# US 10,765,167 B2 · Topless shoe > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,765,167 B2 - Document ID: US10765167B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/693,678 - Filed: 2017-09-01 - Published: 2017-12-21 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2011-10-31 - Assignees: Yehuda Azoulay - Applicants: Yehuda Azoulay - Inventors: Yehuda Azoulay; Olga Grossman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10765167B2 ## CPC - A43B 3/0036: {characterised by a special shape or design} - A43B 3/10: Low shoes {, e.g. comprising only a front strap}; Slippers - A43B 11/00: Footwear with arrangements to facilitate putting-on or removing, e.g. with straps - A43B 13/12: Soles with several layers of different materials - A43B 13/141: {with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion} - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR ## Abstract A shoe includes a concave body defining sidewalls and a sole of the shoe, and including a first layer received within a second layer. The first layer includes a portion of the sole and upwardly-projecting tabs constituting an inner circumferential wall defining an opening disposed entirely above the sole. The second layer includes a plurality of spaced U-shaped elements each of which includes two walls, forming a portion of an outer circumferential wall, and a bottom, forming a sole-shaped part of the second layer, connecting therebetween. The tabs are characterized by an elasticity that enables them to be pushed outwardly thereby expanding the opening to facilitate receipt of a foot therethrough, and are inwardly-biased thereby being configured to bear upon the foot when received within the cavity, thereby facilitating gripping of the received foot by the shoe. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A shoe comprising: a concave body defining sidewalls and a sole of the shoe, and comprising a first layer received within a second layer, said first layer comprising at least a portion of said sole and a plurality of circumferentially adjacent upwardly-projecting tabs constituting an inner circumferential wall surrounding said sole and having an upper edge at an uppermost portion of the shoe and defining an opening, said opening having a shape substantially similar to that of the sole and being disposed entirely thereabove, said tabs being spaced from one another so as to define a plurality of vertical slots between adjacent tabs, and said second layer comprising a plurality of U-shaped elements each of which comprises two walls and a bottom connecting therebetween, each of said two walls forming a portion of an outer circumferential wall of the shoe, and said bottoms forming a sole-shaped part of the second layer, said second layer being disposed on an outer surface of said first layer such that adjacent U-shaped elements are spaced from one another thereby defining a plurality of vertical slots between adjacent U-shaped elements, wherein said tabs are characterized by an elasticity that enables them to be pushed outwardly thereby expanding said opening to facilitate receipt of a foot therethrough, and wherein said tabs are inwardly-biased thereby being configured to bear upon said foot when received within the cavity thereby facilitating gripping of the received foot by the shoe. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The shoe according to claim 1, wherein said opening is characterized by substantially the same size, shape, and/or proportions as the sole. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The shoe according to claim 1, one or more of said tabs each comprising an inwardly-protruding foot-securing member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The shoe according to claim 3, wherein each of said foot-securing members extends in a substantially sideways direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The shoe according to claim 3, comprising said foot-securing members along a majority of the shoe circumference. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The shoe according to claim 5, comprising said foot securing members along at least 70% of the shoe circumference. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The shoe according to claim 1, wherein said first layer comprises a sole-shaped part, the sole-shaped parts of said first and second layers have different thicknesses at different parts thereof to match the curvature of a plantar surface of one wearing the shoe. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The shoe according to claim 1, wherein said first layer consists of a unitary piece of material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The shoe according to claim 1, further comprising a third layer disposed on an outer surface of said second layer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The shoe according to claim 1, wherein said spaces formed between bottoms of adjacent U-shaped elements match the dynamics of a foot while walking. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The shoe according to claim 1, wherein said first and second layers are made of different materials. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The shoe according to claim 11, wherein the material of said second layer is more rigid than the material of said first layer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The shoe according to claim 1, wherein a first lateral portion of the inner circumferential wall is opposed to a second lateral portion of the inner circumferential wall, wherein first lateral portion of the inner circumferential wall has a first series of said upwardly-projecting tabs, wherein second lateral portion of the inner circumferential wall has a second series of said upwardly-projecting tabs, wherein the upwardly-projecting tabs define a plurality of gaps along the shoe circumference, each said gap respectively between adjacent upwardly-projecting tabs. ### Claim 14 A shoe comprising: a concave body defining sidewalls and a sole of the shoe, and comprising a first layer received within a second layer, said first layer comprising at least a portion of said sole and a plurality of circumferentially adjacent upwardly-projecting tabs constituting an inner circumferential wall surrounding said sole and having an upper edge at an uppermost portion of the shoe and defining an opening, said upper edge having a shape substantially similar to that of the sole and being disposed entirely thereabove, said tabs being spaced from one another so as to define a plurality of vertical slots between adjacent tabs, and said second layer comprising a plurality of U-shaped elements each of which comprises two walls and a bottom connecting therebetween, each of said two walls forming a portion of an outer circumferential wall of the shoe, and said bottoms forming a sole-shaped part of the second layer, said second layer being disposed on an outer surface of said first layer such that adjacent U-shaped elements are spaced from one another thereby defining a plurality of vertical slots between adjacent U-shaped elements, wherein said tabs are characterized by an elasticity that enables them to be pushed outwardly thereby expanding said opening to facilitate receipt of a foot therethrough, and wherein said tabs are inwardly-biased thereby being configured to bear upon said foot when received within the cavity thereby facilitating gripping of the received foot by the shoe.