WO2018155804A1

WO2018155804A1 - Multi-functional heel counter assistant for shoe

Info

Publication number: WO2018155804A1
Application number: PCT/KR2017/015692
Authority: WO
Inventors: Young Ran Kim
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-02-23
Filing date: 2017-12-28
Publication date: 2018-08-30
Anticipated expiration: 2019-08-23
Also published as: KR101801510B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a multi-functional heel counter assistant for a shoe that is built in a heel counter of the shoe, and more particularly, to a multi-functional heel counter assistant for a shoe that is built in a heel counter for all kinds of shoes(e.g. dress, sports, athletic and canvas shoe, etc.) to allow a wearer to (slidingly) wear the shoe conveniently, without any separate aid like a shoehorn, and at the same time to allow the wearer to wear the shoe in the state where the heel counter is folded according to the preference of the wearer, wherein the heel counter is restored to its original position by means of the elastic force of the assistant to prevent the heel counter itself from being damaged. According to the present invention, the body part is dividedly formed into upper, intermediate, and lower portions to generate hardness differences among the three portions of the body part, whereby the heel counter folded during the shoe is worn is unfoldedly restored to an original position thereof, thereby preventing the heel counter itself from being damaged.

Description

MULTI-FUNCTIONAL HEEL COUNTER ASSISTANT FOR SHOE

The present invention relates to a multi-functional heel counter assistant for a shoe that is built in a heel counter of the shoe, and more particularly, to a multi-functional heel counter assistant for a shoe that is built in a heel counter for all kinds of shoes(e.g. dress, sports, athletic and canvas shoe, etc.) to allow a wearer to (slidingly) wear the shoe conveniently, without any separate aid like a shoehorn, and at the same time to allow the wearer to wear the shoe in the state where the heel counter is folded according to the preference of the wearer, wherein the heel counter is restored to its original position by means of "Elastic force" or "Elasticity" of the assistant to prevent the heel counter itself from being damaged.

A shoe usually consists of both a rubber outsole and an upper made from fabric, leather and man-made synthetics to surround the feet. For dress shoes a shoehorn is often used to prevent cracking and or deformity to the back-part of the shoe when putting on the shoes. However, a shoehorn is not always available to people, thus the heel counter is being unavoidably folded or damaged when putting on or removing the shoes.

If a heel counter is repeatedly folded an creased, it will naturally lose its original shape restoring function as time passes. Therefore, individuals pull out the folded or creased heel counter with their fingers which may cause various inconveniences, such as low back pain, lumbago or knee pain and sore fingers etc. Therefore, a desirable shoe should be easy to put on and take off without bending the wearer's back every time which includes tying or untying shoelaces.

So as to solve the above-mentioned problems, there is suggested a heel counter assistant for a shoe in Korean Utility Model Application Laid-open No.20-2011-0001665 (Dated Feb. 17, 2011). Though this conventional counter has a good elastic force in retaining the shape of the back-part of the shoe, it does not have enough flexibility or technical elasticity which makes the shoes uncomfortable to wear in daily usage.

In addition to recent fashion trends show that shoes with a foldable counter and back-part are in fashion in the American and European markets. However, the problem is that most of the shoes worn do not have a foldable heel counter was resulting in inconvenience to the wearer and considerable discomfort.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-functional heel counter assistant for a shoe that is built in a heel counter for all kinds of shoes (e.g. dress, sport, athletic and canvas shoes, etc.) to allow a wearer to (slidingly) wear the shoe conveniently, without any separate aid like a shoehorn, and at the same time to allow the wearer to wear the shoe in the state where the heel counter is folded according to the preference of the wearer, wherein the heel counter is restored to its original position by means of the elastic force of the assistant to prevent the damage of the heel counter itself and also to improve the health of the wearer(especially for back pain, knee pains as well as ankle protection).

To accomplish the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, there is provided a multi-functional heel counter assistant for a shoe including a body part made of a hard synthetic resin and having a shape of a general arch in such a manner as to be built in a heel counter of the shoe, the body part being dividedly formed into upper, intermediate, and lower portions and having a thickness decreased in the order of the lower, intermediate and upper portion thereof to generate hardness differences among the three portions of the body part by means of thickness differences, whereby the heel counter folded during the shoe is worn is unfoldedly restored to an original position thereof by means of the elastic force generated from the upper portion of the body part, and the shoe is worn in the state where the heel counter is folded through a hardness difference between the intermediate and lower portions of the body part.

According to the present invention, the multi-functional heel counter assistant for the shoe is provided with the standing part that has given elasticity and flexibility to allow the wearer to conveniently wear the shoe, without any separate aid like a shoehorn, and is also provided with the body part that has the groove formed on top thereof to improve the flexibility of the standing part, so that the shoe can be softly worn. Further, the body part has the groove formed on bottom thereof to allow the heel counter of the shoe to be folded according to the preference of the wearer, and also, the heel counter is restored to its original position by means of the elastic force of the assistant to prevent the heel counter itself from being damaged.

In addition, the multi-functional heel counter assistant for the shoe according to the present invention protects the wearer's waist and joint from damages and reduces the time unnecessarily consumed to untie and tie the shoelace, in busy and complicated modern life. Through the multi-functional heel counter assistant, also, the shoe can be worn or foldedly worn, without bending the wearer's waist, the shoe can be slidingly worn easily, without any operation for untying the shoelace, and further, the improvement in the wearer's health (that is, his or her waist, joint, and ankle protection) and the reduction of time consumed to tie or untie the shoelace can be obtained.

FIG.1 is a perspective view showing a multi-functional heel counter assistant for a shoe according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG.2 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of the multi-functional heel counter assistant for a shoe according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS.3a to 3c are partially enlarged sectional views showing the multi-functional heel counter assistant for a shoe according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG.4 is a perspective view showing a multi-functional heel counter assistant for a shoe according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG.5 is a sectional view taken along the line B-B of the multi-functional heel counter assistant for a shoe according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG.6 is a side sectional view showing a wearing process of the shoe in which the multi-functional heel counter assistant for a shoe according to the first embodiment of the present invention is built.

FIG.7 is a side sectional view showing a wearing process of the shoe in which the multi-functional heel counter assistant for a shoe according to the first embodiment of the present invention is built, wherein the heel counter is folded.

FIG.8 is a perspective view showing a multi-functional heel counter assistant for a shoe according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG.9 is a sectional view taken along the line C-C of the multi-functional heel counter assistant for a shoe according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, an explanation on a multi-functional heel counter assistant for a shoe according to the present invention will be in detail given with reference to the attached drawing.

All terms used in the description and claims of the present invention, including technical or scientific terms, unless otherwise defined, have the same meanings which are typically understood by those having ordinary skill in the art. The terms, such as ones defined in common dictionaries, should be interpreted as having the same meanings as terms in the context of pertinent technology, and should not be interpreted as having ideal or excessively formal meanings unless clearly defined in the specification.

The present invention may be modified in various ways and may have several exemplary embodiments. Specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the detailed description.　However, this does not limit the invention within specific embodiments and it should be understood that the invention covers all the modifications, equivalents, and replacements within the idea and technical scope of the invention.

FIG.1 is a perspective view showing a multi-functional heel counter assistant for a shoe according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG.2 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of the multi-functional heel counter assistant for a shoe according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS.3a to 3c are partially enlarged sectional views showing the multi-functional heel counter assistant for a shoe according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

First, as shown in FIGS.1 and 2, a multi-functional heel counter assistant 100 for a shoe according to a first embodiment of the present invention is built in a portion of an upper forming a heel counter and largely includes a body part 110 and a standing part 120.

The body part 110 has the same shape of an arch as the heel counter of the shoe on plane, and even if not shown, a lower end of the body part 110 is coupled to the sole of the shoe, so that the body part 110 is built in the upper of the shoe. The standing part 120 is formed unitarily on top of the body 110 and has a thickness t' lower than a thickness t of the body part 110 in such a manner as to have a given elastic force to allow the heel counter to be naturally bent. So as to allow the standing part 120 to be bent more softly, moreover, a groove 130 is desirably formed on top of the body part 110 in a horizontal direction thereof. In more detail, the groove 130 is formed on a boundary between the body part 110 and the standing part 120, so that when the standing part 120 is bent, the flexibility of the standing part 120 is improved to allow a wearer to wear the shoe more conveniently.

Further, the groove 130 is desirably formed on bottom of the body part 110 in the horizontal direction thereof to ensure the flexibility of the body part 110, so that the heel counter can be configured to be foldable.

The grooves 130 are formed on top and bottom of the body part 110, but of course, they may be intermittently formed on the intermediate portion of the body part 110. In this case, the body part 110 can be folded partially according to the preference of the wearer.

The body part 110 and the standing part 120 are made of a hard or soft synthetic resin and are formed unitarily with each other, that is, as one body. As the standing part 120 has the thickness t' lower than the thickness t of the body part 110, the standing part 120 itself has flexibility and elasticity, and further, the grooves 130 are formed on top and bottom of the body part 110, thereby ensuring high flexibility of the standing part 120 and allowing the shoe to be worn in the state where the heel counter to be folded if desired.

On the other hand, the grooves 130 are desirably formed on the inner periphery of the body part 110, but as shown in FIG.3a, they may be formed on the outer periphery of the body part 110. Further, as shown in FIG.3b, they may be formed on the inner and outer peripheries of the body part 110, and as shown in FIG.3c, they may be formed alternately on the inner and outer peripheries of the body part 110.

Instead of the grooves 130 formed on the body part 110, on the other hand, through holes 140 may be formed thereon, which will be discussed below.

FIG.4 is a perspective view showing a multi-functional heel counter assistant for a shoe according to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG.5 is a sectional view taken along the line B-B of the multi-functional heel counter assistant for a shoe according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS.4 and 5, a multi-functional heel counter assistant 100' for a shoe according to a second embodiment of the present invention has a plurality of through holes 140 spaced apart from each other by a given distance on top and bottom of the body part 110. Instead of the grooves 130 formed on the body part 110, in more detail, the through holes 140 are formed on the body part 110, thereby improving the flexibility of a standing part 120 and allowing the body part 110 to be softly folded. If the through holes 140 are connected to each other like the grooves 130, at this time, the restoring force of the body part 110 may be lost, and accordingly, the through holes 140 should be intermittently formed on the body part 110. Of course, the through holes 140 are also formed on the intermediate portion of the body part 110, and in addition to a shape of a rectangle, each through hole 140 may have a shape of circle, rhombus, square, and so on, without any limit in shape.

Under the above-mentioned structure, the multi-functional heel counter assistant 100 for the shoe according to the first embodiment of the present invention is operated in the manner as will be discussed below.

FIG.6 is a side sectional view showing a wearing process of the shoe in which the multi-functional heel counter assistant for the shoe according to the first embodiment of the present invention is built, and FIG.7 is a side sectional view showing a wearing process of the shoe in which the multi-functional heel counter assistant for a shoe according to the first embodiment of the present invention is built, wherein the heel counter is folded.

First, as shown in FIG.6, if the wearer's foot is put into an upper 210 to wear a shoe 200 in which the multi-functional heel counter assistant 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is built, top of a heel counter 220 of the shoe 200 is folded, while coming into contact with his or her heel, and if the shoe 200 is worn completely, the folded heel counter 220 becomes unfolded by means of the elasticity of the standing part 120 of the assistant 100. In the process where the shoe 200 is worn, accordingly, the heel counter 220 is naturally bent, and if the shoe 200 is completely worn, the folded heel counter 220 is restored to its original position, so that it is very convenient to wear the shoe 200, without any separate aid like a shoehorn.

In addition, as shown in FIG.7, the shoe 200 is worn in the state where the heel counter 220 is folded according to the preference of the wearer, and even in this case, the groove 130 is formed on the bottom of the body part 110, so that even if the assistant 100 is built in the heel counter 220, the body part 110 can be folded to permit the wearer to wear the shoe 200 in the state where the heel counter 220 is folded. If the shoe 200 is taken off after worn in the state where the heel counter 220 is folded, the heel counter 220 is restored to its original position by means of the elastic force of the body part 110, thereby advantageously protecting the heel counter 220 from the damages caused when the shoe 200 is worn in the state where the heel counter 220 is folded.

According to the first and second embodiments of the present invention, on the other hand, the standing part is formed on top of the body part, and the body part is softly folded by means of the grooves or through holes. However, the same effects as mentioned above may be obtained through the adjustment of a thickness of the body part, without any grooves or through holes, which will be discussed below with reference to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG.8 is a perspective view showing a multi-functional heel counter assistant for a shoe according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.9 is a sectional view taken along the line C-C of the multi-functional heel counter assistant for a shoe according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS.8 and 9, a multi-functional heel counter assistant 100'' for a shoe according to a third embodiment of the present invention has a body part 110 dividedly formed into upper, intermediate, and lower portions, and a thickness t of the body part 110 becomes decreased in the order of the lower, intermediate and upper portion thereof. Accordingly, a standing part 120 as mentioned in the first and second embodiments of the present invention is formed on the upper portion of the body part 110. If the body part 110 is formed to have the three portions by means of thickness differences, hardness differences among the three portions of the body part 110 are caused, so that the upper portion of the body part 110 becomes soft to permit the wearer to conveniently wear the shoe. The intermediate portion of the body part 110 is relatively harder than the upper portion thereof but relatively softer than the lower portion thereof, so that the body part 110 can be folded.

The shoe as mentioned herein includes all kinds of shoes, such as a dress shoe, athletic shoe, student shoe, canvas shoe, casual shoe, and so on.

As mentioned above, the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed in the specification and drawings. In the description of the present invention, special terms are used not to limit the present invention and the scope of the present invention as defined in claims, but just to explain the present invention. Therefore, persons skilled in the relevant art can appreciate that many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto.

Claims

A multi-functional heel counter assistant for a shoe comprising a body part made of a hard synthetic resin and having a shape of a general arch in such a manner as to be built in a heel counter of the shoe, the body part being dividedly formed into upper, intermediate, and lower portions and having a thickness decreased in the order of the lower, intermediate and upper portion thereof to generate hardness differences among the three portions of the body part by means of thickness differences, whereby the heel counter folded during the shoe is worn is unfoldedly restored to an original position thereof by means of the elastic force generated from the upper portion of the body part, and the shoe is worn in the state where the heel counter is folded through a hardness difference between the intermediate and lower portions of the body part.