U.S. patent application number 12/188081 was filed with the patent office on 2009-02-12 for footwear with detachable straps.
Invention is credited to Deirdre Loughnane.
Application Number | 20090038181 12/188081 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40345154 |
Filed Date | 2009-02-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090038181 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Loughnane; Deirdre |
February 12, 2009 |
FOOTWEAR WITH DETACHABLE STRAPS
Abstract
A footwear with detachable straps having a sole member shaped
like a foot with a toe portion and a heel portion, at least one
strap member with at least two end portions, a toe separation
member, and at least one attachment device which allows wearers to
easily detach the strap member and ether reverse and reattach the
same strap member or attach an entirely different strap member to
the sole member to provide a myriad of different footwear. A
pedicure footwear with detachable straps includes a sole member
shaped like a foot with a toe portion and a heel portion, at least
one strap member with at least two end portions, a toe separation
member, and at least one attachment device which allows wearers to
slip their toes through the straps without risk of ruining freshly
polished toenails and to walk immediately after a pedicure. In
addition, the pedicure footwear looks and functions like ordinary
outdoor footwear
Inventors: |
Loughnane; Deirdre; (Hermosa
Beach, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KNOBBE MARTENS OLSON & BEAR LLP
2040 MAIN STREET, FOURTEENTH FLOOR
IRVINE
CA
92614
US
|
Family ID: |
40345154 |
Appl. No.: |
12/188081 |
Filed: |
August 7, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60954899 |
Aug 9, 2007 |
|
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60969281 |
Aug 31, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
36/94 ; 36/101;
36/11.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 3/103 20130101;
A43B 3/24 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/94 ; 36/101;
36/11.5 |
International
Class: |
A43B 7/26 20060101
A43B007/26; A43B 3/24 20060101 A43B003/24; A43B 3/12 20060101
A43B003/12 |
Claims
1. A thong-sandal footwear providing the ability to remove at least
a portion of the strap from the sole comprising: a sole member
shaped like a foot with a toe portion and a heel portion for
supporting the foot, a detachable strap member having at least a
first end portion and a second end portion, a toe separation member
attachable to said sole member and easily attachable and detachable
from said strap member, and an attachment device between at least
one end portion of the strap member and the sole member
intermediate the toe portion and the heel portion to easily attach
and detach the strap member to the sole member.
2. The footwear of claim 1 wherein said toe separation member can
be pulled away from wet toes following a pedicure without
contacting the wet toes.
3. The footwear of claim 1 wherein said strap member can have
different designs on opposite sides of the strap so that the wearer
can quickly change the appearance of their footwear.
4. The footwear of claim 1 wherein said detachable strap has a
generally "V" shape.
5. The footwear of claim 1, wherein said toe separation member is
in the shape of a pair of loops.
6. The footwear of claim 5, wherein said loops can be detachably
inserted into a grommet of said strap member.
7. The footwear of claim 5 wherein additional pairs of loops are
located intermediate each side of said sole member for attaching
and detaching the ends of said strap member to said sole
member.
8. A pedicure footwear for: minimizing the risk of ruining freshly
polished toenails, providing the ability to insert wet toes right
after a pedicure without the wet toes contacting the footwear so
the wearer does not have to wait until toes are dry, and
functioning and appearing like ordinary outdoor footwear so the
wearer can walk immediately after a pedicure comprising a sole
member shaped like a foot with a toe portion and a heel portion for
supporting the foot, a detachable strap member having at least a
first end portion and a second end portion, a toe separation member
which can be pulled away from the wet toes for anchoring the foot
to the toe portion of the sole member in between the wearer's big
and second toes without contacting the wet toes, and an attachment
device between each end portion of the strap member and the sole
member intermediate the toe portion and the heel portion to attach
the detachable strap member to the sole member in order to hold the
foot in place.
9. A pedicure footwear, comprising: a sole member shaped like a
foot with a toe portion, a heel portion, an interior side, and an
exterior side, a strap member having a fixed end portion on the
interior side and an unfixed end portion, a toe separation member
in the shape of a loop, and an attachment device between the
unfixed end portions of the strap member and the sole member on the
exterior side intermediate the toe portion and the heel
portion.
10. The pedicure footwear of claim 9, wherein the strap member can
be inserted into the toe separation member
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/954,899 filed Aug. 9, 2007 and U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/969,281 filed Aug. 31, 2007, the entire contents
of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.
FIELDS OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates in embodiments of footwear having
detachable straps which allow wearers to quickly change the
appearance of their footwear so that a single sole member can serve
as a platform for a plurality of different straps to provide the
wearer with the same satisfaction and utility as owning a plurality
of different footwear.
[0003] In addition, this invention relates in certain embodiments
of pedicure footwear with detachable straps which allows wearers to
slip wet toes through the straps without risk of ruining freshly
polished toenails and to walk immediately after a pedicure. In
addition, the pedicure footwear looks and functions like ordinary
outdoor footwear.
SUMMARY
[0004] Footwear is provided comprising a sole member shaped like a
foot with a toe portion and a heel portion, a strap member having
at least two end portions, a toe separation member, and an
attachment device between each end portion of the strap member and
the sole member intermediate the toe portion and the heel portion.
A plurality of different detachable straps are interchangeable to
provide a myriad of different footwear offering versatility in
style, and replacement of worn parts. Additionally, a variety of
soles can be used including flat, platform style, wedges and
orthotics. Soles can, for example, be made from rubber, plastic,
leather or suede.
[0005] Pedicures often include the polishing of the toenails which
require time to dry. While slipping wet toes into standard pedicure
slippers, one runs the risk of ruining the freshly polished nails.
Standard disposable pedicure slippers are also unsuitable for
walking outdoors after a pedicure. Current developments have been
made to create reusable pedicure slippers. However, they do not
allow the wearer the ability to insert the toes into the slippers
without risk of ruining freshly polished toenails; and neither do
they look or function like ordinary outdoor footwear. Embodiments
of footwear are designed specifically for use right after a
pedicure, which allows wearers virtually little or no risk of
ruining freshly polished toenails when put on and to look and
function like ordinary outdoor footwear.
[0006] One embodiment of pedicure footwear comprise a sole member
shaped like a foot with a toe portion and a heel portion, a strap
member having at least two end portions, a toe separation member,
and an attachment device between each end portion of the strap
member and the sole member intermediate the toe portion and the
heel portion. Another embodiment comprises a sole member shaped
like a foot with a toe portion, a heel portion, an interior side,
and an exterior side; a strap member having a fixed end portion on
the interior side and an unfixed end portion, a toe separation
member in the shape of a loop, and an attachment device between the
unfixed end portion of the strap member and the sole member on the
exterior side intermediate the toe portion and the heel
portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1A is a top view of one embodiment.
[0008] FIG. 1B is a close up view of an attachment device used in
one embodiment.
[0009] FIG. 1C is a front perspective view of one embodiment.
[0010] FIG. 2A is a front perspective view of another
embodiment.
[0011] FIG. 2B is a front perspective view of another
embodiment.
[0012] FIG. 2C is a close-up view of an attachment device used in
another embodiment.
[0013] FIG. 2D is a front perspective view of another
embodiment.
[0014] FIG. 3A is a front perspective of another embodiment.
[0015] FIG. 3B is a top plan view of the strap disconnected from
the attachment device in another embodiment.
[0016] FIG. 3C is a front perspective illustrating the
interchangeable strap features.
[0017] FIG. 4A is a front perspective view of another
embodiment.
[0018] FIG. 4B is a front perspective view of another
embodiment.
[0019] FIG. 5A is a top view of another embodiment.
[0020] FIG. 5B is a front perspective view of another
embodiment.
[0021] FIG. 5C is a front perspective view of the strap
disconnected from the attachment device in another embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFFERED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] In FIG. 1A, one embodiment of the present invention is a
pedicure footwear 10 including a sole member 20 shaped like a foot
with a toe portion 21 and a heel portion 22, a strap member 30
having a first end portion 31 and a second end portion 32 and a toe
separation portion 40. Attachment devices 43, 44 are located
intermediate the toe portion 21 and the heel portion 22 on opposite
sides of the sole member 20. The toe separation portion 40 of the
strap member 30 is advantageously fixed near where the wearer's big
and second toes would meet. This allows the wearer to lift up the
strap member 30 and the toe separation portion 40 at the same time
while placing the foot on the sole member 30 in such a way as to
insert the toe separation portion 40 securely in between the big
and second toe without contacting the toe nail. After the wearer's
foot is in place, the strap member 30 can be pulled back away from
the toes and the respective end portions 31, 32 can be attached to
the sole member 20 intermediate the toe portion 21 and heel portion
22 via respective attachment devices 43, 44. Thus, the shoe wearers
freshly polished "wet" toes never come in contact with the strap
30.
[0023] As shown in FIG. 1B, each strap end portion 31, 32 of strap
member 30 includes a grommet 100.
[0024] Each attachment device 43, 44 includes a grommet 110 on a
short strap-like member 120. Member 120 is attached to the sole
member 20 intermediate the toe portion 21 and heel portion 22. To
secure the strap member 30 to the sole member 20, loops 130 formed
by flexible cords or strings can be threaded through both of the
grommets 100, 110 and the loops 130 then secured around a toggle
140.
[0025] In one embodiment, the loops 130 are formed from an elastic
material thereby enabling the footwear to offer some "give" when
the loops are secured. In another embodiment, the loops 130 are
formed from a non-elastic material. As illustrated in FIG. 1C, once
both ends 31, 32 of the strap member 30 are fully secured using the
attachment devices 43, 44 the footwear looks and functions like
ordinary outdoor footwear.
[0026] In FIG. 2A, another embodiment of the present invention is a
pedicure footwear 210 having a sole member 220 shaped like a foot
with a toe portion 221, a heel portion 222, an interior side 223,
and an exterior side 224. A strap member 230 has one end 233 fixed
to sole member 220 and an unfixed end portion 234. A toe separation
member 240 is fixed to the toe portion 221. The upper portion of
member 240 is in the shape of a loop. An attachment device 245 is
fixed to the sole member 220 on the exterior side 224 intermediate
the toe portion 221 and heel portion 222. The fixed end portion 233
of strap 230 is fixed on the interior side 223 of the sole member
220 intermediate the toe portion 221 and heel portion 222. The toe
separation member 240 is advantageously fixed to the sole member
220 near where the wearer's big and second toes would meet. This
allows the wearer to lift up the toe separation member 240 while
placing the foot on the sole member 230 in such a way as to insert
the toe separation member 240 securely in between the big and
second toe without contacting the wet nail polish.
[0027] After the wearer's foot is in place, the wearer can pull the
toe separation member 240 away from the wet toenails and insert the
unfixed end 234 of strap member 230 into the loop of the toe
separation member 240. See FIG. 2B which illustrates of how the
strap member 230 can be inserted into the loop of the toe
separation member 240.
[0028] Once looped with the foot in place, the wearer can secure
the unfixed end portion 234 to the sole member 220 on the exterior
side 224 intermediate the toe portion 221 and heel portion 222 via
the attachment device 245. As best shown in FIG. 2C, the attachment
device 245 includes a buckle 255 at the end of a short elastic
strap member 260 attached to the sole member 220 intermediate the
toe portion 221 and heel portion 222. The unfixed portion 234 of
strap member 230 includes a holed elastic strap 250 on the unfixed
end portion 234 of the strap member 230. The strap member 230 is
attached to the sole member 220 by engaging the holed elastic strap
250 to the buckle 255. Using elastic material for the holed strap
250 and the short strap member 260 for the buckle allows the
footwear to offer some "give." As illustrated in FIG. 2D, once the
strap member 230 is looped through toe separation member 240 and
fully secured using the attachment device 245, the footwear looks
and functions like ordinary outdoor footwear.
[0029] In another embodiment, either or both of the strap members
250 and 260 can be formed from a non-elastic material.
[0030] In all of the aforementioned embodiments, wearers can insert
their feet into the described footwear with little risk of damaging
freshly painted toenails. In addition, after all strap members are
properly attached, the footwear looks and functions like ordinary
outdoor footwear.
[0031] It is appreciated that the shape of the strap member, the
number of end portions, and the number of strap members can vary
without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. It is
also appreciated that the type of attachment device may vary as
long as the toe separation portion can be pulled away from the wet
toes and the strap is secured to the footwear. By way of example,
the attachment device may be any device with a method of attachment
known to a person having ordinary skill in the art, including
buttons, hooks, buckles, ties, Velcro, and frog closures. It may
include an underlying strap-like member to hold the method of
attachment as illustrated in FIG. 1B 120 and FIG. 2C 220, but is
not necessary.
[0032] In FIG. 3A, another embodiment of the present invention is a
thong-sandal commonly known as flip-flop footwear 310 which allows
wearers to quickly change the appearance of their footwear. A sole
member 320 is shaped like a foot with a toe portion 321 and a heel
portion 322. Side attachment members 340, 341 are located
intermediate the toe portion 321 and the heel portion 322 on
opposite sides of the sole member 320. A front attachment member
342 is advantageously fixed at or near where the wearer's big and
second toes would meet. A generally "V" shaped strap member 350
includes a first end portion 351, a second end portion 352 and a
toe separation portion 355.
[0033] As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, each attachment member 340, 341
and 342 includes a button 400.
[0034] Each strap end portion 351, 352 and toe separation portion
355 includes a button hole 410. Strap 350 is attached to the sole
member 320 by inserting the respective buttons 400 into the button
holes 410 and buttoning the strap ends 351, 352 to the respective
side attachment members 340, 341 and buttoning the toe separation
portion 355 to the front attachment member 342.
[0035] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C, a single
strap 350 can have different designs on opposite sides of the
strap. Thus, by way of example, as shown in FIG. 3A, one side 450
of strap 350 can have a decorative design shown in FIG. 3A as a
series of decorative spots 455, whereas the opposite side 455,
shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C, can be entirely of a single color fabric.
Thus, the same flip-flop can have two entirely different
appearances by simply unbuttoning the strap 350, turning the strap
350 over, and rebuttoning the strap 350 back on to the attachment
buttons 400.
[0036] In this and other embodiments described below, the straps
can have patterns, stripes, school names, team logos and can be
made from a variety of materials i.e. suede, fabric, leather,
beaded silk, and metal. Several interchangeable straps 350 can
typically accompany a common sole, so that the user can use a
single sole to create a plurality of different designs.
[0037] In another embodiment, the strap member 650 includes one or
more buttons 400 for engaging button holes 510 on the attachment
member. As shown in FIG. 4A, this flip flop includes a sole member
600 shaped like a foot with a toe portion 621 and a heel portion
622. Side attachment members 640, 641 are located intermediate the
toe portion and the heel portion on opposite sides of the sole
member. A front attachment member 642 is advantageously fixed at or
near where its wearer's big and second toes will meet.
[0038] Attachment member 640, 641 include buttons which attach to
button holes 410 on the ends of strap 650 and the button 400 at the
center of strap 650 attaches to the button hole 510 in the attached
member 642.
[0039] In FIG. 4B, another embodiment is shown wherein all of the
buttons 400 are on the strap and engage corresponding button holes
410 attached to the sole.
[0040] Other embodiments are shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C. A sole
member 700 having a toe portion 701 and a heel portion 702. A pair
of loops 705 is attached on one side of the sole 700 intermediate
the toe portion 701 and the heel portion 702. Another pair of loops
710 are attached to the opposite side of the sole intermediate the
toe portion 701 and the heel portion 702. A third pair of loops 715
are attached at or near where the wearer's big and second toes will
meet.
[0041] A strap 720 has a generally "V" shaped configuration and may
have, as shown, a substantially uniform width. Grommets 730, 731
are located at the respective ends of strap 720 and grommet 735 is
located at generally the center of the strap.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 5B, the strap 720 is attached to the sole
700 by simply tying each of the loops 705, 710 and 715 to the
respective grommets 730, 731 and 735. The appearance of the
embodiment of the flip-flop footwear of FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C is as
varied as the color of strap 720 or the nature of a design
displayed on the surface of the strap. Also, as shown in FIG. 5B,
the front loop 715 can be a different shape or size than the rear
loop 705 and 715.
[0043] In the flip-flop of FIG. 5A, a design is illustrated on one
side of the strap 720 whereas, as shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C, the
strap 720 presents quite a different appearance when the strap is
turned over to display a solid color 721.
[0044] In other embodiments, a plurality of different straps 720
can have myriad colors and designs to provide the owner of a single
sole 700 with myriad possibilities of footwear of different designs
using a single sole 700 as the base of this footwear, and mix and
match within the pair, i.e. red strap on left foot and white strap
on right foot over a patterned sole.
[0045] Sole bases can also be of different design, color, pattern,
height, elevation and various grades of quality, e.g. from
beach/shower shoes to orthodic shoes.
[0046] The strap 720 or the loops 705, 710 and 715 or both the
strap and loops can be formed of an elastic material. Using elastic
material for the holed strap 720 or loop allows the footwear to
offer some "give." As illustrated in FIG. 5B, once the strap member
loops 705, 710 and 715 are tied to the sole member 720, the
footwear looks and functions like ordinary footwear.
[0047] The loops, 705, 710 and 715 can be tied in a variety of ways
to create easily different looking foot wear for ease.
[0048] In another embodiment, either or both the strap 720 and
loops 705, 710 and 715 can be formed from a non-elastic
material.
[0049] Thus, the different embodiments where the strap is fully
detachable include the following combinations: [0050] 1. Three
buttons on the bases and button holes on the straps (reversible and
interchangeable); [0051] 2. Buttons at the side, with button holes
on the strap end pieces--while the toe separator has a button hole
and the top portion of the strap has a button (the button on the
top portion could push through to the other side to make them
reversible, typically, thus would embodiment be used with only be
interchangeable straps); [0052] 3. Three buttons on the straps
(typically non-reversible, only interchangeable), with button holes
on the straps; [0053] 4. Button holes at the sides, with buttons on
the end part of each strap-with a button hole at the top portion
and a button at the toe separator.
[0054] It is appreciated that the shape of the sole and strap
member can vary without departing from the scope and spirit of the
invention. It is also appreciated that the type of device used to
attach the strap to the sole may vary as long as the strap can be
removed from the so and easily re-secured to the sole. By way of
example, the attachment device may be any device with a method of
attachment known to a person having ordinary skill in the art,
including buttons, hooks, buckles, ties, Velcro, and frog
closures.
[0055] Therefore, it will be understood that the foregoing is only
illustrative of the principles of the invention, and that various
modifications, alterations, and combinations can be made by those
skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of
the invention.
* * * * *