FOOTWEAR DEVICES

Abstract

A footwear device (15, 18, 19, 20, 50, 60,70, 80) has a body comprising one or more strips or sheets of material. Footwear device has an outerside (6) and a footwear contact underside (7). The one or more strips or sheets of material may be resiliently deformable material. An adhesive (8) may be disposed on the footwear contact underside (7).

Claims

1. A footwear device having a body comprising at least one strip or sheet of material, said strip of material having an outerside and a footwear contact underside; wherein said material comprises resiliently deformable material, and wherein an adhesive is disposed on the footwear contact underside.

2. The footwear device according to claim 1 wherein said resiliently deformable material comprises rubber.

3. The footwear device according to claim 2, wherein said rubber comprises natural rubber, polyurethane, or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) compounds.

4. The footwear device according to claim 2, wherein said rubber comprises die cut rubber.

5. The footwear device according to claim 1, wherein the underside of said strip of material, in an unstretched state, has a curved and/or stepped shaped profile corresponding substantially to the profile of a portion of an outerside of the footwear to which the footwear device underside is to be applied.

6. The footwear device of claim 5, wherein said underside, in an unstretched state, has a substantially concave shape.

7. The footwear device according to claim claim 5, wherein, in an unstretched state, at least a portion of said underside is shaped to have a profile corresponding substantially to the profile of the toe box of the footwear outerside and is nestable thereon.

8. The footwear device of claim 7, wherein, in an unstretched state, at least a portion of said underside is shaped to have a profile corresponding substantially to a curved profile of the vamp of the footwear and is nestable thereon.

9. The footwear device according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said footwear device, in an unstretched state, is shaped in the form of a truncated cap or cup and is nestable with the toe of the footwear.

10. The footwear device of claim 10, wherein said truncated cap has a nose at one end and an open mouth at the opposite end, and wherein a tongue extends upwardly and rearwardly from an intermediate portion of said nose, and wherein wings extend substantially uninclined rearwardly from the nose on either side of said tongue, and wherein open spaces or perforations are located between said wings and said tongue.

11. The footwear device of claim 9, wherein said truncated cap comprises a splayed hemispherical dome.

12. The footwear device according to claim 1, wherein a backing layer releasably covers said adhesive.

13. The footwear device according to claim 1, wherein said outerside has an upper portion and a lower portion, where said upper portion has a pattern or style resembling a style or pattern of the footwear upper/toe box and wherein said lower portion has a pattern or style resembling a pattern or style of the sole edge of the footwear.

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

17. The footwear device according to claim 1, wherein the outer side includes indentation, and optionally wherein the indentions comprise a repeating pattern.

18. (canceled)

19. (canceled)

20. The footwear device according to claim 1, wherein the body comprises a planar sheet of 35-45 durometer die cut rubber.

21. The footwear device according claim 1, wherein the body includes extending portions.

22. The footwear device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a fan shape with extending portions.

23. The footwear device according to claim 1 wherein the device comprises a substantially triangular shape.

24. (canceled)

25. (canceled)

26. The footwear device according to claim 1, comprising beads embedded in the outerside of said footwear, and the outerside comprises raised and lowered parts.

27. (canceled)

28. (canceled)

29. An item of footwear including thereon a footwear device according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The following detailed description aspects of the present technology will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the present technology, there are shown in the drawings embodiments, which are presently preferred. It is understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings:

[0008] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of an embodiment of the device according to the present technology;

[0009] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1;

[0010] FIGS. 3 and 4 show diagrammatic views of the footwear device according to another embodiment;

[0011] FIG. 5 shows an isometric detail view of the outer side of the footwear device according to an embodiment;

[0012] FIG. 6 shows a side view of a footwear device according to another embodiment of the present technology;

[0013] FIG. 7 shows an underside view of the footwear device of FIG. 6;

[0014] FIG. 8 shows a front outer side perspective view taken from above of the footwear device of FIG. 6;

[0015] FIG. 9 shows an under side perspective view take from below of the footwear device in FIG. 6;

[0016] FIG. 10 shows a front outer side perspective view taken from above of the footwear device of FIG. 6;

[0017] FIG. 11 shows a front outer side perspective view of a footwear device according to another embodiment of the present technology;

[0018] FIG. 12 shows an underside perspective view of the footwear of FIG. 11;

[0019] FIG. 13 shows a side view of a footwear device according to yet another embodiment of the present technology;

[0020] FIG. 14 shows a front outerside perspective view taken from above of the device of FIG. 13;

[0021] FIG. 15 shows a top plan view of the footwear device of FIG. 13;

[0022] FIG. 16 shows an underside perspective view taken from below the device of FIG. 13;

[0023] FIGS. 17 and 18 show a plan and an perspective view, respectively, of a footwear device according yet another embodiment of the present technology;

[0024] FIGS. 19 and 20 show a plan and a perspective view, respectively, of a footwear device according to yet another embodiment of the present technology; and

[0025] FIGS. 21 to 23 show perspective views of respective embodiments of the footwear device in use on variant footwear.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] In the following description, for purposes of explanation and not limitation, specific details are set forth, such as particular embodiments, procedures, techniques, etc. in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present technology. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present technology may be practiced in other embodiments that depart from these specific details.

[0027] Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words right, left, top, and bottom designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words a and one, as used in the claims and in the corresponding portions of the specification, are defined as including one or more of the referenced item unless specifically stated otherwise. This terminology includes the words above specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import. The phrase at least one followed by a list of two or more items, such as A, B, or C, means any individual one of A, B or C as well as any combination thereof. Furthermore, one or more features in the drawings may not be drawn to scale or may be omitted with a view to clarifying features. For example, the adhesive backing layer and protective layer of FIG. 2 are shown having a thickness that may not be to scale.

[0028] Technical features described in this application can be used to construct various embodiments of a footwear device. In one approach, the footwear device has a body comprising one or more strips or sheets of material. The footwear device has an outerside and a footwear contact underside. The one or more strips or sheets of material are resiliently deformable material and an adhesive is disposed on the footwear contact underside.

[0029] In some embodiments, the footwear contact underside or face is smooth, so as to advantageously provide a smooth surface for adhesion. In other embodiments, the body is indented on either face wherein the contact underside comprises indentations for enhanced or reduced adhesion, and so as to advantageously improve adhesion in relation to subordinate textured surfaces.

[0030] In this way the device may be arranged for adherence to an article of footwear. Advantageously this allows a user to patch over a tear or other damage on the footwear.

[0031] In some embodiments, the outer side comprises raised and lowered parts and/or topical colouring. For example, in this way the raised and lowered parts may provide an interesting or aesthetically pleasing appearance, so as to provide greater desirability and/or higher chances for footwear-combining.

[0032] In some embodiments, the device comprises an outer side arranged to allow deformation of the body.

[0033] For example, in some embodiments the outer side may be perforated so as to provide indentations or perforations in the body. The indentations may be in the outer line of the device, or may be in the body so as to approximate the faces or sides.

[0034] In this way the body may be allowed to deform. For example, the indentations or perforations may cause lines or points of weakness in the device, so as to permit easy shaping of the body around the footwear, and/or increase elasticity locally.

[0035] In some embodiments, the body is shaped in relation to usage, for example wherein a plurality of devices are available with a plurality of differing indentations in form.

[0036] In some embodiments, form indentations or perforations allow for increased deformation in the device. Such perforations in some embodiments comprise slots in the outer sides and body so as to allow overlapping of the device. Such indentations may for example comprise extending arms or wings from a main body, so as to allow bracing or wrapping.

[0037] In some embodiments, the indentations provide raised and lowered parts in the body, such that the body comprises a plurality of different depths of material. In this way advantageously the body is provided with predetermined lines or points of weakness, and is consequently better enabled to fold effectively at these lines or points. In this way the device may be formed to suit particular zones of an article of footwear, for example wherein toe cap devices may comprise an indented form and/or lines of weakness so as to permit the device to be minimised and/or overlapped when folding about or around the toe cap.

[0038] In some embodiments, indentations may provide a regularised or standardised pattern of indentation across the device, so as to allow for increased deformation in a plurality of directions. For example, in some embodiments the pattern may comprise a repeating pattern or template of incisions or indentations.

[0039] The device may be a monolithic part, wherein the faces are comprised by surfaces of the body. In some embodiments, the device is formed in resiliently deformable material. In some embodiments, this material is elastic, advantageously so as to increase conformability to the footwear, and/or increase likelihood of adhesion. In other embodiments the material may be substantially inelastic, advantageously such that no reverse pressure or force is placed on any adhesive material, such that the adhesive is not strained.

[0040] In some embodiments, the body has internal variation, for example wherein in some embodiments the body is thickened or strengthened in some areas and thinned or minimised in others. For example, in some embodiments the body comprises a plurality of materials and/or structures. In some embodiments, the body includes local reinforcement, and/or an internal skeleton.

[0041] For example in some embodiments, the body includes lines of weakness and/or preformed fold lines. In this way such embodiments are enabled to form a substantially rigid shell or independent structure, which structure may limit ingress or further damage to damaged footwear.

[0042] In some embodiments, the device is planar and of a substantially triangular form, wherein the triangular form has radiused corners. In this way the device may be utilised in a plurality of locations on an article of footwear, and provide a plurality of potential shapes, wherein each corner provides an extending spur for usage. The body is secured to the shoe with the hypotenuse of the triangle or one side of the tear drop shape extending generally fore and aft of the sole and with the thicker side of the shape adjacent an edge of the sole.

[0043] In order further to describe the aforementioned and other embodiments, reference will now be made to the accompany drawings. FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of the footwear device. Footwear device 15 has a body comprising a strip or sheet of resiliently deformable material having an underside 7 for contacting the outerside of footwear. The resiliently deformable material is rubber but may be other materials in some other embodiments. Some non-limiting examples of footwear 100, 110 and 120 are shown in FIGS. 21 to 23. In some embodiments, the footwear is a shoe.

[0044] In the footwear device embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the sheet is a planar sheet of die cut natural rubber sheet 35-45 durometer with a contact underside 7. In some other embodiments, the die cut natural rubber sheet has a durometer great or less than 35-45. Disposed on and covering underside 7 is an adhesive layer 8, such as 3M VHB 4932 tape or other adhesive material with similar properties, for example a firm, double-sided, pressure-sensitive, closed-cell acrylic foam tape. In this embodiment the adhesive layer is made from an adhesive that has bonding properties sufficient to permanently adhere the footwear contact underside to the footwear to which it is to be applied.

[0045] A protective backing layer 9 is releaseably disposed on adhesive layer 8 to protect adhesive layer 8 when footwear device 15 is being handled or stored prior to application to footwear 100, 110 and/or 120. Preparatory to applying footwear device 15 to the footwear, backing layer 9 may be peeled away from the adhesive layer 8 (see for example FIG. 2), or in some other way removed from adhesive layer 8, to expose the adhesive ready for permanently bonding footwear device 15 to the footwear. Note that this adhesive layer 8 and optional backing layer 9 may be adopted in conjunction with any or all of the other embodiments illustrated in the accompanying figures.

[0046] In some embodiments, as for example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in its undeformed or unstretched state, the footwear material strip is shaped substantially in the form of a planar triangle. In some embodiments, the triangle is a reuleaux triangle, wherein like a circle, it has constant width, no matter how it is oriented. In addition or the alternative, the triangle provides three extending portions which permit greater variance in use.

[0047] In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the shape of footwear device 15 comprises a flattened isosceles triangle with a long straight base 2 opposite a curved apex, which apex joins two substantially equal arcuate sides 1 and which sides join the straight base at curved corners 4. The curved apexes or corners 4, arcuate convex sides 1 and long straight base 2 together with the resilient deformable material enables footwear device 15 to be easily applied to the footwear and to easily cover patches on the side of the footwear whilst allowing the footwear device to stretch thereby complimenting the footwear form. This particular triangle shape of the footwear device in its unstretched state also performs well at patching the front toe since it doesn't completely wrap the toe box and the straight base allows the footwear device to be applied with the long straight base extending laterally along the bottom portion of the footwear upper and even the sole of the footwear, as necessary. The shape furthermore reduces the need for separate side and front pieces as the device may be applied to wherever there is a hole or wear.

[0048] In some other embodiments, the long base may be a slightly arcuate or convex shape. FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate footwear device 18 which is similar to device 15 but having such a curved long base according to one embodiment. In some other embodiments the device may be circular.

[0049] In some embodiments, footwear device outerside 6 includes patterning of indentations 10. FIG. 5 illustrates footwear device 19 which is similar to footwear device 18 but with outer side 6 having isometric patterning of indentation lines 10 describing repeating rhombi. Surface patterns help the device wrap around complex curves of footwear and the isometric grid pattern improves wrap of the device around the front toe; wherein the isometric pattern advantageously allows for deformation in a plurality of directions and locations, across a large number of intersecting axes, wherein the triangular indentation lines echo and subdivide the overall device shape.

[0050] The indentation may comprise small perforations in some further embodiments. The indentation is in the outer face solely, such that a smooth contact underside is provided for an adhesive layer. The indentations are formed by indented lines of repeated interlocking triangular forms.

[0051] In some other embodiments, the strip or sheet material of the footwear device is shaped to form a truncated cap or truncated box which is nestable with the toe box portion and optionally the sole portion of the shoe or other footwear. The truncated cap is the form of cup or cap which is truncated along a generally central axis extending from the cap mouth to the cap bottom. In some embodiments, the footwear truncated cap in its unstretched state has a form reassembling the outer profile of the nose of the shoe to which is to be applied. In other embodiments, the footwear truncated cap in its unstretched state is conical, hemispherical, or otherwise curved or stepped shaped in form and resiliently deformable upon application to enable the footwear device shape to further modify closer to the actual outer profile of the nose of the shoe or other footwear to which the footwear is to be applied.

[0052] By way of example, FIGS. 6 to 10, illustrate one embodiment of footwear device 60 in which resiliently deformable material is shaped into a truncated cap comprising a generally hemispherical shape. The sheet material has a wide open mouth portion 69 at one end and a narrower closed or substantially closed nose portion 68 at the other end. A tongue portion 63 inclines general upwardly and rearwardly away from an intermediate region of the nose portion 68 and forms part of mouth portion 69. Wings or arms 64,65 extend convexly and rearwardly from the base of nose portion 68 in an uninclined manner either side of tongue portion 63. Open spaces or perforations 66 are located between tongue 63 and wings 64,65. In the embodiment of FIGS. 6 to 10, the arrangement of footwear device 60 resembles a splayed and hemispherical domed fan, which fan comprising three extending portions, that is, tongue portion 63, wing portions 64,65, with perforation 66 there between, such that the portions may be overlapped around a footwear toe cap for example. The overlapable portions may comprise the two wings 64,65 and the top tongue 63 splayed towards the wings. The wings extend so as to form a semi-circle in plan, so as to extend to the sides of the toe-cap. The tongue extends backwards over the toe cap in use.

[0053] In some embodiments, perforation 66 between the extending portions is splayed, wherein the wings minimise as they extend rearwards; so as further to improve malleability. In addition the portions are preformed with curvature, so as to advantageously provide some supporting structure for reinforcement of the toe cap of the footwear.

[0054] With reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, in some other embodiments, the footwear device 50 comprises a splayed planar fan, which fan substantially comprises a semi-circle, subdivided by three extending portions 53,54,55, with perforation therebetween, such that the portions may be overlapped around a footwear's toe cap for example. The fan comprises a curved base, which base is arranged in use against a seam or sole, wherein the curve will be straightened in use.

[0055] The perforations and device edge comprise chamfering, so as to aid in overlapping and limit frayed or damaged edges over use. Footwear device 50 includes two open-ended slot perforations 56 between three extending portions.

[0056] These perforations are arranged such that the portions are substantially equidistant and are open-ended, but have a closed end that is enlarged 57. In this way the portions are free to mutually rearrange or overlap at the open ends, and enabled with easier movement at the closed ends by the enlarged space for movement, wherein the perforations extend radially over half a radius.

[0057] In yet another embodiments of the footwear device of FIGS. 13 to 16, footwear device 20 comprises a substantially predefined form, which form echoes the toecap of footwear. The outer side 6 comprises a top 23 and base 21. The top comprises raised and lowered parts, so as to provide aesthetic aiding texture.

[0058] The base comprises a smooth or glossy finish elongated strip around the lowermost edge of the top; wherein the finish is not liable to collect dirt. The base and the top comprise orthogonal straight lines, wherein two corners 22 are radiused. In some embodiments, the footwear 20 is formed in two halves having a seam 24 therebetween. Alternatively, footwear 20 is a single unitary piece of material.

[0059] In one or more of the aforementioned embodiments, the footwear bodies are made from die-cut TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) or silicone and are used with a urethane adhesive on the undersides 7. TPE is a material typically used in soles and can come in a variety of densities and flexibilities. Die cutting the device from a flat sheet material allows creation of a wide variety of different sizes and shapes with minimal tooling investment.

[0060] With reference to footwear shaped as a truncated cap or cup, such as footwear 60 and 20, in some embodiments, a molded TPE form is adopted to allow for a greater variety of 3D geometry and potential of a better fit to common footwear shapes. Using a molding process can create a better fit for common footwear shapes, but upfront tooling cost may increase the price and make changing the design an expensive investment.

[0061] In some embodiments, textures can be molded into the outer side 6 giving the device visual interest. This could be achieved by either injection or compression molding. In some embodiments, beads or textures 121 (see for example FIG. 23) may be embedded in the outer side 6.

[0062] FIGS. 17 and 18 show a footwear device 70 according to yet another embodiment. Footwear device 70 comprises an offset teardrop, wherein the base 74 comprises a gentle curve for interacting with the sole, a short side edge 73 leading to an apex 72, and a third long side 71 formed by a multi-arc curvature. In this way, this embodiment may provide a useful option for repairing or strengthening asymmetric parts of the footwear.

[0063] FIGS. 18 and 19 show a footwear device 80 according to yet another embodiment. Footwear device 80 comprises a side patch, for example for use to one side of an item of footwear. The embodiments comprises a substantially trapezoid form, with rounded corners and a curved base 81 and top edge 82, such that the base is liable to follow a sole in use and the two side edges 83 and corners 84 are identical.

[0064] The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention. It will be understood that any features described in relation to any particular embodiment may be featured in combinations with other embodiments.

[0065] It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but is intended to cover all modifications which are within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims; the above description; and/or shown in the attached drawings.