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 . 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    a 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 portions, wherein the engagement member is movable in a transverse direction relative to the longitudinal direction of the first and second sole portion, and in which the engagement member is movable to one of at least two states, in which a first state allows the first and second sole portions to be moved relative to each other and wherein the second state inhibits such movement.    
     
     
         2 . Footwear comprising: 
 a foot dressing having a front outer assembly, a rear outer assembly, and an expandable segment attached to the front and rear out assemblies to define an outer shell, wherein the expandable segment extends at least partially along each side of the outer shell and transversly across the bottom of the outer shell 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 the footwear wherein the control requires only manual, tool-less operation to adjust a dimension of the inner assembly.    
     
     
         3 . Footwear comprising: 
 a foot dressing having 
 an upper foot portion;  
 a sole;  
 a front outer assembly;  
 a rear outer assembly; and  
 an expandable segment attached to the front and rear out assemblies to define an outer shell wherein the expandable segment extends at least partially along each side of the outer shell and transversely across the bottom of the outer shell 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 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.    
     
     
         4 . The adjustable shoe sole component of  claim 1  wherein the manual adjustment assembly is integral to the shoe sole component and requires only manual, tool-less operation to move the engagement member.  
     
     
         5 . 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 the footwear wherein the control requires only manual, tool-less operation to adjust a dimension of the inner assembly    wherein the first member is at least a portion of a lasting board and wherein the second member is at least a portion of a footwear sole.