U.S. patent application number 10/712864 was filed with the patent office on 2004-07-08 for footwear component system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Blue Marble Gear, LLC. Invention is credited to Hong, Steven M., Horn, M. Coleman.
Application Number | 20040128863 10/712864 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32313002 |
Filed Date | 2004-07-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040128863 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hong, Steven M. ; et
al. |
July 8, 2004 |
Footwear component system
Abstract
A shoe has a sandal and a removable bootie. The sandal is
provided with at least one adjustable strap for securing the sandal
about a wearer's foot and includes an outsole. The removable bootie
is adapted to cover the wearer's foot and includes a sole, the
removable bootie may be provided with an attachment system such as
laces or straps for securing the bootie about the foot. The sandal
and the bootie are configured to cooperate with each other so that
when the bootie is inserted into the sandal and secured therein,
the sandal and bootie combination results in the shoe, and wherein
the sandal and the bootie can be worn independently of each
other.
Inventors: |
Hong, Steven M.; (West
Islip, NY) ; Horn, M. Coleman; (San Francisco,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MERCHANT & GOULD PC
P.O. BOX 2903
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55402-0903
US
|
Assignee: |
Blue Marble Gear, LLC
11 Gate Lane
West Islip
NY
11795
|
Family ID: |
32313002 |
Appl. No.: |
10/712864 |
Filed: |
November 12, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60425514 |
Nov 12, 2002 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/100 ; 36/10;
36/11.5; 36/55 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 3/242 20130101;
A43B 13/12 20130101; A43B 3/24 20130101; A43B 19/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
036/100 ;
036/011.5; 036/010; 036/055 |
International
Class: |
A43B 003/10; A43B
017/00 |
Claims
1. A component footwear system comprising: a shoe comprising a
sandal and a removable bootie, said sandal being provided with
means for securing said sandal about a wearer's foot and including
an outsole; said removable bootie being adapted to cover said
wearer's foot and including a sole, said removable bootie being
provided with means for securing said bootie about said foot; said
sandal and said bootie being configured to cooperate with each
other so that when said bootie is inserted into said sandal and
secured therein, said sandal and bootie combination results in said
shoe, and wherein said sandal and said bootie can be worn
independently.
2. A component footwear system according to claim 1, wherein said
sandal is open toed.
3. A component footwear system according to claim 1, wherein said
sandal is further provided with toe protection means.
4. A component footwear system according to claim 1, wherein said
means for securing said sandal about said foot of said wearer
includes at least one adjustable strap.
5. A component footwear system according to claim 1, wherein said
sandal further includes a heel support portion.
6. A component footwear system according to claim 4, wherein said
sandal further includes a heel strap.
7. A component footwear system according to claim 1, wherein said
means for securing said bootie about said foot of said wearer
includes laces.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to footwear, and more
particularly, to footwear that can be converted to accommodate
different purposes.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0002] As with apparel, footwear is usually designed for the
specific purpose for which it is to be used, which results in a
great variety of footwear: dress shoes, casual shoes, sports shoes
(of which there are further variations depending on the sport),
sandals, etc. This results in a person having many different pairs
of shoes for different requirements.
[0003] Some people have been concerned with this, and have offered
some solutions in terms of increasing the utility of a particular
item of footwear. For example, reference may be made to U.S. Pat.
No. 4,706,392, which teaches an interchangeable shoe and slipper
combination.
[0004] Other solutions have been directed to changing the
appearance of the footwear itself, such as US patent application
publication no. 2002/0174569 to Tsai, which teaches a shoe with
interchangeable styles.
[0005] However, there are situations where the versatility of the
footwear could be increased.
[0006] For example, in the camping industry, hiking shoes are known
which offer full support and full protection from the elements. As
mentioned previously, sandals also exist which offer great
ventilation and comfort. For many trips or expeditions, the need
for at least these two pairs of footwear is required, in
anticipation of the environmental and weather conditions. Carrying
many different pairs of footwear increases the size and load that a
traveler must carry, which can become a considerable burden,
especially when luggage is hand- or back-carried.
[0007] In order to respond to this specific problem, products exist
that attempt to bridge two footwear needs in a same piece of
footwear. One is a hiking sandal (as opposed to a shoe), allowing
for great ventilation and having a rugged sole for grip. Another is
a light hiking shoe, offering more support and protection.
[0008] While these products can touch upon all the functions for
the different needs of a traveler, they represent compromises to
having one piece of footwear dedicated to one set of environmental
conditions. For example, hiking sandals will offer great
ventilation but will be lacking support and protection for the
foot.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
footwear component system which is more versatile. In accordance
with the invention, this object is achieved with a component
footwear system comprising:
[0010] a shoe comprising a sandal and a removable bootie,
[0011] said sandal being provided with means for securing said
sandal about a wearer's foot and including an outsole;
[0012] said removable bootie being adapted to cover said wearer's
foot and including a sole, said removable bootie being provided
with means for securing said bootie about said foot;
[0013] said sandal and said bootie being configured to cooperate
with each other so that when said bootie is inserted into said
sandal and secured therein, said sandal and bootie combination
results in said shoe, and wherein said sandal and said bootie can
be worn independently.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The present invention and its advantages will be more easily
understood after reading the following non-restrictive description
of preferred embodiments thereof, made with reference to the
following drawings in which:
[0015] FIGS. 1a to 6c are respectively side views of shoes, booties
and sandals according to different embodiments of the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0016] The present invention concerns a component footwear system
which will protect a barefoot from the ground, is versatile in that
it can be used in many different environments or situations,
reduces the weight that a traveler must carry and reduces the
baggage that a traveler must carry.
[0017] Stated simply, the present invention provides for a shoe
whose bootie, or upper, is removable, leaving behind a sandal. The
sandal is adapted to be independently secured to a wearer's foot.
The bootie on the other hand is adapted to cover a wearer's foot,
and to be secured to the foot. The sandal and bootie are further
adapted to cooperate together to form the shoe when the bootie is
inserted into the sandal.
[0018] Thus, the present invention provides footwear that is
versatile in that the sandal and the bootie can be used
independently or together as a shoe. The sandal provides an
open-air, high ventilation piece of footwear, whereas the bootie
provides some form of protection, and the assembled shoe has all of
the features of a traditional shoe, such as heel support, arch
support, etc. The present invention provides for a three-in-one
footwear component system that increases the versatility without
the increased weight and size of three separate pieces of
footwear.
[0019] It should be understood however, that the sandal, although
preferably open-air, may also be a more closed component, again
depending on the end use of the footwear component system.
[0020] It will be understood by persons skilled in the art that
reference is made herein only to the parts of footwear or shoes
that are necessary for the understanding of the present invention,
and that a detailed description of all of the parts of footwear
will not be presented herein. It will also be understood in the
present description that the expressions "footwear" and "shoe" are
interchangeable, and encompass all types of shoes or footwear that
can be covered by the teachings of the present invention.
Furthermore, the expression "upper" and "bootie" are
interchangeable, as will be seen hereinafter.
[0021] Referring now to the Figures, there is shown a component
footwear system according to the present invention.
[0022] As mentioned previously, the present invention concerns a
shoe which includes a sandal and a removable bootie.
[0023] The sandal 10 has a sole 13 that is adapted to meet the
needs of the shoe. As is typical in sandals, the sandal 10 of the
present invention has a generally open top construction, an
integral foot bed and is provided with means 11 for securing the
sandal 10 to a wearer's foot. In a preferred embodiment of the
invention, the means 11 for securing the sandal 10 to the wearer's
foot include at least one adjustable strap, through clasps,
buckles, Velcro.TM., etc. However, it will be understood that
different means are contemplated by the present invention, and
could include laces, elastic bands, etc.
[0024] The sandal 10 is further provided with a heel portion 15 to
provide some form of heel support. In this case, or independently,
the sandal can also be provided with an ankle strap 17 or heel
strap. The sandal also includes arch support means integrally
moulded to the insole.
[0025] The bootie 20 is adapted to cover a wearer's foot, and can
advantageously cover the wearer's ankle.
[0026] The bootie 20 is provided with a sole 21 so that the bootie
completely covers the wearer's foot. The sole is preferably shaped
and sized to conform to the bottom of the foot of the wearer, and
is preferably made as thin as possible. Thus, the bootie 20 can be
used as a slipper, for example, indoors, in an airplane or a
vehicle. The thinness of the sole of the bootie is such that the
assembled shoe is not too bulky, but means that in most cases, the
bootie is not intended for more rugged use. However, this
limitation may disappear with the use of different materials and a
different construction of the sole.
[0027] The bootie 20 may further include means 23 for securing the
bootie to a wearer's foot, such as laces, adjustable straps,
Velcro.TM., etc. Again, a variety of different means 23 can be
used, and are within the scope of the present invention, and
includes the bootie being made of a resilient material which
envelops the foot of the wearer. The bootie 20 can be made of any
material, but is preferably of a construction which is sturdy
enough to provide for foot protection, and support.
[0028] As mentioned previously, the sandal 10 and bootie 20
cooperate together so that when the bootie is inserted into the
sandal, the combination forms a shoe, thereby offering grip, foot
support, lateral support, stability, ankle support and protection.
The shoe, depending on its intended use and activity, may also
provide flexibility, cushioning, etc.
[0029] In this respect, it may be advantageous to have the means
for securing the sandal to a wearer's foot cooperate with
corresponding grooves 31 or indentations on the outside of the
bootie, as shown in FIG. 4. This reduces the overall bulk and size
of the shoe, and may further secure the bootie within the sandal.
It should be noted that the groove can also be obtained by using
different materials, for example a thicker material for the bootie
itself, and a mesh material where the groove is to be.
[0030] In this respect, the inside of the sandal is shaped and
sized to receive the bootie in a snug manner. Consequently, the
bootie and the sandal are adapted to engage each other to help
prevent longitudinal and lateral movement. In some cases, the
bootie and the sandal can further be provided with interlocking
means to secure the bootie within the sandal.
[0031] When the bootie is inserted into the sandal, the means for
securing the sandal to the foot of the wearer are thus used to
secure the bootie to the sandal. In some embodiment, it may be
advantageous to provide additional means to secure the bootie to
the sandal.
[0032] Examples of the use of the shoe of the present invention
include a hiker driving to destination wearing only the bootie. At
destination, the hiker slips into the sandal in order to form the
shoe for the hiking activity. After the activity, the hiker can
remove the shoe and wear the sandal to let the foot breathe.
Another example includes an air traveler wearing the shoe to get to
the airport. Once aboard the plane, the wearer removes the sandal
and wears only the bootie. At destination, the shoe can be worn, or
just the sandal.
[0033] It will also be appreciated that although the present
invention is easily applicable to sports or activity shoes, the
present invention is applicable to many different types of shoes,
with the appropriate modifications.
[0034] Although the present invention has been explained
hereinabove by way of a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be
pointed out that any modifications to this preferred embodiment
within the scope of the appended claims is not deemed to alter or
change the nature and scope of the present invention.
* * * * *