AU2013100142B4 - A Thong Sandal Saver Clip - Google Patents

Abstract

There is an anchor repair clip for use with a thong sandal. The clip includes a plug retaining holder 7 defined by an upstanding wall 8 and an end wall 9. There is an outwardly extending flange 10 formed around an open base of the plug holder. There is an aperture 11 through the end wall 8 and a slot 12 extending from the aperture 11 out to the periphery of the flange 10. The clip is dimensioned such that an end portion of a thong sandal strap 3D can be fitted through said slot 12 and into said aperture 11 to locate an associated anchor plug 4 in the holder 7 with the holder 7 disposed within recess 6 in the underside of the thong sandal and the flange 10 abutting the underside of the sole 2 to repair or improve an anchorage of the strap.

Description

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Invention Title: A THONG SANDAL SAVER CLIP The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing known to me. 1 This invention relates to footwear. More particularly it discloses a repair clip for improving and extending the service life of a thong sandal. The type of thong referred to may be an open toed sandal comprising a flexible rubber sole held loosely on the wearer's foot by a generally Y-shaped strap. The strap includes separate segments which extend up from-anchorages at each side in the rear portion of the sole and pass forward over the front of the foot. They then join together to extend back down between the wearer's first and second toes to a third anchorage near the front of the sole. The ends of the strap are typically formed into enlarged anchor plugs which when forced through small holes in the flexible sole are retained in recesses on the underside. While such casual footwear is generally comfortable and serviceable it has disadvantages. One disadvantage is that with use the strap - especially at the front anchorage - has a tendency to detach by the anchor plug either tearing out of the hole or simply pulling through the weakened sole as it wears thin. 2 It is therefore an object of the invention to ameliorate the aforementioned disadvantage and accordingly the invention in one form discloses an anchor repair clip for use with a thong of the type described, said clip including a plug retaining holder defined by an upstanding side wall and end wall, an outwardly extending flange formed around an open base of said holder, an aperture through said end wall and a slot extending from said aperture out to the periphery of said flange, the dimensions of said clip being such that an end portion of a thong strap can be fitted through said slot and into said aperture to locate an associated anchor plug in the holder and said holder disposed within a recess in the underside of the thong whereby said flange abuts the underside of the sole to repair or improve an anchorage of said strap. Preferably but not essentially the plug retaining holder and flange are circular and said holder is located centrally within the periphery of the flange. It is further preferred that the plug holder is dimensioned so that the plug is a close tolerance push fit therein. 3 It is further preferred that said holder is a push fit within said recess. It is further preferred that the clip is formed from a low cost mouldable plastic such as Polyvinyl Chloride Acetate (PVCA) or High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS). One currently preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings in which: Figures 1 and 2 are perspective and underside views of a thong of a type with which the invention may be used, Figures 3 and 4 are perspective views of a thong repair clip according to the invention from the top and underside, Figure 5 is an underside view of the thong of figures 1 and 2 with the clip fitted, and Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the thong and clip along the line A-A of figure 5. Referring first to figures 1 and 2 there is a thong indicated generally as 1 of known design with a flexible rubber sole 2 and rubber foot strap 3. The 4 strap is of a generally Y-shaped configuration. One section of the strap is bifurcated with separate segments 3A extending up from anchorages 3B at each side in the rear portion of the sole 2. These segments are shaped to extend forward over the front of the wearer's foot and then join together at 3C. A single portion 3D of the strap extends down to pass between the wearer's first and second toes and then anchor at 3E near the front of the sole. These anchorages typically include enlarged circular anchor plugs 4 formed at the ends of the strap which are pushed through apertures 5 in the sole and seat in recesses 6 in the underside. In accordance with the invention a repair clip is provided as shown in figures 3 and 4. It may comprise a circular plug receiving holder 7 formed by upstanding side wall 8 and end wall 9. A circular flange 10 is formed around the open base of the plug holder. There is also an aperture 11 through the end wall 8 and a slot 12 extending radially from the aperture to the periphery of the flange. In use of the clip as shown in figures 5 and 6 a strap anchor plug 4 on the underside of the sole located in the plug holder 7 by sliding the associated end portion of the strap in along the slot 12. The plug holder is 5 then push fitted into the aforementioned recess 6 in the bottom of the sole 2 whereby the flange 10 abuts the surrounding underside area of the sole to prevent clip and strap plug pulling back through. The arrangement is such that thongs with worn or torn strap anchorages can be easily restored to use and their service life extended. While only the forward strap anchorage is shown fitted with the clip it may similarly be used for the rear strap anchorages with appropriate modifications to the shape of the clip flange. It will thus be appreciated that this invention at least in the form of the embodiment disclosed provides a novel and useful device for repairing and extending the service life of thong sandals. Clearly however the example described is only the currently preferred form of the invention and a variety of modifications may be made which would be apparent to a person skilled in the art. For example the shape and configuration of the clip may be changed to suit different thong designs. Also, while it is currently preferred to mould the clip from a low cost plastic such as Polyvinyl Chloride Acetate (PVCA) or High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS) the invention extends to the use of other suitable materials including metals. 6

Claims (5)

1. An anchor repair clip for use with a thong sandal of the type described, said clip including a plug retaining holder defined by an upstanding side wall and end wall, an outwardly extending flange formed around an open base of said holder, an aperture through said end wall and a slot extending from said aperture out to the periphery of said flange, the dimensions of said clip being such that an end portion of a thong sandal strap can be inserted in through said slot to said aperture to locate an associated anchor plug in the holder and said holder disposed within a recess in the underside of the thong sandal whereby said flange abuts the underside of the sole to repair or improve an anchorage of said strap.

2. The anchor repair clip as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plug retaining holder and flange are circular and said holder is located centrally within the periphery of the flange.

3. The anchor repair clip as claimed in claim 2 wherein the plug retaining holder is dimensioned so that the anchor plug is a push fit therein. 7

4. The anchor repair clip as claimed in claim 3 wherein said plug retaining holder is dimensioned to be a a push fit within said recess.

5. The anchor repair clip as claimed in claim 4 wherein said slot extends radially from the aperture out to the periphery of the flange. Dated this 11th day of February 2013 David Cavdarovski By His Patent Attorney MICHAEL ANDERSON-TAYLOR 8