CA1326954C - Baby bootie - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract Of The Present Invention A bootie to be worn on a baby's foot is fashioned from a single piece of material. The body of material includes a substantially oval-shaped upper section, a substantially barrel-shaped center section, a substantially bulbous lower section and a substantially rectangular shaped section disposed between the barrel-shaped section an-l the oval-shaped section. The rectangular section is wider than the barrel section, thereby forming a pair of ears along its lower surface. A bootie shape may be formed by appropriately folding and sewing the body. An elastic band is sewn in a stretched condition to the portion of the bootie wrapping about the baby's ankle such that the elastic band also extends about the ankle. The male member and the female member of a snap fit fastener are attached respectively to opposite ends of the elastic band so that the bootie can be secured about the baby's ankle.

Description

13269~

BABY BOOTIE

Field Of The Invention The present invention relates generally to footwear.
i More particularly, the present invention relates to a bootie - made out of a single piece of fabric that provides a wide opening for insertion of a foot yet maintains a tight fit about the wearer's ankle.

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Backgrouna Of The Invention , ~-~ When providing footwear for small children, there are ~,~J numerous factors that a designer must consider. It is clesirable to provide a hootie that is soft, comfortable, easy to put on, yet securely fastenable about the child's ankle.
While stanAard booties may be adequately secured to the child's foot, they have several drawbacks. When attempting to place a standard bootie on a bahy, the youngster will often curl its toes or otherwise resist the effort, making it difficult to insert the foot within opening provided. Booties with large openings tightened by a drawstring or laces often !. suefer the major drawback of not being securely fastenable to the foot beaause the laces come untied. Thus, as a child crawls, rolls or walks about, the bootie may come off and become accidently lost.
Another major ohjective of a footwear designer for small children i8 to produce a shoe or bootie that is relatively inexpensive and simple to manufacture, since cost is often a major factor in the sales of baby footwear. Along these lines it is desirab]e to design footwear tl)at can be readily produced with good quality control as to the size and appearance of the finished product; Booties fashioned from multiple pieces of material tend to suffer the drawback of :
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inconsistency in size, shape and appearance due to variations in the assembly of the multiple pieces from bootie to bootie.
The present invention describes a novel bootie construction fashioned from a single piece of material that seeks to , .
addres~s these and other problems found in conventional baby footwear.
,i Summary Of The Invention An object of the present invention is to provide a bootie that may be opened widely to easily receive the insertion of a foot. Another object is to provide a bootie that may be securely fastened about the ankle so that the hootie is not easily lost.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a bootie that may be fashioned from a single piece of material. Yet another object is to provide a bootie that is soft and comEortable for the wearer.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will i be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from de6cription, or may be learneA by ~7 practice of the invention.
To achieve these and other objects, the present ~; invention provides a bootie including a fabric body fashioned from a single piece of material having a substantially oval-~i 9haped upper seCtion, a substantially barrel-shaped center section, a substantially bulbous lower section, and a substantially rectangular-shaped section disposed between the oval-~haped and the barrel-shape-l sections. The barrel section is narrower than the rectangular section, thus forming ears on each side of the barrel section along the lower edge of the rectangular section. An elastic member i9 provided :~
which is preferably sewn lengthwise across the lower portion ,~
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`~ of tl~e oval-shaped section. A fastener is also provided on - opposite ends of the oval-shaped ~ection for securing the bootie about the ankle of its wearer. Preferably, the fastening means has a receiving portion located near one end : ,.
` of tlle elastic member, and a fastening portion located near :.~
- the opposite end of the elastic member. It i9 also preferable : . .
that a trim material such as bias tape be sewn arounl1 tlle exposed perimeter of at least the oval-shaped section, the ....
~ tapered sides of the rectangular-sllaped ~ectiorl and the lower ~.:
two-tllirds of the bulbous lower section.
In a process aspect, this invention relates to a Inethod of producing a bootie out of the materials just described.
The first step of the method i8 to cut an a~propriately shaped fabric body. Preferably, an elastic member i~ sewn onto and acros~ the substantially oval-shaped section of the body.
Also, a fastener is attached to the oval-~haped section of tlle body. Tlle bootie shape is then formed by the steps of foldillg t11e body about the corner formed by the junction of an ear an~ the barrel-shaped section such that the ear overlays the ad~acent edge of the barrel section. Next, the bulbous section is folded about its junctlon with the barrel section ~uch that the edge of the bulbous ~ection overlays tlle ad~acent edge of the barrel ~ection, e~tenl~ing over tlle prevlously folded ear. After the appropriate folds have been made, a sewlng line is drawn along the edge of the harrel section, thereby binding the ear, the barrel section an~ the bulbous sectlon together near their edges. q'he foldillg and sewing steps are repeatea, so that both ~ides are 90 ~ewn.

~rief Description Of ~e Drawings :, I'he features of the present invention whicll are ., ., J' `. 1 ~ 2 ~

.. believed to he novel are set orth wi.th particularity in the appen(~ed claims. The invention together with ~urther ol)jects -.
and a~valltages thereof may best be understood by reEerence to the Eollowing description taken in conjunction with tl~e accompanying drawings wherein:
Figure 1 ls a top view of the shape of the si.ngle piece fabric body as originally cut and which can be folded sewn and assembled into a baby bootie according to the prescnt invention.
Figure 2 is a side a view of a baby ~ootie fasllioned from the single piece fabric body shown in Fig. 1.
i911re .~ i9 a front view of the bootie shown i.n Figure 2.

Detailed Description Of The Drawings As shown in Figure 1, the present invention includes a fahric bo,ly 1 fasllioned from a single piece of material. The body has a substantially elongated oval-shaped upper section ln, a substantial].y barrel-shaped center secti.on lfi a substantially bulbous lower section 18 and a substantially rectanglll.ar-shaped section 12 disposed between the oval-shaped section ln and tlle barrel-shaped section 16. One side of rectanglllar section 12 is tapered slightly so that i.ts upl~er edge that attaches to oval-section 10 is sliglltly wider tllan its lower edge that attaches to barrel-sllaped section lfi.
Additionally, the wider end of rectangular section 12 is flared to smoothly meet witll oval-shape(1 section In. Tlle taper in rectangular section 12 is very slight and it sl~ould l~e ~Inderstoo<l that sect.ion ].2 could have parallel or even slightly inwardly tapered sides and still remain effective.
The barrel-shaped section 16 is narrower than the rectangular section 12 thereby forming ears 14 along the lower edge of ,., 132~

rectangular section 12 on each side of barrel-sllaped section 16.
In the following description of a presently preferred d embodiment several references will be made to the relative dimensions of the various sections. These dimen~ions are to be construed as exemplary only and are in no way to be consi~lered limiting. The dimen~ions describe-l herein are appropriate for a medium ~ized baby bootie suitable for babies in the general range of four to eight month~ old.
The optimal shape for oval-shaped section 10 w])ich i9 designed to wrap around the wearer 9 ankle is best understood by reference to Figure 1. Oval-shaped section 10 is not centered over rectangular section 12, but rather llas a relatively lon~, skewed end 21 and a shorter end 22. Thus, when the bootie is finally asse1nbled the skewed end 2l of oval-shaped section 10 wraps around the front of the wearer s allkle alld i9 attached to the shorter end 22. The slanted nature of skewed end 21 provides a better fit about the wearer s ankle than woul'ld be provided if a more strict oval conflguration i8 used. Oval-sllaped section 10 is approxilnately two and one-quarter~ (2&1/4) inche~ wide tllrough its middle section and is about eleven (11) inches long. The rectangular-sllaped portion 12 is approximately one and five-eights (1~5/8) inclles wide and is about five (5) inclle~ long.
Barrel-shaped center sectlon lh is sub~tantially narrower than rectangular section 12 thus forming a pair of ears 14 extending approximately one and one-eight (1~1/8) inches along the lower end of rectangular section 12. The ears ]4 become important when folding the fabric body 1 for sewing into the bootie shape as de~cribed hereinafter.
Similarly fold line3 23 emanate obliquely from from the `\

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perimeter junctlons of the barrel-shaped section 16 anll t1~e rectangular oection 12. Barrel-shaped oection 16 is approximately three and one-half (~&1/2) inches in lengtl~ and ....
then flares from a width of about two and three-quarters (2&3/4) inches at its top to a widest dimen~ion of approximately two and seven-eights (267/~) incheo and then contracts to a width of approximately two and one-half (2~1/2) incl)es along it~ lower end which ~oins bulbous ~ectioll 18.
Fold line6 25 emanate obliquely from the perimeter junctions '$of barrel-sl)aped section 16 and bulbous section 1~. ~ulbous oection 10 is approximately 8iX and three-eights (fi63/~) inches in height and five and one-eigl)t (561/B) inches in wi-lth ~t its wide~t point. Sewing edges 40 extend along hotl) ~ides of bulbous section 18 a perimeter diotarlce approximately e~ual to the distance along the exposed perimet~r o~ each side of barrel-~haped section 16. Sewing edges 40 thus preferably extend along approximately 3~ to 60 percent of the of bulbous ection 1~.
!,An elastic band 30 io etretched substantially the entire lengtll acro~o the lower ~ide of oval-~haped section 10 and is ~ewn to the oval-shape-l eection 10 in a stretclled condition. A snap fasteller includes a male member 35 alld two pace-l ~emale memberff 37, 39 eecureA to the ov~l-sl~oped ~ection 10 at oppo~lte ends of the elastic band 30. Otller suitable, releasable fastening means including hook and loop fasteners such as those sold under the T.M. VEICRD may also be used. Thus, the oval-aped oection may l)e wrapped nnd fa~tened aroullll tlle wenrer's ankle. With thio con-truction, tlle oval-sllaped section 10, may be wrapped around the wearer's ankle and Rnapped into place. The placement of the fastener sections at opposite en~o of elA~tic band 30, re~ult~ in the elastic comp~etnly .,. , : , , ~ ', :,: ., ~, : . .

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encircling the wearer's ankle thereby insuring t1lat the bootie .~, will be firmly secured in place. Thus as the baby creepq, ;~ crawls, walks or kicks, the bootie will he mucllless likely to ~; colne o~f than conventional footwear.
llody I is preferably fashioned from any one ofal~ulnber of soft and flexible fabrics. One such ~uitable fabric i9 a ":, quilted cloth fabric. A trim material 41 such a ~ia~ tape is ewn around the perimeter of the portions of body l that are - exposed when the bootie is in its finished forln. Thus, as o shown in Figure l, trlm material 41 is placed around the expo~cd perimeters of oval-shaped section lO, the exposed, i opposite sides of rectangular section 12, and the lower two-thirds (2/3) to three-quarters (3/4) portion of bull)ous section 18.
To fabricate a bootie in accordance with the pre~ent invention, the shape of body l is first cut from an ~; appropriate m~terial, 9uch as quilted cotton fabric. Bias ~'~.i tape i8 then sewn about the perimeter of body 1 wherever trim 41 is desired. Elastic member 30 is then sewn in a stretche(l ~,' condition laterally across the lower portion of oval-sl)ape(3 ,:~
''~ 8eCtiOIl ln. The male member 35 and the two ~paced ~emnle members 37 and 39 of a ~nap fastener are then punched into bofly l near the oppo8i te ends of elastic tape 30.
llody l may then be sewn into a bootie ~hape througlltwo .~;
short sewing lines, which w111 be de~cribed in referellce to Figure l. The description that follows corltemplates that the folding and sewing described will be accomplislled initially with reeerence to one side and then repeated on the oppo~ite ,,l side. ~ody 1 is first folded approximately along fold line 23 .1 80 that ear 14 lays beneath the adjacent portion of the : perimeter of l~arrel-~haped ~ection 16 ~uch that point ~ Oe ~, .,~;
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ear 1~ .i9 dispose(l beneath point 52 of the pcrimeter of barrel-sllaped section 16. Thereafter, body l is folded along fold line 25 near the joinder of barrel-shaped section lG and bulbous section 18 such that bulbous section 18 is generally beneat11 the barrel-shaped section 16 and such that point 54 is disposed beneath points 52 and SO. The perimeter of bulbous section 1~ is aligned with the peri~eter of barrel secti.or1 16 and ear 14. The perimeters are sewn together via a sewing line exten-1ing essentially from fold 23 to fold 25. As the sewing line approaches fold 25, it veers slightly towards the center of the fabric. This veering will help provide a roun~e(1 shape for the toe area of the bootie. Wl1er1 the foregoing process is carried out on both sides of body 1, an "inside/out" bootie i8 formed. The bootie is then turned right si-1s out and i8 ready for use. The aforemel1tior1ed sewing step could also be accomplished throug11 the u~e of a single u-~hape(7 sewing line. After making the described folds on each side, the bootie could be formed via a single ~ewing line beyi.nning at one of the folds 23 down one edge of barrel-shaped section 16, across the bottom of section 16, in the V~Cil~ity Oe eOld 25 and up the other edge of 1:he barrel-s~a~ed section 16.
It will be appreciated that bulbous section l~
essentially form~ the top and tongue of the newly completed bootie. Figure 2 deplcts a side view of the completed bootie, and Figure 3 depicts a front view of the completed bootie. A
bootie constructed as described, when unRnapped, has a huge opening into which the wearer's foot i8 in9erted. Oval-8haped sectiol1 ln is then wrapped around the back of the wearer's ankle al1d snapped in the front.

~ bootie fashioned in the described material froln a . . .
.. 8 . t 1~6~4 oin~le piece of material has the additlonal advanta~e of being manufactured in a relatively consi~tent, uniform size and shape. When a bootie iB fashioned from mu~tiple piece of fabric, many more cutting, sew1ng and a~sembly operations are required, which not only increase~ the costs of mal!ufacture, but alfio causes variations in the ~lze, ~hape and appearancc of tl)e final product.
To enhance traction of the bootie when the baby stan~ls and/or walks, a non-slip surface may be added to the bottom of the formed bootie. To accomplish this, an appropriate ~heet of material having a non-slip ~urface, suc1) as a vinyl "jiffy grip" (T.M.) traction pad manufactured by Sta~le Sewing Aids of Garfield, New Jer~ey, is sewn to the exposed ~urface of barrel-shaped ~ection 16 which form6 the bottom o~ the completed bootie. Thus, the non-slip surface may be incorporated lnto the bootle con~truction either by sewing it to the expo~ed surface of section 16 prior to folding an~
~ewing hody 1 into the bootie shape or by overlaying it on the barrel-~haped ~ection 16 and secur1ng lt to body 1 by the same ~ewing operation that forms the bootie shape. In thi~ latter procedure the 6ew llne would extend around the entire peri~l)e1y of the non-sl~p ~urface. The non-slip surf~ce may alternatively or odditionally secured to the body 1 with a ' uitahle adhesive.
! Although only one embodiment of the presant invel1tior1 has been described herein, it ~hould be understood that the pre~ent lnvention may be embodied in many other ~pecific forms wlthout departing from the ~pirit or scope of the invention.
W~ile the geometric ~hape~ of a preferred embodiment o~i the bootie have been described ln detail, it should be understood, that the shDpes are not nece~sarily 80 lim~ted. For example, , ,~ 9 ~.: . . , .: - . .: .

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~' section 12 has b~en clescribed as being substantially rectangular, it could instead be substantially trapizoic3al.
~imilarly barrel-shaped section ~ could be mor2 rectanglllar. ~ c,?
Also, the shapes of oval-shaped section 10 and bulbous section ]8 may be altered witho~t departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Additionally, elastic band ~0 has been clescribed as extending lateral]y substantially all the way acro~s oval-shaped section lO. A
single elastic band or multiple elastic bancls could be disposec1 in many positions within oval-shaped section lO to provicle the same effect. Therefore, the present example and embo-liment is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited t:o the details given herein, but may be modified within the scope o~
the appetldecl claims.

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Claims (52)

1. A bootie to be worn on a foot comprising:
a body having:
a substantially oval-shaped upper section adapted to wrap about the wearer's ankle, a substantially barrel-shaped center section having at least twoexposed edges and adapted to cover the sole of the foot, a substantially bulbous lower section adapted to cover the upper portion of the foot or the instep of the foot, a substantially rectangular-shaped section disposed between said barrel-shaped section and said oval-shaped section, said rectangular section having at least two exposed sides and a lower surface that joins said barrel-shaped section, and a pair of ears formed along the lower surface of said rectangular section, said ears adapted to be substantially permanently stitched to said barrel-shaped section and to said bulbous lower section to form a pocket; and thread substantially permanently stitching said ears to said barrel-shaped section and to said bulbous lower section to form a pocket; and means associated with said oval-shaped section for tightening the bootie about the wearer's ankle.

2. A bootie as described in claim 1 wherein said body is fashioned from a single piece of material.

3. A bootie as described in claim 1 wherein said tightening means includes an elastic band attached to said oval-shaped upper section while in a stretched condition.

4. A bootie as described in claim 3 wherein said fastening means further includes at least two interacting cooperating sections of a fastening device, one of said fastening device sections disposed on one end of said elastic band and the other of said fastening sections disposed on the other end of said elastic band.

5. A bootie as described in claim 1 wherein said tightening means includes at least two interacting, cooperating sections of a fastening device, one of said fastening device sections disposed on one end of said oval-shaped upper section and the other of said fastening device sections disposed on the other end of said oval-shaped upper section.

6. A bootie as described in claim 5 wherein said fastening device comprises a snap fit male section and a female section.

7. A bootie as described in claim 1 further comprising trim disposed substantially around the exposed perimeters of:
said oval-shaped upper section;
said exposed sides of said rectangular-shaped section; and the lower 50% to 75% of said bulbous lower section.

8. A bootie as described in claim 7 wherein said trim comprises bias tape, and said body section is fashioned from a quilted fabric.

9. A bootie as described in claim 1 wherein said fabric body is adapted to completely cover the wearer's foot such that no portion of the wearer's foot is exposed to the external environment.

10. A bootie as described in claim 9 wherein said fabric body is adapted to completely cover the wearer's foot and ankle such that no portion of the wear's foot and ankle is exposed to the external environment.

11. A bootie to be worn on a foot comprising:
a body of material that may be folded and sewn such that a pocket is

12 substantially permanently formed to accept and completely cover a foot, a tongue is formed to cover the upper portion of the foot or the instep of the foot, and an ankle portion is formed to wrap about the wearer's ankle; and means for tightening the bootie about the wearer's foot consisting of means connected to said ankle portion for tightening said ankle portion around the wearer's ankle.

12. A bootie as described in claim 11 wherein said ankle tightening means includes an elastic band attached to said ankle portion while in a stretched condition and extending substantially the entire length of said ankle portion.

13. A bootie as described in claim 12 wherein said tightening means further includes at least two interacting cooperating sections of a fastening device, one of said fastening device sections disposed on one end of said elastic band and the other of said fastening sections disposed on the other end of said elastic band.

14. A bootie as described in claim 11 wherein said tightening means includes at least two interacting, cooperating sections of a fastening device, one of said fastening device sections disposed on one edge of said ankle portion and the other of said fastening device sections disposed on an opposing edge of said ankle portion.

15. A bootie as described in claim 14 wherein said fastening device comprises a snap fit male section and a female section.

16. A bootie as described in claim 11 wherein said pocket is substantially permanently formed by stitching.

17. A bootie as described in claim 11 wherein said pocket, said tongue, and said ankle portion are adapted to completely cover the wearer's foot and ankle such that no portion of the wearer's foot and ankle is exposed to the external environment.

18. A bootie as described in claim 11 wherein said body is fashioned from a single piece of material.

19. A body for fashioning into a bootie to be worn on and to completely cover a foot such that no portion of the wearer's foot is exposed to the external environment, said body comprising:
a substantially oval-shaped upper section adapted to wrap about the wearer's ankle;
a substantially barrel-shaped center section having at least two exposed edges and adapted to cover the sole of the foot;
a substantially bulbous lower section adapted to cover the upper portion of the foot or the instep of the foot;
a substantially rectangular shaped section disposed between said barrel-shaped section and said oval-shaped section, said rectangular section having at least two exposed sides and a lower surface that joins said barrel-shaped section; and a pair of ears formed along the lower surface of said rectangular section, said ears adapted to be permanently connected to said barrel-shaped section and to said bulbous lower section such that a pocket is formed to accept and completely cover the wearer's foot.

20. A body as described in claim 19 wherein said substantially oval-shaped section joins said substantially rectangular section in an off-centered manner, said substantially oval-shaped section having a relatively long end extending beyond a first side of said rectangular section and a relatively short end extending beyond a second side of said rectangular section.

21. A fabric body as described in claim 20 wherein said long end is angled or skewed relative to said short end.

22. A body as described in claim 19 further comprising an elastic band attached to said oval-shaped upper section while in a stretched condition and extending substantially the entire length of said oval-shaped upper section.

23. A body as described in claim 19 fashioned from a single piece of material.

24. A body for fashioning into a bootie to be worn on a foot, said body consisting essentially of:
a substantially oval-shaped upper section, the length of which extends substantially laterally along the width of the overall body;
a substantially barrel-shaped center section, the length of which extends substantially longitudinally along the length of the overall body;
a substantially rectangular-shaped section disposed between said barrel-shaped center section and said oval-shaped upper section;
a substantially bulbous lower section, the length of which extends substantially longitudinally along the length of the overall body; and wherein the widest width of the body at said oval-shaped upper section is wider than the widest width of the body at said barrel-shaped center section and wherein the widest width of the body at said barrel-shaped center section is narrower than the widest width of the body at said bulbous lower section.

25. A body as described in claim 15 wherein the widest width of the body at said oval-shaped upper section is wider than the widest width of the body at said bulbous lower section.

26. A body as described in claim 24 wherein said oval-shaped upper section is adapted to wrap about the wearer's ankle, wherein said barrel-shaped center section is adapted to cover the sole of the foot, and wherein said bulbous lower section is adapted to cover the upper portion of the foot or the instep of the foot.

27. A body as described in claim 24 wherein said body is fashioned from a single piece of material.

28. A bootie to be worn on a foot comprising:
a body including:
a substantially oval-shaped upper section adapted to wrap about the wearer's ankle, a substantially barrel-shaped center section adapted to cover the sole of the foot, and a substantially bulbous lower section adapted to cover the upper portion of the foot or the instep of the foot; and means for tightening the bootie about the wearer's foot consisting of means connected only to said oval-shaped upper section for tightening said oval-shaped upper section around the wearer's ankle.

29. A bootie as described in claim 28 wherein said body is fashioned from a single piece of material.

30. A bootie as described in claim 28 wherein said ankle tightening means includes an elastic band attached to said oval-shaped upper section while in a stretched condition and extending substantially the entire length of said oval-shaped upper section.

31. A bootie as described in claim 28 wherein said body is adapted to completely cover the wearer's foot such that no portion of the wearer's foot is exposed to the external environment.

32. A bootie as described in claim 31 wherein said body is adapted to completely cover the wearer's foot and ankle such that no portion of the wearer's foot and ankle is exposed to the external environment.

33. A shoe to be worn on a foot comprising:
a body of material including:
an upper section adapted to wrap about the wearer's ankle;
a center section adapted to cover the sole of the foot, and a lower section adapted to cover the upper portion of the foot or the instep of the foot, said center section being disposed intermediate to said upper section and said lower section; and means for tightening the shoe about the wearer's foot consisting of means connected only to said upper section for tightening said upper section around the wearer's ankle.

34. A shoe as described in claim 33 wherein said ankle tightening means includes an elastic band attached to said upper section while in a stretched condition and extending substantially the entire length of said upper portion.

35. A shoe as described in claim 33 wherein said body is adapted to completely cover the wearer's foot such that no portion of the wearer's foot is exposed to the external environment.

36. A bootie as described in claim 33 wherein said body is adapted to completely cover the wearer's foot and ankle such that no portion of the wearer's foot and ankle is exposed to the external environment.

37. A shoe as described in claim 33 further including thread substantially permanently stitching the edges of said center section to the edges of said lower section to form a pocket.

38. A shoe as described in claim 33 wherein said body is fashioned from a single piece of material.

39. A shoe to be worn on a foot comprising:
a body of material including:
an upper section adapted to wrap about the wearer's ankle;
a center section adapted to cover the sole of the foot; and a lower section adapted to cover the upper portion of the foot or the instep of the foot to form a tongue;
an elastic band attached to said upper section, said elastic band adapted to surround the wearer's ankle; and means for selectively adjusting the effective length of said elastic band when in a condition of surrounding the wearer's ankle.

40. A shoe as described in claim 39 wherein said elastic band is substantially permanently affixed to said upper section.

41. A shoe as described in claim 39 wherein said adjusting means includes at least one first fastening section of a pair of interacting cooperating first and second fastening sections of a fastening device and at least two second fastening sections of a pair of interacting cooperating first and second fastening sections of a fastening device, said first fastening section disposed on one end of said elastic band, and said two second fastening sections disposed in a spaced apart relation on the other end of said elastic band.

42. A shoe as described in claim 39 wherein said upper section possesses opposing ends, wherein one of said opposing upper section ends is adapted to overlap the other of said opposing upper section ends when said upper section wraps about the wearer's ankle, and wherein both of said opposing upper section ends are adapted to overlap said lower section when said upper section wraps about the wearer's ankle.

43. A shoe as described in claim 42 wherein said adjusting means is attached only to said opposing upper section ends.

44. A shoe as described in claim 43 wherein said elastic band is substantially permanently affixed to said upper section.

45. A shoe as described in claim 39 further comprising thread substantially permanently stitching the edges of said center section to the edges of said lower section to form a pocket.

46. A shoe to be worn on a foot comprising:
a body of material including:
an upper section adapted to wrap about the wearer's ankle, said upper section possessing opposing ends, wherein one end of said opposing upper section ends is adapted to overlap the other of said opposing upper section ends when said upper section wraps about the wearer's ankle;
a center section adapted to cover the sole of the foot; and a lower section adapted to cover the upper portion of the foot or the instep of the foot to form a tongue, wherein both of said opposing upper section ends are adapted to overlap said lower section when said upper section wraps about the wearer's ankle; and means connected to said opposing upper section ends for tightening said upper section around the wearer's ankle.

47. A shoe as described in claim 46 wherein said tightening means includes an elastic band substantially permanently attached to said upper section while in a stretched condition and extending substantially the entire length of said upper section.

48. A shoe as described in claim 47 wherein said tightening means further includes at least two interacting cooperating sections of a fastening device, one of said fastening device sections disposed on one end of said elastic band and the other of said fastening sections disposed on the other end of said elastic band.

49. A shoe as described in claim 46 wherein said tightening means includes at least two interacting, cooperating sections of a fastening device, one of said fastening device sections disposed on one of said opposing upper section ends and the other of said fastening device sections disposed on the other of said opposing upper section ends.

50. A shoe as described in claim 49 wherein said fastening device comprises a snap fit male section and a female section.

51. A shoe as described in claim 46 further comprising thread substantially permanently stitching the edges of said center section to the edges of said lower section to form a pocket.

52. A shoe as described in claim 46 wherein said shoe is adapted to completely cover the wearer's foot and ankle such that no portion of the wearer's foot and ankle is exposed to the external environment.