sports shoe full capability.

[0006] Sport shoes should be improved in the heel area by a heel counter to provide additional support to the heel area of the foot. Heel counters are typically made from a firm material such as plastic, foam, or thermoplastic polyurethane, and are located at the back of the shoe's upper. The primary function of a heel counter is to prevent the heel from sliding around inside the shoe during movement. This helps to reduce the risk of blisters and other foot injuries, while also improving overall comfort and performance. Heel counters also provide additional support to the ankle, which can help to prevent ankle sprains and other injuries. There are different types of known heel counters that shoe developers can use to enhance the performance and comfort of sports shoes.

[0007] External heel counters are placed on the outside of the shoe's upper and are typically made of a firmer material than the rest of the upper. These heel counters provide additional support and stability to the heel, while also helping to prevent the foot from rolling inward or outward during movement.

[0008] Internal heel counters are located inside the shoe's upper, in the foot receiving cavity and are designed to provide additional support and stability to the heel area.

[0009] Molded heel counters are created by molding the shoe's upper and heel counter together, forming a seamless structure that provides additional support and stability. These heel counters can be made of a variety of materials, including foam, plastic, or TPU.

[0010] However, such known and used heel counters have so far not resulted in desired and sufficiently stable support structures, so that adjustable heel counters that allow the wearer to customize the fit and support of the shoe, have been introduced. These heel counters can be adjusted using straps, buckles, or other mechanisms, allowing the wearer to find the perfect fit for their foot. But these adjustable heel counters are more complicated in design and more prone to destruction and therefore rather disadvantageous.

[0011] To optimize known heel counter a padding has been added to keep the heel of a user well inside the heel portion of the upper. The heel counter ist made of a heat moldable material so that it can be molded according to the shape of the heel of the user. Wherein the padding is positioned around the top part of the heel counter, contribute to keep down the heel itself maintaning it the correct position inside the heel pocket of the upper.

[0012] Such elements are usually placed separated on the upper at the outside or inside of the upper at timely different stages of work, which complicates the production. Heel counter and padding may be partially misaligned or not perfectly aligned with each other and this could lead to an improper heel retention when not to some pain for the user. In this way, sports shoes with desired comfortable and sufficiently stable heel regions have not yet been achieved.

[0013] As can be seen for example in W02023009223, today, attempts are made to reinforce the verse area respectively the heel portion with an elaborate heel insert, which is installed in the interior of the upper. Such heel insert for an article of footwear that includes an upper defining a foot receiving cavity having an ankle opening, the heel insert comprising: a base configured to be operatively connected to a heel region of the upper; a spine extending outward from the base to a tip of the spine such that the spine extends upward along a posterior wall of the heel region toward the ankle opening when the base is operatively connected to the heel region, the tip of the spine being moveable relative to the base between a first position along a longitudinal axis of the article of footwear and a second position along the longitudinal axis of the article of footwear; and a spring operatively connected to the spine such that the spring biases the tip of the spine toward the first position of the tip, the tip of the spine being resiliently deflectable toward the second position against the bias of the spring.

[0014] Such solutions lead to much more complex manufacturing steps, not least to more expensive production, with the end results still leaving much to be desired in terms of wearing comfort. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] The object of the present invention is to improve a heel retention construction to be connected to an upper for optimzing a sports shoe, helping to improve overall performance and durability of the sports shoe, by providing extra support and stability, reducing the risk of injury and enhance the comfort of the wearer, particularly during high- impact activities.

[0016] Our development is characterized by its simplicity, robustness and low susceptibility to errors compared to known heel counters.

[0017] Another object of the subject matter of the invention is to provide a sport shoe and a manufacturing method of a sport shoe with such heel retention construction.

[0018] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Further understanding of various aspects of the invention can be obtained by reference to the following detailed description in conjunction with the associated drawings, which are described briefly below.

[0020] It should be noted that in the differently described embodiments, the same parts are provided with the same reference symbols or the same component names, the disclosures contained in the entire description being able to be applied analogously to the same parts with the same reference symbols or the same component symbols.

[0021] A preferred exemplary embodiment of the subject matter of the invention is described below in conjunction with the attached drawings. FIG. la is a perspective view of the medial side of a right sports shoe from behind with fixed heel reinforcement construction, while

[0022] FIG. lb is a perspective view of the lateral side of the sports shoe according Fig. la, showing the asymmetry of the heel reinforcement construction with padding.

[0023] FIG. 2a shows a top view of the outside of a sheetlike asymmetrical formed heel counter with two pads arranged separately from each other, while

[0024] FIG. 2b shows a cross section view of the heel counter along B-B' with its inner surface on the right side of FIG. 2b.

[0025] FIG. 3a shows an exploded view of a heel counter with cutouts and two pads before connection, while

[0026] FIG. 3b shows a top view of the outside of a sheetlike asymmetrical formed heel counter, while

[0027] FIG. 3c shows a a cross section view of the heel counter of FIG. 3b along A-A'.

[0028] DESCRIPTION

[0029] A resulting sports shoe 1, comprising an upper 2, a midsole 3 and an outsole 4 is shown in the figures la and lb from different perspectives. The upper 2 forms a shell around a foot receiving cavity 22 with access through a top opening 21. The upper 2 extends from a forefoot region 23 to a midfoot region 24 to a heel region 25, in which the heel of a user's foot comes to rest. Approximately in the midfoot region 24 of the upper 2, lacing means 26 are provided for closing the athletic shoe 1. The upper 2 has an inner surface facing the foot receiving cavity 22 and thus an inserted foot.

[0030] To prevent the foot from slipping out of the upper 2 or sports shoe 1 in the area of the heel region 25, a heel retention construction 5 is attached to the upper 2. The heel retention construction 5 is designed as a single piece respectively integrally formed by a heel counter 50 and a padding 51 and is preferably attached to the inner surface of the upper 2 at an optimum position. The heel counter 50 and a padding 51 are two joined parts forming the heel retention construction 5.

[0031] The heel counter 50 is made of soft thermoplastic materials or foams, most preferred TPU, neoprene, EVA, rubber or leather or combinations thereof.

[0032] The padding 51 in the form of several separate pads 510, 510' which are non-detachably attached to the heel counter 50 by means of bonding and / or sewing and / or stitching and / or ultra sound welding and / or gluing, is thus arranged at defined positions on the heel counter 50 before the entire heel retention construction 5 is attached to the upper 2. Thus, the relative positions of the padding 51 respectively of the pads 510 on the heel counter 50 remain secured, so that no slipping can occur during further processing of the upper 2 and also when wearing the sports shoe 1. Clearly, both the heel counter 50 and the padding 51 can be shaped in different ways to adapt different kind of shoes. Important is the fixation of the padding 51 at the heel counter 50 forming a one piece heel retention construction 5, before the resulting heel retention construction 5 will be attached to the upper 2 by gluing, sewing or stitching.

[0033] The pads 510 are attached to the upper edge of the heel counter 50 and form a unit with the heel counter 50 so that the heel counter 50 is bent over in the heel region 25 of the upper 2 and attached there in accordance with the shape of the upper 2. By upper edge is meant here the side of the heel counter 50 facing the top opening 21 of the upper 2 in the fastened state.

[0034] A first example of the heel retention construction 5, shown in Fig. la / lb is depicted in detail in figures 2a and 2b. The heel counter 50 of the heel retention construction 5 is shaped with an asymmetrical cross-sectional area in the longitudinal direction L or the envelope direction L, where the figure 2a looks at the outside 52 of heel counter 50.

[0035] The asymmetrical shape of the cross-sectional area in the longitudinal direction L or the envelope direction L is an extension of the cross- sectional area on the medial side of the upper 2 to better sustain and stablize the foot arch of a user. This helps to keep the foot in the best position for the heel part of the heel counter 50 and the padding 51 to effectively lock it.

[0036] In the upper edge area of the heel counter 50, two pads 510, 510' are attached to the inner surface of the heel counter 50. The two pads 510, 510' are directly attached via glue, ultra sound welding, sewing or stitching. As shown in figure 2b both raw pads 510, 510' are connected to the inner surface of the heel counter 50, pointing away from the inner surface.

[0037] The opposite outside 52 of the heel counter 50 faces inner surface of the upper 2 when the hell counter 50 is attached at the inner surface of the upper 2 in the heel region 25 and the inner surface of the heel counter 50 is facing the inserted foot directly. This can be used for more technical and athletic shoe in which precision is required.

[0038] Beside the sheetlike and asymmetrical formation of the heel counter 50, the at least two pads 510, 510' arranged separately from each other at the upper edge area of the heel counter 50, the selection of suitable materials and for best heel retention results.

[0039] The attachment position of the at least two pads 510, 510' in the area of the upper edge of the heel counter 50, should be at least in the upper third of the asymmetrical heel counter 50 in transverse direction or aligned with the upper edge.

[0040] Optionally, the pads 510 can be designed with or without a pad cover 511. The pad cover 511 is made of a textile or plastic and preferably completely surrounds the pad cover 511.

[0041] Another embodiment of the heel retention construction 5 is shown in Figures 3a to 3c. Here, the one-piece heel counter 50 is provided with two cutouts 53 at the upper edge and again has an asymmetrical base surface. The pads 510, 510' still lying loose in Figure 3a have additional pad covers 511 so that the pads 510, 510' are completely covered. The pad cover 511 or the cover edge 512 secures the pad 510, 510' to the heel counter 50 in the area of the cutout 53. The two pads 510, 510' are also arranged distributed asymmetrically along the length of the heel counter 50. In principle, the pads 510, 510' can be attached directly, if no pad covers 511 are used or by means of the pad covers 511 indirectly to the heel counter 50 by stitiching, glued or laminated.

[0042] The resulting one-piece retentin construction 5 will be subsequently attached to the inner surface or outer surface of the upper 2, by bonding or gluing, welding, stitching or sewing. Such particular heel retention construction 5 leaves a certain degree of adaptability to the padding 51, able to adapt to the shape of the user foot by slightly bending towards the outside, leaving for example more room for a bigger ankle.

[0043] The one-piece heel counter 50 with two pads 510, 510' is fused or bonded to the inner surface of the upper 2 by ultrasonic welding. With or without the use of a pad cover 511, an additional layer of textile may also be placed between pads 510, 510' and the heel counter 50. However, an additional textile layer can also be sewn onto the edges of the heel counter 50, spanning the heel counter 50. The textile layer is not depicted in the figures.

[0044] The pads 510, 510' are made of soft plastic materials or foam, most preferred of PU or EVA or rubber or combinations thereof or the at least two pads (510, 510') are obtained by knitted yarns or 3D printings.

[0045] The present disclosure describes particular embodiments and their detailed construction and operation. The embodiments described herein are set forth by way of illustration only and not limitation. Those skilled in the art will recognize, in light of the teachings herein, that there may be a range of equivalents to the exemplary embodiments described herein. Most notably, other embodiments are possible, variations can be made to the embodiments described herein, and there may be equivalents to the components, parts, or steps that make up the described embodiments. For the sake of clarity and conciseness, certain aspects of components or steps of certain embodiments are presented without undue detail where such detail would be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the teachings herein and / or where such detail would obfuscate an understanding of more pertinent aspects of the embodiments.

[0046] LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0047] 1 sports shoe

[0048] 2 upper

[0049] 21 top opening

[0050] 22 foot receiving cavity

[0051] 23 forefoot region

[0052] 24 midfoot region

[0053] 25 heel region

[0054] 26 lacing means

[0055] 3 midsole

[0056] 4 outsole

[0057] 5 Heel retention construction

[0058] 50 heel counter (one piece, asymmetrical cross-section area)

[0059] 51 padding

[0060] 510 pad

[0061] 511 pad cover

[0062] 512 cover edge

[0063] 52 outside of heel counter

[0064] 53 cutout

[0065] L longitudinal or envelope direction

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS1. Heel retention construction (5) for attachment to an upper (2) of a sports shoe (1), comprising a heel counter (50) and a padding (51), characterized in that the heel counter (50) has a sheetlike formation and an asymmetrical base in the longitudinal or the envelope direction (L), while at least two pads (510, 510') are arranged separately from each other and fixed at the upper edge area of the heel counter (50) at an inner surface of the heel counter (50) forming the heel retention construction (5) integrally by the heel counter (50) and the at least two pads (510, 510') of the padding (51), wherein the pads (510, 510') are non-detachably attached to the heel counter (50) by means of bonding and / or sewing and / or stitching and / or ultra sound welding and / or gluing in a secured relative position to the heel counter (50).

2. Heel retention construction (5) according to claim 1, wherein the attachment position of the at least two pads (510, 510') in the area of the upper edge of the heel counter (50), is done at least in the upper third of the asymmetrical heel counter (50) in transverse direction.

3. Heel retention construction (5) according to claim 1, wherein the at least two pads (510, 510') are distributed asymmetrically along the length (L) of the asymmetrical heel counter (50).

4. Heel retention construction (5) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the heel counter (50) is provided with two cutouts (53) at the upper edge region, wherein the at least two pads (510, 510') are partially fixed.

5. Heel retention construction (5) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least two pads (510, 510') are at least partly surrounded by a pad cover (511) made of a textile or plastics, and are indirectly attached via the pad cover (511) to the heel counter (50) by stitiching, gluing or lamination.

6. Heel retention construction (5) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the heel counter (50) is made of soft thermoplastic materials or foam, most preferred TPU, neoprene, EVA, rubber or leather or combinations thereof.

7. Heel retention construction (5) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least two pads (510, 510') are made of soft plastic materials or foam, most preferred of PU or EVA or rubber or combinations thereof or the at least two pads (510, 510') are obtained by knitted yarns or 3D printings.

8. Sports shoe (1), comprising an upper (2), a midsole (3) and an outsole (4), wherein a heel retention construction (5) according to one of the preceding claims is fixed at the inner surface of the upper (2).

9. Manufacturing method of a sport shoe (1) according to claim 8 with a fixed heel retention construction (5) according to one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized by the steps:- fusing two pads (510, 510') at the asymmetrical heel counter (50) by means of bonding and / or sewing and / or stitching and / or ultra sound welding and / or gluing and subsequently- fusing the one-piece heel counter (50) with the two pads (510,510') at the inner surface of the upper (2) of the sports shoe (1) by means of bonding and / or sewing and / or stitching and / or ultra sound welding and / or gluing.

Images