GB2301523A - Elevatable footwear - Google Patents

Abstract

An article of footwear (2) has a two-part sole comprising a lower sole part (8) which in use contacts the ground, and an upper sole part (6) on which in use a wearer's foot rests, and an expandable connecting mechanism therebetween (10) selectively operable to increase or decrease the distance between the lower (8) and upper (6) sole parts to effectively increase the wearer's height, the expandable connecting means comprising two pairs of cross-links (12, 14, 16, 18) pivotally connected together in a scissor-like arrangement. The linkage may driven by a battery operated electric motor or by manual means.

Description

ELEVATABLE FOOTWEAR The present invention relates to footwear which incorporates a mechanism by which the wearer can elevate himself or herself off the ground.

There are many situations in which a person may temporarily wish to increase his or her height. For example, building workers may wish to be taller to perform a job which they cannot otherwise quite reach, without needing a ladder or needing to stand on some object. Firemen or policemen may find themselves in situations where an increase in height increases their effectiveness. People standing at sports events such as football matches, or at concerts may wish to increase their height in order to obtain a better view.

According to the present invention there is provided an article of footwear having a two-part sole comprising a lower sole part which in use contacts the ground, and an upper sole part separate from the lower sole part on which in use a wearer's foot rests, and expandable connecting means therebetween, selectively operable to increase or decrease the distance between the lower and upper sole parts.

This arrangement allows the wearer to elevate himself or herself off the ground.

In the preferred embodiment, the expandable connecting means comprises two pairs of cross-links, the links of each pair be pivotally connected together in a scissor-like arrangement. Preferably, the ends of the cross-links are each provided with rollers which are constrained in respective guide channels in the lower and upper sole parts.

A motor may be connected to the upper end of one cross-link of each pair, to drive the cross-links open or closed to thereby change the distance between upper and lower sole parts.

This provides a particularly simple yet effective arrangement for raising the wearer off the ground.

Preferably, the upper ends of one link of each pair of links are connected to each other through a crosspiece having an internally threaded aperture through which a threaded actuator shaft extends, said actuator shaft being rotatably driven by the motor. The motor is preferably connected to the threaded actuator shaft through a gear train.

In this embodiment, the motor and gear train are partly embedded in the upper sole part, and the lower sole part is provided with recesses therein to receive lower regions of the motor and gear assembly when in a retracted position in which said upper and lower sole parts abut each other.

A battery is provided for the motor, which is electrically connected thereto via a switch mounted externally on the article of footwear so as to be accessible by a wearer.

In an alternative embodiment, instead of providing a motor there is provided an actuator rod which is manually rotatable by a user to move the cross-links open or closed in a scissor-like action.

Embodiments of the invention are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of the article footwear in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, in a partly expanded state; Figure 2 is a side view of the article of footwear in an almost fully expanded state; Figure 3 is a rear view of the article of footwear in an expanded state; Figure 4 is a top view of the sole of the article of footwear; Figure 5 is a detail of a part of the sole shown in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line C-C of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line D-D of Figure 5; Figure 8 is a schematic plan view of an upper sole part; Figure 9 is a view of a rear part of the sole shown in Figure 8; Figure 10 is a detail of a part of the drive assembly;; Figure 11 is a perspective view of an article of footwear in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention in a partly expanded state; Figure 12 is a side view of the second embodiment in an almost fully expanded state; and Figure 13 is a side view in a retracted state.

Turning to the drawings, and firstly to Figure 1, there is shown an article of elevatable footwear in the form of a boot 2. Although a boot is shown, the invention is applicable to other types of footwear. The boot 2 comprises a conventional upper 4 and a sole in the form of a two-part sole comprising an upper sole part 6 and a separate lower sole part 8. The upper 4 is joined to the upper sole part 6 by stitching, gluing or other conventional means. Alternatively, the upper 4 and upper sole part 6 can be integrally formed, for example out of moulded plastics. The sole of the user's foot rests on the upper surface of the upper sole part 6. There may be a cushioned insert or similar placed or adhered on to the upper sole part 6 as is commonly the case with a conventional shoe or boot.

The upper and lower sole parts 6 and 8 are joined to each other so that they are moveable towards or away from each other through an elevatable or expandable connecting mechanism 10. In a retracted position the upper and lower sole parts 6 and 8 abut each other, with the elevatable connecting mechanism 10 concealed within the sole parts 6, 8, and the boot will have the appearance of a normal boot.

The elevatable connecting mechanism comprises two pairs of cross-members 12, 14, 16 and 18 pivotally connected at near their mid-points 20, 22. The ends of the cross-members or cross-links 12, 14, 16, 18 are each provided with a pair of rollers 24, 26. These rollers 24, 26 are constrained for movement within respective channel-like tracks 28 provided in both the lower and upper sole parts, one provided for each end of each cross-member. The tracks are of almost closed section, having a slot 30 along the length thereof through which the respective cross-member extends, as best seen in Figure 7. In the fully extended position, the ends of the cross-member will lie at the ends of the tracks, at the rear ends of the tracks in the case of members 12, 16 and the forward ends in the case of the members 14, 18.

Mounted in the upper sole part 6 is a motor 32, the output shaft of which is connected through a speed reduction gear train 34 to a threaded actuator rod 36. Mounted between upper end regions of the cross-members 12, 16 at a distance from the rollers 24, 26 is a crosspiece 38, pivotally held on the cross-members 12, 16. The threaded actuator rod 36 extends through an internally threaded aperture in the crosspiece 38. Actuation of the motor 32 causes rotation of the threaded rod 36 and lateral movement of the crosspiece 38, so that the cross-members open or close in a scissor-like action, raising or lowering in its entirety the upper sole part 6 relative to the lower sole part 8.

The motor 32 is powered by a dry cell 40. A switch 42 electrically connected between the motor 32 and cell 40 allows the motor to be switched on and off, and is mounted on the upper 4 so that the control buttons for the switch are exposed, to allow the wearer to operate the extension facility of the boots.

As best seen in Figures 1 and 2, the cell 40, motor 32 and gear box 34 protrudes below the level of the upper sole part 6. The lower sole part 8 includes appropriate cutouts or recesses 44, 46 which receives the lower region of these components when the boot is in its retracted position.

An additional locking facility may be provided by providing the threaded actuator rod with latch stops, and with a retractable latch provided which is magnetically moved by a solenoid into a retracted position, and which in the "off" position is urged towards the rod to prevent rotation of the rod. This serves as an additional lock to lock the shoe in an extended position.

Figures 11 to 13 show a second embodiment of the invention which is a manual version. According to this embodiment, the article of footwear 102 includes upper and lower sole parts 106, 108. In a similar manner to the first embodiment, two pairs of cross-members 112, 114, 116, 118 are provided, each having a pair of rollers 124, 126 at each end. These rollers 124, 126 are constrained to move in channels 128. In contrast to the first embodiment, this second embodiment is provided with a manually operable shaft or actuator rod 136. This is supported on the lower sole part 108 at opposite ends by bushings 150, 152 and is provided with threaded regions 154, 156. The shaft 136 is connected to the cross-members 112, 114, 116, 118 through transverse cross-pieces 158, 160 which are held at opposite ends in slots 162, 164, 166, 168 in the cross-members. The shaft 136 extends through threaded apertures 170, 172 in the transverse crosspieces. At the rear end of the shaft 136 a butterfly nut-type head 174 is fixed on the shaft end. In use, the wearer grips the head 174 to turn the shaft, thereby causing the cross-members to open out or to close in a scissor-like action. Figure 13 shows the boot in a retracted condition in which the sole parts 106, 108 abut each other, whilst Figure 12 shows the boot in an extended condition.

With this embodiment, the wearer will need to either remove the boots, before extending them, or will need to sit down, since it is difficult to manually extend the boots with the wearer's weight acting thereon. This embodiment provides a particularly simple mechanism for increasing a wearer's effective height.

Claims (10)

1. An article of footwear having a two-part sole comprising a lower sole part which in use contacts the ground, and an upper sole part separate from the lower sole part on which in use a wearer's foot rests, and expandable connecting means therebetween, selectively operable to increase or decrease the distance between the lower and upper sole parts.

2. An article of footwear according to Claim 1 wherein the expandable connecting means comprises two pairs of cross-links, the links of each pair being pivotally connected together in a scissor-like arrangement.

3. An article of footwear according to Claim 2 wherein the ends of the cross-links are each provided with rollers which are constrained in respective guide channels in the lower and upper sole parts.

4. An article of footwear according to Claim 3 further comprising a motor operably connected to the upper end of one cross-link of each pair, to drive the cross links open or closed to thereby change the distance between upper and lower sole parts.

5. An article of footwear according to Claim 4 wherein the upper ends one cross-link of each pair are connected to each other through a crosspiece having an internally threaded aperture through which a threaded actuator shaft extends, said actuator shaft being rotatably driven by the motor.

6. An article of footwear according to Claim 5 wherein the motor is connected to the threaded actuator shaft through a gear train.

7. An article of footwear according to Claim 6 wherein the motor and gear train are partly embedded in the upper sole part, and wherein the lower sole part is provided with recesses therein to receive lower regions of the motor and gear assembly when in a retracted position in which said upper and lower sole parts abut each other.

8. An article of footwear according to any of Claims 4, 7 further comprising a battery for the motor, which is electrically connected thereto via a switch mounted externally on the article of footwear so as to be accessible by a wearer.

9. An article of footwear according to any one of claims 1 to 3 further comprising an actuator rod connected between both pairs of cross-links and manually rotatable by a user to move the cross-links open or closed in a scissor-like action, to thereby change the distance between upper and lower sole parts.

10. An article of footwear substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated with reference to any of Figures 1, 2 or 3, optionally in combination with any of Figures 4-10 of the accompanying drawings, or Figures 11, 12 or 13 optionally in combination with Figures 4-7 of the accompanying drawings.