EXPANDABLE SHOE WITH SLIDING INSOLE

A shoe design is expandable along its lengthwise axis utilizing one or both of a sliding outsole configuration or a sliding insole configuration. In one embodiment, the shoe has a multipart upper and/or multipart outsole interconnected by an expandable section made of a stretchable material which surrounds a pair of insole members arranged in an overlapping manner but allowed to move freely relative to one another as the expandable section expands or contracts. In one embodiment, the outsole of the shoe is slidably received within the heel of the shoe so as to allow for lengthwise expansion of the outsole as the upper portion of the shoe expands.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Sliding Outsole

Referring now toFIGS. 1-9B, a shoe100A according to an illustrative embodiment, as shown inFIGS. 1-5, comprises a shoe upper12and a sliding outsole configuration10. The shoe upper12is expandable and may include at least an expandable shank area made of neoprene, GORETEX®, or other known or hereafter developed expandable material. Alternatively, the entire upper12may be made of an expandable material. The expandability of the shoe accommodates temporary or permanent increases in the size of the wearer's foot.

In one embodiment, the shoe100A uses an expandable goring or stretch leather in the toe box so as to allow widthwise expansion in addition to the lengthwise expandability. In an alternative embodiment, the shoe upper12is made of a flexible material, such as leather, suede, etc., with a V-cut vamp formed thereon. An expandable material22, such as neoprene, GORETEX®, or other known or hereafter developed materials, may be formed at the V-cut vamp of shoe upper12. The shoe upper12is thus partially expandable widthwise for shoe100A to accommodate the variable size of the wearer's foot.

Outsole configuration10comprises an outsole14and a heel16. Outsole14comprises a heel portion14aand a toe portion14b,as shown inFIG. 5. In various embodiments, outsole14may be formed of a flexible, yet rigid material, such as any natural or synthetic plastic resins, natural or synthetic rubber, leather, or other known or hereafter developed material utilized for shoe outer soles. Outsole14may be formed of a homogeneous material or may have multiple materials or patterns integrally formed therein, particularly to facilitate traction in the toe region14b.The shape of outsole14may be similar or dissimilar to that illustrated in the Figures and may be any of symmetrical, non-symmetrical or irregular, at the discretion of the designer.

As shown inFIGS. 3A,3B, and4, the heel16of outsole configuration10comprises a main body portion having a cavity16bopening to either a top surface16cor a breast surface16a,i.e,, front surface, thereof. Rear portion14aof outsole14is slidably received and movable within cavity16b,depending upon the unexpanded or expanded length of upper12of shoe100A, Outsole14may be attached to the shoe upper12proximate portion14bthereof while portion14athereof is free to float in and out of cavity1ea of heel16. In the illustrative embodiment, portion14bof outsole14is detached from the upper12in a shank area20of the shoe100A, as illustrated inFIG. 1, allowing the outsole14to move relative to the heel16as the upper12expands along the lengthwise axis of the shoe extending from the toe to the heel of the shoe.

As illustrated in Fig,3B, an optional heel seat16emay cover all or a portion of cavity16band may be disposed intermediate on top surface16cof heel16and a portion of the upper12of shoe100A. As illustrated in the embodiment ofFIGS. 6 and 7, heel seat16emay also be integrally formed with the body of heel16, or, alternatively, may be eliminated altogether with its functionality performed by a portion of upper12.

To prevent water, dirt, and other debris from entering the cavity16bof heel16, an optional shield18is disposed proximate the breast16aof the heel16and outsole14in the shank area20proximate the entrance of cavity16b,where outsole portion14ais slidably received within heel16. A front portion of shield18may be secured to the bottom and or sides of outsole14by any known attachment mechanism including, but not limited to, any of stitching, mechanical fasteners, various natural or synthetic adhesives, or thermal fusing or bonding, etc., depending upon the structural composition of both the shield material and outsole14. A rear portion shield18may be secured to breast surface16aof the heel16utilizing similar methods, In one embodiment, the side edges of shield18are stitched to the shoe upper12in the area between the front of the shield18and the heel16. Such stitching may be implemented with a zig-zag stitch or cross-stitch pattern that does not inhibit the extension or expansion of the upper12in the area of the shank20. In various embodiments, shield18may comprise natural or synthetic rubber, a natural or synthetic resin, such as polyurethane or polyester, a paper or fabric impregnated any of the foregoing, or any other material that is waterproof and is expandable to allow for the expansion or extension of the upper12in the area of the shank20. To accommodate the expansion or extension of the upper12, shield18may include an accordion pleat formed therein. In one embodiment, to anchor the rear end of the shield18to the heel16, a rear end portion of shield18may be disposed and secured intermediate top lift16dand the main body of the heel16.

FIGS. 6 and 7show an embodiment in which the cavity16bopens to breast surface16aof the heel16, In this embodiment, the shield18′ is a collared sleeve through which the rear portion14aof the outsole14is movably received. A front part of the shield18′ is cemented around the entire circumference to the outsole portion14. The rear side of the shield18′ is secured, using any of the previously described processes or techniques, to breast surface16aof heel16to create a seal around the cavity16b.For this purpose, the rear side of the shield18′ is flange or collar. Although not shown inFIGS. 6 and 7, the shield18′ may also include an accordion pleat to facilitate extension. During assembly, shield18′ may is secured to outsole14at a position along counsel14which will allow for expansion of the accordion pleat shield18simultaneously with expansion of upper12shoe100, once shield18′ is secured to heel16. In other embodiments, all or a portion of shield18′ may be integrally formed with heel16.

Sliding Insole

Referring toFIGS. 8 through 12B, shoes100B,100C and100D according to illustrative embodiments, each comprise a shoe upper12and outsole14. The shoe upper12may comprise a front upper portion12A and a rear upper portion12B interconnected by an expandable portion15, illustrated with crosshatching for clarity. Front upper portion12A and a rear upper portion12B may comprise materials as previously described with reference to shoe100A. Expandable portion15comprise any of neoprene, GORETEXO, or other known or hereafter developed expandable material. Alternatively, the entire upper12of shoe100B or100C may comprise an expandable material, such as those described herein. In addition, any of shoes100C-100D may comprise an upper formed from straps or noncontiguous sections, similar to a sandal or other casual shoe allowing the wearer's foot to be partially exposed

As illustrated inFIGS. 9A and 9B, outsole10may comprise an outsole14and a heel16substantially as described with reference toFIGS. 1 through 7. In the embodiments described with reference toFIGS. 10 through 126, outsole14may comprise a front outsole portion14A and a rear outsole portion14B. One or both of outsole portions14A or14B may comprise a flexible, yet rigid material, such as any natural or synthetic plastic resins, natural or synthetic rubber, leather, or other known or hereafter developed material utilized for shoe outer soles and may be formed of a homogeneous material or may have multiple materials or patterns integrally formed therein, particularly to facilitate traction, The shape of outsole14may be similar or dissimilar to that illustrated in the Figures and may be any of symmetrical, non-symmetrical or irregular, at the discretion of the designer. Further, front outsole portion14A and a rear outsole portion14B may be similar or dissimilar from each other in both shape and/or material composition.

As illustrated inFIGS. 10 through 12B, front outsole portion14A and a rear outsole portion14B are separated by a space or gap but are movably coupled together by expandable portion15to enable expansion and contraction of outsole portion14A and a rear outsole portion14B relative to each other along a lengthwise axis of shoes100C-100D.

Shoes1006-100D additionally comprise a sliding insole25, which, in one embodiment, comprises a front insole portion25A and a rear insole portion25B which at least partially overlap one another in both contracted and expanded states of shoe100B or100C. Front insole portion25A and rear insole portion25B can be made of leather, synthetic material, rubber, plastic, or any other known or hereafter developed material suitable for use as a shoe insole. Note that front insole portion25A and rear insole portion25B do not have to comprise the same material and may have dissimilar shapes.

Front insole portion25A and a rear insole portion25B are not mechanically coupled or attached directly to each other whether by a rigid, semi-rigid or stretchable member. Instead, an end of rear insole portion25B proximate the region in which they overlap is free and unsecured to allow for relative sliding motion therebetween along the lengthwise axis of shoe100. This arrangement enables longitudinal extension or contraction of shoe100B or100C to accommodate temporary swelling of a wearer's foot and/or to accommodate foot growth.

In one embodiment, as shown inFIGS. 9A-9Band11, insole portion25B is formed on heal16and outsole14, overlapping a substantial portion of insole portion25A, for receiving a wearer's foot. As shown inFIG. 9Awhen shoe100B is in a contracted state, rear insole portion25B extends from heel16to the front end of outsole14, covering the entire upper portion of front insole portion25A. As shown inFIGS. 9B and 12Band, when shoes100B and100C are in an extended state, rear insole portion25B is pulled to slide over the top of insole portion25A in a rearward direction, thereby exposing a part of the upper portion of insole portion25A at the toe region of shoes100A and100B. InFIG. 11, the amount of movement of insole portion25B is illustrated by line segment X-X′, although not shown to scale.

One or both of front insole portion25A and a rear insole portion25B may be attached to either upper12or outsole14. More specifically, insole portion25A may be mechanically and securely coupled to one or both of front upper portion12A or front outsole portion14A, while rear insole portion25B may be mechanically and securely coupled to one or both of rear upper portion12B or rear outsole portion14B. Alternatively, one or both of front insole portion25A and a rear insole portion25B may be attached to expandable portion15by itself or in addition to a portion of upper12or outsole14, particularly if all or a substantial portion of upper12comprises an expandable material, such as those described herein.

The mechanical couplings of insole portions25A and25B to other portions of the shoe, which are not explicitly illustrated in the drawings, may be achieved by any known attachment mechanism including, but not limited to, stitching, mechanical fasteners, various natural or synthetic adhesives, or thermal fusing or bonding, etc., depending upon the structural composition of one or both of insole portion25A and25B. Further the exact location of such mechanical couplings may be left to the discretion of the designer so long as upon lengthwise expansion or contraction of the shoe along its lengthwise axis, the overlapping end regions of each of insole portions25A and25B are free to move relative to one another.

FIGS. 9A-9Bare exploded, cross-sectional views of insole25in the fully contracted state, i.e., un-extended, state (FIG. 9A) and the extended state (FIG. 9B), relative to outsole14and expandable uppers12. As illustrated inFIGS. 9A and 9B, front insole portion25A is disposed adjacent to and below the fore of rear insole portion25B so that insole portions25A and25B are movable relative to each other upon expansion and/or contraction of expandable portion15. As portion15expands from its normally contracted state to an extended state, insole portion25B slides over the top of insole portion25A in a rearward direction towards the rear of the shoe100B, while insole portion25A slides under insole portion25B in a forward direction towards the toe of the shoe100B, As expandable portion15contracts from expanded state, the above-described process reverses itself with insole portions25A-B moving opposite to that described above.

FIGS. 10 and 11illustrate a high-heeled shoe100C which implements the sliding insole concepts disclosed herein. As illustrated inFIGS. 10 and 11, front insole portion25A is disposed adjacent to and below the fore of rear insole portion25B so that insole portions25A and25B are movable relative to each other upon expansion and/or contraction of expandable portion15.FIG. 11is a partial view of shoe100C in which the insole25and outsole14are illustrated in solid lines, with the profile the shoe upper12illustrated in phantom. As portion15expands from its normally contracted state to an extended state insole portion25B slides over the top of insole portion25A in a rearward direction towards the rear of the shoe100C, while insole portion25A slides under insole portion25B in a forward direction towards the toe of the shoe100C. alternatively, insult portion25a may be secured to either outsole14for over12so that it remains fixed relative to insole portion25B during both expansion and contraction.

Note, in shoe100C, expandable portion15is attached to and interconnects front upper portion12A and rear upper portion12B or front outsole portion14A and rear outsole portion14B or both or in combinations thereof, surrounding the overlapping regions of insole portions25A and25B, thereby defining a zone of expansion and contraction along the lengthwise axis of shoe100C.

As illustrated inFIGS. 9A-B, the sliding outsole configurations10, may be utilized utilized with a sliding insole configuration of shoe100B. Similarly, the sliding floating insole configuration of shoes100B may be utilized with a multipart outsole14A and14B in conjunction with a traditional heel16, described with reference toFIGS. 10 through 12B. Note that it is contemplated that the location of the expandable portion15in upper12may be determined at the discretion of the designer, allowing the point of expansion and contraction to be located proximate the front, middle, rear, or anywhere along the lengthwise will lengthwise axis, of the shoe.

FIGS. 12A-Billustrate a shoe100D having a floating insole25and multipart outsole14and multipart upper12having an expandable portion15located proximate the rear of the shoe proximate heel16, as illustrated. Specifically,FIGS. 12A-12Bare exploded, cross-sectional views of insole25in the contracted state, i.e,, un-extended, state (FIG. 12A) and the extended state (FIG. 12B), relative to outsole14and expandable uppers12. Front insole portion25A is disposed adjacent to and below the fore of rear insole portion25B so that insole portions25A and25B are movable relative to each other upon expansion and/or contraction of expandable portion15. As portion15expands from its normally contracted state to an extended state, insole portion25B slides over the top of insole portion25A in a rearward direction towards the rear of the shoe100D, while insole portion25A slides under insole portion25B in a forward direction towards the toe of the shoe100D. The construction of the various components of shoe100maybe similar to that described with reference to shoes100A-100C, as applicable. As expandable portion15contracts from expanded state, the above-described process reverses itself with insole portions25A B moving opposite to that described above.

Further, it will be obvious to those reasonably skilled in the relevant arts, in light of the teachings and disclosures set forth herein, that the disclosed concepts may be applied to shoes or footwear having shape or style, or targeted to any gender, age group or specific purpose. For example, one or both of the sliding outsole and sliding insole concepts may be equally applicable to any of, including, but not limited to, high-fashion women's shoes, men's golf shoes, or children's recreational shoes, or any other shoe or footwear in which it is desirable to allow for expansion or contraction along the lengthwise axis of the shoe.