Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FOLDABLE FOOTWEAR
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to footwear.
Background to the Invention
It is known to provide a relatively light weight foldable shoe which can be
folded over so that the heel and toe lay adjacent each other for compact
storage,
for example in a beach bag, hand bag, garment pocket or the like for carrying
the
shoe, but which can be extended into a normal shoe or sandal shape when the
footwear is worn.
British patent GB 598,513 discloses a sandal having a sole which can be
folded into a comparatively small volume for packing or carrying. The sandal
has
an elongate sole which has a pair of hinged axes, each axis extending at right
angles to a longitudinal axis of the sole, and having three sole parts
corresponding to the instep, the ball of the foot and the heel of the foot.
The
sandal is attached to a wearer's foot by means of plurality of straps which
pass
through slots formed in the sole. The sole material may be either a synthetic
resin plastic, wood, a plastics material, leather, rubber, a synthetic rubber
composition, or a metal or alloy of metals, for example aluminum.
In German patent DE 42 44 293 there is disclosed a sandal having a
foldable sole and a detachable upper, in which the sole is made of a rigid
material
and which has a fixed hinge at an instep portion of the sole enabling the sole
to
be folded over onto itself so that a heel portion of the sole lies adjacent
and abuts
a forward portion of the sole corresponding to the toe region and ball of the
foot.
A single hinge provided substantially at right angles to a main longitudinal
axis of
the sole is provided, with the hinge portion being provided at a portion of
the sole
3o corresponding to the forward part of the instep of the foot.
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International patent application WO 2004/098335 discloses a highly flexible
shoe which can be folded over so as to occupy a small storage space. The shoe
sole comprises independent parts which are made from a rigid or semi rigid
material. A first rigid sole portion is provided underneath the toe area and
the ball
of the foot, whilst a second rigid sole area is provided underneath the heel
of the
foot. The forward and rearward rigid sole portions are permanently positioned
away from each other and are connected by a relatively more flexible
connecting
upper sole portion which extends from a forward tip of the shoe to the
rearward
extent of the shoe, and overlies both the forward/wall sole portion and the
rearward heel portion. The shoe is foldable so that the sole folds over on
itself
with a bend occurring primarily at the instep portion, with the bend being
provided
by virtue of the flexibility of the flexible connecting sole portion.
The shoe can be rolled up, starting at the tip or the heel, and the tip and
the
heel can be folded inwards and the shoe subsequently folded at the center.
In GB 2,425,454 A there is disclosed an emergency footwear being a
sandal having a flexible sole portion which can be folded over at an instep,
with a
tougher more durable toe and heel portion, spaced apart from each other by the
instep portion. The toe portion, which also covers the ball of the foot and
the heel
portion are spaced apart from each other, so that the toe/ball of the sole
portion
and the heel portion each occupy approximately one third of the total area of
the
sole, with the other third of the sole comprising the instep portion which is
flexible
and is not covered on the underside with any more durable material. The sandal
is attached to the foot by means of a toe strap which extends over the bridge
of
the foot immediately behind the toes, a further strap extending from under the
instep, and immediately forward of the ankle, and a heel strap which fits
around
the heel. There is however no continuous upper portion, so that if a wearer
steps
in a puddle, or if it is raining, the wearer's feet will become wet.
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Summary of the Invention
Specific embodiments according to the present invention aim to provide a
temporary shoe which is easily foldable into a compact space and can therefore
be carried in a ladies handbag, or a small carrying bag. The shoes can be
carried for use as an alternative to uncomfortable shoes, such as high heeled
shoes or dress shoes, and is therefore particularly suitable for use by
ladies.
For example, for ladies having a night out in nightclubs, pubs, the theatre or
at dinners or other social events, where it is normal to dress in relatively
high
heeled shoes having heels of 4cm height or more, such shoes can become
uncomfortable after prolonged wear and are impracticable for walking medium
distances, for example a few hundred meters to a taxi rank, or for walking on
rough surfaces such as cobble stones, gravel etc. The footwear is therefore
likely
to be particularly suitable for use as an emergency shoe, or a shoe which can
be
taken to parties as a backup shoe for when more formal of fashionable high
heeled shoes become uncomfortable.
According to a first aspect there is provided a foldable shoe having a sole
comprising:
a forward sole portion extending from a front toe part of the shoe to an in-
step part;
a rear sole portion extending from a rear most part of the shoe to said in-
step;
said forward sole portion and said rearward sole portion co-operating to
form a substantially continuous sole when the shoe is worn by a user; and
said forward sole portion and said rearward sole portion being separable
from each other when the sole is in a folded condition.
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Said forward sole portion may comprise a rearward edge positioned at
said in-step part;
said rearward sole portion may have a forward edge positioned at said in-
step part of said rear sole portion;
said forward edge of said rear sole portion and said rearward edge of said
forward sole portion abutting each other when the shoe is in an extended
position
as worn on the users foot.
Preferably, said forward sole portion and said rearward sole portion are
connected by a flexible connecting member.
Preferably, said flexible connecting member allows the forward sole portion
and the rear sole portion to separate from each other allowing the sole to
adopt a
folded condition. Whilst not necessarily touching each other, the forward and
rear
soles remain connected to each other by virtue of the their mutual connection
to
the connecting member.
Preferably said rear sole portion comprises a forward face positioned at a
forward portion of said rear sole.
Preferably, said forward sole portion comprises a rear facing face positioned
at a rearward portion of the forward sole.
Preferably said forward facing face of the rear sole portion and the rearward
facing face of the forward sole portion abut each other when the shoe is in an
extended position; and
when the shoe is in a non extended, folded or partially folded condition, the
forward facing face of the rear sole portion and the rearward facing face of
the
forward sole portion separate from each other.
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Preferably, the forward sole portion and the rear sole portion are connected
by a flexible connecting member, said flexible connecting member being bonded
to a position of said rearward sole portion which lies inwardly of a periphery
of the
rearward sole portion by a length in a range 2 to 9 mm from a forward facing
edge of the rear sole portion, there being a region of said rear sole portion
which
is overlaid by but not bonded to said connecting member when said sole is in
an
extended condition; and
said flexible connecting member is bonded to the forward sole portion at a
position near the rear of the forward sole portion, but lying inwardly of a
periphery
of the forward sole by distance in the range 2 to 9 mm, there being a region
of
said forward sole portion which is overlaid by but not bonded to said
connecting
member when said sole is in an extended condition.
Said forward sole portion and said rearward sole portion may be connected
to each other by virtue of a flexible upper, wherein said flexible upper is
sufficiently flexible to allow said sole to fold over onto itself such that
said forward
sole portion overlies said rear sole portion and said flexible upper is
sandwiched
there-between; and
a connecting member extending over a forward region of the rear sole
portion and over a rearward region of the forward sole portion connects said
forward a rear sole portions and said flexible upper.
Said forward sole portion may be connected to said rear sole portion by a
flexible connecting member which is flexible enough such that when said shoe
adopts a folded over condition in which the forward sole portion overlies said
rear
sole portion, the sole remains in a folded condition of its own accord without
the
3 o need for any restraint to prevent the sole from reverting to an extended
or
partially folded condition.
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The sole and/ or uppers of the shoe may be patterned, coloured or
embossed in various attractive patterns, and the fabric or other material of
the
upper may be manufactured form any of the full range of known shoe materials,
subject to the requirement for flexibility and non resilience for the upper
material.
In some embodiments, each of said forward or rear sole portion is provided
with a curved face for mating with a corresponding curved face of the other
one
of said forward or rear sole portion.
In other embodiments each of said forward or rear sole portion is provided
with a sawtooth like face for mating with a corresponding sawtooth like face
of the
other one of said forward or rear sole portion.
In yet further embodiments each of said forward or rear sole portion is
provided with one or a plurality of protrusions for engaging a corresponding
recess on the other one of said forward or rear sole portions, so that the
sole
behaves, as a rigid on piece sole when in extended mode, with the forward and
rear sole portions locking together, but whilst still being separable when the
shoe
is folded over onto itself.
In other embodiments, the edges where the front and rear soles may be
adapted to engage each other so that a front portion of said rear sole engages
with a rear portion of said front sole to provide a substantially rigid joint
between
said front and rear sole portions when the sole portions are in extended
condition
for wearing said shoe.
Various other aspects are as described in the claims herein.
Brief Description of the Drawings
For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may
be carried into effect, there will now be described by way of example only,
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specific embodiments, methods and processes according to the present
invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 illustrates schematically in view from one side a foldable shoe
according to a specific embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 illustrates schematically the shoe of figure 1 in cut away view
bisected along a main longitudinal length of the shoe;
Figure 3 illustrates schematically from underneath the foldable shoe in
extended form, in which the shoe can be worn;
Figure 4 illustrates schematically the foldable shoe in partially folded form,
in
which a four foot portion of the shoe folds over backwardly to cover a rear,
or heel
portion of the shoe;
Figure 5 illustrates schematically in view from underneath, the foldable shoe
in partially folded condition;
Figure 6 illustrates schematically the foldable shoe in fully folded over
condition, as viewed from an instep of the shoe;
Figure 7 illustrates schematically the foldable shoe in folded over condition,
viewed from the heel and toe;
Figure 8 illustrates schematically a second embodiment foldable shoe,
having front and rear sole portions adapted to meet each other with a curved
joint; and
Figure 9 illustrates schematically a third embodiment foldable shoe having a
joint between front and rear sole portions which is of a jagged sawtooth
shape,
having a plurality of upright faces on each sole portion.
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Detailed Description
There will now be described by way of example a specific mode
contemplated by the inventors. In the following description numerous specific
details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding. It will be
apparent however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be
practiced without limitation to these specific details. In other instances,
well
known methods and structures have not been described in detail so as not to
unnecessarily obscure the description.
In this specification the term "shoe" is used generically to include various
different types of footwear including shoes, slippers, plimsoles, pumps,
boots,
sandals, and the like.
Referring to figure 1 herein, there is illustrated schematically in
perspective
view from one side a foldable shoe according to a specific embodiment of the
present invention.
The foldable shoe comprises a forward sole portion 100 which lies
underneath the toe area and ball of the foot of a wearer and underneath the
front
part of the instep of the foot; a rear sole portion 101 which lies under the
heel
area of the foot, and the rear part of the instep; an upper portion 102 which
is
bonded to the forward and rearward sole portions 100, 101 respectively; a
flexible
connecting sole portion connecting the front and rear sole portions; and a
shoe
liner which is placed inside the shoe over the forward sole portion and the
rearward portion, and which is bonded to the forward and rearward sole
portions
and to the upper portion 102.
When the shoe is in the extended position with the sole in a substantially
flat condition, the forward face of the rear sole and the rearward face of the
front
sole abutting each other and form a substantially continuous sole.
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Referring to figure 2 herein, there is illustrated schematically in cut away
view from one side the foldable shoe of figure 1, in an extended form in which
the
forward and rearward sole portions each lie in substantially the same plane as
each other. The connecting portion 200 is bonded to a forward part of the rear
sole portion 101 and to a rear part of the forward sole portion 100 and lies
substantially flat when the shoe is in extended mode. The inner liner 201 lies
over the forward and rearward sole portions and over edges of the upper 102
which also lie over a peripheral region of each of the rear sole portion 101
and
the forward portion 100, and lies over the flexible connecting portion 200.
The flexible connecting member extends across the width of the shoe at the
instep, connecting the front and rear sole portions and the upper.
The upper 102 is preferably formed from a flexible fabrics material. A wide
variety of fabrics materials can be used, including soft flexible leather,
cloth or
flexible plastics materials.
The forward and rearward sole portions are preferably formed from a
2 o durable and relatively rigid plastics material which has sufficient
rigidity and
durability to protect the wearers foot from sharp undulations in the ground,
e.g.
stones, pebbles or the like, and to spread the pressure of such obstacles and
grounded irregularities, but also flexible enough to allow for some degree of
comfort in the wearer in adapting to the shape of the foot of the wearer.
In accordance with the purpose of the shoe as being a comfortable and
practical low heel shoe preferably the materials of the upper are soft and
comfortable to wear and yet offer some protection from rain, puddles etc. The
material of the sole should be durable enough for outdoor use, and provide
3 o enough rigidity to protect the foot from uneven surfaces, but also be of
light
weight.
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Referring to fig 3 herein, there is illustrated in view from underneath the
foldable shoe of figures 1 and 2 herein. The forward sole portion 100 abuts
the
rearward portion 101 at a position approximately mid way along the entire
length
of the sole, where the sole comprises the forward sole portion and the
rearward
sole portion, so that the meeting point between the forward and rearward sole
lies
underneath the instep of the wearers foot and away from the ball of the foot
and
toe area and away from the area where the users heel exerts the maximum
pressure on the rear sole portion.
The sole may be provided with a molded in pattern or text on its ground
facing part, which can be either molded in as part of the shape of the sole,
or
which can be included in a coloration of the plastics material used for
manufacture of the sole.
The sole portions may also comprise a three dimensional pattern, in the
example shown the forward sole portion has a peripheral channel 300 which
extends immediately inside the edge of the forward portion of the sole, and at
a
spacing of around 3 to 5 mm from the edge of the sole. Similarly, the rearward
sole portion may also be provided with a pattern and/or indent. In the example
shown, an indented channel extending around the inside of the ground
contacting
part of the sole at a position between 2 and 5 mm from the edge of the rear
sole
portion is provided. In other embodiments, other sole patterns of conventional
manner may be formed in the sole during the process of manufacture of the sole
pieces.
Referring to figure 4 herein, there is illustrated in schematic view from one
side the foldable shoe of figures 1 to 3 in partially folded over
configuration. In a
folded configuration the forward part of the sole 100, which is unconnected to
the
rear sole portion 101, other than by the flexible connecting portion 200 and
the
upper portion 102, folds over moving away from the rear sole portion, the
rearward edge of the forward sole portion becoming spaced apart from the
forward edge of the rear sole portion. The forward part of the rear sole is
not
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bonded to the connecting member over a length of around 2 to 9 mm from the
edge of the sole, to allow the sole part to separate when the shoe is folded.
Similarly, the rear part of the front sole is not bonded to the flexible
connecting
member over a length of around 2 to 9 mm from the front edge of the rear sole,
to
allow the shoe to fold over without straining the connecting member.
Referring to fig 5 herein, there is illustrated schematically in view from
underneath, the sole of the shoe in a partially folded condition, in which the
forward sole portion 100 is disconnected from the rearward sole portion 101 so
that a rearward face of the front sole portion does not abut a forward face of
the
rear heel sole portion, and the forward and rear sole portions are connected
to
each other by virtue of the flexible upper 102 and the flexible connecting
sole
member 200 which acts as a loose hinge between the forward and rear sole
portions.
Referring to fig 6 herein, there is illustrated schematically in view from the
front of the shoe, the shoe in fully folded condition, in which the forward
sole
portion 100 lies substantially parallel and along side the rear sole portion
101.
Shown in detail is the rear face 600 of the front sole portion, and the
forward face
601 of the rear sole portion, which match each other and cut through a cross
section of the sole when in extended form.
The flexible connecting sole portion 200 is bonded to the rear sole portion
and the front sole portion, by means of adhesive, or being thermally set into
the
plastics sole material during manufacture. The flexible connecting sole
portion
200 is not bonded fully to the most forward extent of the rear of the sole
portion,
but rather there is a gap of around 3 to 8 mm where the flexible connecting
sole
portion 200 remains unbonded to the forward part of the rear sole portion.
Similarly, the rear most portion of the front sole, across a width of the shoe
3 o remains unbonded for a length of around 3 to 8 mm from the flexible
connecting
sole portion 200, so that when the shoe is in a fully folded over condition,
the
flexible connecting member 200 is permitted to extend over a height of the
fully
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folded shoe, and the shoe is not strained to revert to its extended position,
and
can therefore be easily and compactiy folded.
A shape profile of the rear most face of the front sole matches a shape
profile of the forward face of the rear sole, viewed in a direction parallel
to a main
longitudinal axes of the sole, so that when the shoe is in the extended
position,
the sole appears to be a continuous sole member, except for a hairline gap
where the forward face of the rear sole on the rearward face of the forward
sole
abut each other.
Referring to fig 7 herein, there is illustrated schematically in a view along
a
main longitudinal axes of the shoe, the shoe in fully folded over condition.
Both
the toe portion and the heel portion of the shoe are shown in end view, with
the
flexible material of the upper 102 being loosely compressed, allowing the shoe
to
close over into compact form, with the flexible upper being sandwiched between
the heel sole portion 101 and the fore foot sole portion 100. Ideally, the
flexible
material of the upper 102 is soft and flexible enough to be easily compacted
without resilience and without causing the shoe to spring open when in a
folded
over condition.
Overall, a pair of shoes as described herein should fold over and compact
so as to fit within the average ladies handbag or clutch bag, so they can be
unobtrusively carried on a night out, and should be light weight enough so as
to
be carried within a clutch bag.
Referring to figure 8 herein, in a second embodiment shoe, shown I here in
view from the front in folded condition, the features are the same as for
other
embodiments described herein, but with the exception that the the interface
between the forward and rear sole portions 800, 801 respectively need not be a
straight line or edge. In another embodiment, the interface between the rear
portion of the forward sole portion and the forward portion of the rear sole
portion
may be a curved line, with a matching pair of wavy or curved contoured faces
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802, 803 on the front and rear sole portions which abut or meet each other.
The
curved surfaces may be configured to interlock with each other in an extended
condition, so as to provide an interlocking of the front and rear sole
portions in
use due to the shaping of the surfaces, whilst at the same time allowing easy
folding of the shoe.
Referring to figure 9 herein, in a third embodiment, the forward and rear
sole portions may be adapted to engage each other so that a front portion of
said
rear sole engages with a rear portion of said front sole to provide a
substantially
rigid joint between said front and rear sole portions when the sole portions
are in
extended condition for wearing said shoe. A jagged diamond shaped edge may
be provided to each of the front and rear soles, so as to interlock at the
meeting
between the rear edge of the front sole and the front edge of the rear sole.
The
periphery at the front of the rear sole may comprise a plurality of faces in
an
upright direction as viewed when the shoe is in normal extended mode as worn
by a user, the faces being angled towards each other. Similarly the periphery
at
the rear of the forward sole may comprise a corresponding set of interlocking
faces which meet up with those of the front sole when the front and rear soles
meet in the extended normal shoe use mode. The front of the rear sole may
resemble a sawtooth arrangement and similarly, the rear of the front sole
portion
may comprise a matching sawtooth which interlocks with the sawtooth on the
rear
sole. The interlocking of the two sole halves may add rigidity to the sole and
in
extended mode provide a two part sole which, whilst being separable in folded
mode behaves like a one piece moulded sole in an extended interlocked mode.
In other embodiments, the faces at the rear of the front sole and the front of
the rear sole may be made in a variety of interlocking or matching shapes,
including sinusoidal undulating faces, channeled surfaces in a direction
across
the width of the shoe, or a combination of protrusions and recesses with
protrusions on one face of the front or rear sole interlocking with
corresponding
recesses on the other one of the front or rear soles.
