Shoe construction having improved backpart fit

A device which functions to improve the fit of shoes is described whereby the shoe is urged forward on the foot by means of an elastic member to minimize slippage of the backpart of the shoe relative to the heel of the wearer's foot.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Many of today's footwear products do not continually afford proper backpart 
fit of the shoe relative to the heel of the wearer's foot. This is 
particularly true for low-cut shoes having relatively long topline 
openings and inadequate means of adjusting the dimensions of those 
openings or the inside girth of the shoes. Examples of such conventional 
shoe styles include women's high heels pumps and flat or `skimmer` styles 
as well as casual slip-on designs such as loafers, espadrilles, and the 
like. 
The problem of improper backpart fit stems from the tendency of shoes to 
stretch with wear, thereby allowing the foot to move forward in the shoe 
to such an extent that the heel loses contact with the back part of the 
shoe, resulting in looseness and slippage during use. 
To date, the attempts to minimize this problem, which have been less than 
completely successful, have included back straps with elastic elements 
therein, counter and other insertable spacers or shims to tighten the fit, 
as well as the widely accepted but improper practice of fitting and 
selling shoes that are too snug girthwise and/or widthwise for the feet on 
which they are to be worn. Such fitting techniques often lead to serious 
consequences including foot discomfort and eventual health problems. 
It is an object of the present invention to provide improved means to 
continually and gently urge a shoe continually forwards on the foot so 
that the backpart of the shoe will tend to stay in contact with the heel 
of the foot throughout the stride cycle and throughout the useful life of 
the shoe. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,954 (Bye) discloses a stretchable sock disposed within 
a shoe cavity. The purpose of the sock to provide additional support to 
the ankle of a foot inserted therein to inhibit lateral inward rolling of 
the ankle without unduly restricting foot flexion about the ankle joint in 
fore and aft directions. In addition, the sock is attached to the inside 
of the shoe to inhibit motion between the foot and shoe. Substantially 
constant pressure is, however, not exerted against the toes of the foot 
(other than would exist in any conventional sock) This is made clear in 
the specification at column 3, lines 3-4 wherein it is stated that 
stocking or sock is virtually non-elastic in the lengthwise direction. 
Rather, the Bye shoe system achieves stability by a totally different 
mechanism; the attachment of the sock to the interior of the shoe. Such a 
cumbersome sock system would not be suitable for use in a conventional 
shoe such as a woman's dress shoe, since it would extend out of the shoe 
to cover the ankle. This would result in an aesthetically displeasing 
shoe. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,440,563 (Woyach) discloses a removable protective lining 
for a storm boot. It contains no means for exerting a substantially 
constant pressure against the toes of a foot and nothing to urge a shoe 
forward on a foot to prevent heel slippage. 
German Offen. 2,259,206 (Benner) discloses an insert for a child's ski-boot 
to change the length of the boot so that a too large boot may be used for 
a number of seasons. The insert has a dense outer surface to function as 
the normal relatively firm toe of a shoe. When a child's foot has grown to 
such an extent that the toes reach the insert, the insert is intended to 
be removed so that no substantially constant pressure is ever exerted 
against the toes. Accordingly, the insert can not continually urge a shoe 
forward on a foot. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Many popular shoe styles experience problems with the fit of the backpart 
of the shoe against the wearer's foot. This is particularly the case with 
styles having relatively long topline openings and a relatively short 
enclosed forepart, with little or no means of topline length or shoe girth 
adjustment, as in women's high heels, pumps, skimmers, flats, and many 
other conventional slip-on styles including loafers, espadrilles, and the 
like. As defined herein the term "shoe" means a shoe having a relatively 
long topline opening and a relatively short enclosed forepart such as 
those described above. 
The present invention is directed to a substantially concealed elastic 
means which exerts substantially constant pressure on the toes of a foot 
in a shoe so as to continually urge the shoe gently forward on a foot As a 
result, the backpart of the shoe remains in comfortable and substantially 
constant contact with the heel of the wearer's foot. Preferably, the 
elastic member is an elastically stretchable member such as an elastically 
stretchable lining element disposed in the shoe cavity. The elastic means 
may either be permanently attached and an integral part of the shoe. 
For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the present 
invention, reference will be made to the following detailed description 
taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1 through 3 show a misses' skimmer, also 
often referred to as a `flat` or `flattie` style, having this style's 
typical long topline opening and short vamp, and embodying the principles 
of the present invention. 
As best shown in FIGS. 1-3, the shoe 20 of the present invention comprises 
an upper 22 having a topline 24, topline stitching 26, vamp 28, backpart 
32 and unitsole 30. 
Upper 22 is lasted over insole 33, cut from a suitable insole material such 
as Texon, T-480, a man-made cellulose fiber insole material, manufactured 
by the Texon Materials U.S.A., of Westfield, Mass., and supported by the 
felt or composition filler element 34. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, 
lining element 36 is disposed within the shoe cavity defined by upper and 
unitsole. Lining element 36 is shown at zero tension by the solid lines 
36', and under tension as it would be against the forepart of the foot by 
the broken line 36". As shown, lining element 36 is attached to the upper 
by the topline stitching 26 in the midpart and forepart of the topline and 
to the quarter lining 38 by a stitched seam 44. Quarterlining 38 is in 
turn attached to upper 22 by topline stitching 26 and to heel tuck 42 by 
cement lasting thereunder. Preferably, a conventional counter 40 is 
inserted between upper 22 and quarterlining 38, and cement lasted over 
insole 33, to provide proper support for backpart 32 and regions adjacent 
thereto. As best shown in FIG. 3, lining element 36 contacts but is not 
fastened to upper 22 or insole 33 in the toe of the shoe, and is free to 
move elastically at least at a right angle to this section of the shoe, 
i.e. lengthwise along the interior of shoe 20. While the lining element 36 
is shown in a tubular configuration as would be afforded by the tubular 
knit approach used in hosiery manufacture, the use of flat knit or woven 
spandex materials, cut and seamed to provide the same enclosure and 
function is an appropriate alternative equivalent. The lining element 36 
only partially encloses the foot preferably at about the toes of the foot. 
It does not extend beyond the upper edge 29 of vamp 28 and over the top of 
the foot. As a result it is concealed when the shoe is being worn. This is 
essential since if the lining element were to be exposed the shoe would be 
aesthetically displeasing and would not be a marketable shoe. 
In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-3, the shoe becomes 
gently and continually urged forward on the foot by the elasticized lining 
element 36 which maintains a substantially constant pressure on the toes, 
thereby minimizing or eliminating any space between the heel of the foot 
and the backpart of the shoe. This minimizes slippage therebetween, with 
such urging operating most effectively whenever the shoe and foot therein 
are out of weightbearing contact with the ground. The elastic nature of 
the lining, however, does allow some motion of the foot in the lengthwise 
direction when the shoe is in weightbearing contact with the ground. 
Lining element 36 is constructed of an elastically lengthwise stretchable 
material. For example, it may be constructed of a tubular Lycra, knit 
spandex material similar to stretch socks such as the Gold Toe SuppHose, 
products made by the Cluett Hosiery Corporation of New York, N.Y., and 
similar elastically stretchable hosiery products. Lining element 36 may 
also be made of or include spandex elements of flat knit fabrics similar 
to those used by the Isotoner Corporation of New York, N.Y., for their 
stretchable house slippers, in which the same effect is achieved by 
suitably cutting and stitching the lining parts so they will smoothly and 
comfortably surround the foot. Alternatively, lining element 36 may also 
be of woven construction preferably that used in the Spandura, line, 
produced by H. L. Warshow & Sons, Inc. of New York, N.Y. Transknit, 
fabrics and Coolmax, fabrics distributed by the Starensier Corp. of 
Newburyport, Mass. may also be used. In any case, the lining 36 as shown 
should be made of materials and possibly reinforcements thereof that will 
allow the lining element to last for the useful life of the shoe. 
Alternatively, lining 36 could be a complete sock bottom, as in the Peds, 
brand of low profile stretch socks made by Peds Products, of Villa Rica, 
Ga., or the like, which could be removably attached to the shoe by 
concealed snaps, touch fastener hook/loop tape or other means. In such an 
embodiment, the fastener would be located inside the shoe just forward of 
the foremost portion of the topline 24 and/or near the backpart of the 
shoe. Such lining elements could be easily removed for cleaning, 
replacement or other reasons. 
FIGS. 4-6 are parallel to FIGS. 1-3 but illustrate the features in a 
woman's high heeled shoe. 
It is, however, presently preferred to use a permanently fastened lining 
element, since such an element will be appreciably superior in look and 
function as compared to its removable counterparts.