Rapid-entry footwear having an actuator arm

• US 10,653,209 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2019
• Issued: 05/19/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fast IP, LLC
• Original Assignee: Fast IP, LLC
• Inventors: Pratt, Michael, Hermann, Steven, Lytle, Seth, Cheney, Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): Kavanaugh, Ted
• Application Number:
  US16/457,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20200000178A1
• Time in Patent Office: 326 Days
• Field of Search: 36 505, 36138, 36105
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 11/00 Footwear with arrangements to facilitate putting-on or removing, e.g. with straps
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 21/32 Resilient supports for the heel of the foot
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/027 with a part of the upper particularly flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/242 characterised by the upper
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/004 Fastenings fixed along the upper edges of the uppers
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/008 Combined fastenings, e.g. to accelerate undoing or fastening
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/14 Clamp fastenings , e.g. strap fastenings; Clamp-buckle fastenings; Fastenings with toggle levers
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/20 Fastenings with tightening devices mounted on the tongue

Abstract

A rapid-entry shoe includes an actuator arm, having a pivot point, and a closure system. Movement of the actuator arm from an uncollapsed position to a collapsed position opens the closure system and movement of the actuator arm from the collapsed position to the uncollapsed position closes the closure system, according to various embodiments.

Claims

1. A rapid-entry shoe comprising:

an upper comprising a rear portion, wherein the rear portion has an uncollapsed position and deforms to a collapsed position; and

an actuator arm comprising a pivot point and

a closure system coupled to the actuator arm;

wherein movement of the actuator arm from the uncollapsed position to the collapsed position opens the closure system to provide a wider opening to receive a wearer'"'"'s foot, and wherein movement of the actuator arm from the collapsed position to the uncollapsed position closes the closure system;

wherein the actuator arm comprises a rear segment and a forward segment, wherein the pivot point is disposed between the rear segment and the forward segment and the closure system is coupled to the forward segment of the actuator arm;

wherein a coupling point between the forward segment of the actuator arm and the closure system enables relative rotation of the actuator arm and the closure system; and

wherein in the uncollapsed position the coupling point is closer to a footbed of the rapid-entry shoe than the pivot point, and wherein in the collapsed position the coupling point is farther above the footbed than the pivot point.

2. A rapid-entry shoe comprising:

an upper comprising a rear portion, wherein the rear portion has an uncollapsed position and deforms to a collapsed position; and

an actuator arm comprising a pivot point; and

a closure system coupled to the actuator arm;

wherein movement of the actuator arm from the uncollapsed position to the collapsed position opens the closure system to provide a wider opening to receive a wearer'"'"'s foot, and wherein movement of the actuator arm from the collapsed position to the uncollapsed position closes the closure system;

wherein the actuator arm comprises a rear segment and a forward segment, wherein the pivot point is disposed between the rear segment and the forward segment and the closure system is coupled to the forward segment of the actuator arm;

wherein a coupling point between the forward segment of the actuator arm and the closure system enables relative rotation of the actuator arm and the closure system; and

further comprising a bend axis between a forward end of the closure system and an upper forward portion of the rapid-entry shoe, wherein an alignment line extending through the pivot point and the bend axis is closer to a footbed of the rapid-entry shoe than the coupling point such that the alignment line is disposed between the coupling point and the footbed.

3. A rapid-entry shoe comprising:

an upper comprising a rear portion, wherein the rear portion has an uncollapsed position and deforms to a collapsed position; and

an actuator arm comprising a pivot point; and

a closure system coupled to the actuator arm;

wherein movement of the actuator arm from the uncollapsed position to the collapsed positior opens the closure system to provide a wider opening to receive a wearer'"'"'s foot, and wherein movement of the actuator arm from the collapsed position to the uncollapsed position closes the closure system;

wherein the actuator arm comprises a rear segment and a forward segment, wherein the pivot point is disposed between the rear segment and the forward segment and the closure system is coupled to the forward segment of the actuator arm;

wherein a coupling point between the forward segment of the actuator arm and the closure system enables relative rotation of the actuator arm and the closure system; and

further comprising a bend axis between a forward end of the closure system and an upper forward portion of the rapid-entry shoe, wherein an alignment line extending through the pivot point and the bend axis is farther above a footbed of the rapid-entry shoe than the coupling point such that the coupling point is disposed between the alignment line and the footbed.

4. A rapid-entry shoe comprising:

an upper comprising a rear portion, wherein the rear portion has an uncollapsed position and deforms to a collapsed position; and

an actuator arm comprising a pivot point and

a closure system coupled to the actuator arm;

wherein movement of the actuator arm from the uncollapsed position to the collapsed position opens the closure system to provide a wider opening to receive a wearer'"'"'s foot, and wherein movement of the actuator arm from the collapsed position to the uncollapsed position closes the closure system;

wherein the actuator arm comprises a rear segment and a forward segment, wherein the pivot point is disposed between the rear segment and the forward segment and the closure system is coupled to the forward segment of the actuator arm;

wherein a coupling point between the forward segment of the actuator arm and the closure system enables relative rotation of the actuator arm and the closure system;

wherein the pivot point is disposed above a footbed of the rapid-entry shoe; and

further comprising a rigid support, wherein the pivot point is mounted to the rigid support.

5. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 4, wherein the rigid support is at least one of a portion of an upper of the rapid-entry shoe or an extension of an outsole of the rapid-entry shoe.

6. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 5, wherein the rigid support prevents upward and downward movement of the pivot point.

7. A rapid-entry shoe comprising:

an upper comprising a rear portion, wherein the rear portion has an uncollapsed position and deforms to a collapsed position; and

an actuator arm comprising a pivot point; and

a closure system coupled to the actuator arm;

wherein movement of the actuator arm from the uncollapsed position to the collapsed position opens the closure system to provide a wider opening to receive a wearer'"'"'s foot, and wherein movement of the actuator arm from the collapsed position to the uncollapsed position closes the closure system;

wherein the actuator arm comprises a rear segment and a forward segment, wherein the pivot point is disposed between the rear segment and the forward segment and the closure system is coupled to the forward segment of the actuator arm;

wherein a coupling point between the forward segment of the actuator arm and the closure system enables relative rotation of the actuator arm and the closure system; and

wherein the closure system comprises a link coupled to the forward segment of the actuator arm at the coupling point, wherein the link extends from the coupling point and is coupled to or forms a first part of a forward upper portion of the rapid-entry shoe.

8. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 7, wherein the link is a first link, wherein the closure system further comprises a second link coupled to the forward segment of the actuator arm at the coupling point, wherein the second link extends from the coupling point and is coupled to or forms a second part of the forward upper portion of the rapid-entry shoe.

9. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 8, wherein the second link comprises a first section and a second section coupled together.

10. A rapid-entry shoe comprising:

an upper comprising a rear portion, wherein the rear portion has an uncollapsed position and deforms to a collapsed position; and

an actuator arm comprising a pivot point; and

a closure system coupled to the actuator arm;

wherein movement of the actuator arm from the uncollapsed position to the collapsed position opens the closure system to provide a wider opening to receive a wearer'"'"'s foot, and wherein movement of the actuator arm from the collapsed position to the uncollapsed position closes the closure system;

wherein the actuator arm comprises a rear segment and a forward segment, wherein the pivot point is disposed between the rear segment and the forward segment and the closure system is coupled to the forward segment of the actuator arm;

wherein a coupling point between the forward segment of the actuator arm and the closure system enables relative rotation of the actuator arm and the closure system; and

further comprising a biasing member disposed below the coupling point and configured to apply a downward force to at least one of the forward segment of the actuator arm and the closure system.