Abstract:
Footwear includes an upper disconnected from the sole on at least a portion of one lateral side of the sole to enable a foot to enter the footwear laterally through a side gap. The foot may be held in place, in part, with a resilient foot holder extending over the top of the foot. A lateral motion of the foot may overcome the force of the foot holder enabling hands-free removal of the footwear.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The invention relates to footwear that may be donned and removed with minimum effort. More particularly, the invention relates to side entry footwear in which the foot enters and exits laterally through a side opening in the footwear.  
           [0003]    2. Description Of Related Art  
           [0004]    Footwear can generally be divided into two categories: those with fasteners and those without. Footwear with fasteners typically require manual fastening. This means bending over, reaching for the feet, and fastening (whether it be laces, Velcro, buckles, or other closures) using rather precise motor skills. There are generally two types of footwear without fasteners: “slip-on” footwear and other footwear that uses elastic material to hold the foot in place. Slip-on footwear usually does not require any fastening, but may not hold the foot well. Footwear employing elastic material to hold the foot in place often requires the wearer to bend down and manually pull on the footwear using force.  
           [0005]    Due to physical limitations or simply a desire for footwear that is easier to don or remove, individuals might prefer a shoe with a nontraditional design. For example, the elderly might suffer from common conditions such as arthritis, osteoporosis, deterioration of eyesight, and loss of flexibility of tendons and muscles. Neural problems resulting from diabetes (also common among elderly) and hip replacements add to conditions that make donning traditional footwear difficult.  
           [0006]    Existing footwear often is not fitted for use by the elderly. “Slip-on” shoes, though common and practical, might not provide the traction or structural support needed to prevent falls. Donning other types of shoes is often so difficult that the elderly may opt not to use shoes at all. In some cases, the traction afforded by bare and feeble feet might pose more of a risk than wearing a loose fitting pair of slip-on shoes. Among the elderly, accidents are not only a cause for lack of independence, but are also a common cause of death. Of these accidents, many are associated with falls in the home.  
         SUMMARY OF A FEW ASPECTS OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The invention may include footwear having a sole with a toe region, a heel region, and first and second opposing lateral sides. An upper may be connected to the sole along at least a portion of the first lateral side and may be disconnected from the sole in an opening region along at least a portion of the second lateral side. A resilient foot holder is at least partially disconnected from the second side of the sole at the opening region to thereby permit lateral foot entry through the opening region. The foot holder may exert a holding force on the foot to help prevent the foot from slipping out of the opening region during walking. The foot holder may deform to permit the foot to slip out through the opening region in response to a lateral foot motion. While the resilient foot holder may be connected or disconnected from the sole, in a preferred embodiment it is connected to the sole along a first side of the sole.  
           [0008]    The footwear may include at least one protrusion extending from the sole. The protrusion is configured to engage another protrusion on an opposite foot of a wearer, to thereby assist the wearer in removing the footwear.  
           [0009]    In addition to the foot holder, the footwear may also include a heel holder to cooperate in preventing the foot from slipping out of the opening region during walking. One or more of the heel holder and the foot holder may include a curved surface such as a flipped-back lip for guiding the foot into the opening region. The flipped-back lip may be in the form of a loop and may have an outer radius that is greater than an inner radius. The foot holder may be curved to generally conform to a metatarsal portion of the foot. One or more of the foot holder and the heel holder may be made of a semi-rigid resilient material capable of deforming during entry and egress of a foot.  
           [0010]    The sole may include a peripheral ridge for at least partially surrounding the foot to assist in preventing the foot from slipping out of the opening region during walking. The sole may further include texture on a foot contacting surface. The texture may be oriented to make it easier for the foot to slip into the opening region than for the foot to exit the opening region.  
           [0011]    While the footwear may have particular benefit for the elderly and those with physical limitations, the invention in its broadest sense is not so limited. It may be configured for use by those without physical constraints, but who desire an alternative approach to footwear. Thus, the invention can be used in slippers, or in any other appropriate footwear product.  
           [0012]    Other aspects of the invention will be evident from the description of preferred embodiments and the brief description of the drawings that follow. The following drawings constitute a part of the specification, and together with the Description of Preferred Embodiments, exemplify aspects and principals of the invention. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one example of footwear in accordance with the invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2A is a dimensioned top view of the footwear of FIG. 1 with the fabric of the upper removed;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2B is a side view of the footwear of FIG. 2A;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the foot holder illustrated in FIG. 2A;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3B is a dimensioned top view of the foot holder of FIG. 3A;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3C is a dimensioned front view of the foot holder of FIG. 3A;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3D is a dimensioned side view of the foot holder of FIG. 3A;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the heel holder illustrated in FIG. 2A;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4B is a dimensioned top view of the heel holder of FIG. 4A;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 4C is a dimensioned front view of the heel holder of FIG. 4A;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 4D is a dimensioned side view of the heel holder of FIG. 4A; and  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 5 is a top view of the orientation of a pair of footwear during the removal process in accordance with the invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0025]    In accordance with the invention and as illustrated in FIG. 1, footwear  10  may include a sole  12  having a toe region  14  and a heel region  16 . As illustrated in FIG. 2A, the sole  12  may have first and second opposing lateral sides  18  and  20 , respectively.  
         [0026]    While the invention, in its broadest sense, does not require any particular material for the sole, in a preferred embodiment, the sole is made up of lightweight material having a coefficient of friction sufficient to prevent slipping and being configured to absorb shock and/or force and substantially return to its original shape thereafter. One material that may be particularly suitable for the sole is polyurethane foam.  
         [0027]    As illustrated in FIG. 2A, a ridge  24  surrounds the perimeter of the sole. The ridge assists in preventing the foot from slipping out of the opening during walking. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the ridge may only partially surround the periphery of the sole. In a further alternative embodiment (not shown), the ridge may be divided into a series of disconnected sections. If the sole is made of polyurethane foam, the ridge  24  may be integrally molded into the sole. Alternatively, the ridge may be formed in an another suitable way. Depending on construction, comfort considerations, and design considerations, the invention may be practiced without ridge  24 .  
         [0028]    In a preferred embodiment, and as illustrated in FIG. 2B, the sole  12  curves slightly upward in the toe region  14  and the heel region  16 .  
         [0029]    The bottom of the sole (not shown) may include a texture or pattern to improve friction. A foot contacting portion of the sole  26  may include texture such as bumps to stimulate blood flow and to provide neural stimulation.  
         [0030]    As illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the thickness of the sole on side  18  may be greater than the thickness on side  20  to aid in entry/egress of the foot.  
         [0031]    In accordance with the invention there is also provided an upper connected to the sole along at least a portion of the first lateral side and being disconnected from the sole in an opening region along at least a portion of the second lateral side. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, and as illustrated in FIG. 1, upper  22  is connected to sole  12  along lateral first side  18  and is disconnected from sole  12  along a portion of second side  20 . The disconnection of the upper from the sole defines opening region  28  generally extending from the toe region  14  toward the heel region  16 . Depending on how it is constructed, the upper  22  may be designed for esthetics and/or warmth. The upper may include layers of fabric stitched together. Interposed between the layers may be material somewhat less flexible than the outer fabric to give the footwear a measure of form. Padding may be stitched between layers of fabric to add comfort.  
         [0032]    While the opening region  28  is illustrated on lateral side  20  of the sole  12 ,it is within the scope of the invention to reverse the orientation of the upper and foothold  80  that the opening region is on the first lateral side  18  of sole  12 .  
         [0033]    In the upper, the interior layer of fabric may be designed with a directional grain. Such a directional grain may make it easier to slide the foot in one direction than in the opposite direction. When assembling the footwear, the directional grain could be oriented to make donning easier than removal.  
         [0034]    In accordance with the invention there may be provided a resilient foot holder located at least partially in a region of the upper and at least partially disconnected from the second side of the sole at the opening region to thereby permit lateral foot entry through the opening region, the foot holder for exerting a holding force on the foot to help prevent the foot from slipping out of the opening region during walking, and for deforming to permit the foot to slip out through the opening region in response to a lateral foot motion.  
         [0035]    As disclosed in connection with one embodiment of the invention, and as illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, resilient foot holder  30  extends over a region of the sole intermediate the toe region  14  and the heel region  16 . An inside surface of foot holder  30  and a portion of the upper surface  26  of sole  12  define an envelope for a foot. Preferably, foot holder  30  is made of a resilient material such as semi-rigid plastic. The plastic may, for example, be polyethylene having a nominal thickness of 5 mm. The invention, in its broader sense, is not limited to any particular material for the foot holder. Any type of plastic, metal, composite, or other material having the requisite elastic properties may be used. As illustrated in FIG. 2A, foot holder  30  is connected to and extends from the sole at first side  18 , and is disconnected from the sole at second side  20 . Further details of the foot holder are illustrated in FIGS.  3 A- 3 D.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 3A illustrates, in perspective view, three general regions of the foot holder: sole connection region  32 , metatarsal region  34 , and flipped-back lip region  36 . Sole connection region  32  is designed to provide a connection to sole  12 . The connection may be formed by embedding sole connection region  32  within the sole. In a broader aspect of the invention, the foot holder may connect to the sole in differing ways or may not directly connect to the sole.  
         [0037]    Metatarsal region  34  of the footholder  30  is curved to accommodate the upper curvature of the metatarsal bones in the foot. Flipped-back lip region  36  defines two radii  38  and  40 . During donning of the footwear, radii  40  serves as a guide surface to direct the foot into the opening region  28 . Once the foot has entered the footwear, radii  38  serves to resist the lateral movement of the foot to assist in preventing the foot from slipping out of opening region  28  during walking. FIG. 3C illustrates a front view of the foot holder. During entry of the foot into the footwear, the material of the foot holder  30  flexes, in part, at a connection region  44 . This enables gap  42  to expand and accommodate the foot within the footwear. Once the footwear is donned, the gap  42  may diminish somewhat, at least with respect to a maximum aperture. Because the material of foot holder  30  is resilient, it will exert a holding force on the foot to prevent the foot from egress through gap  42 . However, a lateral motion of the foot sufficient to overcome the holding force will permit egress of the foot. The size/existence of gap  42  may be a matter of design choice. For example, it may be that with the foot removed, the gap is non-existent.  
         [0038]    As is evident from FIG. 2A, sole connection region  32  of foot holder  30  extends beneath the arch of the sole. The metatarsal region  34  curves forward in an area  44  in the center of the footwear. This forward curve  44  enables foot holder  30  to exert a holding force on the foot beyond the center line  48 .  
         [0039]    The exemplary footwear illustrated in FIG. 1 is constructed with a fabric upper designed in part for both warmth and aesthetics. However, the invention may be embodied within open footwear, such as a sandal. In such a case, the finished good may have an appearance quite similar to the illustrations of FIGS. 2A and 2B. In such an instance, the upper and the foot holder may be one in the same component. Similarly, in footwear that includes an upper, depending on the materials selected and/or the design, the upper itself may serve as a foot holder, eliminating the need for a separate foot holder structure. Thus, as used in the claims, the term “upper” may include a “foot holder,” the term “foot holder” may include an upper, and the recitation of both does not necessarily require two separate structural elements.  
         [0040]    In accordance with the invention, there may also be provided a heel holder located proximate the heel region, the heel holder for cooperating with the resilient foot holder to prevent the foot from slipping out of the opening during the walking. As illustrated in FIG. 2B, heel holder  50  is located near the heel region  16 .  
         [0041]    Detailed exemplary views of the heel holder  50  are illustrated in FIGS.  4 A- 4 D. As can be seen in the perspective view of FIG. 4A, heel holder  50  may include a U-shaped structure for containing the heel of a wearer. A first leg  52  and a second leg  56  are joined by a linkage  54 . As may be evident from FIG. 2A, linkage  54  is embedded within the sole  12  in the heel region  16 , as is hidden from view in FIG. 2A. Like foot holder  30 , heel holder  50  may have a curved surface such as flipped-back lip  58  defining radii  60  and  62 . Radii  60  may be smaller than radii  62  for guiding a wearer&#39;s heel into the footwear. The greater diameter of radii  62  may assist in preventing the heel from slipping out through opening region  28  during walking.  
         [0042]    Like foot holder  30 , heel holder  50  is preferably made of a resilient material such as one of the same materials discussed above in connection with the foot holder  30 . A series of perforations (not shown) may be made in the material of the heel holder  50 . These perforations may reduce weight and they may facilitate ventilation. The invention may be constructed with or without perforations, and similar perforations may be provided in the foot holder  30 .  
         [0043]    While a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated as including a heel holder  50 , the invention, in its broadest sense, does not necessarily require a resilient heel holder. It is possible that a non-resilient material might be used for the heel holder, the heel holder might be eliminated in its entirety, or some other mechanism may be used to reduce heel slippage.  
         [0044]    As illustrated in FIG. 1, the curved radii  40  of the foot holder is embedded within fabric portion  40 ′ and the curved radii  58  of heel holder  50  is embedded within fabric region  58 ′ . Regions  40 ′ and  58 ′ may cooperate to funnel or guide a foot into the footwear.  
         [0045]    In accordance with the invention, the sole may have at least one protrusion extending therefrom, the protrusion being configured to engage another protrusion on an opposite foot of a wearer, to thereby assist the wearer in removing the footwear. By way of example, and as illustrated in FIG. 2A, sole  12  includes outwardly facing tabs  64  and  66 , respectively located at the toe region  14  and heel region  16  of the sole  12 . Tabs  64  and  66  are designed to facilitate removal of the footwear without requiring tactile control and without requiring the wearer to bend at the waist. Although only a right shoe is illustrated in the figures, the left shoe may be a mirror image of the right. Thus, when a heel tab  66  of a right shoe passes in front of a toe tab  64  of a left shoe, the tabs will engage. This motion is illustrated in FIG. 5 where a wearer with a left shoe  68  firmly planted on the ground moves a right shoe  70  in front of the left so that heel tab  66  on shoe  70  engages toe tab  64  on shoe  68 . As right leg  72  continues its lateral movement, shoe  70  is prevented from moving by the engagement of tabs  66  and  64 . Thus, the right foot is ejected from shoe  70  when the lateral movement overcomes the holding forces exerted by shoe  70 . To remove the left shoe, a wearer might thereafter step on removed shoe  70  to plant it firmly on the ground, and slide shoe  68  in front of shoe  70  to engage the tabs and affect shoe removal.  
         [0046]    While an exemplary disclosed embodiment is directed to footwear that permits hands-free donning and removal, the invention in its broadest sense does not exclude the use of manual closures. Such manual closers may be appropriate for wearers who desire the ease of lateral foot entry in combination with the added security of a closure mechanism.  
         [0047]    While tabs  64  and  66  are illustrated as outward facing, the invention, in its broadest sense is not so limited. The direction the tabs face might be reversed. In addition, any protrusion or other means of engaging the shoe of an opposite foot may be employed in connection with the invention. And in its broadest sense, the invention may not employ a mechanism for hands-free removal.  
         [0048]    Listed below are a series of exemplary dimensions for the dimensional characters presented in the figures. The dimensions as well as the shapes illustrated are provided for purposes of disclosing the inventor&#39;s best mode of practicing the invention. However, the invention, in its broadest sense, is not limited to the particular shapes and dimensions disclosed. It is to be understood that various shapes and dimensions may be employed without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.  
                                                         Dimensional Reference   Exemplary Dimension       Figure   Character   (mm)                                2A   A   19.1       2A   B   77       2A   C   25.7       2A   D   94.9       2A   E   19.1       2A   F   20.2       2A   G   21.7       2A   H   42.6       2B   I   63       2B   J   55.6       3B   K   32.9       3B   L   53.3       3C   M   63.8       3C   N   6.8       3D   O   52.5       3D   P   14       3D   Q   27.7       3D   R   39.5       4B   S   13.5       4B   T   49.5       4C   U   22.3       4C   V   3.7       4C   W   1.8       4C   X   44.2       4C   Y   9.1       4D   Z   22.7       4D       A′   36.3       4D       B′   60.8       4D       C′   21.5                  
 
         [0049]    In the foregoing Description of Preferred Embodiments, various features of the invention are grouped together in a single embodiment for purposes of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into this Description of the Preferred Embodiments, with each claim standing on its own as a separate preferred embodiment of the invention.