Related Application

The entire content of Australian provisional patent application no. 2019901909, filed 3 June 2019 and entitled“Article of footwear”, is incorporated herein by reference.

Field of the Invention

[0001] The invention relates to articles of footwear, including in particular shoes.

Background

[0002] Conventional shoes can be roughly classified into two categories: slip-on shoes and shoes that are adjustable/tightenable in fit (via laces, buckles, adjustable straps, etc). Slip-on shoes are typically neater, more formal and more minimalistic in appearance, while adjustable shoes typically are more comfortable and provide a better fit.

[0003] In this context, there is a need for improved articles of footwear, especially shoes, which can combine comfort and functionality of adjustable footwear with the aesthetics of slip-on shoes.

Summary of the Invention

[0004] The invention provides an article of footwear comprising: an upper, and a tightener, or means for tightening, the upper to a foot of a user or wearer, wherein the upper includes a cover arranged to conceal said means or tightener. [0005] Said upper may include a flap which defines said cover.

[0006] Said flap may project rearwardly. [0007] Said means may comprise a band arranged to extend across an upper part of the wearer’s/user's foot, so as to urge towards each other lateral and medial parts of the upper. The band may comprise a strip or overlapping strips connectable one-to-another.

[0008] The cover may be arranged to overlie the band or means such that the means is concealed by the upper.

[0009] The means may be loosenable and/or releasable to loosen the upper for removal of the article from the user's foot and to facilitate donning of the article.

[0010] The means may comprise fastening components which are engageable to effect the tightening of the upper and releasable or disengageable to effect loosening of the upper.

[0011] The fastening components may comprise or define a hook-and-loop fastener.

[0012] The upper may include an exterior bridge forward of the cover.

[0013] The exterior bridge may overlie a front portion of the flap.

[0014] The exterior bridge may be decorative.

[0015] The cover may confers to the footwear article the appearance of a slip-on shoe. [0016] The article of footwear may be a slip-on shoe.

[0017] The article of footwear may have the appearance of a loafer.

[0018] The article of footwear may be a loafer.

[0019] The invention also provides a pair of footwear articles, such as a pair of shoes, comprising left and right articles of footwear each being as defined above (and for a respective foot).

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020] The invention will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates an article of footwear embodying the invention;

Figure 2 shows a tongue or flap of an upper of the footwear article of Figure 1 bent or folded forwardly such that access to and operation of a tightener of the footwear article, for tightening it to the wearer’s foot, is permitted;

Figure 3 shows the tightener of the footwear article/upper in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention in an unfastened or released condition;

Figure 4A illustrates a main part of the upper (and the sole/insole) of the footwear article in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the tongue/flap/cover- defming part of the upper being omitted to show details of a tightener with which the upper/said main part is provided;

Figure 4B shows alternative forms that the tightener with which said main part shown in Figure 4A is provided can take according to respective preferred examples embodying the invention;

Figure 4C illustrates varying forms that the remainder of the upper/what is omitted from Figure 4A (comprising the tongue/flap/cover), and thus that the article of footwear of Figure 4, can take according to alternate examples embodying the invention;

Figure 5 A illustrates the main part of the upper (and the sole/insole) of the footwear article in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the tongue/flap/cover- defming part of the upper being omitted to show details of the tightener with which the upper/said main part is provided;

Figure 5B shows alternative forms that the tightener with which said main part shown in Figure 5 A is provided can take according to respective preferred examples embodying the invention; and

Figure 5C illustrates varying forms that the remainder of the upper/what is omitted from Figure 5 A (comprising the tongue/flap/cover), and thus that the article of footwear of Figure 5, can take according to alternate examples embodying the invention. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

[0021] Figures 1 to 3 illustrate an article of footwear - specifically, a shoe 10 - according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The shoe 10 comprises an upper 2 and includes a tightener or means for tightening the upper 2 to the user’s (wearer’s) foot, said tightener/means being generally designated“6”. The upper includes a cover 4 arranged to overlie and to conceal the tightener 6.

[0022] Referring in particular to Figures 1 and 2, the upper 2 includes a flap 5 which defines the cover 4. The flap 5 projects rearwardly, i.e. towards the heel region of the article of footwear 10, and in the particular embodiments illustrated is connected to and integral with a front portion of the upper 2 arranged to overlie a toe region within the shoe 10. The flap 5 and the portion of the upper which it overlies together open towards the heel region of the article of footwear 10, providing access to the tightener/means 6, which tightener/means comprises a mechanism for tightening the upper 2 to the wearer's foot.

[0023] In the example shown in Figure 3, the tightener/means 6 is a hook-and-loop tightener 6A, comprising hook-and4oop fastening components 12 (including hook-and-loop sheets or material) connected to respective ones of lateral 11 and medial 13 parts of the upper, which are interengageable, in overlapping relation, to effect tightening of the upper 2 to the user's foot, and releasable/disengageable to effect loosening of the upper 2 on the user's foot (to facilitate or permit removal of the shoe from the foot), or to facilitate or permit donning of the shoe 10.

[0024] Figure 4A shows a main part of the upper of a shoe in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, including an alternative form of tightener 6, namely tightener 6B, the fastening components of which (instead of including hook-and-loop material) include one or more studs/stud fasteners. Figure 4B shows examples of alternative forms of the tightener 6 of the shoe details of which are shown in Figure 4A, including in addition to the tightener 6A (comprising the hook-and-loop fastening components 12) and the tightener 6B (comprising the stud fastener components), a tightener 6C, the fastening components of which include a strap and buckle, and a tightener 6D, the fastening components of which include stud fasteners comprising one or more pressed studs. Other forms of fastener/tightener, such as fasteners/tighteners the said fastening components of which comprise clasps, laces, cords, drawstring/toggles, buttons or magnets (for example), which likewise enable the user to selectively release the tightener/means, are possible without departure from the invention.

[0025] Figures 5A and 5B, which correspond to Figures 4A and 4B respectively, show a main part of the upper of a shoe in accordance with another embodiment of the invention - in which shoe the toe or tip (like that in the shoe shown in Figures 1 to 3) is pointed rather than being squared (as it is in the shoe of Figure 4) - and examples of alternative forms which the fastener/tightener of that shoe may take (likewise comprising fasteners/tighteners 6 A to 6D).

[0026] Figures 4C and Figure 5C illustrate varying forms that can be assumed by the remainder of the upper omitted from Figure 4A and the remainder of the upper omitted from Figure 5A, respectively, the said remainder (in each case) comprising a portion, in the form of a panel, which defines the cover 4/flap 5. In the first, second, fourth and fifth examples in Figure 4C and the second and fourth examples in Figure 5C, the said remainder (like that in the shoe/embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3) includes, in addition to the panel which defines the cover 4/flap 5, a bridge 14 overlying that panel and arranged forwards of the cover 4. The exterior bridge 14 may, as shown by Figures 1 and 2, overlie a front portion of the flap 5. The exterior bridge 14 is generally decorative in function, but may also retain, or play some role in retaining, the flap 5 in position so that it overlies and conceals fastener/tightener/means 6 or band 7. The exterior bridge 14 may comprise one or more of, for example, a strap, a tassel, a bit, and a saddle. In alternative embodiments, including the other of the examples shown in Figures 4C and 5C, an exterior bridge 14 is not present - in which case the article of footwear 10 may be or may appear to be a Venetian loafer. In still other embodiments, an exterior bridge 14 is present and is adjustable such that it defines a further means (not shown) for tightening the upper 2 on the user's foot.

[0027] As will be clear, it is possible that the tightener/means 6 (and thus the tightness of the fit of the upper on the foot) is adjustable by the user/wearer, as may be the case (for example) with tightener 6A, tightener 6C (provided the belt/strap thereof is provided with more than one buckle hole, e.g. has a series of holes) and tightener 6D (assuming at least one of the fastener elements of one of the fastener components can engage, selectably, alternative ones of the fastener elements of the other of the fastener components). Such embodiments can provide a more secure and/or comfortable fit for users with different sized feet, who experience significant expansion of their feet throughout the day, who require half sizes, etc. As will also be clear, in other embodiments, the tightener/means 6 is configured such that it is not adjustable (in an operative condition thereof), whereby tightness of the fit conferred by the tightener/means 6 when secured on a given wearer’s foot is (ignoring variations attributable to other factors, such as owing to expansion/contraction) fixed.

[0028] The tightener/means 6 in each of the preferred embodiments described herein with reference to the drawings is configured to defme/comprise a bridge or band 7 (comprising, e.g., the overlapping interengaged components 12 in the tightener/means 6A or the belt/strap in the tightener/means 6C). The bridge/band 7, or tightener/means 6 in each of the preferred embodiments, is arranged to extend across an upper part - specifically the bridge - of the foot, so as to draw or urge towards each other lateral 11 and medial 13 parts of the upper, thereby securing (preferably snugly) the article of footwear 10 to the foot in use.

[0029] The cover 4 is arranged to overlie the bridge/band 7 or tightener/means 6 such that the latter is concealed (owing to/by the former) when the article of footwear 10 is worn normally. Accordingly, the article of footwear 10 can have the appearance of a slip-on shoe, e.g. as illustrated in Figures 1, 4C and 5C, due to concealment of the tightener/means 6 by the cover 4. That is, the article of footwear 10 has the“clean” appearance of a slip-on shoe, but functions as a selectively tightenable shoe via the concealed means 6. The article of footwear 10 may, accordingly, be easier to put on and take off, and more secure and better fitted to the foot, compared with conventional slip-on shoes. In a preferred embodiment, the article of footwear 10, advantageously, has the appearance of a loafer but functions as a selectively tightenable shoe.

[0030] Without departure from the invention, the tightener/means 6 may be one that is not manually loosenable or releasable as such - for instance, it may comprise an elastic/elastomeric or resiliently deformable component (not shown), e.g. comprising at least one strap or at least one cord, arranged to expand or stretch when the user's foot is received by the footwear article, thereby conferring tightness to the fit of the upper to the foot - e.g. a component, that expands when the user's foot is received by the footwear article and returns towards its unbiased length (thereby partially resiling), to retain the upper 2 on the user's foot.

[0031] In embodiments in which the tightener/means 6 is not manually loosenable or releasable, e.g. an embodiment as described in the previous paragraph, the article of footwear 10 may in fact be a slip-on shoe. In the case of such embodiments, concealment of the flexible band/bridge, or tightener/means 6, by the cover 4 provides a cleaner and more minimalistic aesthetic, which may be appealing to some users. In one such embodiment, the article of footwear is a loafer.

[0032] While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not by way of limitation. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary embodiments.

[0033] The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavor to which this specification relates.

[0034] Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.