阅读说明：本技术 鞋类跟部弹簧装置 (Heel spring device for shoes ) 是由 蒂凡妮·A·比尔斯 约翰·T·丁莫夫 韦德·弗拉纳根 奥斯丁·奥兰多 乔治·A·赞索斯 于 2017-10-25 设计创作，主要内容包括：本申请涉及鞋类跟部弹簧装置。一种被构造成在鞋类物品的鞋跟部区包围足部接纳腔的一部分的装置,该控制条具有中央节段、从中央节段延伸的第一侧臂以及与第一侧臂间隔开并从中央节段延伸的第二侧臂。控制条可以包括一系列板条。基座支撑控制条并连接到第一侧臂和第二侧臂。控制条被偏置到无应力位置,此时中央节段距基座第一距离,并且在所施加的力的作用下弹性弯曲到加载位置,此时中央节段距基座比第一距离小的第二距离。该装置存储势能,在所施加的负载被移除时,该势能使控制条返回到未加载位置。(The present application relates to footwear heel spring devices. A device configured to enclose a portion of a foot-receiving chamber in a heel region of an article of footwear, the control strip having a central section, a first side arm extending from the central section, and a second side arm spaced apart from the first side arm and extending from the central section. The control bar may comprise a series of slats. The base supports the control bar and is connected to the first side arm and the second side arm. The control bar is biased to an unstressed position wherein the central segment is a first distance from the base and resiliently flexes under an applied force to a loaded position wherein the central segment is a second distance from the base less than the first distance. The device stores potential energy that returns the control bar to the unloaded position when the applied load is removed.)

1. A device for facilitating entry of a foot into an article of footwear, the device comprising:

the control bar and a base positioned below the control bar;

wherein the control bar comprises a series of slats, each slat having:

a central segment;

an inboard arm extending from the central segment to an inboard end connected to an inboard side of the base; and

an outer side arm extending from the central section to an outer side end connected to an outer side of the base;

wherein the control bar is biased to an unloaded position and elastically flexes to a loaded position under an applied force, at least one central segment being closer to the base in the loaded position than in the unloaded position, thereby storing potential energy that returns the control bar to the unloaded position when the applied force is removed.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the control bar and the base are configured as a fully elliptical leaf spring and are a single, unitary, one-piece component.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein:

the control strips defining slots extending between the slats;

the slats being spaced from one another by the slot when the control bar is in the unloaded position; and is

One or more of the slots are closed between the slats such that adjacent central segments are in contact with each other in the loading position.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the adjacent central segments are configured to slide against each other when the adjacent central segments are in contact with each other.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:

a resilient insert at least partially filling the slot.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the resilient insert comprises:

a bushing extending along an inner side of the slat; and

spaced apart projections extending from the bushing into the slot.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the resilient insert is configured as a pleat extending outwardly between the slats from an inner side of the slats.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein the resilient insert comprises at least one of rubber or thermoplastic polyurethane.

9. The device of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a lowermost one of the slats closest to the base at the central segment is shorter from the inboard end to the outboard end than an uppermost one of the slats furthest from the base at the central segment.

10. The device of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a lowermost one of the slats closest to the base at the central section is thinner in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the lowermost one of the slats than an uppermost one of the slats furthest from the base at the central section.

Technical Field

The present teachings generally include a heel spring device for an article of footwear.

Background

Traditionally, placing footwear on the foot typically requires the use of one or two hands to stretch the ankle opening of the footwear upper and retain the rear portion during foot insertion, particularly in the case of a relatively soft upper and/or a heel counter (heel counter) in which the upper is not secured to the rearwardly facing flexible fabric of the ankle opening.