Methods and systems for adjustable shoes

Abstract

Methods and systems for adjustable footwear are described. The present disclosure describes footwear systems that include a midsole assembly and an axially adjustable shell. The midsole assembly includes an upper midsole component and a lower midsole component. The upper midsole component is configured to engage with one or more connection locations to interlock the upper midsole component and the lower midsole component at a variety of relative locations. Accordingly, a length of the midsole assembly is formed by the interlocking of the upper midsole component to the lower midsole component based on the relative interlock locations. The footwear system further includes an outer shell having a concertinaed pattern, where the midsole assembly is configured to expand or contract the outer shell axially to accommodate a size of the midsole assembly (e.g., where the outer shell is configured to expand or contract around a shape of the midsole assembly).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An adjustable shoe, comprising:
 a midsole assembly, comprising:
 a first piece including at least one first piece connection component; and 
 a second piece including a second piece connection component having at least one connection location, wherein the first piece is removably connected to the second piece by disengageably locking each of the at least one first piece connection component to the second piece at one of the at least one connection location; and 
   a shell including a sole, wherein the sole is axially adjustable along a length of the sole, wherein when the midsole assembly is placed inside the shell, the shell is axially adjustable to fit a length of the midsole assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The adjustable shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the first piece is an upper midsole component and the second piece is a lower midsole component. 
     
     
         3 . The adjustable shoe of  claim 2 , wherein the upper midsole component includes an elastic section. 
     
     
         4 . The adjustable shoe of  claim 3 , wherein the elastic section is located between two stationary sections of the upper midsole component. 
     
     
         5 . The adjustable shoe of  claim 2 , wherein the lower midsole component includes a forefoot component and a heel component. 
     
     
         6 . The adjustable shoe of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one first piece connection component is a connecting piece, and wherein the at least one connection location is a plurality of connection locations, and wherein the forefoot component and the heel component are connected by the connecting piece locking with one of the plurality of connection locations. 
     
     
         7 . The adjustable shoe of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 wherein a thickness of the upper midsole component is tapered from a forefoot of the shoe to a hindfoot of the shoe, and wherein a thickness of the lower midsole component is tapered from the hindfoot of the shoe to the forefoot of the shoe and the lower midsole component subducts under the upper midsole component.   
     
     
         8 . The adjustable shoe of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 wherein the at least one upper midsole component connection component comprises a plurality of pairs of transverse flexible flaps, wherein each pair of transverse flexible flaps comprises a medial side flap and a lateral side flap, and wherein the plurality of pairs of transverse flexible flaps are spaced along a longitudinal axis of the upper midsole component so as to form a plurality of pairs of transverse slots.   
     
     
         9 . The adjustable shoe of  claim 7 , wherein the lower midsole component connection component comprises two holes at one connection location. 
     
     
         10 . The adjustable shoe of  claim 7 , further comprising a string for disengageably locking the upper midsole component to the lower midsole component via the holes and one pair of transverse slots. 
     
     
         11 . The adjustable shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the shell includes an upper section that is axially adjustable along a length of the upper section. 
     
     
         12 . The adjustable shoe of  claim 11 , wherein the upper section includes a concertinaed pattern. 
     
     
         13 . The adjustable shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first piece connection component is a snap hook and the at least one connection location is a plurality of connection locations, wherein each connection location is a cutout. 
     
     
         14 . The adjustable shoe of  claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one first piece connection component and the second piece connection component are selected from the group consisting of snap hooks, Velcro, magnets, screws, pins, clasps, buckles, adhesive, button snaps, hook and loop fasteners, pressure snaps, zippers, laces, string, and interlocking tabs. 
     
     
         15 . An adjustable shoe system comprising:
 a first midsole component comprising a first connecting portion;   a second midsole component comprising a second connecting portion;   wherein the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are configured to engage to interlock the first midsole component and the second midsole component at a variety of relative locations, whereby a midsole assembly having a length is formed by the interlocking of the first midsole component to the second midsole component; and   an outer shell having a concertinaed pattern, wherein the midsole assembly is configured to expand or contract the outer shell axially to accommodate a size of the midsole assembly, and wherein the outer shell is configured to expand or contract around a shape of the midsole assembly.   
     
     
         16 . The adjustable shoe system of  claim 15 , wherein the outer shell comprises an upper section and a sole section, both having the concertinaed pattern. 
     
     
         17 . The adjustable shoe system of  claim 15 , wherein the outer shell comprises an upper section and a sole section, wherein the outer shell is configured to expand or contract axially via a plurality of cuts in the upper section and in the sole section. 
     
     
         18 . The adjustable shoe system of  claim 15 , wherein the outer shell comprises an upper section and a sole section, wherein the outer shell is configured to expand or contract axially via an elastic material in the upper section and in the sole section. 
     
     
         19 . The adjustable shoe system of  claim 18 , wherein the sole section further comprises a plurality of evenly-spaced blocks connected to the elastic material. 
     
     
         20 . The adjustable shoe system of  claim 15 , wherein the outer shell further comprises a plurality of straps configured to adjust a fit of the shoe system to a user's foot. 
     
     
         21 . The adjustable shoe system of  claim 15 , wherein the first midsole component and the second midsole component are removably insertable into the outer shell. 
     
     
         22 . The adjustable shoe system of  claim 15 , wherein the first midsole component and the second midsole component are attached to the outer shell via glue, stitching, welding, or other common attachment methods. 
     
     
         23 . The adjustable shoe system of  claim 15 , wherein the first midsole component and the second midsole component are manufactured using compression molding, injection molding, or 3D printing. 
     
     
         24 . The adjustable shoe system of  claim 15 , wherein the outer shell is shaped like a sneaker, sandal, or other common shoe types. 
     
     
         25 . A method of making an adjustable shoe system:
 providing a first midsole component comprising a first connecting portion;   providing a second midsole component comprising a second connecting portion;   configuring the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion to engage to interlock the first midsole component and the second midsole component at a variety of defined relative locations, whereby a midsole assembly having a length is formed by the interlocking of the first midsole component to the second midsole component;   providing an outer shell having a concertinaed pattern;   configuring the midsole assembly to expand or contract the outer shell axially to accommodate a size of the midsole assembly; and   configuring the outer shell to expand or contract around a shape of the midsole assembly.   
     
     
         26 . A method of using an adjustable shoe, comprising the steps of:
 providing a midsole assembly, comprising a first piece including at least one first piece connection component and a second piece including a second piece connection component having at least one connection location, wherein each of the at least one connection location is disengageably lockable with one of the at least one first piece connection component;   connecting the first piece to the second piece by locking one of the at least one first piece connection component with the second piece connection component at one of the at least one connection location;   providing a shell including a sole, wherein the sole is axially adjustable along a length of the sole;   placing the midsole assembly inside the shell; and   axially adjusting the shell to fit the length of the midsole assembly.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one connection location comprises a plurality of connection locations, further comprising the steps of:
 unlocking the one of the at least one first piece connection component from the one of the plurality of connection locations;   disconnecting the first piece from the second piece; and   reconnecting the first piece to the second piece by locking the one of the at least one first piece connection component a different one of the plurality of connection locations, whereby the length of the midsole assembly is changed.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one first piece connection component comprises a plurality of pairs of transverse flexible flaps, wherein each pair of transverse flexible flaps comprises a medial side flap and a lateral side flap, wherein the plurality of pairs of transverse flexible flaps are spaced along a longitudinal axis of the first piece so as to form a plurality of pairs of transverse slots, wherein the adjustable shoe further comprises a flexible line;
 wherein the step of connecting the first piece to the second piece by locking one of the at least one first piece connection component with the second piece connection component at one of the at least one connection location further comprises the flexible line disengageably locking the one of the at least one connection location with one of the plurality of pairs of transverse slots, wherein the method further comprises the step of:   maneuvering the flexible line from the one of the plurality of pairs transverse slots, around at least one pair of transverse flexible flaps, and to a difference pair of the plurality of pairs of transverse slots, whereby a length of the midsole assembly is adjusted.