Shoe

Abstract

A shoe is provided. Such shoe includes a sole member having a first predetermined size and a first predetermined shape. At least one upper member is operably connected to such sole member for releasably securing such shoe to a wearer's foot. At least one of a flexible portion, a stretchable portion, and a combination thereof forms at least one portion of such at least one upper member. Such at least one of such flexible portion, such stretchable portion, and such combination thereof is manufactured from a first predetermined material.

1 . A shoe comprising;
 a. a sole member having a first predetermined size and a first predetermined shape;   b. at least one upper member operably connected to said sole member for releasably securing said shoe to a wearer's foot; and   c. at least one of a flexible portion, a stretchable portion, and a combination thereof forming at least one portion of said at least one upper member, said at least one of said flexible portion, said stretchable portion, and said combination thereof being manufactured from a first predetermined material.   
   
   
       2 . A shoe according to  claim 1  wherein said upper member is operably connected to said sole member at a plurality of locations thereon. 
   
   
       3 . A shoe according to  claim 1  wherein a first predetermined edge of said upper member is connected to said sole member closely adjacent a first predetermined edge of said sole member. 
   
   
       4 . A shoe according to  claim 1  wherein said sole member further includes at least one of an insole, an outsole, a midsole, and a combination thereof. 
   
   
       5 . A shoe according to  claim 4  wherein said at least one of said flexible portion, said stretchable portion, and said combination thereof is connected at a first predetermined edge thereof to at least one of said insole, said outsole, said midsole, and a combination thereof. 
   
   
       6 . A shoe according to  claim 1  wherein said upper member further includes at least one of a toe covering portion, a heel covering portion, at least one side portion, and a combination thereof. 
   
   
       7 . A shoe according to  claim 1  wherein said shoe further includes a securing means operably connected to at least one of said sole member, said upper member, and a combination thereof for releasably securing said shoe to a wearer's foot. 
   
   
       8 . A shoe according to  claim 7  wherein said securing means includes at least one of a shoelace, a zipper, a hook and loop type securing means, a strap, a buckle, and a combination thereof. 
   
   
       9 . A shoe according to  claim 1  wherein said shoe further includes a heel member operably connected to a predetermined bottom portion of said sole member closely adjacent a predetermined end of said sole member, said heel member being manufactured from a second predetermined material and having a second predetermined size and a second predetermined shape. 
   
   
       10 . A shoe according to  claim 1  wherein said shoe further includes padding operably disposed at least one of on and within at least one of a first predetermined portion of said sole member, a first predetermined portion of said upper member, and a combination thereof, such padding having a third predetermined size and a third predetermined shape and a first predetermined thickness. 
   
   
       11 . A shoe according to  claim 1  wherein said first predetermined material is an elastomer. 
   
   
       12 . A shoe according to  claim 1  wherein said first predetermined material is at least one of mesh, fabric, lycra, nylon, and a combination thereof. 
   
   
       13 . A shoe according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one of said flexible portion, said stretchable portion, and said combination thereof is attached at a first side edge thereof to a cooperating portion of said upper member and wherein said at least one of said flexible portion, said stretchable portion, and said combination thereof is attached at a second side edge thereof to a cooperating portion of said sole member closely adjacent an edge thereof. 
   
   
       14 . A shoe according to  claim 1  wherein said upper member includes at least one strap type member for crossing over a predetermined top portion of a wearer's foot and wherein said at least one strap type member is connected at a first side edge thereof to a first side edge of said at least one of said flexible portion, said stretchable portion, and said combination thereof and wherein said at least one of said flexible portion, said stretchable portion, and said combination thereof includes a second side edge operably connected to said sole member closely adjacent an edge portion thereof. 
   
   
       15 . A shoe according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one of said flexible portion, said stretchable portion, and said combination thereof is attached at a first side edge thereof to said sole member at a first predetermined location thereon and wherein said at least one of said flexible portion, said stretchable portion, and said combination thereof is attached at a second side edge thereof to said sole member at a second predetermined location thereon, and wherein a semi-rigid portion of said upper member is disposed at least one of on and within said at least one of said flexible portion, said stretchable portion, and said combination thereof. 
   
   
       16 . A shoe comprising;
 a. a sole member including at least an insole portion and an outsole portion;   b. at least one flexible stretchable member operably connected to a predetermined portion of said sole member, said at least one flexible stretchable member being manufactured from a second predetermined material; and   c. at least one upper member operably connected to at least one of said sole member, said at least one flexible stretchable member, and a combination thereof for releasably securing said shoe to a wearer's foot, said at least one upper member being manufactured from a third predetermined material.   
   
   
       17 . A shoe comprising:
 a. a sole member having a first predetermined shape and a first predetermined size; and   b. at least one upper member operably connected to said sole member, such at least one upper member being manufactured from flexible stretchable material for enabling said at least one upper member to conform to a wearer's foot and for releasably securing said shoe to such wearer's foot.