U.S. patent application number 10/315695 was filed with the patent office on 2004-06-10 for length adjustable shoe.
Invention is credited to Ha, Ki-Ho.
Application Number | 20040107604 10/315695 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32468775 |
Filed Date | 2004-06-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040107604 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ha, Ki-Ho |
June 10, 2004 |
Length adjustable shoe
Abstract
A length-adjustable shoe is disclosed. The shoe includes an
outsole, an insole attached on the outsole, an upper attached on
the insole, means for adjusting a length of the insole, which is
provided at the insole, an upper tension member provided at the
upper, a lower tension member provided at the outsole, and means
for fastening a front part and a rear part of the upper divided by
the upper tension member to maintain a size of the shoe at a
wearer's foot size. The shoe is extended and contracted
longitudinally without change of an outer shape of the shoe, by the
length-adjusting means, the upper tension member, the lower tension
member, and the fastening means. The shoe can accommodate a wearer
suffering hallux valgus or hallux varus, a wearer with both feet
having different sizes, and a wearer with rapid growth rate. The
shoe can be worn by a wearer for a long period of time without
needless expenditure due to purchase of two pair of shoes.
Inventors: |
Ha, Ki-Ho; (Pusan,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Robert A. Yesukevich
Michael Best & Friedrich LLC
Suite 1900
401 N. Michigan Avenue
Chicago
IL
60611
US
|
Family ID: |
32468775 |
Appl. No.: |
10/315695 |
Filed: |
December 10, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/97 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 3/26 20130101; A43B
1/0018 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
036/097 |
International
Class: |
A43B 003/26 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A length-adjustable shoe, comprising: an outsole; an insole
attached on the outsole; an upper attached on the insole and
covering a wearer's instep; means for adjusting a length of the
insole to be suitable to a wearer's foot, which is provided at the
insole; an upper tension member provided at the upper to provide
tightening force to the upper; a lower tension member provided at
the outsole to provide tightening force to the outsole; and means
for fastening a front part and a rear part of the upper divided by
the upper tension member, which is provided at the front and rear
parts of the upper to maintain a size of the shoe at a wearer's
foot size.
2. The length-adjustable shoe as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
means for adjusting a length of the insole comprises: a first
insole joint part corresponding to a front part of the insole,
including: a dovetail groove formed at a lower surface of the front
part of the insole and having a certain length; a rectangular
length-adjusting hole formed at the front part of the insole to be
positioned in the dovetail groove, and having a longitudinal rack
at its one side; and a fixing key hingedly connected to one side of
the length-adjusting hole and having a fixing rack at its one side;
and a second insole joint part corresponding to a rear part of the
insole, including: a spur gear having a proper diameter, which is
engaged with the fixing rack of the length-adjusting hole and the
fixing rack of the fixing key and is provided at its upper surface
with a cross recess; and a dovetail insert having a proper length
to be slidably inserted into the dovetail groove and having a gear
recess at its upper surface to receive a lower portion of the spur
gear.
3. The length-adjustable shoe as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
means for adjusting a length of the insole comprises: a first
insole joint part corresponding to a rear part of the insole,
including: a dovetail groove formed at a lower surface of the rear
part of the insole and having a certain length; and a first
adjusting hole extended from a rear end of the dovetail groove to a
rear end of the insole; a second insole joint part corresponding to
a front part of the insole, including: a dovetail insert having a
proper length to be slidably inserted into the dovetail groove; a
second adjusting hole forwardly extended from a rear end of the
dovetail insert; an adjusting recess formed at a lower surface of
the second insole joint part to communicate with a front end of the
adjusting hole; and a nut member fitted into the adjusting recess
and having a threaded recess at its lower surface; and an adjusting
rod for adjusting a spacing between the first and second insole
joint parts, which is inserted into the first adjusting hole of the
first insole joint part and the second adjusting hole of the second
insole joint part, including: a threaded portion provided at its
front region; an adjusting recess provided at its rear end; and a
bulging end provided at its front end.
4. The length-adjustable shoe as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
means for adjusting a length of the insole comprises: a first
insole joint part corresponding to a front part of the insole,
including: a dovetail groove formed at a lower surface of the rear
part of the insole and having a certain length; and a nut member
attached to the center of the dovetail groove and having a threaded
recess at its lower surface; a second insole joint part
corresponding to a rear part of the insole, including: a dovetail
insert having a proper length to be slidably inserted into the
dovetail groove; and an adjusting hole forwardly extended from its
rear end; and an adjusting rod for adjusting a spacing between the
first and second insole joint parts, which is inserted into the
adjusting hole of the second insole joint part, including: a
threaded portion provided at its front region; an adjusting recess
provided at its rear end; and a bulging end provided at its front
end to be engaged with the threaded portion of the adjusting
rod.
5. The length-adjustable shoe as set forth in any of claims 2 to 4,
wherein facing ends of the first and second insole joint parts are
provided with inclined surfaces corresponding to each other.
6. The length-adjustable shoe as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
upper tension member, which is provided at the upper of the shoe,
is made of spandex, and the lower tension member, which is provided
at the outsole of the shoe, is made of elastic material to have a
bellows shape and a certain thickness.
7. The length-adjustable shoe as set forth in claim 6, wherein the
lower tension member is positioned at a front portion of the
outsole or both front and rear portions of the outsole.
8. The length-adjustable shoe as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
fastening means, which is provided at the upper of the shoe, is any
one selected from a group consisting of shoelaces, Velcro fasteners
and buckle bands.
9. The length-adjustable shoe as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
shoe is any one selected from a group consisting of athletic shoes,
mountaineering boots, golf shoes, walking shoes, military boots and
work shows, a length of which is adjusted at its insole, upper and
outsole.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a shoe, and more
particularly to a length-adjustable shoe, which can be adjusted in
its length within a predetermined range to accommodate children's
feet growing through various sizes, and particularly to accommodate
a user with both feet having different sizes, thereby relieving an
economic burden due to frequent purchasing of shoes.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] In general, a person puts shoes on both his or her feet
before walking, so as to protect his or her naked feet from injury
and to reduce impact directly transmitted to his or her feet's
soles.
[0005] Every user purchases shoes after selecting shoes in
consideration of size, design and function of shoes. Usually,
children and youngsters purchase shoes somewhat larger than actual
sizes of their feet because of rapid growth of their feet. In case
of shoes worn by the children and youngsters, the shoes must be
discarded after use for a short period of time, for example one
year or two years, because the shoes cannot accommodate the child's
feet any more. That is, the shoes become useless due to growth of
the child's feet before the soles of the shoes are completely worn.
Amounts of discarded shoes gradually increase due to growth of
population, and an enormous number of shoes cannot be reused,
thereby wasting a considerable resources.
[0006] In case of a user with both feet having different sizes,
most users must buy two pairs of shoes so as to put the left shoe
of one pair of shoes on his left foot and to put the right shoe of
the other pair of shoes on his right foot, or the user must buy
shoes made to measure. Therefore, since such users must pay for the
additional pair of shoes and must dispose the two unsuitable shoes,
the users are imposed with burden of paying double expenses.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in
mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object
of the present invention is to provide a length-adjustable shoe,
which can be adjusted in its length within a predetermined range to
be suitable to a wearer's feet and particularly to be suitable to a
wearer with both feet having different sizes, thereby relieving
economic burden due to double expenses for buying shoes.
[0008] In order to accomplish the above object, the present
invention provides a length-adjustable shoe, comprising: an
outsole; an insole attached on the outsole; an upper attached on
the insole and covering a wearer's instep; means for adjusting a
length of the insole to be suitable to a wearer's foot, which is
provided at the insole; an upper tension member provided at the
upper to provide tightening force to the upper; a lower tension
member provided at the outsole to provide tightening force to the
outsole; and means for fastening a front part and a rear part of
the upper divided by the upper tension member, which is provided at
the front and rear parts of the upper to maintain a size of the
shoe at a wearer's foot size.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will be more clearly understood from the
following detailed description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a side view of a shoe according to the present
invention, which is partially broken away;
[0011] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an insole of the
shoe according to the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an operation of adjusting a
length of the insole shown in FIG. 2;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of
FIG. 3; which shows a coupling state of a dovetail groove and a
dovetail insert according to the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of
FIG. 3, which shows a coupling state of a dovetail groove and a
dovetail insert according to another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a side view of a shoe, an upper of which is
provided with a Velcro fastener as a fastening means according to
the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 7 is a side view of a shoe, an upper of which is
provided with a buckle band as a fastening means according to the
present invention;
[0017] FIG. 8 is a side view of a shoe, an upper of which is
provided with a shoelace as a fastening means according to the
present invention;
[0018] FIG. 9 is a side view of a shoe, which is provided at its
toe portion with a tension member according to the present
invention;
[0019] FIG. 10 is a plan view of an outsole, which is provided at
its front portion with a tension member according to the present
invention;
[0020] FIG. 11 is a plan view of an outsole, which is provided at
its rear portion with a tension member according to the present
invention;
[0021] FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of another
embodiment of an insole of the shoe according to the present
invention;
[0022] FIG. 13 is a plan view showing an operation of adjusting a
length of the insole shown in FIG. 12;
[0023] FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of still another
embodiment of an insole of the shoe according to the present
invention;
[0024] FIG. 15 is a plan view showing an operation of adjusting a
length of the insole shown in FIG. 14; and
[0025] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of
FIG. 15.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0026] This invention will be described in further detail by way of
example with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0027] A shoe 1 according to the present invention includes an
insole 2, which is divided into a front part and a rear part. The
shoe 1 includes means 10, 20 or 30 for adjusting a length of the
insole 2 to be suitable to a wearer's foot, which is provided at a
predetermined position of the insole 2, an upper tension member 40
provided at an upper 3 of the shoe 1 to provide tightening force to
the upper 3, a lower tension member 50 provided at an outsole 4 of
the shoe 1 to provide tightening force to the outsole 4, and means
60 for fastening a front part of the upper 3 to a rear part of the
upper 3, which is provided at the front and rear parts of the upper
3 to maintain a size of the shoe 1 at a wearer's foot size.
[0028] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the means 10 for adjusting a
length of the insole 2 includes a first insole joint part 11
corresponding to the front part of the insole 2, and a second
insole joint part 12 corresponding to the rear part of the insole
2.
[0029] The first insole joint part 11 includes a dovetail groove
11-1 formed at a lower surface of the front part of the insole 2
and having a certain length, a rectangular length-adjusting hole
11-2 formed at the front part of the insole 2 to be positioned in
the dovetail groove 11-1, and having a longitudinal rack 11a at its
one side, and a fixing key 11-3 hingedly connected to one side of
the length-adjusting hole 11-2 and having a fixing rack 11b at its
one side.
[0030] The second insole joint part 12 includes a spur gear 12-1
having a proper diameter, which is engaged with the fixing rack 11a
of the length-adjusting hole 11-2 and the fixing rack 11b of the
fixing key 11-3 and is provided at its upper surface with a cross
recess 12b, and a dovetail insert 12-2 having a proper length to be
slidably inserted into the dovetail groove 11-1 and having a gear
recess 12a at its upper surface to receive a lower portion of the
spur gear 12-1.
[0031] As mentioned above, the fixing key 11-3 is connected to one
side of the length-adjusting hole 11-2 of the first insole joint
part 11. More specifically, one end of the fixing key 11-3 is
hingedly connected to a front side of the length-adjusting hole
11-2, and the other end of the fixing key 11-3 is provided with a
recess (not shown) to allow the fixing key 11-3 to be easily taken
out of the length-adjusting hole, or is sized to be shorter than
the length of the length-adjusting hole 11-2.
[0032] Facing ends of the first and second insole joint parts 11
and 12 are provided with inclined surfaces 11c and 12c
corresponding to each other.
[0033] FIGS. 12 and 13 show another embodiment 20 of means for
adjusting a length of the insole 2. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13,
the means 20 for adjusting a length of the insole 2 includes a
first insole joint part 21 corresponding to the rear part of the
insole 2, a second insole joint part 22 corresponding to the front
part of the insole 2, and an adjusting rod 23 for adjusting a
spacing between the first and second insole joint parts 21 and
22.
[0034] The first insole joint part 21 includes a dovetail groove
21-1 formed at a lower surface of the rear part of the insole 2 and
having a certain length, and a first adjusting hole 21-2 extended
from a rear end of the dovetail groove 21-1 to a rear end of the
insole 2.
[0035] The second insole joint part 22 includes a dovetail insert
22-2 having a proper length to be slidably inserted into the
dovetail groove 21-1, a second adjusting hole 22-3 forwardly
extended from a rear end of the dovetail insert 22-2, an adjusting
recess 22-4 formed at a lower surface of the second insole joint
part 22 to communicate with a front end of the adjusting hole 22-3,
and a nut member 22-5 fitted into the adjusting recess 22-4 and
having a threaded recess at its lower surface.
[0036] The adjusting rod 23 is inserted into the first adjusting
hole 21-2 of the first insole joint part 21 and the second
adjusting hole 22-3 of the second insole joint part 22, and is
provided at its front region with a threaded portion 23a and
provided at its rear end with an adjusting recess 23b. The
adjusting rod 23 is further provided at its front end with a
bulging end 23d.
[0037] Facing ends of the first and second insole joint parts 21
and 22 are provided with inclined surfaces 21c and 22c
corresponding to each other.
[0038] FIGS. 14 to 16 show still another embodiment of means for
adjusting a length of the insole 2. As shown in FIGS. 14 to 16, the
means 30 for adjusting a length of the insole 2 includes a first
insole joint part 31 corresponding to the front part of the insole
2, a second insole joint part 32 corresponding to the rear part of
the insole 2, and an adjusting rod 33 for adjusting a spacing
between the first and second insole joint parts 31 and 32.
[0039] The first insole joint part 31 includes a dovetail groove
31-1 formed at a lower surface of the rear part of the insole 2 and
having a certain length, and a nut member 31-2 attached to the
center of the dovetail groove 31-1 and having a threaded recess at
its lower surface.
[0040] The second insole joint part 32 includes a pair of dovetail
inserts 32-2 having a proper length to be slidably inserted into
the dovetail groove 31-1, and an adjusting hole 32-1 forwardly
extended from its rear end.
[0041] The adjusting rod 33 is inserted into the adjusting hole
32-1 of the second insole joint part 32, and is provided at its
front region with a threaded portion 33a and provided at its rear
end with an adjusting recess 33b. The adjusting rod 23 is further
provided at its front end with a bulging end 33d to be engaged with
the threaded portion 33a thereof.
[0042] The adjusting recess 33b of the adjusting rod 33 enables the
adjusting rod 33 to be rotated by a tool such as a screwdriver. The
rear end of the adjusting rod 33 is embedded in the second insole
joint part 32 so as not to be protruded outward.
[0043] Facing ends of the first and second insole joint parts 31
and 32 are provided with inclined surfaces 31c and 32c
corresponding to each other.
[0044] Since the front ends of the adjusting rods 23 and 33 are
provided at their front ends with the bulging ends 23d and 33d, the
adjusting rods 23 and 33 cannot be separated from the insole 2
during adjustment of the rods 23 and 33. Engagement of the nut
members 22-5 and 31-2 with the adjusting rods 23 and 33 is
fulfilled by forcibly fitting the adjusting rods 23 and 33 into the
threaded recesses of the adjusting rods 23 and 33.
[0045] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 6 to 9, the upper tension
member 40, which is provided at the upper 3 of the shoe 1, is
preferably made of spandex, and the lower tension member 50, which
is provided at the outsole 4 of the shoe 1, is made of elastic
material to have a bellows shape and a certain thickness.
Preferably, the lower tension member 50 is integrally formed with
the outsole 4, such that the lower tension member 50 is positioned
at a region of the outsole 4 which is spaced from the ground, that
is, which does not contact the ground, when a wearer is in a
standing position.
[0046] As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the fastening means 50, which is
provided at the upper 3 of the shoe 1 to be positioned over the
upper tension member 40, may be embodied by shoelaces, Velcro
fasteners or buckle bands.
[0047] In the embodiments of the present invention, the shoe 1 may
be applied to, but is not limited to, athletic shoes,
mountaineering boots, golf shoes, walking shoes, military boots and
work shoes, lengths of which can be adjusted at their insoles 2,
uppers 4 and outsoles 4.
[0048] Functions and effects of the length-adjustable shoe
according to the present invention will now be described in
detail.
[0049] A wearer buys the shoes 1 having a size suitable to his
feet. When there is a need to adjust a length of the shoe because
the wearer's feet have grown by a certain amount, a liner (not
shown) is first separated from the insole 2 of the shoe 1 to expose
the insole 2 to the outside. In this state, a length of the shoe 1
can be adjusted to be suitable to the wearer's foot by manipulating
the length-adjusting means 10.
[0050] This operation is more specifically described with reference
to FIGS. 1 to 3. After the liner is separated from the insole 2 of
the shoe 1, the fixing key 11-3 provided in the length-adjusting
hole 11-2 of the first insole joint part 11 is raised about its
hinged front end to be disengaged from the rack 11b of the fixing
key 11-3 in such a way that the recess formed at the rear end of
the fixing key 11-3 is engaged with a thin tool and then raised by
the thin tool.
[0051] In this state, the first insole joint part 11 is forwardly
moved with respect to the second insole joint part 12 by a desired
distance by rotating the spur gear 12-1 engaged with the rack 11a
provided at one side of the length-adjusting hole 11-2. Therefore,
a length of the insole 2 is adjusted to be suitable to a size of a
wearer's foot.
[0052] At this point, since the spur gear 12-1 is provided at its
upper surface with the cross recess 12b, as the spur gear 12-1 is
rotated by a screwdriver, the rack 11a, i.e., the first insole
joint part 11, is moved forward. Consequently, the inclined surface
11c of the first insole joint part 11 is spaced from the inclined
surface 12c of the second insole joint part 12.
[0053] The maximum spacing between the first and second insole
joint parts 11 and 12 is set to be about 10 mm, so as not to allow
the spacing to exceed the deformation limit for a given size of the
shoe 1.
[0054] Since the spur gear 12-1 is snugly fitted in the seat recess
12a formed at the upper surface of the dovetail insert 12-2 of the
second insole joint part 12 by a certain depth, the spur gear 12-1
is stably rotated in the seat recess 12a. As the spur gear 12-1 is
rotated, the dovetail insert 12-2 of the second insole joint part
12 is slidably moved with respect to the dovetail groove 11-1 until
a total length of the first and second insole joint parts 11 and 12
reaches a desired length.
[0055] As appreciated from FIGS. 4 and 5, the dovetail groove 11-1
and the dovetail insert 12-2 function to prevent separation or
bending of the insole 2 at the separated region of the insole 2
even though the inclined surfaces 11c and 12c of the dovetail
groove 11-1 and the dovetail insert 12-2 are separated from each
other after the adjustment of the length of the insole 2 is
completed.
[0056] After the above-mentioned adjustment of the length of the
insole 2, the fixing key 11-3 is fitted into the length-adjusting
hole 11-2 again. At this point, since the spur gear 12-1 is engaged
with the rack 11a of the length-adjusting hole 11-2 at its one
side, and engaged with the rack 11b of the fixing key 11-3 at the
opposite side, the spur gear 12-1 is firmly held not to be
rotated.
[0057] Thereafter, the liner is again placed on the insole 2.
[0058] Even though the first insole joint part 11 is spaced from
the second insole joint part 12 and then fixed thereto, the first
and second insole joint parts 11 and 12 are in contact with each
other at their inclined surfaces 11c and 12c, as shown in FIG. 1.
Therefore, a wearer hardly feels the spaced condition of the insole
2, and interference between the upper surface of the insole 2 and a
sole of his foot is considerably reduced.
[0059] A distance between the adjacent teeth of the spur gear 12-1,
and the racks 11a and 11b is preferably set such that a total
length of the first insole joint part 11 and the second insole
joint part 12 is increased in increments of any distance between 1
mm to 1.3 mm at a time, thereby allowing a total length of the
insole 2 to be finely adjusted.
[0060] To accommodate the increased length of the insole 2 after
the adjustment of a length of the insole 2, the upper 3 of the shoe
1 is provided with the upper tension member 40, and the outsole 4
of the sole 1 is provided with the lower tension member 50.
Consequently, after the adjustment of a length of the insole 2, the
upper and lower tension members 40 and 50 extend by the increased
length of the insole 2, thereby providing a comfortable wearing
condition to a wearer.
[0061] Since the lower bellows-shaped tension member 50 provided at
the outsole 4 is positioned at a region which is spaced from the
ground, that is, which does not contact the ground, the lower
tension member 50 is protected from interfering with the ground
during walking.
[0062] Since the upper tension member 40 provided at the upper 4 of
the shoe 1 is made of elastic rubber material which is extended and
restored by application and release of external force, the shoe 1
can accommodate a pressure applied thereto during walking.
Furthermore, the shoe 1 can accommodate wearer's feet having any
size within an allowable range by only the upper and lower tension
members 40 and 50 without manipulating other means for adjusting a
length of the insole 2.
[0063] As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the means 60 for fastening the
upper 3 of the shoe 1 is intended to assure a stable wearing
condition after the adjustment of a length of the insole 2. The
fastening means 60 may be embodied by shoelaces, Velcro fasteners
or buckle bands according to a desired design of the shoe 1.
[0064] FIGS. 10 and 11 show the lower bellows-shaped tension
members 50 according to the present invention, which are deformed
according to external pressure. In the drawings, FIG. 10 shows the
lower tension member 50 positioned at a rear region of the outsole
4, and FIG. 11 shows the lower tension member 50 positioned at a
front region of the outsole 4. As appreciated from the drawings,
the lower tension member 50 enables the shoe 1 to accommodate a
wearer's rotated by a screwdriver in a direction of loosening the
adjusting rod 23, the threaded portion 23a of the adjusting rod 23,
which is inserted in the first adjusting hole 21-2 of the first
insole joint part 21 and the second adjusting hole 22-3 of the
second insole joint part 22, is disengaged from the nut member
22-5, thereby causing the second insole joint part 21 to be spaced
from the first insole joint part 22.
[0065] At this point, the pair of dovetail inserts 22-2 of the
second insole joint part 22 is moved forward together with the nut
member 22-5 while being guided along the dovetail groove 21-1 of
the second insole joint part 21.
[0066] The shoe 1 according to this embodiment can accommodate a
wearer having a foot with a relatively thick and wide toe portion.
Therefore, the shoe 1 can provide a comfortable wearing condition
to a wearer suffering hallux valgus or hallux varus.
[0067] In still another embodiment 30 of means for adjusting a
length of the insole 2 shown in FIGS. 14 to 16, an operation of
adjusting a total length of the first and second insole joint parts
31 and 32 is performed as follows.
[0068] First, as the adjusting recess 33b of the adjusting rod 33,
which is positioned at a heel portion and exposed to the outside,
is rotated by a screwdriver in a direction of loosening the
adjusting rod 33, the threaded portion 33a of the adjusting rod 33,
which is inserted in the first adjusting hole 32-1 of the first
insole joint part 32, is disengaged from the nut member 31-2
attached to the dovetail groove 31-1 of the first insole joint part
31, thereby causing the first insole joint part 31 to be spaced
from the second insole joint part 32.
[0069] At this point, the dovetail inserts 32-2 of the second
insole joint part 32 are moved rearward while being guided along
the dovetail groove 31-1 of the first insole joint part 31.
[0070] After the adjustment of a length of the insole 2, a wearer
puts the shoe 1 on his foot. Thereafter, the wearer can properly
fit the shoe 1 to his foot by manipulating the fastening means 60
shown in FIGS. 6 to 8. Since the adjusting rod 33 is positioned at
a rear portion of the shoe 1 and thus the adjusting rod is applied
to the heel portion of the shoe as weight, a wearer can walk more
stably.
[0071] FIG. 9 shows a shoe 1 in which the upper and lower tension
members 4 and 5 are applied to a toe or an instep portion thereof.
Accordingly, the shoe 1 shown in FIG. 9 is suitable for a wearer
with a wide and thick toe or instep because the front portion of
the shoe 1 can be extended forward by a manipulation of the
adjusting rod 33 and can be extended outward by the upper and lower
tension members 40 and 50.
[0072] Since the shoe 1 according to the present invention can be
extended and contracted within a range of 10 mm by the
length-adjusting means 10, 20 and 30, the upper and lower tension
members 40 and 50, and the fastening means 60, the shoe 1 can be
comfortably worn by children and youngsters with rapid growth rates
and wearers with both feet having different sizes.
[0073] As described above, the present invention provides a shoe
capable of being extended and contracted longitudinally without
chance of an outer shape of the shoe, by the length-adjusting means
provided at its insole, the upper tension member provided at its
upper, the lower tension member provided at its outsole, and the
fastening means provided at its upper. Accordingly, the shoe can be
worn by a wearer for a long period of time without needless
expenditure due to purchase of two pair of shoes.
[0074] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have
been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art
will appreciate that various modifications, additions and
substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and
spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying
claims.
* * * * *