Footwear with improved upper

Abstract

Flexible shoe extending between rear and front ends, between lateral and medial sides, and between the sole assembly and an upper end of an upper. The upper includes an outer shell including an inner and outer layers, the latter having a foot insertion opening with rear and front divisions, the latter extending between lateral and medial edges. A device tightens the upper by bringing the lateral edge toward the medial edger. The inner layer extends opposite the outer layer and in the area of the front division of the foot insertion opening, between the lateral and medial edges. The inner layer is liquid-impermeable and flexible. When the lateral and medial edges of the outer layer are brought toward one another, the distance between the lateral and medial edges is shorter than the portion of the inner layer in the area of the front division or the foot insertion opening.

1 . Flexible shoe comprising:
 a sole assembly;   an upper extending upwardly from the sole assembly;   the shoe extending:
 lengthwise from a rear end to a front end; 
 widthwise between a lateral side and a medial side; and 
 heightwise from the sole assembly to an upper end; 
   the upper comprising:
 an outer shell comprising:
 an inner layer; 
 an outer layer comprising a foot insertion opening that includes a rear division and a front division; 
 the front division extending widthwise between a lateral edge and a medial edge of the foot-insertion opening; 
 
   an upper-tightening-device configured to bring the lateral edge and medial edge closer to one another;   the inner layer extending opposite the outer layer and in the area of the front division of the foot insertion opening, between, the lateral edge and the medial edge;   the inner layer being a liquid-impermeable layer;   the inner layer being a flexible layer; and   a distance between the lateral edge and medial edge is shorter than the portion of the inner layer extending in the area of the front division of the foot insertion opening when the lateral edge and medial edge of the outer layer are brought closer to one another by the upper-tightening-device.   
     
     
         2 . Shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the inner layer of the outer shell comprises a membrane and a lining.   
     
     
         3 . Shoe according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the membrane is impermeable to liquid and permeable to gas.   
     
     
         4 . Shoe according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the thickness of the membrane is between 5.0 and 250 micrometers.   
     
     
         5 . Shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the outer shell of the upper comprises a flexible flap extending in the area of the front division of the foot insertion opening.   
     
     
         6 . Shoe according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 an insert is fitted between the inner layer of the outer shell and the flexible flap.   
     
     
         7 . Shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 when the lateral edge and medial edge of the front division are brought closer to one another, the inner layer forms a fold in the area of the lateral edge.   
     
     
         8 . Shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 when the lateral edge and medial edge of the front division are brought closer to one another, the inner layer forms a fold in the area of the medial edge.   
     
     
         9 . Shoe according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a lasting board.   
     
     
         10 . Shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the tightening device comprises at least one lateral keeper, at least one medial keeper, and at least one linkage extending through the keepers.   
     
     
         11 . Shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the inner layer of the outer shell is made in a single piece.   
     
     
         12 . Shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the inner layer of the outer shell is an assembly of two portions.   
     
     
         13 . Shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the inner layer of the outer shell is an assembly of three portions.   
     
     
         14 . Shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the outer layer and inner layer of the outer shell are affixed to one another by glue dots.   
     
     
         15 . Shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 each of the outer sole and the upper has a flexible structure allowing the shoe to flex during use at a flexion crease of the shoe.