Foldable footwear

Abstract

A foldable shoe having a sole comprises a forward sole portion extending from a front toe part of the shoe to an in-step part, a rear sole portion extending from a rear most part of the shoe to said in-step, said forward sole portion and said rearward sole portion co-operating to form a substantially continuous sole when the shoe is worn by a user; and said forward sole portion and said rearward sole portion being separable from each other when the sole is in a folded condition.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A foldable footwear shoe having a sole comprising:
 a forward sole portion extending from a front toe part of the shoe to an in-step part;   a rear sole portion extending from a rear most part of the shoe to said in-step;   said forward sole portion and said rearward sole portion co-operating to form a substantially continuous sole when the shoe is worn by a user; and   said forward sole portion and said rearward sole portion being separable from each other when the sole is in a folded condition;   wherein a front end of said rear sole portion and a rear end of said front sole portion remain unbonded to said flexible connecting member to allow a folding and a compression of said foldable footwear;   said sole remains in a folded condition of its own accord without the need for any restraint to prevent the sole from reverting to an extended or partially folded condition.   
     
     
         17 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said forward sole portion comprises a rearward edge positioned at said in-step part;
 said rearward sole portion having a forward edge positioned at said in-step part of said rear sole portion;   said forward edge of said rear sole portion and said rearward edge of said forward sole portion abutting each other when the shoe is in an extended position as worn on the users foot.   
     
     
         18 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the forward sole portion comprises a rear facing face positioned at a rearward portion of the forward sole. 
     
     
         19 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein
 the forward sole portion comprises a rearward facing face; and   the rear sole portion comprises a forward facing face,   wherein the forward facing face of the rear sole portion and the rearward facing face of the forward sole portion abut each other when the shoe is in an extended position; and   when the shoe is in a non extended, folded or partially folded condition, the forward facing face of the rear sole portion and the rearward facing face of the forward sole portion separate from each other.   
     
     
         20 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the forward sole portion and the rear sole portion are connected by a flexible connecting member, said flexible connecting member being bonded to a position of said rearward sole portion which lies inwardly of a periphery of the rearward sole portion by a length in a range 2 to 9 mm from a forward facing edge of the rear sole portion, there being a region of said rear sole portion which is overlaid by but not bonded to said connecting member when said sole is in an extended condition; and
 said flexible connecting member is bonded to the forward sole portion at a position near the rear of the forward sole portion, but lying inwardly of a periphery of the forward sole by distance in the range 2 to 9 mm, there being a region of said forward sole portion which is overlaid by but not bonded to said connecting member when said sole is in an extended condition.   
     
     
         21 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said forward sole portion and said rearward sole portion are connected to each other by virtue of a flexible upper and a flexible connecting sole member;
 said flexible upper is sufficiently flexible to allow said sole to fold over onto itself such that said forward sole portion overlies said rearward sole portion and said flexible upper is sandwiched there between;   said flexible connecting sole member extends over a forward region of the rear sole portion and over a rearward region of the forward sole portion and connects said forward sole portion, said rearward sole portion and said flexible upper.   
     
     
         22 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said forward sole portion is connected to said rear sole portion by a flexible connecting member which is flexible enough such that when said shoe adopts a folded over condition in which the forward sole portion overlies said rear sole portion, the sole remains in a folded condition of its own accord without the need for any restraint to prevent the sole from reverting to an extended or partially folded condition. 
     
     
         23 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 16  wherein each of said forward or rear sole portion is provided with a curved face for mating with a corresponding curved face of the other one of said forward or rear sole portion. 
     
     
         24 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 16  wherein each of said forward or rear sole portion is provided with a sawtooth like face for mating with a corresponding sawtooth like face of the other one of said forward or rear sole portion. 
     
     
         25 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 16  wherein each of said forward or rear sole portion is provided with one or a plurality of protrusions for engaging a corresponding recess on the other one of said forward or rear sole portions. 
     
     
         26 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 16  wherein said forward and rear sole portions are adapted to engage each other so that a front portion of said rear sole engages with a rear portion of said front sole to provide a substantially rigid joint between said front and rear sole portions when the sole portions are in extended condition for wearing said shoe.