GB2048646A - Fastening shoes - Google Patents

Abstract

A shoe has an apron front 30 extending to form a tongue which is releasably fixed to the quarters 16, 18 of the shoe so as to provide a very large aperture for access for the foot into the shoe. The quarters are fixed by touch-and-close pads and an additional strap is provided to hold the parts engaged. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Orthopaedic footwear This invention relates to orthopaedic footwear, especially shoes designed for patients who are unable to wear conventional mass produced shoes, for example because of conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, hallux vulgaris, hammer toes and vascular disorders, but also including patients who have "normal" feet but are unable (without assistance) to put on conventional shoes.

The special footwear made for these patients has hitherto been individually hand lasted, which makes the shoes very expensive, and often such shoes have also been aesthetically unsatisfactory.

The object of the present invention is to provide new footwear which avoids these problems for at least many of the possible users of such footwear.

In accordance with the invention broadly, a shoe is characterised by the provision of an apron front which is fixed to the side vamp of the shoe over its periphery at the toe end, and which extends to form a tongue releasably fixable to the quarters of the shoe, so that upon release from the quarters a very wide and unusually long aperture is provided for access of the foot into the shoe, but so that upon fixing of the tongue to the quarters, the shoe may present the appearance of an ordinary casual shoe.

Preferably the quarters comprise flaps which extend upwardly from the vamp and which are relatively unconnected to the apron at the lateral edges of the quarters nearest to the toe of the shoe, and the releasable fixing permits the tongue to be fixed to the quarters in any of a range of positions of these parts transversely of the shoe and preferably also longitudinally of the shoe. This enables the shoe to conform to different cross sectional shapes of foot, and if longitudinal variation of the tongue to quarters is possible, also enables the shoe to conform to dif ferentshapes of the upper portion of the foot as seen in side profile. A very convenient fixing which is preferred for use with the invention is the material sold under the registered Trade Mark VELCRO.

Preferably also, a strap is provided extending across the tongue in the vicinity of its releasable fixing to the quarters, and the strap is at least detachable at one end to enable the tongue to be folded back, and desirably is adjustable in length. In a preferred version the strap is anchored to one side of the shoe, extends over the tongue (when the shoe is in the position for wear) through a buckle loop, and returns back across the tongue to provide a double thickness of strap, the two thicknesses being secured together in any of at least a range of positions, and preferably also by use of the same Velcro material, so that effectively there is an infinite variety of positions available.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the vamp is cut relatively high so that the apron which is permanently fixed to the vamp is a relatively small area, and this may provide particularly generous depth inside the shoe over the whole of the fore part of the foot. Preferably a loose insole is provided which may be of constant thickness over its entire area, and it is intended to provide a range of insoles of different thicknesses, to assist in accdmmodating shoes made from a single last to feet which are effectively of the same (or approximately so) demensions in a plane parallel to the ground but which are of a wide range of dimensions as seen in profile. For example, the range may include insoles of 7mm thickness and one of 15rim thickness.

One embodiment of the invention is now more particularly described with reference to the accom- panying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective side view of a shoe according to the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the same showing the shoe in a position ready for the foot to be inserted; Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view showing the shoe in a position as worn; and Figures 4, 5 and 6 are diagrammatic views showing possibilities for adjustment of the same to fit feet of effectively different cross sectional shapes due to patients different disorders.

Referring to the drawings, the shoe comprises a conventional sole 10 and heel 12 which may for example be moulded of micro-cellular rubber or the like. The quarters 14 (Fig 1) are formed with extension flaps 16, 18 (Fig 2) and on the upper side these are provided with patches of Velcro fastener material 20 22.

The apron 24 is secured to the vamp 26 around a portion extending over the toe of the shoe but the fixing between the vamp and apron terminates at each side at about the point 28, which is considerably nearer to the toe of the shoe than in aconven- tional shoe, so that the tongue 30 is free to be folded back upon itself as shown in Figure 2 when the shoe is to be put on ortaken off the foot. The underside of the portion 30 is provided with similar patches of the Velcro material 32 34 to be fastened to the patches 20 and 22 respectively when the shoe is in the Figure 1 position. It will be appreciated that the flaps 16.18 generally conform to the cross sectional shape of the foot and by virtue of the Velcro material the tongue 30 can overlap the flaps to different extents as shown in Figures 4 to 6.

A strap is provided having one end 36 anchored to one of the quarters of the shoe, and extending over the portion 30, through a loop buckle .38 fixed to the other quarter of the shoe, and then being doubled back upon itself The strap is provided with the Velcro fastening material along substantially its whole length, or at least over portions of its length. It will be appreciated that to open the shoe to the Figure 2 position the strap is released and pulled back through the buckle 38, and again different portions of the length of the strap will be overlapped and fastened together as shown in Figures 4 to 6 according to the configuration of the foot.

The shoe is provided with a loose, that is to say separable insole 40 of soft and deformable material.

Different insoles may be provided ofdifferentthick- nesses, to suit different wearers needs.

It is preferred to make the insole from the synthetic foam material sold under the Trade Mark TEMPER foam which is currently imported from USA into UK by Declon Plastics Limited, and this is a foam material which is capable of substantial deformation under local pressure and of in effect "flowing" so as to provide a substantial degree of comfort to the wearer even at the localities where the compression is high. Such material has its load bearing characteristic affected by damp, and for this reason it is preferred to enclose the insole in an envelope of a waterproof material such as a vinyl cloth, the cloth itself being effectively elastic so as to deform locally under load where required.The insole made of these materials will increase in dimensions transversely and longitudinally under load, and for this reason it is not only loose in the sense of being separable from the shoe, but loose in the sense of having a reasonable clearance around its periphery when not in use.

For aesthetic purposes, and without limitation, the apron 24 and tongue 30 (which are unitary) and the heel covering 42 may be made of a material contrasting with the vamp and quarters, for example the vamp and quarters may be cut in one piece from suede and the heel piece and apron may be made of calf or kid, but obviously other finishes and synthetic material are possible for these purposes.

A particularly comfortable inside for the shoe is necessary for patients with foot problems, and for this reason the vamp, tongue and apron may be lined with softee foam and the rear part of the shoe may have a gloving lining.

For a patient able to bend so that the hands can be used to assist the donning and removal of the shoe, it is only necessary to release the strap from the Figure 1 position, place the shoe in the Figure 2 position, and then insert the foot, this being particularly facilitated by the long aperture (dimension A) Figure 2, and by the width which is possible (dimension'B) between the folded back flaps, and indeed that width may be increased by manually increasing the separation of the flaps. The flaps are then folded over onto the foot, the tongue folded back to the Figure 1 position and the Velcro parts pressed together, and the strap re-engaged.

For the benefit of patients who are unable to reach the foot, it is possible for the patient to move the shoe to the Figure 2 position manually, drop the shoe onto the floot, and then insert the foot and possibly return the flaps and tongue to the Figure 1 position with the aid of a walking stick, and for such patients, the buckle 38 may be made relatively large (and for aesthetical cosmetic purposes ornamental) and the end 44 otthe strap may be provided with a similar ornamental and for example apertured fitting so that it can be engaged by a ferrule of, or hook on, the walking stick to be poked through the buckle, and then picked up by the ferrule or hook again to be moved to the Figure 1 position with the Velcro parts reengaged.

It will also be noted that the arrangement described is not only versatile in being able to accommodate feet of different dimensions, but can also be adjusted for example during the course of a day for a patient whose feet swell during the day.

Whilst Velcro is mentioned as the preferred fastening, it will be apparent that other fixings are possible, and in the case of the strap at least, a series of press studs could be provided to like effect.

Claims (8)

1. A shoe characterised by the provision of an apron front which is fixed to the side vamp of the shoe over its periphery at the toe end, and which extends to form a tongue releasably fixable to the quarters of the shoe, so that upon release from the quarters a very wide and unusually long aperture is provided for access of the foot into the shoe, but so that upon fixing of the tongue to the quarters, the shoe may present the appearance of an ordinary casual shoe.

2. A shoe as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the quarters comprise flaps which extend upwardly from the vamp and which are relatively unconnected to the apron atthe lateral edges of the quarters nearest to the toe of the shoe.

3. A shoe as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the releasable fixing permits the tongue to be fixed to the quarters in any of a range of positions of these parts transversely of the shoe.

4. A shoe as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the releasable fixing permits the tongue to be fixed to the quarters in any of a range of positions of these parts longitudinally of the shoe.

5. A shoe as claimed in any preceding claim wherein, a strap is provided extending across the torgue in the vicinity of its releasable fixing to the quarters, and the strap is at least detachable at one end to enable the tongue to be folded back.

6. A strap as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the strap is adjustable in length.

7. A shoe as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the vamp is cut relatively high so that the apron which is permanently fixed to the vamp is a relatively small area to provide particularly generous depth inside the shoe over the whole ofthe fore part of the foot.

8. A shoe as claimed in Claim 7 wherein a loose insole is provided which is of constant thickness over its entire area.