Footwear with mechanical foot-insertion assist
An article of footwear and methods include an insole, an upper configured to form a space between the upper and the insole configured to admit and secure a foot of a wearer, and a rotatable conveyor element. The rotatable conveyor element is seated in at least one of the insole and the upper. The rotatable conveyor element is configured to rotatably engage a body part of the wearer as the foot enters the space and draw the foot into the space.
1. An article of footwear, comprising:
an insole;
an upper configured to form a space between the upper and the insole configured to admit and secure a foot of a wearer; and
a rotatable conveyor element, seated in at least one of the insole and the upper, configured to rotatably engage a body part of the wearer as the foot enters the space and draw the foot into the space;
wherein the upper forms a collar to admit the foot of the wearer and wherein the rotatable conveyor element is a collar mechanism positioned in the collar, wherein the collar mechanism comprises:
a wheel;
a flexible tube extending around at least a portion of the collar, wherein the wheel is secured within the tube; and
a coating around the flexible tube configured to promote engagement with the leg of the wearer, the coating comprised of at least one of: latex or a polymer;
wherein the wheel is a first wheel and wherein the collar mechanism further comprises a second wheel secured within the tube.
2. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the upper forms a sock section and wherein the collar mechanism is coupled to the sock section and configured to cause the sock section to extend and retract as the wheel turns.
3. The article of footwear of claim 2 , wherein the sock section includes a semi-rigid interior portion to engage with the wheel.
4. The article of footwear of claim 3 , wherein the sock section further includes an exterior portion more flexible than the semi-rigid interior portion.
5. The article of footwear of claim 3 , wherein the sock section is configured to rise over an ankle of the wearer when the sock section extends.
6. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the collar mechanism comprises four wheels secured within the tube.
7. The article of footwear of claim 1 , further comprising a motor, operatively coupled to the collar mechanism, configured to turn the wheel when in operation.
8. The article of footwear of claim 7 , further comprising a power source, operatively coupled to the motor, configured to power the motor.
9. The article of footwear of claim 8 , wherein the power source is a rechargeable power source.
10. The article of footwear of claim 8 , wherein the power source includes a piezoelectric generator.