CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Nonprovisional Application Serial No. 12/896,598 entitled "EASY SLIP SHOE," filed October 1, 2010. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An athletic style shoe typically relies on a lacing structure to securely maintain the shoe to a wearer's foot. However, lacing materials may not be suitable or preferred by some wearers of the shoe. Consequently, a shoe may be designed to allow a wearer to slip into the shoe without adjusting laces. Unfortunately, traditional shoes may not securely fit to a wearer's foot if a forefoot opening and/or an ankle opening are maintained, in an as- worn position, large enough for a foot to be received. As a result, hook and loop materials may be utilized, in place of traditional lacing, to tighten a shoe to a wearer' s foot. However, the hook and loop material may unintentionally detach from one another when a force is exerted by the foot within the shoe that exceeds the bonding force of the hook and loop material. This may also cause the shoe to not securely fit to the wearer's foot.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a construction of a shoe that is includes a tongue that has a first fastener attached along a portion of either a medial side or a lateral side. The shoe also includes a stretchable member that is attached near a portion of the medial side or the lateral side of the tongue. The stretchable member is attached to the side of the tongue that is opposite of the first fastener. The first fastener is attachable to the upper near the location of the first fastener on the tongue. Similarly, the stretchable member is attachable to the upper near the location of the stretchable member on the tongue.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, which are incorporated by reference herein and wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary shoe, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 depicts a medial view of an exemplary shoe with a stretchable member attached to a tongue and a upper, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 depicts a lateral view of an exemplary shoe with a first fastener affixed to a tongue and a second fastener affixed to an upper, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 depicts a stretchable member affixed to both a tongue and an upper, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 depicts a top view of an exemplary shoe, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The subject matter of embodiments of the present invention is described with specificity herein to meet statutory requirements. However, the description itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. Rather, the inventors have contemplated that the claimed subject matter might also be embodied in other ways, to include different elements or combinations of elements similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other present or future technologies.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a construction of a shoe that includes a tongue that has a first fastener attached along a portion of either a medial side or a lateral side. The tongue also has a stretchable member that is attached near a portion of the medial side or the lateral side opposite of the first fastener. The first fastener is attachable to the upper proximate the location of the first fastener on the tongue. Similarly, the stretchable member is attachable to the upper proximate the location of the stretchable member on the tongue.

Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention provides a shoe construction.

The shoe construction has a sole with a toe end and an opposite heel end. The sole also has opposite medial and lateral sides extending between the toe end and the heel end. The shoe construction also includes an upper of flexible material that is attached to the sole. The upper extends upwardly from the sole to an upper top edge. The upper top edge defines a forefoot opening and an ankle opening into an interior of the shoe. Additionally, the shoe construction includes a tongue of flexible material. The tongue has opposite medial and lateral sides along a length that extends upwardly from the sole to a distal end of the tongue positioned at the ankle opening. Further, the tongue has a first fastener attached along a portion of either the medial side or the lateral side. The tongue also has a stretchable member attached proximate a portion of the other of the medial side or the lateral side. The first fastener and the stretchable member are attachable to the upper near their respective locations on the tongue.

In another aspect, the present invention provides another shoe construction. The shoe construction includes a sole having a toe end and an opposite heel end. The sole also has opposite medial and lateral sides that extend between the toe end and the heel end. Further, the shoe construction includes an upper of flexible material attached to the sole. The upper extends upwardly from the sole to an upper top edge. The upper top edge defines a forefoot opening and an ankle opening into an interior of the shoe. The shoe construction also includes apertures arranged in a line along a medial side of the forefoot opening as well as apertures arranged in a line along a lateral side of the forefoot opening. The shoe construction also includes a tongue of flexible material having opposite medial and lateral sides along a length that extends from the sole to a distal end of the tongue positioned at the ankle opening. The tongue has a hook or a loop material attached along a portion of either the medial side or the lateral side. The upper has the other of the hook or the loop material attached along a portion of the forefoot opening. The tongue and the upper are temporarily affixable together by the hook and the loop materials. The tongue also has a stretchable member attached near a portion of the medial side or the lateral side opposite to that which the hook or loop material is attached. The stretchable member is also attached to the upper.

A third aspect of the present invention provides an additional embodiment of a shoe construction. The shoe construction includes a sole. The sole has a toe end and an opposite heel end. Further, the sole has opposite medial and lateral sides extending between the toe end and the heel end. The shoe construction also includes an upper of flexible material attached to the sole. The upper extends upwardly from the sole to an upper top edge. The upper top edge defines a forefoot opening and an ankle opening into an interior of the shoe. The upper also has an inner surface and an opposite outer surface. The shoe construction also includes a tongue of flexible material. The tongue has opposite medial and lateral sides along a length that extends from the sole to a distal end of the tongue positioned at the ankle opening. The tongue has an inner surface and an opposite outer surface. The tongue has a hook or a loop material attached along a portion of the outer surface near the lateral side. The upper includes the other of the hook or the loop material attached along the inner surface near a portion of the forefoot opening. The tongue and the upper are temporarily affixable together by the hook and the loop materials. The shoe construction also has a stretchable member with an end affixed to the inner surface of the tongue. The stretchable member extends through an opening of the tongue near the medial side of the tongue. The end of the stretchable member is attached closer to the distal end of the tongue than a location where the upper is affixed to the tongue along the medial side near the forefoot opening. Additionally, a second end of the stretchable member is affixed to the inner surface of the upper.

Having briefly described an overview of embodiments of the present invention, a more detailed description follows.

The construction of a slip athleisure shoe 10 of the present invention has the basic construction of a traditional basketball-type shoe. However, the slip athleisure shoe 10 is comprised of a first fastener 312 attached to the tongue and a second fastener 302 attached to the upper 202, as best seen in FIG. 3. The first fastener 312 and the second fastener 302 are capable of coupling together, which allows the tongue 224 to affix to the upper 202 along at least one side of the tongue 224. Additionally, the slip athleisure shoe 10 is comprised of a stretchable member 402, as best seen in FIG. 2. The stretchable member is attached to the tongue 224 and the upper 202. When used in combination, the first fastener 312/second fastener 302 and the stretchable member 402 provide an effective and convenient closure mechanism for securing the athleisure shoe 10 to a wearer, as will be discussed in more detail hereinafter.

In embodiments, the shoe 10 is a low-top basketball- style shoe. However, it should be understood that the novel concept of the invention could be employed on other types of shoes (e.g., high-top, infant, toddler, children, adult, cross -training, running, lifting, and the like). Because much of the construction of the shoe 10 is the same as that of a conventional shoe, the conventional features of the constructions will be described only generally herein. The shoe 10 has a shoe sole 102 that is constructed of resilient materials that are typically employed in the construction of soles of athletic shoes. The sole 102 can be constructed with an outsole, a midsole, and an insert, as is conventional. The shoe sole 102 has a bottom surface that functions as the traction surface of the shoe, and an opposite top surface in the interior 12 of the shoe 10. The size of the shoe 10 has a length that extends from a rear sole heel end 106 to a front toe end 104 of the sole 102. As best seen in FIG. 5, the sole 102 has a width that extends between a medial side 108 and a lateral side 110 of the sole 102.

The shoe 10 also is constructed with the upper 202. The upper 202 is secured to the sole 102 and extends upwardly from the shoe sole, such as the sole top surface. The upper 202 is constructed of a flexible material, for example leather, polymer, or a fabric such as canvas. The upper 202 is constructed with a heel portion 230 that extends around the sole 102 at the sole heel end 106. The upper heel portion 230 extends upwardly from the shoe sole 102 to an ankle opening 232. The ankle opening 232 provides access to the shoe interior. The upper has an interior surface 212 and an exterior surface 214. The interior surface 212 is traditionally exposed to the wearer's foot or other garments (e.g., socks). The exterior surface 214 is traditionally exposed to the outside environment and may define a portion of the exterior of the shoe 10.

From the heel portion 230, the upper 202 has a medial side portion 216 and a lateral side portion 218 that extend along the respective sole medial side 108 and the sole lateral side 110. The upper medial side portion 216 extends upwardly from the sole medial side 108 to an upper medial side edge 206. The upper lateral side portion 218 extends upwardly from the sole lateral side 110 to an upper lateral side edge 208. As illustrated in the figures, the upper medial side edge 206 and the upper lateral side edge 208 extend rearwardly from opposite sides of the front toe end 104 of the sole 102. As best seen in FIG. 1, the length of the upper medial side edge 206 and the upper lateral side edge 208 define a forefoot opening 220 in the upper 202 that opens to the shoe interior 12.

The upper 202 is also constructed with a toe box 204 that extends around and across the sole top surface at the sole toe end 104. The toe box 204 is connected between the upper medial side portion 216 and the upper lateral side portion 218 and encloses a portion of the shoe interior 12 adjacent the sole toe end 104. The upper medial side edge 206 and the upper lateral side edge 208 extend rearwardly from the toe box 204. A first plurality of apertures 240 are provided on the upper medial side portion 216 and a second plurality of apertures 242 are provided on the upper lateral side portion 218. The apertures 240 and 242 are lacing openings in an exemplary embodiment. A lacing opening is an opening that is typically occupied by a portion of a fastener, such as lacing that close the shoe upper over the forefoot opening of the shoe. The apertures 240 and 242 may provide any type of lacing openings on the shoe, for example, D-rings or speed lacing hooks. However, in an exemplary embodiment, the apertures 240 and 242 are an eyelet or grommet style aperture. The apertures 240 and 242 are arranged in lines along the upper medial side portion 216 and the upper lateral side portion 218, as is conventional. As illustrated in the figures, the apertures 240 and 242, in an exemplary embodiment, extend substantially the entire length of the upper medial side edge 206 and the upper lateral side edge 208. It is contemplated that a lacing material is not utilized with embodiments of the shoe; instead, the various other closure mechanism discussed herein may provide a desired method of securing the shoe to a wearer' s foot.

The shoe upper 202 includes a vamp 222 or a throat positioned rearwardly of the toe box 204, and a tongue 224 that extends rearwardly from the vamp 222 through the forefoot opening 210. The tongue 224 extends along the lengths of the upper medial side portion 216 and the upper lateral side portion 218 to a distal end of the tongue, a tongue upper edge 229, near an ankle opening 232. As best seen in FIG. 5, the tongue 224 has a width between a medial side edge 226 and a lateral side edge 228 of the tongue. The length and width of the tongue position the tongue side edges beneath the upper medial side portion 216 and the upper lateral side portion 218, respectively, and extend the tongue over the forefoot opening 210 of the shoe.

The construction of the shoe 10, as previously discussed, includes a fastening combination along a first side of the tongue 224. For example, the fastening combination may be a hook material and a loop material used in combination to affix the tongue 224 and the upper 202. However, while hook and loop is discussed herein, it is understood that any combination of fastening materials may be utilized. For example, snaps, buttons, zippers, adhesive, stitching, lacing, tensioning mechanisms, or the like may be utilized as the first fastener 312 and/or the second fastener 302.

The first fastener 312, as best seen in FIG. 3, is affixed to an outer surface 236 of the tongue 224 proximate the lateral side edge 228. However, it is contemplated that the first fastener 312 may be affixed proximate the medial side edge 226 of the tongue 224 in embodiments of the present invention. The first fastener has a perimeter defined by a medial edge 314, an opposite lateral edge 316, a heal end 318, and an opposite toe end 320. The length of the first fastener 312 is defined as extending from the toe end 320 to the heal end 318 of the first fastener 312. Similarly, the width of the first fastener 312 is defined as having a width extending from the lateral edge 316 to the medial edge 314.

In an exemplary embodiment, the first fastener 312 has a length that extends a length of the forefoot opening 210 that is occupied by a plurality of apertures, such as the plurality of apertures 242. For example, while a traditional shoe may rely on laces extending through apertures to secure a shoe to a wearer, the first fastener 312 may perform a similar function along the same portion of the upper 202 as would be served by the apertures. However, it is understood that the first fastener 312 may extend for only a portion of the tongue 224 or the whole length of the tongue 224 as covered by the upper 202 along the forefoot opening 210. Additionally, it is contemplated that the first fastener 312 is a plurality of fasteners working in combination to achieve a similar result. For example, discrete portions of a hook or loop material may be affixed to the tongue 224 to serve as the first fastener 312. Further examples may include individual snaps, buttons, or other fasteners may achieve a similar result.

The second fastener 302 is affixed to an interior surface 212 of the upper 202 proximate the forefoot opening 210 opposite the first fastener 312. Consequently, the second fastener 302 may work in combination with the first fastener 312 to removeably affix the tongue 224 with the upper 202. The second fastener has a perimeter defined by a medial edge 304, an opposite lateral edge 306, a toe end 310, and an opposite heal end 308. The first fastener 312 and the second fastener 302 may have perimeters with similar dimensions to effectively couple with one another. Similar to the first fastener, the second fastener has a length defined as extending from the toe end 310 to the heel end 308. Further the second fastener 302 has a width extending from the lateral edge 306 to the medial edge 304. However, as also previously discussed with respect to the first fastener 312, it is contemplated that the second fastener 302 may be comprised of a plurality of discrete fasteners that accomplish a similar result. For example, it is contemplated that a plurality of snaps, buttons, or the like that extend along a length that is different or similar to the illustrated length of the second fastener 302.

In an exemplary embodiment, the second fastener 302 extends along the upper edge (e.g., the upper medial side edge 208) of the upper 202 where the upper edge defines the forefoot opening 210. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the heel end 308 of the second fastener 302 generally coincides with the transition from the forefoot opening 210 to the ankle opening 232. The length of the second fastener 302 continues to extend along the forefoot opening 210 towards the toe end of the shoe. For example, it is contemplated that the second fastener 302 may extend along the forefoot opening 210 such that the toe end 310 generally coincides with a toe-end portion of the upper 202 as it extends upward from the sole 102. However, in additional embodiments of the present invention, it is contemplated that the length of the second fastener 302 may coincide with a length along the forefoot opening 210 occupied by one or more apertures, such as the second plurality of apertures 242. Further, it is contemplated that the second fastener 302 obscures the second plurality of apertures 242, which prevents a lacing structure from passing through one or more of the apertures. Consequently, in this example, the second plurality of apertures may merely serve an aesthetic purpose as they may no longer receive a lacing material.

In an exemplary amendment, the second fastener 302 is a loop material and the first fastener 312 is a hook material. However, it is contemplated that the second fastener 302 is a hook material and the first fastener 312 is a loop material.

Turning to the other side of the shoe 10, the stretchable member 402 is affixed, either permanently or temporarily, to both the tongue 224 and the upper 202. The stretchable member is a flexible material having elastic characteristics. For example, the stretchable member 402 may be an elastic banding material having a measured resistance to elongation. Therefore, depending on a desired amount of resistance, the material stretchable member 402 may be adjusted to achieve the desired resistance. The resistance, as will be discussed hereinafter, is utilized to maintain the shoe 10 on a wearer's foot instead of, or in addition to, traditional lacing.

The stretchable member 402 provides an amount of "give" or "play" to the shoe 10 when secured to a wearer's foot. Therefore, when a wearer exerts a force that is transferred through the shoe 10, traditional shoes that rely solely on hook and loop fasteners that have minimal "give" may disengage causing the shoe to change positions on the wearer's foot. For example, a child may wear a pair of shoes that rely on hook and loop fasteners to allow the shoe to expand, in an un-attached position, to receive the child's foot. The hook and loop material may then be attached to secure the child's foot. When the child begins to run, the hook and loop fastener(s) may fail (e.g., become un-attached in whole or in part) because the force exerted on the hook and loop fastener exceeds the force for which the fastener can resist.

Consequently, it may be desirable to utilize, in combination, a hook and loop fastener along with a stretchable member. For example, when the same child above begins to run in an embodiment of the present invention, the stretchable member may stretch to absorb some of the force exerted by the child. The absorption of the force by the stretchable member reduces the force experienced by the hook and loop fastener. As a result, a shoe utilizing the first fastener 312 with the second fastener 302 and the stretchable member 402 may provide a shoe securing mechanism that is able to absorb force while maintaining the shoe in a desired as-worn position.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the stretchable member 402 has a bottom edge 406 and an opposite edge extending through an opening 404 of the tongue 224 to an inner surface 238 of the tongue 224. However, it is contemplated that the opposite edge is secured to the outer surface 236 of the tongue 224, in exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The stretchable member 402 also has a width extending between a heel-end edge 408 and a toe-end edge 410, as best seen in FIG. 4. Further, the stretchable member 402 has an outer surface 412 and an inner surface 414.

The stretchable member 402 may be secured or otherwise affixed to the upper 202 and the tongue 224. For example, an aspect illustrated in FIG. 4 has the outer surface 412 of the stretchable member 402 facing the interior surface 212 of the upper 202 proximate the bottom edge 406. The stretchable member 402 is affixed to the upper 202 by a first stitching 420 and a second stitching 422. However, it is contemplated that other methods of affixing the stretchable member 402 may be implemented. For example, adhesives, welding, mechanical fasteners, and removable fasteners. The stretchable member 402 may be affixed to the upper 202 at a location below (toward the sole 102) a fastener 506 as represented by the distance 502. Affixing the stretchable member 402 below the fastener 506 may allow the stretchable fastener 402 to remain obscured from view when in an as-worn position.

The stretchable member 402, as illustrated in FIG. 4, extends from the upper 202 to the tongue 224. In this embodiment of the present invention, the stretchable member extends through the opening 404 of the tongue 224 allowing the stretchable member 402 to pass from the outer surface 236 of the tongue 224 to an inner surface 234 of the tongue 224. Consequently, the outer surface 412 of the stretchable member 402 may face the inner surface 234 of the tongue 224. A first tongue stitching 416 and a second tongue stitching 418 may be used to affix the stretchable member 402 to the tongue 224. The opening 404 may be orientated and located on the tongue 224 so that in an as-worn position the stretchable member 402 is obscured by the upper 202. Stated differently, it is contemplated that the opening 404 is located below, in an as-worn position, the medial edge 206 of the upper 202.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the tongue 224 may be affixed to the upper 202 along a portion of the upper edge. For example, a medial stitching 424 may extend along the medial edge 206 from a toe end to a tongue sewn point 504. In this example, the upper 202 is affixed to the tongue 224 by stitching effectively limiting access to the forefoot opening 210 on the medial side 216 along that portion of the medial stitching 424. Consequently, the medial stitching 424 limits the "give" provided by the stretchable member 402 by limiting a length of tongue unattached from the upper as measured from the toe end of the shoe 10. In an exemplary embodiment, the medial stitching 424 works in combination with the first fastener 312/second fastener 302 and the stretchable member 402 to provide a securing mechanism to maintain the shoe 10 in an as-worn position. The medial stitching 424, which terminates at the tongue sewn point 504, may extend from the toe end toward the heal end along the medial edge 206 to any point along the length of the medial edge 206. However, in an exemplary embodiment, the tongue connection point 504 is located at a position between the toe box 204 and a location where the upper 202 overlaps a portion of the stretchable member 402. In an additional exemplary embodiment, it is contemplated, similar to that which is illustrated in FIG. 1, the medial stitching 424 extends approximately the length of half of the forefoot opening 210. Further, it is contemplated that the medial stitching 424 deviates from the medial edge 206 and, instead, is located at any location on the medial side 216 of the upper 202 in which the tongue 224 may be secured to the upper 202.

It is contemplated that the shoe 10 may be used in the following exemplary manner, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. A wearer of the shoe 10 may disengage the first fastener 312 from the second fastener 302 to un-affix the lateral side of the tongue 224 from the upper 202. This separation of the tongue 224 from the upper 202 proximate the lateral side provides easy access to the shoe interior 12 through both the forefoot opening 210 and the ankle opening 232. The wearer may then slip his or her foot into the shoe 10 utilizing the forefoot opening 210 and the ankle opening 232. The tongue 224 may be displaced even farther from the upper 202 by allowing the stretchable member 402 to extend in length, which may facilitate easier entry into the interior 12. Once the shoe 10 is positioned to the wearer's foot, the wearer may align the first fastener 312 with the second fastener 302 to maximize contact area between the two fasteners, which may maximize a bonding strength between the two fasteners. However, it is also contemplated that the wearer may adjust the location of the tongue 224 and/or the alignment of the first fastener 312 relative to the second fastener 302 to achieve a desired tension across the shoe 10 for securing to the wearer. Once secured, the shoe 10 is in an as- worn position on the wearer. Consequently, as the wearer exerts a force that is intended to be translated from the wearer's foot through the shoe 10 to the contacting surface, the stretchable member 402 may stretch to reduce the force experienced by the first fastener 312 and the second fastener 302. This reduction in force may prevent the first fastener 312 and the second fastener 302 from unintentionally disengaging from one another. As a result, a wearer of the shoe 10 may access the interior 12 utilizing the convenience of a hook and a loop fastener while minimizing the possibility of an unintentional disengagement of the hook and loop fastener when worn by relying on the stretchable member 402 to absorb energy that could otherwise cause the unintentional disengagement.

The terms medial and lateral have been used herein to describe a relative location of features, portions, and/or elements of the shoe 10. However, it is contemplated that aspects of the invention may substitute one relative term for the other. For example, it is within the scope of the present invention for the features identified on the medial side of the shoe 10 to also, or in the alternative, be located on the lateral side and vice versa. Therefore, while the description herein is focused, for ease of understanding, on the stretchable member 402 being located on the medial side and the combination of the first fastener 312/second fastener 302 being located on the lateral side, it is contemplated that the opposite (i.e., the stretchable member 402 located on the lateral side and the combination of the first fastener 312/second fastener 302 located on the medial side) may also be implemented within the scope of the present invention.

Although the shoe construction is described above by referring to particular embodiments, it should be understood that the modifications and variations could be made to the shoe construction described without departing from the intended scope of protection provided by the following claims.