FOOTWEAR DEVICE WITH BIMODAL SOLE

Abstract

A shoe having a bimodal structure at a sole, the bimodal structure configured to selectively snap to at least one of a second position and a first position. The bimodal structure is a bendable structure that selectively snaps into the first position upon being subjected to a first bending force, and that selectively snaps into the second position upon being subjected to a second bending force, where the first bending force has an opposite direction to the second bending force. A downward force applied to a heel counter of the bimodal shoe while holding portions of the shoe forward from the bimodal structure stationary causes the bimodal structure to snap out of the second position.

Claims

1. A shoe, comprising: a sole structure; and an upper structure having an opening for inserting of a wearer's foot, the upper comprising a heel counter for surrounding the heel of a wearer's foot and a forefoot enclosing element, and wherein the opening expands to a first opening at a first position when the heel counter is rotated rearwardly relative to a rear of the sole, and contracts to a second opening at a second position when the heel counter is rotated forwardly relative to the rear of the sole, the first opening is larger than the second opening to facilitate entry of the wearer's foot; and a bimodal structure at a sole comprising a hollow half ellipsoid, or portion thereof, having a curved, hemispherical shape with an apex and at least one longitudinal end with an oval shaped base, manufactured of a flexible material and of a thickness as to permit a manufactured state with an upwardly convex configuration in the longitudinal direction of the sole structure when in a first position and a downwardly concave configuration in the longitudinal direction of the sole structure when in a second position, wherein the bimodal structure occupies a central portion of the sole forward of the heel counter, spanning forward and rearward portions of a sole, wherein the oval circumferential portion of the bimodal structure farther from the apex is under greater stored tension while the bimodal structure is between the first and second positions so that upon applying pressure to the apex when the bimodal structure is in the first position will cause it to snap into the second position bending the sole to secure the foot within the shoe, wherein the curved circumferential portion of the bimodal structure farther from the apex is under greater stored tension while the bimodal is between the first and second positions so that upon applying pressure to the apex when the bimodal structure is in the second position will cause it to snap into the first position bending the sole to permit placing or removal of a foot, and wherein the bimodal structure is at rest in the first and second positions.

2. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the sole structure includes a notch at the bimodal structure.

3. The shoe of claim 1, includes a lever device comprising: a rear tab affixed at the medial section of the upper heel counter or at a raised rear area of the sole; a heel at the sole structure with a front projecting; and a central heel projection at the front of the heel positioned below the pressure point of the bimodal structure; and wherein the rear tab and the front of heel form a lever with the rear of the heel as fulcrum, the tab, heel counter and heel constructed or reinforced of a semi-rigid material and design such that applying downward or rearward pressure to the tab applies upward directed pressure from the front of the heel to the pressure point of the bimodal structure, causing a heel counter to be in a rearward pivoted position, and wherein the rear tab and the front of the heel form a lever with the rear of the heel as fulcrum, the tab, heel counter and heel constructed or reinforced of a semi-rigid material and design such that applying downward pressure to the pressure point of the bimodal structure at the sole above the front of the heel applies upward and forward directed pressure from the front of the heel to the heel tab and counter, causing a heel counter to be in a forward pivoted position.

4. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the circumferential portion of the bimodal structure has one oval end and one tapered end.

5. The shoe of claim 1 wherein components of flexible material traverse from a narrower portion of the shoe to a wider portion of the shoe.

6. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the foot insertion opening presents dual flexible straps connecting laterally the heel counter and the forefoot enclosing element, constructed of a material that has greater stored tension in one position and less in another position, acquiring and releasing tension in conjunction with the change in shape of the sole and bimodal structure at and between a first and second positions.

7. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the upper includes flexible materials in the wall connecting laterally the heel counter and the forefoot enclosing element, constructed of a material that has greater stored tension in one position and less in another position, acquiring and releasing tension in conjunction with the change in shape of the sole and bimodal structure at and between a first and second positions.

8. A shoe comprising: a bimodal structure, the bimodal structure configured to selectively snap to at least one of a second position and a first position, wherein causing the bimodal structure to snap into the first position causes an opening of the bimodal shoe to change for receiving a foot in the bimodal shoe.

9. The shoe of claim 8, wherein causing the bimodal structure to snap into the second position causes an opening of the bimodal shoe to change for securing a foot received in the bimodal shoe.

10. The shoe of claim 8, wherein causing the bimodal structure to snap into the first position causes a heel counter of the shoe to pivot.

11. The shoe of claim 8, wherein the bimodal structure is a bendable structure that selectively snaps into the first position upon being subjected to a first bending force, and that selectively snaps into the second position upon being subjected to a second bending force, where the first bending force has an opposite direction to the second bending force.

12. The shoe of claim 8, wherein the bimodal structure is semi-spherical in at least one of the second position and the first position.

13. The shoe of claim 8, wherein the bimodal structure is concave in one of the second position and first position, and convex in another one of the second position and first position.

14. The shoe of claim 8, wherein the bimodal structure is located at a sole of the bimodal shoe.

15. The shoe of claim 8, wherein the bimodal structure is configured such that stepping in the shoe with a user's foot while the bimodal structure is in the first position causes the bimodal structure to snap into the second position.

16. The shoe of claim 8, wherein a downward force applied to a heel counter of the bimodal shoe while holding portions of the shoe forward from the bimodal structure stationary causes the bimodal structure to snap out of the second position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] The preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings provided to illustrate and not to limit the invention, where like designations denote like elements, and in which:

[0041] FIG. 1A presents a side view of an exemplary bimodal shoe including a bimodal clasp at a sole of the bimodal shoe, where the shoe is being donned, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

[0042] FIG. 1B presents a side view of the exemplary bimodal shoe of FIG. 1A, where the shoe has been donned, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

[0043] FIG. 1C presents a perspective view of a bimodal clasp separated from the shoe in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

[0044] FIG. 1D presents bottom view of the bimodal clasp installed in the shoe, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

[0045] FIG. 1E presents a bottom view of the bimodal clasp installed in the shoe, where a back of the bimodal clasp extends out from a heel of the shoe as a heel tab, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

[0046] FIG. 2A presents a side view of an exemplary bimodal shoe including a bimodal clasp at a heel counter of the bimodal shoe, where the shoe is being donned, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

[0047] FIG. 2B presents a side view of the exemplary bimodal shoe of FIG. 2A, where the shoe has been donned, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

[0048] FIG. 2C presents exemplary side arms of a bimodal structure, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

[0049] FIG. 2C presents a rotated view of the bimodal structure of FIG. 2C, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

[0050] FIG. 3A presents a side view of an exemplary bimodal shoe including a bimodal spherical structure at a sole of the bimodal shoe, where the shoe is being donned, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

[0051] FIG. 3B presents a side view of the exemplary bimodal shoe of FIG. 3A, where the shoe has been donned, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

[0052] FIG. 3C presents a perspective view of a detached sole of the bimodal shoe, where the bimodal structure is incorporated into the sole having a curved three-dimensional profile or shape, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

[0053] FIG. 3D a presents a top view of a detached sole of the bimodal shoe, where the bimodal structure is incorporated into the sole having a curved three-dimensional profile or shape, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

[0054] FIG. 3E shows the bimodal structure having a three-dimensional curved profile, in a first position and a second position, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

[0055] FIG. 3F shows a bottom view of the bimodal shoe having a three-dimensional curved bimodal structure configured for pivoting a heel counter of the bimodal shoe, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

[0056] FIG. 4A presents a side view of an exemplary bimodal shoe including a bimodal spherical structure at heel counter of the bimodal shoe, where the shoe is being donned, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

[0057] FIG. 4B presents a side view of the exemplary bimodal shoe of FIG. 4A, where the shoe has been donned, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

[0058] FIG. 4C presents a side view of an exemplary bimodal shoe including a bimodal spherical structure at the heel counter of the bimodal shoe, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure with the detachable portion of the bimodal structure permitting the bimodal structure to deform upward, and further permitting the heel of the user to come down directly on the pressure point when the shoe is to be donned, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

[0059] FIG. 4D presents a bimodal spherical structure separated from a heel counter of the bimodal shoe, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

[0060] FIG. 4E presents a perspective view of a bimodal shoe, where a bimodal structure extends from a sole of the shoe into a heel counter of the shoe, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

[0061] FIG. 4F presents a perspective view of a bimodal shoe having a back sole that rises upwards behind the heel counter, the hack sole being configured to convert downward pressure on the back sole into focused pressure at the single pressure point that activates a bimodal structure, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

[0062] FIG. 4G presents a perspective view of a bimodal structure that is attachable to both a heel counter and a sole of a shoe, having arms that separate when moving between a first and second position, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

[0063] FIG. 5A presents a side view of an exemplary bimodal shoe including a bimodal dimple structure at sole of the bimodal shoe, where the shoe is being donned and the dimple adopts a first position, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

[0064] FIG. 5B presents a side view of the shoe of FIG. 5A, where the shoe has been donned and the dimple adopts as second position, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

and

[0065] FIG. 5C presents a perspective view of the shoe of FIG. 5A, where the shoe has been donned and the dimple adopts the second position, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0066] Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0067] The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word exemplary or illustrative means serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any implementation described herein as exemplary or illustrative is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms upper, lower, left, rear, right, front, vertical, horizontal, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in FIG. 1. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

[0068] As shown throughout the figures, disclosed is a bimodal shoe 100. The bimodal shoe 100 may include a bimodal structure 102. The bimodal structure 102 may be configured to selectively snap to a first position 104 and a second position 106. The bimodal structure 102 may take any appropriate form such as a 3-point clasp, selectively invertible dimple, snap, a half hollow hemisphere, a half-cylinder, a torus, oval, half-ellipse, hollow half-ellipse, walnut shape, stadium arch, circle or similar shapes all of varying scalings. The bimodal structure may be an added element to the shoe or may be incorporated into the structure of the shoe itself. The bimodal structure may span between both a heel counter and a sole of a shoe. For example, FIG. 4G presents a perspective view of a bimodal structure that is attachable to both a heel counter and a sole of a shoe, having arms that separate when moving between a first and second position.

[0069] It is to be understood, that the bimodal shoe 100 may be embodied as a sandal or any appropriate footwear.

[0070] An opening 108 of the bimodal shoe 100 may open, expand, or separate, in response to the bimodal structure 102 snapping into the first position 104 starting from the second position 106. The opening 108 may close, contract, or come together in response to the bimodal structure 102 snapping into the second position 106 stalling from the first position 104. Therefore, causing the bimodal structure 102 to snap into the first position 104 may cause the opening 108 of the bimodal shoe 100 to change for receiving a foot 302 in the bimodal shoe 100. Further, causing the bimodal structure 102 to snap into the second position 106 may cause an opening 108 of the bimodal shoe 100 to change (e.g. become smaller) for securing a foot 302 already received in the bimodal shoe 100. It is understood that numerous parts of the shoe 160, such as the shoe wall, sole, heel counter, top lines, quarter panel, tongue, midsole, or stitch seam made of material with or without flexible properties, will be deformed, pushed, pulled, tightened, stretched, constricted or otherwise change structure depending on the different states 104 or 106, and said shoe structures will aid in the securing or removal of the shoe to the foot 302, with the possible addition of strings, laces, straps, loops, bells, elastics, ribs, ropes, and other forms, and these variations of construction do not represent a unique utility, nor represent a distinction from the basic functionally derived from the bimodal shoe as described in this disclosure.

[0071] A wearer may press their foot 302 applying downward pressure into the bimodal shoe 100 when the bimodal structure 102 is in the first position 104 to cause the bimodal structure 102 to adopt or snap into the second position 106 and secure the wearer's foot 302 in the shoe by causing the opening 108 to secure the wearer's foot (e.g. grip the foot or ankle), hands-free.

[0072] The illustrations show various ways the opening responds to various configurations of the bimodal structure adopting the second position 106 and the first position 104. For example, the opening 108 may expand backwardly with respect to a front of the bimodal shoe 100. Likewise downward pressure causing the bimodal structure 102 to snap into the first position 104 may cause a heel counter 110 of the bimodal shoe 100 to pivot downward. As shown in FIGS. 2A, and 4A, causing the bimodal structure 102 to snap into the first position 104 may cause a heel counter 110 to deform. Therefore, to deform the opening 108, the heel counter 110 may pivot from or near a vicinity of the bimodal structure 102, or alternatively the heel counter 110 may deform, depending on where the bimodal structure 102 is located, it is to be understood that the bimodal structure could be configured to snap (e.g. to be held by its own structural properties) into only one of the first or second positions.

[0073] In embodiments where the bimodal structure 102 is located at the sole, the sole may be configured to bend near a vicinity of the bimodal structure 102 such that the heel counter 110 pivots. For example, as shown throughout the figures, a notch 118 in the sole may help allow the sole to bend near a vicinity of the bimodal structure 102 and also can contain an area that can provide the focused upward pressure to activate the bimodal structure. A wearer may press their opposite foot to the back heel tab when the bimodal structure is in position 106, utilizing connected firm elements of the heel counter or sole as a general lever as represented by vector diagram 144 in FIG. 1B, causing the downward motion to rock the back heel and heel counter as a pivot point, with the sole area 118 causing upward pressure on the pressure sensitive area of the bimodal structure 102 to cause the bimodal shoe to snap into position 104, as shown in FIGS. 1A, 3A, and 5A. For example, such a heel tab may be a back portion of the bimodal structure 102 (e.g. clasp) that extends out from a heel of the shoe, as shown in FIG. 1E. However, as shown in 1D, the bimodal structure (e.g. clasp) may be completely within the shoe.

[0074] In embodiments where the bimodal structure 102 is located to cause the heel counter 110 to deform; as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, and 4A-4C, the bimodal structure 102 may extend from or near the sole 114 to the upper portion 116 of the heel counter 110.

[0075] In embodiments where the bimodal structure 102 is located to cause the heel counter 110 to deform: as shown in FIG. 4C, the bimodal structure 102 may extend from or near the sole 114 to the upper portion 116 of the heel counter 110. The back portion of the rear heel collar 161 may be separated from the sole as to enable an upward or downward deformation when the bimodal structure is activated.

[0076] As shown in FIGS. 1A-1E, 2A, and 2B, the bimodal structure 102 may be a 3-point clasp or similar structure incorporated in the sole itself. For example, the clasp structure may be a three point clasp that snaps into the second position 106 and the first position 104 according to a transverse displacement of a central portion of the clasp. Displacing a central point of the clasp to relative to longitudinal ends of the clasp causes the clasp to snap into a position of stored mechanical energy due to its own mechanical and structural properties or geometry. This description and functionality appropriately may apply to any bimodal structure described herein.

[0077] As shown in FIG. 1C, the clasp may include two bands 162 that are forced toward another in one of the second position 106 and the first position 104 (e.g. the bands may be spring biased with respect to one another according to displacement of a trigger or pressure point of the bimodal structure). The two bands 162 of the clasp are manufactured to have greatest stored tension at a midpoint between two operable positions, and thus may become forced to snap to one or the other rest positions, effecting the second position 106 or the first position 104. As shown in FIG. 2A, the bands 162 may be attached to an upper portion of the heel counter 110 such that the upper portion expands in two dimensions (e.g. back and forth and side to side) when the clasp is in the first position. Such bands may be applied to the configuration of the bimodal structure shown in FIG. 4G, where the bands separate when the concavity or curvature of the bimodal structure is reversed. For example, FIG. 3E shows the bimodal structure having a three-dimensional curved profile, in a first position 301 (e.g. popped in) and a second position 303 (e.g. popped out). FIG. 3F shows a bottom view of the bimodal shoe having a three-dimensional curved bimodal structure configured for pivoting a heel counter of the bimodal shoe.

[0078] As shown in FIGS. 3A-4C, the bimodal structure 102 may be semi-spherical, generally spherical, hemi-spherical, or partially spherical, in at least one of the second position 106 and the first position 104. For example, the spherical bimodal structure 102 may snap into the second position 106 and the first position 104 according to a transverse displacement of a central portion of the spherical bimodal structure 102 relative to ends of the bimodal structure 102. As shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4E the sole 114 may extend externally up to the middle portion 116 of the heel counter 110, forming back flared heel area 188 or back sole 141 (FIG. 4F) that rises upwards behind the heel counter, converting downward pressure on the back tab or shape into focused pressure to the singular pressure point that can activate the bimodal structure 102. A pressure point of the bimodal structure may be a point which displaces past a threshold distance with respect to edges or ends of the bimodal structure to cause the bimodal structure to snap into at least one of the first and second positions for donning or doffing the shoe, respectively. Such a pressure point may also be referred to as a trigger point or displacement point or inversion point. The pressure point may be a point of the bimodal structure that has a maximum displacement moving between the first and second positions.

[0079] As shown in FIG. 1B, in the second position 106, the bimodal structure 102 is curved downward such that, an apex of the bimodal structure 102 is downwardly located with respect to a top of the bimodal shoe 100. Further as shown in FIG. 1A, in the first position 104, the bimodal structure 102 is curved upward such that an apex of the bimodal structure 102 is upwardly located with respect to a bottom of the bimodal shoe 100. As shown in FIG. 2A, a downward force on the upper portion 116 of the heel counter or heel tab 110 may cause the bimodal structure 102 to curve inwardly toward a front of the bimodal shoe, causing the bimodal structure 102 to adapt the first position 104. As shown in FIG. 1E, the bimodal structure 102 may also extend out of the heel forming the back heel tab itself.

[0080] As an example, the bimodal structure 102 may be curved in at least one of the second position 106 and the first position 104. Therefore, the bimodal structure 102 may be concave in at least one of the second position 106 and the first position 104. In another example, the bimodal structure 102 may be concave in one of the second position 106 and first position 104, and convex in another (e.g. opposite) one of the second position 106 and first position 104.

[0081] The bimodal structure 102 may be configured such that the bimodal structure 102 has a higher elastic potential energy stored as a result of being deformed to one of the second position 106 and the first position 104, and has a lower elastic potential energy in-between the second position 106 and the first position 104. In other words, the bimodal structure is a bendable structure that selectively snaps into the first position upon being subjected to a first bending force or displacement (e.g. at a pressure point), and that selectively snaps into the second position upon being subjected to a second bending force or displacement (e.g. at a pressure point), where the first bending force or displacement has an opposite direction to the second bending force or displacement. Therefore, in the second position 106 and first position 104 the bimodal structure 102 may be selectively locked into a stable and tensioned first or second position, while still holding its higher elastic potential energy. This configuration allows a user to overcome a threshold tension held by the bimodal structure 102 in the first or second positions to cause the bimodal structure 102 to move and subsequently selectively lock and snap into an opposite first or second position. For example, a user may simply press their foot into the shoe to snap the bimodal structure into the second position, and use their other foot to apply a downward lever-like force on a heel of the shoe while the shoe is already donned to cause the bimodal structure to snap out of the second position and/or snap into the first position (e.g. see FIGS. 2A and 2B). For example, a front of the user's foot may press against a top of the shoe opening, causing a general fulcrum point about a longitudinal center of the shoe, allowing the user to subsequently apply a lever force downwardly using their other foot on a heel of the shoe to cause the shoe to snap out of the second position. In other words, a front of a user's received foot (e.g. stepping on the ball of their foot, raising their own foot heel) applies an upward force (e.g. attempting to raise) to the shoe while the other foot can be used to snap the shoe out of the second position by applying a downward force onto the heel. For example, the bimodal structure is configured such that a net downward force applied to a heel counter of the bimodal shoe while the user's foot is received in the bimodal shoe, and while the user applies an upward force using a top of their foot by raising their heel and keeping the ball of their foot planted, causes the bimodal structure to snap out of the second position. Therefore, a net downward force (or displacement of) on the heel counter with respect forward, or other, portions of the shoe snaps the shoe out of the second position. In other words, holding frontal portions (or portions in front of a pivot point, or pressure point) of the shoe in place while applying a downward force on the heel causes the bimodal structure to snap out of the second position. A downward force applied to a heel counter of the bimodal shoe while holding portions of the shoe forward from the bimodal structure and away from the heel counter stationary causes the bimodal structure to snap out of the second position and into the first position. This allows the bimodal shoe to be doffed hands-free by snapping out of the second position.

[0082] As shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 3A, 3B, and 5A-5C, the bimodal structure 102 may be located at a sole 114, midsole, heel corner (FIG. 4G) (e.g. where the heel and the sole meet) or foot bed of the bimodal shoe 100, or a combination thereof. For example, the bimodal structure 102 may be located below a wearer's actual foot heel, or actual foot sole, such that the wearer's heel may apply force to the, bimodal structure 102 when it is in the first position 104 to cause the bimodal structure 102 to lock into the second position 106 for donning the shoe hands-free.

[0083] As shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, 4A, and 4B, 4C, the bimodal structure 102 may be located at a heel counter 110 of the bimodal shoe 100. As part of the heel counter 110, the bimodal structure may include a curvedly invertible portion and an upper portion. The upper portion may include two side bands 162 (FIG. 2C) that are attached to the opening 108 such that when the bimodal structure switches from the second position 106 to the first position 104 the arms of the bimodal structure 102 separate and cause the opening to become larger for receiving a foot. Additionally, the bimodal structure may be configured for the opposite to occur.

[0084] As shown in FIGS. 5A-5C, the bimodal structure 102 may be or include a dimple 502 that may have the some or all the same structural functionality as any of the bimodal structures described herein. The dimple 502 may be located at an internal portion 504 of a shoe's sole 506, as shown in FIG. 5C.

[0085] In conclusion, disclosed is a shoe that enables fast and easy placement and removal of shoes that is hands-free, and at the same time that permits structural support and gripping of the ankle thus permitting running and fast walking. When the user desires to remove the shoe the user may push down on their foot on the back of an opposite heel's tab to force the bimodal structure and/or the shoe to pop or lock open. This functionality may be provided by a snap clip or similar shape integrated into the sole or projecting from a back, with space between, such that upon being fastened together produces a slight twist bowing slightly in a direction transversely of a length of the sole or clip, causing the arms to flex to a concave-convex condition (selectively). Downward pressure of a user's foot heel entering the shoe may push the bowed ends back to a reverse concave-convex condition, to snap back into the non-inverted position. A semi sphere may have a similar ability to snap into either an inverted or non-inverted position upon receiving similar forces. It is to be understood that the bimodal shoe may include multiple bimodal structures described above in multiple locations, as appropriate.

[0086] Since many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.