Patent Publication Number: US-2004049951-A1

Title: Shoe having removable filling material thereinside

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The invention relates to a shoe, more particularly to a shoe which includes thereinside a pocket to receive a filling material which is removable from the pocket for replacement.  
       [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art  
       [0004] Since lasts are used in mass producing shoes, the dimensions and configurations thereof are usually standardized so as to satisfy most wearers. These standardized dimensions and configurations practically do not conform to all wearers&#39; feet which vary either in size or shape so that the mass-produced shoes normally cannot provide a good fit to every wearer. On the other hand, in order to provide conveniences in mass production, the shape of a last usually is not exactly the same as that of the wearer&#39;s foot. For example, the projecting external and internal malleoluses and the indented achillies tendon (calcaneal tendon) of the wearer&#39;s foot are not presented on the profile of a last. Shoes produced by using such a last generally have loose fit with the wearers&#39; feet, especially at a region corresponding to the calcaneal tendon. In addition, even if the shape of a shoe upper can be in conformity with that of the wearer&#39;s foot, this shape can not be maintained after the upper is lasted and heat-formed because of the pulling force applied to the bottom margin of the upper on a last during a lasting process.  
       [0005] Attempts have been made to provide a good fitting shoe by lining the inner side of the shoe with a layer of thick and soft foam or sponge. However, this shoe is still insufficient to satisfy every user since the lining thereof is not replaceable or interchangeable.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a shoe with a pocket inside the shoe to receive removably a filling material so that a selected filling material having the desired shape and thickness to fit the foot of an individual may be put into the pocket to provide better fitting.  
       [0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a shoe with an interior pocket for attaching interchangeably filling materials such as those capable of cushioning the wearer&#39;s foot, absorbing the moisture generated inside the shoe, providing heat to warm the wearer&#39;s foot, and stiffening the heel part of the shoe.  
       [0008] Accordingly, a shoe comprises: a shell adapted to cover a wearer&#39;s foot and having an inner surface; and at least one pocket attached to the inner surface, the pocket having an opening for access to an interior of the pocket; and a filling material inserted into the pocket, the filling material being removable from the pocket through the opening. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0009] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:  
     [0010]FIG. 1 shows a side view of a shoe embodying the present invention;  
     [0011]FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line  2 - 2  of FIG. 1;  
     [0012]FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view showing a portion of the shoe of FIG. 1;  
     [0013]FIG. 4 is a side view of another shoe embodying the present invention;  
     [0014]FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view showing a portion of the shoe of FIG. 4;  
     [0015]FIG. 6 is a view of an air cushion insertable into the pocket of the shoe of FIGS.  1  or  4 ;  
     [0016]FIG. 7 is a side view of still another shoe embodying the present invention;  
     [0017]FIG. 8 is a side view of still another shoe embodying the present invention;  
     [0018]FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along lines  9 - 9  of FIG. 8;  
     [0019]FIG. 10 is an elevation view showing a stiffener and a pocket used in the shoe of FIG. 8;  
     [0020]FIG. 11 is the same view of FIG. 8 but with the stiffener being removed from the shell. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0021] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be illustrated with reference to FIGS.  1  to  7  in which like elements are represented by like numerals. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a shoe  1  embodying the present invention is shown to have a shell  10  which includes a toe portion  11 , a heel portion  12 , two quarter portions  13  (only one is shown) connected between the toe portion  11  and the heel portion  12 , a tongue  14 , and a lacing  15  passing over the tongue  14 . A lining  20  is disposed inside the shell  10  to line an inner surface of the upper  10 . The lining  20  has a first surface confronting the inner surface of the shell  10  and an opposite second surface which is formed with a pocket  21  having two openings  22  for access to the inside of the pocket  21 . In this embodiment, the pocket  21  is elongated and disposed in the heel portion  12  at a location corresponding to the calcaneal tendon of the wearer&#39;s foot. The pocket  21  is configured to substantially conform to a horse-shoe shape and has an intermediate section  24  curved at a rear end of the heel portion  12  and two end sections  23  extending in a direction toward the toe portion  11 .  
     [0022] Two pieces of filling material  30  are inserted into the pocket  21  through the openings  22  in such a manner that the pocket  21  projects from the second surface of the lining  20  with a suitable thickness. When the shoe  1  is in use, the filling material  30  is placed at the region corresponding to the calcaneal tendon of the wear&#39;s foot to contact intimately or press the calcaneal tendon, thus providing a good fit for the wearer&#39;s foot.  
     [0023] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, in another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a pair of pockets  21 ′ are disposed respectively at left and right sides of the heel portion  12  in the region corresponding to the calcaneal tendon and are sewn to a lining (not shown) disposed inside the shell  10 . Each pocket  21 ′ has a substantially rounded shape and is provided with an opening  22 ′ through which a piece of filling material  30  is inserted. The filling material  30  in each pocket  21 ′ is shaped to be substantially circular and is convex inward.  
     [0024] The filling material  30  in the above-mentioned embodiments, is made of a foamed material, and may be configured to have any shape and thickness suitable for accommodating the wearer&#39;s foot. In addition, the filling material  30  is removable from the pocket  21  or  21 ′ for replacement so that a piece of filling material  30  having the desired shape and thickness may be selected and placed in the pocket  21  or  21 ′ to fit the foot of an individual.  
     [0025] Since the pocket  21  or  21 ′ permits replacement of the filling material  30 , the filling material  30  may be replaced with another filling material, such as a cushion bag  31 , as shown in FIG. 6. The cushion bag  31  contains a fluid, such as, air or water. When the filling material is an air cushion or air duct, external air may be introduced into the air cushion or air duct and then delivered into the interior of the shoe  1 . As such the filling material not only provides good fit but also helps air circulation inside the shoe  1 . Other filling materials usable in the present invention include a moisture absorbent or drying agent to absorb the moisture or perspiration vapor produced by the wearer&#39;s foot, and a heat-generating element to provide heat inside a shoe so as to warm the wearer&#39;s foot. When the shoe is used in cold weather, the heat-generating element may be put into the pocket  21 ,  21 ′ to warm the wearer&#39;s foot. The heat-generating element may be a heating pad which includes an iron-based powder capable of undergoing an exothermic oxidation reaction to produce heat. The filling material used in the present invention may also be a temperature-controllable foam, well-known as “COMFORTEMP,” which can store heat and which can absorb excess heat and wick away moisture to prevent overheating inside the shoe.  
     [0026] Referring to FIG. 7, another shoe embodying the present invention is shown to have a shell  10 A with a pocket  21 A formed directly on an inner surface thereof to receive the filling material (not shown). The pocket  21 A is disposed at a location corresponding to the instep of the wearer&#39;s foot where the wearer may encounter a loose fit if his foot is slim. The filling material inserted into the pocket  21 A can provide better fit to the wearer.  
     [0027] Referring to FIGS. 8, 9,  10 , and  11 , still another shoe embodying the present invention is shown to include a shell  10 B and a pocket  21 B attached to the inner surface of the heel portion  12 B of the shell  10 B. A filling material or a stiffener  32  is placed inside the pocket  21 B. Both of the pocket  21 B and the stiffener  32  are configured as a segment.  
     [0028] The pocket  21 B is formed by stitching a piece of textile material or leather to the shell  10 B. The stiffener  32  is a rigid plate or sheet to stiffen the heel portion  12 B of the shell  10 B like a shoe counter. The stiffener  32  may be a non-woven fiber web made of a fibrous material such as paper pulp, or a plastic sheet made of a thermoplastic material. When the stiffener  32  is removed from the pocket  21 B, the heel portion  12 B collapses as shown in FIG. 11. In this situation, the heel of the wearer&#39;s foot may be exposed from the shell  10 B.  
     [0029] While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.