US 6,279,251 B1Granted

Self-adjusting shoe

OwnerHoward F. Davisinventor

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Abstract

A shoe that includes an expansible inner lining that snugly conforms to the wearer's foot and that permits the wearer's foot to grow at least one shoe size, and preferably approximately two shoe sizes. The shoe may optionally include a midsole disposed between the insole and outsole. The shoe may also optionally include an expandable counter that permits the heel portion of the shoe to adapt as the wearer's foot grows. The inventive shoe thus permits the wearer's foot to grow or expand widthwise and/or lengthwise thereby reducing the frequency with which shoes must be replaced and without sacrificing fit, support and comfort. The expansible lining may be constructed of any four-way expandable, porous material. A transparent toe portion and a fit indicator may be provided to assist in determining when the wearer's foot has grown too large for the shoe.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A self-adjusting shoe for accommodating a range of foot sizes, comprising:

a sole having a toe portion and a heel portion;
a shoe upper extending from said toe portion to said heel portion and affixed to said sole and having an opening with a topline;
a sock-type unit comprising a counter arranged at said heel portion and an expansible element connected to said counter and extending to said toe portion, said expansible element connected to said shoe upper along said topline of said opening in said shoe upper, said counter connected to said heel portion of said sole, said expansible element expandable from a non-expanded state to a fully expanded state for expandably receiving a first portion of the wearer's foot and supportably holding a second portion of the wearer's foot against said counter, and said expansible element being operatively expandable for supportably receiving a range of foot sizes from a smallest foot size to a largest foot size, said range spanning at least one standard shoe size;
and
said sole comprising a surface facing said expansible element, said surface operatively arranged for creating a large coefficient of friction with said expansible element thereby limiting a sliding movement of the wearer's foot received in said expansible element relative to said surface during use of said shoe.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/425,539Filed 22 Oct 1999 · continuation in part
Priority: 27 Oct 1997
Granted: 28 Aug 2001
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

A43B 3/26
Footwear characterised by the shape or the use: adjustable as to length or size
A43B 1/0072
Footwear characterised by the material: made at least partially of transparent or translucent materials
A43B 7/38
Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements: elevating, i.e. height increasing
A43B
Characteristic features of footwear