U.S. patent application number 16/815311 was filed with the patent office on 2020-12-17 for sandal or slip-on footwear with improved optional-use heel strap and related methods.
The applicant listed for this patent is Stephen Arnold. Invention is credited to Stephen Arnold.
Application Number | 20200390183 16/815311 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004691901 |
Filed Date | 2020-12-17 |
![](/patent/app/20200390183/US20200390183A1-20201217-D00000.png)
![](/patent/app/20200390183/US20200390183A1-20201217-D00001.png)
![](/patent/app/20200390183/US20200390183A1-20201217-D00002.png)
![](/patent/app/20200390183/US20200390183A1-20201217-D00003.png)
![](/patent/app/20200390183/US20200390183A1-20201217-D00004.png)
United States Patent
Application |
20200390183 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Arnold; Stephen |
December 17, 2020 |
Sandal or slip-on footwear with improved optional-use heel strap
and related methods
Abstract
Disclosed is slip-on footwear with a concealable heel strap that
is padded. Suitably, the padding of the padded heel strap is
convertible into a pull-tab whenever the heel strap is
concealed.
Inventors: |
Arnold; Stephen; (San Diego,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Arnold; Stephen |
San Diego |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000004691901 |
Appl. No.: |
16/815311 |
Filed: |
March 11, 2020 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
16450835 |
Jun 24, 2019 |
10617170 |
|
|
16815311 |
|
|
|
|
29695000 |
Jun 14, 2019 |
|
|
|
16450835 |
|
|
|
|
29695000 |
Jun 14, 2019 |
|
|
|
29695000 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 3/126 20130101;
A43B 3/242 20130101; A43B 3/122 20130101; A43B 3/0073 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A43B 3/24 20060101
A43B003/24; A43B 3/00 20060101 A43B003/00; A43B 3/12 20060101
A43B003/12 |
Claims
1. A slip-on sandal with a heel strap that features at least two
pull tabs that have been unfolded to a heel-pad and placed on a
heal of a user.
2. The slip on sandal of claim 1 wherein the heel strap is
optional-use.
3. The slip on sandal of claim 2 wherein the heel strap was
disposed in a strap channel before having been unfolded to the
heel-pad and placed on the heal of the user.
4. The slip on sandal of claim 3 wherein the heel strap is
partially strung through a hole.
5. The slip on sandal of claim 4 wherein the heel strap is made out
of a polymer.
6. The slip on sandal of claim 5 wherein there are two pull
tabs.
7. The slip on sandal of claim 6 wherein the heel-pad has been
removed from the heal, folded into the two pull tabs, and then
disposed in the strap channel.
8. A slip-on sandal comprising: an upper; a sole with a strap
channel and hole; an optional use strap with heal padding that is
reverse folded into two pull tabs, wherein the optional use strap
is disposed through the hole and within the strap channel so that
the pull tabs are extended from the strap channel.
9. The slip-on sandal of claim 8 that is put on and taken off of a
foot by folding and unfolding the two pull tabs to put on and take
off the strap out of the strap channel to remove a user foot from
the upper and off the sole.
10. The slip on sandal of claim 9 wherein the strap is elastic.
11. The slip on sandal of claim 10 wherein the upper is defined by
a toe hole and a foot strap.
12. A slip on sandal with a heel strap that features a heel pad
that has been folded into at least two pull tabs and placed in a
strap channel.
13. The slip on sandal of claim 12 wherein the pull tabs extend
from the strap channel.
14. The slip on sandal of claim 13 wherein the heel strap was
disposed in a user heel before having been folded and placed in the
strap channel.
15. The slip on sandal of claim 14 wherein the sandal further
comprises a sole in the shape of a human foot.
16. The slip on sandal of claim 15 wherein the strap channel is
defined in the periphery of a heel portion of the sole.
17. The slip on sandal of claim 16 wherein the strap channel holds
the heel padding in a reverse fold so that the heel padding is
retained within the strap channel while it is inside out.
18. The slip on sandal of claim 17 wherein the strap is made out of
rubber.
19. The slip on sandal of claim 18 wherein the strap is flush to
the sole when stored in the strap channel.
20. The slip on sandal of claim 19 wherein the heel padding is a
polymer.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] See Application Data Sheet (ADS).
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable.
THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT
[0003] Not applicable.
REFERENCE TO AN APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC AND
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE OF THE MATERIAL ON THE COMPACT DISC
[0004] Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR A JOINT
INVENTOR
[0005] Reserved for a later date, if necessary.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of Invention
[0006] The disclosed subject matter is in the field of sandal or
slip-on footwear.
Background of the Invention
[0007] Slip-on sandals, like flip-flops (e.g., FIG. 1, U.S. Des.
Pat. D793,041 (issued Aug. 1, 2017)) or Crocs.RTM. (e.g., FIG. 1,
U.S. Des. Pat. D535,088 (issued Jan. 16, 2007)), are a stylish and
cozy style of footwear. However, slip-on sandals are typically not
secured to a user's heel and, as a result, this style of footwear
can either make it difficult for a user to make abrupt and
complicated footsteps or else easily slip-off during undesirable
circumstances. So, some slip-on sandals are provided with an
optional-use heel-strap.
[0008] One type of optional use heel-strap for slip-on sandals is
shown in FIG. 8 of U.S. Des. Pat. D838,467 (issued Jan. 22, 2019).
The optional-use heel strap shown in that document is simply stuck
to the midsole of a slip-on sandal and provided over a user's heel
whenever its utility is desirable. A similar optional-use heel
strap that is stuck through a slip-on sandal's upper is shown in
FIG. 1 of U.S. D694,994 (issued Dec. 10, 2013). Unfortunately, this
type of optional-use heel strap can damage the slip-on sandal and
is, therefore, not entirely satisfactory in all situations. This
type of strap has other drawbacks too, like, the inability of a
user to hide the strap once the strap is placed on the slip-on and
the potential for injury if the strap is placed on the slip on in
an incorrect manner.
[0009] Another type of optional-use heel strap for slip-on sandals
(like Crocs.RTM.) is shown in FIG. 3 of U.S. D732,808 (issued Jun.
30, 2015). The optional-use heel strap shown in that document is
coupled to the upper and placed in a heel position when its utility
is desired or else simply rotated out of the way over the sandal's
upper when not needed. This type of optional-use heel strap can
change the aesthetic appearance of the sandal and is, therefore,
not entirely satisfactory in situations where a heel strap is
wanted without a corresponding change in the sandal's appearance.
Also, this type of heel strap is attached with a metal grommet
which can be uncomfortable or rust.
[0010] Yet another type of optional-use heel strap for slip-on
sandals (like flip flops or Crocs.RTM.) is shown in the figures of
U.S. Published Pat. App. US2008/0189984 (published Aug. 14, 2008).
This type of optional use heel strap is concealed in the sole of a
sandal whenever the heel strap is not needed and otherwise exposed
when its utility is desirable. A more elaborate version of this
type of optional use heel strap is shown in the figures of U.S.
Pat. No. 7,823,299 (issued Nov. 2, 2010). This type of optional-use
heel strap can be uncomfortable and therefore unsatisfactory in
some situations since it is not always possible to conceal a
sufficiently padded heel strap in the sole of a slip-on sandal.
Also, these types of heel-straps are difficult to reveal once put
in a concealed configuration.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] In view of the foregoing, an object of this specification is
to disclose slip-on footwear with an improved optional-use heel
strap. It is a further objective of this disclosure to provide an
optional use heel strap to slip-on footwear without damaging the
footwear. It is another objective of this specification to describe
footwear with a heel strap that can be used or not used without
substantially altering the aesthetic appearance of the footwear.
Finally, it is an objective of this disclosure to highlight slip-on
footwear with a concealable heel strap that is heavily padded.
[0012] In one embodiment, slip-on footwear includes a sole, an
upper, and a padded optional-use heel strap concealed within a
strap channel disposed around the heel portion of the sole;
wherein, the padded portion of the heel strap is folded in half to
define a pull-tab that extends from the strap channel of sole for a
user to grip the pull-tab to release the strap from the strap
channel.
[0013] In one mode of use, the slip-on footwear is provided to a
foot of a wearer, the pull-tab is pulled to expose the heel-strap,
the pull-tab is unfolded to define padding for the strap, and strap
is placed over the heel of a wearer with the padding provided to
the wearer's heel.
[0014] In another mode of use, a wearer of the slip-on footwear
pulls the padding of the strap off of the user's heel, folds the
padding to define the pull tab, and deposits the heel strap in the
strap channel of the sole of the slip-on footwear.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] Other objectives of the disclosure will become apparent to
those skilled in the art once the invention has been shown and
described. The manner in which these objectives and other desirable
characteristics can be obtained is explained in the following
description and attached figures in which:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a side view of a sandal;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a front view of a sandal;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the sandal;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a sandal;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a top view of a sandal;
[0021] FIG. 6 is an environmental side view of the sandal in an
alternate configuration;
[0022] FIG. 7 is an environmental front view of the sandal in the
alternate configuration;
[0023] FIG. 8 is an environmental rear view of the sandal in the
alternate configuration;
[0024] FIG. 9 is a side view of a sandal with the optional use heel
strap removed; and,
[0025] FIG. 10 is a schematic of the optional use heel strap.
[0026] In the figures, the following components are associated with
the adjacent reference numerals:
TABLE-US-00001 1000 slip-on sandal; 1100 sole 1110 optional use
strap 1111 pull-tab 1112 heel padding 1120 strap channel 1121 hole
1200 upper
[0027] It is to be noted, however, that the appended figures
illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are
therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the
invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments that
will be appreciated by those reasonably skilled in the relevant
arts. Also, figures are not necessarily made to scale but are
representative.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0028] Disclosed is slip-on footwear with a concealable heel strap
that is padded. Suitably, the padding of the padded heel strap is
convertible into a pull-tab whenever the heel strap is concealed.
The other specifics of the disclosed slip-on footwear with a
concealable heel strap are described with reference to the
drawings.
[0029] FIG. 1 is a side view of a sandal 1000. FIG. 2 is a front
view of the sandal 1000. FIG. 3 is a rear view of the sandal 1000.
FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a sandal. FIG. 5 is a top view of a
sandal. As shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, the sandal 1000 is comprises
a sole 1100, an upper 1200, and a concealed strap 1110 with two
pull-tabs 1111.
[0030] Still referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, the sole 1100 is best
seen in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the upper is best seen in FIGS. 1, 2,
3, and 5, and the heel strap 1110 is best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3. As
shown, the sole 1110 is typically shaped like a human foot and
defined by foam, rubber, or some combination thereof. As best seen
in FIG. 4, the upper 1200 is provided to a top surface of the sole
1100. In the preferred embodiment, the upper is defined by a toe
hole and a foot strap, the upper can be any type of slip-on known
to those of skill in the art. As discussed below in connection with
FIGS. 1 and 3, a heel strap 1110 is concealed in the sole 1100.
[0031] FIG. 6 is an environmental side view of the sandal in an
alternate configuration where the heel strap 1110 is revealed. FIG.
7 is an environmental front view of the sandal in the alternate
configuration. FIG. 8 is an environmental rear view of the sandal
in the alternate configuration. As shown in FIGS. 6 through 8, the
sandal 1000 in the alternate configuration comprises the sole 1100
with a strap channel, an upper 1200, and a revealed strap 1110 that
has padding 1112.
[0032] Still referring to FIGS. 9 through 8, the sole 1100 is best
seen in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the upper is best seen in FIGS. 1, 2,
3, and 5, and the heel strap 1110 is best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3. As
shown, the sole 1110 is still typically shaped like a human foot
and features a strap channel 1120 disposed around the periphery of
the heel portion of the sole 1100. As shown, a heel strap 1110 is
revealed with padding 1112 positioned over a heel of a wearer.
[0033] Comparing FIGS. 1 through 5 through FIGS. 6 through 8, the
strap 1110 can be concealed in the strap channel 1120 during
periods of non-use or else be provided over the heel of a wearer
during periods of use. Suitably, pull tab 1111 is accessible at the
heel of the sole 1100 so that the strap may be removed from the
strap channel 1120. Suitably, the padding 1112 is unfurled from the
pull tabs 1111 after the strap 1110 is pulled out of the strap
channel 1120. Once unfurled, the padding 1112 may be provided over
the heel of a wearer.
[0034] FIG. 9 is a side view of a sandal with the optional use heel
strap removed. As shown, the sole 1100 may be provided with a hole
1121 so that the strap may be fastened to the slip-on sandal 1000.
Suitably, the hole may be provided through the sole 1100 or the
sole may be split 1122 and the strap 1110 (not shown in FIG. 10)
sandwiched into the strap channel 1120.
[0035] FIG. 10 is a schematic of the optional use heel strap 1110.
As shown the padding 1112 may be unfurled in an upright position to
define a cup-like heel pad. The padding 1112 may be reverse folded
(e.g., by somewhat turning the cup-like heel pad inside out) to
create at least one pull tab 1111. Suitably, the padding 1112 may
feature a bias to a configuration of a heel pad wherein the strap
channel defeats the bias to hold the padding in a folded state to
expose the pull tabs. See, e.g., FIG. 1. In one embodiment, the
strap is made of rubber or other elastomeric materials.
[0036] Although the method and apparatus is described above in
terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it
should be understood that the various features, aspects and
functionality described in one or more of the individual
embodiments are not limited in their applicability to the
particular embodiment with which they are described, but instead
might be applied, alone or in various combinations, to one or more
of the other embodiments of the disclosed method and apparatus,
whether or not such embodiments are described and whether or not
such features are presented as being a part of a described
embodiment. Thus the breadth and scope of the claimed invention
should not be limited by any of the above-described
embodiments.
[0037] Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations
thereof, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as
open-ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing:
the term "including" should be read as meaning "including, without
limitation" or the like, the term "example" is used to provide
exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or
limiting list thereof, the terms "a" or "an" should be read as
meaning "at least one," "one or more," or the like, and adjectives
such as "conventional," "traditional," "normal," "standard,"
"known" and terms of similar meaning should not be construed as
limiting the item described to a given time period or to an item
available as of a given time, but instead should be read to
encompass conventional, traditional, normal, or standard
technologies that might be available or known now or at any time in
the future. Likewise, where this document refers to technologies
that would be apparent or known to one of ordinary skill in the
art, such technologies encompass those apparent or known to the
skilled artisan now or at any time in the future.
[0038] The presence of broadening words and phrases such as "one or
more," "at least," "but not limited to" or other like phrases in
some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case is
intended or required in instances where such broadening phrases
might be absent. The use of the term "assembly" does not imply that
the components or functionality described or claimed as part of the
module are all configured in a common package. Indeed, any or all
of the various components of a module, whether control logic or
other components, might be combined in a single package or
separately maintained and might further be distributed across
multiple locations.
[0039] Additionally, the various embodiments set forth herein are
described in terms of exemplary block diagrams, flow charts and
other illustrations. As will become apparent to one of ordinary
skill in the art after reading this document, the illustrated
embodiments and their various alternatives might be implemented
without confinement to the illustrated examples. For example, block
diagrams and their accompanying description should not be construed
as mandating a particular architecture or configuration.
[0040] All original claims submitted with this specification are
incorporated by reference in their entirety as if fully set forth
herein.
* * * * *