Shoe with adjustable fitting

• US 20060032090A1
• Filed: 08/10/2004
• Published: 02/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eddie Chen
• Original Assignee: Eddie Chen
• Inventors: Chen, Eddie, Chen, Charlie, Yang, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,225,563 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/58.500
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/28 Devices to put in shoes in order to prevent slipping at the heel or to prevent abrading the stockings
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/26 adjustable as to length or size
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/20 Ankle-joint supports or holders
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/14 Clamp fastenings , e.g. strap fastenings; Clamp-buckle fastenings; Fastenings with toggle levers

Abstract

A shoe includes an upper having a heel portion that has a rear wall adapted to extend around the heel of a foot. At least one adjustment pad is attached loosely to the rear wall within the heel portion. The adjustment pad includes an intermediate part, first and second ends on two opposite sides of the intermediate part, a first surface confronting the rear wall, and a second surface opposite to the first surface. A strap passage unit is provided on the rear wall. A strap is attached to the adjustment pad, and passes movably through the strap passage unit. When the strap is pulled to move through the strap passage unit, the strap is tensed, and the adjustment pad is moved inward so as to abut against the foot in the shoe.

Claims

1. A shoe comprising:

an upper including a front portion, and a heel portion which has a rear wall adapted to extend around the heel of a foot;

at least one adjustment pad attached loosely to said rear wall within said heel portion and including an intermediate part, first and second ends on two opposite sides of said intermediate part, a first surface confronting said rear wall, and a second surface opposite to said first surface;

a strap passage unit provided on said rear wall;

a strap attached to said adjustment pad and passing movably through said strap passage unit,

wherein, when said strap is pulled to move through said strap passage unit, said strap is tensed and said adjustment pad is moved inward for abutment against the foot in the shoe.

2. The shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said adjustment pad is attached to said rear wall adjacent to said first end, said strap being attached to said first surface of said adjustment pad and passing through said strap passage unit adjacent to said second end.

3. The shoe as claimed in claim 2, wherein said strap passage unit includes a ring member attached to said rear wall for passage of said strap.

4. The shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said strap passage unit includes a through hole formed in said rear wall.

5. The shoe as claimed in claim 4, wherein said strap extends out of said upper through said through hole.

6. The shoe as claimed in claim 5, wherein said upper further includes an instep part and a shoelace provided in said instep part, said strap having an outer end extending out of said upper and connected to said shoelace so that said shoelace pulls said strap when said shoelace is tightened.

7. The shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said adjustment pad is elongate from said first end to said second end and extends in a direction from said heel portion toward said front portion.

8. The shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said adjustment pad includes a backing and a soft pad overlying said backing.

9. The shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said adjustment pad has a reduced thickness in said intermediate part.

10. The shoe as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a connecting member connecting said adjustment pad to said rear wall.

11. The shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said adjustment pad further includes a retainer provided on said adjustment pad to connect said strap to said adjustment pad.

12. A shoe comprising:

an upper including a front portion, a heel portion which has a rear wall adapted to extend around the heel of a foot, and an instep part provided with a shoelace;

at least one adjustment pad attached loosely to said rear wall within said heel portion and including an intermediate part, first and second ends on two opposite sides of said intermediate part, a first surface confronting said rear wall, and a second surface opposite to said first surface;

first and second strap passage units provided on said rear wall, said first strap passage unit being proximate to said second end of said adjustment pad; and

a strap including a first section connected to said first surface of said adjustment pad at least at a location adjacent to said second end, and a second section passing through said first and second strap passage units, said second section having one end extending out of said upper and connected to said shoelace,

wherein, when said shoelace is tightened, said strap is pulled and tensed between said first and second passage units and moves inward said intermediate part of said adjustment pad.

13. The shoe as claimed in claim 12, wherein said first section of said strap is connected to said first surface of said adjustment pad adjacent to said first end and said second end, said strap being folded between said first and second sections adjacent to said second end.

14. The shoe as claimed in claim 13, wherein said first strap passage unit includes a ring member attached to said rear wall adjacent to said second end of said adjustment pad, said second strap passage unit including a through hole formed in said rear wall for said second section of said strap to extend outward.

15. The shoe as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a connecting member having one end attached to said rear wall, and another end attached to said adjustment pad adjacent to said first end.

16. The shoe as claimed in claim 15, wherein said connecting member is an elastic strip.

17. The shoe as claimed in claim 13, wherein said adjustment pad further includes a retainer provided on said adjustment pad adjacent to said second end, said retainer connecting said first section of said strap to said adjustment pad.

18. The shoe as claimed in claim 17, wherein said retainer includes a short strip having two ends attached to said first surface of said adjustment pad, and an aperture defined between said short fabric strip and said first surface to receive said strap.

19. The shoe as claimed in claim 17, wherein said retainer is formed with at least two slots extending through said adjustment pad from said first surface to said second surface adjacent to said second end, said first section of said strap extending through one of said slots from said first surface to said second surface and then through the other one of said slots from said second surface to said first surface.

20. The shoe as claimed in claim 12, wherein said adjustment pad includes a backing and a soft pad overlying said backing.