Shoe

Abstract

A shoe includes a sole, an upper coupled to the sole including a first end and second end opposite to the first end and a medial side and a lateral side opposite to the medial side. The upper includes a toe box at the first end of the upper, a vamp, and a collar. A zipper is coupled to the upper and structured to travel along a path beginning on the lateral side of the upper proximate the collar, continuing around and through the vamp, and terminating on the medial side of the upper. The zipper may also travel on a path beginning on the medial side of the upper proximate the collar, continuing around and through the vamp, and terminating on the lateral side of the upper. The path is spaced from the first end of the upper by the toe box and a portion of the vamp.

1 . A shoe, comprising:
 a sole;   an upper coupled to the sole, the upper having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, the upper further including a medial side and a lateral side opposite to the medial side, the upper including:
 a toe box at the first end of the upper; 
 a vamp including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the vamp coupled to the toe box; 
 a tongue coupled to the second portion of the vamp; 
 a collar coupled to the vamp; and 
 an opening through the upper, the collar extending around the opening; and 
   a zipper coupled to the upper and structured to travel along a path beginning on the lateral side of the upper proximate the collar, continuing around a portion of the tongue and through an interface between the first portion of the vamp and the second portion of the vamp, and terminating on the medial side of the upper, the path spaced from the first end of the upper by the toe box and the first portion of the vamp coupled to the toe box.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein the upper further includes an eyestay coupled to the second portion of the vamp. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe of  claim 2  further comprising:
 eyelets through the eyestay; and 
 a shoelace extending through the eyelets. 
 
     
     
         4 . The shoe of  claim 2  wherein the path of the zipper begins on the lateral side of the upper proximate the collar and continues along a quarter of the vamp below the eyestay on the lateral side of the upper. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein the path of the zipper extends on the medial side of the upper toward the collar before terminating on the medial side of the upper at a location closer to the toe box than the collar. 
     
     
         6 . A shoe, comprising:
 a sole;   an upper coupled to the sole, the upper having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, the upper further including a medial side and a lateral side opposite to the medial side, the upper including:
 a toe box at the first end of the upper; 
 a vamp including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the vamp coupled to the toe box; 
 a tongue coupled to the second portion of the vamp; 
 a collar coupled to the vamp; and 
 an opening through the upper, the collar extending around the opening; and 
   a zipper coupled to the upper and structured to travel along a path beginning on the medial side of the upper proximate the collar, continuing around a portion of the tongue and through an interface between the first portion of the vamp and the second portion of the vamp, and terminating on the lateral side of the upper, the path spaced from the first end of the upper by the toe box and the first portion of the vamp coupled to the toe box.   
     
     
         7 . The shoe of  claim 6  wherein the upper further includes an eyestay coupled to the second portion of the vamp. 
     
     
         8 . The shoe of  claim 7  further comprising:
 eyelets through the eyestay; and 
 a shoelace extending through the eyelets. 
 
     
     
         9 . The shoe of  claim 7  wherein the path of the zipper begins on the medial side of the upper proximate the collar and continues along a quarter of the vamp below the eyestay on the medial side of the upper. 
     
     
         10 . The shoe of  claim 6  wherein the path of the zipper extends on the lateral side of the upper toward the collar before terminating on the lateral side of the upper at a location closer to the toe box than the collar. 
     
     
         11 . A shoe, comprising:
 a sole;   an upper coupled to the sole, the upper having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, the upper further including a medial side and a lateral side opposite to the medial side, the upper including:
 a toe box at the first end of the upper; 
 a collar; 
 a vamp including a first portion coupled to the toe box and a second portion coupled to the collar, the vamp including an interface between the first portion and the second portion that is located closer to the toe box than the collar, the vamp having a lateral side and a medial side; and 
 an opening, the collar extending around the opening; and 
   a zipper coupled to the upper and structured to travel along a path beginning on the lateral side of the upper proximate the collar, continuing around the lateral side of the vamp and through the interface between the first portion of the vamp and the second portion of the vamp, and terminating on the medial side of the upper, the path spaced from the first end of the upper by the toe box and the first portion of the vamp.   
     
     
         12 . The shoe of  claim 11  wherein the upper does not include an eyestay, eyelets, or a shoelace. 
     
     
         13 . The shoe of  claim 11  wherein the path of the zipper extends on the medial side of the upper toward the collar before terminating on the medial side of the upper at a location closer to the toe box than the collar. 
     
     
         14 . A shoe, comprising:
 a sole;   an upper coupled to the sole, the upper having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, the upper further including a medial side and a lateral side opposite to the medial side, the upper including:
 a toe box at the first end of the upper; 
 a collar; 
 a vamp including a first portion coupled to the toe box and a second portion coupled to the collar, the vamp including an interface between the first portion and the second portion that is located closer to the toe box than the collar, the vamp having a lateral side and a medial side; and 
 an opening, the collar extending around the opening; and 
   a zipper coupled to the upper and structured to travel along a path beginning on the medial side of the upper proximate the collar, continuing around the medial side of the vamp and through the interface between the first portion of the vamp and the second portion of the vamp, and terminating on the lateral side of the upper, the path spaced from the first end of the upper by the toe box and the first portion of the vamp.   
     
     
         15 . The shoe of  claim 14  wherein the upper does not include an eyestay, eyelets, or a shoelace. 
     
     
         16 . The shoe of  claim 14  wherein the path of the zipper extends on the lateral side of the upper toward the collar before terminating on the lateral side of the upper at a location closer to the toe box than the collar.