FIELD IF THE INVENTION

The here disclosed invention relates to shoes and in particular to shoes for senior citizens or disabled persons and more closely to regular looking shoes for comfortably slipping in and out as well as to a mechanism for safely and easily closing it.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Putting on and off shoes is a challenge for Kindergarden Kids as well as for the elderly and disabled and an annoying routine for everybody, since it mostly requires bending down to one's feet, to slip into the shoe and to fasten shoelaces in an uncomfortable double bent position.

PRIOR ART

However, there had been quite a few propositions to - at least partly - solve the problem:

For not requiring to bind shoelaces, there are automatic closure systems, as in US 5.467.537 and shoelace binding and locking mechanisms, as in US 5.022.127. US 5.353.483 and US 5.129.130

Another simplification is the use auf flaps and buckles, as well as Velcro strips to fasten the shoes over the instep.

Moreover, there are propositions for hinging shoes and particularly boots at their soles, as in DE 451 157 for limiting the movement of detainees, or in US 7.540.100 B2 and other by Tim- berland, to adjust the flexibility of a shoe with wire rods to be tensioned within the sole, and heel caps, that can be pivoted at their lower edge, as in EP 2036449 B1 or EP 1 059 044 A1. Particularly for skiing, boots are known that can be opened up and closed on the shaft.

But all these still requires to writhe down to one's feet, which is the most stressing part of it.

Another solution is to wear Slip-ons. But these mostly do not give an acceptably strong hold to feet, or are quite intricate to put on without chafing and twisting socks

TASK OF THE INVENTION

The task of the here disclosed invention therefore is to ease putting on and off shoes without bending down to one's feet. SOLUTION

The inventive step for achieving this is to insert a hinge across the mid section of the shoe's sole and to make the side panels around it flexible enough to comply with the necessary movement.

EMBODIMENTS

There are three possible embodiments of this invention

First version is a straightening and locking mechanism, integrated into the sole with a torsional spring. For to slip out it is tensioned with body weight while pressing the shoe's front dowm over some kind of tube or step or door sill, while locking it with slipping a lever forwards into a holding tube.

For to put the shoe on, after slipping into it, the spring is released with a knock on a protruded knob at one side of the heels, that releases the catch that holds the spring.

The preferred embodiment however is to insert a plate of forged "clicker" spring bronce (9), that provides a hysteresis effect: bent down lengthwise, it folds down and holds this position, bending it back, makes it click back into basic position.

This proved to work particularly well when inserted between two layers of a shoe sole with some clearance in between.

For shuffling one's shoes off, their tips are inserted under a cupboard or similar, while being pulled upwards (best while sitting on a chair, heels on the ground).

For again putting it on, one can simply slip into the front part of the shoe and then put one's weight on that foot, so to make the sole return to the basic straight position.

When walking, the sole might be bent into the opposite direction, which causes no harm.

Another possible embodiment is to insert strong rubberized straps into the flanges at the midsection of a shoe, that folds over the upper rims, if the shoe's front is pushed down as above. It snaps back as the shoe - having said gap between front and heel insole - is put on regularly and loaded with the user's weight.

CLOSER DESCRIPTION ALONG TO THE DRAWING

Fig. 1 shows the basic insole (1) with a hinged front section (2) and heel section (3) connected with a torsion spring (4), held in a hinged position when locked with the lever (5) into its catch (6).

Fig. 2 demonstrates the same type of insole (1b), however its front (2b) and heel section (3b) here is connected with the "clicker" plate (7) Fig. 3 shows the side view of a shoe (8) with snapped down front (9) and rubberized strap and puckered pieces of leather (10), inserted to fill a gap on both flanges.

The thin, but rugged 2-piece insole (see Fig. 1 and Fig, 2) is covered by a semi-flexible base sole (12) and heel piece (11), which together with a torsional spring (13) and a laminated-on cover sheet (14) - or a contoured inlay (not shown) - is forming a hinge between front and heel part of the shoe.