SHOE WITH ELASTIC UPPER

Abstract

A shoe comprises a molded plastic sole having an upstanding edge defining a perimeter of the sole and extending generally normally to a bottom section and an upper member formed of a sock like woven elastic fabric having a first modulus of elasticity and a foot receiving opening adhered to the inside of the sole and the upstanding edge. The woven upper member has a foot receiving opening bordered by an elastic binding which has a greater modulus of elasticity than that of the sole. A pair of elastic fabric straps having a greater modulus of elasticity than the sole have their opposed ends secured to spaced points on opposite sides of the foot opening so as to extend across the foot opening.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to casual shoes formed with molded plastic soles and elastic uppers so as to closely conform to the wearer's foot.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Girls and women often wear casual shoes that are easy to slip on and off such as flip flops and the like. Flip flops, however, give no protection to the upper part of the foot and their thong-type engagement with the foot may abrade the contact points with the foot, such as between the toes, to produce skin abrasions. Moreover, their flat soles provide little support for the arch of the foot or the like.

Modern mass production processes enable the low-cost production of easy to slip on shoes for casual wear that overcome these problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is therefore directed toward a casual, low-cost shoe that is easy to slip on, closely conforms to feet over a range of sizes, provides good arch support for the foot, and is aesthetically attractive.

A preferred embodiment of the invention, which will subsequently be disclosed in detail, employs a molded plastic sole formed of a resilient plastic such as polyethylene, PVC, etc., contoured along its length to provide a raised arch. The sole preferably has a tread design on its bottom side to improve traction of the shoe. The sole has an upstanding lip extending along its perimeter and at the forward end of the sole the top of the lip extends rearwardly, so as to protect the toes of a wearer.

An upper member formed of a woven elastic fabric having a sock-like configuration and a foot-receiving opening is adhered to the upper side of the sole and the inner sides of the upstanding side walls such that a foot-receiving opening in the upper member projects upwardly away from the sole.

An elastic binding is secured along the edge of the foot-receiving opening. A pair of elastic fabric straps each have their opposed ends secured to the binding at spaced points on opposite sides of the foot opening so as to extend across the foot opening. Preferably, the ends of the elastic straps are secured to such points on the binding as to allow the straps to cross one another from points adjacent to the foot opening nearest the toe section of the sole to a more rearwardly section.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the elastic fabric from which the upper member is woven has a relatively low modulus of elasticity and is accordingly easily deformed by stress. The elastic binding has a greater modulus of elasticity than the fabric of the upper and the pair of elastic straps preferably also has a lower modulus of elasticity than the fabric forming the upper. A foot may easily be inserted into the shoe from behind the crossed straps so as to stretch the straps and the upper fabric so that it closely conforms to the foot of the wearer. The resiliency of the upper fabric and of the crossed straps securely retains the shoe to the user's foot in a very comfortable manner. A separate insole conforming to the interior of the upstanding edge of the sole may be inserted over the sole.

The resulting shoe may be manufactured from low-cost materials in a highly efficient manner; the shoe is very comfortable to wear and long lasting.

The section of the upper which extends above the sole portion preferably bears a pattern which renders the shoe even more attractive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, advantages, and applications of the present invention will be made apparent by the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention. The description makes reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view from the forward side and top of a shoe representing a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the shoe of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the shoe;

FIG. 4 illustrates the side opposite to FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 represents the rear of the shoe;

FIG. 6 represents the top of the shoe;

FIG. 7 represents a longitudinal cross section through the shoe; and

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the sole and upper of the shoe before the two are adhered together.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a plastic injected molded sole, generally indicated at 10, and an elastic upper, generally indicated at 12. In a preferred embodiment of the invention PVC is used, but a variety of polymers such as polyethylene, polyester, polyurethane, epoxy resins, and the like may be employed. Any injection moldable plastic may be used.

The sole 10 has a bottom section 12 preferably formed with a pattern of ribs or the like, usually extending laterally across the width of the sole, such as the ribs 16 visible in FIG. 2. These ribs add to the traction of the shoe against a walking surface. The sole is bounded on its perimeter by an upstanding side wall 18 at the toe section 20. At the top of the toe section 20 the side wall 18 bends downwardly and rearwardly to form a toe cap. At its rear end, the side wall 18 is raised in height relative to the balance of the side wall at 22.

The sole 10 has an upwardly extending bulge across its width, between the heel section and the toe section, to create an arch support section.

The upper section 12, before it is inserted into the sole 10 and attached to the bottom 24 of the sole, is illustrated in FIG. 8. It is formed of a sock-like section 26 woven from an elastic fabric. The sock 26 has a forward truncated area 28 and it has a central foot opening 30 bounded by a binding 32. The binding is preferably sewn about the perimeter of the foot opening 30 and is preferably formed of an elastic fabric which has a lower modulus of elasticity than the sock section 26. Accordingly, when a foot is inserted into the sock-like structure 26, after it is adhered to the sole 10, the binding 32 will firmly engage the top section of the wearer's foot.

The woven sock 26, in its unattached form, preferably has an elongation percentage of in excess of 80 percent, and preferably of about 100 percent, all within its elastic limit so that the recovery percentage of elongation is substantially 100 percent. In its unattached and unstretched form, the length of the sock 26 may be approximately 60 percent of the length of the sole. Accordingly, in the process of adhering the sock 26 to the interior surface of the sole 24 and the interior surfaces of the upstanding edge 18, the sock 26 must be stretched on a suitable form or last into intimate contact with the surfaces to which it is to be adhered.

The sock may be adhered to the sole using any form of adhesive, but preferably a hot melt adhesive using a thermoplastic synthetic polymeric adhesive. For example, the process disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,278,959 might be employed. Alternatively, cold adhesives such as two-part polyurethane or epoxy resins can be employed.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention a pair of elastic straps 40 and 42 may be sewn to the binding 32 and possibly the immediately adjacent section of the fabric 26, with the opposing ends of the strap being attached to points on the opposite sides of the foot opening 30 so that the straps extend across the width of the resulting shoe. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the straps are connected to the binding 32 in such a way that they cross over the center of the foot opening. They are preferably positioned toward the forward end of the shoe so that the wearer's foot may be inserted behind the straps 40 and 42.

The straps 40 and 42 are preferably formed of a woven material having a higher modulus of elasticity than the material of the sock 26. Preferably, the straps 40 and 42 are formed of a fabric having an elongation percentage of 5 to 15 percent. Accordingly, they firmly engage the surface of a foot inserted into the shoe and largely depend upon the elasticity of the supporting sock for any necessary elongation. After the sock 26 is adhered to the sole 10, a planar insole 48 formed of conventional materials with very little elasticity may be inserted over the underside of the sock 26.

The upper 12 is preferably formed with an aesthetically pleasing pattern which may be woven into the fabric or imprinted thereon, such as the polka dots 50 illustrated in FIG. 1.

Claims

1. A shoe comprising:

a molded plastic sole elongated about an axis, having a bottom section and an upstanding edge defining the perimeter of the sole and extending generally normally to the bottom section;

an upper member formed of a woven elastic fabric with a first modulus of elasticity having a sock-like configuration and afoot-receiving opening;

the upper member being adhered to the bottom and upstanding edge of the sole so that a section of the upper member incorporating the foot-receiving opening, extending away from the sole, is not adhered to the sole or upstanding edge; and

an elastic binding having a second modulus of elasticity greater than the first modulus of elasticity, secured about the opening.

2. The shoe of claim 1, further comprising a pair of elastic fabric straps having a greater modulus of elasticity than the first modulus of elasticity, each strap having its opposed ends secured to the binding at spaced points on opposite sides of the foot opening so as to extend across the foot opening and the axis of the sole.

3. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the upstanding edge of the molded plastic sole comprises a toe cap with the top of the upstanding edge extending toward the rear end of the sole.

4. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the woven elastic fabric of the upper member has an elongation factor of greater than 80 percent.

5. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the upper member is adhered to the bottom and upstanding edge of the sole by a hot melt adhesive using a thermoplastic.

6. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the upper member is adhered to the bottom and upstanding edge of the sole employing a two part cold setting adhesive.

7. The shoe of claim 1, further comprising a planar insole overlying the top side of the section of the upper member adhered to the bottom of the sole.

8. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the upper member is woven with a decorative design.