Rapid-entry shoe

{
  "publication_number": "US2020015544A1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A1",
  "title": "Rapid-entry shoe",
  "abstract": "A rapid-entry shoe allows the shoe to be rapidly entered and readied for wearing by the user. The shoe may be any of a wide variety of shoe types, including shoes of a wide variety of styles and functions. The rapid entry features of the shoes utilize various movable elements that are attached to a sole portion or other portion of the shoe and allow movement of a portion of the shoe under pressure to allow rapid entry of the user's foot into the shoe. The moveable elements may include flexible elements, elements having constructed to have a memory of a native position, magnetic elements, and/or elastic elements",
  "claims": [
    "1. A rapid-entry shoe comprising: a sole support having an upper surface configured to support a user's foot; an upper coupled to the sole support, the upper defining an opening adapted to receive entry of the user's foot; and a rear portion of the upper configured to secure a heel of the user's foot; wherein the rear portion comprises a deformable element, the deformable element extending around the heel of the user's foot and forming a first torsion spring and a second torsion spring; wherein each of the first torsion spring and the second torsion spring is dispersed around a periphery of the sole support; wherein the deformable element is configured to have a native position in which the deformable element holds the rear portion in a closed position securing the heel of the user's foot; and wherein the deformable element is configured to be deformed by an opening force to expand the opening to permit rapid entry of the user's foot. 2. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 1, wherein the deformable element extends continuously around the heel of the user's foot. 3. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 1, wherein the deformable element extends into an inner layer of the sole support. 4. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 1, wherein each of the first torsion spring and the second torsion spring is dispersed below the upper surface. 5. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 1, wherein each of the first torsion spring and the second torsion spring comprises an axis of rotation below the upper surface. 6. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 1, wherein the deformable element is stressed in the native position. 7. A rapid-entry shoe comprising: a sole having an upper surface configured to support a user's foot; an upper attached to the sole and configured to surround and secure the user's foot on the sole; a rear portion configured to secure the user's foot in the shoe on the upper surface of the sole; and a deformable element operatively attached to the sole and the rear portion; wherein the deformable element is configured to have a native position in which the deformable element holds the rear portion of the shoe in a closed position securing the user's foot in the shoe; and wherein the deformable element may be deformed by an opening force to open the shoe to permit rapid entry of the user's foot into the shoe. 8. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 7, wherein the deformable element comprises an axis of rotation located above the upper surface of the sole. 9. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 8, wherein the deformable element comprises a torsion spring at the axis of rotation. 10. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 7, wherein the deformable element comprises an axis of rotation located below the upper surface of the sole. 11. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 10, wherein the deformable element comprises a torsion spring at the axis of rotation. 12. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 7, wherein the deformable element is stressed in the native position. 13. A rapid-entry shoe comprising: a sole having an upper surface configured to support a user's foot; an upper attached to the sole and configured to surround and secure the user's foot on the sole; a rear portion configured to secure the user's foot in the shoe on the upper surface of the sole; and a deformable element operatively attached to the sole and the rear portion; wherein the deformable element is configured to have a native position in which the deformable element holds the rear portion of the shoe in a closed position securing the user's foot in the shoe; wherein the deformable element may be deformed by an opening force to open the shoe to permit rapid entry of the user's foot into the shoe; and wherein the deformable element comprises a flat wire spring rotationally oriented at a first location to allow vertical bending. 14. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 13, wherein the deformable element comprises a flat wire spring rotationally oriented at a second location to resist vertical bending. 15. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 13, wherein the deformable element is stressed in the native position."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to shoes, and more particularly to shoes providing features to enhance rapid entry of a user's foot into the shoes.\n\nShoes come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, functionalities, and purposes. While it is relatively easy to remove many types of shoes, it may not be so simple to put all such shoes back on again. Instead, many shoes require several steps to put the shoes on, including lacing and tying the shoes, using other fasteners, or the like, and such steps may include loosening and/or untying shoes that were not properly loosened or untied the last time the shoes were worn.\n\nImplementation of the invention provides a rapid-entry shoe that allows the shoe to be rapidly entered and readied for wearing by the user. Implementation of the invention may be practiced with a wide variety of shoe types, enabling use of the invention with shoes of a wide variety of styles and functions. The rapid-entry features of the shoes utilize various movable elements that are fixedly attached to a sole portion of the shoe and allow movement of a portion of the shoe under pressure to allow rapid entry of the user's foot into the shoe. The moveable elements may include flexible elements, elements constructed to have a memory of a native position and/or elastic elements. The rapid-entry features of the shoes may also ease use of the shoes and/or ease putting on and/or taking off of the shoes.\n\nThe objects and features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.",
  "cpc": [
    "A43B 11/00",
    "A43B 21/42",
    "A43B 3/248",
    "A43C 11/008"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A43B 11/00",
    "A43B 3/24",
    "A43C 11/00",
    "A43B 21/42"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Fast IP LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Michael Pratt"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2019-09-25",
  "publication_date": "2020-01-16",
  "priority_date": "2009-11-12",
  "application_number": "US-201916582086-A",
  "family_id": "43567631",
  "cited_by_count": 18,
  "citations": [
    "US20020174568A1"
  ]
}