U.S. patent application number 09/862782 was filed with the patent office on 2002-12-05 for variable width footwear.
Invention is credited to Issler, David C..
Application Number | 20020178614 09/862782 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25339332 |
Filed Date | 2002-12-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020178614 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Issler, David C. |
December 5, 2002 |
Variable width footwear
Abstract
An adjustable width shoe system includes an upper, a sock liner
adhesively attached to an insole, the insole attached to the upper
and a removable footbed configured to be inserted into an interior
volume of the upper and over a foot support surface of the sock
liner. The removable footbed has a second periphery substantially
commensurate with the first periphery of the sock liner and a
second foot support surface smaller than the first support surface
of the sock liner. The sock liner and upper together define an
interior volume for receiving a wearer's foot.
Inventors: |
Issler, David C.; (North
Andover, MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FRANK R. OCCHIUTI
Fish & Richardson P.C.
225 Franklin Street
Boston
MA
02110-2804
US
|
Family ID: |
25339332 |
Appl. No.: |
09/862782 |
Filed: |
May 21, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/43 ;
36/44 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 3/26 20130101; A43B
17/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/43 ;
36/44 |
International
Class: |
A43B 013/38 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An adjustable width shoe system comprising: an upper having an
insole attached thereto; a sock liner attached to the insole, the
sock liner and upper together defining an interior volume for
receiving a wearer's foot, and having a first foot support surface
and a first periphery; and a removable footbed configured to be
inserted into said interior volume and over the foot support
surface of the sock liner, the removable footbed having a second
periphery substantially commensurate with the first periphery of
the sock liner and a second foot support surface smaller than the
first support surface of the sock liner.
2. The shoe system of claim 1 wherein the removable footbed
includes an outer peripheral wall extending substantially upwardly
and outwardly, the outer peripheral wall defining a contoured
second foot support surface.
3. The shoe system of claim 2 wherein the interior cavity of the
shoe is smaller by one width.
4. The shoe system of claim 2 wherein the removable footbed has a
first thickness at an arch region of the removable bed and a second
thickness at a front end of the removable footbed wherein first
thickness is larger than second thickness.
5. The shoe system of claim 2 wherein the lateral width of the shoe
interior volume is reduced.
6. The shoe system of claim 1 wherein a bottom surface of the sock
liner includes a non-slip surface.
7. The shoe system of claim 1 wherein an upper surface of the sock
liner is finished.
8. The shoe system of claim 1 wherein an upper surface of the
removable footbed is finished.
9. A method for adjusting the width of a shoe of the type including
an upper, a sock liner attached to an insole, the insole attached
to the upper, the sock liner and upper together defining an
interior volume for receiving a wearer's foot, the sock liner
having a first foot support surface and a first periphery, the
method comprising inserting a removable footbed into the interior
volume and over the foot support surface of the sock liner, the
removable footbed having a second periphery substantially
commensurate with the first periphery of the sock liner and a
second foot support surface smaller than the first support surface
of the sock liner.
10. The method of claim 9 further comprising forming the removable
footbed with a contoured second foot support surface defined by an
outer peripheral wall extending substantially upwardly and
outwardly.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the interior cavity of the shoe
is smaller by one width.
12. The method of claim 10 wherein the removable footbed has a
first thickness at an arch region of the removable bed and a second
thickness at a front end of the removable footbed wherein first
thickness is larger than second thickness.
13. The method of claim 10 wherein the lateral width of the shoe
interior volume is reduced.
14. The method of claim 9 further comprising providing a non-slip
surface on a bottom surface of the sock liner.
15. The method of claim 9 further comprising finishing an upper
surface of the sock liner.
16. The method of claim 9 further comprising finishing an upper
surface of the removable footbed.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to footwear such as boots and shoes,
and more particularly to varying the width of a shoe.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The invention relates to footwear, such as shoes or
boots.
[0003] Shoe sizing systems are a fairly recent innovation. In
centuries past, people acquired shoes in one of several ways: 1)
custom-made by a shoemaker if you could afford it; 2) the
individual made their own shoes for themselves or their family; or
3) people acquired the shoes second-hand from a more affluent
individual, or people handed-down the shoes within the family.
[0004] The homemade method was relatively simple. The shoe wearer
would place their foot on a slab of leather where the shoemaker
would cut a sole from it. Then the shoemaker would lay a piece of
leather or cloth over the top of the foot, cut the piece to fit,
then nail or tack it to the sole. By repeated experience some women
learned to make some quite elegant cloth shoes by this simple
method. Yet, nobody thought in terms of sizes or widths, because of
the simplicity of the form-fitting process.
[0005] As the profession developed, the shoemaker followed
substantially the same basic method except for enhanced skill and
sophistication. The shoemaker started with a foot tracing
(sometimes even a foot imprint in clay). Yet, the measurement of
the foot "mass" was also important. The shoemaker measured the foot
"mass" by using the "hand span" method by determining the girth at
the ball, instep and elsewhere with various spans of his hand that
he "translated" into a last. He probably also used a crude kind of
size stick for other measurements. But again, no sizes existed,
only measurements. And each shoemaker had his own individual way of
measuring, which he jealously guarded and which, of course,
precluded any possibility of a general shoe measuring or sizing
system applicable to all.
[0006] Edwin S. Simpson of New York first proposed and introduced
in 1880 the width of a shoe when he prepared the first standardized
last measurement chart. Until that time no system of widths
existed--and, in fact, shoemakers rarely made shoes on widths at
all. Seven years passed before the Retail Boot & Shoe Dealers'
National Association adopted the system nationally in 1887.
[0007] Yet, even with that national official sanction it still took
many additional years before manufacturers and retailers
incorporated shoe widths in their inventories. In the early 1900s,
a substantial share of shoes continued to be made and sold on only
one width. Not until the early 1920s did manufacturers and
retailers begin carrying a full range of widths. Thus, shoe widths
are actually little more than a half-century-old. Some
American-made shoes are made with many different widths. No country
in the world comes close to the United States in width selection.
Indeed, most of the world's shoes are made with only one width.
[0008] The advantage of a standardize last system is that a men's
shoe in a size 9D, for example, will always have the same width
(circumference) on any shape last. When considering toe shape, a
last with a pointed toe will be longer than the last of the same
size and width having a square toe. The pointed toe area of the
shoe will have unused space to allow comfortable placement of the
foot within the shoe
SUMMARY
[0009] The invention relates to a footwear construction and method
for allowing a user to adjust the width of the shoe, thereby
providing an improved fit and increased comfort.
[0010] In a general aspect of the invention, an adjustable width
shoe system includes an upper, a sock liner adhesively attached to
an insole, the insole attached to the upper, and a removable
footbed configured to be inserted into an interior volume of the
upper and over a foot support surface of the sock liner. The
removable footbed has a second periphery substantially commensurate
with the first periphery of the sock liner and a second foot
support surface smaller than the first support surface of the sock
liner. The sock liner and upper together define an interior volume
for receiving a wearer's foot.
[0011] Among other advantages, a user can use the adjustable width
system to improve the fit with respect to the width of the shoe.
Adjustment can be accomplished in several ways. First, a wearer may
desire a smaller shoe width and may insert the removable footbed to
decrease the width. In this case the removable footbed is
maintained within the shoe during use. Alternatively, the removable
footbed can be periodically inserted and removed depending on the
condition of the wearer's foot. For example, the adjustable width
system allows the users who are on their feet for long periods of
time to remove the footbed when their feet swell, as may be the
case of workers in certain professions (e.g., nurses,
athletes).
[0012] In the adjustable width system a complete shoe is being
offered and the wearer can choose to remove the inserted footbed,
leaving the inside of the shoe still finished with a sock lining.
In addition, the adjustable width shoe system gives the retailer
the possibility to sell fitting shoes in various widths, without
the need of carrying a large inventory of widths. A retailer can
sell the same size shoe with or without a footbed depending on a
customers shoe width.
[0013] In embodiments of this invention, the footwear system may
also include one or more of the following features. The removable
footbed includes an outer peripheral wall extending substantially
upwardly and outwardly, the outer peripheral wall defining a
contoured second foot support surface. For example, the outer
peripheral wall may be in the form of a beveled wall. The second
foot support surface is smaller than the first support surface by
substantially one-half shoe size. An upper surface of the sock
liner and/or removable footbed is finished.
[0014] The term "finished" means that the shoe may be worn with or
without the footbed such that the interior has the same appearance
except for the change in width. If there are brand names stamped on
the footbed, the same stampings are on the sock liner. Normally,
when footbeds are removed the interior is raw. The top of the
insole, in some instances stitches or even the tuck material may
show. With the adjustable width shoe system, the sock liner may be
made of leather or man-made material that add to the neat and
finished look.
[0015] In another aspect of the invention, a method for adjusting
the width of a shoe of the type includes the following steps. A
sock liner is adhesively attached to an insole, and the insole is
attached to the upper, the sock liner and upper together defining
an interior volume for receiving a wearer's foot. The sock liner
has a first foot support surface and a first periphery. A removable
footbed is inserted into the interior volume and over the foot
support surface of the sock liner. The removable footbed has a
second periphery substantially commensurate with the first
periphery of the sock liner and a second foot support surface
smaller than the first support surface of the sock liner.
[0016] Embodiments of this method may include one or more of the
following steps. The removable footbed is formed with a contoured
second foot support surface defined by an outer peripheral wall
extending substantially upwardly and outwardly. The second foot
support surface is smaller than the first support surface by
substantially one-half shoe size. The bottom surface of the sock
liner is provided with a non-slip surface. The upper surface of the
sock liner and/or removable footbed is finished so that a wearer
may use the shoe with or without the removable footbed.
[0017] The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are
set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below.
Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be
apparent from the description and drawings, and from the
claims.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the component
parts of a shoe system in accordance with the invention.
[0019] FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of the shoe taken along
lines 2-2 of FIG. 1 without a removable footbed.
[0020] FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the shoe taken along
lines 2-2 of FIG. 1 with the removable footbed.
[0021] FIG. 3A is a top view of the removable footbed of the shoe
system of FIG. 1.
[0022] FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the removable footbed
insert taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 3A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2A-2B, a shoe system 10 is designed
to allow a user to adjust the width of the shoe, thereby providing
an improved fit and increased comfort to the wearer. As will be
described in greater detail below, shoe system 10 includes a
removable footbed insert 20 for adjusting the width of the
shoe.
[0024] Shoe system 10 includes an upper 12 and an insole 13 lasted
to the bottom portion of the upper. As is known in the art, lasting
involves tightly shaping the upper over the contour of a last, a
piece of wood or synthetic material roughly following the shape of
the foot and acting as a form on which the shoe is made. An outsole
14 is attached to the exposed surface of insole 13. In this
embodiment, a heel 16 is attached (e.g., with adhesive) to outsole
14.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 2A, a finished sock liner 18, conforming
to the shape of insole 13, is adhesively attached to the upper
surface of insole 13. Upper 12 and sock liner 18 together define an
interior volume for receiving the user's foot. Sock liner may be
cut from soft leather (i.e., kid, cape (sheep) or soft cowhide) or
from man-made materials (e.g., poly vinyl chloride). Sock liner 18
is fabricated with materials (e.g., soft leather) selected to
provide comfort to the wearer during walking. Padding 17 is
adhesively attached between insole 13 and sock liner 18 and
provides additional cushioned support for the user's heel. Padding
17 has a length extending from the heel region to the arch. And is
formed, for example, of polyurethane foam having an uncompressed
thickness of about 2 mm to 6 mm. Padding 17 extends laterally to a
distance less than the edge of sock liner 18, thereby proving a
recessed portion of the heel region of sock liner 18 around its
periphery. In other words, padding 17 is slightly smaller than the
periphery of sock liner 18 to provide a peripheral edge for
adhesively securing the cushioning layer within the cavity using a
relatively thin cover layer 19 formed of fiber or leather. In the
condition shown in FIG. 2A, shoe system 10 represents a wearable
shoe for the user.
[0026] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3A-3B, shoe system 10 further
includes a footbed insert 20 sized and shaped to fit securely on
top of sock liner 18, so that the footbed insert 20 has a snug fit
inside the shoe. Footbed insert 20 can be formed of a composite
material (e.g., compressed ethyl vinyl acetate, polyethylene, and
micro cellular urethane) and includes a continuous beveled wall 26
that extends from an inner arch portion 29 along a heel portion 27
to an outer arch portion 28. The measured thickness of footbed
insert 20 between the inner arch portion 29 and outer portion 28
reduces tapers to a reduced thickness at a front portion 25 of
footbed insert 20. The measured thickness of footbed insert 20
between the inner portion 29 and outer portion 28 is approximately
{fraction (3/16)}" depending on the size of the shoe. The tapered
thickness is approximately {fraction (1/64)}". The tapering effect
and the beveled wall 26, having the necessary angle and depth,
together reduce the shoe width size when placed inside the shoe. In
this embodiment, inserting footbed insert 20 reduces the inside
measurements by the equivalent of one shoe size width.
[0027] A user can use shoe system 10 in at least two ways. First, a
user may desire a smaller shoe width and may insert footbed insert
20 to achieve a decreased width size. For example, a pair of size
8W shoes may be turned into a pair of 8M by the process of removing
inserted footbed 20. The same would hold true for the wide widths.
Conversely, with footbed insert 20 already inserted, a user may
desire a greater width size and would remove footbed insert 20. For
example, a pair of size 8M shoes may be turned into a pair of 8 W
by the process of removing the inserted footbed 20. The same would
hold true for the wide widths.
[0028] Other embodiments are within the following claims. For
example, in the above embodiment, beveled wall 26 was formed to
reduce the inside measurements by the equivalent of one shoe size
width. In other embodiments, however, the beveled wall can be
formed to provide a decrease in shoe width that is greater than
(2W) or less than (0.5W) one shoe width.
[0029] Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the
following claims.
* * * * *