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 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A footwear article for engagement with a foot of a subject, said footwear article comprising:
 a sole member, an upper attached to said sole member, and a strain relief element engaged with said upper;   said strain relief element engaged with said upper and extending about a portion and comprising part of a periphery of an opening of the upper of the footwear article, and said strain relief element formed from an elastically deformable material and having an internal surface for engagement with an engagement portion of the foot of said subject;   wherein said strain relief element has a cross sectional area and geometry and a peripheral length such that upon engagement of the internal surface of the strain relief element with said engagement portion of the foot of said subject, the strain relief element provides compressive hoop stress so as to secure said upper and the footwear article to the foot of said subject during ambulation;   wherein upon engagement of the internal surface of the strain relief element with said engagement portion of the foot of said subject, the strain relief element elastically deforms and the internal surface of the strain relief element substantially conforms to said engagement portion of the foot of said subject, a load induced during ambulation normal to said engagement portion of the foot of said subject and imparted to said engagement portion of the foot of said subject 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   wherein the strain relief element is formed from said elastically deformable material and said internal surface provides a reduced friction coefficient so to allow movement of the strain relief element during ambulation relative to said engagement portion the foot of said subject, so as to reduce internal shear stresses induced from relative movement between the surface of said engagement portion of the foot of said subject and bones of the foot of said subject.   
     
     
         3 . The footwear article according to  claim 2 , wherein the strain relief element is positioned at an anterior contact portion, a medial contact portion, a lateral contact portion, a posterior contact portion, or combinations thereof of the upper of the footwear article for engagement with a corresponding one of an anterior contact portion, a medial contact portion, a lateral contact portion, a posterior contact portion, or combinations thereof of the engagement portion of the foot of said subject. 
     
     
         4 . The footwear article according to  claim 2 , wherein the strain relief element is positioned at a superior-posterior portion of the footwear article for engagement with a posterior heel portion of the foot of said subject. 
     
     
         5 . The footwear article according to  claim 4  wherein the strain relief element is formed from the elastically deformable material and finished so as to provide the reduced friction coefficient in order to allow superior and inferior movement of the strain relief element during ambulation relative to a posterior surface of the posterior heel portion of the foot of the subject, so as to reduce internal shear stresses induced from relative movement between the posterior surface of the heel and a calcaneus of the foot of the subject. 
     
     
         6 . The footwear article according to  claim 2 , wherein the elastically deformable material is a material comprising at least one of an elastomeric polymer, a silicon based material, or a rubber based material. 
     
     
         7 . The footwear article according to  claim 2 , wherein the strain relief element is elongate in a lateral direction. 
     
     
         8 . The footwear article according to  claim 2 , wherein the strain relief element further includes a marking, and wherein said marking is a branding or trade mark marking. 
     
     
         9 . The footwear article according to  claim 3 , wherein the strain relief element is provided in a color distinct from the color of the upper to provide a visual indication of the incorporation of the strain relief element within the footwear article. 
     
     
         10 . The footwear article according to  claim 2 , wherein the sole member is provided in the same color as to that of the strain relief element, to provide further visual indication of the incorporation of the strain relief element of the present invention within the footwear article.