GB2609264A

GB2609264A - Single shoe for right and left feet

Info

Publication number: GB2609264A
Application number: GB2113060.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Khan Modassir
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2021-07-06
Filing date: 2021-09-14
Publication date: 2023-02-01
Also published as: GB202113060D0; GB202109721D0

Abstract

A shoe 1 for wearing on both right and left feet 7, comprising a fitting band 3 across the bridge of the foot and a memory foam insole 8. The front section 2 may be a concave uniform curve of equal shape to accommodate the larger, big toe (23, fig.2) of both right and left feet, and each side profile 4, 5 may be of equal shape and length such that the shoe is longitudinally symmetrical. The fitting band may be cushioned, raised cushioning (20, fig.4) may be provided in the toe area of the insole, and cushioning liners (9, 10, 11, fig.3) may be provided at the sies, toes and heel of the foot. The shoe may include elasticated laces (21, fig.4) and eye holes (22, fig.4), air gel sections (24, fig.6) in the sole (12, fig.3), and underside grip sections (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, fig.5).

Description

PATENT APPLICATION OF

MODASSIR KHAN FOR

SINGLE SHOE FOR RIGHT AND LEFT FEET

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a single shoe design which can be worn on both feet.

Background

The use of shoes for foot wear dates back thousands of years and is reflected in all areas of society today. Shoes and boots are shaped to fit either the left or right foot with the large toe of the shoe being more forward than the remainder of the shoe front which is aimed to allow the toes to 'splay' as weight is placed onto the feet during walking or running.

This involves the need to always have two different shoes manufactured for both feet and double the cost of manufacturing. When a person is trying on shoes in a retail shop they require the assistant to go and retrieve the matching foot shoe, as these are almost always put on display as one shoe only, to prevent theft of the pair. This is a delaying procedure and if the out let is busy and even result in losing a sale, as the person may become tired of waiting for the assistant.

It is also common that a person can easily put the wrong shoe on the wrong foot, for example; the right shoe on the left foot, which cannot be worn due to the angled shape of the footwear. This can often occur if the person is rushing to get dressed to make up time or is running late.

It is therefore disclosed in this invention a single shoe shape that will be worn on both feet, left and right to eliminate these issues and provide a single foot wear item that is universal for both feet.

Some patents do exist where clothing has been made reversable or could be used on both limbs, for example a glove for both hands. The prior art also shows ways to help a person put the correct shoe on the correct feet, examples follow: This is shown in patent US3739400 (COLEHOVVER) discloses a pair of work gloves in which each glove of the pair is reversible so as to permit its being worn on either the right hand or the left hand. The glove is fabricated from a pair of blanks sewn together along their periphery to form the glove. The glove blanks are fabricated from a knitted terry cloth fabric and are assembled so that when the glove is everted to place the seams on the inside, the smooth surfaces of the base fabric are on the interior of the glove and the terry pile surfaces are on the exterior of the glove. A knitted cuff is joined to the blanks around the wrist opening aid a reinforcing path is cemented to the pie surface of the completed glove in the crotch between the thumb stall and the index finger stall of the glove. The reinforcing patch is likewise knitted terry cloth with the smooth surface inwardly and the pile surface outwardly. The patch is ge.nerally oval and is cut from the knitted material so that the minor axis of the oval is substantially parallel to the machine direction of the knitted fabric and in a similar manner the blanks making the body of the glove are cut so that the finger stalls are substantially parallel to the machine direction of the fabric so that when the components are assembled the body blanks and the reinforcing patch are assembled with their wales parallel to one another.

Patent US7225474 (PROUTY) discloses a two-sided work glove assembled by the stitched union of several patterned pieces including a thumb enclosure piece or pieces, a middle fingers piece and a palm portion. The glove may include a cuff. The glove is easily adapted for different specific uses by the addition of an external or internal pad or an internal liner. The glove stitching is protected by protective overhanging strips incorporated between the palm portion and the finger and thumb enclosures.

Patent US20160255902 (LEGG, SOTO, WILKINS) discloses a position indicator assembly, including first and second positioning units, is attached to a pair of shoes in positions which are spaced when the shoes are aligned together. Each positioning unit includes a first proximity switch element, at least one indicator, a battery and a second proximity switch element. The battery is electrically connected to the indicator when the first proximity switch element of one of the first and second position units is arranged a predetermined, spaced distance from the second proximity switch element of the other of the first and second positioning units in order to provide a visual andlor audible indication to a wearer that the pair of shoes are on the correct feet.

Patent US6152235 (WOODRUFF) discloses a universal cloven hoof shoe is described including a sole section having a top surface, an opposed bottom side, a toe end and sides joining the top surface and bottom side and extending rearwardly from the toe end. An upper section Is formed integrally with the sole section and extends upwardly from the sides and rearwardly from the toe end, terminating to leave an extension of the sole at the heel end. The sole section and upper section are formed of a flexible material, and the upper section is shaped such that it may receive either a medial or lateral C,I8W of a cloven hoof The present invention eliminates the need to provide one shoe configuration for a lateral (e.g. left) claw and another configuration for a medial (e.g. right) claw Further, the upper section is angled with respect to the top surface of the sole section to conform to an angle of a hoof claw. A tread pattern is formed along the bottom edge of the sole section to provide support in critical areas.

The prior art therefore shows that there is a need for a more effective footwear shoe that can be worn on both feet but using the same shoe.

The present invention aims to provide an improved shoe design which has means to provide shaping and support to the bridge of foot to help with fitting to either feet.

Summary of the invention

According to the present invention there is provided a shoe which can be worn on both left or right feet having an advantageously accommodating shape with addition support around the feet and to the bridge of the foot to hold the feet in place when wearing them.

The shoe has a frontal toe section which is uniform with a curve that is equal to the shape of the front and does not 'slant' as with traditional footwear for left and right feet.

The side profile of the shoe is also more equal than that found in common footwear to allow for either shoe shape to seat within, aided by a thicker lining to the insole and sides, with a memory foam insole to adapt to the form of each foot when worn. A further fitting band provided over the frontal bridge of the foot when wearing the shoe and air gel sections as known as provided in a training style of the shoe for added comfort. The fitting band is a padded and comfortable 'cushion' which the foot bridge passes under when the foot is inserted into the shoe and provides a prevention of the foot moving forward within the shoe and keeping all of the toes away from contacting with the frontal toe section, as shown in the accompanying Figures.

This addition of padding to the frontal upper part of the foot, known as the bridge of the foot, helps with the supports required due to the toe area being less directly in contact with the large or big toe. This addition may also be combined with elasticated shoe laces, these being able to add a suitably increased amount of tension when pulled through their eye holds and tied, to increased enclosure of the bridge and upper frontal foot within the shoe.

When putting on the shoes the user can randomly take any of the two identical shoes and put them on as they will fit either of their feet. The sizes of the shoes are derived in the usual way and chosen by the wearer at the time of purchase.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the Patent Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved single shoe for right and left feet which has all the advantages of the prior art shoes and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new single shoe for right and left feet which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved single shoe for right and left feet which is of durable and reliable construction.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved single shoe for right and left feet which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labour, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such a product available to the buying public.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved single shoe for right and left feet which provides in the structure and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and detailed descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

Brief description of figures

Figure 1 shows a plan view of the single shoe for right and left feet, with a right foot inserted.

Figure 2 shows a plan view of the single shoe for right and left feet, with a left foot inserted.

Figure 3 shows a side view of the single shoe for right and left feet.

Figure 4 shows a side view of the single shoe for right and left feet with added features.

Figure 5 shows an underside view of the single shoe for right and left feet. Figure 6 shows a side view of a training style shoe for right and left feet.

Detailed description of figures

A typical embodiment of the shoe is shown in Figure 1. It comprises the shoe 1 having a frontal shoe section 2 which has a more concave uniform curve of equal shape to always accommodate the larger toe or big toe when both left or right feet 7 are inserted.

The side profiles of the shoe 4 and 5 are also very uniform and equal in shape as shown and have the rear heel section 6 which is as required to accommodate the foot 7 heel.

A fitting band 3 passes over the bridge of the foot 7 to provide a cushioned retainer to prevent the foot from moving forward when worn.

A memory foam insole 8 provides a means for the left or right feet to provide a moulded impression when worn and to allow the shoe to secure itself to the underside of the foot 7 by additional indented shaping.

Figure 2 shows the shoe 1A with the memory foam insole 8A and the left foot 7A inserted into the same shoe shape. The big toe 23 has space provided in the shoe design, so that right and left feet can use the same shaped shoe.

Figure 3 shows the shoe 1B with sole 12 and heel section 6B as a side view which shows the foot 7B inside with cushioning liners 9, 10 and 11 surrounding the foot. The foot is seated onto the memory foam insole 8B as previously described and the fitting band 3B holding the foot.

The Shoe 1C with elasticated laces 21 through eye holes 22 and fitting band 3C is shown in Figure 4 having a further raised cushioning 20 to the toe area of the memory foam insole 8C. The sole 12C has a cut away section to form a heel in this example.

The sole 12D of the shoe 1D is rubber and is shown in an underside view with grip sections 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 equally dispersed to the sole area to provide suitable grip and footing for both feet sides, with heel 19 provided as a stable flat surface as shown in Figure 5.

Figure 6 shows the shoe 1E in a training shoe style having the elasticated laces 21E and sole 12E with the internally disposed memory foam insole 8E. In addition to this air gel sections 24 are provided in the sole section as shown for added comfort when wearing.

Claims

Claims 1) A single shoe for right and left feet comprising; a frontal shoe section leading onto the side profiles of the shoe culminating with a rear heel section and sole having internal features including a fitting band, a memory foam insole, internally disposed cushioning liners, elasticated laces and eyes holes, further raised cushioning, underside grip sections and a flee.), 2) A single shoe for right and left feet according to claim 1 wherein a frontal shoe section is of a concave uniform curve of equal shape to accommodate the larger big toe when both left or right feet are inserted.3) A single shoe for right and left feet according to claim 1 wherein said side profiles are both of equal shape and length.4) A single shoe for right and left feet according to claim 1 wherein said fitting band is cushioned.5) A single shoe for right and left feet according to claim 4 wherein said fitting band fits over the bridge of the foot inside the shoe.6) A single shoe for right and left feet system according to claim 1 wherein an insole is made of memory foam.7) A single shoe for right and left feet system according to claim 1 wherein raised cushioning is provided in the memory foam insole to the toe area to accommodate both left and right feet.8) A single shoe for right and left feet system according to claim 1 wherein internally disposed cushioning liners cushion the sides, toes and heel of the foot, 9) A single shoe for right and left feet system according to claim 1 wherein elasticated shoe laces and eye holes tie the shoe together.10) A single shoe for right and left feet system has air gel sections in the sole.