A Self-Assembled Shoe and A Method of Manufacturing Thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to a self-assembled shoe and a method of manufacturing thereof. The self-assembled shoe comprises one or more locking systems for connecting a shoe base with one or more shoe components. The locking system is manually releasable upon actuation by a user at an actuating portion of the shoe base, and is substantially covered from view from an exterior of the shoe when assembled. The locking system further comprises an actuator arranged to be in direct contact with a medium of shoe base at the actuating portion, such that actuation at the actuating portion of the shoe base is directly transmissible through the shoe base medium to the actuator of the locking system to thereby actuate the locking system. The invention also relates to a covering member adapted to substantially cover one or more recesses defined by a female locking member of the locking system for the self-assembled shoe as described above. The covering member comprises one or more extensions configured to conform with the respective one or more recesses thereby, when the covering member is arranged to engage the female locking member, the one or more extensions are receivable by the respective one or more recesses to substantially cover the one or more recesses.

1 . A self-assembled shoe comprising:
 one or more locking systems for connecting a shoe base with one or more shoe components, the locking system being manually releasable upon actuation by a user at an actuating portion of the shoe base, and is substantially covered from view from an exterior of the shoe when assembled;   wherein the locking system comprises an actuator arranged to be in direct contact with a medium of shoe base at the actuating portion, such that actuation at the actuating portion of the shoe base is directly transmissible through the shoe base medium to the actuator of the locking system to thereby actuate the locking system.   
     
     
         2 . The self-assembled shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking system is actuatable by applying pressure at the actuating portion of the shoe base. 
     
     
         3 . The self-assembled shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking system when locked is located near a peripheral edge of the shoe base; and the actuating portion is located at the peripheral edge of the shoe base adjacent the locking system. 
     
     
         4 . The self-assembled shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking system comprises a male locking member and a female locking member releasably connectable with each other, with one of the male and female locking members being arranged at the shoe base, and the other one being arranged at the shoe component; wherein the locking member arranged at the shoe base is accessible from a surface of the shoe base adjacent a sole of the user when in use. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The self-assembled shoe according to  claim 4 , wherein the female locking member comprises a recess for receiving an arm of the male locking member. 
     
     
         8 . The self-assembled shoe according to  claim 7 , wherein the female locking member comprises a stopping means adapted to engage the arm of the male locking member; wherein at least one of the stopping means of the female locking member and the arm of the male locking member is resilient. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The self-assembled shoe according to  claim 8 , wherein the actuator is arranged at the female locking member, the actuator, when actuated, is adapted to flex at least one of the stopping means of the female locking member and the arm of the male locking member to thereby disengage the male and the female locking members. 
     
     
         11 . The self-assembled shoe according to  claim 4 , wherein the female locking member and the male locking member each comprises a plurality of teeth members for engaging with one another. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The self-assembled shoe according to  claim 7 , wherein the arm of the male locking member is arranged such that it receives partially the actuator when the male locking member engages the female locking member. 
     
     
         14 . The self-assembled shoe according to  claim 4 , wherein the female locking member comprises a base member for anchoring the locking system at the medium of the shoe base. 
     
     
         15 . The self-assembled shoe according to  claim 14 , wherein the base member comprises one or more extended portions, at least one of the extended portions comprises a hollow space adapted to allow the medium of the shoe base to pass through. 
     
     
         16 . The self-assembled shoe according to  claim 4 , wherein the female locking member comprises one or more connecting means engaging portions adapted to engage one or more respective connecting means for connecting the female locking member at the shoe base. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A covering member adapted to substantially cover one or more recesses defined by a female locking member of a locking system for a self-assembled shoe in accordance with  claim 1 , the covering member comprising:
 one or more extensions configured to conform with the respective one or more recesses thereby, when the covering member is arranged to engage the female locking member, the one or more extensions are receivable by the respective one or more recesses to substantially cover the one or more recesses.   
     
     
         19 . The covering member according to  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the one or more extensions comprises one or more leg members insertable into the respective recess to engage a neck portion of the actuator of the lock system. 
     
     
         20 . The covering member according to  claim 19 , wherein the one or more leg members are configured substantially in a U-shape to surround at least partially the neck portion. 
     
     
         21 . A method of manufacturing a self-assembled shoe, comprising steps of:
 providing a mold for molding a shoe base;   arranging a female locking member at the mold;   covering substantially one or more recesses defined by the female locking member;   introducing a molding material into the mold with the female locking member arranged therein, such that, when the molding material is solidified to form the shoe base, the female locking member is incorporated into the molding material of the shoe base.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the covering step comprises releasably engaging a covering member with the female locking member, the covering member comprising one or more extensions receivable into the respective one or more recesses to thereby substantially cover the one or more recesses. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 21 , further comprising a step of uncovering the one or more recesses after the molding material is solidified. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the arranging step comprises positioning the female locking member near a side wall of the mold such that, when the shoe base is formed, the female locking member is incorporated near an inner peripheral edge of the shoe base, but not at said peripheral edge such that the female locking member is covered from view by the material of the molded shoe base when viewed from an exterior surface of said peripheral edge. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 21 , further comprising a step of connecting a male locking member with a shoe component such that the shoe base and the shoe component are connectable by engaging the female locking member with the male locking member. 
     
     
         28 . (canceled)