IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,622,598
Granted Patent B2
US 11,622,598 · App. 17/488,032 · Granted Apr 11, 2023

Easy-entry shoe with a spring-flexible rear

Inventor: Aharon Bar (Fort Lee, NJ)
Assignee: Orthofeet, Inc.
A43B11/00A43B1/0018A43B23/028
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,622,598
App. No.
17/488,032
Granted
Apr 11, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A shoe including a sole and a shoe upper, the shoe upper including a shoe opening for entering the shoe, the shoe opening defined by a rear part, a medial part, a lateral part, and a front part, the rear part including a top portion, reinforced by a firm material, an optional bottom portion reinforced by a firm material, a center portion, located between the top portion and the bottom portion, the center portion made of a flexible material, and a spring element. The top part of the spring element being attached to the top portion of the rear part, and the bottom part of the spring element being attached to either the bottom portion of the rear part, or to the sole.

Claims (34)

1. A shoe comprising a sole and a shoe upper, the shoe upper comprising a shoe opening for entering the shoe, the shoe opening defined by a rear part, a medial part, a lateral part, and a front part, wherein the shoe comprises an elastic element in at least one of: the medial part of the shoe, and the lateral part of the shoe, and the rear part comprising:

a top portion, reinforced by a firm material,

a bottom portion above the sole, reinforced by a firm material, and

a compression spring element comprising:

a top part and a bottom part being configured to be compressed towards each other by the application of a force on the top part, and

a side profile that lays flush against the contour of the rear part of the shoe, wherein the compression spring is mounted inside a sleeve or embedded within the rear part,

wherein the compression spring is substantially centered between the left side and the right side of the rear part, wherein the top part of the compression spring element is attached to the top portion of the rear part, and the bottom part of the compression spring element is attached to the bottom portion of the rear part.

2. The shoe according to claim 1 , wherein the compression spring element is made of at least one of:

a circular compression spring;

a garter compression spring; and

a sinusoidal compression spring.

3. The shoe according to claim 1 , wherein the compression spring element is at least one of:

curved vertically, upwards, and forward, according to vertical curvature of the rear part; and

curved horizontally according to horizontal curvature of the rear part.

4. A method for entering a shoe, comprising the steps of:

providing a shoe comprising a sole and a shoe upper, the shoe upper comprising a shoe opening for entering the shoe, the shoe opening defined by a rear part, a medial part, a lateral part, and a front part, wherein the shoe comprises an elastic element in at least one of: the medial part of the shoe, and the lateral part of the shoe, and the rear part comprising:

a top portion reinforced by a firm material,

a bottom portion, above the sole, reinforced by a firm material, and

a compression spring element comprising:

a top part and a bottom part configured to be compressed towards each other by the application of a force of the top part, and

a side profile that lays flush against the contour of the rear part of the shoe wherein the compression spring is mounted inside a sleeve or embedded within the rear part,

wherein the compression spring is substantially centered between the left side and the right side of the rear part, wherein the top part of the compression spring is attached to the top portion of the rear part, and the bottom part of the compression spring element is attached to the bottom portion of the rear part;

exerting a downward force on the top portion of the rear part when an object enters the shoe to push down the top portion of the rear part, and at the same time the elastic element stretches, allowing the shoe opening to expand, and create enough space for the object to enter the shoe; and

releasing the downward force on the top portion of the rear part to enable the compression spring element to push the top portion of the rear part up and for the elastic element to contract for securing the object in the shoe.

5. A method for entering a shoe, comprising the steps of:

providing a shoe comprising a sole and a shoe upper, the shoe upper comprising a shoe opening for entering the shoe, the shoe opening defined by a rear part, a medial part, a lateral part, and a front part, wherein the shoe comprises an elastic element in at least one of: the medial part of the shoe, and the lateral part of the shoe, and the rear part comprising:

a top portion reinforced by a firm material,

a bottom portion, above the sole,

a compression spring element comprising:

a top part and a bottom part and being configured to be compressed by the application of a force on the top part, and

a side profile that lays flush against the contour of the rear part of the shoe, wherein the compression spring is mounted inside a sleeve or embedded within the rear part,

wherein the compression spring is substantially centered between a left side and right side of the rear part, wherein the top part of the compression spring element is attached to the top portion of the rear part, and the bottom part of the compression spring element is attached to the sole of the shoe;

exerting a downward force on the top portion of the rear part when an object enters the shoe to push down the top portion of the rear part and at the same time the elastic element stretches, allowing the shoe opening to expand, creating enough space for the object to enter the shoe; and

releasing the downward force on the top portion of the rear part to enable the compression spring element to push the top portion of the rear part up and for the elastic element to contract for securing the object in the shoe.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2024
From: BMO BANK N.A.
To: ORTHOFEET, INC.
Reel/Frame 068142/0502 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 24, 2022
From: BAR, AHARON
To: ORTHOFEET, INC.
Reel/Frame 059092/0095 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63233451 · Aug 16, 2021
Related Publication 20230052916A1 · Feb 16, 2023
Cited By (3)
US 12,274,325 US 12,414,601 US 12,414,609