Shoe with collapsible upper

Abstract

A shoe includes a sole and a collapsible upper attached to the sole. The upper includes a vamp portion to be worn around the toes and forepart of a foot of a wearer, a heel portion to be worn adjacent the heel of the wearer, side portions provided between the vamp portion and the heel portion to be worn adjacent the sides of the foot of the wearer, and insets, at least one inset being provided between each side portion and the heel portion of the upper. The insets are made of a thin, flexible material which can be easily folded to allow the vamp portion, side portions and heel portion of the upper to collapse onto the sole when not being worn.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A shoe, comprising: 
 a sole; and    a collapsible upper attached to the sole, the upper including a vamp portion to be worn around the toes and forepart of a foot of a wearer, a heel portion to be worn adjacent the heel of the wearer, side portions provided between the vamp portion and the heel portion to be worn adjacent the sides of the foot of the wearer, and insets, at least one inset being provided between each side portion and the heel portion of the upper, the insets being made of a thin, flexible material which can be easily folded to allow the vamp portion, side portions and heel portion of the upper to collapse onto the sole when not being worn.    
     
     
         2 . The shoe according to  claim 1 , further comprising an additional inset between each side portion and the vamp portion of the upper, the additional insets being made of a thin, flexible material which can be easily folded to assist folding of the vamp portion and side portions of the upper.  
     
     
         3 . The shoe according to  claim 1 , further comprising a tongue having a front portion attached to a rear portion of the vamp.  
     
     
         4 . The shoe according to  claim 3 , further comprising a pocket provided in the tongue and a bag provided in the pocket, the bag being foldable to be stored within the pocket and of sufficient size when unfolded to fit at least one shoe within the bag.  
     
     
         5 . The shoe according to  claim 4 , wherein the bag is attached to the tongue in the pocket.  
     
     
         6 . The shoe according to  claim 4 , wherein the bag includes a closure element.  
     
     
         7 . The shoe according to  claim 6 , wherein the closure element is a drawstring.  
     
     
         8 . The shoe according to  claim 4 , further comprising an additional inset between each side portion and the vamp portion of the upper, the additional insets being made of a thin, flexible material which can be easily folded to assist folding of the vamp portion and side portions of the upper.  
     
     
         9 . The shoe according to  claim 4 , further comprising lace retainers provided at an upper portion of each side portion of the upper for retaining a shoe lace over the tongue.  
     
     
         10 . The shoe according to  claim 9 , wherein at least some of the lace retainers comprise hooks.  
     
     
         11 . The shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein the vamp, the heel, and the side portions of the upper include a lining and an outer layer.  
     
     
         12 . The shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein at least the outer layer of the vamp, the heel, and the side portions of the upper are made of leather.  
     
     
         13 . The shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein inserts are made of a material selected from the group consisting of nylon, elastic, mesh fabric and silk.  
     
     
         14 . The shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein inserts are made of rip stock nylon.  
     
     
         15 . The shoe according to  claim 2 , wherein inserts and additional inserts are made of a material selected from the group consisting of nylon, elastic, mesh fabric and silk.  
     
     
         16 . The shoe according to  claim 2 , wherein inserts and additional inserts are made of rip stock nylon.  
     
     
         17 . The shoe according to  claim 8 , wherein inserts and additional inserts are made of a material selected from the group consisting of nylon, elastic, mesh fabric and silk.  
     
     
         18 . The shoe according to  claim 8 , wherein inserts and additional inserts are made of rip stock nylon.  
     
     
         19 . The shoe according to  claim 4 , wherein bag is made of nylon.  
     
     
         20 . A shoe, comprising: 
 a sole;    an upper attached to the sole, the upper including a vamp portion to be worn around the toes and forepart of a foot of a wearer, a heel portion to be worn adjacent the heel of the wearer, side portions provided between the vamp portion and the heel portion to be worn adjacent the sides of the foot of the wearer the vamp portion, side portions and heel portion of the upper being collapsible onto the sole when not being worn;    a tongue having a front portion attached to a rear portion of the vamp, the tongue including a pocket within the tongue; and    a bag provided in the pocket, the bag being foldable to be stored within the pocket and of sufficient size when unfolded to fit at least one shoe within the bag.    
     
     
         21 . The shoe according to  claim 20 , wherein the bag is attached to the tongue in the pocket.  
     
     
         22 . The shoe according to  claim 20 , wherein the bag includes a closure element.  
     
     
         23 . The shoe according to  claim 22 , wherein the closure element is a drawstring.