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DESCRIPTION

Field of the Invention

In its most general aspect, the present invention relates to the technical field of footwear and in particular refers to a heel counter for footwear and to footwear comprising the aforesaid heel counter.

State of the art

Nowadays, reinforcing elements, known as heel counters, which are applied to the back of certain footwear items at the contact area between footwear and the heel bone of a user's foot, are widely used.

For example, document EP 643 931 B1 describes footwear comprising a heel counter provided with a pad housed in a specific cavity, in which the pad is able to deform plastically so as to adapt to the heel of the user's foot upon first use.

The solution according to EP 643 931 B1 suffers from some drawbacks, including high cost due to the properties of the pad, which is made of an opencell material impregnated with a kind of "bouncing mastic" contained in a solvent that is then evaporated. Furthermore, although the pad retains some elastic deformability, after plastic deformation it assumes a final shape that does not follow the changes in shape and volume that the foot may assume during the course of the day. Consider, for example, the increase in foot volume that occurs towards the end of the working day or under specific psychophysical conditions, such as due to water retention.

Document CN 108968234 A describes a heel counter comprising a support base intended to be placed, in use, between the sole and the insole of the footwear, two side portions, left and right, extending from the support base and a rear portion extending from the two side portions.

The heel counter according to CN 108968234 A is not without drawbacks in that, although it is provided with a profile which helps the user's foot to enter the footwear, it does not equally help to hold and stabilize the foot inside the footwear.

Summary of the invention

The technical problem underlying the present invention was to provide a footwear heel counter having characteristics able to overcome one or more of the drawbacks mentioned above with reference to the known art.

According to the invention, the aforesaid problem is solved by a footwear heel counter comprising a shell having an inner surface and an outer surface, and holding means to hold a user’s foot within the footwear, wherein the aforesaid holding means comprise at least one holding element constrained to the aforesaid shell on the side of the aforesaid inner surface, and wherein the aforesaid shell has an arcuate profile with a convex-concave pattern if the aforesaid outer surface is considered from bottom to top in the use arrangement of the heel counter in the footwear.

In practice, since the aforesaid shell is intended to envelop the heel of the user's foot, it comprises a closed rear portion and an open front portion and, inter alia, helps the foot to enter footwear which comprises the aforesaid heel counter, in particular thanks to the aforesaid arcuate profile with convex- concave pattern wherein the aforesaid inner surface and the aforesaid outer surface have substantially the same pattern, while the aforesaid at least one holding element, which is substantially soft, prevents the user's foot from undesirably "slipping out" of the footwear, i.e. unintentionally coming out of it.

The above expression "wherein the aforesaid inner surface and the aforesaid outer surface have substantially the same pattern" means that a convex portion of the inner surface matches a corresponding concave portion of the outer surface and that a concave portion of the inner surface matches a corresponding convex portion of the outer surface, and vice versa.

Preferably, the aforesaid shell comprises a first half-shell or medial halfshell placed in use at the so-called inner foot of the user, a second half-shell or side half-shell placed in use at the so-called outer foot of the user, and an apical portion extending from the two first and second half-shells, wherein the geometric locus of the inflection points of the aforesaid arcuate profile defines the boundary between the aforesaid apical portion and the aforesaid first halfshell and second half-shell.

Preferably, considering the aforesaid outer surface, the height ratio between a concave portion and a convex portion delimited by the aforesaid geometric locus of the inflection points of the aforesaid shell, thus the height ratio between the aforesaid apical portion and the aforesaid first half-shell or second half-shell, is between about 25:75 and about 35:65.

Preferably, the aforesaid shell also comprises a base which extends substantially at right angles from the aforesaid first half-shell and the aforesaid second half-shell and which it is constrained to them on the opposite side with respect to the aforesaid apical portion, the base being preferably made in one piece with them and being intended, when present, to be coupled to an insole or sole of the footwear.

Preferably, the aforesaid base is provided with one or more notches which allow the aforesaid shell to be better adapted, by slightly deforming it, to the desired footwear size. In fact, the one or more notches, in the vicinity thereof, result in areas of a certain degree of yielding, or at any rate areas structurally more yielding than a base without notches, which, however, do not affect the robustness of the aforesaid base or the robustness of the shell as a whole.

Preferably, the thickness of the aforesaid shell varies between about 1 .6 mm at the point of maximum thickness, which is basically at the point of maximum width (from side to side) of the shell, and about 0.5 mm at the point of minimum thickness, which matches the thickness of the aforesaid base, if any, whereas the point of minimum thickness is about 0.6 mm at a free perimeter edge of the aforesaid apical portion, base excluded.

Preferably, the aforesaid base comprises end portions with a width that decreases towards the respective ends, in practice end portions, that can be defined as tapering portions, with a width that decreases progressively from a maximum value (which varies from approximately 8 mm to approximately 14 mm, depending on the size of the footwear for which this heel counter is intended), to a minimum value at the aforesaid ends.

Preferably, a tapering end portion extends for a length between about 20% and about 50% of the longitudinal extent of the heel counter, where the longitudinal extent is defined as the one substantially parallel to the direction of longitudinal extent of the user's foot.

According to the invention, the aforesaid convex-concave pattern of the profile of the aforesaid shell can have a more or less pronounced "degree" of convexity/concavity, defined by the magnitude of an angle 0 preferably between 2° and 30°, more preferably between 15° and 25°, wherein the aforesaid angle 0 is identified by a line V' tangent to the aforesaid outer surface of the shell and perpendicular to a horizontal bearing plane of the user's foot, and by a line V" tangent to the aforesaid apical portion of the shell at its upper end, that is to say at an upper end of the aforesaid free perimeter edge of the apical portion of the shell.

According to the invention and the above, the aforesaid shell is preferably made by injection molding, for example of polyamide (PA), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) or polypropylene (PP), according to known techniques.

Preferably, the hardness of the aforesaid shell is between about 70 Shore A and about 90 Shore A, corresponding approximately to about 22 Shore D and about 39 Shore D, respectively.

As mentioned above, the aforesaid arcuate profile of the shell is advantageous because it helps the user’s foot to enter footwear which comprises the aforesaid heel counter, by providing the foot with a larger entry space and, in addition, it allows the foot to be easily guided to its proper position within the footwear itself. Moreover, the shape of the shell profile is suitable for being deformed basically like a leaf spring: the elastic force accumulated during compression, that is, during the insertion of the foot, is released once the insertion of the foot is complete, thereby promoting the stretching of the footwear, particularly of its upper, and thus also promoting optimal foot envelopment by the footwear itself.

With regard to the aforesaid at least one holding element, it should be said that it is basically a shock-absorbing element made of softer material than the aforesaid shell and that it preferably has elastic or visco-elastic properties.

Preferably, the aforesaid at least one holding element is a respective at least one pad or a respective at least one coating layer.

Preferably, when provided with elastic properties, the aforesaid at least one holding element is a pad made of a polymer foam, e.g., polyurethane (Pll) foam, or the aforesaid at least one pad may comprise an envelope made of polymer material, e.g., polyurethane (Pll), containing a fluid, preferably a gel. In these cases, the hardness of the pad is preferably between about 15 Asker C and about 45 Asker C, while the density of the aforesaid foam is preferably between about 0.1 and about 0.45 g/cm ³ .

Preferably, when provided with viscoelastic properties, the aforesaid at least one holding element is either a pad or a covering layer made of a so- called memory foam material, which is exactly a material with viscous characteristics and low resilience, usually of polyurethane origin. In these cases, the hardness of the pad or coating layer is preferably between about 15 Asker C and about 45 Asker C, whereas its density is preferably between about 0.1 and about 0.45 g/cm ³ .

The use of a memory foam material is particularly advantageous because it deforms when it comes into contact with the user's foot, and then substantially recovers its initial shape and envelops comfortably the foot while keeping it in place within the footwear, i.e. , preventing it from "slipping out". In particular, due to the viscoelastic nature of the memory foam material, it does not immediately deform elastically as in the case of a resilient material such as HR (high resilience) foam, a 3D fabric, etc., and therefore makes it very difficult, if not impossible, for forces with a bottom-up component (where "top" and "bottom" refer to the use arrangement of the present heel counter within the footwear) to cause the user's foot to slip out.

Basically, a memory foam material, which is basically a foam, conforms perfectly to the shape of the foot it comes in contact with and also has a much slower recovery time than the elastic materials to recover its original shape.

Preferably, the shape of the aforesaid at least one pad can be basically elliptical, ovoid, lobed, circular, elongated, and, furthermore, there are no particular limits to its maximum extent, whereas the minimum extent useful to make its manufacture possible and fit for the purposes is about 0.5 cm ² , considering the surface of the pad itself that faces the user’s foot during use. It is also possible to provide a pad with a trilobed shape that basically has three ramifications directed upwards from the ground, toward the foot outside and toward the foot inside, respectively. It should be said, however, that the number of pads can be any number as needed.

Preferably, the aforesaid at least one pad is arranged at an area of maximum convexity of the aforesaid inner surface and/or straddling at least part of the aforesaid geometric locus, again at the aforesaid inner surface of the shell.

The arrangement of the aforesaid at least one pad straddling at least part of the aforesaid geometric locus is advantageous because it eliminates, if not drastically reduces, the possibility for the pad to move, over time, from its initial position under the pressure of repeated rubbing with the foot which occurs especially during the stages of inserting and removing the foot into/from the footwear.

Preferably, in case of two pads, a first pad is arranged at the aforesaid first half-shell and a second pad is arranged at the aforesaid second half-shell. Advantageously, in the latter case, the two pads give support to the heel of the user's foot in the medial position and in the side position by allowing, through appropriate design of the pads themselves, to take advantage of the anatomy of the heel, which is different at the foot outer and the foot inner from that at the rear end of the heel.

According to the invention and the above, it is also possible to provide at least one pad of the aforesaid type which extends beyond a perimeter edge of the aforesaid shell. In the latter case, the pad not only acts as a means for keeping the user's foot in the correct position once it has been inserted into the footwear but also provides comfort and support at the mouth of the footwear, i.e. at the collar of the footwear and not just limited to the heel, in practice encircling the ankle possibly up to the height of the malleolar bone of the foot.

In this regard, the portion of the aforesaid at least one pad emerging from the aforesaid shell, that is, the aforesaid portion extending beyond the aforesaid perimeter edge of the shell, can be determined according to known techniques based on the need to provide soft support at the collar of the footwear.

According to the invention, the aforesaid at least one pad may extend to the aforesaid free perimeter edge of the apical portion or it may be spaced from the aforesaid free perimeter edge of the apical portion by a predetermined segment, e.g., 5 mm, depending, for example, on special molding requirements or otherwise on manufacturing requirements of the present heel counter or footwear incorporating it.

Preferably, the aforesaid at least one pad does not extend over the entire height of the present heel counter, i.e., does not extend over the entire vertical extent of the heel counter, in which "vertical" refers to the use arrangement of the heel counter, preferably not being extended to a lower edge of the halfshells, i.e., to the boundary with the aforesaid base, if any.

Preferably, the aforesaid at least one pad extends vertically above and below the aforesaid geometric locus of the inflection points according to a ratio between 10:90 and 90:10, more preferably between 30:70 and 70:30, still more preferably between 40:60 and 60:40, still more preferably equal to about 50:50.

As set forth above, the aforesaid at least one pad is constrained to the aforesaid shell, e.g. by gluing. Furthermore, according to an embodiment variant, the aforesaid at least one pad can first be made and then it can be loaded into a mould in which the aforesaid shell is made by injection, the shell incorporating or rather constraining the pad to itself. In this case the aforesaid at least one pad is basically co-moulded with the aforesaid shell. In any case, according to the present invention the aforesaid shell and the aforesaid at least one pad form a monolithic structure. In general, the structure formed by the aforesaid shell and the aforesaid at least one holding element is monolithic, as is a structure comprising the shell and the aforesaid at least one coating layer.

In this regard, when the aforesaid at least one holding element consists of the aforesaid at least one coating layer of memory foam, unless otherwise specified, what is stated above for the aforesaid at least one memory foam pad still applies.

Preferably, the aforesaid at least one coating layer is extended over substantially the entire inner surface of the aforesaid shell.

Preferably, the thickness of the aforesaid at least one coating layer is between 1 mm and 20 mm, more preferably between 5 mm and 15 mm, even more preferably between 7 mm and 12 mm.

According to the invention, the present heel counter may further comprise one or more additional coating layers, for example a second coating layer which contacts the aforesaid at least one coating layer or first coating layer and has a smaller extent than the latter. In practice, in case a second coating layer is provided, it extends over a portion of the aforesaid at least one coating layer, while what stated above with reference to the aforesaid at least one coating layer applies to the height or thickness of the aforesaid second coating layer as well as to the material thereof. This advantageously results in a local increase in the overall thickness of the aforesaid at least one holding element, which helps the foot to be held.

Substantially, according to the invention, the aforesaid at least one holding element is advantageous because, once the foot is inserted into footwear comprising the present heel counter, it helps to hold it in place by reducing or suppressing the relative movement between the foot and the footwear, which would otherwise cause blisters. In addition, since the aforesaid at least one holding element is made of relatively soft and resilient or viscoelastic material, it does not hinder the entry of the foot into the footwear because, precisely due to these characteristics, it can reduce its size during the entry of the foot, and then it returns to its initial size which allows it to keep the foot in place. Ultimately, it can be stated that the aforesaid at least one holding element is not subject to plastic deformation.

Preferably, the aforesaid holding means comprise a cover made of a material selected from the group comprising: fabric, leather, nonwoven fabric, knit, wherein the aforesaid cover is constrained to the aforesaid at least one holding element on the opposite side with respect to the aforesaid shell.

Preferably, the aforesaid holding means comprise at least one gripping element constrained to the aforesaid cover and adapted to generate greater friction than the friction generated by the aforesaid cover, wherein, preferably, the aforesaid at least one gripping element may be made of fabric, nonwoven fabric or polymeric material, preferably thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) or silicone.

In particular, when the aforesaid at least one gripping element (also called a grip element) is made of polymeric material, it is constrained to the aforesaid cover on the opposite side with respect to the aforesaid at least one holding element, whereas when the aforesaid at least one gripping element is made of fabric or nonwoven fabric, depending on the their characteristics, it may be constrained to the aforesaid cover on the opposite side with respect to the aforesaid at least one holding element or it may be constrained to the aforesaid cover and in contact with the aforesaid at least one holding element. In the latter case, the gripping element, whose width is preferably between 10 mm and 50 mm, in practice is arranged between two covering portions that are discontinuous with each other, in a neighborhood of the centerline axis of the heel counter, and has greater resistance to foot slip in a first direction (the direction that leads the foot to leave the footwear), and less resistance to foot slip in a second direction opposite the aforesaid first direction (the direction that leads the foot to be inserted into the footwear). Such a fabric is known as "cat tongue lining" and for example is available on the market under the name of Stretch velvet LYU-20118 from supplier LIANG YUAN SHOES MATERIAL CO. LTD in Houjie Town, Dongguan, China.

In any case, the aforesaid at least one gripping element is preferably combined with the aforesaid cover by casting, co-moulding, transfer, ultrasounds, stitching or other known techniques useful for the purpose. In practice, the aforesaid at least one gripping element is made so that it only partially covers (e.g., according to one or more strips or polka dots) the cover or holding element, so that, although forming an additional holding element to hold the foot in position within the footwear, it does not prevent the foot from being inserted due to excessive friction.

When the aforesaid at least one gripping element is present, the aforesaid at least one holding element preferably has substantially, but not exclusively, a shock-absorbing function, since resilient non-viscoelastic pads that deform elastically almost instantaneously under the effect of a stress are preferred, although, according to the invention, pads or coating layers with viscoelastic properties may be used even with the aforesaid at least one gripping element, just as elastic pads may be used even in the absence of the aforesaid at least one gripping element.

Preferably, the present heel counter comprises at least one rib made in relief or in bas-relief on the aforesaid shell. Both relief and bas-relief ribs can also be provided.

When the aforesaid at least one rib is made in relief, it is arranged on the aforesaid outer surface of the shell and its maximum thickness is between about 0.5 mm and about 3.5 mm, preferably about 2 mm, which is added to the local thickness of the half-shells and/or apical portion, as stated above. When the aforesaid at least one rib is made in bas-relief it may be provided on the aforesaid outer surface or on the aforesaid inner surface, or bas-relief ribs may be provided on both the outer surface and the inner surface, with a maximum depth of about 0.5 mm, which is subtracted from the local thickness of the half-shells and/or apical portion stated above.

The maximum thickness and the maximum depth have been stated above since, preferably, the aforesaid at least one rib is extended with relief or bas-relief which are variable along its extent, in particular smaller at end portions with respect to a remaining middle portion thereof, fading to zero at the ends.

Thus, the aforesaid at least one rib can result in a local increase in the thickness of the aforesaid shell and thus an increase in the resistant section, or it can result in a local decrease in the thickness of the aforesaid shell and thus a decrease in the resistant section.

In practice, the present heel counter, or anyway part of it, can be made stiffer in the first case (relief rib) and less stiff in the second case (bas-relief rib). This makes it possible to vary the stiffness of the heel counter and thus its greater or lesser resistance to foot movements and its greater or lesser support during foot insertion, while limiting its thickness variations only at the rib(s). What above is advantageous because it allows the thickness of the half-shells and the apical portion to be kept substantially constant over large areas, thus optimizing the moulding process so as to prevent or otherwise limit material stagnation, limit the extent of relatively thick areas that can potentially cause abnormal material shrinkage resulting in deformations of the heel counter, and limit the overall weight of the heel counter. Advantageously, it is also possible to modify relatively inexpensively an existing mould to insert ribs at a later time, without necessarily manufacturing a new mould.

This is partly due to the fact that, according to the invention, in order to avoid damaging the footwear for which the present heel counter is intended or other elements of the same heel counter intended to be combined with the aforesaid shell, the aforesaid at least one rib has no sharp edges. In addition, the absence of sharp edges improves the aforesaid injection moulding process.

Preferably, the aforesaid at least one rib has a continuous pattern, that is, without interruptions. Advantageously, this allows the overall flexural stiffness of the aforesaid shell and thus of the present heel counter to be prevented from changing abruptly.

Preferably, the aforesaid at least one rib extends from the aforesaid lower edge of the half-shells to the aforesaid free perimeter edge of the apical portion or up to a predetermined distance from the free perimeter edge of the apical portion between 0.5 mm and 5 mm, however, the possibility of providing at least one rib of the aforesaid type extended uninterruptedly from the aforesaid first half-shell to the aforesaid second half-shell is not excluded.

Preferably, the present heel counter comprises one to five ribs of the aforesaid type, all of which are extended at least partially on the aforesaid first half-shell and/or one to five ribs all of which are extended at least partially on the aforesaid second half-shell, these embodiments having provided high comfort and stability to the user's foot. Therefore, according to the invention, a number of ribs at least partially extended on the first half-shell and a different number of ribs at least partially extended on the second half-shell can be provided.

For example, a shell with three relief ribs on the first half-shell (medial or inner half-shell) and two relief ribs on the second half-shell (side or outer halfshell) can be provided. Thus the stiffness of the outer half-shell is lower than that of the inner half-shell. A heel counter having a configuration of the type considered above is advantageous in that it accompanies the movement of the foot more naturally. In fact, in the phase of lifting the foot off the ground, the weight is gradually shifted from the heel to the toe by pushing on the outside of the foot during the take-off, and it is therefore useful that the movement of the foot towards the outside is accompanied rather than braked, as would occur in cases of excessive stiffness. On the contrary, in the phase of landing on the ground, it is important to prevent excessive pronation of the foot and, therefore, greater stiffness towards the inside of the foot is preferable in order to provide the latter with adequate support. As will be better understood hereafter, in order to modulate the flexural stiffness of the aforesaid shell, the present heel counter may be provided with at least one through opening extended on the shell itself, alternatively or in addition to the aforesaid at least one rib.

Preferably the aforesaid at least one rib has an "S"-shaped, or arcuate, preferably "C"-shaped or "U"-shaped, possibly branched, profile.

When the aforesaid at least one rib has a basically "S" profile, it has essentially two adjacent segments, namely a first concave segment (upper segment) and a second convex segment (lower segment).

In particular, preferably, the aforesaid first segment of the aforesaid at least one rib shows a concavity facing the aforesaid closed rear portion of the shell and, as a result, a convexity facing the aforesaid open front portion of the shell, whereas the aforesaid second segment of the aforesaid at least one rib shows a convexity facing the aforesaid closed rear portion of the shell and, as a result, a concavity facing the aforesaid open front portion of the shell.

Preferably, the aforesaid second segment extends along about 2/3 of the total length of the aforesaid at least one rib, and the aforesaid first segment extends along about 1/3 of the total length of the aforesaid at least one rib.

It should be noted that a single "C" rib is less rigid than a single "S" rib because, given the same bending or torsional moment crossing the rib at the maximum possible number of points, i.e. , two for the "C" rib and three for the "S" rib, the former has two resistant sections whereas the latter has three resistant sections and, therefore, a single "C" rib allows greater deformation than a single "S" rib under the same stress.

Preferably, the aforesaid at least one "S" rib has a radius of curvature between about 2 mm and about 20 mm. It should be noted that larger values of the aforesaid radius of curvature correspond to smoother concavities/convexities, whereas smaller values denote a more abrupt transition from concave to convex patterns and vice versa. In any case, even for ribs with arcuate 'C or 'll' profile, possibly branched, the above value of the radius of curvature is preferred. In this regard, an arcuate pattern of the aforesaid at least one rib is advantageous in that it not only provides greater or lesser flexural stiffness, as the case may be, but also allows better elastic recovery following compressive stresses acting on the aforesaid shell during insertion of the foot and/or during the use of footwear containing the present heel counter.

As mentioned above, the pattern of the aforesaid at least one rib can also be branched, particularly arcuate and branched, with the advantage of preventing abrupt changes in flexural stiffness that might result from the case of mutually consecutive and independent, i.e., unbranched, ribs. In the context of the present invention, a branched pattern of the aforesaid at least one rib is to be understood as an arcuate segment of rib extending between and joining at least two segments of rib, which are either straight or in turn themselves arcuate.

In case of an arcuate, possibly branched, pattern, the aforesaid at least one rib and preferably the aforesaid arcuate segment extend uninterruptedly from the aforesaid first half-shell to the aforesaid second half-shell. In this case, the elastic recovery of the aforesaid shell is essentially due to the half-arches of the aforesaid at least one rib, which, when subjected to a compressive stress, have ends that tend to approach each other, thus accumulating elastic energy which is then released as soon as the stress ends, in which a half-arch is essentially understood as an arcuate rib segment extended on only one of the half-shells, of a rib extended on both half-shells.

In any event, according to the invention, the aforesaid at least one rib can be positioned in the most appropriate manner depending on the stresses interacting therewith, which, in turn, have mainly a vertical direction with respect to the plane supporting the foot during the stage of inserting the latter into the footwear, whereas, during the normal use of the footwear, there are also components orthogonal to the surface of the shell and/or parallel to the direction of longitudinal extent of the footwear.

Ultimately, "S"-shaped or arcuate ribs, such as "C"-shaped or "U"- shaped, are advantageous because they allow the stresses acting on the aforesaid shell to be split into normal and tangential components, thus preventing dangerous stress build-up that can lead to elastic instability and, in addition, allow some elastic recovery to be exploited.

In general, for the same extent, width and thickness, an "S"-shaped rib has greater overall stiffness than two arcuate "C" or "U" shaped ribs placed close together and rotated 180° relative to each other, since the latter have, in total, four free ends compared to the two free ends of the "S” shape, and therefore they exhibit greater deformation under the same stress. This way, simply by acting on the shape of the ribs, a different stiffness can be obtained for the same hardness of the material used for the aforesaid shell and for the same thickness of the shell.

Finally, with regard to the aforesaid at least one rib, it is to be said that an "S" rib means an "S" pattern regardless of the orientation of the rib, which therefore might appear more like a "2," for example. In addition, an "S" rib also means a rib with a so-called serpentine pattern.

Preferably, the aforesaid shell is provided with one or more through openings to locally decrease the flexural stiffness as needed.

Preferably, the aforesaid shell is provided with one or more blind cavities and/or one or more through openings for housing the aforesaid at least one pad or part of it.

Preferably, the aforesaid at least one pad comprises, on the side facing the aforesaid inner surface of the shell, one or more fasteners adapted to engage the aforesaid one or more blind cavities and/or at least part of the aforesaid one or more through openings.

The fastener(s) make the constraint between the pad and the shell more stable, while at the same time increasing the shock-absorbing function since the resistant section of the pad at the fastener(s) is larger. Additionally, the one or more fastener(s) provide a pad with considerable extent without affecting the stiffness of the shell and thus protecting it from excessive deformation.

Preferably, the ratio of the surface of aforesaid one or more fastener(s) opposed the surface of the aforesaid at least one pads which, when the heel counter is in use, faces the user's foot and the latter, is between 1 :20 and 1 :1.5, more preferably between 1 :10 and 1 :2.

According to an embodiment variant, a pad having essentially the same extent as a through opening but thickness greater than the local shell thickness can also be provided, in order to protrude from the aforesaid through opening on the side of the aforesaid inner surface. In this case, the difference between pad thickness and shell thickness is preferably between 0.3 mm and 1.5 mm, more preferably between 0.5 mm and 1 mm. In this regard, reference has been made herein to one pad and one respective through opening, but it is to be understood that the same applies in the case of a heel counter comprising more than one pad and more than one through opening.

As stated above, one or more through openings may be provided in the aforesaid shell in order to accommodate the pad or part of it, e.g., to accommodate the aforesaid at least one fastener, and/or they may be provided in order to reduce the flexural stiffness, e.g. in the event that the thickness of the shell cannot be reduced due to the material used or the available technology. Additionally, the through openings are advantageous in that they reduce the overall weight of the aforesaid shell and thus of the present heel counter, as well as its cost, since they result in a decrease in the amount of material used. Additionally, air and water vapor can pass through the through openings, thus providing the footwear for which the present heel counter is intended with improved breathability even at the heel, a region that is not usually considered to implement this feature.

Preferably, the through opening(s) is/are substantially circular or ovoid in shape, in any case with a rounded profile whose radius of curvature as large as possible because, given the relative stiffness of the shell, it is preferable to avoid sharp edges or small radii of curvature since, at these points, the stress acting on the shell would reach very high peaks locally exceeding the strength of the material of the shell itself, causing it to be damaged or even broken.

Preferably, therefore, the radius of curvature of the aforesaid through openings is substantially constant.

According to the invention, a rib of the aforesaid type, particularly an arcuate rib in relief provided on the aforesaid shell, can surround a through opening provided on the same shell. Advantageously, in this case, the aforesaid rib not only provides stiffness and elastic recovery to the shell but also helps to strengthen the perimeter of the through opening.

The present heel counter may be used in various footwear items, predominantly with closed-heel upper, i.e., where the upper substantially envelops the entire heel of a user's foot.

The present heel counter is also advantageous because it allows the footwear to be put on the foot without necessarily loosening the closing devices of the footwear, e.g., laces, straps, bands, hooks, etc., which can be adjusted in practice only once at the first use. In fact, when inserting the foot into the footwear, the present heel counter aims primarily to guide the foot suitably, while providing support throughout the insertion stage and preventing the rear portion of the footwear from collapsing. Actually, collapsing of the rear portion of the footwear would make it more difficult to insert the foot, rather than easier. Indeed, in this case, some of the effort exerted by the user in the act of inserting the foot into the footwear is dissipated by the local deformation (by collapsing) of the footwear. Furthermore, in the long term, such deformation puts considerable stress on the materials used to make the footwear, resulting in wrinkles, creases and general wear and tear. In contrast, the present heel counter, by virtue of its robustness and special shell shape, provides adequate support for the foot during the insertion stage while facilitating the insertion stage itself.

Therefore, according to the above and according to the present invention, the above problem is also solved by footwear comprising an upper and a heel counter of the aforesaid type which is combined with the aforesaid upper, wherein, preferably, the aforesaid footwear comprises a lining and the aforesaid heel counter is arranged between the aforesaid upper and the aforesaid lining.

Brief description of the figures

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearer by the examination of the following detailed description of some preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments illustrated by way of example and without limitations, with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 schematically shows a perspective view of a heel counter for footwear, comprising a shell and holding means to hold a user's foot within the footwear, according to the present invention;

- Figure 2 schematically shows a side view of the heel counter of Figure 1 ;

- Figure 3 schematically shows a rear view of the heel counter of Figure 1 ;

- Figure 4 schematically shows a perspective view of the heel counter of Figure 1 , according to an embodiment variant of the invention;

- Figure 5 schematically shows a side, partially phantom, view of the heel counter of Figure 1 , according to an embodiment variant of the invention;

- Figure 5a schematically shows a side, partially phantom, view of the heel counter of Figure 1 , according to a further embodiment variant of the invention;

- Figure 6 shows the heel counter of Figure 5 in relation to the user's foot;

- Figures 7 - 15 schematically show respective side views of the heel counter of Figure 1 , according to respective embodiment variants of the invention;

- Figure 16 schematically shows a perspective, partially phantom, view of the heel counter of Figure 1 , according to an embodiment variant of the invention;

- Figure 17 schematically shows a top view of a detail of the heel counter of Figure 1 , specifically the aforesaid shell, according to an embodiment variant of the invention;

- Figure 18 schematically shows, partially in phantom, footwear comprising the heel counter of Figure 1 , according to the present invention;

- Figure 19 schematically shows a bottom view of the shell of figure 17, combined with a footwear’s upper and insole, according to the present invention.

Detailed description of the invention

With reference to Figures 1-3, the numeral 1 generally denotes a heel counter for footwear, according to the present invention.

The heel counter 1 essentially comprises a shell 2 having an inner surface 3 and an outer surface 4, and holding means to hold a user's foot within the footwear, wherein the holding means comprise at least one holding element 5 constrained to the shell 2 on the side of the inner surface 3.

In detail, according to the invention, the shell 2 is characterized by an arcuate profile with a convex-concave pattern, considering the aforesaid outer surface 4 from bottom to top in the use arrangement of the heel counter 1 in the footwear.

In practice, since the shell 2 is intended to envelop the heel of the user's foot, it comprises a closed rear portion 2a and an open front portion 2b and, inter alia, helps the foot to enter the footwear which comprises the present heel counter, in particular thanks to the aforesaid arcuate profile with convex- concave pattern wherein the inner surface 3 and the outer surface 4 have substantially the same pattern, while the aforesaid at least one holding element 5, which is substantially soft, prevents the user's foot from undesirably "slipping out" of the footwear, i.e. unintentionally coming out of it.

The shell 2, in which a convex portion of the inner surface 3 matches a respective concave portion of the outer surface 4, and a concave portion of the inner surface 3 matches a respective convex portion of the outer surface 4, and vice versa, essentially comprises a first half-shell 6 or medial half-shell placed in use at the so-called inner foot of the user, a second half-shell 7 or side half-shell placed in use at the so-called outer foot of the user, and an apical portion 8 extending from the first half-shell 6 and second half-shell 7, wherein the geometric locus of the inflection points of the aforesaid arcuate profile defines the boundary between the apical portion 8 and the aforesaid first half-shell 6 and second half-shell 7.

In particular, a preferred ratio between the height of a concave portion and the height of a convex portion delimited by the aforesaid geometric locus of the inflection points of the shell 2, considering the outer surface 4, thus the height ratio of the apical portion 8 to the first half-shell 6 or the second half-shell 7, is between about 25:75 and about 35:65.

Referring again to the shell 2, it should be said that, preferably, it has a thickness between about 1.6 mm at the point of maximum thickness, which is basically at the point of maximum width of the shell, i.e. from side to side, and about 0.6 mm at a free perimeter edge 9 of the apical portion 8.

The shell 2, which is preferably made of polyamide (PA), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) or polypropylene (PP) by injection moulding preferably has a hardness between about 70 Shore A and about 90 Shore A, approximately corresponding to about 22 Shore D and about 39 Shore D, respectively.

According to the invention, the present heel counter preferably comprises at least one rib made either in relief or in bas-relief on the aforesaid shell, although the possibility of providing both relief and bas-relief ribs is not excluded.

When the aforesaid at least one rib is made in relief, it is arranged on the aforesaid outer surface of the shell, as shown in the examples of the aforesaid Figures 1-3 where the shell 2 is provided with two ribs 10 per half-shell, which have maximum thickness between about 0.5 mm and about 3.5 mm, preferably of about 2 mm, which is to be added to the local thickness of the half-shells and/or apical portion stated above.

When the aforesaid at least one rib is made in bas-relief it may be provided on the aforesaid outer surface or on the aforesaid inner surface, or bas-relief ribs may be provided on both the outer surface and the inner surface of the shell, with a preferred maximum depth of about 0.5 mm, which is to be subtracted from the local thickness of the half-shells and/or apical portion stated above.

The maximum thickness has been specified above because preferably the ribs 10 extend with relief - but this also applies to the maximum depth in the case of bas-relief ribs - varying along their extent and in particular being smaller at end portions 10a than at a remaining middle portion 10b of a rib 10, fading to zero at the aforesaid ends.

Thus, a rib may result in a local increase in the thickness of the shell 2 and thus an increase in the resistant section, or it can result in local decrease in the thickness of the shell 2 and thus a decrease in the resistant section.

In practice, the present heel counter, or anyway part of it, can be made stiffer in the case where the aforesaid at least one rib is made in relief, or less stiff in the case where the aforesaid one rib is made in bas-relief. This makes it possible to vary the stiffness of the heel counter and thus to vary its resistance to foot movements and its support during foot insertion, while limiting its thickness variations only at the rib or only at the ribs. This is advantageous because it allows the thickness of the half-shells and the apical portion to be kept substantially constant over large areas of the shell, thus optimizing the moulding process to prevent or otherwise limit material stagnation, limit the extent of relatively thick areas that can potentially cause abnormal material shrinkage resulting in deformations of the heel counter, and limit the overall weight of the heel counter. Advantageously, it is also possible to modify relatively inexpensively an existing mould to insert ribs at a later time, without necessarily manufacturing a new mould. This is partly due to the fact that, according to the invention, in order to avoid damaging the footwear for which the present heel counter is intended or other elements of the same heel counter intended to be combined with the aforesaid shell, the aforesaid at least one rib has no sharp edges. In addition, the absence of sharp edges improves the aforesaid injection moulding process.

Still referring to the aforesaid at least one rib, according to the example in Figures 1-3, there is to add that it has a continuous pattern, that is, without interruption. Advantageously, this allows the overall flexural stiffness of the aforesaid shell and thus of the present heel counter to be prevented from changing abruptly.

With reference to the ribs 10, it could also be noted that they extend from a lower edge 11 of the half-shells to a predetermined distance from the free perimeter edge 9 of between 0.5 mm and 5 mm, however, the possibility of providing one or more ribs extended to the free perimeter edge 9 of the aforesaid apical portion is not excluded, just as the possibility of providing at least one rib of the aforesaid type extended uninterruptedly from the first halfshell to the second half-shell is not excluded, as will be seen more clearly below.

Still in accordance with the example in the aforesaid Figures 1-3, there is to be added that the ribs 10 have an "S"-shaped profile, thereby each presents two adjacent segments, particularly a first segment 12 or upper segment and a second segment 13 or lower segment.

Specifically, the first segment 12 shows a concavity facing the closed rear portion 2a of the shell 2 and, as a result, a convexity facing the open front portion 2b of the shell 2, while the second segment 13 shows a convexity facing the closed rear portion 2a of the shell 2 and, as a result, a concavity facing the open front portion 2b of the shell 2, wherein, preferably, the second segment 13 extends along about 2/3 of the total length of the respective rib 10 and the first segment 12 extends along about 1/3 of the total length of the respective rib 10.

According to the invention, the aforesaid at least one rib, thus also a "S"- shaped rib 10, has a radius of curvature between about 2 mm and about 20 mm. It should be noted that larger values of the aforesaid radius of curvature correspond to smoother concavities/convexities, whereas smaller values denote a more abrupt transition from concave to convex patterns and vice versa.

Generally speaking, it could be said that preferred embodiments of the heel counter according to the present invention comprise one to five ribs of the aforesaid type, all extended at least partially on the aforesaid first half-shell and/or one to five ribs all extended at least partially on the aforesaid second half-shell, these embodiments having provided high comfort and stability to the user's foot. Therefore, according to the invention, a number of ribs at least partially extended on the first half-shell and a different number of ribs at least partially extended on the second half-shell can be provided.

Referring again to the aforesaid at least one rib it should be said that, as an alternative or in addition to the aforesaid substantially "S"-shaped profile, an arcuate profile, for example substantially "C"-shaped or "U"-shaped, in the latter two cases basically "staple"-shaped, possibly branched, profile can be provided for which the above applies particularly but not only with reference to the aforesaid radius of curvature, unless otherwise specified.

In this regard, an arcuate pattern of the aforesaid at least one rib is advantageous in that it not only provides greater or lesser flexural stiffness, as the case may be, but also allows better elastic recovery following compressive stresses acting on the aforesaid shell during insertion of the foot and/or during use of the footwear containing the present heel counter.

Embodiments in which the shell 2 is provided with one or more ribs of the aforesaid type, then possibly branched, are illustrated in the examples in Figures 7-15.

In particular, the example in Figure 15 shows a shell 2 provided with ribs in bas-relief, while the examples in Figures 12 and 14 show arcuate and branched ribs, all of which are always denoted by 10.

In this regard, it should be noted that a single arcuate rib with "C" profile is less rigid than a single "S" rib because, given the same bending or torsional moment crossing the rib at the maximum possible number of points, i.e. , two for the "C" rib and three for the "S" rib, the former has two resistant sections whereas the latter has three resistant sections and, therefore, a single "C" rib allows greater deformation than a single "S" rib under the same stress.

As set forth above, the profile or pattern of the aforesaid at least one rib can also be branched, particularly arcuate and branched, with the advantage of preventing abrupt changes in flexural stiffness that might result from the case of mutually consecutive and independent ribs.

As visible in the examples of Figures 12 and 14, in the context of the present invention, a branched profile or pattern of the aforesaid at least one rib means that an arcuate segment of rib, denoted by 10c and 10d, respectively, is extended between, and joins, at least two segments of rib, which are either straight or in turn themselves arcuate and denoted by 10e and 10f, respectively.

It should further be noted that in the case of an arcuate and branched profile or pattern, the arcuate segment can extend uninterruptedly from one half-shell to the other, such as the arcuate segment 10c shown in the example in Figure 12.

An extent of the aforesaid at least one rib from the aforesaid first halfshell to the aforesaid second half-shell can also be provided in the case of an unbranched rib, as shown in the example of Figure 13 in which the shell 2 comprises three arcuate ribs 10 extending from one half-shell to the other.

In these cases, the elastic recovery of the shell is essentially due to the half-arches of the arcuate rib which, when subjected to a compressive stress, have ends which tend to approach each other, thus accumulating elastic energy that is then released as soon as the stress ends, in which a half-arch is essentially understood as an arcuate rib segment extended on only one of the half-shells and possibly on the apical portion, of a rib extended on both halfshells and possibly on the apical portion.

In any event, according to the invention, the aforesaid at least one rib can be positioned in the most appropriate manner depending on the stresses interacting therewith, which, in turn, have mainly a vertical direction with respect to the plane supporting the foot during the stage of inserting the latter into the footwear, whereas, during the normal use of the footwear, there are also components orthogonal to the surface of the shell and/or parallel to the direction of longitudinal extent of the footwear.

Ultimately, "S"-shaped or arcuate ribs, such as "C"-shaped or "U"- shaped, are advantageous because they allow the stresses acting on the shell to be split into normal and tangential components, thus preventing dangerous stress build-up that can lead to elastic instability of the shell and, in addition, allow some elastic recovery to be exploited.

Moreover, generally speaking, it could be said that, for the same extent (length), width and thickness or depth, an "S"-shaped rib has greater overall stiffness than two arcuate "C" or "U" shaped ribs placed close together and rotated 180° with respect to each other, since the latter have, in total, four free ends compared to two free ends of the "S” shape, and therefore they exhibit greater deformation under the same stress. This way, simply by acting on the shape of the ribs, a different stiffness can be obtained for the same hardness of the material used for making the shell and for the same thickness of the shell.

According to the invention, as an alternative or in addition to the aforesaid at least one rib, to locally modulate the flexural stiffness of the shell, the present heel counter may be provided with at least one through opening extended on the same shell, as shown in the example of Figure 10, in which the shell 2 not only comprises ribs 10 with an "S" profile but is also provided with a plurality of through openings 14.

Additionally, according to the invention, on the aforesaid shell one or more through openings and/or one or more blind cavities may be provided to accommodate, possibly partially, the aforesaid at least one holding element 5, as shown in the example of Figure 16 in which the present heel counter, denoted by 100, comprises a shell 2 provided with a through opening 14 and a blind cavity 15. In detail, the holding element 5 is basically a shock-absorbing element which is made of a material softer than that of the shell 2 preferably having elastic or visco-elastic properties, and which advantageously, according to the invention, takes the form of a respective at least one pad, as shown in the examples of the aforesaid Figures 1-3 and 16, or a respective at least one coating or first coating layer as shown in the example of Figures 5 and 6.

According to the invention, the aforesaid holding element may comprise more than one coating layer, for example it may comprise a second coating layer 5a contacting the aforesaid at least one coating layer, i.e. contacting the first coating layer, as shown in the example of Figure 5a. In this case, the second coating layer 5a has a smaller extent than the extent of the first coating layer, in that it extends over only a portion of the latter, while what has been set forth for the aforesaid at least one coating layer, i.e. for the aforesaid first coating layer, applies to the thickness and material of the second coating layer. A second coating layer having a smaller extent than the first coating layer advantageously allows the overall thickness of the aforesaid at least one holding element 5 to be locally increased, thereby facilitating the foot to be held.

In particular, when the holding element 5 is provided with elastic properties, it is a pad made of a polymer foam, e.g., polyurethane (Pll) foam, or the pad may comprise an envelope made of polymer material, e.g., polyurethane (Pll), containing a fluid, preferably a gel. In these cases the hardness of the holding element 5, and thus the hardness of the aforesaid pad, is preferably between about 15 Asker C and about 45 Asker C, while the density of the aforesaid foam is preferably between about 0.1 and about 0.45 g/cm ³

When provided with viscoelastic properties, the aforesaid at least one holding element may be either a pad or a coating layer extended over the entire inner surface 3 of the shell 2 and made of a so-called memory foam material, which is exactly a material with viscous characteristics and low resilience, usually of polyurethane origin. In these cases the hardness of the pad or coating layer is preferably between about 15 Asker C and about 45 Asker C, whereas its density is preferably between about 0.1 and about 0.45 g/cm ³ .

The use of a memory foam material is particularly advantageous because it deforms when it comes into contact with the user's foot, and then substantially recovers its initial shape and envelops comfortably the foot while keeping it in place within the footwear, i.e. , preventing it from "slipping out". In particular, due to the viscoelastic nature of the memory foam material, it does not immediately deform elastically as in the case of a resilient material such as HR (high resilience) foam, a 3D fabric, etc., and therefore makes it very difficult, if not impossible, for forces with a bottom-up component (where "top" and "bottom" refer to the use arrangement of the present heel counter within the footwear) to cause the user's foot to slip out.

Basically, a memory foam material, which is basically a foam, conforms perfectly to the shape of the foot it comes in contact with and also has a much slower recovery time than the elastic materials to recover its original shape.

As regards the aforesaid at least one pad, it should be added that it can be basically elliptical, ovoid, lobed, circular, elongated, without particular limits to its maximum extent, whereas the minimum extent useful to make its manufacture possible and fit for purposes is about 0.5 cm ² , considering the surface of the pad itself that faces the user’s foot during use.

According to the invention, the holding element 5 in the form of a pad is preferably but not exclusively arranged at an area of maximum convexity of the inner surface 3 and/or straddling at least part of the aforesaid geometric locus, again at the inner surface 3 of the shell 2, as illustrated in the example of Figures 1-3.

In particular, the holding element 5 in the form of a pad extends vertically above and below the aforesaid geometric locus of the inflection points according to a ratio preferably between 10:90 and 90:10, more preferably between 30:70 and 70:30, still more preferably between 40:60 and 60:40, even more preferably equal to about 50:50.

The arrangement of the aforesaid pad straddling at least part of the aforesaid geometric locus is advantageous because it eliminates, if not drastically reduces, the possibility for the pad to move, over time, from its initial position under the pressure of repeated rubbing with the foot which occurs especially during the stages of inserting and removing the foot into/from the footwear.

However, a heel counter according to the present invention having more than one pad, such as two pads, can also be provided. In this case, preferably, a first pad is arranged at the aforesaid first half-shell and a second pad is arranged at the aforesaid second half-shell, this embodiment not being shown in the examples of the Figures. Advantageously, the two pads give support to the heel of the user's foot in the medial position and in the side position by allowing, through appropriate design of the pads themselves, to take advantage of the anatomy of the heel, which is different at the foot outer and the foot inner from that at the rear end of the heel.

According to the invention and what set forth above, at least one holding element 5 in the form of a pad that extends beyond a perimeter edge 16 of the shell 2 can also be provided, as shown in the example of Figure 4 in which the present heel counter is denoted by 101. In this case, the pad not only acts as a means for keeping the user's foot in the correct position once it has been inserted into the footwear but also provides comfort and support at the mouth of the footwear, i.e. at the collar of the footwear and not just limited to the heel, in practice also encircling the ankle possibly up to the height of the malleolar bone of the foot. In this regard, the portion of the pad emerging from the aforesaid shell, that is, the pad portion extending beyond the perimeter edge 16 of the shell 2, can be determined according to known techniques based on the need to provide soft support at the collar of the footwear.

According to the invention and generally speaking, it could be said that the aforesaid at least one holding element in the form of a pad may extend to the aforesaid free perimeter edge of the apical portion, or it may be spaced from the aforesaid free perimeter edge of the apical portion by a predetermined segment, e.g., 5 mm, depending on special moulding requirements or otherwise on manufacturing requirements of the present heel counter or footwear incorporating it.

Preferably, the aforesaid at least one holding element in the form of a pad does not extend over the entire height of the present heel counter, that is, it does not extend over the entire vertical extent of the heel counter and thus of the aforesaid shell, where "vertical" refers to the use arrangement of the heel counter. The aforesaid at least one holding element in the form of a pad, in fact, preferably does not extend to the aforesaid lower edge of the half-shells.

According to the invention, the holding element 5 in the form of a pad is constrained to the shell 2 for example by gluing, however, the possibility of comoulding the pad with the shell is not excluded. In any case it should be said that the shell 2 and the aforesaid at least one holding element 5, whether it is in the form of a pad or coating layer, form a monolithic structure. In this regard, in order to make even more stable, if possible, the aforesaid monolithic structure, the aforesaid at least one holding element, whether in the form of a pad or in the form of a coating layer, may comprise to the side facing the aforesaid inner surface of the shell, one or more fastener(s) adapted to engage the aforesaid one or more blind cavity(ies) and/or at least part of the aforesaid one or more through opening(s) possibly provided on the shell, as shown in the example of the aforesaid Figure 16.

In detail, in the example of Figure 16, the present heel counter is shown with a holding element 5 in the form of a pad comprising a fastener 17 of the aforesaid type, which engages the blind cavity 15 provided on the shell 2.

It should be added that the ratio of the surface of the aforesaid one or more fasteners, opposed the surface of the aforesaid at least one pads which, when the present heel counter is in use, faces the user's foot, to the latter, is preferably between 1 :20 and 1 :1.5, more preferably between 1 :10 and 1 :2.

Anyway, according to an embodiment variant of the invention, a holding element in the form of a pad having essentially the same extent as a respective through opening but thickness greater than the local shell thickness can also be provided, in order to protrude from the aforesaid through opening on the side of the inner surface of the shell. In this case, the difference between pad thickness and shell thickness is preferably between 0.3 mm and 1.5 mm, more preferably between 0.5 mm and 1 mm.

It should also be noted that the through opening(s) is/are basically circular or ovoid in shape, with a rounded profile and radius of curvature preferably constant and as large as possible because, given the relative stiffness of the shell, sharp edges or small radii of curvature are to be preferably avoided.

In this regard, according to an embodiment variant of the invention, a heel counter having a shell with at least one arcuate rib, in relief, surrounding a respective through opening provided on the same shell, can be provided, thus providing stiffness and elastic recovery to the shell and reinforcement to the perimeter of the through opening.

To summarize, one or more through openings can be provided on the shell of the heel counter in order to house the holding element in the form of a pad, or part of it; in order to reduce the flexural stiffness of the shell; in order to reduce the overall weight of the shell and thus also reduce the cost of the heel counter; and in order to have better breathability, particularly at the heel, of the footwear for which the present heel counter is intended.

According to the invention, it should be added that, preferably, the aforesaid holding means also comprise a cover made of a material selected from the group comprising: fabric, leather, nonwoven fabric, knit, wherein the aforesaid cover, not shown in the examples of the figures, is constrained to the aforesaid at least one holding element on the opposite side with respect to the aforesaid shell.

Moreover, preferably, the aforesaid holding means comprise at least one gripping element constrained to the aforesaid cover and adapted to generate greater friction than the friction generated by the aforesaid cover, wherein, preferably, the aforesaid at least one gripping element, not shown in the examples of the figures, may be made of fabric, nonwoven fabric or polymeric material, preferably thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) or silicone.

In this regard, it should be added that, when the aforesaid at least one gripping element is made of polymeric material, it is constrained to the cover on the opposite side with respect to the holding element, whereas when the aforesaid at least one gripping element is made of fabric or nonwoven fabric, depending on their characteristics, it may be constrained to the aforesaid cover on the opposite side with respect to the holding element or it may be constrained to the aforesaid cover and in contact with the holding element. In this second case, the gripping element, whose width is preferably between 10 mm and 50 mm, is arranged between two covering portions that are discontinuous with each other, in a neighborhood of the centerline axis of the present heel counter, and exhibits greater resistance to foot slip in a first direction (the direction that leads the foot to leave the footwear), and less resistance to foot slip in a second direction opposite the aforesaid first direction (the direction that leads the foot to be inserted into the footwear). Such a fabric is known as "cat tongue lining". In any case, the aforesaid at least one gripping element is preferably combined with the aforesaid cover by casting, comoulding, transfer, ultrasounds, stitching or other known techniques useful for the purpose.

In practice, the gripping element is made so as to only partially cover the aforesaid holding element or the aforesaid cover, for example according to one or more strips or polka dots, so as not to be an obstacle to the insertion of the foot due to excessive friction, while at the same time forming a kind of additional holding element to hold the foot within the footwear.

According to an embodiment variant of the invention, the present heel counter may comprise a shell of the aforesaid type also comprising a base, as shown in the example of Figure 17.

In detail, Figure 17 shows a shell 200 quite similar to the shell 2 shown above to whose description we refer, except that it does not comprise ribs and that it comprises a base 18 that extends, substantially at right angles, from the first half-shell 6 and the second half-shell 7 to which it is constrained on the opposite side with respect to the apical portion 8.

In any case, the base 18, if present being optional, can be provided either in a shell without ribs as shown in the aforesaid example in Figure 17 or in a shell with ribs.

The base 18 is preferably made in one piece with the first half-shell 6 and the second half-shell 7 and is intended to be coupled to a footwear insole or sole.

It should be added that the base 18 is preferably provided with one or more notches which allow the shell, by deforming it slightly, to be better fitted to the desired footwear size, as shown in Figure 17 in which the base 18 is shown with a notch 19.

In fact, the notch 19 and generally the notches, if present in greater numbers, create, in their vicinity, areas having some degree of yielding, or at any rate areas structurally more yielding than a base without notches. Such areas, however, do not affect the robustness of either the base or the shell as a whole.

The base 18 is preferably 0.5 mm thick and therefore, if present, it is the portion of the shell with the least thickness, except for areas of the same shell determined by bas-relief ribs or blind cavities of the aforesaid type.

Furthermore, the base 18 preferably comprises end portions 20 with a width that decreases towards the respective ends 21, in practice end portions 20 that can be defined as tapering, with a width that progressively decreases from a maximum value (which varies from approximately 8 mm to approximately 14 mm, depending on the size of the footwear for which this heel counter is intended), to a minimum value at the aforesaid ends 21.

It should be noted that, preferably, a tapering end portion 20 extends for between about 20% and about 50% of the longitudinal extent of the shell 200, where longitudinal extent is the one substantially parallel to the direction of longitudinal extent of the user's foot.

The tapering end portions 20 are particularly advantageous in footwear constructions comprising an insole S joined to an upper assembly T by means of a seam C, as shown in the example of Figure 19, in which the seam C extends along an edge placed substantially at a lower profile of a last used for making the footwear (e.g., "Strobe?' seam).

In fact, the tapering end portions 20 allow the seam C to be gradually deflected, i.e. , without abrupt changes in direction, inwardly, i.e. , toward an axis of symmetry of the insole S at the so-called "seat of the shoe" that corresponds to the substantially semicircular portion that runs around the heel of the user's foot. This way, to make the seam C, the base of the shell does not have to be perforated, an operation that can be dangerous and, in some cases, can result in the breaking of the base itself.

Generally speaking, it can be said that the aforesaid shell base, in any case optional, is preferably omitted in smaller sizes in order to have more space available to make the aforesaid seam.

As regards the height of the aforesaid shell, and more generally as regards the height of the heel counter according to the present invention, it can be said that it is calculated by summing three main heights denoted by hi, h2 and hs, respectively, in the example in Figure 6 in which a horizontal straight line O lying on the support plane of a foot P and a vertical line V arranged at 90° with respect to the aforesaid support plane and tangent to a maximum rear projection of the user's foot P that is substantially at the heel bone, are also shown.

The height h2 extends from the point of tangency of the vertical line V with the aforesaid foot projection P, to the point of intersection of the vertical line V with the horizontal line O: this height h2 is about 1/3 of the height of the present heel counter.

The height hs, which extends from the aforesaid tangency point to the upper end of the aforesaid apical portion of the shell 2 of the heel counter, is about 2/3 of the height of the heel counter.

The height hi is the sum of the thickness of the aforesaid base, if any, and the elements interposed between the latter and the user's foot P, e.g., a lasting insole (or strobel insole) and an insock.

Regarding the aforesaid convex-concave pattern there is to be said that the shell 2 can exhibit a more or less pronounced "degree" of convexity/concavity, which can be defined by the magnitude of the angle 0 shown in the example in Figure 5. In detail, the angle 0, which preferably takes values between 2° and 30°, more preferably between 15° and 25°, is denoted by the line V’ which is parallel to the aforesaid line V and tangent to the outer surface 4 of the shell 2, and by the line V” which is tangent to the apical portion 8 at its upper end, i.e. at the upper end of the free perimeter edge 9 of the apical portion 8. In general, the aforesaid angle assumes positive values according to the direction shown in the example in Figure 5 (clockwise direction), whereas negative values of this angle are typical of heel counters that exhibit a "unique", typically concave, pattern.

According to the above, it should be added that the present invention also provides footwear comprising a heel counter of the aforesaid type, as illustrated in the example in Figure 18 showing footwear 22 comprising an upper 23, a sole 24 and a heel counter 1 equipped with a shell 2 and combined with the upper 23 inside the footwear 22, wherein, preferably, the footwear 22 comprises a lining and the heel counter is arranged between the aforesaid upper and the aforesaid lining. The aforesaid lining, if any, advantageously contacts the user's foot, covering the present heel counter, also giving the inner portion of the footwear well-finished and uniform appearance. Moreover, the aforesaid lining, being preferably made of leather or fabric, is more comfortable than the material from which the aforesaid shell is made.

The advantages of the present invention, which have become clear during the description set forth above, may be summarized by pointing out that a footwear heel counter is provided, which helps the user's foot to enter the footwear by providing the foot with large entry space and guidance to its proper position within the footwear, and which, since it deforms substantially like a leaf spring, once the foot insertion is complete, releases the elastic force accumulated by compression during the insertion of the foot, thereby promoting the stretching of the footwear, particularly of its upper, and also promoting optimal foot envelopment by the footwear itself. Furthermore, advantageously, the present heel counter helps the user's foot to be held in place by reducing or removing the relative movement between the foot and the footwear, without limiting the natural movement of the foot. Basically, the present heel counter conforms optimally to the user's foot, both during the insertion of the foot into the footwear and after insertion of the foot into the footwear, providing effective support for the foot and thus preventing excessive pronation and/or supination. Additionally, advantageously, the present heel counter can be made through techniques already popular at low cost. In addition, depending on the quantities to be produced, the same size of heel counter can be manufactured for two or more contiguous footwear sizes, so as to further contain costs.

In order to meet contingent and specific needs, a person skilled in the art can make numerous changes and modifications to the present invention in the embodiments shown and described, all thereby comprised in the protection scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.