Shoe

Abstract

An athletic shoe, with a sole and a shoe upper, connected thereto, which surrounds the front of the foot, the ankle region and the heel region of the foot. The shoe is able to be collapsed down to a low height for packing, without negatively affecting the ability of the shoe to hold the wearers foot in an optimal manner in use. This ability is achieved the shoe upper being provided with an incision in the heel region, running at least nearly in a direction perpendicular to the sole, whereby the parts of the shoe upper, on both sides of the incision can be folded or turned inwards down toward the sole.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The invention relates to a shoe, in particular to an athletic shoe, with a sole and a shoe upper which is connected to the sole, the upper surrounding the front part of the foot, the ankle area and the heel area of the foot. [0003] 2. Description of Related Art [0004] U.S. Pat. No. 6,298,583 discloses a shoe of the initially mentioned type which is designed so that it can be folded relatively flat. This is advantageous above all when the shoe is to be taken on trips. For this, the shoe upper exhibits a number of incisions which are located in side areas and allow the shoe upper to be folded. [0005] Although these incisions make it possible to fold the shoe up into a small size, which is advantageous when fitting the shoe in a case, a carrying bag or the like, it has proved to be disadvantageous that the strength of the shoe is impaired by these measures, particularly during sporting activities. [0006] Published Germ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] Therefore, the underlying object of the invention is to develop a shoe, in particular an athletic shoe, of the initially mentioned type such that, firstly, it should remain possible to fold up the shoe into a low height, and secondly, the ability of the shoe to hold the foot of the wearer in optimum fashion—in particular in the heel area—is not effected adversely.

[0014] With the design according to the invention, the shoe upper remains relatively strong and allows sufficiently firm support of the area of the heel of the wearer. In spite of this, it is possible to fold up the shoe into a relatively shallow form so as to be able to transport it in a manner taking up minimal space.

[0015] In a development of the invention, provision is made for means to be arranged on the shoe upper in the heel area, with which the parts of the shoe upper lying on both sides of the incision can be prevented from gaping outwards. These means can be at least one band arranged in the upper edge area of the shoe upper. Here, it is advantageous if the band or plurality of bands extend around the parts of the shoe upper on the outside and embrace them. Simple fixture of the band or bands can be achieved by means of a hook and loop fastening or plurality of hook and loop fastenings, the effective length of which can be fixed. The hook and loop fastening or fastenings can be immobilised in the side area of one of the parts of the shoe upper.

Problems solved by technology

Although these incisions make it possible to fold the shoe up into a small size, which is advantageous when fitting the shoe in a case, a carrying bag or the like, it has proved to be disadvantageous that the strength of the shoe is impaired by these measures, particularly during sporting activities.

However, this orthopaedic sports shoe cannot be folded up.

This athletic shoe also cannot be folded flat to be accommodated in a space-saving manner in a case, for example.

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