Flexible shoe and container

Abstract

A pair of flexible shoes have an outer sole, a foam mid-sole, and an inner sole as well as an upper portion. Each of the shoes may be rolled or folded into a compact configuration and have a sandal configuration. The folded shoes may be stored in a container such as a pouch or case for convenient carrying, such as in the wearer's purse or handbag, for use upon need. For example, a wearer may want to change to more stylish and/or more comfortable shoes after work or to change to a pair of sandals after receiving a pedicure.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a left side view of an embodiment of the flexible shoe according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a right side view of an embodiment of the flexible shoe according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the flexible shoe shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a bottom side view of the flexible shoe shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a section view of the flexible shoe shown in FIG. 1, taken along the plane 5-5 as shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the flexible shoe of FIG. 1 shown folded into a compact configuration.

FIG. 7 is a left side view of the flexible shoe of FIG. 1 shown folded into a compact configuration.

FIG. 8A is a left side view of the flexible shoe of FIG. 1 shown in a rolled or curled-up configuration.

FIG. 8B is a perspective view of the flexible shoe of FIG. 1 in the rolled or curled-up configuration of FIG. 8A.

FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C are side views of a first preferred embodiment of a container in the form of a pouch with a drawstring for containing flexible shoes in accordance with the present invention. FIGS. 9A and 9B show the flexible shoe of FIG. 1 in hidden line as folded in the configuration of FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 9C shows the flexible shoe of FIG. 1 in hidden line as rolled in the configuration of FIGS. 8A and 8B.

FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C are perspective views of a second preferred embodiment of a container in the form of a zippered case for containing flexible shoes in accordance with the present invention. FIGS. 10A and 10B show the flexible shoe of FIG. 1 in hidden line as folded in the configuration of FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 10C shows the flexible shoe of FIG. 1 in hidden line as rolled in the configuration of FIGS. 8A and 8B.

FIG. 11 is a left side view of a second, dosed toe, embodiment of the flexible shoe according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the flexible shoe shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a front end view of the flexible shoe shown in FIG. 10.

Claims

1. A flexible shoe comprising: a sole having a longitudinal and transverse dimension sufficient to support the foot of a wearer and comprising: an outer sole comprising a sheet of a flexible material,a cushioning midsole connected to the upper surface of the outer sole,an upper portion in overlying relation to the insole for engaging a foot of a wearer;wherein the flexible shoe may be rolled up into a stored orientation.

2. The flexible shoe according to claim 1, wherein the outer sole has a front portion and a rear portion joined by an intermediate portion, and the stored orientation comprising the outer sole being folded at the intermediate portion so that the front and rear portions are in substantially overlying relation to one another.

3. The flexible shoe according to claim 1, wherein the outer sole is uniformly flexible and the stored orientation comprises a rolled-up configuration.

4. The flexible shoe according to claim 1 wherein the outer sole has a thickness in the range of two to five millimeters.

5. The flexible shoe according to claim 1 wherein the outer sole has a thickness in the range of one to twenty millimeters.

6. The flexible shoe according to claim 1 wherein the cushioning midsole is adhered to an upper surface of the outer sole.

7. The flexible shoe according to claim 1 wherein the cushioning midsole is made of foam.

8. The flexible shoe according to claim 1 wherein the midsole has a thickness in the range of three to five millimeters.

9. The flexible shoe according to claim 1 wherein the midsole has a thickness in the range of one to fifteen millimeters.

10. The flexible shoe according to claim 1 further comprising an insole overlying the midsole.

11. The flexible shoe according to claim 10 wherein the insole is made of a fabric.

12. The flexible shoe according to claim 1 wherein the insole is connected to the upper surface of the outer sole at a periphery thereof.

13. The flexible shoe according to claim 1 wherein the upper portion is attached to the outer sole.

14. The flexible shoe according to claim 1 wherein the upper portion comprises a strap attached at two ends thereof to the outer sole and an intermediate portion of the strap is in overlying relation to the midsole.

15. The flexible shoe according to claim 15 wherein the upper portion further comprises a second strap attached at one end thereof to the outer sole in spaced relationship to the ends of the first strap and at an other end to the first strap.

16. The flexible shoe according to claim 1 wherein the upper portion defines a dosed end for receiving the front of the foot of a wearer.

17. The flexible shoe according to claim 2 wherein the upper portion is above the front portion of the outer sole and in spaced relation to the rear portion of the outer sole to substantially define a sandal configuration.

18. A footwear kit comprising: a flexible shoe comprising: a sole having a longitudinal and transverse dimension sufficient to support the foot of a wearer and comprising: an outer sole comprising a sheet of a flexible material,a cushioning midsole connected to the upper surface of the outer sole, andan upper portion in overlying relation to the insole for engaging a foot of a wearer;wherein the flexible shoe may be rolled up into a stored orientation; anda container disposed to receive the flexible shoe when in the stored orientation and maintain the flexible shoe in the stored orientation.

19. The footwear kit according to claim 18 further comprising an additional flexible shoe wherein the flexible shoes comprise a pair of flexible shoes for the two feet of a wearer.

20. The footwear kit according to claim 18 wherein the container is a pouch having a compartment and an opening, the opening being secured by a drawstring.

21. The footwear kit according to claim 18 wherein the container is a case having a compartment and an opening, the opening being secured by a zipper.

22. A flexible shoe comprising: a sole having a longitudinal and a transverse dimension sufficient to support the foot of a wearer and comprising: an outer sole for contacting the ground having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a periphery, the outer sole being made of a flexible sheet;a cushioning foam midsole connected to the upper surface of the outer sole; andan insole overlying the cushioning midsole and connected to the periphery of the outer sole;an upper portion attached at ends thereof to the outer sole in overlying relation to the insole for engaging a foot of a wearer;wherein the flexible shoe has a predetermined flexibility whereby the flexible shoe may be rolled up into a storage orientation.