Shoe

Abstract

A shoe including a sole to which is joined a flexible upper having two overlapping flap members. The flap members engage each other by securely resting one on top of the other to form a vamp covering the front portion of a wearer's foot. The flap members disengage to expose the entire interior length of the sole. The preferred closure means is hidden inside the layers of the flexible upper and is made of an elastomeric material capable of returning to one or more original shapes after being stretched or deformed.

1 . A shoe comprising:
 a sole; and   a flexible upper having two overlapping flap members that form a vamp in a closed state and an opening in an open state,   wherein the flexible upper is affixed to the sole at an anterior end, a posterior end and perimeter edges of the sole between the anterior and posterior ends.   
   
   
       2 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the opening formed in the open state exposes an interior surface of the sole extending from the anterior end to the posterior end. 
   
   
       3 . The shoe of  claim 2 , wherein a wearer's foot can be inserted into the shoe without any sliding movement. 
   
   
       4 . The shoe of  claim 3 , wherein as the wearer's foot is inserted into the shoe, at least one of the wearer's toes is exposed in the open state. 
   
   
       5 . The shoe of  claim 4 , wherein the two overlapping flap members engage each other in the closed state in which one overlapping flap member securely rests on top of the other via a closure means. 
   
   
       6 . The shoe of  claim 5 , wherein the closure means is a member of the group consisting of Velcro, lace, pull string, or strap. 
   
   
       7 . The shoe of  claim 5 , wherein the closure means is made of an elastic material capable of returning to an original shape after being stretched and is embedded in the flexible upper. 
   
   
       8 . The shoe of  claim 7 , wherein the closure means is a wire-shaped elastomer and its original shape retains the shoe in the closed state. 
   
   
       9 . The shoe of  claim 7 , wherein the closure means is a ribbon-shaped elastomer and its original shape retains the shoe in the closed state. 
   
   
       10 . The shoe of  claim 5 , wherein the closure means is a bi-stable flexure capable of switching between and holding either of a first or a second original shapes, and wherein the flexure retains the shoe in the open state in its first original shape and retains the shoe in the closed state in its second original shape. 
   
   
       11 . The shoe of  claim 10 , wherein the closure means has two side panels each is embedded within one of the two overlapping flap members. 
   
   
       12 . A closure means for a shoe, comprising an elastic material embedded in a flexible upper and capable of returning to an original shape after being stretched, wherein the original shape retains the shoe in a closed state. 
   
   
       13 . The closure means of  claim 12 , wherein the elastic material is a wire-shaped elastic element. 
   
   
       14 . The closure means of  claim 12 , wherein the elastic material is a ribbon-shaped elastic element. 
   
   
       15 . A closure means for a shoe, comprising a flexure material embedded in a flexible upper and capable of switching between and holding either of a first or a second original shapes, wherein the flexure retains the shoe in an open state in its first original shape and retains the shoe in a closed state in its second original shape. 
   
   
       16 . A shoe comprising a shoe sole made from a thermoplastic elastomer, the shoe sole having a thickness of at least 0.2 centimeters. 
   
   
       17 . The shoe of  claim 16 , wherein the thermoplastic elastomer is a Cellomer™ TPE, and the thickness of the shoe sole is from about 0.3 centimeters to about 1.3 centimeters. 
   
   
       18 . The shoe of  claim 17 , wherein the thickness of the shoe sole is about 0.3 centimeters. 
   
   
       19 . The shoe of  claim 17 , wherein the thickness of the shoe sole is about 0.5 centimeters. 
   
   
       20 . The shoe of  claim 17 , wherein the thickness of the shoe sole is about 1.3 centimeters.