U.S. patent application number 13/911045 was filed with the patent office on 2013-12-05 for running sandal.
The applicant listed for this patent is Daniel Opalacz, Nicholas Pence. Invention is credited to Daniel Opalacz, Nicholas Pence.
Application Number | 20130318829 13/911045 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49668517 |
Filed Date | 2013-12-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130318829 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Opalacz; Daniel ; et
al. |
December 5, 2013 |
Running Sandal
Abstract
A unique running sandal. is described that uses a ladder buckle
on the top of the foot to allow for secure and easy adjustment of
the sandal. This sandal is designed for running and hiking
applications, and is intended for rugged usage. The sandal uses a
single lacing that runs from the circular thong hole in the sole
through the ladder buckle over to an outside heel anchor hole, then
around the heel to an inside heel anchor hole and back to the
ladder buckle.
Inventors: |
Opalacz; Daniel; (Madison,
SD) ; Pence; Nicholas; (Charlottesville, VA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Opalacz; Daniel
Pence; Nicholas |
Madison
Charlottesville |
SD
VA |
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
49668517 |
Appl. No.: |
13/911045 |
Filed: |
June 5, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61655980 |
Jun 5, 2012 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/114 ;
12/142LC |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 5/00 20130101; A43B
3/122 20130101; A43B 3/126 20130101; A43B 3/0078 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/114 ;
12/142.LC |
International
Class: |
A43B 5/00 20060101
A43B005/00 |
Claims
1. A running sandal consisting of: a sole for the sandal with three
sole holes, the first sole hole near a toe of the sole, a second
sole hole situated near a heel of the sole, and a third sole hole
on an opposite side of the sole from the second sole hole, near the
heel of the sole, a lacing fixed at the first sole hole, said
lacing continuing towards the heel of the sole, through a
mechanical connection device, then continuing to the second sole
hole, said lacing affixed to the second sole hole and then
continuing to the third sole hole, with said lacing looping around
the heal of the sole, wherein said lacing is affixed to the third
sole hole, and said lacing continuing through the mechanical
connection device; and the mechanical connection device, coupled to
the lacing, said mechanical connection device having a multitude of
openings for allowing the lacing to he attached to the mechanical
connection device in at least two points.
2. The running sandal of claim 1 wherein the mechanical connection
device is a ladder buckle.
3. The running sandal of claim 2 wherein the ladder buckle includes
one perpendicular cross bar.
4. The running sandal of claim 1 wherein the mechanical connection
device is a cord lock device.
5. The running sandal of claim 1 wherein the lacing is made of
nylon.
6. The running sandal of claim 1 wherein the lacing is made of
leather.
7. The running sandal of claim 1 wherein the lacing is made of
rubber.
8. The running sandal of claim 1 wherein the lacing is made of a
multitude of materials.
9. The running sandal of claim 1 wherein the lacing further
includes an elastic heel strap affixed to the lacing, in where said
lacing loops around the heel of the sole.
10. The running sandal of claim 1 wherein the sole is made of
rubber.
11. The running, sandal of claim 1 wherein the sole is made of
leather.
12. The running sandal of claim 1 wherein the sole is made of
hemp.
13. The running sandal of claim 1 wherein the lacing is attached to
the sole at the second sole hole by threading the lacing through
the second sole hole and around an edge of the sole.
14. A method of lacing a running sandal consisting of the steps of
pulling a lacing through a thong strap hole in a sole and fixing
the lacing against one surface of the sole; stringing said lacing,
beginning with an end of said lacing on the opposite surface of
said sole from where fixed, through two holes in a mechanical
connection device and then outside of a side of the sole and up
through an outside heel anchor hole, said lacing strung on the toe
side lacing that is traveling to said side of the sole; stringing
said lacing from the crossing with the lacing around a heel of said
sole and through an inside heel anchor hole, said lacing
continuing, outside of the sole and back on the inside heel side of
the lacing entering the inside heel anchor hole; pulling lacing
through two holes in said mechanical connection device.
15. The method of lacing running sandal of claim 14 wherein the
mechanical connection device is a ladder buckle.
16. The method of lacing running sandal of claim 14 wherein the
mechanical connection device a cord lock device.
17. The method of lacing a running sandal of claim 14 wherein the
step of fixing the lacing on one side of the sole consists of tying
a knot.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE
[0001] This patent application claims the benefit. of the filing
date of Provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/655,980,
filed Jun. 5, 2012, Application of which is herein incorporated by
reference.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to an innovative design of footwear,
in particular a lightweight sandal for running.
BACKGROUND
[0003] For thousands of years, man has built, various types of
footwear to protect feet against stones, gravel, and other sharp
objects that impact the foot. Early designs of sandals led to shoes
and then to sneakers. But modern footwear can be confining and
uncomfortable. Recently, a movement has started to return to
minimalist footwear, leading to a resurgence in the use of
sandals.
[0004] Huarache Sandals, pre-Colombian in design and origin, were
worn by indigenous Mexicans for centuries. Indigenous people built
these sandals with leather soles and laces. Although many lacing
styles existed there were several used by the Native Tarahumara
Indians for running sandals. These thong, strap styled huarache
sandals used 1/4'' wide leather laces that weave underneath the
leather sole, around the ankle., and ultimately are tied with slip
knots back on themselves on top of the foot.
[0005] Although this ancient lace tying method enables the wearer
to completely customize the fit of their sandals, it is also
difficult to master because of the intricate knots involved. This
invention brought forth replaces the ancient system of knots with a
singlet adjustment device (buckle). The singular adjustment device
enables the huarache wearer to have their cake and eat it too by
preserving the incredible adjustability of ancient huarache lacing
but at the same time making the means of adjustment easier.
[0006] However, sandals typically are not designed for rugged use
as a running or a hiking shoe. The strapping is not rugged enough
nor is it designed for the custom fit that is required for running
and hiking. The present invention addresses this need for a.
rugged, comfortable sandal.
FIGURES
[0007] FIG. 1 shows the running sandal with the strapping and the
buckle.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a side view of the running sandal.
[0009] FIG. 3 shows the sole of the running sandal.
[0010] FIGS. 4a and 4b show the adjustment of the buckle to
maximize user comfort.
[0011] FIG. 5 shows the ladder buckle.
[0012] FIG. 6 is an alternative ladder buckle design.
[0013] FIG. 7 shows an optional elastic, heel lacing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] A running sandal with a sole that has three holes, the first
hole near the toe of the sole, a second hole in parallel with a
third hole near a heel of the sole. A lacing for the running sandal
is attached to the sole at the first hole, the lacing continuing
towards the heel of the sole, connecting with a ladder buckle or
similar mechanical device, before reaching the second and then
third holes. The lacing is connected to the sole at the second and
third holes, and loops around the heel of the sole between these
two connections. The lacing then travels through and is connected
to the ladder buckle (or similar device). The ladder buckle, or
similar device, connected to the lacing, that has multiple openings
for allowing the lacing to be connected in at least two points.
[0015] A method of lacing a running sandal, starting with the tying
a knot in the lacing (or attaching the lacing through a similar
method) on one side (surface) of the sole of the sandal. Next,
pulling the lacing through the thong strap hole in the sole and
stringing the lacing from the hole towards the heel. Then the
lacing goes through two holes in a ladder buckle or similar
mechanical connection device and then the lacing goes outside of a
side of the sole and up through the outside heel anchor hole, the
lacing strung on the toe side lacing that is traveling to the side
of the sole. Next, stringing the lacing from the crossing with the
lacing around a heel of said sole and through an inside heel anchor
hole, the lacing continuing outside of the sole and back on the
inside heel side of the lacing entering the inside heel anchor
hole. Finally, pulling lacing through two holes in the ladder
buckle or similar mechanical connection device.
DESCRIPTION
[0016] FIG. 1 is a diagram of the running sandal from above the
sandal. From this view, the lacing 5 can be seen emerging from the
circular thong strap hole 7 below which it is tied. The circular
thong strap hole 7 is in the front of the sole 8. The other end of
the lacing 5 loops through ladder buckle 1, with the excess lacing
5 exiting, the buckle 1 towards the outside heel anchor hole 6.
[0017] Once the single lacing strap 5 leaves the ladder buckle, it
goes around the outside of the sole 8 and underneath the sole to
outside heel anchor hole 6. Lacing 5 goes through outside heel
anchor hole 6 from the bottom to the top of the sole 8. When it
emerges from the outside heel anchor hole 6, the lacing 5 goes to
the outside of lacing 5, and then continues around the heel of the
sandal 2, looping to the inner side of the sole to the inner heel
anchor hole 9.
[0018] At the inner heel anchor hole, the lacing 5 goes into the
inner heel anchor hole 9 from the top to the bottom of the sole 8.
When the lacing 5 emerges from the inner heel anchor hole 9, the
lacing 5 moves to the outside of the sole 8 and loops behind and
underneath the lacing, 5 heading into the inner heel anchor hole 9.
The lacing 5 then returns to the ladder buckle 1 where it loops
through the top of the buckle 1, leaving the excess lacing 5 as a
short tag, end strap 46.
[0019] FIG. 2 shows the running, sandal from a side view. From this
view, the lacing 5 can be seen as attached at the bottom of the
sole 8 at the circular thong strap hole 7.
[0020] FIG. 2 also shows the lacing 5 as attached to the inner heel
anchor hole 9. The lacing 5 moves from the ladder buckle 1 to the
outside of the sole 8, underneath the sole to inner heel anchor
hole 9, up through the hole 9, around to the outside of the lacing
5 going into the hole 9, and around the heel.
[0021] This lacing 5 system on a thong strap style sandal (FIGS. 1
and 2) uses an adjustment device that both creates a
multi-directional adjustment system and connects the lacing 5
together.
[0022] The lacings 5 may be made of various synthetic and natural
materials. These may include nylon, polypropelene, polyester,
leather, rubber, and plastic. Lacing 5 may either be flat, tubular,
or cord like in shape. Typical lacing 5 may be anywhere from 1/16''
wide to 1'' wide. Thicknesses may range from 0.01 min to 0.25 mm.
In the best implementation the lacings 5 are composed of military
grade parachute nylon and range in width from 1/2'' to 9/16 ''.
Thickness may range from 0.9 mm to 2 min.
[0023] In an alternative embodiment, the lacing 5 could comprise
multiple materials sewn together. For example, a black webbing
could be sewn at the end of the lacing 5 where the lacing travels
through the ladder buckle 1. This black webbing makes the
tightening and adjusting easier on the user. The multiple materials
for the lacing 5 could be affixed through heating or other methods
in addition to sewing.
[0024] FIG. 3 shows the sole 8. The sole 8 may be composed of
various synthetic and natural materials. Leather, hemp, rubber,
neoprene, and composites mixtures of the former. Sole 8 thicknesses
may range from virtually non-existent (0.05 mm) to very supportive
and thick (5 cm). In the best implementation the sole 8 is anywhere
from 4 to 8 mm thick and built from a proprietary vibram rubber
compound. The soles 8 are comprised of three holes. The circular
thong strap hole 7 is 0.5 cm in diameter, and the inner and outside
heel anchor holes 6 and 9 lengths are 1.5 cm long.times.0.3 cm. The
buckle 1 invention, however, does not depend on having holes
through the sandal sole 8 itself. The inner and outside heel anchor
holes 6 and 9 may manifest themselves in the same implementation as
side loops attached to the top of the sole 8.
[0025] An alternate embodiment has the lacing 5 attached to the
sole 8 through other means, such as stitching or fusing the lacing
5 to the top of the sole 8 or through a short strap attached to the
sole. These alternative attachments could be used for one or any
combination of the circular thong strap hole 7 and/or the inner and
outside heel anchor holes 6 and 9.
[0026] Multi-directional Adjustment
[0027] As can be seen in FIGS. 4a and 4b, the lace 5 passes through
the adjustment device, a ladder buckle 1, twice. The lacing 5
passes through first on the thong strap 46 from the circular thong
strap hole 7, then again on the inside foot strap 45 from the inner
heel anchor hole 9. Passing the lace through the adjustment device
twice enables two ways of adjustment.
[0028] FIGS. 4a and 4b show two was of adjustment of the running
sandal.
[0029] In FIG. 4a, the adjustment device, the ladder buckle 1, may
be moved up and down the thong strap 46. This movement adjusts
where both the inside foot strap 45 and thong strap 46 cross the
foot as well as where the adjustment device 1 is centered on the
foot.
[0030] In FIG. 4b the tag end 47 of the inside foot strap 45 may be
tightened through the adjustment device 1. This tightening cinches
down the lacing 5 creating a snug fit on the foot.
[0031] FIG. 5 shows a ladder buckle 1. It is composed of a mold
injected acetyl plastic produced by Dupont called Delrin Plastic.
The buckle 1 consists of two holes 52 for running lacing 5, a tab
55 on the top to allow the user to comfortably make adjustments,
and a series of groves 51 to prevent slippage. Alternately, the
ladder buckle could have additional holes such as the three hole
buckle as seen in FIGS. 4a and 4b.
[0032] In an alternate embodiment, the ladder buckle 1 could be
replaced by a cord lock or any other device with two or more holes
for holding lacing 5.
[0033] FIG. 6 shows an alternative ladder buckle 1 design, with a
perpendicular cross bar 56 to allow the lacing 5 from the thong
strap hole 7 to the heel anchor hold 45 to slide with relative ease
while the other end of the lacing 5 can be held tightly with the
groves 51 at the other side of the ladder buckle 1.
[0034] FIG. 7 shows an optional elastic, heel. The elastic heel
fabric 71 is attached to the lacing 5 by affixing the elastic heel
fabric 71 by sewing or other attachment mechanism. The elastic heel
fabric 71 attaches to the lacing 5 in two places 72 over the heel
of the sole 2, and is attached such that the elastic heel fabric is
on the heel side of the sole. The elastic heel fabric 71 is made
from recycled bicycle tubes and a fabric backing or of other
flexible materials. When worn, the elastic can stretch to
accommodate the heel and hold the strap up to prevent slipping.
[0035] The forgoing descriptions of various embodiments of the
invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and
description. It is not intended to limit the invention to the
precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and equivalent
arrangements will be apparent.
* * * * *