Automatic girth adjustable shoes

Abstract

Shoe constructions which automatically adjust the effective girth of a shoe to enable the shoe to change in girth throughout a day in accordance with changes in a wearer's foot, including along the upper and lower side edges of the ball, waist, and instep of the wearer.

1 . An automatically girthwise adjustable shoe having an upper, a lining, and bottom elements, a foot support surface, and an elastic means connected on each side of the shoe upper and providing automatic adjustment of the effective girth of the shoe to allow a comfortably contacting fit to the foot of the wearer throughout a day. 
     
     
         2 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein the elastic means is connected to fabric interlining panels. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe construction of  claim 1 , wherein the interlining panels cause contact of the shoe lining to the lower sides of the foot of a wearer. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe construction of  claim 1 , wherein the foot is transversely centered in the shoe at all girth adjustments thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe construction of  claim 1 , wherein the girth ratio at the ball, waist and instep portions of the shoe automatically adjust to those of the foot of the wearer. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe construction of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic means is located along the shoe centerline from the heel of the shoe to about the instep. 
     
     
         7 . The shoe construction of  claim 6 , wherein the elastic means is connected to a saddle panel at the waist and instep on each side of the shoe. 
     
     
         8 . The shoe construction of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic means is located along the shoe centerline. 
     
     
         9 . The shoe construction of  claim 8 , wherein the elastic means is located from the heel of the shoe to about the instep. 
     
     
         10 . The shoe construction of  claim 8 , wherein the elastic means is located from the toe of the shoe to about the instep. 
     
     
         11 . A shoe construction having a midportional transverse elastic fabric element which extends within a shoe from (i) about a topline at the waist area of a first side of the shoe, (ii) under a foot support surface having a width equal to or less than the narrowest foot for which the shoe is intended, and (iii) ending at about a topline at the waist area on a second side of the shoe, which elastic fabric element automatically adjusts the effective girth of a shoe to provide continuous automatic adjustment of the effective girth of the shoe along the lower side edges of a foot to comfortably fit the foot of a wearer throughout a day. 
     
     
         12 . The shoe construction of  claim 11 , wherein the midportional transverse elastic fabric element is further attached to the shoe along the length of the center of the shoe. 
     
     
         13 . The shoe construction of  claim 11 , wherein the midportional transverse elastic fabric element is comprised of 2 or more narrower fabric elements which are not lengthwise connected to each other. 
     
     
         14 . The show construction of  claim 11 , wherein the midportional transverse elastic fabric element is extendable by at least 2 inches. 
     
     
         15 . A shoe construction having an upper, a stretch lining, interlining bottom elements, and an elastic fabric element attached to the upper of the shoe which provides automatic adjustment of the effective girth of the shoe to allow the shoe lining to provide a comfortably contacting fit of the shoe to the upper and lower side edges of the foot of the wearer. 
     
     
         16 . The shoe construction of  claim 15 , wherein the foot is held relatively transversely centered in the shoe at all girth adjustments thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The shoe construction of  claim 15 , wherein the effective girth ratio of the ball, waist, and instep portion of the shoe automatically adjust to those of the foot of the wearer. 
     
     
         18 . The shoe construction of  claim 15 , wherein the effective girth adjustments of the shoe is limited in the extent thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The shoe construction of  claim 15 , wherein the elastic means provide about 1 to 4 pounds of tension to each side of the midportion of the shoe. 
     
     
         20 . The shoe construction of  claim 15  wherein the elastic means extend longitudinally along the loose insole of the shoe.