Expandable shoe and shoe assemblies

Abstract

An expandable shoe includes an outer shell and an adjustable inner assembly disposed within the outer shell. The inner assembly has a control to adjust a dimension of the inner assembly and thereby a corresponding dimension of the shoe. The inner assembly includes a first sole portion, a second sole portion, and a manually urgable member. The manually urgable member has at least a portion of the member accessible from the outer shell, and in engageable and releasable communication with an engagement member, fixed to one of the first and second sole portions. When the urgable member is released from the fixed engagement member the first and second sole portions may be moved to adjust the dimension of the shoe and when the urgable member is in engagement with the fixed engagement member the first and second portions resist slidable movement relative to one another.

1 . Footwear comprising: 
 a foot dressing and    an adjustable assembly, at least a portion of which is coupled to the foot dressing, the adjustable assembly having a first member and a second member in overlapping engagement with each other and a control integral to the footwear to adjust the position of the first member relative to the second member and to thereby adjust a dimension of the adjustable assembly and thereby a corresponding dimension of the footwear wherein the control requires only manual, tool-less operation to adjust a dimension of the adjustable assembly.    
     
     
         2 . The footwear of  claim 1  wherein the first member and the second member are each shaped for relative movement with respect to the other, and wherein the control adjusts a dimension of the adjustable assembly by adjusting a position of the first member relative to the second member.  
     
     
         3 . The footwear of  claim 1  wherein the control includes an activation mechanism, accessible while the footwear is worn, to manipulate the control.  
     
     
         4 . Footwear comprising: 
 a foot dressing having an upper foot portion and a sole and    an adjustable inner assembly contacting at least a portion of the sole, the adjustable inner assembly having a first member and a second member in overlapping engagement with each other and slideable with respect to each other and a control to adjust the position of the first member relative to the second member and to thereby adjust a dimension of the inner assembly and thereby a corresponding dimension of the footwear.    
     
     
         5 . The footwear of  claim 4  wherein the adjustable assembly has a first member and a second member, each shaped for relative slideable movement with respect to the other, and the control adjusts a dimension of the inner assembly by adjusting a position of the first member relative to the second member.  
     
     
         6 . The footwear of  claim 4  wherein the footwear is a running shoe.  
     
     
         7 . The footwear of  claim 4  wherein the footwear is a biking shoe.  
     
     
         8 . The footwear of  claim 4  wherein the footwear is a ski boot.  
     
     
         9 . The footwear of  claim 4  wherein the footwear is a dress shoe.  
     
     
         10 . The footwear of  claim 4  wherein the footwear is a snow boarding boots.  
     
     
         11 . The footwear of  claim 4  wherein the footwear is a sandal.  
     
     
         12 . Footwear, comprising: 
 a foot dressing;    an adjustable assembly coupled to the foot dressing having a manually-operable control to adjust a longitudinal dimension of the adjustable assembly;    an indicator bearing indicia of the adjustable dimension of the adjustable assembly in fixed relationship with the adjustable assembly wherein the indicator is labeled on the adjustable assembly; and    a visualization window positioned over the indicator so that as a longitudinal dimension of the footwear is adjusted the indicia on the indicator is moved behind the window.    
     
     
         13 . The footwear of  claim 1  wherein the first and second members form a lasting board.  
     
     
         14 . Adjustable footwear, comprising: 
 a first portion and a second portion, each shaped for relative movement with respect to the other and    a manual adjustment assembly having a portion thereof shaped for manual engagement thereof and another portion thereof engageable with an engagement member that is fixed to one of the first and second portions, wherein the engagement member is translationally movable to one of at least two states, in which a first state allows the first and second portions to be moved relative to each other and wherein the second state inhibits such movement.    
     
     
         15 . Footwear comprising 
 a first portion and a second portion in overlapping engagement with each other;    an expandable segment attached to the first and second portions; and    a manually operable control to adjust the position of the first portion relative to the position of the second portion and to thereby adjust a dimension of the footwear wherein the control includes a portion thereof shaped for manual engagement thereof and another portion thereof engageable with an engagement member that is fixed to one of the first and second portions, wherein the engagement member is translationally moveable to one of at least two states and wherein the second state inhibits such movement.    
     
     
         16 . The footwear of  claim 1  wherein the control is operable while the footwear is being worn to adjust a dimension of the footwear.  
     
     
         17 . An adjustable last board, comprising: 
 a first portion and a second portion, each shaped for relative movement with respect to the other and    a control to adjust the position of the first portion relative to the second portion and to thereby adjust a dimension of the adjustable last board, the control having a manually depressible member that, when depressed allows the first and second portions to be moved relative to each other, and when not depressed, inhibits such movement.    
     
     
         18 . An expandable shoe, comprising: 
 an outer shell and    an adjustable inner assembly, disposed within the outer shell, the inner assembly having a first board portion and a second board portion and a control to adjust a dimension of the inner assembly, the control having a manually depressible member that, when depressed allows the first and second portions to be moved relative to each other, and when not depressed, inhibits such movement.    
     
     
         19 . Footwear comprising: 
 a foot dressing and    an adjustable assembly, at least a portion of which is coupled to the foot dressing, the adjustable assembly having a first member and a second member in overlapping engagement with each other and a control integral to the footwear to adjust the position of the first member relative to the second member and to thereby adjust a dimension of the adjustable assembly and thereby a corresponding dimension of the footwear, the control having a manually depressible member that, when depressed allows the first and second members to be moved relative to each other and when not depressed, inhibits such movement.    
     
     
         20 . An adjustable shoe sole component, comprising 
 a first sole portion and a second sole portion, each shaped for relative movement with respect to the other and    an integrated adjustment assembly having a portion thereof shaped for manual engagement thereof and another portion thereof engageable with an engagement member that is fixed to one of the first and second sole portions, the integrated assembly having a manually depressible member that, when depressed allows the first and second sole portions to be moved relative to each other and when not depressed, inhibits such movement.    
     
     
         21 . Footwear comprising: 
 a foot dressing and    an adjustable assembly, at least a portion of which is coupled to the foot dressing, the adjustable assembly having    a first member and a second member in overlapping engagement with each other and shaped for relative movement with respect to the other, wherein one of the first and second members includes a toothed segment; and    a control integral to the footwear to adjust the position of the first member relative to the second member and to thereby adjust a dimension of the adjustable assembly and thereby a corresponding dimension of the footwear wherein the control adjusts a dimension of the adjustable assembly by adjusting a position of the first member relative to the second member and requires only manual, tool-less operation to adjust a dimension of the adjustable assembly and wherein the control includes;    a rod segment manually accessible from the footwear;    a toothed member; and    a deformable member in a biasing relationship to position the toothed member into a lock state with the toothed segment when the deformable member is in a relaxed state and into an unlocked state when the deformable member is in a deformed state.    
     
     
         22 . Footwear comprising: 
 a foot dressing having an upper foot portion and a sole and    an adjustable inner assembly contacting at least a portion of the sole, the adjustable inner assembly having 
 a first member and a second member in overlapping engagement with each other wherein one of the first and second members includes a toothed segment; and  
 a control to adjust the position of the first member relative to the second member and to thereby adjust a dimension of the inner assembly and thereby a corresponding dimension of the footwear wherein the control includes  
 a rod segment manually accessible from the footwear;  
 a toothed member; and  
 a deformable member in a biasing relationship to position the toothed member into a lock state with the toothed segment when the deformable member is in a relaxed state and into an unlocked state when the deformable member is in a deformed state.  
   
     
     
         23 . Footwear, comprising: 
 a foot dressing, and    an adjustable assembly coupled to the foot dressing, the adjustable assembly having a control integral to the foot dressing to adjust a dimension of the adjustable assembly and thereby a corresponding dimension of the footwear, the control having a portion thereof manually accessible from the footwear and another portion thereof engageable with an engagement member fixed to the adjustable assembly, wherein the engagement member is translationally movable to at least one of two states, in which a first state allows the expansion or contraction of a dimension of the adjustable assembly and wherein the second state prohibits the expansion or contraction of a dimension of the adjustable assembly and wherein the control requires only manual, tool-less operation to adjust a dimension of the adjustable assembly.    
     
     
         24 . The footwear of  claim 23  wherein the adjustable assembly has a first member and a second member, each shaped for relative movement with respect to the other, wherein one of the first and second members includes a toothed segment, and the control adjusts a dimension of the adjustable assembly by adjusting a position of the first member relative to the second member and wherein the control includes 
 a rod segment manually accessible from the footwear;    a toothed member; and    a deformable member in a biasing relationship to position the toothed member into a lock state with the toothed segment when the deformable member is in a relaxed state and into an unlocked state when the deformable member is in a deformed state.    
     
     
         25 . Footwear comprising: 
 a foot dressing having an upper foot portion and a lower foot portion, and    an adjustable assembly, at least a portion which is disposed between the upper and lower foot portions, the adjustable assembly having a control to adjust a dimension of the adjustable assembly and thereby a corresponding dimension of the footwear, the control having a portion thereof manually accessible from the footwear and another portion thereof engageable with an engagement member fixed to the adjustable assembly, wherein the engagement member is translationally movable to at least one of two states, in which a first state allows expansion or contraction of a dimension of the adjustable assembly and wherein the second state prohibits expansion or contraction of a dimension of the adjustable assembly.    
     
     
         26 . The footwear of  claim 25  wherein the adjustable assembly has a first member and a second member, each shaped for relative movement with respect to the other, wherein one of the first and second members includes a toothed segment and the control adjusts a dimension of the adjustable assembly by adjusting a position of the first member relative to the second member and wherein the control includes 
 a rod segment manually accessible from the footwear;    a toothed member; and    a deformable member in a biasing relationship to position the toothed member into a lock state with the toothed segment when the deformable member is in a relaxed state and into an unlocked state when the deformable member is in a deformed state.