BACKGROUND RESEARCH
Heel counter is an important part of a pair of basketball shoes. It started as an internal piece in the heel of the upper to provide better stability around the heel and Achilles. It also would help keep the collar of the shoe from dropping down, reinforcing it to aid in better fitment around the ankle. Over the years, the heel counter has become an area of heavy design focus as it has become an external piece. They are generally molded out of TPU or directly injected onto the upper with EVA.
PROBLEM
The less movement at the heel, the better performance. However, due to the stiff material like TPU, heel counter can not provide adjustable fit around heel, for those players with narrow heels may not have snug fit for their heels, which will cause feet slippage during an intensive game.
BIOMECHANICAL STUDY
Based on the biomechanical study of Collar height and heel counter-stiffness for ankle stability and athletic performance in basketball, 15 university basketball players wore customized shoes with different collar heights (high and low) and heel counter-stiffness (regular, stiffer and stiffest) for this study. Ankle stability was evaluated in sidestep cutting while athletic performance evaluated in jumping and agility tasks. Results showed that the collar height might play a larger role in lateral stability than heel counter-stiffness, while both collar height and counter-stiffness have no effect on athletic performance.
OBJECTIVE
My goal is to develop a new basketball shoe upper construction with adjustable heel fit to provide better lockdown around the heel and prevent foot slippage.
PRIOR ART & PATENT
1. Nike FastFit Technology
It is a manual system that instantly secures the entire foot. How it works:
- Loops on the tongue and heel allow easier entry
- The tightening system (which is contained at the instep) activates its cables with a single tug of a forefoot strap, creating a full 360-lockdown from heel to ankle to forefoot
- Eject by pulling the side loops to release the cables
The Fastfit of Air Jordan 33 SE is linked to heelpiece, so it can fit well with heelpiece. Although it’s not high type, but it can fit well with the foot.
2. Adidas Hugs Systems
Hug is a laceless compression closure system that, with the flip of a lever, locks your foot into a zone of total comfort, security and control. The inspiration behind Hug comes from the High-Tech Downhill Ski Boots.
It features a revolutionary closure system that locks the foot securely in place, providing superior comfort and fit. The Hug element fits over the top area of the foot. This is attached to the rear of the shoe by cables which put the element under tension, which is maintained by a closure device on the heel counter. The closure device, a slider/ lever system is used to control the fit. Turning the adjustment wheel moves the slider up and down on the thread, giving the athlete the most precise fit possible.
However, it was hard to get a secure enough lockdown with the system, and the extra materials in the heel created balance issues.
3. Nike FlyEase Technology
FlyEase technology works with a magnetized heel that folds down and connects to the midsole, opening up the back of the shoe so you can slide your foot in without hands.
Articulated strap is connected to Flywire cables that lock the upper down over your foot with one upward pull. Then it wraps entirely around the heel and fastens securely, giving you a custom fit that locks you in.
4. Wraparound Lacing System
The lacing system includes a lace which encircles the housing of the article of footwear in a spiral, helical, coiled or similar wound wraparound pattern. The housing includes finger members which independently adjust to the contours of the wearer’s foot while providing a snug and secure fit.
Other Patents
5. US5755044A
6. US20030204938A1
7. US7082701B2
PAPER SEARCH
1.Valenzuela, J. P. (2019, September 6). How to Prevent Shoes from Slipping Off – Let’s Prevent Heel Slippage! Retrieved from https://comfortablewomenshoes.com/how-to-prevent-shoes-from-slipping-off-lets-prevent-heel-slippage
2. Liu, H., Wu, Z., & Lam, W.-K. (2017). Collar height and heel counter-stiffness for ankle stability and athletic performance in basketball. Research in Sports Medicine, 25(2), 209–218. doi: 10.1080/15438627.2017.1282352
3. Explaining Nike FastFit. (2018, September 20). Retrieved from https://news.nike.com/news/what-is-nike-fastfit
4. Sole Collector. (2016, October 20). Here and Gone Sneaker Technology. Retrieved from https://solecollector.com/news/2014/02/here-and-gone-sneaker-technology