Variable width footwear

Abstract

An adjustable width shoe system includes an upper, a sock liner adhesively attached to an insole, the insole attached to the upper and a removable footbed configured to be inserted into an interior volume of the upper and over a foot support surface of the sock liner. The removable footbed has a second periphery substantially commensurate with the first periphery of the sock liner and a second foot support surface smaller than the first support surface of the sock liner. The sock liner and upper together define an interior volume for receiving a wearer's foot.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An adjustable width shoe system comprising: 
 an upper having an insole attached thereto;    a sock liner attached to the insole, the sock liner and upper together defining an interior volume for receiving a wearer's foot, and having a first foot support surface and a first periphery; and    a removable footbed configured to be inserted into said interior volume and over the foot support surface of the sock liner, the removable footbed having a second periphery substantially commensurate with the first periphery of the sock liner and a second foot support surface smaller than the first support surface of the sock liner.    
     
     
         2 . The shoe system of  claim 1  wherein the removable footbed includes an outer peripheral wall extending substantially upwardly and outwardly, the outer peripheral wall defining a contoured second foot support surface.  
     
     
         3 . The shoe system of  claim 2  wherein the interior cavity of the shoe is smaller by one width.  
     
     
         4 . The shoe system of  claim 2  wherein the removable footbed has a first thickness at an arch region of the removable bed and a second thickness at a front end of the removable footbed wherein first thickness is larger than second thickness.  
     
     
         5 . The shoe system of  claim 2  wherein the lateral width of the shoe interior volume is reduced.  
     
     
         6 . The shoe system of  claim 1  wherein a bottom surface of the sock liner includes a non-slip surface.  
     
     
         7 . The shoe system of  claim 1  wherein an upper surface of the sock liner is finished.  
     
     
         8 . The shoe system of  claim 1  wherein an upper surface of the removable footbed is finished.  
     
     
         9 . A method for adjusting the width of a shoe of the type including an upper, a sock liner attached to an insole, the insole attached to the upper, the sock liner and upper together defining an interior volume for receiving a wearer's foot, the sock liner having a first foot support surface and a first periphery, the method comprising inserting a removable footbed into the interior volume and over the foot support surface of the sock liner, the removable footbed having a second periphery substantially commensurate with the first periphery of the sock liner and a second foot support surface smaller than the first support surface of the sock liner.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising forming the removable footbed with a contoured second foot support surface defined by an outer peripheral wall extending substantially upwardly and outwardly.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the interior cavity of the shoe is smaller by one width.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the removable footbed has a first thickness at an arch region of the removable bed and a second thickness at a front end of the removable footbed wherein first thickness is larger than second thickness.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the lateral width of the shoe interior volume is reduced.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising providing a non-slip surface on a bottom surface of the sock liner.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising finishing an upper surface of the sock liner.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising finishing an upper surface of the removable footbed.