Abstract:
Personally adjustable footwear with at least one sole layer including: a toe portion, a heel portion, and an intermediate portion. The intermediate portion has openings passing vertically through the layer so that the intermediate portion is elastically flexible to allow relative longitudinal displacement of the toe portion and the heel portion to vary a length of the layer without significant variation in a thickness of the layer. A retention mechanism selectively fixes the toe and heel portions in any of a number of relative positions. Also disclosed are implementations with insertable and removable segments, and with elongated elements sliding in channels.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to footwear, particularly footwear whose size is adjustable.  
         [0002]     The term “footwear” when used herein, is to be taken in its broadest sense and denotes shoes, sneakers, sandals, clogs, boots, skates, sportswear for the foot, etc.; and any of these terms may be substituted herein for the term “footwear”.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     There is known in the art shoes whose longitudinal dimension is adjustable by a variety of ways.  
         [0004]     U.S. Pat. No. 524,946 (Kregel) discloses a shoe intended for fitting to a deceased person for viewing and interment. Adjustability is achieved using an elastic band extending between a heel portion and toe portion designed to draw the heel portion forward to snuggly fit to the foot of the deceased.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 641,642 (Gunn) discloses a shoe, being adjustable length-wise and width-wise, the sole of which comprises a frame part at the shoe&#39;s heel and a shank at the middle/front of the sole. The frame part and shank are slidable with respect to one another to the extent of a slot in the shank. Upon adjusting to a desired length, the length of the sole is fixed by tightening a screw. The shoe comprises an upper, or top portion, designed to accommodate inserts on the right and left sides thereof, which can be folded to allow adjustment of the top portion of the shoe. The insert is secured by a lacing cord which passes between two vertical rows of eyelets. A similar arrangement is used to adjust the width of the shoe, with laterally arranged slots.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 2,009,684 (Affronte) describes a shoe, having a similar length adjusting means wherein the shank has a tongue being slidable within a receiving portion of the heel section of the sole. The tongue has a plurality of holes for allowing a screw to pass and fix the tongue to the heel section at a hole corresponding to the desired shoe length.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 2,497,175 (Mantos) provides a shoe formed of two main sections designed to be joined together by workmen in the shop of a shoe dealer whereby the size of the shoe can be adjusted to a given size prior to completing assembly of the shoe. A metal shank projecting from the toe section of the sole comprises an integral fork aligned with a metal sheath or plate mounted in the heel portion of the sole. The fork has tines with triangularly shaped lugs along their edges corresponding to receiving members on the sheath to allow the toe and heel sections of the shoe to be securely attached to produce a shoe having any number of discrete lengths.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 3,389,481 (England) shows an expandable shoe having a mid-section of bellows-like material permitting longitudinal expansion and contraction along a sliding guide having a locking mechanism to secure the fit at a desired length. The locking mechanism comprises a metal shank having two sliding plates, one of which has a transverse slot for receiving a detent formed in the other plate. A screw assembly extending up though the heel is removed to allow the plates to slidable over one another, and then it is reinserted to retain the shoe in the newly extended position.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 3,997,985 (Shina) discloses a stretchable shoe, particularly suitable for a growing child, comprising a front member and a rear member which may be adjusted in length. The front member and the rear member are separable and inter-connected by a screw which passes through one hole of the front member and one of a plurality of holes of the rear member. The front member is composed of an upper, an insole, a middle plate and a bottom plate, and the rear member is composed of a sole, an upper and a heel.  
         [0010]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,659,980 (Lin) discloses an adjustable shoe which has a heel, a toecap and an insole. The front portion of an instep has a plurality of positioning protrusions. First and second fastening pads are disposed on two outer sides of the heel. First and second ball buttons are disposed on the rear surface of the heel. An adjustable pad with positioning holes therein is disposed on the toecap from which two flaps extend. The inner surface of the flap has a fastening element. The first and second positioning plates are extended from the back of the outsole. The first positioning plate holds the first socket button and the second positioning plate holds the second socket button.  
         [0011]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,385 (Jungkind) describes a shoe sole having a jointed middle section located between toe and heel portions of the sole. The middle section is made of an elastically flexible of springy material configured as a wavy or folded web with crests and troughs. A spindle runs from the heel to the toe portions and has a head located inboard of the rear edge of the heel portion. The spindle is rotatable/screwable into a nut whereby the shoe can be adjusted in length.  
         [0012]     It is an object of the present invention to provide footwear whose size can be adjusted by the wearer. It is a further object of the invention to provide such adjustable footwear which is personalizable and easily and quickly re-adjustable.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     The present invention relates to footwear whose size can be conveniently and easily adjusted without any need for tools.  
         [0014]     Such footwear typically comprises a toe portion (hereinafter “toe”), a heel portion (hereinafter “heel”), composing a sole and may also include a top portion or so-called upper.  
         [0015]     According to one embodiment of the invention, the footwear comprises a series of sole segments (laterally oriented, longitudinally oriented, or a combination thereof) disposed between the toe and the heel. These segments can be added or removed to adjust the size of the footwear; or, they may be spaced further apart or closer together to adjust the footwear size.  
         [0016]     Each of the segments comprises an arrangement allowing them to be fixed between the toe and heel. One option for such an arrangement is by having at least one, and typically two or more, parallel bores which are oriented to run longitudinally to the footwear while extending from the toe toward and into the heel, or vice versa, there are one or more segment holding members (e.g. rod-like members, cables, tongue-like member(s), etc.) adapted to be aligned with the bores of the segments and with corresponding bores in the heel (or toe, if vice versa). The segment holding members may be fairly rigid, however with appropriate resiliency/flexibility to allow for suitable movement when the footwear is being worn; however, they may be stretchable, for example, rubber band-like members. Depending upon the option, the heel or toe may comprise a locking mechanism, which would be appropriate, for example, to an embodiment comprising rod-like members extending between the toe and heel.  
         [0017]     Segments adapted for this option are typically in the shape of a bar with a square profile, however, they may be of any of a variety of shapes, styles, colors, shapes, etc., and include aesthetic ornamental or artistic features so that the wearer can modify the style of the footwear to his or her taste—as may segments usable in other options, described below.  
         [0018]     Another option for fixing segments between the toe and heel is by their being adapted to inter-engage or inter-connect with each other and to engage with the toe and heel. Inter-engaging may be by a variety of arrangements, including “Lego™-type” connections, snap-fitting, screw-fitting, twist-fitting, hooking, hook and loop fasteners (Velcro™), etc.  
         [0019]     According to another embodiment of the invention, the footwear comprises toe and heel portions connected therebetween by a bellows-like structure, constituting a middle section, being compressible and/or expandable at least in the direction longitudinal to the footwear.  
         [0020]     Projecting from the toe is a tongue that extends into a corresponding tongue receptacle in the heel, or vice versa. The tongue comprises a plurality of linearly arranged holes passing therethrough and alignable with corresponding to holes in the tongue receptacle. The heel comprises a top portion which can be bent upward and having a plurality of downward projections or pegs adapted to pass through the holes of the tongue and into the bores/depressions of the tongue receptacle. The size of the footwear can be adjusted by lifting the top portion and sliding the toe and the heel toward each other, or apart, until a size, corresponding to an alignment of the holes of the tongue and tongue receptacle is achieved. The top portion is then lowered to fix the length.  
         [0021]     Optionally, the footwear can include an arrangement for facilitating alignment of the pegs and corresponding bores. Further, the tongue may comprise an indicator to point to indicia adjacent the tongue receptacle which indicates the size of the shoe at a given adjustment portion.  
         [0022]     According to an additional embodiment of the present invention, the footwear&#39;s toe and heel each comprise members (e.g. finger-like members, typically in a male/female connection) which extend toward and engage with each other. The members are slidable with respect to each another to allow for different footwear length, and typically have profiles shaped in such a way as to prevent vertical displacement.  
         [0023]     At a desired length, a tongue with at least one extending peg/projection can be inserted into a tongue receptacle at the heel.  
         [0024]     Thus, the present invention provides footwear whose size can be conveniently and easily adjusted without any need for tools, possibly by a wearer thereof. The footwear according to embodiments of the invention is readjustable, thus it can be adjusted to a variety of lengths at any time. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0025]     In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0026]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of adjustable footwear according to the present invention;  
         [0027]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0028]      FIG. 3A  is a longitudinal sectional view along line III-III in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0029]      FIG. 3B  is a sectional side view of a modification of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3 ;  
         [0030]      FIG. 4  is a longitudinal sectional view showing another modification to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0031]      FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of a segment usable in any of the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-4 ;  
         [0032]      FIGS. 5B-5J  are perspective views of segments for use in further embodiments of adjustable footwear of the present invention;  
         [0033]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0034]      FIG. 7  is a longitudinal sectional view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 ;  
         [0035]      FIG. 8  is a top perspective view of a further embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0036]      FIG. 9A  is a sectional view taken through plane IX-IX of  FIG. 8 ;  
         [0037]      FIG. 9B  is a sectional view analogous to that of  FIG. 9A  illustrating an exemplary modification of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 ;  
         [0038]      FIG. 10  is a bottom perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 ;  
         [0039]      FIG. 11  is a bottom view of a modification of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0040]      FIG. 12A-12C  are side views of exemplary segments for use in the embodiment of  FIG. 11 ; 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0041]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , a first embodiment, including particular modifications, of an article of footwear, generally designated as  10 , of the present invention, is illustrated. The footwear  10  comprises a toe portion  12  (hereinafter “toe”) and a heel portion  14  (hereinafter “heel”) and a plurality of segments  16  disposed therebetween. Extending from the toe  12  toward the heel  14  is at least one (and typically more than one) segment holding member in the form of a rod-like member—for example, four rods  18  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0042]     The segments  16  typically have a geometry wherein they have a length and a width, the length being longer than the width—in other words an aspect ratio greater than one. The segments  16  may comprise an indication of their size, in particular the dimension affecting the length of the footwear  10 . Such an indication may be a numeral thereon indicating its dimension, or a color, shape, decoration, etc., corresponding to a dimension. However, the segments  16  may be of various shapes, colors, etc., merely for decorative purposes. The segments  16  may also be made of different materials for functional (e.g. wear-strength, comfort) and/or decorative purposes.  
         [0043]     The segments  16  have essentially horizontal holes or bores  20  (best seen in  FIG. 4 ) adapted so that the rods  18  can pass therethrough. For this purpose, at least some of the segment&#39;s bores  20  are alignable with each other. In this manner, the segments  16 , which constitute a middle portion of the sole of the footwear, can be incorporated into the sole or removed therefrom whereby the size of the footwear  10  is adjustable.  
         [0044]     The heel  14  also has holes or bores  24  being alignable with the rods  18  and thus alignable with at least some of the bores  20  in the segments  16 . The heel&#39;s bores  24  are adapted to receive the rods  18  (i.e. free ends  22  thereof). The rods  18  extend into the heel  14  where they are fixed in place by a locking mechanism  26 .  
         [0045]     The locking mechanism  26  comprises, for example, a top portion  28  and a bottom portion  30 , at least one or the other of the portions adapted to hold or clamp the rods  18  in place. Typically, the portions  28  and  30  are designed to be engageable with each other, in any known manner. For this purpose, the portions  28  and  30  may have engagement members  28   a  and  30   a , respectively.  
         [0046]     In order to adjust the size of the footwear  10 , the locking mechanism  26  is disengaged allowing the heel  14  to be slid back away from the toe  12  whereby it is removed from the rods  18 . Then, segments  16  are added or removed to increase or decrease the length of the footwear  10 . The heel  14  is then replaced, and then the locking mechanism  16  is reaffixed.  
         [0047]     To further accommodate such adjustment, if the footwear  10  is a sandal or “flip-flop” or “thong” type, wherein it typically incorporates a toe-strap  32 , the positioning of said toe-strap  32  may be altered. For this purpose, at least some of the segments  16  may further comprise (essentially) vertical bores  34  ( FIGS. 3A, 3B  and  4 ) adapted to receive attachment projections  36  of the toe-strap  32  which can be attached (fixed in place) by any known means.  
         [0048]     As understood from the exploded view of the footwear  10  in  FIG. 2 , the toe  12  can be composed of layers, for example an outsole layer  121 , an insole layer  122  and an intermediate layer  123 . Such a design may be convenient for manufacturing and allow for portions/layers of different characteristics. For example, the outsole layer  121  may be made of a wear resistant material for increasing the life of the footwear  10  and the insole layer  122  may be made of a relatively soft or compliant material for comfort of a wearer.  
         [0049]      FIG. 4  illustrates an article of footwear  10 ″ being a modification of that described with reference to the preceding figures. Here, the footwear  10 ″ comprises at least some segments  16   a  having at least one transverse bore  38 ; best seen in  FIG. 5A . A segment  16   b  shown in  FIG. 5A  illustrates the possibility of the segment having both bores like bores  20  and like bore  38 ; thereby providing different options for achieving a given footwear length as well as a particular aesthetic aspect (e.g. different colors on each face of the segment) or flexibility thereto.  
         [0050]     Additionally, the segments  16   b  could include bores  20   a  essentially perpendicular to bores  20  such that the segment could be incorporated in the footwear  10  rotated a quarter turn/rotation to that shown in  FIG. 5A . This feature could have advantages in situations, for example, where any of the segments  16   b  have designs thereon or are shaped in a way that the overall design of the footwear can be changed (by turning/rotating segments), thereby giving the wearer the option to “self-design” the footwear to his/her taste. Bore  38  also provides flexibility in this regard.  
         [0051]     It should be understood that the heel  14  could be designed in a manner analogous to that just described with respect to the toe  12 , and vice versa. In other words, referring now to  FIG. 3B , there may be footwear  10 ′ of the present invention wherein the rods  18  extend from a heel  14 ′ toward a toe  12 ′ and being locked in place by a locking mechanism  26 ′ at the toe  12 ′, mutatis mutandis.  
         [0052]     It should also be noted that rather then providing several extension segments  16 , there may be provided one or more segments, the length of which may be predetermined or be set to suit an individual&#39;s foot size, e.g. by trimming the length of such segments.  
         [0053]      FIGS. 5B-5I  illustrate various examples of segments which may be used in adjustable footwear according to further embodiments of the present invention. The segments shown in these figures do not require a segment holding member (rod, tongue, cable, elastic, etc.) rather instead they comprise inter-engaging or inter-corresponding members, typically male-female type engagement elements.  
         [0054]     In  FIG. 5B  there is shown a segment  116  having a “Lego™-type” configuration. Thus, it has projections  118  (only one is seen) and indentations  120  which are designed to correspond to indentations and projections of other similarly configured segments. Naturally, a toe and heel of footwear used in an embodiment shown in  FIG. 5B  would also have corresponding projections or indentations, as the case may be, so that the segments  116  could be suitably joined thereto. It should be understood that this latter situation is the same for all of the segments described in  FIGS. 5B-5I , and therefore this fact shall not be repeated.  
         [0055]     In  FIG. 5C  there is shown a segment  216  being similar to segment  116  of  FIG. 5B , however it comprises an elongated projection  218  and a slotted indentation  220 —again, designed to correspond to an indentation and projection of other similarly configured segments.  
         [0056]     In  FIG. 5D  there is shown a segment  316  comprising a wide hook-shaped projection  318  and a rod  320 . For illustration purposes, the segment  316  is shown with a partial cutaway in the area of the rod  320  and typically the rod  320  would be attached to the rest of the segment at both its ends to provide strong support. To join such segments  316  with each other, one segment is angled to allow the hook-shaped projection  318  to be slid under the slotted indentation  320  of another segment, and then it is arranged to be flush to that other segment.  
         [0057]      FIG. 5E  presents a segment  416  being similar to segment  316  of  FIG. 5D , however it comprises a pair of resilient projections  418  that can inter-engage with a rod  420 . Again, for illustration purposes, the segment  416  is shown with a partial cutaway in the area of rod  420 . To join such segments  416  with each other, one segment is pushed toward another segment causing the projections  418  to first open when nubs  422  of the projections  418  contact the rod  420  of another segment, and then to close around the backside of the rod  420  in a snap-fit manner.  
         [0058]      FIG. 5F  shows another segment  516  connectable to like segments; as above. Here, the segment  516  comprises a screw-like projection  518  that can inter-engage with a threaded indentation  520 . To join such segments  516  with each other, one segment is simply turned so that its screw-like projection  518  screws into the threaded indentation  520  of another segment.  
         [0059]      FIG. 5G  shows yet another example of a segment  616  connectable to like segments. Here, the segment  616  comprises a projection, for example an L-shaped projection  618  that can inter-engage with a corresponding indentation  620 . The indentation  620  comprises a slot  622  and the projection comprises an arm  624 , the slot having a length dimension d 1  typically being a bit longer than a length dimension d 2  of the arm  624  of the L-shaped projection  618 .  
         [0060]     To join such segments  616  with each other, a first segment is turned 90° so that its L-shaped projection  618  fits into the slot  622  of the other segment, then the first segment is pushed flush to the other segment, and lastly it is turned 90° so that the arm  624  enters an arm-receiving cavity  626  of the indentation  620 .  
         [0061]      FIG. 5H  shows yet a further example of a segment  716  connectable to like segments. Here, the segment  716  is a puzzle-like piece and comprises a projection  718  adapted to fit into an indentation  720  by either sliding transversely or by a pressure/snap fitting method.  
         [0062]      FIG. 5I  provides an embodiment showing another example wherein segments are inter-connected. Here, segments  816  (only one shown) have hook and loop fasteners (Velcro™)  818  and  820  adhered to their sides whereby they can attach one to the next.  
         [0063]      FIG. 5J  illustrates another embodiment wherein segments are inter-connected. However, in this case there are segments  916  that remain connected while being movable in relation to each other in that they can be spaced apart, to various degrees, or be positioned adjacent each other. This option can be accomplished, for example, as seen in  FIG. 5I .  
         [0064]     The segments  916  have segment connecting members  918 , for example nail-shaped members having a head  920  and a stem  922 . The segments  916  comprise cavities  924  (shown with dashed lines) within which the heads  920  and a portion of the stems  922  are located; these also being shown with dashed lines where they are internal to the segments  916 . The cavities  924  are shaped such that the connecting members  918  can be slid back and forth whereby the segments  916  may be positioned closer or farther from each other.  
         [0065]     To fix the distance, the cavities  924  are adapted to fairly snugly hold the connecting members  918 , or the segments  916  may be held in place by one of several alternate methods (e.g. such as described below).  
         [0066]      FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate another embodiment of the present invention, providing an article of footwear, generally designated as  100 . Here, disposed between a toe  12   a  and a heel  14   a  is a flexible bellows-like structure  50  which connects the toe and heel and provides size flexibility to the footwear  100 .  
         [0067]     The toe  12   a  has a tongue  52 , which may be integral therewith or attached thereto, adapted to be slidable through a passage (not seen) in the bellows-like structure  50 . The tongue  52  comprises a plurality of through-holes  54  being collinear and typically equally spaced apart. The heel  14   a  comprises a tongue receptacle  56  having depressions  58  corresponding, and similarly spaced, to holes  54 .  
         [0068]     The heel  14   a  comprises a top portion  60  adapted to be upwardly bendable, exposing the tongue receptacle  56 . The top portion  60  includes at least one downwardly projecting peg-like member  62 , arranged, and of a size, to pass through the tongue&#39;s holes  54  and be engagedly receivable in the depressions  58  of the tongue receptacle  56 , for example, in a snap-fit type manner.  
         [0069]     To adjust the size of the footwear  100 , the heel&#39;s top portion  60  is lifted (illustrated by dashed lines in  FIG. 7 ), thereby decoupling the peg-like members  62  from the depressions  58  and lifting them out from the holes  54 . The toe  12   a  and the heel  14   a  are then slid toward or away from each other to respectively decrease or increase the length of the footwear  100 . This may entail compressing or expanding the bellows-like structure  50  for which purpose it is made of a flexible, resilient material.  
         [0070]     When a desired length is achieved, within the tolerance of the distance between the spaced-apart holes  54 , the size of the footwear  10  can be fixed. This is accomplished by aligning the tongue&#39;s holes  54  with the tongue receptacle depressions  58  and closing the heel&#39;s top portion  60  downward to recouple the peg-like members  62  with the depressions  28 .  
         [0071]     Optionally, there may be provided a marker  64 , such as an arrow or projection, associated with the tongue  52 , along with indicia  66  adjacent the tongue receptacle  56 , for indicating a shoe size. This marker/indicia arrangement may also be useful for making it easier to align the tongue&#39;s holes  54  with tongue receptacle&#39;s depressions  58 ; for example, by means of a projection/socket (male/female component) arrangement for ensuring alignment.  
         [0072]     It should be understood that the function provided by the heel&#39;s top portion  60  could alternatively be provided by a bottom portion thereof or even by a top or bottom portion of the toe  12   a , mutatis mutandis.  
         [0073]     According to a further embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in  FIGS. 8-10 , there is an article of footwear  200  comprising elongated projections  70  extending from a heel  14   b  toward a toe  12   b  thereof. The profile of the projections  70  ( FIG. 9A ) corresponds to channels  72  in an elongated projection receiving portion  74  projecting from the toe  12   b.    
         [0074]     The heel&#39;s projections  70  are slidable toward and apart from the receiving portion  74 . It should be noted however that the profile of the projections  70 , in combination with the shape of the receiving portions channels  72 , are of a geometry whereby the members are prevented from significantly sliding with respect to each other in the vertical direction. This is a much preferred situation for since it would otherwise be potentially inconvenient or uncomfortable to the wearer. It should be understood that many other profile/shape combinations are possible which would prevent such unwanted vertical displacement.  
         [0075]      FIG. 9B  illustrates one example of the many alternative interacting configurations for elongated projections and corresponding channels of a projection receiving portion. In this example, the projections are inverted T-shaped elongated projections  270 , which are engagable in correspondingly shaped channels  272  with a projection receiving portion  274 . It should be understood that such projections may be any of a variety of profiles in addition to those described above, e.g. L-shaped, bulb-shaped, J-shaped, Y-shaped, anchor-shaped, cross-shaped, and the like.  
         [0076]     Appropriate design of the exemplary projections  70 ,  270  and channels  72 ,  272 , respectively, can allow the footwear  200  to be adjusted to a desired length and remain at such while it is worn, for example, via a pressure or friction inter-fitting of the projections and receiving portions. However, the footwear  200  typically will include an auxiliary locking arrangement, such as that now described.  
         [0077]     An example of such a locking arrangement is shown in  FIG. 10 , wherein extending from the toe  12   b  toward the heel  14   b  is a tongue  76  which comprises at least one peg-like member projecting therefrom. The peg-like member is not visible, however it can be of a form similar to that described above with reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 . The heel  14   b  comprises a tongue receptacle  78  comprising a plurality of depressions  80  which are adapted to receive the at least one peg-like member.  
         [0078]     The size of the shoe can be adjusted by removing the tongue  76  from the tongue receptacle  78 , sliding the toe and the heel apart or together—corresponding to the desired footwear size—and then reengaging the tongue  76  and the tongue receptacle  78  (i.e. pressing the peg-like structure into a/the depression(s)).  
         [0079]     Once again, it should be understood that heel/toe (i.e. projections/receiving portion) could be arranged conversely and that the tongue could be disposed at either of the top or bottom of the sole of the footwear and could alternatively extend from the heel  14   b , mutatis mutandis.  
         [0080]      FIG. 11  shows a modification of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  where there is footwear  110  wherein extending between a toe  112  and a heel  114  is at least one, typically more than one, segment holding member in the form of a stretchable member or elastic member  117  (two shown) running through segments  119  (therefore shown by dashed lines). The segments  119  can be added or removed upon pulling the toe  112  and heel  114  apart and the segment(s) is then fitted on the elastic member  117  or removed therefrom, respectively.  
         [0081]      FIGS. 12A-12C  provide some examples of segments which are suitable for use in the embodiment of  FIG. 11 . As such,  FIG. 12A  shows a segment  121  with one or more slits  123  adapted to allow the elastic member  117  to slide therealong the slits having a cavity  125  for holding the elastic member when the footwear  110  is assembled.  
         [0082]      FIG. 12B  shows a segment  131  having a transverse slit  133 , the segment adapted to spread open whereby the elastic member  117  can be inserted or removed for adding or removing a segment, respectively.  
         [0083]      FIG. 12C  shows a segment  141  comprising two portions  143  and  145  held adjacent to each other by a hinge  147  at one end thereof and having a latch arrangement  149  at the other end thereof. To allow adding the segment  141  to the footwear  110 , the segment can be opened by unlatching the latch arrangement  149  and pivoting the portions  143 ,  145  at the hinge  147  and fitting the segment around the elastic member  117 . The reverse procedure is used to remove the segment  141  from the footwear  110 .  
         [0084]     It should be understood that segments such as segments  121 ,  131  and  141 , and the like, can also be used in connection with the embodiment of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0085]     It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown by the exemplary embodiments described hereinabove. Thus, it should be understood that numerous additional embodiments are within the scope of the invention, mutatis mutandis.  
         [0086]     For example, regarding the embodiment described with reference to  FIGS. 1-5 , the segments  16  and  16   b  need not be juxtaposed in an aligned manner and, for example, may be arranged in a fashion where they are staggered, angled, etc. thereby providing the wearer with different fashion options or individual expression. In this regard, it should be understood that the segments  16 ,  16   a  and  16   b  could be of a variety of shapes and colors and may comprise various ornamental features. Further, the bores  20  could be angled with respect to the heel/toe to facilitate assembly options for the footwear  10 . Additionally, the segments  16 ,  16   a  and  16   b  could comprise a texture, for example, to provide a massaging effect to the wearer, for aesthetic purposes, for a combination of these, or for other purposes.  
         [0087]     Further, the invention has been illustrated in relation to sandal type (i.e. so-called flip-flops or thongs), however, the invention also can embody footwear such as more conventional shoes and the like by incorporating known means for allowing the expansion/contraction of a footwear&#39;s upper portion (e.g. that described in the above-mentioned prior art).  
         [0088]     In addition, it should be understood that features of the above embodiments may be combined or substituted for other features. For example, in connection to the embodiments described with reference to  FIGS. 1-5 , the segments  16 ,  16   a  and  16   b  may be held on a segment holding member being a tongue-like member, in place of the rods  18 ; and, those embodiments may incorporate locking mechanisms such as described with reference to  FIGS. 6 and 10 .