Footwear for infants

Abstract

Footwear for infants including a sole, a heel support extending above the sole and around a rear portion of the footwear, sidewalls attached to the sole and disposed along the sides of the footwear for supporting the sides of the infant's foot when held within the footwear. A front portion disposed in the front of the footwear and pivotable about the front of the footwear. The footwear can be configured in an open configuration when the front portion is pivoted about the front of the footwear and away from the sidewalls and a closed configuration when the front portion is pivoted about the footwear and toward the sidewalls thereby securing the foot of an infant therein. Two folds in the shoe can include opposing magnetic closure parts disposed thereon. The folds can include an upper-most fold, a middle fold, and a lower-most fold.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Footwear for infants, comprising:
 a sole;   a heel support extending above the sole and around a rear portion of the footwear;   sidewalls attached to the sole and disposed along the sides of the footwear for supporting the sides of the infant's foot when held within the footwear; and   a front portion disposed in the front of the footwear and pivotable about the front of the footwear, the front portion configured to cover the top of the infants foot when disposed therein.   
     
     
         2 . Footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the footwear is configured in an open configuration when the front portion is pivoted about the front of the footwear and away from the sidewalls. 
     
     
         3 . Footwear according to  claim 2 , wherein the footwear is further configured in a closed configuration when the front portion is pivoted about the footwear and toward the sidewalls thereby securing the foot of an infant therein. 
     
     
         4 . Footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the closing portion is attached to the sidewalls and includes multiple folds disposed along the sides of the nose portion. 
     
     
         5 . Footwear according to  claim 4 , wherein two of the folds include opposing magnetic closure parts disposed thereon. 
     
     
         6 . Footwear according to  claim 4 , wherein the folds include an upper-most fold, a middle fold, and a lower-most fold. 
     
     
         7 . Footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the closing portion extends from a midpoint of the footwear to the front of the footwear such that in an open position of the footwear substantially the entire front of the interior of the shoe is exposed. 
     
     
         8 . Footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the closing portion includes a closed toe portion covering the toes of a foot when disposed therein. 
     
     
         9 . Footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the closing portion includes an open toe portion uncovering the toes of a foot when disposed therein. 
     
     
         10 . Footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the closing portion and/or heel portion comprises a thermoplastic rubber material. 
     
     
         11 . Footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the closing portion and/or heel portion comprises leather, cloth and/or vinyl. 
     
     
         12 . A shoe for infants according to  claim 11 , wherein the shoe is equal to or less than 4.125 inches in length. 
     
     
         13 . A shoe for infants, the shoe providing improved access to the interior of the shoe when placed on a foot of the infant, comprising:
 a sole defining an outer periphery of the shoe;   a heel portion extending around the rear of the shoe; and   a front portion, the front portion including a magnetic closure mechanism disposed in opposing sides of the shoe.   
     
     
         14 . A shoe for infants as described in  claim 13 , the shoe further comprising:
 the front portion being attached to a front of the sole such that the front portion is pivotable thereto.   
     
     
         15 . A shoe for infants according to  claim 14 , wherein the front portion includes multiple folds in the sides thereof, the folds having a collapsed and folded position when the magnetic closure mechanism is connected and an open unfolded position when the magnetic closure mechanism is released. 
     
     
         16 . A shoe for infants according to  claim 15 , wherein the material of the front portion of the shoe for infants urges the front of the shoe into the collapsed and folded position. 
     
     
         17 . A shoe for infants according to  claim 15 , wherein the folds are unfolded in the open position allowing the interior of the shoe to be substantially fully accessible for placement of a foot of the infant therein. 
     
     
         18 . A shoe for infants according to  claim 13 , wherein the shoe is equal to or less than 4.125 inches in length. 
     
     
         19 . A shoe for infants, comprising:
 a sole disposed at a bottom of the shoe;   a heel support disposed at a rear of the shoe and comprising a foam rubber material;   sides disposed along opposing sides of the shoe and comprising the foam rubber material;   a front portion comprising the foam rubber material, the front portion being pivotally connected to a front of the shoe so as to provide access to substantially all of the interior of the shoe when pivoted into an open position and temporarily secure a foot of an infant therein when pivoted into a closed position.   
     
     
         20 . A shoe for infants according to  claim 19 , further comprising a magnetic closure mechanism for retaining the front portion in the closed position, wherein the front portion includes folds defined by seams there between, the foam rubber of the folds having material characteristics urging the front portion into the closed position.