Shoe with shell portions

Abstract

A shoe includes a first shell portion, and a second shell portion complementing the first shell portion to form an upper. The second shell portion is more flexible than the first shell portion and is mechanically connected to the first shell portion. The first shell portion includes a surrounding wall of substantially U-shaped cross-section which is adapted to extend around the wearer's heel. The surrounding wall includes two opposite side wall sections that have frontmost ends posterior to the ball of the foot and anterior to the plantar arch of the foot.

1 . A shoe comprising: 
 a first shell portion, and a second shell portion complementing said first shell portion to form an upper, said second shell portion being mechanically connected to said first shell portion and being more flexible than said first shell portion;    said first shell portion being waterproof and vapor impermeable and including a sole part which has at least a heel region, and a surrounding wall which projects upward from a periphery of said heel region and which has a substantially U-shaped cross-section that turns around said heel region, said surrounding wall including two opposite side wall sections, said opposite side wall sections having frontmost ends posterior to the ball of the foot and anterior to the plantar arch of the foot.    
   
   
       2 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first shell portion is configured as a molded body.  
   
   
       3 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said surrounding wall has a marginal end for connection with said second shell portion, said marginal end having a shoulder formation that extends along the length of said marginal end to join with said second shell portion.  
   
   
       4 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said sole part has an opening therein.  
   
   
       5 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said side wall sections have a height sufficient to reach an entire part of the ankle.  
   
   
       6 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said sole part is relatively softer than said surrounding wall.  
   
   
       7 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said surrounding wall further includes a ventilation hole.  
   
   
       8 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said surrounding wall further includes a screen covering said ventilation hole.  
   
   
       9 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said second shell portion includes a front part connected to said surrounding wall at said frontmost ends, and an instep part disposed above and connected to said front part and said surrounding wall, said first shell portion being a one-piece body, said second shell portion being composed of a plurality of pieces.  
   
   
       10 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said frontmost ends of said side wall sections are immediately behind the ball of the foot.  
   
   
       11 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first shell portion is a multi-layer structure.  
   
   
       12 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first shell portion has an outer layer which includes a Kevlar fabric.  
   
   
       13 . A shoe comprising: 
 a first shell portion, and a second shell portion complementing said first shell portion to form an upper, said second shell portion being mechanically connected to said first shell portion and being more flexible than said first shell portion;    said first shell portion being waterproof and vapor impermeable and including a surrounding wall which has a substantially U-shaped cross-section and which is adapted to extend around the heel of a wearer, said surrounding wall including two opposite side wall sections, said side wall sections having frontmost ends posterior to the ball of the foot and anterior to the plantar arch of the foot.    
   
   
       14 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said first shell portion further includes a sole part.  
   
   
       15 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said side wall sections have a height higher than the ankle.  
   
   
       16 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said first shell portion further includes a sole part which has at least a heel region connected to said surrounding wall.  
   
   
       17 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said surrounding wall further includes an instep section connected to said side wall sections, said instep section being one piece with said surrounding wall, said instep section having a lower end extending downward to said frontmost ends of said side wall sections.  
   
   
       18 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said instep section includes two instep parts which are spaced apart from each other to define a tongue opening and which are connected respectively to said side wall sections, said instep parts having eyelets formed therein.  
   
   
       19 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said second shell portion includes a front toe part extending forward from said surrounding wall and said instep parts, and a top part extending upward from said instep parts and said surrounding wall.  
   
   
       20 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said first shell portion is a one-piece molded body, said second shell portion being composed of a plurality of pieces.  
   
   
       21 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said first shell portion includes a material which is selected from the group consisting of composite, rubber, TPU, TPR, EVA and PVC.  
   
   
       22 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said first shell portion is a multi-layered structure.  
   
   
       23 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein said multi-layered structure includes a rubber layer and a fabric layer.  
   
   
       24 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein said multi-layered structure includes an EVA layer, a fabric layer and a TPU layer.