U.S. patent application number 13/998599 was filed with the patent office on 2014-12-04 for method and apparatus for one-piece footwear.
The applicant listed for this patent is Christine Benkovic. Invention is credited to Christine Benkovic.
Application Number | 20140352174 13/998599 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51983519 |
Filed Date | 2014-12-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140352174 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Benkovic; Christine |
December 4, 2014 |
Method and apparatus for one-piece footwear
Abstract
Footwear construction of a type resembling a conventional sandal
is formed completely from a single piece of a flexible material,
wherein tabs extending from one side of the base, or sole portion,
connect with symmetrically disposed tabs to form the uppers. The
tab connections may be implemented by sewing, by hook and loop type
devices, by hook and eye devices, by buttons and buttonholes, by
snaps or adhesives or other fastening means, but in any case no
additional parts are needed to fully express the present
invention.
Inventors: |
Benkovic; Christine;
(Venice, FL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Benkovic; Christine |
Venice |
FL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
51983519 |
Appl. No.: |
13/998599 |
Filed: |
November 16, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61956236 |
Jun 4, 2013 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
36/83 ; 12/142R;
36/25R |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43C 11/1493 20130101;
A43B 1/0081 20130101; A43B 3/106 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/83 ; 12/142.R;
36/25.R |
International
Class: |
A43B 3/00 20060101
A43B003/00 |
Claims
1. A method for un-lasted footwear construction comprising; the
step of providing a pattern conforming to the sole of a given
wearer's foot, the pattern further to include lateral portions and
oppositely extended tab members; providing a durable, abrasion
resisting, membranous material; cutting the material according to
the flat pattern, so as to make a footwear sole portion, with
lateral portions and extended tab members; providing means for
joining the extended tab members; and joining the oppositely
extended tab members above the sole portion by sewing or other
means so that the lateral portions form an upper portion.
2. The method of claim 1, and further comprising the step of
providing buttons and buttonholes as other means for joining the
oppositely extended tab members.
3. The method of claim 1, and further comprising the step of
providing male and female snap members as other means for joining
the oppositely extended tab members.
4. The method of claim 1, and further comprising the step of
providing hook and loop connectors as other means for joining the
oppositely extended tab members.
5. The method of claim 1, and further comprising the step of
providing an adhesive as other means for joining the oppositely
extended tab members.
6. Footwear made in one piece comprising: a sole portion cut from a
sheet of durable, abrasion resisting, membranous material so as to
replicate the shape and size of the sole of a given wearer's foot;
and the sole portion further comprising oppositely extended tab
members; so that joining the opposed tab members over the sole
portion by sewing or other means will provide an upper portion.
7. The footwear of claim 6, further comprising buttons and
buttonholes as the other means for joining the opposed tab
members.
8. The footwear of claim 6, further comprising male and female snap
members for as the other means joining the opposed tab members.
9. The apparatus of claim 6, and further comprising hook and loop
connectors as the other means for joining the opposed tab
members.
10. The apparatus of claim 6, and further comprising an adhesive as
the other means for joining the opposed tab members.
11. Apparatus for un-lasted footwear comprising: a flat piece of
durable, abrasion resisting, membranous material, cut to provide a
sole portion replicating the shape and size of the sole of a given
wearer's foot, and further including lateral portions with opposed
tab members having extended ends; the opposed tab members being
made so that the ends reach for joining atop the user's foot by a
sewn connection, or other joining means; and the lateral portions
thereby comprising an upper to the sole portion.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein other means for joining the
opposed tab members further comprises buttons and buttonholes.
13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein other means for joining the
opposed tab members further comprises male and female snap
members.
14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein other means for joining the
opposed tab members further comprises hook and loop connectors.
15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein other means for joining the
opposed tab members further comprises an adhesive.
Description
[0001] This non-provisional application claims priority of the Jun.
4, 2013 filing date of Provisional Application 61/956,236.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to the field of footwear
construction in general and more particularly to footwear
constructed without a last.
BACKGROUND
[0003] There are many situations at the beach, at poolside or
simply at casual affairs among friends, where comfort is more
precious than formality. Some, particularly the young, or
young-in-heart amongst us, particularly in the South, prefer to go
barefoot wherever they can, and "can" is not always defined in
social terms. Certainly, there are practical limitations like
walking on gravel driveways, or on hot sand or crossing hot asphalt
streets. These "ouches" have given "flip-flops" a place under the
Sun, but have you ever watched someone hop or run with flip-flops
on? Good for laughs but not great fun, and don't even think about
swimming. While you're at it, flip-flops are basically ugly, so
don't think about stylish either.
[0004] Ladies, be they adults, teens or children engage in a
variety of activities each day. Sometimes they choose footwear for
a social occasion, another time for utility, or perhaps just for
fun and relaxation. Nothing however, is more likely than change, so
the social occasion might take a a left turn into the Wal-Mart
store, where those 4'' heels are a definite liability; the luncheon
with friends may morph into a walk on the beach or, that R&R at
home may be interrupted by visitors, and you'll wish you weren't
looking quite so frumpy. (say what you will, barefoot is not
chic)
[0005] Now, aside from flip-flops, there are things generically
referred to "Swim Socks", with conventional looking soles and mesh
uppers. The usefulness of swim socks is limited because the mesh
uppers let them fill with sand if you walk on the beach. In any
event, either flip-flops or swim socks would win an ugly footwear
contest. What women would love is a convenient, attractive
alternative.
[0006] A first object of the present invention is therefore, to
provide versatile footwear for casual and social use. A second
object is that such footwear be capable of protecting the user's
feet against abusive surface conditions, and a third object is that
this footwear be inherently attractive. Yet another object of the
present invention is that such footwear be readily carried in a
glove compartment or purse, so as to be available for use as
changing circumstances may demand. A further, yet obvious
requirement of the present invention is that such footwear be
inexpensive to produce, so as to be popularly available.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention addresses the aforesaid objectives by
providing un-lasted footwear construction somewhat resembling
conventional sandals, except that a pair can be rolled up in a
small pouch. The invention is cut from a flat piece of flexible
material, in a shape designed to provide attractively styled casual
footwear. Preferred materials might be leather, a decoratively
backed neoprene ply, or something similar. Tabs extending from one
side of the sole portion connect with their opposites to form the
upper. These connections may be sewn, or be hook and loop
fasteners, buttons, snaps, or other means, but no other parts are
needed. However, self-adhesive heel and ball wear pads could be
marketed as a companion item or an aftermarket sale.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The accompanying drawings of the present inventions
illustrate preferred and alternative examples of how they can be
made and used, and are not to be construed as limiting the
inventions to only those examples illustrated and described. The
various advantages and features of the present inventions will be
apparent from a consideration of these drawings in which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a flat pattern of a preferred, open toe embodiment
of the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 shows the one-piece footwear embodiment of FIG. 1,
ready for wear;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a flat pattern of a second preferred, protected
toe embodiment of the present invention:
[0012] FIG. 4 shows the one-piece footwear embodiment of FIG. 3,
ready for wear;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a flat pattern of a third preferred, closed toe
embodiment of the present invention: and
[0014] FIG. 6 shows the one-piece footwear embodiment of FIG. 5,
ready for wear.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The present inventions will be described in the following by
referring to the drawings of examples of how the inventions can be
made and used. In these drawings, reference characters are used
throughout the views to indicate like or corresponding parts. The
embodiments shown and described herein are exemplary. Details well
known in the arts, may be neither shown nor described.
[0016] FIGS. 1 and 2 show and describe a first preferred embodiment
100 of un-lasted footwear according to the present invention. FIG.
1 shows pattern 10 for shape 10A, to which a thin, durable sheet of
abrasion resisting, membranous material 101 is cut to make
embodiment 100, an open toe expression of the present invention. A
graduated family of such patterns is required to produce the
invention for all common foot sizes however, the nature of the
invention is such that each increment of the pattern will
accommodate more than one standard shoe size. Obviously, the right
foot and left foot are simply opposite sides of the same pattern.
Material 101 may be 2 mm thick, or thicker, neoprene, with a fabric
backing, as is used for wet suits, or a similar material. The size
and shape of a given wearer's sole 102 is replicated in ball
portion 104, instep portion 106 and heel portion 108, with lateral
(upper portions) 120 and 120A adjacent thereto at either side.
[0017] Extended tabs 110 and 110A; 112 and 112A; 114 and 114A 116
and 116A and 118 and 118A are provided. When these extended tabs
are paired and joined together over sole 102, at junctures 150,
lateral portions 120 and 120A are also drawn up as an upper to
complete un-lasted embodiment 100. The connections at junctures 150
may be made by sewing, by hook and loop type devices, hook and eye
devices, by buttons, by snaps or adhesives. As a designer's option,
paired tabs 114 and 114A may be extended to wrap around the
wearer's ankle before being joined. The wearer's toes may be fully
exposed, while the sole is protected as shown in FIG. 2 and other
options are shown below.
[0018] FIGS. 3 and 4 show and describe a second preferred
embodiment 200 of un-lasted footwear according to the present
invention. FIG. 3 shows pattern 20 for shape 20A, to which a thin,
durable sheet of abrasion resisting, membranous material 101 is cut
to make embodiment 200, disclosed as a protected-toe expression of
the present inventions. A graduated family of such patterns is
required to produce the invention for all common foot sizes,
however, the nature of the invention is such that each increment of
the pattern will accommodate more than one standard shoe size.
Obviously, the right foot and left foot are simply opposite sides
of the same pattern. Material 101 may be 2 mm thick, or thicker,
neoprene, with a fabric backing, as is used for wet suits, or a
similar material. The size and shape of a given wearer's sole 202
is replicated in ball portion 204, instep portion 206 and heel
portion 208, with lateral (upper) portions 220 and 220A adjacent
thereto at either side. Extended tabs 210 and 210A; 212 and 212A;
214 and 214A 216 and 216A and 218 and 218A are provided. When these
extended tabs are paired and joined together over sole 202 at
junctures 250, upper portions 220 and 220A are also drawn up to
complete un-lasted embodiment 200.
[0019] Notably different from embodiment 100, here, in embodiment
200 of FIG. 3, we see ball portion 204 to be extended forward to
cover the underside of the given wearer's toes, with tab 204A
provided to secure this under-toe protection in place. Extended
tabs 210 and 210A; 212 and 212A; 214 and 214A 216 and 216A and 218
and 218A are provided, to be paired and joined at junctures 250.
When these extended tabs are paired and joined together over sole
202, lateral (upper) portions 220 and 220A are also drawn up. In a
similar manner, tab 204A is joined to tabs 210 and 210 at their
junctures 250, or to tab 210 at juncture 260. This completes
"construction" of un-lasted embodiment 200. Again, as a designer's
option, paired tabs 214 and 214A may be extended to wrap around the
wearer's ankle before being joined.
[0020] FIGS. 5 and 6 show and describe a third preferred embodiment
300 of un-lasted footwear according to the present invention. FIG.
5 shows pattern 30 for shape 30A, to which a thin, durable sheet of
abrasion resisting, membranous material 101 is cut to make
embodiment 300, a closed toe expression of the present invention.
Again, a graduated family of such patterns is required to produce
the invention for all common foot sizes. Sizing of embodiment 300
is somewhat more critical than for embodiments 100 and 200, so that
more patterns may be required to cover all sizes. Obviously, the
right foot and left foot shapes are simply opposite sides of the
same pattern. Material 101 may be 2 mm thick, or thicker, neoprene,
with a fabric backing, as is used for wet suits, or a similar
material. The size and shape of a given wearer's sole 302 is
replicated in ball portion 304, instep portion 306 and heel portion
308, with lateral (upper) portions 320 and 320A adjacent thereto at
either side.
[0021] Making embodiment 300, with its fully covered toe portion.
unlike embodiments 100 and 200, requires some sewing. The top cover
330 is folded back, under sole 302, to match its edge 331 with edge
331A of under toe portion 330A. Edge 331/331A can then be sewn from
the inside, and after making seam 32, the unfinished embodiment is
turned right side out. Extended tabs 310 and 310A; 312 and 312A;
314 and 314A 316 and 316A and 318 and 318A are provided. When these
extended tabs are paired and joined together above sole 302, at
junctures 350, lateral (upper) portions 320 and 320A are also drawn
up, so as to complete un-lasted embodiment 300. The connections at
junctures 350 may be made by sewing, by hook and loop type devices,
hook and eye devices, by buttons, by snaps or adhesives. As a
designer's option, paired tabs 314 and 314A may be extended to wrap
around the wearer's ankle before being joined.
[0022] The embodiments shown and described above are exemplary.
Even though many characteristics and advantages of the present
inventions have been described in the drawings and accompanying
text, the description is illustrative only. Changes may be made in
the detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement,
within the scope and principles of the inventions. The restrictive
description and drawings of the specific examples above do not
point out what an infringement of this patent would be, but are to
provide at least one explanation of how to use and make the
inventions. The limits of the inventions and the bounds of the
patent protection are measured by and will be defined in the
following claims.
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