Shoes

Abstract

A sub-assembly or kit for forming a shoe comprises a flexible member for incorporation in the base of a shoe. The flexible member is capable of a plurality of foot supporting shapes to adapt to heels of different heights. A removable heel and shaping member has a heel part supporting the rear end of the flexible member at a heel height. A shaping part is removably fastened to the flexible member to cause the flexible member to adopt a particular foot supporting shape or configuration adapted to the heel height.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES AND RELATED SUBJECT MATTER [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 257,589 filed Jan. 21, 2003, pending, which constitutes a U.S. National stage application claiming priority from PCT / GB01 / 01663 filed Apr. 12, 2001.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to sub-assemblies for forming shoes, kits of parts for forming shoes, and to shoes formed therefrom. [0003] In this specification, the term “shoe” is used to refer to any relevant form of footwear including, without limitation, boots, slippers and sandals. [0004] A shoe, particularly a ladies shoe, is conventionally formed on a last shaped to the required shape of the shoe. The shoe comprises, broadly, an upper, a base and a heel. For the purposes of this specification, the word “base” is used to refer to the portion of a shoe, excluding the heel, that lies below the wearer's foot. Accordingly, the base can consist of a number of components. N...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013] a removable heel and shaping member having a heel part supporting the rear end of the flexible member at a heel height and a shaping part removably fastened to the flexible member to cause the flexible member to adopt a particular foot supporting shape adapted to said heel height.

[0037] Any suitable kind of upper strap or other means may be provided in order that the shoe base can receive and retain a foot during wear. An upper strap with a flexible back strap is particularly advantageous as it allows the back strap to flex outwardly from the wearer's heel as the angle of the heel relative to the toe is decreased in a flatter shoe, making the shoe fit comfortably regardless of heel height.

Problems solved by technology

An uncomfortable configuration is one in which the base merely hinges or angles upwardly at the ball of the foot, without any support for the arch region or distribution of weight over the heel.

Although the hinging of the base accommodates a higher heel, the embedded shank sets the shape of the base under the arch of the foot and this cannot be changed.

As the arched shape of the base cannot change, the foot may not be properly supported in the higher heel mode and may tend instead to slide forward in the shoe, putting excessive pressure on the ball of the foot.

This is clearly uncomfortable.

Furthermore, in particular where a conventional leather upper is used, there exists the problem that the backstrap or back part of the upper will dig into the wearer's heel when the shoe is tilted up to accommodate a higher heel.

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