US20070220777A1

US20070220777A1 - Comfortable and portable footwear

Info

Publication number: US20070220777A1
Application number: US11/388,820
Authority: US
Inventors: Colbie Richardson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-03-24
Filing date: 2006-03-24
Publication date: 2007-09-27

Abstract

Footwear capable of comfort, portability and adaptability by change of style and looks. The footwear is capable of being rolled up to allow for it to be condensed thereby allowing for ease of transport. The footwear is made of materials that ensure that it is comfortable for a wearer and that it may be rolled for easy storage and transport. The footwear comprises of pads disposed underneath the sole, flexibly connected with one another thereby providing a pliable sole and footwear which then can be rolled, stored and transported with ease.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to footwear. More specifically, the present invention relates to footwear adapted for comfort, flexibility and portability.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

People from all walks of life wear footwear for different occasions or purposes. As a result, there are numerous kinds of footwear to suit each purpose or occasion. Footwear may also come in different styles in order to suit the aesthetic needs of the wearer or for functional purposes. However, one may not be able to change the decorative or functional parts of their footwear if they want to wear the same footwear for a different occasion or if they want to change the style of the footwear. This is because most footwear are not capable of having their parts interchanged with other parts. In addition, there seems to be a close correlation between attractive footwear and discomfort. Consequently, people tend to carry multiple footwear in order to change once they feel discomfort or when they want to wear a different style. This is quite cumbersome and requires carrying more than one footwear at a same time. Where people are able to carry extra footwear, they would normally do so with a large enough bag or purse to carry their footwear. However, while carrying extra footwear may deal with the footwear comfort problem, this solution does not resolve one's inability to change the style of the footwear he/she is currently wearing.
Some manufacturers have attempted to design portable footwear. For instance, Lola Style has a shoe that is capable of being bent in half. Unfortunately, the Lola Style shoe is made of hard and thin material, is not pliable, is large and is not adapted to change the style of the footwear by changing its parts. In addition, the Lola style shoes are not capable of being rolled into a much more compacted or condensed form.
As such, there is a need for footwear that is comfortable, portable, and adaptable with different aesthetic adornments or functional parts (for example heels, straps, etc). This invention seeks to provide footwear that achieves these objectives. The footwear described in this application is designed with comfort and portability in mind. They may comprise of soft materials with massaging qualities, arch support and soles made of material capable of conforming to a foot profile. They may be used, for instance, by a bride during her wedding day during which she may be able to easily wear her footwear during the wedding ceremony and change the style during the reception. The bride may be able to change the look and style of her footwear by employing certain adornments or other functional parts that are compatible with the footwear. The footwear may also be used in lieu of the traditional flip-flop at a spa or nail salon after a patron has received a pedicure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide footwear that provides comfort while also allowing for portability and convenient storage.
It is another object of the present invention to provide footwear that has parts that are interchangeable to allow for different adornments or functional parts.
It is another object of the present invention is to provide footwear adapted to be rolled into a condensed form thereby allowing for ease of transport in a small pouch, bag or purse.
A yet further object of the present invention is to provide footwear that may be made of recycled material.
Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the Figures, wherein like reference numbers refer to similar items throughout the Figures, and:
FIG. 1 shows a top view of an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 shows a side view of an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 4A shows a pouch adapted to hold the footwear in a rolled condition.
FIG. 4B shows a reverse side of a pouch adapted to hold the footwear.
FIGS. 5A & 5B shows a side view of the footwear within a pouch designed for the footwear according to one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 5C shows the footwear according to one embodiment of the invention being condensed and secured after rolling.
FIG. 6 shows the footwear before rolling and after rolling has occurred.
FIGS. 7A-7D show the footwear according to yet another embodiment of the invention showing different attachment or detachable parts that may be interchanged with the footwear.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT (S)

FIG. 1 shows a top view of an embodiment of the invention. Referring now to FIG. 2, a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. Footwear 100 comprises of a strap portion 102, inner sole 104 and outer sole 106. The inner sole 104 is made to be pliable and is capable of being rolled up. Inner sole 104 may be made of different pliable material from outer sole 106. An example of such material is ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA) foam. Similar pliable materials may also be used. Disposed under or around inner sole 104 is outer sole 106, which may be attached to inner sole 104 by different means as understood by those skilled in the art. Outer sole 106 may wrap around inner sole 104, depending on the style or design of footwear 100, or may be disposed directly under inner sole 104. Pads 108 are located at different locations on outer sole 106. They may be located in a grid-like pattern as seen in FIG. 3 or in any pattern meant to allow for better functionality and portability of the footwear. Pads 108 are interconnected by sections 110, which may be made of the same material as with inner sole 104, outer sole 106 and pads 108. An injection process may be used to manufacture footwear 100 and, as such, pads 108 may be extended from a softer, more pliable inner sole 104, thus allowing footwear 100 to be rolled into a condensed form. Alternatively, sections 110 may also be made of pliable material that will ease the rolling up of footwear 100.
In another embodiment, all or at least one of pads 108 may be detached from the outer sole 106. This eases and facilitates the rolling up of footwear 100. It also results in a much more condensed or compacted footwear, once rolled up. Pads 108 may be detached or reattached a variety of ways, which may include the use of snap-on, slide and hook, twist and lock or screw-on mechanisms or any other means for attaching and detaching any one of pads 108. In this embodiment, after pad or pads 108 have been detached from footwear 100, a void or space is left in their place thereby reducing the size of footwear 100 once rolled. When footwear 100 is unrolled, pad or pads 108 may then be reattached to footwear 100.
In another embodiment, inner sole 104, outer sole 106, pads 108 and sections 110 are made of different materials to allow for better portability and comfort of footwear 100. For instance, inner sole 104 may be made of memory foam while outer sole 106 and pads 108 may be made of rubber. Outer sole 106 and pads 108 are made of material to provide arch support to the foot and create a massaging effect when footwear 100 is worn. In a further embodiment, within pads 108 are pressure point counteracting material that provides extra comfort for wearers. This pressure counteracting function may be achieved by varying the qualities of the material used for the pads. The variable qualities include density, thickness, layering etc.,.
FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the invention with pads 108 arranged in a grid-type pattern. It is understood that pads 108 may also be arranged in different configurations as the footwear design requires. As shown in FIG. 3, sections 110 are interspaced between pads 108.
FIGS. 4A & 4B show a pouch 400 designed to carry the footwear as described herein. FIG. 4A shows the front portion of pouch 400 with a drawstrap 402. Pouch 400 is adapted to have a number of functional parts such as pocket 404, which may be used for a variety of purposes. For example, one may use pocket 404 to place a small mirror, credit cards or identification cards. As understood, other securing devices such as a clasp or the like, may be used instead of drawstrap 402.
Referring now to FIG. 4B, a customer may roll footwear 100 by placing the footwear pair sole-to-sole, sliding them into footwear pocket 406 and rolling pouch 400 and footwear 100 together. Pouch 400 keeps dirt and debris from being transferred from footwear 100 into one's bag. Pouch 400 also serves to keep or secure footwear 100 in its rolled up state. Footwear 100 may also have a fastening element that could be used to hold the rolled and condensed or compacted form of footwear 100. The fastening element may be located at either end of footwear 100.
FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C show the succession of images of footwear 100 being placed in pouch 400 and rolled with footwear 100 inside pouch 400. FIGS. 5A and 5B shows footwear 100 placed in pouch 400 where footwear 100 has not been rolled up. FIG. 5C shows footwear 100 rolled up and placed within pouch 400.
FIG. 6A shows footwear 100 before being rolled up. As shown in FIG. 6B, thong or strap 601 may be used to secure footwear 100 once it has been rolled up without having footwear 100 placed in pouch 400. Pads 108 a and 108 b are designed to have a substantial portion of the surface area of each pad to roll up against the next adjacent pad. This may be effected by the use of different material for pads 108 or merely by the fact that the sections 110 are made to be quite flexible. This condenses or compacts the shape of footwear 100 and permits ease of portability of footwear 100.
FIGS. 7A and 7B show another embodiment of the invention. Here, footwear 100 is shown with connecting features 700 and 702. Connecting features 700 and 702 may be of the “snap-on”, “clip-on” or Velcro variety or the like. FIGS. 7C and 7D show the front and the back of an exemplary connecting feature. Connecting feature 702 may have an adornment with an aesthetic embellishment as shown. Alternatively, there may be a plurality of connecting features, which allow for the attachment or interchanging of aesthetic or functional parts of the footwear 100 such as heels, straps, etc. as the occasion or design may require.
Although this invention has been disclosed with reference to specific forms and embodiments, it will be evident that a great number of variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, parts may be reversed, equivalent elements may be substituted for those specifically disclosed, and certain features of the invention may be used independently of other features all without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. Footwear designed for comfort and portability, comprising:

a. a pliable inner sole;

b. a pliable outer sole disposed beneath or around the inner sole; and

c. a plurality of pads disposed beneath the outer sole wherein each pad is flexibly connected with each adjacent pad.

2. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein the inner sole is made of material that may conform to a foot profile.

3. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein the inner sole further comprises of counteracting pressure points positioned to counteract exerted pressure on said points.

4. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein the outer sole is made of memory foam.

5. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein the footwear is made of ethyl vinyl acetate.

6. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein the pads are of varying thickness.

7. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein the footwear has a fastener attached to it for fastening the footwear once rolled up.

8. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein the pads are made of pliable material.

9. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein each pad is adapted to have a substantial portion of each pad to be rolled against each adjacent pad.

10. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein the footwear's strap or thong may be used to secure the footwear once rolled up.

11. Footwear designed for comfort and portability, comprising:

a. a pliable inner sole;

b. a pliable outer sole disposed beneath or around the inner sole; and

c. adaptors or connectors disposed on the footwear to allow for the placement or detachment of at least an adornment or at least a functional part.

12. The footwear according to claim 11 further comprising a plurality of pads disposed beneath the outer sole wherein each pad is flexibly connected with each adjacent pad.

13. The footwear according to claim 11, wherein the inner sole further comprises of counteracting pressure points positioned to counteract exerted pressure on said points.

14. The footwear according to claim 11, wherein the footwear has a fastener attached for fastening the footwear once rolled up.

15. The footwear according to claim 11, wherein each pad is adapted to have a substantial portion of each pad to be rolled against each adjacent pad.

16. Footwear, designed for comfort and portability, comprising:

a. a pliable inner sole;

b. a pliable outer sole disposed beneath or around the inner sole; and

c. a plurality of pads disposed beneath the outer sole wherein at least one pad is detachable to enable ease of rolling and where the at least one pad may be reattached to the outer sole.

17. The footwear according to claim 16, wherein the inner sole further comprises of counteracting pressure points positioned to counteract exerted pressure on said points.

18. The footwear according to claim 16, wherein the footwear has a fastener attached to it for fastening the footwear once rolled up.

19. The footwear according to claim 16, wherein each pad is adapted to have a substantial portion of its surface area to be rolled against the next adjacent pad.