Adjustable Shoes

Abstract

An adjustable shoe having an extendible heel and flexible sole section is provided. In some embodiments, the flexible sole section can comprise one, two or even three or more layers. Where multiple layers are included, the sole can comprise a flexible spacer layer comprising neoprene or other flexible material(s), and another layer including an accordion-like material that can collapse or extend depending on desired arches.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An adjustable shoe, comprising:
 a sole coupled to a heel;   wherein the heel is configured to adjust between a first extended position and a second retracted position via an adjustment mechanism; and   wherein the sole comprises a toe end and a heel end, and a flexible mid-portion disposed between the toe end and the heel end.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the heel comprises a housing portion adjustably coupled to a telescoping portion, and wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises an adjustment screw. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe of  claim 2 , wherein the heel further comprises an outer heel, and wherein the housing portion is disposed therein via a plurality of anchoring tabs that maintain a position of the housing portion within the outer heel. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe of  claim 2 , wherein the adjustment screw is affixed within a lumen of the housing portion, and wherein the adjustment screw mates with at least a first threading affixed within a lumen of the telescoping portion. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe of  claim 4 , wherein the sole comprises an opening that aligns with the adjustment screw, and is sized and dimensioned to receive a key. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe of  claim 5 , wherein a rotation of the key in a first direction causes the telescoping portion to at least partially retract within the housing portion, and wherein a rotation of the key in a second direction causes the telescoping portion to at least partially extend from the housing portion. 
     
     
         7 . The shoe of  claim 3 , further comprising a material having an adjustable length that is coupled to a lower portion of the telescoping portion and an upper portion of the shoe. 
     
     
         8 . The shoe of  claim 7 , wherein the upper portion of the shoe comprises at least one of (a) an upper of the shoe, (b) the sole, and (c) an upper portion of the outer heel. 
     
     
         9 . The shoe of  claim 8 , wherein the upper of the shoe comprises at least one of a counter, a feather, a quarter, a throat, a topline, a vamp, and a welt. 
     
     
         10 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the sole comprises a plurality of layers, and wherein at least one of the layers comprises a first accordion section at the flexible mid-portion. 
     
     
         11 . The shoe of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the layers comprises a mid-portion having less rigidity than a material composing the toe end and the heel end. 
     
     
         12 . The shoe of  claim 11 , wherein the flexible mid-portion is made of neoprene. 
     
     
         13 . The shoe of  claim 10 , wherein the first accordion section comprises or is coupled with a second accordion section having a second plurality of pleats folding in a direction substantially orthogonal to a folding of a first plurality of pleats of the first accordion section. 
     
     
         14 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the heel comprises a housing portion and a telescoping portion, and wherein the housing portion comprises a slot sized and dimensioned to receive a protrusion of the telescoping portion to prevent a rotation of the telescoping portion relative to the housing portion. 
     
     
         15 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein a first length of the heel at the extended position is at least one inch greater than a second length of the heel at the retracted position. 
     
     
         16 . The shoe of  claim 15 , wherein the second length is at least two inches. 
     
     
         17 . The shoe of  claim 15 , wherein the first length is at least two inches greater than the second length. 
     
     
         18 . The shoe of  claim 7 , wherein the telescoping portion is coupled to a rubber end piece, and wherein the outer material is coupled to an area between the telescoping portion and the rubber end piece. 
     
     
         19 . The shoe of  claim 2 , wherein the housing portion comprises a spacer sized and dimensioned to receive at least a portion of an adjustment screw to thereby maintain a spacing between at least a portion of the adjustment screw and an inner wall of the housing portion. 
     
     
         20 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible mid-portion comprises a pleated material that is coupled to or includes a pleated mid-portion of an upper of the shoe.