U.S. patent application number 13/757441 was filed with the patent office on 2014-08-07 for magnetically coupleable footwear.
This patent application is currently assigned to Stix, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is STIX, LLC. Invention is credited to Casey Gee, Ananda MOORMAN.
Application Number | 20140215860 13/757441 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51258014 |
Filed Date | 2014-08-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140215860 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MOORMAN; Ananda ; et
al. |
August 7, 2014 |
MAGNETICALLY COUPLEABLE FOOTWEAR
Abstract
Embodiments disclosed herein are directed towards magnetically
coupleable footwear. The footwear can include a first footwear
piece having a first sole, the first sole having a bottom surface
and at least one magnet disposed in the first sole, and a second
footwear piece having a second sole, the second sole having a
bottom surface and at least one complementary magnet disposed in
the second sole, wherein the at least one magnet and the at least
one complementary magnet are oriented so as to attract each other
when the bottom surface of the first sole is facing the bottom
surface of the second sole.
Inventors: |
MOORMAN; Ananda; (Encinitas,
CA) ; Gee; Casey; (Encinitas, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
STIX, LLC |
Encinitas |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Stix, LLC
Encinitas
CA
|
Family ID: |
51258014 |
Appl. No.: |
13/757441 |
Filed: |
February 1, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/25R |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 1/0054
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/25.R |
International
Class: |
A43B 13/28 20060101
A43B013/28 |
Claims
1. A pair of soles for footwear, comprising: a first sole having a
bottom surface and at least one magnet disposed in the first sole;
and a second sole having a bottom surface and at least one
complementary magnet disposed in the second sole; wherein the at
least one magnet and the at least one complementary magnet are
oriented so as to attract each other when the bottom surface of the
first sole is facing the bottom surface of the second sole.
2. The pair of soles of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of
magnets disposed in the first sole; and a plurality of
complementary magnets disposed in the second sole.
3. The pair of soles of claim 2, wherein the magnets and
complementary magnets are positioned so as to align the first sole
and the second sole such that the bottom surface of the first sole
and the bottom surface of the second sole are substantially
coterminous.
4. The pair of soles of claim 2, wherein the magnets of the first
sole are positioned so as to mirror the positions of the
complementary magnets in the second sole.
5. The pair of soles of claim 1, wherein the magnets and
complementary magnets are neodymium magnets.
6. The pair of soles of claim 1, wherein: the magnet has a magnetic
moment oriented perpendicularly to the plane of the first sole; and
the complementary magnet has a magnetic moment oriented
perpendicularly to the plane of the second sole.
7. A pair of footwear pieces comprising the pair of soles of claim
1.
8. A pair of footwear pieces, comprising: a first footwear piece
having a first sole, the first sole having a bottom surface and at
least one magnet disposed in the first sole; and a second footwear
piece having a second sole, the second sole having a bottom surface
and at least one complementary magnet disposed in the second sole;
wherein the at least one magnet and the at least one complementary
magnet are oriented so as to attract each other when the bottom
surface of the first sole is facing the bottom surface of the
second sole.
9. The pair of footwear pieces of claim 8, further comprising: a
plurality of magnets disposed in the first sole; and a plurality of
complementary magnets disposed in the second sole.
10. The pair of footwear pieces of claim 9, wherein the magnets and
complementary magnets are positioned so as to align the first sole
and the second sole such that the bottom surface of the first sole
and the bottom surface of the second sole are substantially
coterminous.
11. The pair of footwear pieces of claim 9, wherein the magnets of
the first sole are positioned so as to mirror the positions of the
complementary magnets in the second sole.
12. The pair of footwear pieces of claim 9, wherein the magnets and
complementary magnets are neodymium magnets.
13. The pair of footwear pieces of claim 8, wherein: the magnet has
a magnetic moment oriented perpendicularly to the plane of the
first sole; and the complementary magnet has a magnetic moment
oriented perpendicularly to the plane of the second sole.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Many situations exist where an individual must remove their
footwear or transport their footwear. Such situations include, for
example, entering into certain households, during classes such as
yoga and aerobics, and walking on the beach. In some of these
situations, the removed footwear is placed into a group of other
footwear, increasing the chance that one or both of the footwear
pieces may be misplaced or lost. Additionally, carrying footwear by
hand is frequently inconvenient, requiring one to either grab both
pieces with one hand or carry one piece in each hand. A solution
for conveniently maintaining footwear together is therefore
desired.
SUMMARY
[0002] Embodiments disclosed herein are directed towards
magnetically coupleable footwear. The footwear can include a first
footwear piece having a first sole, the first sole having a bottom
surface and at least one magnet disposed in the first sole, and a
second footwear piece having a second sole, the second sole having
a bottom surface and at least one complementary magnet disposed in
the second sole, wherein at least one magnet and at least one
complementary magnet are oriented so as to attract each other when
the bottom surface of the first sole is facing the bottom surface
of the second sole.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0003] Advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be
apparent from the following detailed description of the exemplary
embodiments. The following detailed description should be
considered in conjunction with the accompanying figures in
which:
[0004] FIG. 1a is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a pair
of magnetically coupleable footwear.
[0005] FIGS. 1b-1c are cross-sectional views of magnets embedded in
the sole of a footwear piece.
[0006] FIG. 1d shows a bottom view of the soles of an exemplary
embodiment of a pair of magnetically coupleable footwear.
[0007] FIGS. 2a-2c show exemplary magnet arrangements for a pair of
magnetically coupleable footwear.
[0008] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary display panel for use with a pair
of magnetically coupleable footwear.
[0009] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary backpack for use with a pair of
magnetically coupleable footwear.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] Aspects of the invention are disclosed in the following
description and related drawings directed to specific embodiments
of the invention. Alternate embodiments may be devised without
departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention.
Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the
invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as
not to obscure the relevant details of the invention. Further, to
facilitate an understanding of the description, a discussion of
several terms used herein follows.
[0011] As used herein, the word "exemplary" means "serving as an
example, instance or illustration." The embodiments described
herein are not limiting, but rather are exemplary only. It should
be understood that the described embodiment are not necessarily to
be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.
Moreover, the terms "embodiments of the invention", "embodiments"
or "invention" do not require that all embodiments of the invention
include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation.
[0012] Referring to FIGS. 1a-1d, and according to at least one
exemplary embodiment, a pair of magnetically coupleable footwear
pieces 100 is disclosed. The magnetically coupleable footwear
pieces 100 can include a first footwear piece 100a and a second
footwear piece 100b.
[0013] Turning to FIG. 1a, each of magnetically coupleable footwear
pieces 100 can include a sole 102, at least one upper portion 104,
a front end 106, and a rear end 108. Sole 102 and at least one
upper portion 104 can have any desired shape and surface
configuration, which may be contemplated and provided as desired
based on aesthetic, functional, orthopedic, and other
considerations. Sole 102 can include any desired tread pattern or
design. Furthermore, all portions of footwear pieces 100 may be
made from any desired materials, for example, leather, rubber,
natural materials, synthetic compounds, or any other suitable
material that enables footwear 100 to function as described
herein.
[0014] Turning to FIGS. 1b-1c, sole 102 can include a top surface
110 and a bottom surface 112. At least one recess 114 may be
disposed within sole 102 substantially proximate bottom surface
112. Disposed within recess 114 may be a permanent magnet 116.
Magnet 116 may be a rare-earth magnet, for example, a neodymium
magnet. Magnet 116 may be coupled to sole 102 by any suitable
attachment, such as, for example, an adhesive. Magnet 116 may be
oriented such that the magnetic moment of magnet 116 is oriented
perpendicular to the plane of sole 102. Magnet 116 may have any
configuration that enables footwear 100 to function as described
herein. For example, magnet 116 may be a disc magnet. If desired,
magnet 116 may further include a coating, for example a rubber or
other polymer coating.
[0015] In some exemplary embodiments, recess 114 may be exposed to
the external environment. In other exemplary embodiments, recess
114 may be enclosed within sole 102, with a membrane 118 separating
recess 114 from the external environment. Membrane 118 may be
formed integrally with sole 102, or may be provided separately and
coupled to sole 102 by any suitable attachment, such as, for
example, an adhesive. Membrane 118 may have any thickness that
allows footwear 100 to function as described herein.
[0016] As shown in FIG. 1d, first footwear piece 100a can include
at least one magnet 116a in the sole 102a thereof. Similarly,
second footwear piece 100b can include at least one complementary
magnet 116b in the sole 102b thereof. The polarity of complementary
magnet 116b may be opposite the polarity of magnet 116a, resulting
in an attractive force between magnets 116a, 116b. Thus, when the
soles 102a, 102b of first and second footwear pieces 100a, 100b are
oriented such that the bottom surfaces 112a, 112b face each other,
and brought into sufficient proximity to each other, the magnetic
force can result in the coupling of footwear pieces 100a, 100b to
each other. This can allow for easy transport and storage of
footwear 100, as well as reducing the likelihood of loss or
misplacement of any one of the footwear pieces.
[0017] Exemplary embodiments of footwear 100 can include a
plurality of magnets 116 disposed in any desired arrangement,
pattern, or decorative form. For example, the magnets may be
positioned at the front end 106 and rear end 108 of the footwear
piece 100, as shown in FIGS. 1a and 1d. In other exemplary
embodiments, the placement of magnets 116 may be based on, or may
be a part of, a particular tread design of footwear 100. For
example, in FIGS. 2a-2c, an exemplary checkerboard tread design is
shown, with magnets 116 arranged as part of the tread design.
[0018] In some exemplary embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 2a-2c, the
arrangement of magnets 116a of first footwear piece 100a may mirror
the arrangement of complementary magnets 116b of second footwear
piece 100b. Magnets 116 may be provided in a sufficient amount and
arrangement such that when footwear pieces 100a, 100b are coupled,
the bottom surfaces 112 of soles 102a, 102b may be substantially
coterminous with each other. The minoring of the magnet
arrangements on footwear pieces 100a, 100b can result in that each
of magnets 116a faces a complementary magnet 116b when the bottom
surfaces 112 of soles 102a and 102b are oriented to face each other
and when the front ends 106 and/or rear ends 108 of footwear pieces
100a, 100b are aligned with each other.
[0019] In some exemplary embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2a, the
plurality of magnets 116 in a footwear piece 100 can have the same
polarity. For example, all magnets 116a in a first footwear piece
100a may have the north pole oriented toward bottom surface 112 of
sole 102a. Consequently, all complementary magnets 116b in a second
footwear piece 100b can have the opposite polarity, with the south
pole oriented toward bottom surface 112 of sole 102b, and with the
arrangement of complementary magnets 116b mirroring the arrangement
of magnets 116a.
[0020] In some exemplary embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2b, the
plurality of magnets 116 in a footwear piece 100 can have
alternating polarities. That is, a first portion of the plurality
of magnets 116a in a first footwear piece 100a may have may have
the north pole oriented toward bottom surface 112 of sole 102a,
while a second portion of the plurality of magnets 116a may have
the south pole oriented toward bottom surface 112 of sole 102b.
Consequently a first portion of the plurality of complementary
magnets 116b in a second footwear piece 100b may have the south
pole oriented toward bottom surface 112 of sole 102a, while a
second portion of the plurality of complementary magnets 116b may
have the north pole oriented toward bottom surface 112 of sole
102b, with the arrangement of complementary magnets 116b mirroring
the arrangement of magnets 116a.
[0021] The arrangement of polarities of magnets 116 in a footwear
piece 100 may be provided as desired. In some exemplary
embodiments, magnets 116 may be arranged in regularly alternating
polarities. For example, the magnets 116a may be arranged in a
checkerboard-type pattern on sole 102a, and complementary magnets
116b may mirror the pattern on sole 102b with opposite
polarities.
[0022] In other exemplary embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2c, the
amount of magnets 116 with a particular polarity, as well as the
orientation of the magnets 116 on sole 102 may be substantially
arbitrary. Thus, for each pair of footwear 100, and for every
magnet 116a on sole 102a, the pole that is oriented towards bottom
surface 112 of sole 102a may be decided substantially randomly, for
example during manufacture of the footwear pair. However, it should
be appreciated that, in the same pair of footwear 100, a
complementary magnet 116b on sole 102b in a position mirroring that
of magnet 102a on sole 102a would have a pole orientation opposite
to that of magnet 116a. Consequently the plurality of magnets 116a,
116b in any paired footwear pieces 100a, 100b can have a
substantially distinctive combination of alternating polarities.
That is, given a plurality of magnets 116, each of which can be
arranged in either a north/south orientation or a south/north
orientation, a substantially large number of distinctive
orientation combinations can result. The number N of distinctive
combinations can be obtained by N=2.sup.m, where m is the number of
magnets 116 in a particular footwear piece 100. This feature can
provide convenience to the user of a pair of footwear pieces 100,
due to the high likelihood that a particular first footwear piece
100a can couple only to a corresponding second footwear piece 100b
of the same pair of footwear. Consequently, in situations where
multiple pairs of footwear 100 are present, the likelihood of
mixing and mismatching of footwear pieces of different pairs may be
reduced.
[0023] The embodiments of footwear pieces 100 disclosed herein can
facilitate easy storage of the footwear 100. For example, footwear
pieces 100a, 100b may be coupled to each other and may be hung from
a hanger or hook, placed in a shoe organizer such as a shoe rack,
shoe tree, pocket shoe organizer, or any other organizer known in
the art. Footwear pieces 100a, 100b may also be coupled to each
other and hung from a turnstile or other retail display. Coupling
footwear pieces 100a, 100b to each other can reduce the possibility
of loss or misplacement of the footwear pieces during storage,
transport, or any other contemplated situation.
[0024] Specialized structures and apparatuses may also be provided
for display or storage of the embodiments of footwear 100. FIG. 3
shows an exemplary embodiment of a panel 300. Panel 300 can include
at least one paramagnetic element 302, for example a magnetic metal
or metal alloy portion to which footwear pieces 100a, 100b may be
attached. The paramagnetic element 302 may be provided with a
coating if desired, for example a rubber or other polymer coating.
The panel 300 can facilitate the display of footwear pieces 100 in
retail situations, and can include indicia 304, which can display
information about the footwear pieces 100. Panel 300 can also
facilitate convenient storage of footwear 100 in any situation, for
example on a surface, in a closet or wardrobe. Panel 300 can
further include mounting elements 306 to facilitate mounting,
hanging or otherwise conveniently disposing the panel in any
desired location. The mounting elements 306 can include hanger
hooks, apertures, fasteners, or any other mounting element known to
one having ordinary skill in the art. It should be appreciated that
any display structure having a paramagnetic element thereon may be
contemplated and provided as desired.
[0025] Carrying devices may also be provided for use with the
embodiments of footwear 100. FIG. 4 shows an exemplary backpack
400. Backpack 400 can include at least one paramagnetic element
402, for example a magnetic metal or metal alloy portion to which
footwear pieces 100a, 100b may be attached. The paramagnetic
element 402 may be embedded within backpack 400, for example
between the fabric layers of the backpack. In an exemplary
embodiment, a paramagnetic element 402 may be provided on each of
the side panels 404 of backpack 400, allowing a footwear piece 100
to be attached to each side of backpack 400. In other exemplary
embodiments, the paramagnetic element 402 may be provided in any
desired location on the backpack 400. Any other carrying device for
footwear 100 may be contemplated and provided as desired, for
example, a bag, a purse, and so forth, the carrying device having
paramagnetic elements 402 disposed in any desired location
therein.
[0026] While the embodiments of footwear 100 are illustrated in the
accompanying figures as sandals, it should be appreciated that the
magnetic arrangements disclosed herein may be used with any article
of footwear, such as sneakers, shoes, dress shoes, pumps, heeled
shoes, and so forth.
[0027] The foregoing description and accompanying figures
illustrate the principles, preferred embodiments and modes of
operation of the invention. However, the invention should not be
construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed
above. Additional variations of the embodiments discussed above
will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.
[0028] Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be
regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it
should be appreciated that variations to those embodiments can be
made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope
of the invention as defined by the following claims.
* * * * *