U.S. patent application number 12/896598 was filed with the patent office on 2012-04-05 for easy slip shoe.
This patent application is currently assigned to CONVERSE INC.. Invention is credited to Chris Ferreira, Kenji Nakayama, Pamela Bogert Stauffer.
Application Number | 20120079742 12/896598 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45888599 |
Filed Date | 2012-04-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120079742 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ferreira; Chris ; et
al. |
April 5, 2012 |
Easy Slip Shoe
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a construction of
a shoe that includes a tongue that has a first fastener attached
along a portion of either a medial side or a lateral side of the
tongue. Additionally, a stretchable member is attached near a
portion of the medial side or the lateral side of the tongue that
is opposite of the first fastener. The first fastener is attachable
to the upper near the location of the first fastener on the tongue.
Similarly, the stretchable member is attached to the upper near the
location of the stretchable member on the tongue.
Inventors: |
Ferreira; Chris; (Hampton,
NH) ; Nakayama; Kenji; (Boston, MA) ;
Stauffer; Pamela Bogert; (Andover, MA) |
Assignee: |
CONVERSE INC.
North Andover
MA
|
Family ID: |
45888599 |
Appl. No.: |
12/896598 |
Filed: |
October 1, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/54 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43C 11/002 20130101;
A43C 11/006 20130101; A43C 11/004 20130101; A43C 11/1493 20130101;
A43B 23/047 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/54 |
International
Class: |
A43B 23/26 20060101
A43B023/26 |
Claims
1. A shoe construction comprising: a sole having a toe end and an
opposite heel end and having opposite medial and lateral sides
extending between the toe end and the heel end; an upper of
flexible material attached to the sole, the upper extending
upwardly from the sole to an upper top edge, the upper top edge
defining a forefoot opening and an ankle opening into an interior
of the shoe; a tongue of flexible material having opposite medial
and lateral sides along a length that extends upwardly from the
sole to a distal end of the tongue positionable at the ankle
opening; the tongue having a first fastener attached along a
portion of either the medial side or the lateral side; and a
stretchable member attached proximate to a portion of the medial
side or the lateral side that is opposite the first fastener,
wherein the first fastener and the stretchable member are
attachable to the upper proximate their respective locations on the
tongue.
2. The shoe construction of claim 1, wherein the first fastener is
a hook or a loop material.
3. The shoe construction of claim 2, wherein the upper has the
other of the hook or the loop material affixed proximate the
forefoot opening.
4. The shoe construction of claim 1, wherein the first fastener is
affixed to an exterior surface of the tongue.
5. The shoe construction of claim 1, wherein the portion of the
medial side or the lateral side to which the first fastener is
attached corresponds to the length of the forefoot opening.
6. The shoe construction of claim 1, wherein the first fastener is
attached along a portion of the lateral side.
7. The shoe construction of claim 1, wherein the stretchable member
is a portion of elastic banding.
8. The shoe construction of claim 1, wherein the stretchable member
is sewn to the tongue proximate a first end of the stretchable
member and sewn to the upper proximate an opposite end of the
stretchable member.
9. The shoe construction of claim 1, wherein the stretchable member
extends through an aperture of the tongue in a direction from an
outer surface to an inner surface of the tongue.
10. The shoe construction of claim 1, wherein the stretchable
member is attached to the tongue at a location between the forefoot
opening and: a) the medial side of the tongue when attached
proximate to a portion of the medial side, or b) the lateral side
of the tongue when attached proximate to a portion of the lateral
side.
11. The shoe construction of claim 1, wherein the tongue is
attached to the upper proximate a portion of the forefoot opening
along a side of the upper to which the stretchable member is
attachable.
12. The shoe construction of claim 11, wherein the tongue is
attached to the upper by stitching that extends in a direction
oriented from the toe box toward the distal end of the tongue for a
length of half of the forefoot opening.
13. A shoe construction comprising: a sole having a toe end and an
opposite heel end and having opposite medial and lateral sides
extending between the toe end and the heel end; an upper of
flexible material attached to the sole, the upper extending
upwardly from the sole to an upper top edge, the upper top edge
defining a forefoot opening and an ankle opening into an interior
of the shoe inside the upper; a first plurality of apertures
arranged in a line along a medial side of the forefoot opening; a
second plurality of apertures arranged in a line along a lateral
side of the forefoot opening; a tongue of flexible material having
opposite medial and lateral sides along a length that extends from
the sole to a distal end of the tongue positioned at the ankle
opening; the tongue having a hook or a loop material attached along
a portion of either the medial side or the lateral side, the upper
having the other of the hook or the loop material attached along a
portion of the forefoot opening, wherein the tongue and the upper
are temporarily affixable by the hook and the loop materials; and
the tongue having a stretchable member attached proximate a portion
of the medial side or the lateral side opposite to that which the
hook or loop material is attached, wherein the stretchable member
is also attached to the upper.
14. The shoe construction of claim 13, wherein the hook or the loop
material is affixed to the lateral side of the tongue and the
stretchable member is affixed proximate a portion of the medial
side of the tongue.
15. The shoe construction of claim 14, wherein the hook or the loop
material affixed to the upper extends along the second plurality of
apertures.
16. The shoe construction of claim 15, wherein the hook or the loop
material affixed to the upper obscures the second plurality
apertures preventing a lacing from extending through one of the
second plurality of apertures.
17. The shoe construction of claim 14, wherein the hook or the loop
material affixed to the upper extends along the length of the
forefoot opening.
18. The shoe construction of claim 14, wherein the medial side of
the tongue is sewn to the upper along the forefoot opening for at
least a length including one of the plurality of the first
plurality of apertures, wherein the length of the upper sewn to the
tongue extends to a sewn point along the forefoot opening.
19. The shoe construction of claim 18, wherein the upper is
attached to the tongue by the stretchable member at a location
closer to the distal end of the tongue than the sewn point.
20. A shoe construction comprising: a sole having a toe end and an
opposite heel end and having opposite medial and lateral sides
extending between the toe end and the heel end; an upper of
flexible material attached to the sole, the upper extending
upwardly from the sole to an upper top edge, the upper top edge
defining a forefoot opening and an ankle opening into an interior
of the shoe, the upper having an inner surface and an opposite
outer surface; a tongue of flexible material having opposite medial
and lateral sides along a length that extends from the sole to a
distal end of the tongue positionable at the ankle opening, the
tongue having an inner surface and an opposite outer surface; the
tongue having a hook or a loop material attached along a portion of
the outer surface proximate the lateral side; the upper having the
other of the hook or the loop material attached along the inner
surface proximate a portion of the forefoot opening, wherein the
tongue and the upper are temporarily affixable by the hook and the
loop materials; a stretchable member with a first end affixed to
the inner surface of the tongue and extending through an aperture
of the tongue proximate the medial side of the tongue, wherein the
first end of the stretchable member is affixed closer to the distal
end of the tongue than a location where the upper is affixed to the
tongue along the medial side proximate the forefoot opening; and
the stretchable member having a second end, the second end is
affixed to the inner surface of the upper.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] An athletic style shoe typically relies on a lacing
structure to securely maintain the shoe to a wearer's foot.
However, lacing materials may not be suitable or preferred by some
wearers of the shoe. Consequently, a shoe may be designed to allow
a wearer to slip into the shoe without adjusting laces.
Unfortunately, traditional shoes may not securely fit to a wearer's
foot if a forefoot opening and/or an ankle opening are maintained,
in an as-worn position, large enough for a foot to be received. As
a result, hook and loop materials may be utilized, in place of
traditional lacing, to tighten a shoe to a wearer's foot. However,
the hook and loop material may unintentionally detach from one
another when a force is exerted by the foot within the shoe that
exceeds the bonding force of the hook and loop material. This may
also cause the shoe to not securely fit to the wearer's foot.
SUMMARY
[0002] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a
construction of a shoe that is includes a tongue that has a first
fastener attached along a portion of either a medial side or a
lateral side. The shoe also includes a stretchable member that is
attached near a portion of the medial side or the lateral side of
the tongue. The stretchable member is attached to the side of the
tongue that is opposite of the first fastener. The first fastener
is attachable to the upper near the location of the first fastener
on the tongue. Similarly, the stretchable member is attachable to
the upper near the location of the stretchable member on the
tongue.
[0003] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of
concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in
the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify
key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter,
nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of
the claimed subject matter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are
described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing
figures, which are incorporated by reference herein and
wherein:
[0005] FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary shoe, in accordance with
embodiments of the present invention;
[0006] FIG. 2 depicts a medial view of an exemplary shoe with a
stretchable member attached to a tongue and a upper, in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0007] FIG. 3 depicts a lateral view of an exemplary shoe with a
first fastener affixed to a tongue and a second fastener affixed to
an upper, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0008] FIG. 4 depicts a stretchable member affixed to both a tongue
and an upper, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0009] FIG. 5 depicts a top view of an exemplary shoe, in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] The subject matter of embodiments of the present invention
is described with specificity herein to meet statutory
requirements. However, the description itself is not intended to
limit the scope of this patent. Rather, the inventors have
contemplated that the claimed subject matter might also be embodied
in other ways, to include different elements or combinations of
elements similar to the ones described in this document, in
conjunction with other present or future technologies.
[0011] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a
construction of a shoe that includes a tongue that has a first
fastener attached along a portion of either a medial side or a
lateral side. The tongue also has a stretchable member that is
attached near a portion of the medial side or the lateral side
opposite of the first fastener. The first fastener is attachable to
the upper proximate the location of the first fastener on the
tongue. Similarly, the stretchable member is attachable to the
upper proximate the location of the stretchable member on the
tongue.
[0012] Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention provides a
shoe construction. The shoe construction has a sole with a toe end
and an opposite heel end. The sole also has opposite medial and
lateral sides extending between the toe end and the heel end. The
shoe construction also includes an upper of flexible material that
is attached to the sole. The upper extends upwardly from the sole
to an upper top edge. The upper top edge defines a forefoot opening
and an ankle opening into an interior of the shoe. Additionally,
the shoe construction includes a tongue of flexible material. The
tongue has opposite medial and lateral sides along a length that
extends upwardly from the sole to a distal end of the tongue
positioned at the ankle opening. Further, the tongue has a first
fastener attached along a portion of either the medial side or the
lateral side. The tongue also has a stretchable member attached
proximate a portion of the other of the medial side or the lateral
side. The first fastener and the stretchable member are attachable
to the upper near their respective locations on the tongue.
[0013] In another aspect, the present invention provides another
shoe construction. The shoe construction includes a sole having a
toe end and an opposite heel end. The sole also has opposite medial
and lateral sides that extend between the toe end and the heel end.
Further, the shoe construction includes an upper of flexible
material attached to the sole. The upper extends upwardly from the
sole to an upper top edge. The upper top edge defines a forefoot
opening and an ankle opening into an interior of the shoe. The shoe
construction also includes apertures arranged in a line along a
medial side of the forefoot opening as well as apertures arranged
in a line along a lateral side of the forefoot opening. The shoe
construction also includes a tongue of flexible material having
opposite medial and lateral sides along a length that extends from
the sole to a distal end of the tongue positioned at the ankle
opening. The tongue has a hook or a loop material attached along a
portion of either the medial side or the lateral side. The upper
has the other of the hook or the loop material attached along a
portion of the forefoot opening. The tongue and the upper are
temporarily affixable together by the hook and the loop materials.
The tongue also has a stretchable member attached near a portion of
the medial side or the lateral side opposite to that which the hook
or loop material is attached. The stretchable member is also
attached to the upper.
[0014] A third aspect of the present invention provides an
additional embodiment of a shoe construction. The shoe construction
includes a sole. The sole has a toe end and an opposite heel end.
Further, the sole has opposite medial and lateral sides extending
between the toe end and the heel end. The shoe construction also
includes an upper of flexible material attached to the sole. The
upper extends upwardly from the sole to an upper top edge. The
upper top edge defines a forefoot opening and an ankle opening into
an interior of the shoe. The upper also has an inner surface and an
opposite outer surface. The shoe construction also includes a
tongue of flexible material. The tongue has opposite medial and
lateral sides along a length that extends from the sole to a distal
end of the tongue positioned at the ankle opening. The tongue has
an inner surface and an opposite outer surface. The tongue has a
hook or a loop material attached along a portion of the outer
surface near the lateral side. The upper includes the other of the
hook or the loop material attached along the inner surface near a
portion of the forefoot opening. The tongue and the upper are
temporarily affixable together by the hook and the loop materials.
The shoe construction also has a stretchable member with an end
affixed to the inner surface of the tongue. The stretchable member
extends through an opening of the tongue near the medial side of
the tongue. The end of the stretchable member is attached closer to
the distal end of the tongue than a location where the upper is
affixed to the tongue along the medial side near the forefoot
opening. Additionally, a second end of the stretchable member is
affixed to the inner surface of the upper.
[0015] Having briefly described an overview of embodiments of the
present invention, a more detailed description follows.
[0016] The construction of a slip athleisure shoe 10 of the present
invention has the basic construction of a traditional
basketball-type shoe. However, the slip athleisure shoe 10 is
comprised of a first fastener 312 attached to the tongue and a
second fastener 302 attached to the upper 202, as best seen in FIG.
3. The first fastener 312 and the second fastener 302 are capable
of coupling together, which allows the tongue 224 to affix to the
upper 202 along at least one side of the tongue 224. Additionally,
the slip athleisure shoe 10 is comprised of a stretchable member
402, as best seen in FIG. 2. The stretchable member is attached to
the tongue 224 and the upper 202. When used in combination, the
first fastener 312/second fastener 302 and the stretchable member
402 provide an effective and convenient closure mechanism for
securing the athleisure shoe 10 to a wearer, as will be discussed
in more detail hereinafter.
[0017] In embodiments, the shoe 10 is a low-top basketball-style
shoe. However, it should be understood that the novel concept of
the invention could be employed on other types of shoes (e.g.,
high-top, infant, toddler, children, adult, cross-training,
running, lifting, and the like). Because much of the construction
of the shoe 10 is the same as that of a conventional shoe, the
conventional features of the constructions will be described only
generally herein.
[0018] The shoe 10 has a shoe sole 102 that is constructed of
resilient materials that are typically employed in the construction
of soles of athletic shoes. The sole 102 can be constructed with an
outsole, a midsole, and an insert, as is conventional. The shoe
sole 102 has a bottom surface that functions as the traction
surface of the shoe, and an opposite top surface in the interior 12
of the shoe 10. The size of the shoe 10 has a length that extends
from a rear sole heel end 106 to a front toe end 104 of the sole
102. As best seen in FIG. 5, the sole 102 has a width that extends
between a medial side 108 and a lateral side 110 of the sole
102.
[0019] The shoe 10 also is constructed with the upper 202. The
upper 202 is secured to the sole 102 and extends upwardly from the
shoe sole, such as the sole top surface. The upper 202 is
constructed of a flexible material, for example leather, polymer,
or a fabric such as canvas. The upper 202 is constructed with a
heel portion 230 that extends around the sole 102 at the sole heel
end 106. The upper heel portion 230 extends upwardly from the shoe
sole 102 to an ankle opening 232. The ankle opening 232 provides
access to the shoe interior. The upper has an interior surface 212
and an exterior surface 214. The interior surface 212 is
traditionally exposed to the wearer's foot or other garments (e.g.,
socks). The exterior surface 214 is traditionally exposed to the
outside environment and may define a portion of the exterior of the
shoe 10.
[0020] From the heel portion 230, the upper 202 has a medial side
portion 216 and a lateral side portion 218 that extend along the
respective sole medial side 108 and the sole lateral side 110. The
upper medial side portion 216 extends upwardly from the sole medial
side 108 to an upper medial side edge 206. The upper lateral side
portion 218 extends upwardly from the sole lateral side 110 to an
upper lateral side edge 208. As illustrated in the figures, the
upper medial side edge 206 and the upper lateral side edge 208
extend rearwardly from opposite sides of the front toe end 104 of
the sole 102. As best seen in FIG. 1, the length of the upper
medial side edge 206 and the upper lateral side edge 208 define a
forefoot opening 220 in the upper 202 that opens to the shoe
interior 12.
[0021] The upper 202 is also constructed with a toe box 204 that
extends around and across the sole top surface at the sole toe end
104. The toe box 204 is connected between the upper medial side
portion 216 and the upper lateral side portion 218 and encloses a
portion of the shoe interior 12 adjacent the sole toe end 104. The
upper medial side edge 206 and the upper lateral side edge 208
extend rearwardly from the toe box 204.
[0022] A first plurality of apertures 240 are provided on the upper
medial side portion 216 and a second plurality of apertures 242 are
provided on the upper lateral side portion 218. The apertures 240
and 242 are lacing openings in an exemplary embodiment. A lacing
opening is an opening that is typically occupied by a portion of a
fastener, such as lacing that close the shoe upper over the
forefoot opening of the shoe. The apertures 240 and 242 may provide
any type of lacing openings on the shoe, for example, D-rings or
speed lacing hooks. However, in an exemplary embodiment, the
apertures 240 and 242 are an eyelet or grommet style aperture. The
apertures 240 and 242 are arranged in lines along the upper medial
side portion 216 and the upper lateral side portion 218, as is
conventional. As illustrated in the figures, the apertures 240 and
242, in an exemplary embodiment, extend substantially the entire
length of the upper medial side edge 206 and the upper lateral side
edge 208. It is contemplated that a lacing material is not utilized
with embodiments of the shoe; instead, the various other closure
mechanism discussed herein may provide a desired method of securing
the shoe to a wearer's foot.
[0023] The shoe upper 202 includes a vamp 222 or a throat
positioned rearwardly of the toe box 204, and a tongue 224 that
extends rearwardly from the vamp 222 through the forefoot opening
210. The tongue 224 extends along the lengths of the upper medial
side portion 216 and the upper lateral side portion 218 to a distal
end of the tongue, a tongue upper edge 229, near an ankle opening
232. As best seen in FIG. 5, the tongue 224 has a width between a
medial side edge 226 and a lateral side edge 228 of the tongue. The
length and width of the tongue position the tongue side edges
beneath the upper medial side portion 216 and the upper lateral
side portion 218, respectively, and extend the tongue over the
forefoot opening 210 of the shoe.
[0024] The construction of the shoe 10, as previously discussed,
includes a fastening combination along a first side of the tongue
224. For example, the fastening combination may be a hook material
and a loop material used in combination to affix the tongue 224 and
the upper 202. However, while hook and loop is discussed herein, it
is understood that any combination of fastening materials may be
utilized. For example, snaps, buttons, zippers, adhesive,
stitching, lacing, tensioning mechanisms, or the like may be
utilized as the first fastener 312 and/or the second fastener
302.
[0025] The first fastener 312, as best seen in FIG. 3, is affixed
to an outer surface 236 of the tongue 224 proximate the lateral
side edge 228. However, it is contemplated that the first fastener
312 may be affixed proximate the medial side edge 226 of the tongue
224 in embodiments of the present invention. The first fastener has
a perimeter defined by a medial edge 314, an opposite lateral edge
316, a heal end 318, and an opposite toe end 320. The length of the
first fastener 312 is defined as extending from the toe end 320 to
the heal end 318 of the first fastener 312. Similarly, the width of
the first fastener 312 is defined as having a width extending from
the lateral edge 316 to the medial edge 314.
[0026] In an exemplary embodiment, the first fastener 312 has a
length that extends a length of the forefoot opening 210 that is
occupied by a plurality of apertures, such as the plurality of
apertures 242. For example, while a traditional shoe may rely on
laces extending through apertures to secure a shoe to a wearer, the
first fastener 312 may perform a similar function along the same
portion of the upper 202 as would be served by the apertures.
However, it is understood that the first fastener 312 may extend
for only a portion of the tongue 224 or the whole length of the
tongue 224 as covered by the upper 202 along the forefoot opening
210. Additionally, it is contemplated that the first fastener 312
is a plurality of fasteners working in combination to achieve a
similar result. For example, discrete portions of a hook or loop
material may be affixed to the tongue 224 to serve as the first
fastener 312. Further examples may include individual snaps,
buttons, or other fasteners may achieve a similar result.
[0027] The second fastener 302 is affixed to an interior surface
212 of the upper 202 proximate the forefoot opening 210 opposite
the first fastener 312. Consequently, the second fastener 302 may
work in combination with the first fastener 312 to removeably affix
the tongue 224 with the upper 202. The second fastener has a
perimeter defined by a medial edge 304, an opposite lateral edge
306, a toe end 310, and an opposite heal end 308. The first
fastener 312 and the second fastener 302 may have perimeters with
similar dimensions to effectively couple with one another. Similar
to the first fastener, the second fastener has a length defined as
extending from the toe end 310 to the heel end 308. Further the
second fastener 302 has a width extending from the lateral edge 306
to the medial edge 304. However, as also previously discussed with
respect to the first fastener 312, it is contemplated that the
second fastener 302 may be comprised of a plurality of discrete
fasteners that accomplish a similar result. For example, it is
contemplated that a plurality of snaps, buttons, or the like that
extend along a length that is different or similar to the
illustrated length of the second fastener 302.
[0028] In an exemplary embodiment, the second fastener 302 extends
along the upper edge (e.g., the upper medial side edge 208) of the
upper 202 where the upper edge defines the forefoot opening 210.
For example, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the heel end 308 of the
second fastener 302 generally coincides with the transition from
the forefoot opening 210 to the ankle opening 232. The length of
the second fastener 302 continues to extend along the forefoot
opening 210 towards the toe end of the shoe. For example, it is
contemplated that the second fastener 302 may extend along the
forefoot opening 210 such that the toe end 310 generally coincides
with a toe-end portion of the upper 202 as it extends upward from
the sole 102. However, in additional embodiments of the present
invention, it is contemplated that the length of the second
fastener 302 may coincide with a length along the forefoot opening
210 occupied by one or more apertures, such as the second plurality
of apertures 242. Further, it is contemplated that the second
fastener 302 obscures the second plurality of apertures 242, which
prevents a lacing structure from passing through one or more of the
apertures. Consequently, in this example, the second plurality of
apertures may merely serve an aesthetic purpose as they may no
longer receive a lacing material.
[0029] In an exemplary amendment, the second fastener 302 is a loop
material and the first fastener 312 is a hook material. However, it
is contemplated that the second fastener 302 is a hook material and
the first fastener 312 is a loop material.
[0030] Turning to the other side of the shoe 10, the stretchable
member 402 is affixed, either permanently or temporarily, to both
the tongue 224 and the upper 202. The stretchable member is a
flexible material having elastic characteristics. For example, the
stretchable member 402 may be an elastic banding material having a
measured resistance to elongation. Therefore, depending on a
desired amount of resistance, the material stretchable member 402
may be adjusted to achieve the desired resistance. The resistance,
as will be discussed hereinafter, is utilized to maintain the shoe
10 on a wearer's foot instead of, or in addition to, traditional
lacing.
[0031] The stretchable member 402 provides an amount of "give" or
"play" to the shoe 10 when secured to a wearer's foot. Therefore,
when a wearer exerts a force that is transferred through the shoe
10, traditional shoes that rely solely on hook and loop fasteners
that have minimal "give" may disengage causing the shoe to change
positions on the wearer's foot. For example, a child may wear a
pair of shoes that rely on hook and loop fasteners to allow the
shoe to expand, in an un-attached position, to receive the child's
foot. The hook and loop material may then be attached to secure the
child's foot. When the child begins to run, the hook and loop
fastener(s) may fail (e.g., become un-attached in whole or in part)
because the force exerted on the hook and loop fastener exceeds the
force for which the fastener can resist.
[0032] Consequently, it may be desirable to utilize, in
combination, a hook and loop fastener along with a stretchable
member. For example, when the same child above begins to run in an
embodiment of the present invention, the stretchable member may
stretch to absorb some of the force exerted by the child. The
absorption of the force by the stretchable member reduces the force
experienced by the hook and loop fastener. As a result, a shoe
utilizing the first fastener 312 with the second fastener 302 and
the stretchable member 402 may provide a shoe securing mechanism
that is able to absorb force while maintaining the shoe in a
desired as-worn position.
[0033] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the stretchable member 402 has a
bottom edge 406 and an opposite edge extending through an opening
404 of the tongue 224 to an inner surface 238 of the tongue 224.
However, it is contemplated that the opposite edge is secured to
the outer surface 236 of the tongue 224, in exemplary embodiments
of the present invention. The stretchable member 402 also has a
width extending between a heel-end edge 408 and a toe-end edge 410,
as best seen in FIG. 4. Further, the stretchable member 402 has an
outer surface 412 and an inner surface 414.
[0034] The stretchable member 402 may be secured or otherwise
affixed to the upper 202 and the tongue 224. For example, an aspect
illustrated in FIG. 4 has the outer surface 412 of the stretchable
member 402 facing the interior surface 212 of the upper 202
proximate the bottom edge 406. The stretchable member 402 is
affixed to the upper 202 by a first stitching 420 and a second
stitching 422. However, it is contemplated that other methods of
affixing the stretchable member 402 may be implemented. For
example, adhesives, welding, mechanical fasteners, and removable
fasteners. The stretchable member 402 may be affixed to the upper
202 at a location below (toward the sole 102) a fastener 506 as
represented by the distance 502. Affixing the stretchable member
402 below the fastener 506 may allow the stretchable fastener 402
to remain obscured from view when in an as-worn position.
[0035] The stretchable member 402, as illustrated in FIG. 4,
extends from the upper 202 to the tongue 224. In this embodiment of
the present invention, the stretchable member extends through the
opening 404 of the tongue 224 allowing the stretchable member 402
to pass from the outer surface 236 of the tongue 224 to an inner
surface 234 of the tongue 224. Consequently, the outer surface 412
of the stretchable member 402 may face the inner surface 234 of the
tongue 224. A first tongue stitching 416 and a second tongue
stitching 418 may be used to affix the stretchable member 402 to
the tongue 224. The opening 404 may be orientated and located on
the tongue 224 so that in an as-worn position the stretchable
member 402 is obscured by the upper 202. Stated differently, it is
contemplated that the opening 404 is located below, in an as-worn
position, the medial edge 206 of the upper 202.
[0036] As best seen in FIG. 2, the tongue 224 may be affixed to the
upper 202 along a portion of the upper edge. For example, a medial
stitching 424 may extend along the medial edge 206 from a toe end
to a tongue sewn point 504. In this example, the upper 202 is
affixed to the tongue 224 by stitching effectively limiting access
to the forefoot opening 210 on the medial side 216 along that
portion of the medial stitching 424. Consequently, the medial
stitching 424 limits the "give" provided by the stretchable member
402 by limiting a length of tongue unattached from the upper as
measured from the toe end of the shoe 10. In an exemplary
embodiment, the medial stitching 424 works in combination with the
first fastener 312/second fastener 302 and the stretchable member
402 to provide a securing mechanism to maintain the shoe 10 in an
as-worn position. The medial stitching 424, which terminates at the
tongue sewn point 504, may extend from the toe end toward the heal
end along the medial edge 206 to any point along the length of the
medial edge 206. However, in an exemplary embodiment, the tongue
connection point 504 is located at a position between the toe box
204 and a location where the upper 202 overlaps a portion of the
stretchable member 402. In an additional exemplary embodiment, it
is contemplated, similar to that which is illustrated in FIG. 1,
the medial stitching 424 extends approximately the length of half
of the forefoot opening 210. Further, it is contemplated that the
medial stitching 424 deviates from the medial edge 206 and,
instead, is located at any location on the medial side 216 of the
upper 202 in which the tongue 224 may be secured to the upper
202.
[0037] It is contemplated that the shoe 10 may be used in the
following exemplary manner, in accordance with embodiments of the
present invention. A wearer of the shoe 10 may disengage the first
fastener 312 from the second fastener 302 to un-affix the lateral
side of the tongue 224 from the upper 202. This separation of the
tongue 224 from the upper 202 proximate the lateral side provides
easy access to the shoe interior 12 through both the forefoot
opening 210 and the ankle opening 232. The wearer may then slip his
or her foot into the shoe 10 utilizing the forefoot opening 210 and
the ankle opening 232. The tongue 224 may be displaced even farther
from the upper 202 by allowing the stretchable member 402 to extend
in length, which may facilitate easier entry into the interior
12.
[0038] Once the shoe 10 is positioned to the wearer's foot, the
wearer may align the first fastener 312 with the second fastener
302 to maximize contact area between the two fasteners, which may
maximize a bonding strength between the two fasteners. However, it
is also contemplated that the wearer may adjust the location of the
tongue 224 and/or the alignment of the first fastener 312 relative
to the second fastener 302 to achieve a desired tension across the
shoe 10 for securing to the wearer. Once secured, the shoe 10 is in
an as-worn position on the wearer. Consequently, as the wearer
exerts a force that is intended to be translated from the wearer's
foot through the shoe 10 to the contacting surface, the stretchable
member 402 may stretch to reduce the force experienced by the first
fastener 312 and the second fastener 302. This reduction in force
may prevent the first fastener 312 and the second fastener 302 from
unintentionally disengaging from one another. As a result, a wearer
of the shoe 10 may access the interior 12 utilizing the convenience
of a hook and a loop fastener while minimizing the possibility of
an unintentional disengagement of the hook and loop fastener when
worn by relying on the stretchable member 402 to absorb energy that
could otherwise cause the unintentional disengagement.
[0039] The terms medial and lateral have been used herein to
describe a relative location of features, portions, and/or elements
of the shoe 10. However, it is contemplated that aspects of the
invention may substitute one relative term for the other. For
example, it is within the scope of the present invention for the
features identified on the medial side of the shoe 10 to also, or
in the alternative, be located on the lateral side and vice versa.
Therefore, while the description herein is focused, for ease of
understanding, on the stretchable member 402 being located on the
medial side and the combination of the first fastener 312/second
fastener 302 being located on the lateral side, it is contemplated
that the opposite (i.e., the stretchable member 402 located on the
lateral side and the combination of the first fastener 312/second
fastener 302 located on the medial side) may also be implemented
within the scope of the present invention.
[0040] Although the shoe construction is described above by
referring to particular embodiments, it should be understood that
the modifications and variations could be made to the shoe
construction described without departing from the intended scope of
protection provided by the following claims.
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