Abstract: A cushioned, height-adjustable shoe has a hollow for receiving a wearer's foot, the hollow defined by a base on which the wearer's foot rests and an enclosure surrounding at least a portion of the wearer's foot; and within the hollow, an inflatable bladder associated with the base for lifting the wearer's foot to a degree determined by the amount of inflation. The bladder has a collapsable wall that may include pleats. In one embodiment, the bladder is wedge-shaped with a maximum height along the rear (heel) segment, and is disposed between the sole of the shoe and a soft but relatively thin foot pad so as to be invisible during use. In a second embodiment, the bladder constitutes the sole of the shoe, and once again is is defined peripherally by a set of expandable pleats. The bladder is accessed for inflation by means of a pump located beneath the shoe pad.

Abstract: A footwear device (2000) comprises a rigid base (2100) for supporting the foot (2001) of a user thereon, a heel counter (2300) on the rigid base (2100) for contact with the foot (2001) of a user in a first area of the foot posterior to the posterior aspect of the heel of the foot, a medial forefoot counter (2201) associated with the rigid base (2100) for contact with the foot (2001) of a user in a second area of the foot medial to the medial aspect of the head of the first metatarsal of the foot, and a forefoot/midfoot compression member (2400) for contact with the foot (2001) of a user in a third area of the foot located on the dorsum of the foot for exerting a downwardly and rearwardly directed force on the dorsum of the foot. The footwear device (2000) further includes a sports implement interface member (2101) on the rigid base (2100) for interfacing with a sports implement, such as a snow ski, or an ice skate blade or an in-line skate wheel system.

Abstract: An amusement footwear comprises an insole, an outsole, and a resilient portion disposed between the insole and the outsole for providing the footwear with a bouncing effect. The resilient portion comprises a plurality of coil springs which are held securely by the fitting portions of the insole and the outsole and are enclosed by a resilient casing fastened between the insole and the outsole. The insole is provided on the heel portion thereof with an adjustment device for adjusting the size of the footwear. The outsole is provided respectively on the undersides of both front and rear ends thereof with an anti-skidding device. The footwear is provided with a front foot-fastening strap held in the front retaining holes of a ring portion of the insole and is further provided with a rear foot-fastening strap held in the rear retaining holes of the ring portion of the insole and the retaining holes of the adjustment device.

Abstract: An adjustable child shoe comprises a heel, a toecap and an insole. The heel has a position guiding groove, an instep, a plurality of positioning protrusions, and a plurality of fastening elements. The toecap has two flaps, an outsole, an adjustable pad, a foldable extending pad and a plurality of positioning holes. A plurality of fastening elements are disposed in the toecap and the heel.

Abstract: A combination snowshoe and binding, wherein the binding cooperates upon the snowshoe, for evenly distributing a user's weight thereupon. The binding includes an outboard half and an inboard half, the outboard half being horizontally movable upon the inboard half, in a slidable manner. The outboard half remains loosely coupled upon a pivoting member and moves freely in a horizontal direction, to accommodate the foot widths of a variety of users. The inboard half remains stationary, while in use, but can loosened, and adjusted in a horizontal direction. By moving the inboard half to a desired adjustment position, a proper positioning for evenly distributing a user's weight upon the snowshoe can be achieved. The snowshoe further includes an asymmetric frame member for allowing a user to walk with a normal stride upon a snowy surface.

Abstract: A foot splint comprising a frame member fastened to the foot of a patient the frame member having a calf portion, a resilient heel portion spaced apart from the patient's heel, and an arch portion to which a ball extension member is slideably and lockably secured.

Abstract: An overshoe includes an upper section having an entryway into which a shoe is inserted, a heel (14), and a sole (12) spaced from the heel (14), with the heel (14) and sole (12) having a common longitudinal axis and common interior and exterior surfaces. The upper section, heel (14) and sole (12) are unitary structure formed from an elastic polymeric material to provide an overshoe which stretches lengthwise along the longitudinal axis of the heel (14) and sole (12) to fit a plurality of different size shoes. The heel (14) and sole (12) each have an accordian-like configuration with a plurality of spaced apart bars in a row separated from each other by channels on the exterior surfaces of said sole (12) and heel (14) , and a plurality of parallel ridges (22) in a row separated by recesses (26) on the interior surfaces of the sole (12) and heel (14) . Each ridge is directly opposite a bar (18).

Abstract: Footwear having a substantially concealed means for girth adjustment is described. The girth adjustment means is provided by shoe insole assemblies wherein the contours and thicknesses of the side edges vary relative to those of the longitudinally central portions of the insole assemblies which remain substantially constant.

Abstract: An convertible overshoe for disposition on one primary shoe and being convertible for disposition on a larger primary shoe. Each of said primary shoes has an outer surface. The overshoe is formed as an integral unit of an elastic material, e.g., rubber, and comprises a sole and an upper. The sole includes anti-slip grit on its outer surface. The upper is in the form of a peripheral sidewall having an opening at the top edge thereof. The opening is of a sufficient size to enable a primary shoe to be extended therethrough so that it is received closely within the overshoe to prevent the overshoe from falling off. The sidewall of the upper includes a reinforcing strip in the form of a continuous thickened bead extending along a portion of the peripheral edge of the opening and spaced below that edge and an associated contiguous portion defining a trim line.

Abstract: An article of footwear including a sole extending from a toe to a heel. An upper is secured to the sole. The upper is formed of flexible material shaped to conform to a foot. The upper has opposing edges which define an ankle opening and a slot extending from the toe portion to the ankle opening. A flap is secured to the sole and sized to cover the slot. Adhering tabs are used to adhere the flap to the upper. The flap includes a raised end at the toe portion.

Abstract: A shoe construction is disclosed in which varying the width of an insole assembly by means of a fluid-containing bladder adjusts the fit of the shoe.

Abstract: Transformable shoe frames are described wherein the heel of the shoe can be extended downwardly in a high heel position or converted to a low heel position. The shoe frame is made in sections that are pivotally connected to each other and mechanisms have been provided to lock the sections together in varying positions, so that the angle between the toe portion and the remainder of the shoe can be adjusted to maximize the comfort of the wearer depending on whether the heel is in a high heel or a low heel position. Additional mechanisms are illustrated to change the contour of the arch when the heel height is changed. In a preferred embodiment the heel is stowable under the sole of the shoe and the sole will have a well defined flexible region in the distal metatarsal region of the shoe, either by having a hinged joint or built in flexibility.

Abstract: A length adjustable scuff formed of a fabric sole of sufficient length for at least a portion of its after-section to be folded back on top of the remaining portion of the after-section to provide a support for the wearer's heel and/or arch. The folded-over portion of the after-section may be adjustably retained in its disposition relative to the front section of the sole, either by a velcro type material or by an element securable in the vicinity of the toe of the scuff.

Abstract: A device which functions to improve the fit of shoes is described whereby the shoe is urged forward on the foot by means of an elastic member to minimize slippage of the backpart of the shoe relative to the heel of the wearer's foot.

Abstract: A shoe construction using an insole assembly of variable width to adjust the fit of a shoe is disclosed.

Abstract: An adjustable height shoe for leg lengthening procedures to correct for leg length discrepancy has a removable outer sole which is coupled to a midsole of a shoe upper with a number of unequal, graduated thickness interlocking connecting filler soles interposed therebetween. A removable heel pad provides a heel lift of one-half of the thickness of the thinnest filler sole. Gradual reduction in the vertical height of the stack of filler soles and the outer sole in conjunction with inclusion or exclusion of the heel pad is correlated to the increase in leg length of the wearer. Opposing, abutting faces of filler soles or of filler soles with the outer sole and midsole are interlocked by correspondingly sized, configured height projections and recesses such as circular pegs and circular holes for the abutting members. Straps passing through aligned vertical slots within the outer sole and the midsole maintain the filler soles as part of a stacked assembly.

Abstract: A shoe construction is provided with means for inclusion or orthotic and/or planar adjustment members in a shoe, without adversely affecting thereby the fit of the shoe on the foot or the distance of the foot from the walking surface.

Abstract: An improved shoe construction is disclosed which affords manually operable girth adjustment by a shoe upper having a widthwise adjustable bottom section and substantially hidden girth adjusting removably attachable fastener positioned between the bottom section of shoe upper and the sole.

Abstract: Footwear having a concealed means for girth adjustment is described. The girth adjustment means may be manual or automatic and generally comprises a girth adjustable lining assembly disposed within the shoe.

Abstract: The apparatus incorporates two platforms (1) resting whereon are the feet and mechanical vibrators (2-5) located pairwise on each platform (1) so as to exert their action on the bearing surfaces of both feet. Each of the platforms has a fore and a rear housing (6,7) which can be translated relatively to each other due to a mechanical actuator.

Abstract: Shell structure particularly usable to produce a ski boot, comprising at least two separate parts which can be selectively mutually joined and are composed of a first body which embraces the metatarsal region and the instep region and of a second body which embraces the region of the heel of the foot. The first and second bodies furthermore have, approximately at the ground resting region, guiding means constituted by complementary profiles defined on the two parts to stiffen the structure and telescopingly couple them.

Abstract: An adjustable shoe to properly fit a wear's heel, midfoot, forefoot and toes. The lower edges of first and second body members are securely attached to the first and second side edges, respectively, of a sole member from a point conterminous with the midline of the toe end of the sole member to points on the first and second side edges, respectively, of the sole member spaced from the midline of the heel end of the sole. A first attachment structure adjustably secures the heel end portions of the body members relative to one another. A second attachment structure adjustably secures the forefoot portions of the body members relative to one another.

Abstract: A shoe construction which is adjustable in girth to accommodate different foot widths includes a show upper having side edge margins attached to the edges of the shoe sole. The sole is deformable to permit a vertical component of motion of at least one shoe upper side edge margin relative to the foot support surface in the shoe so as to adjust the shoe girth sufficiently to accommodate the width of the foot inserted into the shoe. Various means for achieving such girth adjustment automatically and manually are also disclosed.

Abstract: A ski boot comprises a shell and shaft designed for stepping in from the rear and composed of a collar and a lid. The collar and the front portion of the shell form a first integral part, whereas the rear, heel portion of the shell together with the lid form a second integral part. The two integral parts are pivotal about an axis in the sole region, transverse to the travelling direction and are mutually fixable in the position of use.

Abstract: A ski boot comprises a rigid outer shell and an inner shell which is relatively flexible. The inner shell features a relatively flexible saddle region which extends over the metatarsal and/or instep portions of a wearer's foot. Tensile elements, such as cables or straps, extend over the saddle and cooperate with buckle mechanisms to provide a variable supporting force to the wearer's foot. The inner shell also comprises an ankle support structure which grasps the wearer's leg at a point just above the malleolus and cooperates with the heel spoiler to maintain the wearer's heel in contact with the sole of the boot.In another embodiment the ski boot features a hinged inner sole. The inner sole is secured to the outer shell in the phalanx region of the sole, and also is hingedly connected to the heel spoiler in the heel region of the inner sole. A hinge, either mechanical or natural, is disposed adjacent to or in common with the fastening point.

Abstract: An improved shoe outsole having an elastic shank (12) and suitable for outdoor wear, outsole portions (14,16) comprised of semi-rigid material for forming same, and a shoe (10) incorporating the improved outsole are disclosed. The front outsole portion (14) has a ledge (22) extending widthwise across the back end thereof and the rear outsole portion (16) has a ledge (24) extending widthwise across the front end thereof, such that the elastic shank (12) is joinable to the outsole portions (14,16) by means extending through the shank (12) and the ledges (22,24).

Abstract: A shoe cover which includes a pair of substantially flat textured strips of material secured together along peripheral edges thereof for forming a substantially straight edged bottom portion, a deformable heel portion, a toe portion, an instep portion, and having an opening formed at an upper portion thereof, at least one securing strip being connected to said heel portion and which includes a mechanism for selectively adjusting a length dimension of the bottom portion and for securing said flat sheets of material to a shoe.

Abstract: A quick fastener ice skate apparatus is set forth wherein an ice skate organization is formed with a conventional downwardly projecting blade formed with an uppermost end thereof securable by an elongate hook and loop fastener organization, and further including a series of serrated straps overlying the forward portion of the skate to secure the ice skate together wherein each fastener includes an elongate serrated strap positionable through a bridge member. Each bridge member includes a downwardly pivotally biased detent wherein the serrated strap, when pulled through the bridge member, is prevented from withdrawing from the bridge member by the detent wedged into a depression between respective serrated portions of the strap. Additionally, a pouch includes a plurality of replaceable strap members to provide ready replacement of a respective strap upon breakage.

Abstract: A simplified method of producing a ski binding structure and a simplified adjustable ski binding structure which includes a base portion which can be formed from a single sheet of material. The sheet of material which forms the base has portions which are folded and portions which are angularly moved to form a heel section. An attachment portion is attached to the heel section. In one embodiment the attachment portion is integral with the heel section. The attachment portion has a series of apertures by which the attachment portion can be adjustably attached to a ski to receive a small boot or a large boot or boot intermediate in size.

Abstract: A shoe construction which is adjustable in girth to accommodate different foot widths includes a shoe upper having side edge margins attached non-elastically to the edges of the shoe sole. At least one side margin of the sole is deformable to permit a vertical component of motion of the corresponding shoe upper side margin with respect to a foot support surface inside the shoe so as to adjust the shoe girth with respect to a foot support surface inside the shoe to accommodate the width of the foot inserted into the shoe. Various shoe constructions for achieving such girth adjustment automatically and manually are disclosed.

Abstract: A length-adjustable short ski for mounting on a boot. The ski has a sole-receiving portion and a heel-receiving portion. Each of these portions has a platform, the heel platform overlapping the sole platform, and the platforms are interconnected by tongue-and-groove joints allowing their relative sliding displacement and holding the portions in assembled condition, the grooves and tongues projecting downwardly from the platforms. Once the sole and heel portions have been set to the desired length of the ski, they are locked together. For this purpose, the sole end of the heel platform has a resilient tongue with a pair of ribs projecting downwardly and locking into two of a plurality of locking notches formed in the underlying sole platform.

Abstract: A simplified adjustable ski binding structure which includes a base portion which can be formed from a single sheet of material. The sheet of material which forms the base has portions which are folded and portions which are angularly moved to form a heel section. An attachment portion is attached to the heel section. In one embodiment the attachment portion is integral with the heel section. The attachment portion has a series of apertures by which the attachment portion can be adjustably attached to a ski to receive a small boot or a large boot or a boot intermediate in size.

Abstract: A ski boot system includes a rigid outer boot having contoured support surfaces for supporting and suspending any one of a plurality of varying sized pliable inner sport shoes. The inner sport shoe is provided with rigid engagement surfaces formed to complement the support surfaces of the outer boot. In this manner, a relatively inelastic and rigid connection is provided to positively secure the shoes within the boot.

Abstract: Shoe having an upper part made of supple material and which consists of two side pieces (3,4) attached to the two side edges of the sole (1), and a tongue (5) attached to the front edge of the sole, quick fastening means (7,8,9,10,12,13) being provided to join the tongue (5) to the two side pieces (3,4) at the front and to join the two side pieces (3,4) together at the back in a detachable and adjustable manner.

Abstract: An athletic shoe with an adjustable width, adjustable tension "speedlace" closure system is disclosed. The system comprises a serpentine closure element body with relatively wide shoelace openings at different widths across the throat of the shoe, shoelace holes which frictionally grip a shoelace threaded therethrough, and a guide ridge on the shoelace openings.

Abstract: An article of footwear being in the form of a sandle includes a platform, two straps anchored to the platform to secure the platform to a wearer's foot, and an expedient, such as a velcro strip, mounted to the edge of the platform for removably fastening an upper foot covering to the platform to convert the sandal to a shoe and vice versa. The sandal includes a sole, a heel provided on the sole, an arch-engaging loop, an ankle-encircling loop, and one or more toe-receiving loops. The sole, an arch, a wedged heel, and a plurality of channels for movably receiving the straps are formed in a single molded platform to reduce the number of fabrication steps and make the sandle lighter. Each of the loops is anchored to the sole for adjustably securing the sole to a wearer's foot and for adjustably engaging the toe or toes of the wearer's foot. The arch-engaging loop and the toe-receiving loops are formed by a first strap and the ankle-encircling loop is formed by a second strap.

Abstract: Improved footwear, such as a ski boot having a substantially rigid shell, a split section in the rear, lower boot heel portion with a slit commencing at a circular aperture in the shell and extending upwardly, and adjustable fastening means mounted across the slit for varying the slit width and thereby adjusting the split section at the heel portion to the wearer's heel width size.

Abstract: The boot includes a heel portion which together with a sole and vamp define a space for accommodation of a wearer's foot. A stiff inner upper is integrally connected to the vamp and heel portion and a stiff outer upper surrounds the inner upper. The outer upper is connected to the inner upper at the rear of the boot only and is free to move in the forward and rearward direction relative to the inner upper but is substantially immovable relative to the inner upper in the lateral direction.

Abstract: A boot support comprises an elongated one-piece solid plastic member having a shape generally approximating that portion of a human leg between the ankle and knee. The member has a plurality of sets of oppositely facing horizontal grooves located at selected levels measured from the base of the member. The groove sets establish break-off locations for reducing the overall height of the member to accommodate different boot heights.

Abstract: A plastic sock that is adapted for use in combination with a boot or galosh for facilitating insertion of the foot therein and to keep the feet dry while the overboot is worn.

Abstract: An adjustable post-surgical shoe having two sole portions which are slidably connected by a pin and tube means and which has a separate means for securing the sole portions in adjusted positions.

Abstract: The height of the arch of an arch-support member is adjustable by turning a screw that is positioned between the insole and the sole of a shoe. A lever extends from the central portion of the arch support downwardly through the insole to the adjusting screw. The lever turns about the insole as a fulcrum in response to adjustment of the screw for varying the height of the arch-support member.

Abstract: Improved footwear comprising a flexible cover component for a human foot including a sole portion, an upper portion integrally related with the sole portion including a toe section for defining a cavity adapted to receive a human foot, a pair of side sections extended rearwardly from the toe section, a heel tab integrally related to the rearward section of the sole portion and extended upwardly therefrom for confining the heel of the foot, and a flexible binder component for securing the cover component about the foot including a strap united with the heel tab and adapted to be united with the toe section employing Velcro fasteners and the like.

Abstract: A skate is described having a runner, a boot portion including a sole, support means connecting the runner to the sole, the boot including a forward upper portionof molded construction and a rear heel portion slidably connected with the forward portion for limited relative movement towards and away from the upper portion.

Abstract: This shoe consists primarily of a toe portion, a heel portion, and an adjustable arch, which, when the shoe is assembled, will be held in place by pointed plastic tabs on inner sole portions, when pressure is applied. The shoe further includes toothed tongues of the heel portion, which are received in toothed pockets in the toe portion, and strap means on the heel portion provides fastening means to the toe portion by buckles thereon.

Abstract: A size-adjustable ski boot and skate shoe which adjusts both the width and length of the front of the boot to accommodate various sizes of feet. A clam-shell construction of widthwise halves of the toe attached to quarter sections of the sole permits both length and width movement of both the sole and shell of the boot. When fasteners on the sole plate are loosened, a screw adjustment is used to move the sole plate with attached half-toe longitudinally and laterally to increase the boot size. An alternate system uses replaceable toe sections of varying sizes.

Abstract: A longitudinally expandable shoe includes a heel assembly which may be joined to a sole assembly; the heel and sole assemblies have sets of flexible platelike portions, respectively, which interleave with one another. Joining means fasten the heel and sole assemblies at a selectable spacing to one another, and height adjustable arch support means are joined with one end thereof to one of the heel and sole assemblies for supporting the foot of a wearer. An upper has front and rear portions attached to the sole and heel assemblies, respectively, and elastic joining means are provided for joining the upper front and rear portions.

Abstract: A stretchable shoe comprising a front member and a rear member may be adjusted in length. The front member and the rear member are separable and inter-connected by a screw which passes through one hole of the front member and one of a plurality of holes of the rear member. The front member is composed of an upper, an insole, a middle plate and a bottom plate, and the rear member is composed of a sole, an upper and a heel. The stretchable shoe is especially available for a growing child.