Abstract:
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a footwear comprises a base and a retainer being coupled to the base for forming a cavity and an opening thereto. The footwear further comprises a heel counter being coupled to at least one of the base and the retainer. The heel counter is biased in an up position and is positionable between the up position and a down position. When a foot interacts with the heel counter, the heel counter is positioned away from the up position towards the down position for facilitating access of a foot to the opening. Subsequently, when the foot is fully inserted into the cavity, the heel counter returns to the up position for engaging the heel of the foot in order for preventing dislodgement of the foot from the cavity.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention generally relates to footwear. In particular, it relates to easily wearable and removable footwear that allows for adaptable visual expressions.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Footwear is generally for protecting our feet from rough surfaces and elements and as time goes by, footwear evolved. Newer and better technologies have been incorporated to protect the user wearing the footwear. Modern footwear provides better support for runners while running, allows a soccer player to better kick a soccer ball, and even allows a basketball player to jump higher.  
         [0003]     These days, footwear has become an integral part of our daily lives, be it when going out for a party or when walking within indoor premises. Footwear has even evolved into a fashion accessory. It is important that our outfit or attire, for example shirt and pants, match before any fashion conscious individual steps out of the house.  
         [0004]     However, our fast pace lifestyle does not allow most of us the time to consider whether a shirt or a pair of pants matches the footwear. Most people try to slip into their footwear as fast as possible by forcing their feet into their footwear. However, this usually causes damage to the top of the shoe by creating creases and wear marks. Therefore, new ways for facilitating the wearing of footwear needs to be re-examined.  
         [0005]     Japanese Patent No. 2004236860 (Suminosuke) describes a footwear having a movable heel portion which is movable between opened and closed positions. The movable heel portion further couples the footwear to a bottom plate such that when a foot is inserted into the footwear, the heel of the foot engages the footwear bottom plate to position the heel portion in a closed position. However, the user is required to constantly and consciously interact with the footwear bottom plate to prevent accidental disengagement of the heel of the foot away from the footwear bottom plate which will result in the footwear bottom plate being positioned away from the closed position.  
         [0006]     From the foregoing, this clearly affirms the need for a footwear to allow ease of wearing while ensuring the footwear is secured to the user has been clearly affirmed.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0007]     In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a footwear comprises a base for supporting a foot thereon and a retainer being coupled to the base for forming a cavity and an opening thereto. The cavity receives a foot therein through the opening. The footwear further comprises a heel counter being coupled to at least one of the base and the retainer. The heel counter is biased in an up position and is positionable between the up position and a down position. When a foot interacts with the heel counter, the heel counter is positioned away from the up position towards the down position to facilitate access of a foot to the opening. Subsequently, when the foot is fully inserted into the cavity, the heel counter returns to the up position to engage the heel of the foot for substantially preventing dislodgement of the foot from the cavity. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     Embodiments of the invention are described hereinafter with reference to the drawings, in which:  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a footwear with a movable heel counter according to a basic embodiment of the invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates the movement of the heel counter according to the footwear in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3   a  is an exploded elevation of a display layer being removable from a main layer of the vamp according to the footwear in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3   b  is a side elevation of the footwear having an extended vamp for forming a boot according to the footwear in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3   c  illustrates the use of a coupling material to secure the extended vamp according to the footwear in  FIG. 3   b.    
         [0014]      FIG. 4   a  is a cross-sectional back view of the heel counter according to the footwear in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4   b  illustrates the heel counter being pushed to a down position according to the footwear in  FIG. 4   a;    
         [0016]      FIG. 5   a  is a side elevation of a footwear with a strap according to a second embodiment of the invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 5   b  illustrates the strap being pushed down while pulling a control mechanism to a second position according to the footwear in  FIG. 5   a;  and  
         [0018]      FIG. 5   c  illustrates the control mechanism being a rotary type spring for moving the heel counter according to the footwear in  FIG. 5   a.   
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0019]     With reference to the drawings, the invention, a footwear, is described hereinafter for ease of wear, which allows a user to slip on the footwear without using the hand or shoehorn.  
         [0020]     Footwear generally protects the feet of a user from different types of walking surface conditions. However, footwear is also slowly evolving into a fashion accessory. Designers want more room for design creativity on footwear while preserving the original function of the footwear. Footwear without shoelaces is one of many ideas. While this idea provides more space for designers to develop their designs, the construction of the shoe introduces some difficulties for a user to slip on the footwear. In addition, the footwear is not as secured without the laces when the eyelets for the laces are removed or incapacitated for improving the appearance for the footwear.  
         [0021]     A footwear, according to embodiments of the invention, therefore allows a user to wear the footwear with minimum or no assistance from our hands while ensuring the footwear is secured to the user&#39;s feet. The footwear further allows for more creative design possibilities on the footwear.  
         [0022]     For purposes of brevity and clarity, the description of the invention is limited hereinafter to applications related to footwear. This however does not preclude the invention from other areas of application that requires similar operating function and performance for wearing personal apparel.  
         [0023]     The invention is described in greater detail in relation to a footwear therefore for easy wearing. In the detailed description provided hereinafter and illustrations provided in FIGS.  1  to  5  of the drawings, like elements are identified with like reference numerals.  
         [0024]      FIG. 1 . shows a basic embodiment of the invention, a footwear  100  having a movable heel counter  102 , for providing ease of wearing the footwear for the user while introducing a larger bare vamp area for displaying aesthetic designs on the footwear  100 . The footwear  100  comprises the movable heel counter  102 , a holding section  103  which includes a vamp  104 , and a base  105  for supporting the user&#39;s foot. The heel counter  102  is movable between an up position  106  and a down position  108 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , for allowing the user&#39;s foot to slip into the footwear  100  without assistance of hands.  
         [0025]     An opening  110 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , is formed by means of adhering the base  105  to the holding section  103 . This opening  110  provides an entrance for a foot of the user to slip into the footwear  100 . When the user&#39;s foot engages the heel counter  102  at the opening  110  of the footwear  100 , the heel counter  102  gradually moves from the up position  106  towards the down position  108 . This results in an enlarged opening  112  which provides easy access for the user&#39;s foot to slip into the footwear  100  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Once the user&#39;s foot slips into the footwear  100  and disengages from the heel counter  102 , the heel counter  102  moves back to the up position  106 . With the heel counter  102  back in the up position  106 , the footwear  100  is substantially secured onto the user&#39;s foot. Through the use of the heel counter  102 , the footwear  100  would not necessitate shoelaces and therefore the time needed for wearing the footwear  100  is substantially reduced.  
         [0026]     By dispensing with the shoelaces, a larger bare vamp  104  area is provided for designers to improve on the aesthetics of the footwear  100 . Further applying this idea, the vamp  104  area of the footwear  100  allows for an additional display layer  302  overlapping a main layer  304  of the vamp  104  and quarter  305  of the footwear  100  as shown in  FIG. 3   a . The addition of the display layer  302  provides a way for varying the aesthetic outlook of the footwear through allowing and facilitating interchanging of different display layers  302  for attachment onto the main layer  304 . The display layer  302  is adherable to the main layer  304  using a coupling system  306  such as Velcro fasteners. By applying Velcro fasteners along the boundaries of the main layer  304 , the display layer  302  is able to overlap and be coupled to the main layer  304 . Velcro fasteners also allow the user to easily remove, interchange and replace the display layer  302  with another display layer  302  containing different designs.  
         [0027]     The vamp  104  can further be extended to transform the footwear  100  into a boot  308 , as shown in  FIG. 3   b , by extending the vamp  104  from the opening of the footwear  100  and up towards the knees of the user. However, the boot  308  can also have an extended vamp  310  that extends above the knees of the user. The extended vamp  310  from the opening of the footwear  100  is able to wrap around the calf of the user&#39;s leg to form the shape of the boot  308 . Together with the use of the coupling system  306 , the extended vamp  310  is secured around the thigh of the user as shown in  FIG. 3   c . This enables the boot  308  to be easily worn while retaining its protective nature.  
         [0028]      FIG. 4   a  shows a back view of the footwear  100  illustrating a control mechanism  400  within the heel counter  102 . The control mechanism  400  comprises at least a spring actuator  402  or a hydraulic actuator (not shown in  FIG. 4   a ). Preferably, the heel counter  102  contains preferably at least three spring actuators  402  therein for biasing the heel counter  102  at the up position  106 . However, this does not preclude the use of one spring actuator  402  in this invention. This enables the heel counter  102  to be properly positioned from the down position  108  to the up position  106 . The distance between the up position and the down position is at least 20 mm. The three spring actuators  402  are located along the circumference of the opening of the footwear  100 .  
         [0029]     When the user&#39;s foot engages the heel counter  102  at the opening of the footwear  100 , the force from the user&#39;s foot depresses the three spring actuators  402 . As the three spring actuators  402  are being depressed, the opening on the footwear  100  gradually enlarges. The enlarged opening of the footwear  100 , as shown in  FIG. 4   b , allows the user&#39;s foot to easily enter into the footwear  100 . Once the user&#39;s foot is disengaged from the heel counter  102 , the three spring actuators  402  gradually return the heel counter  102  to the up position  106 . Thereinafter, the heel counter  102  secures the footwear  100  to the user&#39;s foot and protects the user from injuring the user&#39;s heel.  
         [0030]     In a second embodiment of the invention, the control mechanism  400  is located at a quarter  305  of the footwear  500  as shown in  FIG. 5   a . The footwear  500  in  FIG. 5   a  is a pair of sandals wherein the heel counter  502  of each sandal is a strap for strapping over the Achilles&#39; heel of a foot. The strap secures the user&#39;s foot to the footwear  500 . In order for the heel counter  502  to move between the up position  106  and the down position  108 , a substantially rigid cable  504  is incorporated within the strap and operatively coupled to the control mechanism  400 . The control mechanism  400  comprises at least the spring actuator  402  and the hydraulic actuator at each of the quarter  305  of the footwear. The distance between the first position  506  and the second position  508  is at least 20 mm  
         [0031]     When the user engages the heel counter  502 , the heel counter  502  moves towards the down position  108  from the up position  106  as shown in  FIG. 5   b . As a result, the cable  504  pulls the control mechanism  400  from a first position  506  to a second position  508 . A locking mechanism  510  locks the heel counter  502  for creating an enlarged opening for the user&#39;s foot to slip into the footwear  500 . Once the heel counter  502  is released from the locking mechanism (not shown), the control mechanism  400  moves back to the first position  506  from the second position  508  to thereby interact with the cable  504  to move the heel counter  502  from the down position  108  to the up position  106 . This secures the strap to the heel of the user and prevents the footwear  500  from coming off.  
         [0032]     With reference to  FIG. 5   c , an alternative control mechanism  400   a  is used to move the heel counter  502 . The alternative control mechanism  400   a  uses a pair of rotary type springs, for example spiral-shaped springs and c-shaped springs, which is located at each side of the quarter  305 . In addition, a display layer  302  is attachable to the footwear  500 . The display layer  302  covers the footwear  500  partially or fully to protect the user&#39;s foot from environmental elements and provides space for improving the aesthetic of the footwear  500 .  
         [0033]     In the foregoing manner, a footwear which has a movable heel counter and facilitates creative expressions of designs thereon is disclosed. Although only a number of embodiments of the invention are disclosed, it becomes apparent to one skilled in the art in view of this disclosure that numerous changes and/or modification can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.