GB2320884A - Shoe fastening - Google Patents

Abstract

A shoe has two fastening straps (4, 6) spaced along the shoe and each having hook and loop fastening means (10, 11). In order to increase the comfort for the wearer, the straps (4, 6) are anchored (5, 7) on opposite sides (2, 3) of the shoe so as to fasten the shoe from opposite sides.

Description

Shoe The present invention relates to a shoe, preferably a child's shoe.

It is known to use straps having hook and loop fastenings, commonly known as VELCRO (Registered Trade Mark), to fasten children's shoes.

Typically, two straps are provided spaced along the shoe, the two straps being anchored on one side of the shoe and extending across the shoe to be insertable through respective loops on the opposite side of the shoe. Each strap is then folded back across itself so as to engage the hook and loop fastenings. Alternatively each strap extends across the shoe to contact a tab fixed on the other side of the shoe. The straps carry the hooks or loops on the underside of each strap, and the tabs carry the loops or hooks on the upper surface of each tab.

Such fastenings are simple even for very young children. However, they can cause unequal stresses across the child's foot.

The present invention provides a shoe as claimed in claim 1.

The provision of anchorings on opposite sides of the shoe, ie "left/right", "right/left" strap configuration, helps to equalise the tension of the straps, and therefore make the shoe more comfortable to the wearer.

The invention will now be described with reference to an embodiment shown by way of example in plan view in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing, a child's shoe has a tongue 1 and two opposed side flaps 2, 3. A front strap 4 is anchored at one end 5 thereof to the left-hand flap 2, and a rear strap 6, spaced rearwardly from and substantially parallel to the front strap 4, is fixed at one end 7 thereof to the flap 3 on the right-hand side of the shoe. It is possible for the straps to be reversed, ie the end 5 of the strap 4 could be anchored to the right-hand flap 3, and the end 7 of the rear strap 6 anchored to the left-hand flap 2.

Both straps 4, 6 pass through loops 8, 9 on the respective opposite flap, ie the strap 4 anchored to the left-hand flap 2 passes through the loop 8 on the right-hand flap 3, and the strap 6 anchored to the right-hand flap3 passes through the loop 9 on the left-hand flap 2. The loops 8, 9 may be made from plastics material or even metal.

It can been seen from the drawing that each strap 4, 6 has a hooks portion 10 and a loops portion 11.

In use, the straps 4, 6 are pulled through the loops 8, 9 to the required tightness for the wearer and the ends of the straps extending through the loops are then folded back towards the respective anchorings 5, 7 so that the loops portion 11 of each strap engages over the respective hooks portion 10 to fasten the shoe. The shoe is unfastened by reversing these steps.

As an alternative, it is possible to replace the loops 8, 9 by tabs (not shown) fixed to the respective flap. The tabs would be provided with hooks or loops to engage corresponding loops or hooks on the underside of the respective strap 4, 6. How the straps are fastened and unfastened on the respective opposite flap is not important, the essential feature being that the straps are anchored on opposite sides of the shoe. This helps to equal out the tension in the straps 4, 6 and increase the comfort for the wearer.

Although the above embodiment has been described with reference to a child's shoe, the invention may be applied to shoes for adults, particularly the elderly or infirm where laces or buckle fastenings are unsuitable.

Claims (4)

Claims:

1. A shoe having two fastening straps spaced along the shoe and each having hook and loop fastening means, wherein the straps are anchored on opposite sides of the shoe so to fasten the shoe from opposite sides.

2. A shoe as claimed in Claim 1, wherein each strap is insertable through a loop fixed to the respective opposite side of the shoe and foldable back on itself in the direction of the respective anchoring to engage the hook and loop fastening means.

3. A shoe as claimed in Claim 2, wherein each strap has a hooks portion adjacent the respective anchoring and a loops portion further along the strap.

4. A shoe substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.