Shoe device with bimodal structures for rapid entry and release
View Patent ↗A shoe device having bimodal structures, configured to selectively snap the device to at least one of a second position and a first position, which selectively snaps the shoe into a first position upon being subjected to a first bending force, apt for placement or removal of a foot, and selectively snaps the shoe into a second position upon being subjected to a second bending force, apt for securement of a foot or having no foot. A forward leaning, flexible stadium arch structure, assembled to form a heel notch mechanism, connects to a sole. A morphing shoe collar portion connects to a heel. These are combined via vector changing devices for greater functionality.
1. A shoe, comprising:
a sole structure comprising opposing sides and a footbed for a wearer's foot;
an upper comprising a front collar section surrounding a top portion of the foot, the front collar section is made of a flexible, elastic material;
a heel counter surrounding a heel of the foot;
a stadium arch having an single, bendable, arched band with terminating ends and an apex, the ends cross the front collar section and are anchored to the sides of the sole, below a plane of the footbed, the apex of the band has a anatomically positioned heel notch with a slight forwardly concavity for securing the heel of the foot and is anchored to a top of the heel counter, the stadium arch is made of flexible, elastic material having stored tension at the heel notch, and higher tension at its ends, the stored tension urging the heel notch being rotated upwardly and forwardly of a rear sole area of the sole, wherein a gap exist between the stadium arch and the heel counter; and
wherein the upper includes an opening between the front collar section and the stadium arch for inserting the foot;
wherein the opening for inserting of the foot expands to a first opening at a first position with the heel notch of the stadium arch being rotated downwardly and rearwardly relative to the rear sole area of the sole, upon downward pressure from the foot, so that when the stadium arch is flexed in the first position the heel notch is positioned more rearwardly than the heel of the foot, presenting a shoe horn shape so as to permit the foot to slide into the shoe, the first opening being larger than the second opening, to facilitate entry and exit of the foot; and
wherein the opening for inserting of the foot contracts to a second opening at a second position when the stadium arch is rotated upwardly and forwardly relative to the rear sole area of the sole, stored tension of the stadium arch returning the heel notch to the assembled second position, the heel notch positioned at the heel, and the second opening is smaller than the first opening, to secure the foot within the shoe, wherein the shoe collar portion of the upper is positioned as to tightly grip an upper forefoot of the foot when the foot is secured in the shoe with the stadium arch in the second position.
2. The shoe of claim 1 , wherein the stadium arch partially spans both the heel counter and the sole.
3. The shoe of claim 1 , wherein each of the terminating ends of the stadium arch include a hole or a clasp.