Strain-relief element for footwear articles

Abstract

A strain relief element for a footwear article is provided. The strain relief element is engageable with a portion of a footwear article for engagement with a portion of the foot of a subject, wherein the strain relief element is formed from an elastically deformable material, the strain relief element is sized and provided with a geometry, such that upon engagement with the engagement portion of a foot of a subject, the strain relief element elastically deforms and the internal surface of the strain relief element which engages with the foot of a user substantially conforms to the engagement portion of the surface of the foot of a subject. Footwear including such a strain relief element are also provided.

1 . A strain relief element for a footwear article, said strain relief element being engageable with a portion of a footwear article for engagement with a portion of the foot of a subject, wherein
 said strain relief element is formed from an elastically deformable material and is adapted to engage with an engagement portion of the foot of the subject,   said strain relief element is sized and provided with a cross sectional area and geometry and a peripheral length, such that upon engagement with the engagement portion of a foot of a subject, the strain relief element is adapted to provide sufficient compressive hoop stress so as to secure the footwear article to the foot of the subject during ambulation, elastically deforms and the internal surface of the strain relief element which engages with the foot of a user is adapted to substantially conform to the engagement portion of the surface of the foot of the subject, load normal to the engagement portion of the foot imparted to the engagement portion of the foot of the subject is distributed along the strain relief element so as to reduce point loading to the foot at bony prominences of the foot of the subject, and the strain relief element is formed of a material and finished so as to provide a reduced friction coefficient and to allow movement of the strain relief element during ambulation relative to the foot of the subject, so as to reduce internal shear stresses induced from relative movement between the surface of the foot and bones of the foot of the subject.