US3803731A - Shoes - Google Patents

Abstract

Shoes including a collar comprising a specially constructed foam cushioning element secured to the top edge of the shoe upper opening at approximately the ankle level of the wearer''s leg.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Zumbro Apr. 16, 1974 [54] SHOES 3,052,046 9/1962 53265 2,400,470 5 1946 S ra If [76] Inventor: Ray n. Zumbro, 110 111113163 RCL, 2,540,531 1951 f ff Farmmgdale, g Island, 3,475,835 11/1969 KOVfll 36/1 5 11735 [22] Filed: 1972 Primary ExaminerPatrick D. Lawson [21] Appl, No.: 306,400 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Eric H. Waters [52] US. Cl. 36/57 51 Int. (:1 A43!) 23/00 [57] ABSTRACT [58] held of Search 36/2'5 Shoes including a collar comprising a specially con- 6/ structed foam cushioning element secured to the top edge of the shoe upper opening at approximately the [56] References Cited ankle level of the wearers leg.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,145,102 1/1939 Spini 36/2.5 AL

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SHOES This invention relates to shoes. In particular it relates to casual, sport, athletic or like shoes including a specially constructed foam cushioning element as an ankle collar. Preferably, the cushioning element has elastic properties so as to firmly but lightly grip the wearers leg at approximately the ankle level.

It is known in the art to provide an elasticized ankle or leg portion in various items of footwear. Such constructions have been disclosed, for example, in boots (Miller U.S. Pat. No. 1,978,140), ladies shoes (Mitulski U.S. Pat. No. 2,274,085 and Simons et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,162,962), mocassins (Gustin U.S. Pat. No. 2,724,194), athletic shoes (Shapiro U.S. Pat. No. 2,945,309), and mens shoes (Richards U.S. Pat. No. 3,007,262). It has also been suggested by Johnston U.S. Pat. No. 2,540,531 to include an elastic foamed grommet in the upper part of a rubber boot. There are other similar footwear items including ankle collars or so-called cushioned or padded collars which have recently been commercially marketed.

It is an object of this invention to provide new and improved shoes including a specially constructed elastic ankle collar with cushioning foam therein. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a casual or sport shoe made in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial view in elevation of the inside of the shoe of FIG. 1 taken generally on line 33 of FIG. I;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 3.

The casual or sport shoe illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawing comprises the usual sole 11, upper 12, toe vamp l9, lacing stays 16 with eyelets l7, and heel stay or heel counter 14. lnstep patch 13 may be included if desired for decorative purposes.

According to the present invention the shoe also includes a collar, generally designated 15 attached to and extending around the periphery of the foot receiving upper opening. Preferably the upper 12 is so designed that the collar 15 will be located at approximately the ankle level of the wearers leg, just above or below his ankle bone protrusions.

As best seen in FIG. 2 the collar 15 comprises a generally P-shaped tubular element 21 which is filled with a cushioning foam material 22. The element 21 is formed from any suitable flexible material such as soft leather or a synthetic leatherlike material for example the now well known crinkle-leather plastic materials. The P-shaped element 21 may be made by wrapping a strip of such suitable flexible material about a rod, bar or other suitable piece of foam material 22 and securing together overlapped edges of the strip to form the leg section 23 of the P-shape. The overlapped edges may be secured together in any suitable manner as by heat sealing, stitching use of an appropriate glue or adhesive at the interface 24 (FIG. 4) or the like.

As seen in FIG. 3 the generally P-shaped element 21 is closed at its repsective ends 24 to wholly enclose foam material 22 therein.

The collar 15 is secured (e.g., stitched by stitching 20) to the inner side of the upper 12 with the foam containing hump section of the P-shaped element 21 facing inwardly towards the wearers leg. Preferably the lacing stays are secured (e.g., stitched by stitching l8) after the collar is secured thus doubly securing the collar ends 24 to the upper 12 as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Preferably collar 15, after it is secured to the top of upper 12, has sufficient elasticity to firmly but lightly grip or bear upon the leg of the wearer of shoe 10. Such elasticity may be imparted for example by shirring the flexible material which is used to form P-shaped element 2].

Shoes made in accordance with the present invention 4 may be low cut so that collar 15 is below the ankle bone protusions on the wearers leg or they may be high cut in which case the collar 15 will be above the wearers ankle bone protusions. These shoes may be athletic shoes, sports shoes, casual shoes, chukka-type shoes, or of any other like styling. They are quite comfortable. The cushioning ankle collar 15 provides light firm support without any scraping or other discomfort often found in previously known shoes having elastic ankle portions.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the design, construction, arrangement and method of assembly of the various elements employed in the shoes of this invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A shoe comprising an upper with an opening adapted to extend around a .wearers leg at approximately the ankle level and a separate collar extending around substantially the entire periphery of said opening; said collar comprising a closed generally P-shaped element composed of a flexible material having an upper generally tubular enlarged portion and superimposed depending leg portions, a cushioning foam material filling said tubular enlarged portion, and said collar being secured to the inside of the upper opening through the leg portions of the P-shaped element with the foam material filled tubular portion of the P-shape facing inwardly towards the wearers leg.

2. Shoe as defined in claim 1 including a tongue section comprising lacing stays stitched to the outside of the upper at the tongue section of the shoe with the stitching also extending through and doubly securing the respective closed ends of said collar.

3. Shoe as defined in claim 1 wherein the cushioning foam material is a polyurethane foam.

4. Shoe as defined in claim 1 wherein the P-shaped tubular element is composed of a synthetic leatherlike material two edges of which are overlapped and secured together to form the leg portions of the P-shaped element.

5. Shoe as defined in claim 1, said P-shaped element comprising a shirred flexible material imparting elasticity to said collar for lightly gripping the wearers leg.

Claims (5)

1. A shoe comprising an upper with an opening adapted to extend around a wearer''s leg at approximately the ankle level and a separate collar extending around substantially the entire periphery of said opening; said collar comprising a closed generally P-shaped element composed of a flexible material having an upper generally tubular enlarged portion and superimposed depending leg portions, a cushioning foam material filling said tubular enlarged portion, and said collar being secured to the inside of the upper opening through the leg portions of the Pshaped element with the foam material filled tubular portion of the P-shape facing inwardly towards the wearer''s leg.

2. Shoe as defined in claim 1 including a tongue section comprising lacing stays stitched to the outside of the upper at the tongue section of the shoe with the stitching also extending through and doubly securing the respective closed ends of said collar.

3. Shoe as defined in claim 1 wherein the cushioning foam material is a polyurethane foam.

4. Shoe as defined in claim 1 wherein the P-shaped tubular element is composed of a synthetic leatherlike material two edges of which are overlapped and secured together to form the leg portions of the P-shaped element.

5. Shoe as defined in claim 1, said P-shaped element comprising a shirred flexible material imparting elasticity to said collar for lightly gripping the wearer''s leg.

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