Abstract: The Genie disposable pedicure slipper is formed from a single piece of material that consist of polyurethane foam fabric. The pedicure slipper is intended to be worn as slipper on the users foot. The sole of the slipper is designed to conform to the outline of the human foot. The bottom surface structure is designed to give support, comfort and rest for the users foot. There are two strap portions of the sheet material. One of the strap portions comes from the heel of the sole and is cut to form an appendage. The other strap portion comes from the toe of the sole and has a slit. The two straps when folded over serve as a buckle by inserting the appendage into the slit.

Abstract: An expandable shoe includes an outer shell and an adjustable inner assembly within the outer shell. The inner assembly includes a first sole portion, a second sole portion, and a screw drive. The screw drive has a screw passing through a screw insert mounted to one of the first and second sole portions and a screw-receiving portion attached to the other of the first and second sole portions, so that turning the screw causes the sole portions to move relative to one another, thereby adjusting a dimension of the shoe. The shoe includes a manually operable control to turn the screw without the need for tools. The control is operable between a first position in which the control resists movement around an axis defined by the screw and a second position in which the control can be used to turn the screw to adjust a dimension of the footwear.

Abstract: An object of footwear for children which allows adults to visually determine whether the shoe proper fits the child and can be adjusted in its effective size when it is determined that the shoe has become too small. The article of footwear comprises a fitting system comprising: (1) a substantially transparent window disposed in a predetermined location in the vamp so that when a wearer who has a foot that properly fits in the article of footwear puts on the article of footwear, a portion of a toe of the wearer can be seen through the window, and (2) a sizing member attached to the upper, the sizing member being placed within the opening against the heel portion to create a first effective size of the article of footwear, the sizing member being removable to create a second effective size of the article of footwear. The present invention also provides a method of determining when to adjust the effective size of an article of footwear and adjusting the effective size of the article of footwear.

Abstract: An improved expandable shoe and inner assembly are disclosed. The expandable shoe includes an outer shell and an adjustable inner assembly is disposed within the outer shell. The inner assembly has a first board portion and a second board portion in overlapping engagement with each other and a control to adjust the position of the first board portion relative to the second board portion. A lighted visualization window provides a visualization window to the inner assembly. The inner assembly may include size markings through the visualization window so that a size of the adjusted shoe may be determined as shoe size is adjusted.

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.

Abstract: The invention is a wear indicator for a footwear outsole. The wear indicator includes a plurality of strata that each have different properties, such as color. As portions of an individual stratum are worn away, corresponding portions of an underlying stratum are revealed. The underlying strata may be worn away in a similar manner to reveal further strata, thereby providing a wearer with the ability to determine the amount of wear that has occurred in an outsole.

Abstract: An improved expandable shoe and inner assembly are disclosed. The expandable shoe includes an outer shell and an adjustable inner assembly is disposed within the outer shell. The inner assembly has a first board portion and a second board portion in overlapping engagement with each other and a control to adjust the position of the first board portion relative to the second board portion. The control includes a locking mechanism shaped to engage and hold one of the first and second board portions, a biasing mechanism to bias the locking mechanism into engagement with one of the first and second board portions; and an urging member having a proximal portion external of the shoe outer shell and positioned and movable transversely to a longitudinal direction of the shoe and in transverse alignment with the locking mechanism.

Abstract: A system and method for receiving footwear size and past product fit information for a user at a host computer from a client computer over a computer network, such as the Internet, is disclosed. Foot size information for the user (preferably measured in millimeters) is received from the client computer, and a recommended footwear size is determined for the selected footwear model based on the received foot size information, a length adjustment factor for the selected footwear model and past product fit information. Additionally, a width adjustment factor can be used for determining the recommended footwear size.

Abstract: A custom conformable device that supports and cushions a user's anatomical part, such the foot. The device is self-inflating, conforms to the shape of the user's foot, utilizes an inflatable bladder with a valve, and contains an expandable material such as an open cell foam. When the valve is open the expandable material expands, causing the bladder to inflate and to conform to the shape of the user's anatomical part. Once the desired shape is achieved, the valve is closed, sealing the bladder. Once the bladder is sealed, the expandable material retains the shape of the user's anatomical part. The user may open the valve to adjust the level of support provided by the device by allowing more fluid to enter the bladder, or by forcing fluid to exit the bladder.

Abstract: A device and method for fitting shoes especially suited for mail order consumers. The device comprises container filled with a foam material for creating an impression of the foot, wherein the container includes a base, a lid, and a cutout portion forming an opening for the ankle. The consumer inserts his foot into the base of the container and closes the lid about the foot to form the impression in the foam. The impression is analyzed to determine a proper fitting shoe for the foot.

Abstract: An expandable shoe includes an outer shell and an adjustable inner assembly disposed within the outer shell. The inner assembly has a control to adjust a dimension of the inner assembly and thereby a corresponding dimension of the shoe. A visualization window provides a view port to the inner assembly so that size markings on the inner assembly may be visible through the view port. The inner assembly includes first and second board portions, each shaped for relative movement with respect to the other, and a manually urgable member. When the urgable member is released from an engagement member fixed to one of the first and second board portions, the first and second board portions may be moved to adjust the shoe dimension and when the urgable member is in engagement with the fixed engagement member the first and second board portions resist movement relative to one another.

Abstract: An improved expandable shoe and inner assembly are disclosed. The expandable shoe includes an outer shell and an adjustable inner assembly is disposed within the outer shell. The inner assembly has a first board portion and a second board portion in overlapping engagement with each other and a control to adjust the position of the first board portion relative to the second board portion. One of the board portions has a longitudinal projection which extends into a corresponding cavity in the sole of the shoe.

Abstract: An improved expandable shoe and inner assembly are disclosed. The expandable shoe includes an outer shell and an adjustable inner assembly is disposed within the outer shell. The inner assembly has a first board portion and a second board portion in overlapping engagement with each other and a control to adjust the position of the first board portion relative to the second board portion. The control includes a locking mechanism shaped to engage and hold one of the first and second board portions, a biasing mechanism to bias the locking mechanism into engagement with one of the first and second board portions; and an urging member having a proximal portion external of the shoe outer shell and positioned and movable transversely to a longitudinal direction of the shoe and in transverse alignment with the locking mechanism. In one embodiment, a lighted visualization window provides a visualization window to the inner assembly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method, system and shoe for determining the fit of a shoe from outside the shoe wherein the shoe has an outsole with reference marks such that when the bottom of a person's foot is placed against the outsole, the reference marks can be used to determine the proper fit of the shoe.

Abstract: Footwear having a window for visual sizing comprises a shoe having an upper portion, a window portion associated with the upper portion, the window portion for allowing viewing of a foot inserted into the shoe, and a tab portion for covering and uncovering the window portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method, system and shoe for determining the fit of a shoe from outside the shoe wherein the shoe has an outsole that has a reference gauge for placing a person's heel and a reference mark indicating how far a person's toes should extend so that the shoe would fit. The system is adaptable so a decal may be used or a separate foot measurement guide such as a hang tag may be attached to a shoe where the visual fit guide depicted on the hang tag corresponds to the size of the shoe to which it is applied. The hang tag may be printed on both sides to correspond to both a left and right foot.

Abstract: An improved expandable shoe and inner assembly are disclosed. The expandable shoe includes an outer shell and an adjustable inner assembly is disposed within the outer shell. The inner assembly has a first board portion and a second board portion in overlapping engagement with each other and a control to adjust the position of the first board portion relative to the second board portion. The control includes a locking mechanism shaped to engage and hold one of the first and second board portions, a biasing mechanism to bias the locking mechanism into engagement with one of the first and second board portions; and an urging member having a proximal portion external of the shoe outer shell and positioned and movable transversely to a longitudinal direction of the shoe and in transverse alignment with the locking mechanism.

Abstract: A disposable sandal is formed from a single piece of sheet material consisting of a fabric laminated to polyurethane foam. The sole of the sandal is shaped to generally conform to the outline of a human foot. A strap portion is formed as a band of the sheet material surrounding a heel portion of the sole. The strap portion is folded over and attached to a toe portion of the sole. A series of perforations are provided at the heel and/or toe portions of the sole so that the sandals may be conveniently sized to the user's foot. In a preferred embodiment, the bottom surface of the sole is embossed with a skid-resistant pattern.

Abstract: Footwear having a window for visual sizing comprises a shoe having an upper portion, a sole portion, and an insole liner, a window portion associated with the upper portion, the window portion for allowing viewing of a foot inserted into the shoe, and a reference mark associated with the insole liner, the reference mark for indicating proper fit of the shoe when a foot is inserted into the shoe and viewed through the window portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method, system and shoe for determining the fit of a shoe from outside the shoe wherein the shoe has an outsole with reference marks such that when the bottom of a person's foot is placed against the outsole, the reference marks can be used to determine the proper fit of the shoe.

Abstract: An expandable shoe and last board are disclosed. For the shoe, a front outer assembly and a rear outer assembly are attached to a flexible, expandable segment. An adjustable inner assembly has a manually urgable control to adjust a dimension of the inner assembly and thereby a corresponding dimension of the shoe. A visualization window may be used to provide a view port to the inner assembly to see the adjustment of a shoe dimension.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method, system and shoe for determining the fit of a shoe from outside the shoe wherein the shoe has an outsole that has a reference gauge for placing a person's heel and a reference mark indicating how far a person's toes should extend so that the shoe would fit. The system is adaptable so a decal may be used or a separate foot measurement guide such as a hang tag may be attached to a shoe where the visual fit guide depicted on the hang tag corresponds to the size of the shoe to which it is applied. The hang tag may be printed on both sides to correspond to both a left and right foot.

Abstract: A shoe has a sole, a vamp and a transparent toe cap. The toe cap is secured to the vamp at the position corresponding to the toe of the wearer. With such an arrangement, any person can see through the toe cap and directly determine whether the shoe fits or not. To buy a shoe that does not fit is avoided. In addition, a shoe will have a different appearance when a vamp with a different toe cap is used. The appearance of the shoe is variable, and the cost for manufacturing shoes with different appearances is reduced.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method, system and shoe for determining the fit of a shoe from outside the shoe wherein the shoe has an outsole that has a reference gauge for placing a person's heel and a reference mark indicating how far a person's toes should extend so that the shoe would fit. The system is adaptable so a decal may be used or a separate foot measurement guide such as a hang tag may be attached to a shoe where the visual fit guide depicted on the hang tag corresponds to the size of the shoe to which it is applied. The hang tag may be printed on both sides to correspond to both a left and right foot.

Abstract: A shoe having an outsole with sizing indicators on the bottom of the outsole provides a shoe size indication system and methods useful for quickly and accurately measuring a person's foot to determine a proper shoe size to purchase. A shoe sizing indication system includes a heel placement indicator and shoe size indicator lines placed at distances from the heel placement indicator corresponding to standard shoe sizes. A shoe with shoe size indicators on the outsole allows quick, accurate, and convenient determination of a proper shoe size by customers without additional shoe fitting devices or materials or assistance by retail store personnel.

Abstract: A shoe that includes an expansible inner lining that snugly conforms to the wearer's foot and that permits the wearer's foot to grow at least one shoe size, and preferably approximately two shoe sizes. The shoe may optionally include a midsole disposed between the insole and outsole. The shoe may also optionally include an expandable counter that permits the heel portion of the shoe to adapt as the wearer's foot grows. The inventive shoe thus permits the wearer's foot to grow or expand widthwise and/or lengthwise thereby reducing the frequency with which shoes must be replaced and without sacrificing fit, support and comfort. The expansible lining may be constructed of any four-way expandable, porous material. A transparent toe portion and a fit indicator may be provided to assist in determining when the wearer's foot has grown too large for the shoe.