Rapid-entry footwear with rebounding fit system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12102178-B2
Application number	US-202217883384-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 8, 2022
Priority date	Apr 22, 2016
Publication date	Oct 1, 2024
Grant date	Oct 1, 2024

Abstract

A rapid-entry and rebounding fit shoe having one or both of a rapid-entry heel element and a rapid-entry tongue element and both snap back for fit. The rapid-entry shoe directs a user's foot into or otherwise accommodates a user's foot with respect to, a shoe opening, and thereafter secures a rear portion of rapid-entry shoe about a user's heel as well as forefoot.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A rapid-entry shoe, comprising:
a sole;
an upper; and
a heel structure provided at a rear portion of the upper, the heel structure comprising:
a deformable element configured to move from an uncompressed state to a compressed state in response to an applied force the deformable element comprising:
a first side coupling the deformable element to the sole of the rapid-entry shoe on a lateral side of the rapid-entry shoe;
a second side coupling the deformable element to the sole of the rapid-entry shoe on a medial side of the rapid-entry shoe, wherein a location at which the second side is coupled to the sole of the rapid-entry shoe on the medial side of the rapid-entry shoe is parallel to a location at which the first side is coupled to the sole of the rapid-entry shoe on the lateral side of the rapid-entry shoe; and
a heel piece provided between the first side and the second side, the heel piece having a first bridge and a second bridge, the first bridge and the second bridge defining an opening, the heel piece securing at least a rear portion of the upper to the heel structure.

2. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 1 , wherein the deformable element moves from the compressed state to the uncompressed state in approximately two-tenths of a second when the applied force is removed.

3. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 1 , wherein the deformable element is a single, unitary structure.

4. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 1 , wherein a first portion of the deformable element between the first side and the heel piece transitions from a first thickness to a second thickness as the first portion extends from the first side to a first side of the heel piece.

5. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 1 , wherein a second portion of the deformable element between the second side and the heel piece transitions from a first thickness to a second thickness as the second portion extends from the second side to a second side of the heel piece.

6. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 4 , wherein the first portion is tapered along its length.

7. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 5 , wherein the second portion is tapered along its length.

8. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 4 , wherein at least a portion of the first portion extends outward relative to a vertical axis of the heel structure.

9. A rapid-entry shoe, comprising:
a sole;
an upper; and
a heel structure at least partially surrounding an outside surface of a rear portion of the upper, the heel structure comprising:
a deformable element, comprising:
a contoured heel piece coupled to the rear portion of the upper;
a first end coupled to a lateral side of the sole of the rapid-entry shoe and extending from the lateral side of the sole of the rapid-entry shoe to a first side of the contoured heel piece; and
a second end coupled to a medial side of the sole of the rapid-entry shoe and extending from the medial side of the sole of the rapid-entry shoe to a second side of the contoured heel piece, wherein the contoured heel piece, the first end and the second end form a single, continuous structure, such that the contoured heel piece is positioned between the first end and the second end.

10. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the contoured heel piece is rotatable about an axis.

11. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 9 , wherein a first portion of the deformable element between the first end and the first side of the contoured heel piece transitions from a first thickness to a second thickness as the first portion extends from the first end to the first side of the contoured heel piece.

12. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 9 , wherein a second portion of the deformable element between the second end and the second side of the contoured heel piece transitions from a first thickness to a second thickness as the second portion extends from the second end to the second side of the contoured heel piece.

13. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 9 , wherein the contoured heel piece comprises a sloping portion.

14. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 11 , wherein the first portion is tapered along its length.

15. A rapid-entry shoe, comprising:
a sole;
an upper; and
a heel structure at least partially surrounding an outside surface of a rear portion of the upper, the heel structure comprising:
a deformable element, comprising:
a first end coupled to the sole on a lateral side of the rapid-entry shoe;
a second end coupled to the sole on a medial side of the rapid-entry shoe opposite from the first end; and
a substantially planar heel piece provided at the rear portion;
wherein the substantially planar heel piece is continuous with and between the first end and the second end;
wherein the substantially planar heel piece comprises an upper bridge and a lower bridge defining an opening between the upper bridge and the lower bridge; and
wherein at least a portion of the upper is coupled between the upper bridge and the lower bridge.

16. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 15 , wherein the deformable element moves from an uncompressed state to a compressed state in response to an applied force.

17. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 16 , wherein the deformable element moves from the compressed state to the uncompressed state in approximately two-tenths of a second when the applied force is removed.

18. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 15 , wherein the deformable element is a single, unitary structure.

19. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 15 , wherein a portion of the deformable element transitions from a first thickness to a second thickness as the portion extends between the first end and the substantially planar heel piece.

20. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 19 , wherein the portion of the deformable element is coupled to at least a portion of the upper.

Assignees

• Fast Ip Llc

Inventors

• Pratt Michael James
• Hermann Steven
• Lytle Seth
• Tsen James Kuangcheng

Classifications

• A43B11/00

  Footwear with arrangements to facilitate putting-on or removing, e.g. with straps · CPC title

• A43B23/28

  Devices to put in shoes in order to prevent slipping at the heel or to prevent abrading the stockings · CPC title

• A43B23/088

  Heel stiffeners (A43B23/10, A43B23/14, A43B23/16, A43B23/17 take precedence) · CPC title

• A43B23/26 Primary

  Tongues for shoes · CPC title

• A43B23/0275

  with a part of the upper particularly rigid, e.g. resisting articulation or torsion · CPC title