Adjustable shoe and method of manufacturing same

• US 20050115112A1
• Filed: 01/07/2003
• Published: 06/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Calzaturifico Dover SRL
• Original Assignee: Calzaturifico Dover SRL
• Inventors: Bonfanti, Danilo
• Application Number:
  US10/500,773
• Publication Number:
  US 20050115112A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/97
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/047 the gusset being elastic
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/26 adjustable as to length or size

Abstract

A shoe that is adaptable to the shape of the foot includes a flexible upper provided with a border and an underlying elasticized fabric or tape that connects portions of the upper located opposite to the border, during manufacture of the shoe the border is temporarily stabilized by a row of stitching that is easily removable after the shoe has been assembled, since the fabric or tape elastically stretches in a crosswise direction with respect to the border, the parts of the upper secured to the fabric or tape can spread so as to increase the width of the shoe.

Claims

1. Adjustable shoe, comprising a flexible upper and a sole, characterized by the fact that parts of the upper are doubled by folding or stitching and are connected by elastic means so as to adapt the upper to the shape of the foot.

2. Shoe according to claim 1, in which said parts of the upper doubled by folding or stitching are temporarily stabilized by removable fastening means which serves to permit assembly of the shoe.

3. Shoe according to claim 1, in which said parts of the upper are doubled so as to form, on the visible side, at least one border and said elastic means consist of at least one portion of elasticized fabric or of at least one elasticized tape placed under said at least one border and joining parts of the upper located opposite it.

4. Shoe according to claim 1, in which said parts of the upper are coupled by at least one joint and said elastic means consist of at least one portion of elasticized fabric or at least one elasticized tape located under said at least one joint and connecting portions of the upper located opposite it.

5. Shoe according to claims 3, in which said borders or joints are temporarily stabilized by a removable stitching that serves to permit assembly of the shoe.

6. Shoe according to claim 3, in which said fabric or said tape elastically stretches in a crosswise direction with respect to the border or joint above it and is fastened by stitching to said portions of the upper.

7. Shoe according to claim 3, in which said tape is placed between the upper and a lining.

8. Shoe according to claim 7, in which said lining is elasticized at least in the zone of said tape.

9. Shoe according to claim 3, in which said borders or joints are oriented substantially in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the shoe.

10. Shoe according to claim 3, in which said borders or joints are oriented substantially in the direction of the transversal axis of the shoe.

11. Shoe according to claim 3, in which said borders or joints are oriented in the direction of both the longitudinal and transversal axis of the shoe.

12. Method for the manufacture of a shoe adaptable to the shape of the foot, characterized by the fact of comprising the steps of:

coupling parts of the upper by folding or joining so as to form, on the visible side, one or more borders or joints;

temporarily stabilizing the borders or joints with removable securing means;

applying one or more portions of elasticized fabric or one or more elasticized tapes on the underside of the upper, parts opposite each border or joint being fasted to them by stitching;

completing the upper and assembly of the shoe;

removing the removable securing means.

13. Method according to claim 12, in which said step of temporarily stabilizing the borders or joints is done using temporary removable stitching.

14. Method according to claim 12, in which said step of completing the upper includes the step of applying an elasticized lining at least in the zone of said tapes.

15. Method according to claim 12, in which said portions of fabric or said tapes are elastically yielding in a crosswise direction with respect to the border or joint above.