An Article of Footwear The present invention relates to articles of
footwear and particularly, but not exclusively, to articles of footwear known as pram boots which are small boots worn by babies, often in prams.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an article of footwear having a flexible sole and a flexible upper which define therebetween a foot receiving volume, the upper having a forward section and a heel section which is at least partially separated from the forward section on the inner and outer sides such that the heel section can be folded downwardly relative to the sole about the junction between the sole and the heel section to enable a foot to be inserted from the rear and upwardly to enclose the foot in the foot receiving chamber.
Preferably the heel section overlaps a rear marginal portion of the forward section of the upper and also the overlapping marginal portions extend generally perpendicular to the sole. In preferred arrangements the upper extends upwardly in use to above the ankle bone. Ideally the upper free edges of the forward section and of the heel section are aligned and are substantially parallel to the sole and the overlapping marginal portions pass over the region of the ankle bone in use.
Normally the sole is formed from the same material as the upper.
Conveniently the sole and the two sections of the upper are formed from leather panels and the leather panels are stitched together.
The invention also provides an article of footwear as described in combination with a sock, the sock in use being folded over the uppermost marginal section of the upper of the article of footwear.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of applying to a foot an article of footwear having a flexible sole and a flexible upper which define therebetween a foot receiving volume, the upper having a forward section and a heel section which is at least partially separated from the forward section on the inner and outer sides such that the heel section can be folded downwardly relative to the sole about the junction between the sole and the heel section to enable a foot to be inserted from the rear and upwardly to enclose the foot in the foot receiving chamber, the method comprising the steps of: - folding downwardly the heel section of the upper - inserting a foot dressed with a sock into the article of footwear - folding upwardly the heel section of the upper - folding the upper margin of the sock down over the outside of the upper marginal portions of the forward and heel sections of the upper.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in more detail. The description makes reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a foot and a sock, Figure 2 shows a socked foot and an article of footwear according to the present invention in an open condition, Figure 3 shows the article of footwear of figure 2 in a partially closed condition around the socked foot, Figure 4 shows the article of footwear in a closed condition with the sock in the process of being folded over, and Figure 5 shows the sock fully folded over the top of the article of footwear.
The figures illustrate a pram boot 10 together with a baby's foot 11 and a sock 12 having an elasticated cuff 13 at its top margin. In figure 1, the foot 11 is shown prior to insertion into the sock 12.
Figure 2 shows the boot 10. The boot 10 has a sole 14 and an upper comprising a forward section 15 and a heel section 16. The sole 14, forward section 15 and heel section 16 are each made of a soft, flexible material, ideally leather. The forward section 15 and the heel section 16 are stitched to the sole 14, the forward extremities of the heel section 16 on the inner and outer sides of the boot 10 being separate from and overlapping the rearward extremities of the forward section 15 at 17.
Together, the sole 14 and upper define a foot receiving volume within.
The heel section 16 can be folded downwardly about its junction with the sole 14, as shown in figure 2, to allow insertion of the socked foot 18 from the rear of the boot 10.
Figure 3 shows the socked foot 1 8 inserted into the rear of the pram boot 10 with the heel section 16 being folded back about its junction with the sole 14 toward its closed condition. The closed condition is shown in figure 4, with the upper edges 19 of the forward and heel sections 15, 16 being substantially aligned and parallel to the sole 14. The forward edges 20 of the heel section 16 are forward of the rear edges 21 of the forward section so as to form an overlap over the heel bone area on each side of the foot. This overlap can actually provide extra protection for a vulnerable part of the foot.
The cuff 13 of the sock is then folded over the upper edges 19 of the upper so as to cover a top marginal portion of the upper as shown in figure 5. The cuff 13 therefore acts to retain the pram boot 10 in its closed condition, the boot itself incorporating no traditional fastening means.
The pram boot 10 is simple to make and, in preferred embodiments, is made only from stitched leather although other materials could be used. The actual dimensions, shape and geometry of the article of footwear can of course be varied from that shown in the drawings without departing from the scope of the attached claims.