With Adjustment Of Shoe Size Patents (Class 36/97)
  • Patent number: 11903441
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to articles of footwear with adjustable dimensions. More specifically, the articles of footwear disclosed herein include sole structures with adjustable dimensions. In some instances, an article of footwear includes one or more removable insert members configured for adjusting the dimensions of a foot-receiving cavity of the article of footwear. Additionally or alternatively, a sole structure can include one or more flexible portions that can move between compressed and expanded states to accommodate feet of various dimensions. To accommodate the adjustable dimensions of the sole structures, an upper of the article of footwear can be stretchable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Ami M. Davis, Daniel J. Gearhardt, Michelle Haines, George S. Kim, Ryan J. Maddox, Austin J. Orand, Richard S. Ramsay, Sarah E. Sowers, Peter P. Williams, II, Patrick D. Boyd
  • Patent number: 11622594
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an article of footwear with a sole structure having at least one adjustability pod configured to adjust at least one of a length and a width of the sole structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: FAST IP, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Pratt, Craig Cheney, Aislynn Edwards
  • Patent number: 11607008
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a first plate and a second plate both extending longitudinally in a flexion region of the sole structure. The second plate is disposed above the first plate in the flexion region. The second plate has a fixed portion fixed to the first plate, and has a free portion. A coupler is operatively connected to one of the first plate and the free portion of the second plate. The coupler is selectably movable transversely relative to the first plate and the second plate between a first position and a second position. The coupler is spaced apart from the other one of the first plate and the free portion of the second plate in the first position, and operatively engages the other one of the first plate and the free portion of the second plate in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Dervin A. James, Austin Orand
  • Patent number: 11589636
    Abstract: A flexible shoe includes an under sole, a foot bed, a first over-foot portion, and a second over-foot portion. The under sole is formed of ballistic nylon. The foot bed is arranged on an upper surface of the under sole. The first over-foot portion is attached to the under sole and is configured to flexibly overly an instep of a foot of a user forward of an ankle of the user. The second over-foot portion is configured to flexibly wrap around a heel of the user rearward of the ankle of the user. The under sole, the first over-foot portion, and the second over-foot portion define a cavity configured to enclose the foot of the user. The foot bed is positioned entirely within the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Inventor: Todd Snyder
  • Patent number: 11576458
    Abstract: A foldable shoe includes a first sole section under the ball of a wearer's foot and includes a first outsole portion and a first footbed. A second sole section is located under the heel the foot and includes a second outsole portion and a second footbed. An upper section extends from the first sole section, and a hinge is connected to the first sole section and the second sole section and is configured to fold the foldable shoe from a first position, to be worn, to a second position, for storage. The upper section includes a first upper section connected to the first sole section and a second upper section connected to the second sole section. A connector connects the first upper section to the second upper section when the foldable shoe is in the first position and is disengaged when the foldable shoe is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Cassidy Ray, LLC
    Inventors: Cassidy Caulk, Jonathan Mark Dalton, Clay Griffin Prickett, Justin Henry, John Vanderkloot
  • Patent number: 11503873
    Abstract: A cycling shoe comprises a sole defining an undersurface of the cycling shoe, the sole having connection holes configured for connection of a pedal cleat to the sole. An upper is connected to the sole and defining with the sole a foot-receiving cavity. An expansion zone is located in a lateral or medial subportion of a metatarsal portion and/or toe portion of the cycling shoe and configured to be opposite a portion of at least a fifth metatarsal of a wearer of the cycling shoe, the expansion zone being entirely surrounded by a window of structural upper paneling and defined by at least one panel having a greater stretching characteristics than the structural upper paneling of the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: LOUIS GARNEAU SPORTS INC
    Inventors: Louis Garneau, René Plourde
  • Patent number: 11350696
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole. The upper includes an attachment region and a bottom portion that is bounded by the attachment region. The sole defines a concave inner surface. The concave inner surface includes a peripheral surface region and a central surface region. The attachment region of the upper is attached to the peripheral surface region of the sole. The bottom portion is held in tension over the central surface region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Elizabeth Langvin, Tetsuya T. Minami
  • Patent number: 11317677
    Abstract: An article such as an article of footwear includes a lacing system having two laces that are routed through lace-receiving passages in two distinct zones of a body of the article. A first lace can be routed through a first set of lace-receiving passages in a first zone, and a second lace can be routed through a second set of lace-receiving passages in a second zone. A method of lacing an article includes routing the first lace and the second lace through the lace-receiving passages of the respective zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Arick Auyang
  • Patent number: 11033072
    Abstract: In a sole structure of a shoe, each of a first sole portion and a second sole portion is configured such that a first sole body and a second sole body come close to each other and are separated from each other at least in the foot length direction while maintaining a state in which a first connection portion and a second connection portion overlap each other in a vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Mizuno Corporation
    Inventor: Takao Oda
  • Patent number: 10856617
    Abstract: An expandable support member for an article of footwear includes a plurality of expansion components that are joined together. The support member can be expandable between a contracted position and an expanded position. The plurality of expansion components are configured to expand along a non-linear path when the support member moves between the contracted position and the expanded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott C. Holt
  • Patent number: 10806210
    Abstract: Aspects herein are directed to braided articles and methods for their manufacture. The braided articles may include articles of footwear having braided uppers. The article of footwear may comprise a sole and a braided upper comprising a toe portion having a toe seam, a heel portion comprising a seamless braided structure, and a throat portion. The toe portion may comprise a base yarn. The throat portion may comprise a stretch yarn. Additionally, the heel portion may comprise both the stretch yarn and the base yarn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Bruce, Eun Kyung Lee, James Y. Yoo, Chikao Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 10779607
    Abstract: The extendible shoe is a footwear item. The extendible shoe has an adjustable length. The span of the length of the extendible shoe in the anterior-posterior direction adjusts such that the length of the extendible shoe is adjustable. The extendible show comprises an extendible sole and an extendible upper. The extendible upper attaches to the extendible sole. The extendible sole extends in the anterior-posterior direction. The extendible upper extends in the anterior-posterior direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Inventor: Nital Chandel
  • Patent number: 10709198
    Abstract: A sole body has an upper midsole made of an elastic material, staked over an upper side of a lower midsole, and having, on an upper surface thereof, a planta support surface. The upper midsole has a first recess recessed from the planta support surface in a downward direction and having a bottom, and a second recess recessed from a lower surface of the upper midsole toward the planta support surface, and having a bottom. The first and second recesses are alternately and continuously formed in the width direction of the foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Mizuno Corporation
    Inventors: Kouji Ito, Shin Hirai
  • Patent number: 10524948
    Abstract: An adjustable orthopedic strut system with a locking system that utilizes an incremental or “micro” adjustment method that is size adaptable and easy to use. The adjustable orthopedic strut system has a locking system, adjustable support members, struts, and an indented molded track. The adjustable orthopedic strut system improves user fitting and sizing creating better support and comfort. The adjustable orthopedic strut system provides “micro” incremental adjustments on support members to allow strategic positioning of the support members near surgical incisions. Furthermore, the adjustable orthopedic strut system locks and telescopes on a non-interrupted strut surface with minimal “snag” points, thus reducing the difficulty in achieving fine adjustments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: ORTHOCARE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Santaniello, Benjamin Glace
  • Patent number: 10317998
    Abstract: An example magnetic actuator includes first and second flexible magnetic layers and a control circuit. The first flexible magnetic layer is configured to support a first magnetic dipole. Arranged in slidable contact with the first flexible magnetic layer, the second flexible magnetic layer is configured to support a second magnetic dipole. The control circuit is configured to controllably form at least the first magnetic dipole and thereby modify a force of interaction between the first and second flexible magnetic layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: James David Holbery, Christopher Patrick O'Dowd
  • Patent number: 10159302
    Abstract: An article of footwear including a length adjustment mechanism is disclosed. The article of footwear can include a sole portion with one or more anchors connected to the sole portion. The article of footwear can also include a heel cup capable of moving between a fore position and an aft position. This can be accomplished using one or more length adjustment mechanisms that each slidably engage the one or more anchors, such that they have an unlocked state and a locked state. In the unlocked state, the heel cup can move with respect to the one or more anchors; and in the locked state cannot move with respect to the one of more anchors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Mizuno USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Jess Paul Carlson, David Michael Pehar, Jeffrey Silver Taggart
  • Patent number: 9392844
    Abstract: Novel footwear is disclosed. The footwear includes two deployable sidewalls, a deployable tongue and heel section. In the preferred embodiment, these all are equipped with telescoping rails and when in the deployed position allow the user to put on the shoe without laces. When in use, the deployable sections are fastened with an electromagnetic seal. On the tongue is a display, made up of LED or OLED elements, which may also include solar cells to power the internally stowed rechargeable battery. The upper section of the shoe is preferably made from a composite carbon fiber, or of aluminum, and contains a plurality of through apertures for ventilation and breathability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Inventor: Howard Burrell
  • Patent number: 9282780
    Abstract: An article of footwear for a prosthesis is provided and may include an upper, an outsole attached to the upper, and a midsole disposed between the upper and the outsole. The article of footwear may also include a cavity having a first portion defined between the upper and the midsole that receives the prosthesis when the prosthesis is inserted into the article of footwear and a second portion having a constant dimension between the upper and the midsole along the length of the second portion. The second portion may extend in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the midsole and may receive a distal end of the prosthesis when the prosthesis is fully inserted into the article of footwear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Inventors: Alan Toronjo, Vincent Chen, Kevin Fallon, Troy Hopkins
  • Patent number: 9271541
    Abstract: A sole is provided in a single-moulding made of non-rigid but elastic material having one or more vertical elements folded over each other in such a manner that the horizontal extension thereof mechanically adapts the width of the sole to the different width of the assembly lasts of the upper of a shoe. This also allows adapting the width of the sole to the variation of the conformation of the feet generated by the daily swellings thereof leaving the normal flexibility and comfort of the shoe unaltered. The user may stabilize the width of the sole to the possible deformation of the foot by injecting, from outside into the widened internal cavity, a foamed two-component fluid material which, upon solidification within a few minutes, blocks any widened part of the sole to the conformation or to the deformation of the feet of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: AL.PI. S.R.L.
    Inventors: Demetrio Biancucci, Alfredo Brasca
  • Patent number: 9173452
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring feet, for the purpose of gathering measurements for custom shoes, is disclosed. The apparatus is shaped like a shoe, and has an opening where the shoe lace opening is normally present on the shoe, in addition to openings near the big toe and the little toe. Each opening has holes for laces that are tightened so that the gap, or overlap, of the openings can be measured. Additionally, mats of known thickness can be used to measure the distance between the heel of the shoe and the heel of the foot. Furthermore, markings are used to identify the different shoe lace holes so measurements can be taken at multiple places along the top of the foot. Furthermore, a size indicator can be shown on the shoe, so that measurements can be taken on a picture of the foot in the shoe rather than on the foot and shoe themselves, and then scaled to actual size with reference to the size indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Inventor: Jianxin Ye
  • Patent number: 9167869
    Abstract: Provided are, among other things, shoes and shoe components, together with systems, methods and techniques for manufacturing the same. One representative embodiment involves a shoe that includes: a sole having a main structure; a strap anchor that has attachment points and is at least partially embedded within the main structure; and a strap that is attached to and/or looped through one or more of such attachment points and that is configured for strapping the shoe to a wearer's foot. Also, in this embodiment, the strap anchor includes a number of strap anchor components attached in a unit, each such strap anchor component including a number of the attachment points and being at least partially embedded within the main structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Dynasty Footwear, Ltd.
    Inventor: John C. S. Koo
  • Publication number: 20150128451
    Abstract: A sizing system for an article of footwear includes an insert attachable to the upper of the article of footwear. The insert is positioned within a pocket formed between the lining of the upper and the exterior shell of the upper. When attached to the upper, the insert forms a part of the exterior surface of the article of footwear. When the insert is removed, part of the pocket forms a portion of the exterior surface of the article of footwear or a flap is extended over the pocket to form a portion of the exterior surface of the article of footwear. The insert may be secured within the pocket using a mechanical fastener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Brian D. Baker, Neil Crumbleholme, Vernon J. Hentz, Doug D. Wilken
  • Patent number: 8959802
    Abstract: An article of footwear is disclosed that includes at least one of a stretchable upper and an articulated sole structure. The upper may include an exterior layer and an interior layer. The exterior layer forms at least a portion of an exterior of the upper, and the exterior layer includes a plurality of incisions that extend through the exterior layer. The interior layer is located adjacent an inner surface of the exterior layer, and the interior layer is exposed through the incisions. The sole structure may include a connecting portion and a plurality of discrete sole elements. The connecting portion is positioned adjacent the upper and may extend along a longitudinal length of the upper. The sole elements extend from the connecting portion, and the sole elements are separated by a plurality of sipes that extend upward into the sole structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tobie D. Hatfield, Eric P. Avar, Jeffrey C. Pisciotta, James Meschter, Kevin Hoffer, Stann Norman Richard Sheperd, Todd Anthony Waatti
  • Patent number: 8959796
    Abstract: A shoe that includes a shoe sole having a medial side and a lateral side, a top insole surface for placement of the foot sole and toes thereon and a bottom outsole surface. The shoe sole has a plurality of toe extensions projecting below the toes. Each toe extension is configured to support and retain at least one toe. Preferably there are five toe extensions, one for each toe. A shoe upper overlays the arch region, is attached to the lateral side and the medial side of the shoe sole and extends toward the toes. The upper is joined to the insole of each toe extension to partially encircle the toe(s) supported and retained on such toe extension, and leaving at least the front region of all the toes exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Inventor: Vasilios Lazaris
  • Patent number: 8938890
    Abstract: An expandable shoe has a top portion, a pair of side portions, a back portion, a sole, a heel and a first elastic member. The first elastic member joins the top portion to the pair of side portions at a critical location which is at the junction of the top portion and the side portions. The first elastic member is in the shape of an inverted “U” extending along the front of the shoe. The expandable shoe may further have a second elastic member joining the back portion to the side portions at the critical locations at the junctions of the back and side portions and the junctions of the back and the rear of the sole. The second elastic member is in the shape of an upright “U”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Inventor: Puthalath Koroth Raghuprasad
  • Patent number: 8935861
    Abstract: An article of footwear comfortably accommodating different foot sizes is disclosed. The article comprises an upper, sole and integrally formed cleat members made of a monolithic material. In addition, the article can include an integrally formed internal cushioning system. The article further includes grooves and/or perforations that assist the footwear in stretching to accommodate different foot sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian D. Baker, Blake Rhulen, Doug D. Wilken
  • Publication number: 20140345161
    Abstract: An article of footwear with a size-adjustable system capable of adjusting the size of the artifice of footwear is provided. The size-adjustable system comprises three sets of removable inserts. The inserts engage the article of footwear in the heel region of the upper to provide both space-filling in the heel region as well as stabilization of the foot. When each set of sizing inserts are disposed within the article of footwear, the size of the foot the article of footwear is capable of receiving is different. By providing a size-adjustable system, the article of footwear is capable of receiving multiple foot sizes, such as that of a growing child.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventor: Scott Schenone
  • Patent number: 8869434
    Abstract: The invention is a boot (1; 100) comprising a shaped shell (2; 101) including a rear portion (3; 102) that surrounds the heel (T) of the user's foot (P) and a front portion (4; 103) that develops mainly along a longitudinal axis (X) and surrounds the distal region (D) and the top (S) of the foot (P) and is 5 telescopically associated with the rear portion (3; 102) to which it is connected through fixing means (5). One of the front (4; 103) and rear portions (3; 102) is provided with a plurality of first through holes (6; 104) defining longitudinal axes (Z1; Z?1) that are parallel to each other and separated by a predefined distance (L1; L?1) and are selectively arranged coaxially to second through 10 holes (7; 105) made in the other one of the rear (3; 102) and front portions (4; 103), where they house the fixing means (5), in such a way as to vary the length of the shaped shell (2; 101) by discrete values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: La Rocca di Rosato L. & C. S.N.C.
    Inventors: Massimo Peraro, Giuseppe Rosato, Lorenzo Rosato
  • Patent number: 8850722
    Abstract: A sizing system for an article of footwear includes an insert attachable to the upper of the article of footwear. The insert is positioned within a pocket formed between the lining of the upper and the exterior shell of the upper. When attached to the upper, the insert forms a part of the exterior surface of the article of footwear. When the insert is removed, part of the pocket forms a portion of the exterior surface of the article of footwear or a flap is extended over the pocket to form a portion of the exterior surface of the article of footwear. The insert may be secured within the pocket using a mechanical fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian D. Baker, Neil Crumbleholme, Vernon J. Hentz, III, Doug D. Wilken
  • Publication number: 20140259774
    Abstract: A ballet technique shoe has a forefoot piece and a heel piece connected by an elastic gusset, and has an elastic drawstring sleeve around the opening of the shoe which contains an elastic drawstring. An opening in the elastic drawstring sleeve is located on the side of the shoe near the ankle so that the drawstring is tied at the side area of the foot. The shoe includes an outsole and a shock absorbing insole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Elizabeth Gaynor Minden
  • Publication number: 20140259775
    Abstract: An automatically girth-adjustable shoe construction wherein the effective girth of the shoe is controlled by longitudinally elastic fabric tape means that adjust to the girth of the wearers foot while holding it relatively centered transversely in the shoe at all girth adjustments thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Henri Rosen
  • Patent number: 8778251
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a one-piece shoe shell of a skate with different widths having acts of forming a shoe shell with a rudimentary mold assembly, ejecting the shoe shell from the rudimentary mold assembly and adjusting a width of the sole of the shoe shell before the shoe shell hardens. The sole of the shoe shell has at least one adjusting portion to allow the sole to expand or be compressed. With the acts, each size of the shoe shell needs only one rudimentary mold assembly that has complex structure and high cost to substantially form a basic shape of the shoe shell and multiple shaping molds of different widths that have simple structure and low cost are prepared to further adjust widths of the shoe shell. Consequently, total cost for manufacturing the shoe shell with different widths is effectively lowered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Sakurai Sports Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hsin-Chih Yang
  • Publication number: 20140190039
    Abstract: An expandable bootie is disclosed. The bootie includes a main body composed of fabric, wherein the main body is shaped in the form of a foot having a longitudinal axis, and a zipper that commences at a toe portion of the main body, and extends in a spiral path around the main body such that the spiral path twists at least three hundred and sixty degrees around the main body. The bootie further includes a portion of fabric disposed between mating tape members of the zipper, wherein when the zipper is closed the portion of fabric is contracted and wherein when the zipper is open the portion of fabric is extended and the main body has a longer longitudinal length, and a strap comprising a strip extending substantially horizontally and connected to an ankle portion of the main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: DM3, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Murtha, Dawn May
  • Patent number: 8745899
    Abstract: An article of footwear with a size-adjustable system capable of adjusting the size of the artifice of footwear is provided. The size-adjustable system comprises three sets of removable inserts. The inserts engage the article of footwear in the heel region of the upper to provide both space-filling in the heel region as well as stabilization of the foot. When each set of sizing inserts are disposed within the article of footwear, the size of the foot the article of footwear is capable of receiving is different. By providing a size-adjustable system, the article of footwear is capable of receiving multiple foot sizes, such as that of a growing child.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott Schenone
  • Patent number: 8713821
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the upper U of an athletic shoe comprising a first opening 1 out of which the foot sticks upwards during wearing and a second opening 2 which is closed with a tongue. The two openings 1, 2 are continuous with each other, and the upper U comprises a medial side stretchable part 51 which covers a part of a medial side face of an arch of the foot, a lateral side stretchable part 50 which covers a part of a lateral side face of a ball of a little toe (a fifth toe), a front part 3 located forward of the two stretchable parts 50, 51 and a rear part 4 located backward of the two stretchable parts. Each of the stretchable parts 50, 51 is provided so as to essentially cross one of side faces of the upper U from a top surface of a sole S to the second opening 2. Young's modulus along the lengthwise direction L of the foot of each of the stretchable parts 50, 51 is set smaller than that of the front part 3 and the rear part 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Asics Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Nishiwaki, Noboru Nakabe, Kiyomitsu Kurosaki, Toshikazu Kayano
  • Publication number: 20140075641
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment,, a utilitarian garment cover is provided. The utilitarian garment cover may have a first main section for covering at least part of neck, torso, shoulders, at least a part of arms, pelvis region and at least a part of legs of a human body. The first main section may have an access opening positioned at the front side of the first main section. The access opening may be at the upper part of the torso for allowing a user to slip in and out of the utilitarian garment cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Inventor: Humberto Escorce
  • Publication number: 20140059889
    Abstract: The invention is a shoe that has a variable length and flexible shape realized because of a flexible sectional sole and a flexible upper corresponding to the forefoot section of the user's foot. These flexible portions of the shoe permit bending of the forefoot relative to the rest of the shoe to change the length and shape of the forefoot and the length of the upper vamp of the shoe in order to allow a player to achieve maximum results in sports where feet and shoes are the player's tools, where the shoe aids in using the maximum number of sweet spots of the shoe for control, distance, and accuracy. The invention is an improvement over the prior art by allowing a user to better approximate the natural flexibility of bare feet as opposed to rigid shoes that limit a player's ability to use the natural flexibility of their feet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventor: Tonny Lukongwa
  • Patent number: 8661714
    Abstract: The shoe is a foldable shoe with sufficient rigidity during use but allows for folding during periods of non-use. The shoe has an upper which is made of a flexible material that makes it possible to push the upper together in the longitudinal direction of the shoe. In a portion of the shoe there are reinforcing elements which run perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the shoe and maintain the form of the shoe in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the shoe. Rigid material is formed around the toe area and the heel area of the shoe. To make the shoe sufficiently rigid for use, an outer element that clamps onto the reinforcing elements, a stiff insole, or both is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Puma SE
    Inventor: Reinhold Sussmann
  • Publication number: 20140047739
    Abstract: Devices for adjusting the fit of footwear, some examples including resilient laces operatively coupled to first retaining flaps of footwear, latching members including latches and lace receives sized to slidingly receive string portions of resilient laces and to restrict passage of retaining bodies of resilient laces, and latch couplers on second retaining flaps of footwear and configured to releasingly couple with lace couplers. In some examples, coupling latches to latch couplers tensions resilient laces and pulls first retaining flaps toward second retaining flaps. Some examples include first resilient laces and second resilient laces. Some examples including first resilient laces and second resilient laces include latching members including a first lace receiver sized to receive string portions of first resilient laces and second lace receivers sized to receive string portions of second resilient laces. Some examples are configured for adjusting the fit of apparel items defining eyelets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Inventor: Reginald Senegal
  • Publication number: 20140041256
    Abstract: A shoe design is expandable along its lengthwise axis utilizing one or both of a sliding outsole configuration or a sliding insole configuration. In one embodiment, the shoe has a multipart upper and/or multipart outsole interconnected by an expandable section made of a stretchable material which surrounds a pair of insole members arranged in an overlapping manner but allowed to move freely relative to one another as the expandable section expands or contracts. In one embodiment, the outsole of the shoe is slidably received within the heel of the shoe so as to allow for lengthwise expansion of the outsole as the upper portion of the shoe expands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Inventor: Claudia A. Espinola
  • Publication number: 20130333244
    Abstract: An automatically girth-adjustable shoe construction for a foot with a normal or a higher than normal instep wherein the effective girth of the shoe is controlled by a means at the ball of the foot connected to a second means at the instep of the foot by a slidably movable girth-adjusting plate located below the midportion of the shoe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventor: Henri E. Rosen
  • Publication number: 20130318826
    Abstract: A foot sliding prevention product utilizes a unitary pad shaped to conform with the tapered toe section of a shoe, particularly a women's high heel shoe. The pad is sized to extend from the toe section of the shoe to an area short of the shoe's arch section. An arcuate shaped ridge member extends from one side of the pad to the other side. The ridge member is configured to be positioned within the toe joints of the wearer to prevent the foot from sliding down and forward in the shoe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventor: Michele E. Nathaniel
  • Patent number: 8567098
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole and an upper attached to the sole. The sole includes a hard sole base forming an outline of the footwear and a mid sole resting on the sole base, the mid sole made of a softer material than the sole base to provide comfort to a wearer. The upper has sock like construction using stretchable materials to conform to shapes of the foot. The upper is attached to the sole by straps passing through the upper allowing a degree of independent motion of the upper to conform to a foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Inventor: Henry Hsu
  • Publication number: 20130276332
    Abstract: An adjustable shoe has an expansion mechanism which enables the front portion of the shoe to be expanded. A flexible strap member fixedly attached at the toe area extends in a lengthwise direction between the toe area at the front of the shoe and an interior rim, the flexible strap member extending out of a cavity opening adjacent the interior rim. A pulling force on the flexible member in the lengthwise direction causes compression of the top section, the sole, and the sidewalls of the shoe, causing wrinkling, gathering, and creasing in the top section, and causing a portion of the sole at the front of the shoe to move toward the interior rim.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventor: Galit Danielle Malka-Harari
  • Patent number: 8561322
    Abstract: A sole with adjustable sizing is disclosed. The sole includes a fixed region and an adjustable region. The adjustable region is deformable when the sole is heated to a melting point associated with the adjustable region. The shape and size of the sole may be adjusted by deforming the adjustable region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventor: Elizabeth Langvin
  • Patent number: 8544194
    Abstract: A length-adjustable snowshoe includes a frame and a carrier fixed to the frame. A connecting member mounted to the frame includes two receiving holes. A pivotal portion is formed on a top side of the connecting member. A compartment extends from the pivotal portion through one of the receiving holes. An extension member includes legs slideably received in the receiving holes and is slideable between first and second positions. A sliding member is mounted on the extension member to move therewith. A positioning member is received in the compartment and pivotable between a stop position and a releasing position. The positioning member in the stop position retains the extension member in any location including and intermediate the first and second positions. The extension member can slide between the first and second positions when the positioning member is in the releasing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Inventor: Chao-Ming Lin
  • Patent number: 8468723
    Abstract: An expandable and adjustable baby shoe or bootie which can be customized to fit during a baby's first two years. The concept is to allow the baby shoe to be expanded as the baby's foot grows so that a single shoe can be used for babies up to 24 months of age. The shoe has an expansion mechanism which enables the front portion of the shoe to be progressively increased as the baby grows. The rear portion of the shoe also has a fastening mechanism whereby the rear area which surrounds the ankles can also be adjusted as the baby grows for a customized fit. The present invention can also be incorporated into a children's slipper as well as a baby shoe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Tilag Brands, LLC
    Inventor: Galit Danielle Malka-Harari
  • Publication number: 20130152426
    Abstract: The invention relates to a shoe comprising an element for variably adjusting shoe width, wherein the shoe comprises a shoe shaft (3) having at least one medial and/or at least one lateral opening (4) and a shoe sole (2), wherein the element comprises the following for each of the openings (4): at least one support cap (5), a flexible element (92) which can be adjusted with the support cap (5) and which is provided on the part of the support cap (5) which faces the foot and can be fixed to the edge of the opening (4) in the shoe shaft in order to close the opening (4), wherein the flexibility of the element (92) is greater than that of the shoe shaft (3), an anchoring element (8) which can be rigidly integrated into the shoe sole (3) and comprises at least one borehole channel (82) extending in the direction of the support cap (5), and at least one adjusting means (7); which connects the support cap (5) to the anchoring element (8) and is guided adjustably along the borehole channel (82), wherein the support c
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventor: Stefan Lederer
  • Patent number: 8458926
    Abstract: A rowing shoe (1) of adjustable length has a shell (2) divided into heel- and toe-sections (4, 9) carried by parts (6, 7) of an elongate chassis (5). The chassis-part (7) carrying the toe-section (9) slides on a head (21) of chassis-part 6 which is fixed to the foot-stretcher of the boat. A lever (30) pivoted on the chassis-part (7) projects forwardly from the toe-section (9) and has a slotted projection (29) engaged with one of a series of teeth (31) of the head (21) to restrain sliding of chassis-part (7). Depression of lever (30) releases the restraint by lifting projection (29) clear of the teeth (31), so allowing length-adjustment of the shoe (1) to a size indicated through a window (3) on an extension (24) of a plate (23) carried with the chassis-part (7). Release of the lever (30) allows the projection (29) to engage a tooth (31) and hold the adjusted size, urged by pressure of the rower's foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Inventor: John Frayn Ewans
  • Patent number: 8458930
    Abstract: A footwear outsole includes an arch member shiftably assembled on a central part of an upper surface of a outsole body in a longitudinal direction and a rear heel shiftably assembled on a rear part of a lower surface of the outsole body in a longitudinal direction. The footwear outsole has an advantage in that the footwear outsole can not only prevent the foot from becoming flat, but can also minimize shock on the sole of the foot, and reduce foot fatigue Therefore, the comfortable sensation can be maintained, and an effect of stretching are maximized so as to make the blood smoothly circulate and acupressure the acupunctural K1 region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Shin Kyung Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ki-Ho Ha