CA2131303C - Adjustable fit shoe construction - Google Patents

Abstract

A shoe construction is disclosed in which varying the width of an insole assembly adjusts the fit of the shoe.

Description

W~g3/19631 PCT/US93/030~4 2~39a3 ADJUSTABLE FIT SHOE CONSTRUCTION

~ack~round o~ the In~ention The need for improved means of girth adjustment in footwear is accepted in ~he indu~try a~ ~ontlnually more offerings are being limited by marke~ economic~ to ~ingl~ widths for each size in length. Studies, inclu~ing those of the U.S. Army QMC, h~ve ~hown that ~uch single w~dth shoe~ a~ford only an approximate fit to le~s than a third of the populace. Furthermore, even this third receives less than~a precise flt given the normal diurnal foot girth:variation that:occurs with changes of fluid concentra-tion in the extremities, usually resulting in daily girth change ranges of up ~o two full width in~re~ents with even wider ranges experience~ wh~ there are ~oncurrent changes in weather, a1titude~or a wearer'~ physical condition.

, The usual qirth adju~tmen~ means including laces, buckles, touch fastener~and: lately pressurized air and dial operated cables,~not ~nly presen~ deslgn limitatio~s, but generally cannot :be used in~he fit-critical ~all area where th~y would tend to inhibit the comfortable flexing of~the foot ~n this region during the s~ride cy~le. Furthermore, ~hese usual girth ad~ustment means are not suita~le for use with many shoe styles.

Whi~le this inventor'~:re~ent inventions disclos~ practical means of shoe:girth adjustment, none of these, including U.S.
Patent Nos. 4,967,492, 5,036,604 and 5~060,402, provide such means appiicable to~th~ manufacture of unlined footwear adaptable to a wide range of conventional shoe bottom styles, including thos2 having the usual die cut leather or composition soles.

Past attempts tv deal ~ith shoe girth adjustment by varia-tion of insole elements have been limited to variation in the thickness of ~;uch elements. Su~h approaches not only do not af-ford the infinite ad~ustability in the adjustment range preferrPd ~ .

~or o~ ull~ fit, but more i~ lly, presen$ serious orthopedic risks. The lattel ocGur when inso1e ~e1~-mpnte of ~ bly dir~ ellt thi~ ps~s are ne~ded to provide proper fit to a wearer whose feet are of subst~nti~lly different width, 5 as not inrl~yu~nlly occllrs. Such adjl~etment, given t~at the we~if'S legs are of subst~n1 y equal length, results in one foot being higher from ~e wal!~ng sur~ than the other, o~n l~rlin~ to serious orthopedic problems oYer time.
Shoes ~Yirlg such insole~s of varied t~ kn~s.s inclll~e those offered by Todd1er's U~ ily~ Inc. of Wes~, Cl and others.
~ According1y, it is a~ object of an aspect of the present invention :: to pro~ide means for adjus~ng the fit of a shoe wherein ~e shoe upper is either unlined Qr ~las a convention~ ent~rh~l linillg and the shoe bottom is any c~n~el,~ional shoe bottom or sole assembly.
~ It is an object of an a~t of the inven~on to proYide an 15 adjnct~n~ont means which does not change the ~ctual girth of the shoe in all o~
the critical fit~ng areas thçreof, ineludin~ the mid~ ons of the shoe known ac the~ball, waist and inst~p portions and d~s not change the di.~t~nce of the footm the walking~ Sl~
It is an object of an aspect of t~?e invenlion to p~ovide an 20 adjv~tment means which is ~ul~st~n~i~11y lmobtrusive so as to not affect the An~ of the shoe.
It is ~ object of an aspect of the inven~on t~ provide an a~J~ f means which is infinite~y adjustable over a d~si~n~d fit ran~ge.
:object of an a~t of the invenJdon is to provide a fit Z5 adjllst~nt means easily ~ t~b1e for u~i in unlined shoes with the widese ,: :
possible choice of c~ v=e~-~ion~l sole and/or bo~tom m~P~ ~d where such means can be eith~r built into 'the shoe at its m~n~f~rtil~e or in~rted therein ter n~ r~
It is an obj~ct of an aspec:t of the inven~on to prmide an 30 adjll.st~n~nt means which is op~bly adjus~ab1e when the shoe is on the foot.

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~ g3f 19631 PCr/US931030~4 SulamarY of the Inventiorl Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a shoe ha~irig an adjustment ~eans for use in an otherwise ~onventional ~;hoe, which oparates by :::hanging the fit of the shoe without chang~ ng tha g~ rth ~f the ca~rity def~ned by shoe upper and the adjustment m~a~ di~;posed on the shoe bottom. Girth in this application i~; de~ ned as the t~ansverse circumference of the shoe at a particular pe3rtion.0f the ~;hoe at abo~t its mldportion, which is the porgi on between ~he toe and heel regi~ns, and lnc~uding the ball, waist, and lnstep portic~ns. The cavity formed by the upper and the adjustment means and bottom member may be aith~3r ccintinuous or di~;continuous when laces or ties are being used.

The adjustmerlt of the f ~ t of the shoe is accomplished by ~nployir~g arl ad~ustmerlt means placed wlthin the shoe enclosure formed :}:y the shoe upper and bot~om members, which is capable of causing change ~in the dimensional relationship between the width and ~itting height ~inside the shoe ~aYity ~ The f itting height is the v rtical distance between the adjustment means in the cav1ty and. the uppennost inside portion of the upper ~ which in shoes such as the loa~er style of :the drawings is -the plug, di-rectly above the adju~tment means. Specificall~, by causin~ the sides of th~ upper to move outwardly apart from each other the plug or ~op portisn of ~the uppe~r moves downwardly reducing the fitting height. In contrast, :wh~3n the sides o~ the upper move inwardly the plug mo~es upwardly: increa~;ing the f itting haight .
Since both the upper and bottom are generally nonstretchable, no change occ:urs in the inside and outside circumferences of the shoe during such adjustments. The adjustment procedure, however, enables one to ~reate a snug fit between the top of the foot and the upper portion of the upper. This fit adjustment parameter W~93/1g631 PCT/US93/03~4 ~ , .

3 ::

i~ critlcal to the ~t of the shoe while snugness or fi~ at the sides of the upper ~s not.

In one e~bod~ment of the present invention, the adjustment mean~ cGmpri~es a ~elf-adjusting ~nsole agse~bly disposed within the ~hoe cavity. It offer~ in~inite adjustment over the designed fittlng range of the shoe. Th~s embodiment is of particular interest for chlldrén's ~hoes and other ~hoe categories where the wearers either ~annot or prefer not to make the necessary adjustments themsel~es.
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Another embodiment is directed to the use of separate re-movable insert~ in place of a single self-adjusting insert.

In ~ti~l another ~mbodiment according to the present inven-: ;tion, the ad~ustmen~ means comprises an adjustable insole assemb-ly wherein width adjustment i~ effected by the manual turning of a coin-slotted ~crew, preferably from the outside of the shoe when it is on the foot. The rotational turning of the screw ad-justs the width of th~ insole assembly by use of such as a rack and pinion adjustment means, whereby a pinion gear in the end of an adjusting screw operates:in and wi~h a rack opening in a slidably movable ad~u~tment plate element, all of which are in~er connected wi~thln the insole assembly.

Rno~her embodlment offering ~imilar self ad~ustment for sim~l~r end use comprises shoe cons~ruction having an integral girth~adjusting:insole assembly system preferab~y ~uilt into the shoe at manufacture but op~ionally as a separate insertable assembly for use therewith. This embodiment also has the unique advantage of lim~ting any appreciable deformation of the s~oe~s outer sheli or upper to those times when the shoe is fully weight-bearing, ths upper tsnding to maintain its original "lasted" ~ontours as manufactur~d at point of sale and when not in use.

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- s -All the embo~im~nt~ OI ~e invention are ~imilar in that they all use insole ~ s ~at are svbs~n~i~tly p~ in their weight-bearing areas, which planar areas ale of con~Pnt th~ sL As ~ result, or~opedic risks assoc~ted with ~ n~in~ the height of one foot rela~ve to the oth~r are avoided.

Ano~e~ ~t of ~is inven'don is a~ follows:

A shoe, comprising a bottom ll~e.~ r, an upper member having two Op~Sil g side ~ ons and a top: portion said upper member being made from a non-~hetehable ~ t~ , said bvttom and upper members ~efining an encl~)sure~
lo and an ins~le assen~ly di'~pos~l wi~in ~ en~lo5llre adjacent and a~ong at least a p~on ~ said bottom member defining a cavi~r ~or inser~on of a ~oot, said : ~ ~ shoe having a h~el por~on7 a: n~idp~r~on in~ tling a ball por~on and a toe por~on, said canty having a: wid~ ) e~ between said two side portioris at about said ball por~on of the: shoe and also h~ving a fi~g height (y) 15: ~ ~ e~n~lin~ ver~ically ~rom said insole ~emhly to said top por~on ~ said u~per n~e~,-lJer wi~in said cavity at about said ball p~r~on, said cavi~ having a con~nt ~rcumference whieh is the ~1ist~nGe ~ound the ~n~hP.ry of said cavi~
fonned: by said upper member and said insole ~ bly at about said ball o~on ~er~of, the height, width and circumfe~ence being measured at the same 2 o cross sec~on of ~ eaYi~ at about ~aid ball por~on th~r~of; ~h~r~ctpri7ed in that, said upper m~.mh~,r is dero~ ble in ~ n.~ to the illsertion of a foo~ intosaid ca~i~'~n a ~ ner which ~ ..~ the ra~ bel~o~n said wid~ (~) of said cavily and said~ height ~y) of said cavil~ to change at about said ball por~on, w~e at ~e s~ne ~me ~ the ch~ul~lf~ ce of said cavi~ COllS~l~ so 2 s a~ to improve the fit of said shoe.

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_. ~' ' ' . -Sa-;; For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the present inv~ntion, refer~ce should be ~ade to the following deta~led des~ription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings r Brie~ Descri~tion of the Drawin~s Fig. 1 is ~ ~ide-elevational cross-sectional ~lew of a shoe of the present inventio~.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of th insole assembly used in the sh~e of Fig. 1 taken on line 2-2.

: Fig. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the shoe of Fig. l taken on line 3-3.
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Fig. 4 i~ a transverse cross-sectional view of the shoe of Fig. 1 taXen on line 4-4.

Fig. 5 is a pl~n ~iew of another insole assembly of the present~invention.

; Fi~. 6 is another plan view of an insole assembly of Fig.
5 ~ :

Fig. 7 is a side-eIe~ational cross s~ctional view of the insole assemblies of Figs. 5 and ~ taken on ~ine 7-7.

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~ :"~

~'~g3/19~3~ PCT/U593/~3~5~
( Z~3~ 03 Fig. 8 is a tranRverse cro~s-~ct~onal vi~w of the insole assembly o* Fig. ~ taken on l~ne ~-8.

: ~ F~g. 9 i~ a transverse cross-~ectional view of the ~nsole : assembly of Fig~ 7 eaken on line 9-9.

Fig. 10 is a ~ide-elev~tional cross-sectional'~ew of another shoe of the present invent~on.

Fig. ll:i~ a pl~n ~iew of the insole assembly u~ed in the ~; : shoe of Fig.:10, taken on line ll-11, but showing adjustment : plate mo~ed toward the heel.
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Fig. î2 :1E: another~ plan ~ri~w Of the insole a~ embly us~d in the shoe o~ Fig. 10, :tak~n on l~ne 12-12.

b~ : Fig. 13 19 a ~ide-~levational cross-sectional view of the insole~:assembly of ~Fig.. I2,~taken on line 13-13.

Fi~g.: 14 i~a plan:vi w of tbe~inso;e asse~bly of FigO 13 :::taken on:line 14-14.; :: - -Fig~. lS iB a transverse~ cross-sectionaI view of the insole:~asse ~ l~:of;Fi~ and 14 taken on line 15-15.

Fig. 16 is another transverse cross-secti~nal view of the ~: :: insole assembly o~ig. 11 taken on line 16-16.

Fig. 17 is a plan view of the;~adjustment plate of the in :: 501e assembly.
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: Fig.~ 18 is :a ~ide el~vational cross-sactional view of another embod'ment of a shoe of the prese~t invention.

Fig. 19 is a plan view of the insole assembly of Fig. 18 as :~: :: : :
~:

: :

:' : ' 'W~93~19631 Pr~/US93/~30~4 -it appeaxs viewed along llne 19-19.

Fig. 20 ~ a plan v~ew of the ~hoe of F~g. 18 taken on line : 20-20 when the sho~ is non-we~ghtbearing and a foot of maximum girth is in the shoe.

Fig. 21 is a plan view of the shoe of Fig. lB taken on line 21-21 when the shoe is weightbearing and a foot of maximum girth is in the shoe.

Fig. 22 is a plan ~iew of the shoe of Fig. 18 taken on line 22-22 when the shoe ls non-weightbearing and a foot of less than maxlmum girth is in the shoe.

Fig. 23 is a plan view of the shoe of Fig. 18 taXen on line 23-23 when the shoe is weightbearing and a foot of less than maximum girth ~s in the shoe.
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etailed DescriPtion of the Invention ~
; ~eferring to the drawings, the improved shoe construction of the pre~ent invention will be descrlbed with reference to ; a shoe of the well-k~own loafer deslgn. It should however be ;understo:od that this is bQing done for ease of rPference and that the invention ls not limlted to use in such a shoe style.

In various embodiments escri~ed hereinafter, like refer-ence numerals refer to like members which function in the same ~ l! or slmllar manner.

.~ :Re~erring to Figs. 1-4, shoe 20 ganerally comprises an upper-22 havinq a plug 24 a~tached at sewn seam 26 to vamp 28.
The vamp 28 ~orresponds to the side and bottom portions of the upper and the plug 24 corresponds to the top portion of the upper 22. Seam 2~ extends substantially around the toe and along the sides of the midportion of uppex 22, which is in ~YO 93/19631 PCI/US93/03~4 2~L3~

turn ~3ecur0d to midsol~ 32 b~ ~titching 34. Midsole 32 i~
alE:o secured to unitsole or bottom aE~sembly 36 by adhesive cement or other conventional means. Upper Z2 and bottom 36 and the uppers and bottoms descrlbed in this and other embodiments hereinafter may be made of any of the conventional material~ u~;ed in t~e manufacture of shoes. For example, the upper may be made of leather, imitation leather, woven and non-woven fabrics and c:ombinat~ons thereo~, whlle the bottoms may be made of materials such as leather, leatherboard, and plast~cs includlng rubber, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, ethylene vinyl aceta~e, and combinations thereof.
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Shoe 20 further ~omprises an adju~tment means ~omprisiny an insole asse~bly 38 that is substantially planar, and dispo~ed within ~hoe 20 ad~acent to the top surface 4~ of bottom 36. The insole assembly may be either permanently astened in the shoe 20 by suitable means such as adhesive cement:or it may:be removably disposed in the shoe. Permanent attachmen~ i~, however, prese~tly preferred. The insole ;assembly 38 comprise~ an insole base 42 with an optional ;socklining: 44 attached: thereto by suitable means such as adhesive cem:ent, heatsealing or thermo-welding, or molding therewith. Sockl~nin~ 4~:can be made of any of a number of materials conventionally~used for such elements including the DriLex~~woven fabrics distributed~by Faytex Inc. of Weymouth, MA. :Insole base::42 i~prefarably molded with non- planar periphera1:edge contours of any of number of flexible plastic materials ha~ing ~a relatively high degree of memory and tendency to xeturn to their ~originally molde~ contours whenever de~ormed therefrom. Such materlals include compounds of rubber, polyurethane, and the like. Op~ionally, thin springs (not shown) stamped and formed out of thin spring tempered steel, stainl~ss steel, or beryllium copper plate can be molded within or: otherwise attached to said insole assemblies to improve the spring rate of their memori~s if so f U'O 93/1963~ - PCr/US93/~3~4 , g- Z~3~3 desired-.

The insole assembly 38 autom~t~cally adjusts the fit of the shoe to the parti~ular foot disposed in the sh~e cavity 31 over a designed fit range. As best shown in ~igs. 3 an*

4, the shoe 20 is in two different fit cDnditions. In Fig.
3, the E:hve 20 t s shown in the condition i~ would be in when placed on a Poot of relatively narrow girth, the foot of narrow girth beirlg relatively short in height. ~n order to a~commoda~e such a foot; ' the E~ide marginal edges 46 of the insole assembly 38 are normally in an outwardly bent position forcing the sld~ po~tiorls of vamp 28 ~f the upper outward.
This a~tion ln turn causes the plug portion 24 of upper 22 to~ move corre~:pondir~gly downwa . d so that it can f it more snugly against the top of the forepart of the foot. Fig. 4 ~hows the ~ame shoe, but in a fitting condition suitable for fitting a relatl~rely wider girth foot, such a foot being not only wider, but also vertically thicker and thus requiring a greater ~it~ing height than ls the case wlth the r~latively slinu~er and vertically thinner foot of Fig. 3. As a result, the insole assembly does alot ~orce the side portions 2B o~ the upper outwardly as much as in Flg . 3 and thus the f itting height y' of Fig. 4 ~ greater than the fitting height y in Fig. 3. The w~àth x' of Fig. 4, however, is less than the width x in ~Fig. 3. Since neither the upper 22 nor the bottom member 36 is stretchable, the circumference of the oval fonn~d by the upper, adjustment means and bottom member remains constant. Fig. 2 E:how~: the outline of the insole assembly 38 as it appears in Figs. 3 and 4, with line 46 showing the wider conf is~uration of Fig . 3 and: dashed line 4 8 the narrower configuration of Fig. 4.

Th~ difference in insole assembly width between the two extremes is not excessive, or large enough to impair the appearance of the shoe; e~g., 1/8" overall width diffPrential :

WO93l1g631 ~ ~ PCT/VS~3/03054 . .
;~03 being ~ufficient for a fitting range of ~everal consecutive standard width increments.

Figs. 5-9 illus~rate another embodiment of the present invention, Referring to the drawings, Figs. 5 and 6 show two separate:inserts 48 and 4g which could represent extremes ~n midportional:w~idth-coverin~ a girth range of several consecu-tive shoe width incremen~ts. In this embodiment, separate inserts such as inser~s 48 and 49 are used instead of a single insole assembly 38 as in:Figs. 1-4. The inserts, while being substantially equal in thickness, are of dif~erent widths.
By inserting the correct insert having the proper width in a shoe, it will adjus~ the fitting height to the proper dimension to create:a snug f~t in the fit/critical area etween~the top a~f~th~oot and the plug or top portlon of ~he upper. ~i~. 8 ~hows a reIatively wide in~ert 48 with a width x' ~nd Fig~ :9 ~hows insert with a relatively narrower width x. The mechanism o~ action ~s the ~ame as described in connection with Figs. 1-4 with~outward displacement of the side~ porti;ons o~ the upper drawing the top port~n of the upper~downward. Fig~. 5 ~hows:insole a~sembly 48 with solid line~52 representing its periphe~y and midpo~tional width, as compared~ wi~h dashed line 54, whlch repre~ents the mid-portiona:l width~of the narrower extreme, shown in plan in Fig.
6~as~ the continuous :pèripheral~line 54. As shown in FigsO
7-9,~each insole a5~sembly insert comprise5 an i~sole base 58 and an optional ~ocklini~g 56~ Typically, ~nsole base 58 is molded o~f a hlgh~: duromete~- rubber or more:~likely a ~igh den:sity ~olyethylene ~uch as from compound~ available from Quantum Corp.~ of ~leveland, Ohio, and others. It i5 important that this base ~s:relatlvely firm 50 t~at lt can force the side portions of the upper outwardly without said base deforming ~rom resistance~t~erefrom. The optional socklining 56 ca~n ~e of any of a number of materials, including leather, with the DriLRx~ woven fabrics distrlbuted by Faytex of ~, WQ~3/~ 96~ 1 ~~ ' P~/US93/03~4 3~3 Weymouth, MA the preferred material, being bonded in use to base 58 by conventional cement adheslves. Separate insole assem~l ~ es of th~s embodlment: are o:E substantially the samP
thickne~;s. As ~s apparent, ona must have a set of a variety of different slzed lnserts to afford incremental fit ad~ust-me~t. To achieve proper fit, the user must c~oose the pr~per inser~ as opposed to the automatic and non-incremental ~nfinite adjustment offered by the embodiment of Figs. 1-4.

Another and preferred ambodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figs. 10-170 Referring to the drawings, shoe 60 generally comprises upper 62 having a plug 64 ~ttached at sewn seam 66 to Yamp 68. Seam 66 extends substantially around tha toe and along the midportion of upper 62, which is secured to midsole 70 by stitching 72. Midsole 70 is in turn secured to u~itsole or bottom member 74 by suitable means such ~:
as~adhesive cement or stitching. Disposed within the interior of shoe upper 62 is adjustment means 76 generally comprising insole assembly 78~ ~ ;' Insole assembly 78 comprises ln~ole base 80 having~ a :transversely movable top portion 81 and a relatively immovable lower portion ~3,: adjusting screw assembly 82, comprising coin-slotted ~crew head 84 on screw shaft B6 which has a pinion:gear 88 at its ~pper end. An optlonal inside screw head on the interior of the sho~ and atta~hed to the top of pinion gear 88 (not shown in the drawings) would allow optional adju~tmQnt from within the shoe with thP shoe off the foot:. However, the pre~erred outside adjustment means allows adjustment ~both when the~shoe i~ on as well as off the foot.
The pinlon gear a~ts together with a rack 90 in the plate ~
to adjust the longitudinal position of movable adjusting pl~te 92. ~ivets ~4, which travel in angled slots 96 in ~he adjusting plate 92 are connected to thP top transversely movable portions of base 80. The top 81 and bottom B3 SLIBSTITUTE SHEET
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y ~;) 93/19~31 rcr/vsg3/o3~s4 port~ ons of the insole base 80 are connected only around its perlpheral edge, w~th the top midportion thereof free to move transver6ely relative to the bottom portion on the separating pIanar surface 100. This ~;urface 100 extends within the per~pheral edge connectîons, and separates the top from the bottom midportions of the insole base 8 O, ex~epting at the peripheral connections thereto. The midportion of the top portion 81 of insole base 80 contains a slit/slot 93, which allows for the width adjus~ment of the base 80, by permitting the midportion of the top portion ~1 to move transversely along surface 100 of bottom portion 83. As best shown in Figs. 10 and 13, stretchable socklining 102 is fastened to the top peripheral edges of-in~ole base 80, prefera~ly by adhesive cement, heat-s~aling or the like. Socklining 102 is preferably of stretcha~le spandex fabric, 5uch ~5 the DriLex~ fabric supplied~by Paytex Inc. o~ ~eymouth, Mass.

The operation of the ~djustment- means 76 is best understood by re~erence to the drawing~. As shown in Fîg. 11, pIate 92;~has been adjusted to its~most rearward position, closest:to the heel end o~ the:shoe,. in which pos~tion the angled slots 96 in plate 92 have forced the rivets 94 outwa~r~ly ~hereby widening the longitudinal opening 98 to its wid2s~ separation. Fig. 12 shows the insole:assembly 78 of the shoe~of Fig. 10 at its narrowest widthwi~e adjustment whereln pl~te 92:has been:moved forward by having turned the coin--slotted: adjusting~ screw 84 in a counterclockwi~e rotation.
In th~is posi~ion, th~ slots 96 in plate 92 bring the rivets 94: to ~heir closest separation within the midp~rtional top por~ion 81 o~;the insole base B0, thereby narrowing the base 80 :to its narrowest adjustment wherein the longitudinal opening 98 is a slit, rather than the slot of Fig. 11. Fig.
13 show~ the adjustment means 76 of shoe 60.comprising lnsole assembly 78 and showing assembly 78 with adjusting screw assembly 82 therewith, as they might appear prior to their in-W~.93/19631 PCT/VS93/~30~
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- 13 - ~ ~3~3~3 cl~sion in ~ho~ ~0, pref~rably during its manufacture. Fig.
14 shows a viaw of the insola assembly 78 of Fig. 13 as it would appear v:~ewed fr~m below on line 14-14. Fig. 15 shows ~ nsole asserably of Fig. 14 adjusted to its narrowest setting also shown in Fig. 12~ while Fig. 15 shows the same assembly at its w~dest ad~ustment, correspondlng to that shown in Flg.
ll. It will be noted that the width w of Fig. 15 is s~nifi-cantly less than the c~rresponding wider width w' of Fig. 16.
Fig. 17 shows plate ~2 wi~h openings therein comprising rack opening 9O and slots 96.
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As in the previous embodiments, the wider width insole assembly 78 forces ~he sides of the upper outward, thereby forcing the plug 64 ~ownwa~d and reducing the ~itting height.
Thi~ is accomplished without ~hanging the girth of the shoe.
Plate 92 is preferably of thin spring-tempered stainless steel. As in the previous embodiments~ th2 wider adjustments correspond to a proper fit for the foot of les~er girth, while the narrower adjustments provide prope~ flt for wider feet.
Materials preferred for other elements of the insole assembly 78 includ~. a rel~t~vely ~irm durometer ethylene vinyl acetate of which the base eleme~t 80 would be preferably injection molded, while adjusting screw assembly 82 and rivets 94 would ~e of stainless ~teei or 5imilar corrosion-resistant metal.
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The embodim~nt o~ Fig~. lO-l~ has several advantages over the other embodimen~s/ lncluding in being an integral part of the s~oe and th'erefore not cap~ble of being misused in ~hoes for which i~ was not designed to be u~ed. Al~o, because of ; its infinite adjustability oYer its designed fltting ra~ge, ~ it can afford a somewhat loose fit i~ so desired, as we~l ~s :~ a quick, accurate and positive means vf fit adjustment.. This ~can be accomplished with the shoe on the foot, which is generally the preferred approach, particularly in competitive athletic usages where the wearer often does not have the time .

~'.Q ~3/l963l . rCr/US93l~3054 ; :, ~ - .
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for the slower adjustmer~t of laces and strap~.

While this embodiment uses a rack and pinion rrangement together wl th a ~lidable movable adjustment plate and a somewhat deformable insole base, all interconnectad, many other well known approaches can be used to provlde a similar insol~ midport~onal width-adjusting fllnction and are therefore ~onsidered equival~nts to th~ means disclosed~ These equlva-lents include the use of spring means and~or bladder assem-blies containing air and/or other gases, îluids or gels, with optional adju~tment by cc~nventional pumpjvalve assem~lies well known in the art and currently in use ~ n athletic E:hoes in the market ~ ' One such embodiment i5 ? llustrated in Figs. 18-22 0 Referring to the drawings, shoe 120 generally comprises upper 122 having a plug 124 at~ached at sewn seam 126 to vamp 128.
Seam 12 6 extends sllbstantially around the toe and alon}g the midportion of upper ~22 which iE~ secured t~ unitsole bottom element 130 by a suitable mean~; suc~ as penaanent sole-ttaching adhesive cement. Disposed within the interior of shae upper 122 is adjustment means 13~ generally comprising insol e a~s~e:n~ly i3 4 . : -Insole as~;embly 134 compris~s a 50ClC'1 ining 136, preîera-bly ~ade of C~MB~ELLE~ E3hoe lining material from Faytesc C~rp. ~
Braintree, MA, a first bladder portion 138a generally disposed under jthe rear~art of th~ a~3sembly at about the heel vf the shoe, a second b1adder portlon 138b generally disposed under he f orepart o~ the assembly at about the ball region of the shoe , the : second bladder portion 138b has two side bladder extending por~ions 138c and 138d which extend substantially vertically alons the sides of the shoe upper 124. The assembly 134 also comprises an adjustable pressurizable chamber 142 disposed between the first and second bladder ' ;. ~

~V~93/1~63l ~T/US93/U3054 ~3~3 portlon6 138a and 13~b, and a ~ube 14~ connecting bladder por-tions 138a and ~38b to permit fluid flow therebetween. The ~ube 144 ~s generally dispos~d withln a relatively dense compressîble layer 148 underlying both bladder portions 138a and 138b and chamber 142. The tube 144 provides for fluid- -flow between ~ladders 138a and 13~b through openings 146a and 146b in bladder~ 138a ~nd 138b, respectivelyO

The first and ~ec~nd bladder portions 138a and 138b as well as pressurlz~ble chamber 142, and tube 144 are each preferably made from a thermopla~tic polyurethan~ material such as is ava~lable from the J.P. Stevens Company of Northampton, M~ and others. Other suitable materials include elastomeric materials such as -flexible polyvinyl chloridP
polymers and the like.
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At least the ~econd bladder portion 138b contains a generally open-cell polyurethane foam 154. The foam 154 cause~ the top surface 140a of the bl~dder portion 138b to move upwardly when the insole asse~bly is non-weightbearing when a foot of lesser girth i~ thereon. Su~h foams generally have a density of ahout 1.5 lb/ft3 and are available from United Foam Plastics of Georgetown, MA, and others. Other suitable~ foams include re~ilient open-cell polymers ~uch as thermoplastic p~lyethylene and other guch materialsO Alterna-tively, a mechan~cal:spring means may be used in place of or in conjunction w~th the foam. Such an operl cell foam may also be placed ln bladder 138a.

Tube 144 ~8 generally di~posed withln layer 148 which ~s a dense compresible layer underlaying bladder portions 138a and 13~b and cha~ber 1~2. Tube li4 effects fluld flow tra~sport between bladder portions 138a and 138b through ~ladder openings 146a and ~46b (in bladder portions 138a and 138b). Layer 148 is pre~erably a closed-cell polyurethane .

U~'93~19~3~ PCr~US93/~3~4 ~ 16 - Z~L~13~3 foam hav~r~g a den~ity of at leaYt a}:~out 4 lb/~t3 and available from United Foam Plastlc~; and otherE;. Alternat~vely, the functlon of tube 144 may be accompl~shed by us~ng as layer 148 a non-pore:)us closed cell material ~uch as a suitable thermo-plast~c polyllrethane polymer in which a channel has been f ormed .
:
Durlng manufàcture of th~ ~nsole assembly 134, a pre-determlned amount of a relat~vely incompressible fluid, such ~s medical grade min~ral o~l J glycer~ n, a silicone gel, or other mater~al hav~ng similar flow properties, i5 enclosed wlthin the two blad~er portions 13~a and ~38b. The fluid must be of the typ~ that will not dlf~use through the walls of bladder port~ons I38a and 138b or tube 144. The fluld continually adju~t6 the fitting girth of the shoe 120 by flowing betwean the ~ladder portions- 138a and 138b when the insole~assembly ~ non-weightb~aring, w~th such ~low dictated by the size requ~rements of the oot therein, particularly in the ball, waist-and lnstep regions ther~eof. The flo~ of the fluid between the bladder portions is effectad by the pres-sure/amount of ~as which has besn introduced into the chamber 14:2 by~means o~ an~axternal pump (not show~), The pressure s ~ontrolled~by the amount of: ~as inputted from the pump thro~gh a m~ans such as a needle-valve inlet 150. Preferably, the:pressure will be adjusted when the insole assembly is in the shoe by the wearer to his or her preference for comfort and function. Alt~rnative pressure ~djust~ent ~ystems such a~ ad~usta~ly ~ensioned springs and cylinder/piston~arrange-ments are equi~alent to needle-valve inlet 150.

The gir~hwise ~Lt of a flexible-shoe, particularly in the :flexing ball reglon thereo~, is controlled by regulating the flow of ~luid between bladder portions in the forepart and ~ ~ .
rsarpart of the insole asse~ly:l34. Such fluid flow is urged selectively between the bladder portions by adjustable .:: :
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pressure means such that the foot in the shoe automatically re-adjusts the distribution of the fluid in the assembly during a stride cycle thereby adjusting the fit of the shoe on the foot when the shoe is not weightbearing. When a shod foot becomes air-borne during a stride, the insole assembly 134 automatically adjusts the fit of the shoe as fluid flows through tube 144 between bladder portions 138a and 138b, with the amount of fluid flow being in response to the pressure of the chamber 142 on the fluid in the system. The fluid is continually urged into filling the open-cells in the foam in bladder portion 138b as it expands vertically from its compressed weightbearing state. As the foot and shoe become weightbearing, the tube 144 flattens under load arresting the flow of fluid between bladder portions 138a and 138b and entrapping a correct amount of fluid in bladder portion 138b to adjust the proper fitting girth of the shoe to the wearer's foot therein. Upon each air-borne phase of the stride cycle, the system repeats its cyclical fit-adjusting function.
Optionally, tube 144 may contain pressure activated valves (not shown, but well known in the art) to assist in fluid flow shut-off when the shoe or a portion thereof becomes weightbearing.
Fig. 19 shows the under-foot portions of the fluid assembly system, showing tube 144 and insole assembly rearpart foot-supporting wall 152, which is provided to prevent deformation of bladder portion 138a and chamber 142 under the heel of the foot when weightbearing. Optionally a "tuck element" (not shown) may be used for bridging and strengthening the backpart area of wall 152. A tuck element is prepared from a relatively firm fiber board material conventionally used in the backparts of shoes to strengthen and stiffen the area of the shoe from the heel to about the midportion. Such elements are available from LynFlex Co. of Scarboro, Maine, and many others.

~093/19631 P~T/US9~/03054 ~, ':'','' 2~3~303 A~ ~hown in Fi~. 20, the sh~e ~ ~n the attitude it would as~ume when non-w~ghtbearing on a foot of ~ubstantially the ma~l~um girth withln the ~hoe'~ designed gi~th range. Almost all of the flu~d contained w~thin th~ bladder has moved out of the foam element 154 in bladd~r portion 13~b and out of side ~ladder axtension psrticns 138c and 138d back to rearpart bladder portlo~ 138a due to the for~e exerted by the volume required due to the circumference of the foot. Fig. 21 shows the same shoe of Fig. -20 when it has become weightbearing.
The weight has ~aused la~er 148 and tube 144 ~ontained therein :
to flatten to prevent any flow o~ fluid from rear bladder portion 138a into foreward bladder portions 13~b, c, and d, until the shoe again becomes unweighted (during the stride).
~eightbearing bladder~ s~de extension portions 138c and 138d are relatively empty of fluid. As a result, the vertical inside ax{s Y' of F~g. 21 is only sli~htly greater than the corresponding Y of Fig. 20, the difference being insufficient to appreciab~y affect the fit of the shoe 120. It should be noted that in both'Figs. 20 and 21r a minimum of fluid is in bladder portion 138b~at any time during a stride c~cle since all of the fluid had pr~viously been forced back into bladder 138a~by the presenc~ o~ the maximum-girth foot in the shoe.

Figs. 22 and 23 parall~l Figs. ~O and 21 and show the ame sho~l20 ~hen worn on a foot of minimum girth within the shoe'~ designed :gi~th:range. Fiq. 22 show~ shoe 120 as it would appear when the foot ~herein is unw~ighted. It contains a lar~e volum~jo~;,f1uid under the foot in foam element lS~ in bladder por~lon 1~8b but a minimum of fluid in sid~ bladder extensions 138c and 138d. When the shoe becomes weightbearing as: in Fig. 23, the layer 148 and tubs 144 flatten under the , load arres~ing the f~ow of fluid back to bladder 138a and thus causing~the fluid to flow upward into side bladder extenslons 138~ and 138d. ~This action expands the bladder extensions 8c and 138d and thereby causes the inside.horizontal width WO 93/lg631 PCr/U~;93/03~4 ;

~3~3Qi3 of t:he constant girth shoe to expand from the width dimension X of F~g. 22 to the wider width a~mension X' of Fig. 23.
S~nce the circumference of the upper 122 i6 constant, any widening of the hori~ontal X axis must: be accompanied by a correspolld1ng ~horten~ng of the ~ert~cal Y axis, as the longer Y d~sta~c~ of Fig . 22 decreases to the les~3er Y ' of Fig . 23 whi~h cauE;eg the plug 124 to remain ln comfortably snug con-tac~ with the foot. Maintaining contact is most ~mportant in the ~all area of the foot and immediately adjacent theret~
where ~@ flex~ble ~hoe needs to ~lex during the ~tride. Any unneces~ary loo~ene of the upp~r on the foot at thi.s area can cau~e unsightly and uncomfortable buckling of the upper as well as adversely effect~ng the flt of the ~hoe.
, An advantage of this embodiment 1~ that the deformation which adiu~t the girth of th~ shoe to a foot therein occurs primarily when the ~hoe t~ weightbearing. This improves the ~: appearance of the ~oe when it is non-weightbearing, as on display at point of sale or when a wearer is seated.
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Claims (11)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A shoe, comprising a bottom member, an upper member having two opposing side portions and a top portion said upper member being made from a non-stretchable material, said bottom and upper members defining an enclosure, and an insole assembly disposed within the enclosure adjacent and along at leasta portion of said bottom member defining a cavity for insertion of a foot, said shoe having a heel portion, a midportion including a ball portion and a toe portion, said cavity having a width (x) extending between said two side portions at about said ball portion of the shoe and also having a fitting height (y) extending vertically from said insole assembly to said top portion of said uppermember within said cavity at about said ball portion, said cavity having a constant circumference which is the distance around the periphery of said cavityformed by said upper member and said insole assembly at about said ball portion thereof, the height, width and circumference being measured at the same cross section of said cavity at about said ball portion thereof; characterized in that, said upper member is deformable in response insertion of a foot into said cavity in a manner which permits the ratio between said width (x) of said cavity and said height (y) of said cavity to change at about said ball portion, while at the same time maintaining the circumference of said cavity constant so as to improve the fit of said shoe.

2. The shoe of Claim 1, wherein the insole assembly comprises a plurality of insertable members, each one of which is of a different width than the others at the same location on each of the members.

3. The shoe of Claim 1, wherein the insole assembly is a single adjustable member, the width of which can be infinitely varied over a defined range.

4. The shoe of Claim 3, wherein the insole assembly is a planar member.

5. The shoe of Claim 3, wherein adjustment can be effected from outside of the shoe when a foot is in the shoe.

6. The shoe of Claim 3, wherein adjustment can be effected from the inside of the shoe.

7. The shoe of Claim 1, wherein the insole assembly is an adjustable member which has contoured peripheral edges.

8. The shoe of Claim 1, wherein the insole assembly comprises a fluid-containing bladder.

9. The shoe of Claim 8, wherein the bladder contains at least two portions, said portions being connected to each other by a connecting means disposed therebetween permitting fluid flow therebetween, wherein a first portion of the bladder is rearward of the midportion of the shoe, and wherein a second portion of the bladder is forward of the first portion of the bladder and contains a foam in which the fluid is dispersed.

10. The shoe of Claim 9, wherein the second portion of the bladder has a side extension on each side thereof.

11. The shoe of Claim 9, wherein the connecting means is collapsible under the weight of a foot during a stride.