Conjoined two piece lateral and medial rear closing shoe vamp

Abstract

This invention describes a functional change in shoe vamp design and use from a traditional lace, tongue vamp to a conjoined two-piece lateral and medial vamp and is comprised of a sole, upper textile materials fitted around the entire length, width of the; an expanded ankle collar, a vamp medial piece and vamp lateral piece wherein the vamp medial piece is opened and overlaps the vamp lateral pierce to rearwardly close the shoe. The separate lateral and medial vamp pieces are fitted and stitched together around the sole first at the sole rear and then intersecting at a pivoting stitch point on the front of the vamp. A pivoting stitch point on the front of the vamp is configured to allow the medial vamp piece to open upward and close rearward along a line linearly drawn from the stitch point thru the externally mounted lateral clip A medial vamp piece, when open expands both the shoe opening to accept a variety of devices, plates, specific volume, and the ankle collar allowing for a non-obstructed, direct step pathway into the shoe providing optimal structural support without need of additional supporting straps, tongues, or cross-braces. The linear alignment of a sewn-in externally mounted medial piece clip fastener and ladder latch and an externally mounted sewn-in lateral piece clip accept the ladder latch in several provided ladder holes serving as a tensioner in pulling the medial vamp piece over the lateral vamp piece rearwardly in shoe closure. The conjoined medial piece clip fastener and lateral piece clip mechanically fasten together in a rearward facing direction toward the sole to minimize the shoe opening and close the ankle collar, utilizing the ladder latch holes in fixed positions for shoe structural stability during dynamic movements.

Claims

1. A non-laced, step-in sport, athletic shoe comprising: a sole; upper textile materials fitted around the entire length, width of the sole; an expanded ankle collar, a vamp medial piece and vamp lateral piece wherein the vamp medial piece is opened and wrapped over the vamp lateral pierce to close the shoe rearward and furthermore, the separate lateral and medial vamp pieces are fitted and stitched together around the sole first at the sole rear and then intersecting at a pivoting stitch point on the front of the vamp.

2. A pivoting stitch point on the front of the vamp that is configured to allow the medial vamp piece to open upward and close rearward along a line drawn linearly from the stich point thru the externally mounted lateral piece clip to the rear of the sole.

3. A medial vamp piece, when open, expands both the shoe opening to accept a variety of devices, plates, specific volume, and the ankle collar, allowing for a non-obstructed, direct step pathway into the shoe.

4. The linear alignment of a sewn-in externally mounted medial piece clip fastener with a ladder latch and an externally mounted sewn-in lateral piece clip to accept the ladder latch in several provided ladder holes serving as a tensioner in pulling the medial vamp piece over the lateral vamp piece in rearward shoe closure.

5. Conjoined medial piece clip fastener and lateral piece clip mechanically inter-lock in a rearward facing direction downward toward the sole to minimize the shoe opening and close the ankle collar, utilizing the ladder latch holes in fixed positions for shoe structural stability.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] In order that the present invention may be more clearly ascertained, some embodiments will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0013] FIG. 1 is a ¾ perspective view of a shoe with sole, expanded ankle collar with unobstructed entry point into the shoe; a two-piece lateral and medial piece upper sewn together from rear to front of the sole; an expanded shoe opening with vamp open made possible by the single pivoting stitch point on front top of the vamp;

[0014] FIG. 2 is a ¾ perspective view of the mechanics of the rearward facing closure in an arrowed direction from sole front stitch point thru the externally mounted lateral piece clip to the sole rear and depicting the potential inter-locking fastening of the medial and lateral vamps;

[0015] FIG. 3 is a top view diagram of a shoe illustrating the linear alignment of external insertions of the medial piece clip fastener and latch and the lateral piece clip that will allow the rearward, downward, inter-locking, mechanical closure of the medial vamp over the lateral vamp towards the rear sole in accordance with the present invention;

[0016] FIG. 3 also illustrates the enlarged surface area of the expanded shoe opening, expanded ankle collar and open vamp made possible by the single pivoting stitch point illustrated from FIG. 1;

[0017] FIG. 4 demonstrates the full embodiment of the patent title and invention claim that the singular lateral and medial pieces are conjoined in a locked, fastened mechanical position rearward toward the heel with use of medial piece fastener and lateral clip with ladder latch and further illustrates the minimized ankle collar and shoe opening in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to several embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that embodiments may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well known process steps and/or structures have not been described in detail in order to not unnecessarily obscure the present invention. The features and advantages of embodiments may be better understood with reference to the drawings and discussions that follow.

[0019] The present invention relates to the changes in opening, stepping into, closing, adjustment and stepping out an athletic, sport shoe as a result of the innovative configuration of a conjoined two-piece lateral and medial rear closing vamp. To facilitate discussion, FIG. 1 is a ¾ perspective view illustrating the embodiment of a non-laced athletic sport slid on shoe 100 with a vamp medial piece that is open 110, a vamp lateral piece 120, a pivoting stitch point 130, sole 140, expanded ankle collar 150 and expanded shoe opening 160. In this embodiment, the open vamp 110 shows how both the shoe opening, and the ankle collar are expanded to allow a foot of varying conditions, plates, specific volume to directly step into the shoe with no obstructions. Additionally, the embodiment shows the separate lateral 120 and medial 110 material pieces are sewn together leaving the vamp open at the single stitch point 130 on the vamp front which mechanically pivots upward to give the shoe an expanded opening 160 and ankle collar 150 for the direct step-in.

[0020] FIG. 2 shows the pivoting downward directional potential of the vamp medial piece 230 utilizing a rearward facing closure arrow 240 from the stitch point thru the lateral piece clip to rear of the sole. This diagram illustrates the intended downward direction and potential of the medial piece vamp to inter-lock mechanically rearward which keeps the foot centered over the sole and prevents the heel from slipping. Any non-precise placement of the vamp other than the exact measured point on the front of the vamp renders the shoe mechanics invalid in the fitting and performance of the shoe for physical movement. For instance, if the vamp stitch point in FIG. 1, 130 is further to the front, the vamp becomes merely a flap to cover the shoe without it holding the foot in place and keeping the heel pushed against the rear of the sole. The rearward facing closure with inter-locking potential downwards to the sole rear is enabled by the mechanics of the pivoting stitch point allowing the medial vamp to open upward, expanding the shoe opening. Natural foot dynamics are insured with the vamp wrapping the foot in one motion with closure on the rear of the sole and allowing foot ventilation when the foot swells.

[0021] Referring now to FIG. 3, a top-down diagram of the shoe 300 illustrates the external insertion and linear alignment of the medial piece clip fastener, latch 320 and lateral piece clip 310 in front to rear of the sole in a ready position to close the shoe. Both lateral and medial vamp pieces must be in direct and precise alignment along both a line drawn linearly on an angle from sole front to sole rear and in line with the external, rearward closing direction of the ladder latch in a chosen hole for tightness. Any deviation of the pivoting stitch point FIG. 1 130 to another place on the vamp nullifies the rearward linear inter-locking mechanics and will not hold the foot centered and prevent heel slippage.

[0022] FIG. 3 also illustrates how the pivoting stich point results in an expanded shoe opening 330 and black outlined extended ankle collar to accept a foot of varying conditions, plates, and specific volume. Note that the opening is unobstructed and the single wrapping of the medial vamp piece over the foot is enough to keep the foot in proper place requiring no additional cross-straps, braces or tongue for protection.

[0023] FIG. 4 is the title and full embodiment of the present invention that lateral and medial pieces are conjoined in an inter-locked, fastened mechanical position 410 rearward 430 toward the sole rear with use of medial piece fastener and lateral clip with ladder latch and further illustrates the minimized ankle collar 420 and shoe opening in accordance with the present invention. The medial piece fastener of FIG. 3, 320 with ladder latch allows varying ladder hole choices which provide customized tension over the foot. Due to the flexibility of the ladder latch, the foot can move dynamically forward yet without causing toenail damage. One further benefit to the ladder latch is that it allows for one hand closure which aids the user from limited mobility or manual dexterity issues associated with tying laces.

[0024] In FIG. 1 embodiment, the vamp upper textile materials fitted around the entire length and width of the foot are made from an expandable and breathable material, thereby ventilating with minimal closure over the toes and enables movement of the toes whenever the foot swells. The ability to provide a customizable fit for any kind of instep bone is enabled both by the expandable textile materials as well as the dynamic movement of the ladder latch which can be made of varying durometers for a tighter or looser fit.

[0025] Modifications and additions to the above-described embodiments are possible. For example, fastening systems can also include adjustable Velcro strap(s) for an all or nothing closure and readily obtainable “dials” that have been developed in the past 20 years for incremental adjustments to tightness. Home grown solutions include use of hair tightening bands or certain elastic bands in a double helix position.

[0026] Advantageous features of the above-described non-laced slide on athletic shoes provide a complete functional re-configuration of the shoe upper vamp from toe to heel by at least one of (a) providing a seamless connection of two pieces of material on top of the foot allowing no sock wearing and preventing blistering (b) elimination of the constantly slipping sideways tongue, (c) elimination of top laces restricting foot ventilation, (d) providing expansion of the ankle collar and shoe opening to allow for the direct step-in of varying foot conditions, plates and specific volume (e) customized fit over the top of the foot instep by the ladder latch with use of only one hand (f) conjoined lateral and medial vamp pieces which allow the wrapping of the foot instead of pushing down on the top of the nerves with laces providing optimal, natural movement of the dynamic foot under demands of walking, running, cycling, health rehabilitation and constant standing over long periods of time.

[0027] While this invention has been described in terms of several embodiments, there are alterations, modifications, permutations, and substitute equivalents, which fall within the scope of this invention. It should also be noted that there are many alternative ways of implementing the shoe closing methods and devices of the present invention. It is therefore intended that the following claims be interpreted as including all such alterations, modifications, permutations, and substitute equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.