US4476639A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
No lace shoe with adjustable strap fastening mechanism
Assignee: INVENTOR'S TECHNOLOGY Corp
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Filing: 1983-07-28
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Granted: 1984-10-16
•
Expires: 2003-07-28
Abstract
Abstract A shoe with an adjustable strap fastening mechanism having a pull strap which is secured at one end to the insole of the shoe and disposed in wrap-around fashion about a wearer's foot from one side over the instep and the dorsum of the foot to the opposite side, and then beneath the wearer's foot through the structure of the shoe to a hook and pile fastening assembly. The pull strap may be pulled, and thereby cinched about the wearer's foot, to a desired comfortable tautness which is adjustable, which secures the shoe to the wearer's foot and which provides adjustable arch support.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary S. Zaccaria
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 23:13
CPC Classifications
A; A43; A43C; A43C11/00; A43B; A43B7/00; A43B7/14; A43B7/1495; A43C11/14; A43C11/1493; A43C7/00; A43C7/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
A shoe having an upper, an insole and an outer sole, comprising: fastening means for securing a wearer's foot within the shoe having first and second members which join in locking engagement; said first member connected to the shoe upper; and an adjustable strap fastener for supporting and securing the wearer's foot within the shoe and having said second member connected thereto proximate to a fastening end of said strap fastener; said strap fastener comprising: a pull strap having a connecting end attached to the insole of the shoe and a distal end proximate to said fastening end of said adjustable strap fastener; said pull strap disposed to encircle the wearer's foot in a wrap-around manner by passing from one side of the foot over the instep to the opposite side of the foot, then by passing through the structure of the shoe subtending the foot, and by exiting the shoe for connecting said first and second members of said fastening means in locking engagement; and adjustment means for adjusting the tautness of said pull strap about the wearer's foot to provide adjustable support to the arch of the foot.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
190 words
A shoe having an upper, an insole and an outer sole, comprising: fastening means for securing a wearer's foot within the shoe having first and second members which join in locking engagement; said first member connected to the shoe upper; and an adjustable strap fastener for supporting and securing the wearer's foot within the shoe and having said second member connected thereto proximate to a fastening end of said strap fastener; said strap fastener comprising: a pull strap having a connecting end attached to the insole of the shoe and a distal end proximate to said fastening end of said adjustable strap fastener; said pull strap disposed to encircle the wearer's foot in a wrap-around manner by passing from one side of the foot over the instep to the opposite side of the foot, then by passing through the structure of the shoe subtending the foot, and by exiting the shoe for connecting said first and second members of said fastening means in locking engagement; and adjustment means for adjusting the tautness of said pull strap about the wearer's foot to provide adjustable support to the arch of the foot.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 1 wherein the shoe further comprises a "v" cut section extending from the collar of the upper of the shoe which facilitates insertion of the wearer's foot into the shoe.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 2 having a plurality of said "v" cut sections.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 2 wherein said "v" cut section is disposed proximate to the crest of the instep of the upper of the shoe.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 2 wherein said "v" cut section is disposed proximate to a side of the upper of the shoe.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 2 wherein a resilient member is interposed between and connected to the opposite edges of said "v" cut section thereby imparting resilience to the collar of the upper of the shoe.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 2 wherein said pull strap passes from the interior to the exterior of the shoe through said "v" cut section prior to passing through the structure of the shoe subtending the wearer's foot.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 2 wherein said pull strap passes within the upper of the shoe and traverses through said "v" cut section when passing from one side of the foot over the instep to the opposite side of the foot.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pull strap is resilient.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fastening means comprises a hook and pile fastening mechanism.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 10 wherein said first member of said fastening means is a hook member and said second member of said fastening means is a pile member of said hook and pile fastening mechanism.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 11 wherein said hook member is attached to the upper of the shoe to define a pass-through pocket between said hook member and the upper of the shoe through which said pull strap slidably passes before passing through the structure of the shoe subtending the wearer's foot.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pull strap is within the upper of the shoe when passing from one side of the foot over the instep to the opposite side of the foot.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 13 further comprising a casing enclosed about a portion of said pull strap intermediate of said connecting end and said distal end; said casing for reducing the wear on the upper of the shoe caused by the tightening and loosening of said pull strap during use of the shoe.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 14 wherein said casing comprises a first casing member and a second casing member in slidably overlapping engagement whereby said casing slidably increases and decreases in length when said pull strap is tightened or loosened.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 15 wherein said pull strap is resilient.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pull strap is exterior to the upper of the shoe when passing from one side of the foot over the instep to the opposite side of the foot.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 17 wherein said pull strap is resilient.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 1 wherein said adjustment means comprises a resilient portion of said pull strap.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
48 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 1 wherein said adjustment means comprises an arrangement by which said first and second members of said fastening means may be joined in locking engagement in a plurality of positions thereby enabling the adjustment of the length of said pull strap.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 20 wherein said arrangement is a hook and pile fastening assembly.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a channel disposed within the outer sole of the shoe through which said pull strap passes when passing through the structure of the shoe subtending the wearer's foot.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 22 wherein said channel has an entrance opening and an exit opening through the insole of the shoe.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
171 words
An ajustable strap fastening mechanism for securing and supporting a wearer's foot within a shoe which has an upper, an insole and an outer sole, comprising: fastening means for securing the foot within the shoe having first and second members which join in locking engagement; said first member being connected to the shoe upper; a pull strap having a connecting end attached to the insole of the shoe and a fastening end; said second member being connected to said pull strap proximate to said fastening end; said pull strap disposed to encircle the wearer's foot in a wrap-around manner by passing from one side of the foot over the instep to the opposite side of the foot, then through the structure of the shoe subtending the foot, and by exiting the shoe for connecting said first and second members of said fastening means in locking engagement; and adjustment means for adjusting the tautness of said pull strap about the wearer's foot to provide adjustable support to the arch of the foot.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
171 words
An ajustable strap fastening mechanism for securing and supporting a wearer's foot within a shoe which has an upper, an insole and an outer sole, comprising: fastening means for securing the foot within the shoe having first and second members which join in locking engagement; said first member being connected to the shoe upper; a pull strap having a connecting end attached to the insole of the shoe and a fastening end; said second member being connected to said pull strap proximate to said fastening end; said pull strap disposed to encircle the wearer's foot in a wrap-around manner by passing from one side of the foot over the instep to the opposite side of the foot, then through the structure of the shoe subtending the foot, and by exiting the shoe for connecting said first and second members of said fastening means in locking engagement; and adjustment means for adjusting the tautness of said pull strap about the wearer's foot to provide adjustable support to the arch of the foot.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
An adjustable strap fastening mechanism as set forth in claim 24 wherein said fastening means comprises a hook and pile fastening mechanism.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
42 words
An adjustable strap fastening mechanism as set forth in claim 25 wherein said first member of said fastening means is a hook member and said second member of said fastening means is a pile member of said hook and pile fastening mechanism.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
57 words
An adjustable strap fastening mechanism as set forth in claim 26 wherein said hook member is attached to the upper of the shoe to define a pass-through pocket between said hook member and the upper of the shoe through which said pull strap slidably passes before passing through the structure of the shoe subtending the wearer's foot.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
40 words
An adjustable strap fastening mechanism as set forth in claim 24 wherein said pull strap is within the upper of the shoe when passing from one side of the foot over the instep to the opposite side of the foot.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
59 words
An adjustable strap fastening mechanism as set forth in claim 28 further comprising a casing enclosed about a portion of said pull strap intermediate of said connecting end and said distal end; said casing for reducing the wear on the upper of the shoe caused by the tightening and loosening of said pull strap during use of the shoe.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
45 words
An adjustable strap fastening mechanism as set forth in claim 29 wherein said casing comprises a first casing member and a second casing member in slidably overlapping engagement whereby said casing slidably increases and decreases in length when said pull strap is tightened or loosened.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
17 words
An adjustable strap fastening mechanism as set forth in claim 30 wherein said pull strap is resilient.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
41 words
An adjustable strap fastening mechanism as set forth in claim 24 wherein said pull strap is exterior to the upper of the shoe when passing from one side of the foot over the instep to the opposite side of the foot.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
An adjustable strap fastening mechanism as set forth in claim 32 wherein said pull strap is resilient.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
23 words
An adjustable strap fastening mechanism as set forth in claim 24 wherein said adjustment means comprises a resilient portion of said pull strap.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
51 words
An adjustable strap fastening mechanism as set forth in claim 24 wherein said adjustment means comprises an arrangement by which said first and second members of said fastening means may be joined in locking engagement in a plurality of positions thereby enabling the adjustment of the length of said pull strap.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
21 words
An adjustable strap fastening mechanism as set forth in claim 35 wherein said arrangement is a hook and pile fastening assembly.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
40 words
An adjustable strap fastening mechanism as set forth in claim 24 further comprising a channel disposed within the outer sole of the shoe through which said pull strap passes when passing through the structure of the shoe subtending the foot.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
28 words
An adjustable strap fastening mechanism as set forth in claim 37 wherein said channel has an entrance opening and an exit opening through the insole of the shoe.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-10-16 | 1988-04-16 | 1988-10-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-10-16 | 1992-04-16 | 1992-10-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-10-16 | 1996-04-16 | 1996-10-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |