Shoes
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A sub-assembly for forming a shoe comprising:
- a flexible member for incorporation in a base of the shoe and capable of a plurality of foot supporting configurations to adapt to heels of different heights, the flexible member including a front portion defining a first around engaging portion for the shoe and a rear portion having an elongate passageway;
a heel defining a second around engaging portion for the shoe; and
a support member received in the elongate passageway, wherein said support member extends under an arch region of said flexible member and is engaged with said flexible member to shape the flexible member into one of said plurality of foot supporting configurations and to connect the heel to the rear portion of the flexible member.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A shoe incorporates a flexible member which, by itself, is capable of a variety of configurations. A heel incorporates a stiffening member which mechanically interlocks with the flexible member to both shape it and provide it with sufficient rigidity to support a foot. The heel can be detached from the flexible member to allow the replacement of one heel with a different heel.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A sub-assembly for forming a shoe comprising:
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a flexible member for incorporation in a base of the shoe and capable of a plurality of foot supporting configurations to adapt to heels of different heights, the flexible member including a front portion defining a first around engaging portion for the shoe and a rear portion having an elongate passageway; a heel defining a second around engaging portion for the shoe; and
a support member received in the elongate passageway, wherein said support member extends under an arch region of said flexible member and is engaged with said flexible member to shape the flexible member into one of said plurality of foot supporting configurations and to connect the heel to the rear portion of the flexible member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A shoe comprising a base and a heel, the base comprising a relatively flexible portion and a support member, the flexible portion includes a front portion defining a first ground engaging portion for the shoe and a rear portion having an elongate passageway, the support member shapes an arch region of the flexible portion into a foot supporting configuration, the support member being received in the elongate passageway and connected to the heel, which defines a second ground engaging portion for the shoe, so as to connect the heel to the the rear portion of the flexible portion, and the heel and the support member having disconnecting means for disconnecting the support member from the elongate passageway.
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37. A method of forming a shoe having a base comprising a flexible member which includes a front portion defining a first ground engaging portion for the shoe and a rear portion, with the flexible member being capable of a plurality of foot supporting configurations to adapt to heels of different heights, the method comprising:
receiving a support member in an elongate passageway provided in the rear portion of the flexible member to engage a support member with the flexible member to shape the flexible member into one of the plurality of foot supporting configurations and to connect a heel, which defines a second ground engaging portion for the shoe, to the rear portion of the flexible member, wherein said support member extends under an arch region of the flexible member.
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38. A sub-assembly for forming a shoe, comprising:
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a flexible member for incorporation in a base of the shoe, said flexible member being capable of a plurality of foot supporting configurations to adapt to different heels of different heights, said flexible member including a front portion defining a first ground engaging portion for the shoe and a rear portion having an elongate passageway; a heel defining a second ground engaging portion for the shoe, and a support member received in said elongate passageway so that said support member is slidingly engaged with said flexible member along a length thereof to shape said flexible member into one or said plurality of foot supporting configurations and to connect said heel to the rear portion of said flexible member.
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39. A sub-assembly for forming a shoe, comprising:
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a flexible member for incorporation in a base of the shoe, said flexible member being capable of a plurality of foot supporting configurations to adapt to different heels of different heights, said flexible member including a front portion defining a first around engaging portion for the shoe and a rear portion having an elongate passageway, wherein said flexible member will not, by itself, support a foot; and a support member adapted to connect a heel, defining a second ground engaging portion for the shoe, to the rear portion of the flexible member, said support member being received in said elongate passageway to engage the support member with said flexible member and to shape said flexible member into one of said plurality of foot supporting configurations and render said flexible member sufficiently rigid to support a foot.
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40. A method of forming a shoe having a base comprising a flexible member which includes a front portion defining a first ground engaging portion for the shoe and a rear portion, with the flexible member being capable of a plurality of foot supporting configurations to adapt to heels of different heights, the method comprising:
slidingly engaging an elongate support member in an elongate passageway provided in the rear portion of the flexible member along a length thereof to shape the flexible member into one of the plurality of foot supporting configurations and to connect a heel, which defines a second around engaging portion for the shoe, to the rear portion of the flexible member.
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41. A method of forming a shoe having a base comprising a flexible member which includes a front portion defining a first ground engaging portion for the shoe and a rear portion, with the flexible member being capable of a plurality of foot supporting configurations to adapt to heels of different heights but which will not, by itself, support a foot, the flexible member including an elongate passageway in the rear portion, the method comprising:
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receiving a support member in the elongate passageway; and engaging the support member, which is adapted to connect a heel, defining a second ground engaging portion for the shoe, to the rear portion of the flexible member, with the flexible member to shape the flexible member into one of said plurality of foot supporting configurations and render the flexible member sufficiently rigid to support a foot.
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Specification