JP2012510300A - Shoe structure with laces adjustable in the foot circumference direction - Google Patents

Abstract

  A laced shoe construction that provides an improved means for adjusting the effective foot circumference of the shoe, particularly along the edge of the lower face of the foot.

Description

  The present invention fits the foot in the effective foot circumference in both the upper and lower surface portions adjacent to at least one of the ball portion, waist portion, and upper portion of the foot. It consists of a shoe configuration that provides an improved means to adjust.

  It is well known that for the sake of comfort, the shoe should not only be the right length but also the right foot circumference to provide a comfortable and close fit to the wearer's foot. . This has been tried in the past with specially tailored shoes and factory-made shoes prepared in several so-called wisses (i.e. foot girth).

  However, both attempts have been along the lower surface of the foot, closely matched to the normal daily foot circumference change, which varies by up to 2 with the normal accumulation of daily fluid in the limb. It did not result in strict foot circumference adjustment.

  The present invention provides such adjustments in all such adjustments while safely holding the foot laterally in the center of the shoe. This is a feature that has long been especially needed in athletic and other activity footwear.

  The present invention also provides low stock for stores that handle conventional single-with shoes, but includes a typical foot range that changes throughout the day to fit closely to many wearers. It also provides a means to adjust these shoes over a complex series of foot circumference.

  As for the related prior art, none of the above criteria is fully met. The prior art includes the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,691,227, 3,404,468, 3,442,031, 3,541,708, and 3,618,235. 3,686,777, 4,279,083, 4,559,811, 4,858,341, 4,967,492, 4,969,277, 5, 060,402, 5,123,181, 5,163,237, 5,203,096, 5,241,762, 5,325,614, 5,584 Including, but not limited to, 970, 5,404,658, 6,725,575, and 6,883,254. The above disadvantages and other prior art related to the above-mentioned problem of adjusting the foot circumference of a shoe have created a need for an improved shoe foot circumference adjusting means of the present invention.

  The present invention is directed to a shoe construction having loose lining means, preferably made of a relatively non-elastic but flexible woven material, said construction comprising (a) a shoe lace, for example by means of shoe lace means. Means for manually adjusting the foot circumference, and (b) a lining of a loose, preferably inelastic woven fabric, which is manually adjustable by the lace means to adjust the effective foot circumference of the shoe. , Thereby providing improved shoe fit on both the upper and lower surfaces of the shoe, particularly in the portion adjacent to the lacing means.

FIG. 1 is a side cross-section along the longitudinal centerline of a shoe 20 that embodies the principles of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of the shoe 20 of FIG. 1 along lines 2-2 and 3-3, showing a section adjusted to a larger foot circumference. FIG. 3 shows a cross section of the shoe 20 of FIG. 1 along lines 2-2 and 3-3, showing adjustment to a smaller foot circumference.

The following definitions are used in connection with expressions and phrases used in this disclosure:
“Direct Sole Molding” —The process in which a single sole of rubber or other polymer is molded and attached to the upper part of the shoe in the same process.

  “Effective foot circumference” —the transverse internal circumferential dimension of a shoe component adjacent to the foot.

  “Insole” —the inner bottom part of a shoe located above the sole part.

  “Loose lining” —a shoe backing component that is not continuously bonded to other adjacent shoe components.

  “Lower surface” —the part of a shoe that extends approximately 1-3 cm above the lower part of the foot or the bottom of the foot.

  “Top line” —the top end of an opening for a foot in the upper part of a shoe.

  “Sole sole” —A sole bottom part of a typical molded rubber or similar polymer of a shoe.

  “Upper surface” —the portion of the surface located above the lower surface portion of the foot or shoe.

  Referring to the drawings, a typical so-called athletic shoe mold is shown in a configuration that embodies the principles of the present invention and is applicable to other shoe designs that are similarly adjusted.

  In the present invention, all foot circumference adjustments preferably span at least four consecutive adjacent widths (or 'foot circumferences') of the shoe, such as in a conventional shoe-like lace adjustment of a similar shoe shape. Provided by manual string adjustment of a loose, relatively woven, preferably woven loose lining part, attached to the top line of the outer part of the upper part of the upper part, rather than by a single piece of the toe part Is done.

  More specifically, the present invention relates to a shoe upper part that is manually operable and adjustable in the foot circumference direction, and (i) a shoe upper part having external parts and internal elements, and (ii) a shoe sole part having a sole and an insole. And (iii) a hand operable means for adjusting an effective foot circumference dimension of the inner element of the shoe, wherein the inner element of the upper part is a string of the upper part Loose lining means located within and adjacent to the attached portion. Loose lining is a foot that has a minimum foot circumference in the specific foot circumference adjustment range that designs the shoe, both on the top line of the outer lash of the shoe 20 and on the insole of any fixed similar fabric by stitching means. Attached along a line corresponding to the outer peripheral line of the bottom of the mold. This provides a comfortable foot circumference fit where the upper and lower laced portions of the shoe 20 are in intimate contact with the foot.

  FIG. 1 shows a shoe 20 that includes an upper part 22 that includes a toe leather 24 and a relatively inflexible flexible free-cloth lining 26 that is attached to a top line 28 of the toe leather 24 by a seam 30. The upper part 22 also includes a connected tongue and tip part 32 that has a fixed insole 42 that is attached to the lower outer periphery of the toe strap 24 by a butt stitch 46. Both the toe strap 24 and the fixed insole 42 are attached to a unitary sole 40 of molded rubber or similar polymer by a conventional direct molding process. FIG. 1 also shows a conventional laced shoelace 34 through an eyelet 36 that attaches a toe strap 24 to a loose lining 26. The rearmost free end of the shoelace 34 is adjustably attached by a conventional bowknot (not shown) or equivalent means. FIG. 1 also shows a decorative stitch 38 on the toe leather 24, optionally stitched to a lining 26 under the toe leather 24.

  2 and 3 show a cross-sectional elevation view of the shoe 20 along lines 2-2 and 3-3. FIG. 2-2 shows the shoe 20 adjusted to a larger foot circumference, and FIG. 3-3 shows the adjustment of the shoe 20 to a smaller foot circumference. Both figures show the parts of the shoe disclosed above, including the upper part 22, the toe tongue and tip 32, and the loose toe lining 26, optionally in one piece as shown. Yes, attached to the fixed midsole 42 by seams 44. The fixed insole 42 is preferably a material similar to or similar to the material of the loose lining 26, and the seam 44 is the lower peripheral edge of the foot shape of the minimum foot circumference that fits the specific foot circumference adjustment range of the shoe 2. Located along the line on the fixed insole 42 corresponding to the portion (ie, “foot-shaped bottom”). The fixed insole 42 has a skirt width along the outer periphery of the foot-shaped bottom of the maximum foot circumference of the specific foot circumference adjustment range for which the shoe 20 is designed. The fixed insole 42 is preferably a flexible woven fabric which is similar to or similar to the material used to form the loose lining 26 and is not elastic and is conventionally butt-sewed by means of the butt stitching means 46. It is attached to the lower outer periphery of the distal end portion 32, and is attached to the sole sole 40 directly by the sole forming means.

  It should be noted that the hand-operable shoe foot adjustment means equivalent to the preferred lace means disclosed above are other conventional means such as a strap, buckle, adjustable to the foot circumference, Such as hook and loop fastening, and similar means.

  The configuration of the shoe of the present invention is intended to provide a foot-operated adjustment of a shoe that can be operated by hand, which varies indefinitely within the designed foot-range. In general, this provides adequate foot circumference fit for many wearers of each length dimension.

  The shoe may optionally be designed to supplement multiple different foot circumferences as needed. For example, one shoe may be designed for the B-C-D-E male foot range, and another similar design is a range such as D, E, EE, and EEE. May be designed for larger foot circumferences. The specific foot range can be freely selected by the shoe manufacturer. The specific foot range may vary depending on the applicable size range and the specific customer category, ie, male, female, or child.

  With regard to materials and sources, the upper may include leather from Prime Tanning, Inc., of Berwick, ME, and the like. Artificial leather, other fabrics and materials can be supplied by Geo. C, Moore, Inc., of Westerly, RI, and the like. Shoelaces are supplied by Textile Tapes, Inc., of Gonic, NH. Eyelets, washers, and similar fasteners are supplied by Trendware / Goldberg Footwear Components, Inc., of Salem, MA.

  The present invention includes other foot girth adjustment means, and is adjustable, strap, hook and loop fastening, deemed equivalent to the preferred strap means thus shown in the drawings and disclosure, It should be understood that it is readily applicable to a wide range of shoe designs, including buckles and similar means.

Claims (9)

A shoe configuration that can be operated by hand and adjustable in the direction of the foot circumference,
(I) an upper part having at least one external element and at least one internal element;
The internal element is located around at least one of a ball portion, a waist portion, and an upper portion of a shoe;
(Ii) a sole component including a shoe sole and a fixed insole;
(Iii) manual means for adjusting the effective foot circumference dimension of the shoe;
Including
(A) the internal element includes loose lining means;
(B) The loose lining means is attached to the fixed insole on a substantially outer periphery of a foot shape of about a minimum foot circumference for shoes to be designed, and the loose lining means is attached to the wearer's foot, A shoe construction characterized in that it provides a comfortable and intimate fit of the shoe along both the upper and lower surface portions of the shoe.   The shoe configuration of claim 1, wherein the adjustment is by lace means.   The shoe configuration of claim 1, wherein the shoe is adjustable to a wearer's preferred comfort level.   The shoe construction according to claim 1, wherein the foot circumference of the shoe is additionally adjustable indefinitely within the designed adjustment range of the shoe.   The shoe configuration of claim 1, wherein the foot placed on the shoe is centered on the shoe and securely held laterally for all foot circumference adjustments of the shoe. It is a configuration of a shoe with a lace that can be adjusted by hand and can be adjusted in the direction of the foot circumference,
In order to provide a foot circumference adjustment of the effective foot circumference of the shoe so that the shoe fits along the edge of the lower face of the foot therein, a shoe lace, a buckle, a strap, and a hook and A shoe construction comprising loose lining means adjustable by tightening or loosening a shoe adjustment means selected from the group consisting of loop fastening. A shoe configuration that can be operated by hand and adjustable in the direction of the foot circumference,
Including the upper parts of the outer and inner elements, including the inner loose lining means and the bottom part, in close contact with the wearer's foot and preference on the comfort and comfort of the shoe, both on the upper and lower side of the shoe A shoe configuration comprising a manual means for adjusting the effective foot circumference dimension of the shoe arranged to provide a fit for contact.   8. A shoe configuration according to claim 7, wherein the adjustment is made by lace means.   8. The shoe configuration of claim 7, wherein the adjustment is made by means selected from the group consisting of a buckle, a strap, and a hook and loop fastener.

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