Granted Patent B2

US 7,146,751 · App. 10/803,569 · Granted Dec 12, 2006

Abstract

Claims (18)

1. A piece of footwear comprising;

a sole;

an upper portion extending from the sole, wherein to upper portion is adapted to cover to top of a user's foot, and wherein the upper portion includes a rear opening for receiving the user's foot;

a pair of connectors rotatably coupled to the upper portion on opposite sides of the opening, wherein each of the connectors includes an aperture;

a strap operably coupled to the upper portion, wherein the strap is configured to be positioned across the rear opening to engage the back of the user's foot, and wherein the strap is constructed of a lofted foam material and has a pair of ends;

at least one adjustment mechanism that is interactable with the connector and the strap to adjust the position of the strap relative to the back of the user's foot, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises at least one strip of material that is different from the lofted, foam material and connected to the strap so as to have a pair of free ends that extend beyond each end of the strap;

wherein the upper portion and the sole are formed as a first part molded from a first continuous piece of lofted foam material; and

wherein the strap is attached to the connectors, with the ends of the strip of material passing through the aperture in each connector and then folding back on itself.

2. A piece of footwear as in claim 1 , wherein the adjustment mechanism further comprises a coupling arrangement to couple the free end of the strip of material to the strap.

3. A piece of footwear as in claim 2 , wherein the coupling arrangement comprises a plurality of snaps.

4. A piece of footwear as in claim 2 , wherein the coupling arrangement comprises a hook and loop fastener material.

5. A piece of footwear comprising:

a sole constructed of a moldable foam material;

an upper portion integrally form with the sole which is constructed of the same moldable foam material, wherein the upper portion is adapted to cover the top of a user's foot, and wherein the upper portion includes a rear opening for receiving the user's foot;

a pair of connectors rotatably coupled to the upper portion on opposite sides of the opening, wherein each of the connectors includes an aperture;

a strap forming a heel piece that is configured to be positioned across the rear opening to engage the back of the user's foot, wherein the heel piece is constructed of a lofted foam material and has pair of ends;

a pair of strips that comprise a hook and loop fastener material coupled to and extending from each end of the strap; and

wherein the strips extend through the apertures in the connectors and then fold back on themselves, whereby the heel piece is angularly movable relative to the upper portion, and whereby the position of the heel piece relative to the user's foot may be adjusted by altering how the strips are folded back on themselves.

Assignments (10)