US20180027918A1

US20180027918A1 - Shoe Carried by a Strap on the Leg

Info

Publication number: US20180027918A1
Application number: US15/553,671
Authority: US
Inventors: Fatmah ALMSHAL
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-02-27
Filing date: 2016-04-18
Publication date: 2018-02-01
Also published as: SA115360339B1; WO2017018913A1

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a shoe, in particular a shoe carried by a strap on the leg and shoes which need to be taken off temporarily then re-worn after performing a task. The shoe is used to solve problems that arise in crowded places where the usage of a personal shoe presents a burden. The shoe carried by a leg strap includes a leg strap, an upper cover, a connection, a shoe, and a rubber ring.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to shoes, and more particularly to shoes carried by a strap on the leg. These shoes can be folded and carried on the body in a simple, elegant, and unencumbering manner without the need of additional means for carrying and protecting the same, such as personal bags, sacks or cupboards or without the need to carry the shoes by hand. These shoes can be carried freely and do not block the movement when they are taken-off temporarily for performing a certain task by their users and then re-worn after performing the task in a crowded place, such as sacred places and beaches.
Well-known personal shoes or its substitutes are fabric, non-foldable shoes which can be damaged rapidly and require additional means to carry such as bags and sacks or require special places which protect them in covered manner. Otherwise, the shoes are left carelessly and may be accumulated which blocks the movement of people, as in large mosques and shrines. Finding a safe place for keeping the shoes in crowded sites, such as beaches, takes a time. In addition, the shoes are susceptible to theft or loss which may cause inconvenience to their users. Furthermore, the organizers of such places make substantial and material efforts to handle these matters. The accumulated and left shoes are often disposed of by burning, which harms the environment because they are made of plastic. The shoes also take a large space which can be utilized by people.
The object of the invention is to avoid and solve the above-mentioned problems by carrying the shoe folded and wrapped on the leg of its user.
The current invention serves the visitors of mosques and shrines as a first target group to meet their needs and it also serves the beach visitors. The invention is compatible with the custom of some peoples such as Japanese who prefers to take off the shoes before entering a home.
Some prior art documents disclose shoes having similar objects to the present invention but they serve different groups of people. The present invention serves the visitors of mosques and places of worship.
Considering FIG. 1 of the present invention in view of the closest prior art documents, we see:

1. A class of footwear integrated with a leg strap having special specifications with foldable shoes which are suitable for all sizes, functions and weather conditions.
2. The upper fastening strip (upper cover) and the lower fastening strip (connection) of the leg strap which carry and fasten the shoes without any bag or pouch for protecting the shoe.
3. A belt for carrying the shoe which is optional in the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a shoe carried by a leg strap which comprises a shoe and a protecting means attached to it for protecting the shoe which is carried on the body of the user without using any additional means. The shoe is compatible with the habits and culture of some communities. It solves the problem of carrying the shoe in mosques, sacred places and shrines. The shoe is self-wrapped and self-carried. It is used in narrow and wide spaces where the shoe needs to be taken off by the user to perform a task then re-worn after performing the task.
The shoe carried by a leg strap of the invention is lightweight, easy-to-use, simple, and can be folded to minimum size such that it is covered and carried on the body of the user without the need to use additional means, such as bags, sacks and belts. It performs three functions of carrying, wrapping and protecting at the same time.
The shoe can be used easily many times. Its top part can be made in different styles using different materials that achieve the objects thereof. It can be used in all weather conditions. It does not cause dirt or accumulation, which blocks the movement of the people in a place. The leg strap can be wrapped over the shoe and attached to the ring and therefore the shoes are used normally. If the user encounters a crowd, he will detach the strap and wear the shoe.
The shoe carried by a leg strap comprising:
a leg strap (1) which is a lightweight rubber strip of small thickness, 32 cm in length and 10 cm in width, with two free ends comprising a Velcro, wherein the two ends are attached after wrapping the strip around the leg. At the top of the strap from the middle is fastened an upper cover which opposes a connection. The leg strap is used to carry all the components over the leg after taking off and folding the shoe,
an upper cover (2) which is a piece of a rubber strip extending downwardly, having one end fastened to the top of the leg strap and a free second end. It has a size of 10*10 cm. It has in the center of its inner side a vertically mounted coarse Velcro of 7*2 cm in size which is used to fasten and cover the shoe,
a connection (3) which is a rubber strip connecting the leg strap to the shoe, having one end fastened to the bottom of the strap from the middle and a second end fastened to the shoe at the middle of the foot, having a length of 7 cm and a width of 4 cm, having a fine Velcro in its inner side in contact with the foot. It is wrapped around the shoe after the shoe is folded until the Velcro appears for holding the shoe in place over the strap and preventing it from detaching with the help of the upper cover,
a shoe (4) which is soft, lightweight and can be folded to 4 parts without any difficulties, the top portion of which carries a rubber ring 5 cm away from the point of its attachment with the connection. It has several designs which are suitable for its attachment with the connection. Its base is made of lightweight rubble rubber. It is rough and robust for preventing sliding and for usage several times, it has a small thickness of less than 1 cm and preferably 5 cm. Thus the shoe of these specifications can be kept on the leg strap,
a rubber ring (5) which is tightly fastened 5 cm away from the point of attachment of the shoe with the connection. It fastens the leg strap after folding it in a cylindrical form from its free side over the shoe when there is no need to use the strap while wearing the shoes in a normal manner (FIG. 1).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of the components of a shoe carried by a leg when worn. The components are: leg strap, upper cover, connection, shoe and rubber ring.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the foot showing a shoe carried on a leg when the shoe is taken off, protected and covered above the leg strap. It also shows the leg strap when the shoe is taken off, folded and protected above the leg strap under the upper cover.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the inverted shoe after folding without touching the bottom of the shoe: (1) the shoe is inverted; (2) both ends of the shoe are bent to the middle; (3) both ends are coincided and the folding is complete.

FIG. 4 is a top view showing the steps of folding the entire leg strap in a cylindrical form, keeping it over the shoe and inserting it into the rubber ring.

FIG. 5 is a side view of one optional embodiment of the invention in which a bag is connected to the leg strap. (1) The bag is opened from the top and the shoe is put into it. (2) The bag is opened from the bottom and the shoe is pending from it.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in FIGS. 1-5, the shoe carried by a leg strap comprises:

1—Leg Strap (1)

The leg strap is the main part of the present invention. It is a lightweight rubber strip of small thickness, 32 cm in length and 10 cm in width, with two free ends comprising fine and coarse Velcro, wherein the fine Velcro is longer to adjust the size and wherein the two ends are attached after wrapping the strip around the leg. At the top of the strap from the middle is fastened an upper cover which opposes a connection. The leg strap is used to carry all the components over the leg after taking off and folding the shoe with the help of the connection for folding and carrying and the upper cover for attaching and covering (FIG. 1).

2—Upper Cover (2)

It is one of the main components of the leg strap. It is a piece of a rubber strip extending downwardly, having one end fastened to the top of the leg strap and a free second end. It has a size of 10*10 cm. It has in the center of its inner side a vertically mounted coarse Velcro of 7*2 cm in size which is used to fasten and cover the shoe (FIG. 1).

3—Connection (3)

It is a rubber strip which connects the leg strap to the shoe, having one end fastened to the bottom of the strap from the middle and a second end fastened to the shoe at the middle of the foot, having a length of 7 cm and a width of 4 cm, having a fine Velcro in its inner side in contact with the foot. The connection is wrapped around the shoe after the shoe is folded until the Velcro appears for holding the shoe in place over the strap and preventing it from detaching. The inventive idea here is to put the Velcro at the inner side of the upper cover and in the inner side of the connection so that when wrapping is complete, the Velcro appears and sticks the shoe. (FIG. 1).

4—Shoe (4)

It is a soft, lightweight shoe which can be folded to 4 parts without any difficulties, can restore its original shape rapidly, the top portion of which carries a rubber ring 5 cm away from the point of its attachment with the connection. It has several designs which are suitable for its attachment with the connection. Its base is made of lightweight rubble rubber. It is rough and robust for preventing sliding and for usage several times, it has a small thickness of less than 1 cm and preferably 5 cm. Thus the shoe of these specifications can be kept on the leg strap (FIG. 1).
5—Rubber ring (5)
A rubber ring which is tightly fastened 5 cm away from the point of attachment of the shoe with the connection. It fastens the leg strap after folding it in a cylindrical form and inserting its free side within the ring over the shoe when there is no need to use the strap while wearing the shoes in a normal manner (FIG. 1).
According to another optional embodiment of the invention, a small bag for the shoe is used while the shoe is attached or detached (free). (See FIG. 5).

Method of Use:

1—to wear the shoe for a first time, the foot is entered into the shoe; the strap is wrapped around the leg and adhered with Velcro. The foot in this case is worn.
2—to take off and carry the shoe, the shoe is drawn from its front, pulled towards the leg and turned upside down. Then its two ends are folded inwardly to the middle line until they coincide each other, then the shoe is folded to wrap the connection around it after the fine Velcro appears. The upper cover is then removed and attached on it. Here, the shoe is pending above the strap in a folded and covered form. The foot in this case is unworn.
3—to wear the shoe for a second time after the user finishes a task in the unworn case, the cover is removed, the strap is detached, the shoe is unfolded and worn again.
It is noted that there are three types of folding that cannot be used at the same time at all because each type has a mechanism, object, form and result. The first type of folding is only required and the rest are optional.
1. The first basic folding is essential in the invention, in which the shoe is carried in a folded form by the leg strap without a storing bag or pouch. This type of folding is performed when the shoe is taken off, covered and carried on the body of a user who walks barefoot (FIG. (3)).
2. The second type of folding is not essential in the invention, in which the strap is itself folded with its components in a cylindrical form and fastened over the shoe by inserting its free end into the rubber connection. This type of folding is performed when there is no need for the strap and the shoe is worn in a normal manner by the foot (1, 2, 3) (FIG. 4)).
3. The third type of folding is not essential in the invention, in which each single leg strap carries the covered, folded shoe on it. Both ends of the strap are coincided to each other. A long belt is entered so that each leg strap appears as a hanging bag. This type of folding is performed when the user does not wish to carry the shoe on the leg but on the waist or the neck. This is an additional non-basic alternative for the invention.
Further embodiments of the invention and features that can be added:

1. a lightweight pouch is mounted under the upper cover on the leg strap to protect something.
2. a small transparent pouch is mounted on the upper cover for adding identification code.
3. a belt is used to suspend two straps in any place while the shoes are carried on them.
4. a small bag with a cover of 12*10*3 cm in size can be used. This bag is mounted in the leg strap when the shoe is detached completely. In this case there is no upper cover and no connection but the shoe is still kept and covered on the leg (FIG. 5).
5. the width of the leg strap can be less than 7 cm to 10 cm such that it does not hamper its function. The width can be different in the middle from the ends.
6. the leg strap can be fastened to the shoes in any appropriate way.
7. the connection is used from the front (front connection), it can also fastened behind the leg at the end of the shoe instead of fastening it from the front and the upper cover is also fastened behind the leg. The folding process is performed behind the leg as a further embodiment of the invention (back connection).
8. the leg strap and shoe are made from high quality materials of suitable rubber, rubble rubber or synthetic fabric which is cold, light weight water-resistant and anti-sweating.
9. a variety of colours, prints and top designs are used for the shoe.

Reasons for choice carrying and keeping the shoe on the leg:

1. the leg is the nearest organ to the foot for storing a footwear.
2. using the bottom of the leg, not the top or the whole of the leg, reduces storage space and pressure on the leg. Carrying the shoe on the leg in crowd uses a small amount of the body size and does not take a large space.
3. various movements of setting can be made due to the softness of the shoe.

The most innovative ideas are:

1. protecting, wrapping and self-carrying the shoe particularly on the leg.
2. protecting the shoe particularly at the end of the leg by size reduction, attaching, and fastening of the shoe.
3. the innovative design of a leg strap with an upper cover and a connection and without bag and pouches.
4. the size of the upper cover having a coarse Velcro in its inner side which is used for attaching to the connection.
5. the size of the connection having a fine Velcro in the inner side to be wrapped on the shoe
6. the method of folding and attaching the shoe itself by wrapping the connection around the shoe.
7. the method of folding the leg strap and storing it over the shoe
8. the method of folding the two leg straps, forming them like a pouch and inserting an optional belt for carrying.

Claims

1. A shoe and leg strap comprising:

a leg strap comprising a lightweight rubber strip constantly attached to the shoe, wherein an upper cover is fastened to the top of the strap from the middle in opposite of a connection, which is a rubber strip connecting it to the shoe which carries a rubber ring,

wherein the strip is 32 cm in length and 10 cm in width, with two free ends comprising a fine and coarse hook and loop fastener, wherein the fine hook and loop fastener is longer to adjust size and wherein the two ends are attached after wrapping the strip around a wearer's leg, and wherein

the leg strap is configured to carry all components over the leg after taking off and folding the shoe with the help of the connection and the upper cover for attaching and covering without using a storage pouch or bag.

2. The shoe and leg strap according to claim 1 wherein the upper cover is a piece of a rubber strip extending downwardly, having one end fastened to the top of the leg strap and a free second end, 10×10 cm in size, having in the center of its inner side a vertically mounted coarse hook and loop fastener of 7×2 cm in size which is configured to fasten and cover the shoe with the help of the connection.

3. The shoe and leg strap according to claim 1 wherein the connection is a rubber strip connecting the leg strap to the shoe, having one end fastened to the bottom of the strap from the middle and a second end fastened to the shoe at the middle of the foot, having a length of 7 cm and a width of 4 cm, having a fine hook and loop fastener in its inner side in contact with the foot, and configured to be wrapped around the shoe after the shoe is folded for holding the shoe and preventing it from detaching with the help of the upper cover.

4. The shoe and leg strap according to claim 1 wherein the shoe is soft, lightweight and can be folded to 4 parts, can restore its original shape rapidly, its upper part carries a rubber ring 5 cm away from the point of attachment of the shoe with the connection, it can be provided in several colors, prints, and designs which are suitable for its attachment with the connection, its base is made of lightweight rubble rubber, is rough and robust for preventing sliding and usage for several times, respectively, it has a small thickness of less than 1 cm, and it can be kept on the leg strap without a bag or pouch.

5. The shoe leg strap according to claim 1 wherein the rubber ring is tightly fastened 5 cm away from the point of attachment of the shoe with the connection for fastening the leg strap after folding in a cylindrical form and inserting its free side within the ring over the shoe when there is no need to use the strap while wearing the shoes in a normal manner.

6. The shoe and leg strap according to claim 1 wherein the shoe is folded by a folding method in which the bottom of the shoe is not touched by hand by drawing it from the front part toward the wearer's leg such that the whole shoe is turned upside down then its two ends are folded inwardly to the middle until they coincide each other, then the shoe is wrapped upwardly with the connection and the upper cover is attached thereto.

7. The shoe and leg strap according to claim 1 wherein the leg strap can be fully folded in a cylindrical shape and put it over the shoe then its free end can be entered into the rubber ring and the shoe can be worn in a usual manner.

8. The shoe and leg strap according to claim 1 wherein the shoe and strap further include a bag attached to the leg strap.

9. The shoe and leg strap according to claim 1 wherein the connection can be attached behind the wearer's leg at the end of the shoe base rather than attaching it from the front and the upper cover is in the rear side so that the folding is performed behind the leg.