SHOE WITH FLEXIBLE UPPER

Abstract

The invention is a high heel shoe with an upper that will provide comfort and flexibility for the wearer. In a preferred embodiment the upper consists of two at least two materials: 1) a firm fabric, such as leather, that will hold the shape of the design and have limited flexibility; 2) a flat knitted elastic, such as knit elastic, which will not narrow, or not narrow significantly, when stretched. In addition, the firm fabric is configured to have a flex-point and in a preferred embodiment is formed of two pieces of the firm material having a “split” between them providing the desired flex-point.

Claims

1. A shoe comprising: an insole; an outsole; and an upper, said upper comprising: a toe-end and a heel-end, said toe end and said heel end constructed with a flex-point located between said toe-end and said heel-end along an outer (lateral) side of the upper, which flex-point enables flexion to occur between said toe-end and said heel-end; and an elastic element coupling said toe-end and said heel-end such that said elastic element urges said toe-end and said heel-end towards each other; wherein the flex-point comprises a split-opening between said heel-end and said toe-end, defining a first edge of said heel-end adjacent to and overlapping a second edge of said toe-end; wherein the first edge and the second edge are connected to each other along a lower portion of the first and second edges; wherein said elastic element is coupled to said heel-end between the insole and the outsole, and to said toe-end at the second edge.

2. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the lower portion where the first edge and second edge are connected comprises the area of each between the insole and approximately half the length of the second edge.

3. The shoe according to claim 2, wherein the length of the first edge is smaller than the length of the second edge.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] FIG. 1A shows a side perspective view of a first embodiment of a high heel shoe according the claimed invention;

[0020] FIG. 1B is a rear view of the shoe of FIG. 1A;

[0021] FIG. 1C shows the toe end (element 12) of the upper is constructed by dividing the upper in a manner perpendicular to its topline;

[0022] FIGS. 2A-2C show the end of section 14 along upper division 10 is shorter in length than the length of the end of section 12 along the upper division 10;

[0023] FIG. 3 is a view of FIG. 1A where the elastic element is visible; and

[0024] FIGS. 4A is a view of FIG. 2A where the elastic element is visible; and

[0025] FIG. 4B is a close up of the elastic element of FIG. 4A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Terminology

[0026] High heels shoes typically consist of:

[0027] I) Upper—holds the shoe onto the foot and connected to the outsole.

[0028] II) Insole—perimeter stitched to upper forming bottom of interior portion.

[0029] III) Outsole—leather or rubber material lining the bottom of the shoe, affixed to the insole.

[0030] IV) Topline—top edge of the upper.

[0031] V) Heel—provides support for the heel of the foot.

[0032] VI) Lining—covers the inside seams of a shoe, on the inside of the upper.

[0033] There are three segments or portions of the high heel shoe:

[0034] Toe-end—end closer to the wearer's toe, it can take on many different shapes but is traditionally either pointed, rounded or squared in nature.

[0035] Heel-end—end closer to the wearer's heel, where the upper and insole attach to the heel.

[0036] Midsole—between the two ends of the shoe, approximately beneath the arch of the foot (between the toe and heel).

[0037] The invention is a high heel shoe with an upper that provides comfort and flexibility for the wearer. An upper of a typical high heel shoe consists of one solid, continuous piece of fabric, often leather, that covers the shoe and holds the shoe onto the foot. The topline is typically a constant seam around the perimeter of the shoe, as it is contained on the upper.

[0038] In the claimed invention, the upper consists of at least two materials: 1) a firm fabric, such as leather, that will hold the shape of the design and have limited flexibility, and which is configured in a “split” arrangement to provide the flex-point; and 2) flat knitted elastic, such as a two to three inch wide knit elastic, which will not narrow, or not narrow significantly, when stretched.

[0039] In the preferred solution, the upper consists of a kid skin leather and “China Soft” knit elastic, but other materials may be used. Instead of leather, other firm fabrics that have characteristics of limited flexibility, including but not limited to synthetic or a microfiber leather as well as suede or a faux suede materials, can also hold the shape of the intended design. Instead of knit elastic, other material or elastic fibers may be used that have characteristics of stretching beyond its original shape while reverting to its original form when in a resting state.

[0040] FIG. 1A shows a side perspective view of a first embodiment of a high heel shoe according the claimed invention, with dashed lines to show the positioning of an elastic element 16 (removed in FIG. 1 so that the entirety of the upper can be more easily visualized) in relation to the upper as further described below. FIG. 1A shows the right side of a left shoe, and for the purpose of this application this visible side of the upper in FIG. 1A is referred to as the inside wall of the upper (i.e., the medial side of the upper).

[0041] The upper comprises two separate sections 12 (the toe-end) and 14 (the heel-end) separated by split-opening 10 creating a flex-point, and this split-opening 10 is sometimes referred to herein as an “upper division” to describe the fact that it is a dividing point of the two sections of the upper. In a preferred embodiment the split-opening 10 is located towards the base of the shoe, more towards the toe-end of the sole (insole and outsole) as shown in FIG. 1A. It is situated in this embodiment approximately where the ball of the foot meets the instep of the foot, on the interior side of each shoe. This split-opening 10 provides a flex-point that, when the edges of heel-end 14 and toe-end 12 (first edge 11A and second edge 11B, respectively) are connected, allows the upper to expand without tearing as pressure is placed on the upper by the foot, thus allowing for additional room for the foot, and for movement of the foot, within the interior of the shoe. The split-opening 10 also eases pressure on the foot itself as the topline is no longer one constant edge/seam containing the foot.

[0042] In a preferred embodiment the split-opening 10 is constructed as follows:

[0043] The toe end 12 of the upper is constructed by dividing the upper in a manner perpendicular to its topline as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1C. This end of the split-opening 10 is at the toe-end of the shoe and runs from its topline to the sole or bottom of the shoe. The perpendicular division is a feature of the preferred embodiment but it is understood that the shape of the split-opening 10 may take other forms.

[0044] The heel end 14 of the upper is constructed such that the topline slopes essentially parallel to the insole 9, at an angle and length that will allow it to slightly overlap with toe-end 12 such that they can be connected or affixed together along the common points where they overlap (overlap not shown in FIG. 1A for simplicity of explanation). The heel end 14 also runs from its topline to the sole or bottom of the shoe as shown.

[0045] The two sides of the split-opening 10 are connected or affixed together at the points where heel-end 14 meets toe-end 12, from toe-end 12's topline to the insole 9, preferably at a point beginning at the insole 9 and extending upwards to a point approximately halfway long the common overlapping edges of toe-end 12 and heel-end 14, illustrated by numeral 15 in FIG. 1A. This creates an attached portion on the insole side of split-opening 10, and an unattached portion above the approximate halfway point (extending from the approximate halfway point, up to the toplines). This configuration results in a flex-point or gap where the common edges of toe-end 12 and heel-end 14 are unattached. Each of toe-end 12 and heel-end 14 has its own corresponding topline. In a preferred solution, the end of the split-opening 10 of heel-end 14 (where it abuts with toe-end 12) is slightly thinner than the rest of the upper, so that the impact of having a double-section of material where the two attach is minimized. This thinning can be accomplished using, for example, a skiving machine or manual pressure. This feature is not necessary for the invention but may increase the comfort to the wearer.

[0046] In a preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2C and FIG. 4A and 4B, the first edge 11A of heel-end 14 along split-opening 10 is shorter in length that the length of the second edge 11B of toe-end 12 along the split-opening 10. In this configuration, the entire length of the first edge 11A of heel-end 14 can be connected or affixed to the lower portion 13 of the second edge 11B of toe-end 12, as shown. This provides a similar flex point to that created by leaving the approximate half length of the meeting point of heel-end 14 and toe-end 12 unconnected to form the gap illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3.

[0047] It is understood that heel-end 14 may attach to toe-end 12 at other points on the perpendicular edge between toe-end 12′s topline and the sole or bottom of the shoe. In the embodiments shown, the split-opening 10 and each side of the split-opening 10 runs from its respective topline to the sole or bottom of the shoe, but it is understood that the two sides of the split-opening 10 do not necessarily need to be connected or affixed to one another if the wearer seeks additional flexibility in the upper. Additional material with either flexible or inflexible features may be used depending on the level of flexibility and stretch necessary for the wearer. As stated above, the shape of the split-opening can take many forms and can vary in length.

[0048] FIGS. 2 and 4 show that at the elastic element 16 is attached to the upper at two points: 1) to the upper, at the edge portion of toe-end 12 (e.g., extending across the split-opening 10) (Elastic Attachment #1), and 2) between the shoe's insole and outsole at the midsole (Elastic Attachment #2). This attachment leads to entire edge of heel-end 14 along the split-opening 10 to be completely covered by elastic.

[0049] The elastic element 16, identified as such in FIGS. 2 and 4, is connected to the upper, at the split-opening 10, and then runs parallel to the insole and outsole at the toe-end 12 of the shoe, or parallel to the surface when the shoe is placed on a flat surface. When walking or standing on the shoe, the elastic element 16 will be parallel to the ground itself. FIGS. 2 and 4 show the elastic element 16 attaching to the upper at the split-opening 10, but it is understood that the elastic element 16 can also connect to the upper in front of the split-opening 10, or closer to the toe end 12 of the shoe at a point outside of the split-opening 10.

[0050] The other end of the elastic element 16 is connected to the shoe at the midsole and affixed between the insole and outsole of the shoe. The elastic element 16 is affixed to the shoe such that it completely covers the split-opening 10, not revealing the slight gap in the split-opening 10. The elastic element 16 completes the upper so it completely contains the foot within the interior of the shoe.

[0051] The elastic element 16 laid over the fabric of the upper at the split-opening 10 allows the shoe to expand for comfort while maintaining the silhouette and shape of a sleek and attractive high heel shoe. Elastic element 16 will stretch to allow the shoe to expand, and the shoe will become flexibly adaptive to the wearer, while at the same time the upper will support and contain the foot in the high heel shoe's intended shape. The elastic element 16 will also revert to its existing shape when no pressure is applied, so the shoe will not stretch out over time or after extensive wear. The elastic element 16 will stretch based on the needs of the wearer as pressure is applied to the upper. Such pressure may be based on the width of the wearer's toes, toe joints or even irregularities in the foot. The expansion will occur to a point that is comfortable while also maintaining the intended sleek shape of the high heel shoe.

[0052] Although the present application uses the term “high heel shoe”, it is understood that the term is considered to encompass other articles of footwear as well, such as but not limited to flats, or shoes without high heels, or other footwear in which the wearer can benefit from expansion without significantly compromising the intended shape of the footwear.

[0053] Although the preferred embodiment and accompanying Figures show the split-opening 10 at one point, it is understood that the split-opening 10 may sit at any point on the shoe, such as on the part of the shoe that sits on the inside of the foot. It is also understood that the shoe may contain more than one split-opening 10, or split-openings at multiple points on the shoe. One example of this is two split-openings, one on the inside of shoe and one on the outside of the shoe, placed at corresponding points such that they rest on the outside of both the leftmost and rightmost toe joints.