Foldable active shoe

Abstract

A sport or active shoe that can be stored in a compact configuration can be folded generally in half and secured closed with a closure connected to the heel and toe. The shoe includes a single layer upper to facilitate folding. The shoe can be folded into a very compact configuration and stored conveniently in a pocket, pack, purse, etc., allowing a user to keep a pair of the shoes handy for wearing before or after sports activities or specialized activities requiring specialized or bulky footwear.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present invention in general relates to shoes and in particular relates to an active or sport shoe that can be folded and fastened into a compact configuration.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Currently, there is a lot of specialized footwear on the market for sports, recreation, business, etc. Such specialized footwear includes ski boots, rollerblades, ice skates, golf shoes, baseball cleats, heavy work boots, high heel shoes, etc. The specialized footwear functions well for the intended purposes; however such specialized footwear does not function well for any other activity and is generally a poor choice for general footwear use (such as walking, driving, etc.). For example, ski boots function well for skiing but not as well when the skiers are walking back to the ski lodge or enjoying time in the chalet. Similarly, mountain and road cycling shoes and cleats function well for their intended purposes but not for walking or driving a car. Additionally, for ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]In another form, the present invention is a shoe having a toe portion, a heel portion, and an intermediate portion, wherein the intermediate portion connects the toe portion to the heel portion and comprises an elastic band for facilitating the folding of the shoe. Preferably, the shoe also includes a latch to allow the heel portion to be removably secured to the toe portion. Also preferably, the elastic band has a width between about one and about two inches and wraps around the shoe. The latch can comprise a snap or a magnetic closure, wherein one portion of the snap or magnetic closure is attached to the toe portion and the other portion of the snap or magnetic closure is attached to the heel portion.

Problems solved by technology

The specialized footwear functions well for the intended purposes; however such specialized footwear does not function well for any other activity and is generally a poor choice for general footwear use (such as walking, driving, etc.).

For example, ski boots function well for skiing but not as well when the skiers are walking back to the ski lodge or enjoying time in the chalet.

Additionally, for women who commute in metropolitan areas, high-heeled shoes are appropriate for a professional office environment but are extremely uncomfortable and impractical during the process of traveling to and from work.

Images