Abstract: A child's shoe of elastomeric, deformable sole construction has a cavity located in a middle portion of the sole, between the upper and lower surfaces and connected to the side of the sole by a passageway. In use, volumetric changes of the cavity create an air flow through the passageway and a whistle, with the whistle selectively positioned to make noise or not make noise.

Abstract: Children's shoes having a music box built in the front upper portion thereof for amusement especially of young children. The music box includes a melody speaker, a touch activated switch, a battery source, and a waterproof enclosure housing the speaker and the switch therewithin.

Abstract: A boot structure, wherein each boot includes an inner and outer wall, having an enclosed pneumatic chamber, wherein the outer wall includes a whistle member arranged in communication through the outer wall with the chamber to effect whistling upon compressing of air within the chamber during walking to enhance and induce infants for amusement during such walking.

Abstract: An orientation system for use with footwear. The orientation system comprises a first attachment member located on and substantially flush with the left side of the right shoe and a second attachment member located on and substantially flush with the right side of the left shoe. The first and second attachment members can be adhesively connected with the shoes or constructed integral with the shoes. When pressed together, the first attachment member engages the second attachment member and connect the left shoe and right shoe together in a proper orientation. The system allows a child to properly orient her shoes to allow her to put each shoe on its proper foot without adult supervision.

Abstract: A pair of educational footwear teaches children all of the skills attendant to wearing footwear, particularly footwear having laces. Indicia on the exterior of the footwear which face one another when the footwear is properly aligned for wearing teach children how to accomplish the task of putting the left item of footwear on the left foot and the right item of footwear on the right foot; a bi-colored lace cooperates with color-coded eyelets to teach children how to properly lace the footwear; and a retaining device holds one end of the lace in a looped configuration to make it much easier for a child to tie the lace with a bowknot. All of these features combine in an inconspicuous manner, and therefore may be incorporated in any type of footwear for daily wear.

Abstract: A sparking rollerskate includes a clam shell like shoe portion and a wheel assembly. The wheel assembly supports a plurality of rolling wheels together with an internal flint supporting mechanism. One of the skate wheels further includes an abrasive drum which receives the end portion of the flint to provide a spark producing action as the wheel is rotated. The wheel assembly and clam shell like shoe portion are configured to provide a captivating attachment of the wheel assembly to the shoe portion when the clam shell halves thereof are closed. The shoe portions define internal cavities which captivate the wearer's foot during the assembly process to facilitate attachment of the roller skate thereto.

Abstract: A closure apparatus secured to opposing sides relative to a shoe opening overlying the tongue includes a respective right and left plate member to include a belt anchor and belt buckle respectively mounting a flexible belt web therebetween, wherein the belt web is mounted pivotally to the belt anchor and received through the belt buckle to secure the belt web in an adjustable manner through the buckle. The belt anchor and belt buckle are mounted to conventional shoe lace apertures directed through respective right and left flaps relative to the shoe opening to pivotally secure the buckle and anchor thereto.

Abstract: A shoe consisting of an outsole and an upper, especially a children's shoe, is configured so that in a simple, inexpensive and unobtrusive way, it is possible to regularly accurately monitor or measure the distance of the toe tips of a wearer from a portion of the upper adjacent to the tip of the outsole to see in good time whether the shoe has become too small. This is achieved in that a transparent area (3) is placed within outsole (1) and extends at least over about the front third of the outsole (1). The front part of transparent area (3) serves as a support for calibrated markings (6, 7).

Abstract: A doll support apparatus including a ferromagnetic base having an upwardly facing support surface for receiving the bottom surface of a doll foot device incorporating a magnetic insert which, when supported on such surface, is disposed in close proximity to the ferromagnetic base to thereby maintain the doll in an erect position. The foot device may be in the form of a foot having a magnetic insert embedded directly there into or may be in the form of a removable shoe having the magnetic insert embedded therein. The foot or shoe may incorporate a hinge element which incorporates a releasable lock for locking the shoe or foot in selected different positions.

Abstract: A system for better determining the fit of shoes, particularly children's shoes, is described wherein transparent areas are provided in the shoe bottom along with fitting indices to enable comparison of the outline of a foot in the shoe to the fitting indices. The shoe may also be provided with optional audio-visual warning means to signal when the shoe is about to be outgrown.

Abstract: A system for better determining the fit of shoes, particularly children's shoes, is described wherein transparent areas are provided in the shoe bottom along with fitting indices to enable comparison of the outline of a foot in the shoe to the fitting indices. The shoe may also be provided with optional audio-visual warning means to signal when the shoe is about to be outgrown.

Abstract: A shoe including a mid-sole layer, a lower layer, an air compression cavity, an air envelope, a shoe pad, an inner and outer vamp and an ornament. The air envelope is connected to the air compression cavity via an air-transmission tube which extends from the air compression cavity, passes through the mid-sole layer, is layered between the front end and outer inner of the vamp and extends through to the upper side of the vamp. The air compression cavity is set between the mid-sole layer and the shoe pad corresponding to the position of the heel portion of the shoe so that the air compression cavity is compressed and decompressed periodly as the wearer is walking. The ornament is adhered to the air envelope and is vibrated up and down via the air forced in and out by the air compression cavity in walking.

Abstract: An item of children's apparel includes a foot portion consisting of a sole formed of a number of layers, an intermediate layer of which is provided with a cavity or recess which houses, in the toe portion, a squeaker or other noisemaker which is involuntarily actuated by the child during normal walking when the child applies pressure to the toe portion.

Abstract: Footwear for infants and toddlers which allow the child's foot to relax in a natural, "barefoot" condition, i.e., without exerting substantial pressure on the toes and sides of the foot, and which facilitate the fitting of the shoe onto the foot. The shoe comprises a sole and an upper fastened to the sole for surrounding the sides and heel of the foot. The upper includes a pair of flexible side regions having a respective pair of edge regions which extend rearwardly substantially from a forward end of the toe portion of the sole in mutually spaced relationship for overlying the toe and instep regions of the foot. A tongue is fastened to the upper at its forward end and only to a side region of the upper which itself is fastened to the forward end of the toe portion of the sole so that the side edges of the tongue are unconnected to any part of the upper. The tongue extends rearwardly for covering both the toe and instep regions of the foot.

Abstract: A footwear sole has an outer ply with at least one aperture formed therein. A transparent insert backed with a lenticular element having a distinctive figure and/or text illustrated thereon is mounted within the aperture and behind the transparent insert. At least one inner ply is affixed to the outer ply to secure the insert in place, as well as to provide cushioning and support for a user's foot.

Abstract: There is disclosed footwear, such as a bootlet, for children in which the entire bootlet, rearwardly of the instep is separable from the forward portion, with a continuous strip fastener that extends vertically along the sides and beneath the arch to removably join the front and rear portions. Preferably, the two portions are permanently secured together on one side, at their top edges with a welting which extends about the top edges of the bootlet. The forward portion of the sole of the bootlet has foam padding on its outside surface and this is covered with an outer sole, thereby providing a very soft cushion beneath the ball of the child's foot.

Abstract: A child's lace shoe featuring, in one aspect, an upper having a rim, a pair of overlapping edge portions defining a fastenable opening extending from the rim in a forward and downward direction, and a pair of fastening elements affixed respectively to the overlapping edges and arranged to mate by pressing them together and to unmate by pulling them apart, so the shoe, after initial adjustment, can be put on and taken off without readjusting the laces.

Abstract: A toe protector has two guard rails (12) that are to be incorporated into opposite sides of a foot cast or mounted to the sides of an orthopedic shoe. The toe protector also has a pair of front rails (14) whose ends are configured to be releasibly mounted by press fits to adjacent ends (21, 22) of the guard rails that jutt forward of the toes of a foot located within the cast or shoe.

Abstract: An overshoe especially suitable for wear by young children is provided. The overshoe comprises a loosely-fitting outer boot of flexible material having a snug-fitting expandable liner. The expandable liner is pulled outside the boot and the wearer's shoe is placed in position in the liner. The shoe is then slipped into the boot, pulling the liner back into place. Ankle straps and a drawstring closure are provided in order to afford a snug fit and to keep the boot in place. The invention allows the parent to place the overshoe on the child's foot with the assurance that the child's shoe is in proper position in the boot. The invention also provides an overshoe which is not likely to slip off the child's foot along with the shoe. One size of the overshoe may be worn over a variety of shoe sizes.

Abstract: The invention is a boot with a foot portion and a leg portion of flexible repellant material, said leg portion comprising an elongate V-shaped gusset in the flexible leg portion with its upper edge at the upper edge of the flexible leg portion, an elongated flap coextensive with one side of the gusset, a first elongated strip of adhesive material on the inner side of said flap, a second elongated strip of adhesive material at the other side of said gusset and coextensive therewith, said first and said second elongated strips of adhesive material being adapted to unite one to the other when pressed into contact with each other, said elongated strips of adhesive material having a width whereby they can be adhered together with variable overlap to fold said gusset varying amounts to vary the closed circumference of said leg portion to achieve a snug fit around the leg of a user in use and exclude snow and moisture.

Abstract: An article of footwear has upper and lower parts, wherein the lower part or sole has a plurality of roller-shaped portions separated from a remaining portion by depression. Four roller-shaped portions may be provided in four corners of the article. Two roller-shaped portions may be provided in each corner.

Abstract: A flexible child's slipper (10) has a night light (12) associated therewith which may be selectively actuated by each step of the child as the slipper (10) flexes with each step. The night light (12) includes a hollow transmissive three dimensional character rendition which contains an illumination apparatus (26) inside. The illumination apparatus (26) comprises a transparent waterproof housing (28) which is formed of plastic except for a rubber seal (30) forming part of the surrounding wall. The housing (28) contains a light source (32), a battery (34) and a switch (40). A resilient pusher member (50) having a protrusion (56) is mounted on the front portion (20) of the slipper (10) and is disposed adjacent the switch (40) to act on the switch (40) and close it through the seal (30) during each step to illuminate the light source (32).

Abstract: Footwear comprising cloth inner sole, back and front members constructed of three separate layers of jean material quilted together and frayed at their edges. The back and front members are sewn to the inner sole about the periphery of the inner sole and a rubber outer sole is sewn to the inner sole about the periphery thereof. A three layer, jean material, tie extends completely around the top of the back member of the footwear and beyond the front end thereof for securing the footwear to a human ankle. In manufacture of the footwear, the back is sewn to the inner sole at the back of the inner sole initially and then toward the front of the inner sole on both sides thereof to within a short distance of both ends of the back member, the front member is completely sewn to the front of the inner sole around the periphery thereof, after which the sewing of the back member to the inner sole is completed.

Abstract: A shoe, more particularly for toddlers, comprises at the back, from bottom to top, successive zones of decreasing rigidity and increasing flexibility, namely a first zone comprising, from inside to outside, a soft lining, a foam filling, an inner reinforcement, a flexible body and an upward extension of the outer sole; a second zone comprising, from inside to outside, the soft lining, the foam filling, the inner reinforcement and the flexible body; a third zone comprising, from inside to outside, the soft lining, the foam filling and the flexible body; and a fourth zone comprising a foam cushion surrounded by the soft lining. The sole preferably also comprises an upward extension at the front. The foot is perfectly protected and supported, very comfortably and softly.

Abstract: Article of footwear having a sole, an upper, and at least one recessed area in the sole, with a three-dimensional inset figure placed in the recessed area, having a matching overlay illustration on its exposed surface. The inset figure may be constituted by a representation and/or a text, and it may be at least partly embossed, the exposed surface being substantially flush with the walking surface of the sole. At least portions of the inset figure may be colored. The inset figure may be slightly smaller in its outlines than those of the recessed area of the sole, thereby presenting a set-off border to the inset figure.

Abstract: An attachment for footwear having a sole is provided and comprises at least one raised symbol detachably mounted to the sole by a pressure sensitive adhesive. With the symbol or symbols arranged as desired on the sole, the outline of the symbol is imprinted on a soft ground supporting surface as the sole engages the ground by walking or the like.