US20200100557A1 - Performance sandal shoe and method of use - Google Patents

Performance sandal shoe and method of use Download PDF

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Publication number
US20200100557A1
US20200100557A1 US16/701,550 US201916701550A US2020100557A1 US 20200100557 A1 US20200100557 A1 US 20200100557A1 US 201916701550 A US201916701550 A US 201916701550A US 2020100557 A1 US2020100557 A1 US 2020100557A1
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United States
Prior art keywords
shoe
foot
heel
opening
side portions
Prior art date
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Abandoned
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US16/701,550
Inventor
Ann M. Brandau
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Individual
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Individual
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Priority to US16/701,550 priority Critical patent/US20200100557A1/en
Publication of US20200100557A1 publication Critical patent/US20200100557A1/en
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    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43FOOTWEAR
    • A43BCHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B7/00Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
    • A43B7/06Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements ventilated
    • A43B7/08Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements ventilated with air-holes, with or without closures
    • A43B7/084Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements ventilated with air-holes, with or without closures characterised by the location of the holes
    • A43B7/085Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements ventilated with air-holes, with or without closures characterised by the location of the holes in the upper
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43FOOTWEAR
    • A43BCHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B1/00Footwear characterised by the material
    • A43B1/02Footwear characterised by the material made of fibres or fabrics made therefrom
    • A43B1/04Footwear characterised by the material made of fibres or fabrics made therefrom braided, knotted, knitted or crocheted
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43FOOTWEAR
    • A43BCHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B13/00Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
    • A43B13/14Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form
    • A43B13/141Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43FOOTWEAR
    • A43BCHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B23/00Uppers; Boot legs; Stiffeners; Other single parts of footwear
    • A43B23/02Uppers; Boot legs
    • A43B23/0245Uppers; Boot legs characterised by the constructive form
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43FOOTWEAR
    • A43BCHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B3/00Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
    • A43B3/0036Footwear characterised by the shape or the use characterised by a special shape or design
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43FOOTWEAR
    • A43BCHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B3/00Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
    • A43B3/12Sandals; Strap guides thereon
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43FOOTWEAR
    • A43BCHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B3/00Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
    • A43B3/12Sandals; Strap guides thereon
    • A43B3/128Sandals; Strap guides thereon characterised by the sole
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43FOOTWEAR
    • A43BCHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B3/00Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
    • A43B3/24Collapsible or convertible
    • A43B3/242Collapsible or convertible characterised by the upper
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43FOOTWEAR
    • A43BCHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B5/00Footwear for sporting purposes
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43FOOTWEAR
    • A43BCHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B5/00Footwear for sporting purposes
    • A43B5/12Dancing shoes
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43FOOTWEAR
    • A43BCHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B7/00Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
    • A43B7/06Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements ventilated
    • A43B7/08Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements ventilated with air-holes, with or without closures
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43FOOTWEAR
    • A43CFASTENINGS OR ATTACHMENTS OF FOOTWEAR; LACES IN GENERAL
    • A43C1/00Shoe lacing fastenings

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to a performance sandal shoe and method of manufacture thereof, and more specifically to an athletic shoe modified or manufactured to include an open toe and heel for improved ventilation and comfort.
  • the present invention generally provides an athletic performance shoe with an open toe and an open heal for improved ventilation and comfort.
  • the body of the shoe should be of suitable flexible material, such as the “Flyknit” fabric used by Nike, Inc.
  • the shoe should include standard laces for enclosing the user's foot in the shoe as the laces suitably secure the shoe about the foot.
  • the interior of the shoe should include soft, malleable padding which forms to the user's foot such that users with wide feet, narrow feet, or other factors will be comfortable in the shoe and the shoe will form around their foot without slipping or uncomfortably compressing the foot.
  • a preferred embodiment would have a thin, highly-flexible sole.
  • the open toe and heel being the primary features of the shoe.
  • FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a prior art embodiment.
  • FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention as it would be manufactured from the prior art embodiment of FIG. 2 .
  • FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a top plan view thereof.
  • FIG. 6 is a top plan view thereof, including lace elements.
  • FIG. 7 is a three-dimensional isometric view of the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 .
  • the preferred embodiment of the present invention is an athletic shoe which is manufactured or modified from an existing shoe to include a cut-out area around the toes and the heel. This provides a shoe which includes comfort elements of sandals while retaining the performance elements of an athletic shoe.
  • FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention as manufactured from a prior art embodiment, such as shown in FIG. 2 , by removing the portions indicated by the cut lines 40 of FIG. 3 .
  • a top opening 12 which is a traditional opening for receiving a foot, is kept from the prior art embodiment 4 .
  • a toe portion 6 and heel portion 8 of the prior art embodiment 4 are removed, as shown in FIG. 3 , to result in an open toe space 14 and open heel space 16 .
  • a back strap 10 is left to support the shoe about the foot and ankle.
  • the sole 18 is exposed.
  • the shoe may include lace holes 20 , and a tongue 22 as provided in the prior art embodiment 4 .
  • a preferred prior art embodiment 4 would include the Flyknit fabric of the Barefoot Ride “Nike Free” shoes produced by Nike, Inc. of Beaverton, Oreg., or a similarly stretchable and breathable fabric.
  • This fabric provides a flexible body of the shoe which comfortably surrounds the user's foot no matter if the user has narrow feet, wide feet, or some other uncommon feature.
  • the shoe should employ laces rather than straps, snaps, or hook-and-loop fasteners. The laces secure the body of the shoe in a comfortable manner around the foot of the user in a way that straps do not.
  • the sole 18 of the shoe should be flexible and as thin as necessary to protect the foot. This allows additional comfort when using the shoes.
  • the interior of the shoe should include padding which conforms to the shape of the user's foot, such as the padding of the Barefoot Ride shoe indicated above.
  • the toe area 6 of the shoe should be cut out, providing superior air flow to the foot that simple venting does not provide. Venting could be included in other areas of the shoe body not cut out.
  • the heel area 8 is also cut out, leaving a band 10 that wraps around a portion of the ankle above the heel. In this way, the shoe resembles a sandal, but retains the structural elements of an athletic shoe that makes the present invention perfect for comfortable athletic performance.
  • a version of the athletic sandal shoes embodied in FIGS. 1 and 3 above could also be manufactured out of a monotone color (e.g. black) which would transform these shoes into a more casual dress shoe which retains the athletic performance and comfort of the preferred embodiment disclosed above. This would be ideal for casual day-to-day wear.
  • a manufactured performance sandal shoe 52 includes all of the same elements.
  • the manufactured performance sandal shoe 52 includes a top opening 62 , an open toe 64 , and an open heel space 66 .
  • a back strap 60 supports the shoe about the foot and ankle.
  • the sole 68 is exposed.
  • the shoe may include lace holes 70 , and a tongue 72 .
  • a shoe lace 74 would be threaded through the lace holes 70 to secure the shoe about the foot.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)

Abstract

An athletic performance shoe with an open toe and an open heal for improved ventilation and comfort. The body of the shoe should be of suitable flexible material, such as the “Flyknit” fabric used by Nike, Inc. The shoe should include standard laces for enclosing the user's foot in the shoe as the laces suitably secure the shoe about the foot. The interior of the shoe should include soft, malleable padding which forms to the user's foot such that users with wide feet, narrow feet, or other factors will be comfortable in the shoe and the shoe will form around their foot without slipping or uncomfortably compressing the foot. A preferred embodiment would have a thin, highly-flexible sole. The open toe and heel being the primary features of the shoe.

Description

    CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
  • This application is a continuation of and claims priority in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/469,233, filed Mar. 24, 2017, which claims priority in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/312,530, filed Mar. 24, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference.
  • BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention
  • The present invention relates generally to a performance sandal shoe and method of manufacture thereof, and more specifically to an athletic shoe modified or manufactured to include an open toe and heel for improved ventilation and comfort.
  • 2. Description of the Related Art
  • Athletic shoes designed for running, jogging, and other sports have been designed to accommodate feet of all shapes and sizes; however, those who have narrow or wide feet, arthritis, high arches, and other uncommon features can find standard footwear uncomfortable. Shoe companies have designed shoes with stretchable fabrics and soft, flexible soles which help to form to such feet. However, existing shoes still lack adequate venting and comfort which could further increase the user's experience.
  • While some athletic shoes and sandals have been designed and are currently sold, they rely on straps, buckles, and hook-and-loop fasteners (e.g. Velcro®) which features do not lend themselves to comfort and do not adequately form themselves to the feet of users. What is needed is a shoe with the comfort features of athletic shoes such as the Barefoot Ride 4.0 “Nike Free” shoes produced by Nike, Inc. of Beaverton, Oreg. which have open toes and open heels for added comfort and functionality.
  • Heretofore there has not been available a system or method for a performance sandal shoe with the advantages and features of the present invention
  • BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • The present invention generally provides an athletic performance shoe with an open toe and an open heal for improved ventilation and comfort. The body of the shoe should be of suitable flexible material, such as the “Flyknit” fabric used by Nike, Inc. The shoe should include standard laces for enclosing the user's foot in the shoe as the laces suitably secure the shoe about the foot. The interior of the shoe should include soft, malleable padding which forms to the user's foot such that users with wide feet, narrow feet, or other factors will be comfortable in the shoe and the shoe will form around their foot without slipping or uncomfortably compressing the foot. A preferred embodiment would have a thin, highly-flexible sole. The open toe and heel being the primary features of the shoe.
  • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention illustrating various objects and features thereof.
  • FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a prior art embodiment.
  • FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention as it would be manufactured from the prior art embodiment of FIG. 2.
  • FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a top plan view thereof.
  • FIG. 6 is a top plan view thereof, including lace elements.
  • FIG. 7 is a three-dimensional isometric view of the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5.
  • DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS I. Introduction and Environment
  • As required, detailed aspects of the present invention are disclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed aspects are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.
  • Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. For example, up, down, front, back, right and left refer to the invention as orientated in the view being referred to. The words, “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the aspect being described and designated parts thereof. Forwardly and rearwardly are generally in reference to the direction of travel, if appropriate. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar meaning.
  • II. Preferred Embodiment Performance Sandal Shoe 2
  • As shown in the figures, the preferred embodiment of the present invention is an athletic shoe which is manufactured or modified from an existing shoe to include a cut-out area around the toes and the heel. This provides a shoe which includes comfort elements of sandals while retaining the performance elements of an athletic shoe.
  • FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention as manufactured from a prior art embodiment, such as shown in FIG. 2, by removing the portions indicated by the cut lines 40 of FIG. 3. Here, a top opening 12, which is a traditional opening for receiving a foot, is kept from the prior art embodiment 4. A toe portion 6 and heel portion 8 of the prior art embodiment 4 are removed, as shown in FIG. 3, to result in an open toe space 14 and open heel space 16. A back strap 10 is left to support the shoe about the foot and ankle. The sole 18 is exposed. The shoe may include lace holes 20, and a tongue 22 as provided in the prior art embodiment 4.
  • A preferred prior art embodiment 4 would include the Flyknit fabric of the Barefoot Ride “Nike Free” shoes produced by Nike, Inc. of Beaverton, Oreg., or a similarly stretchable and breathable fabric. This fabric provides a flexible body of the shoe which comfortably surrounds the user's foot no matter if the user has narrow feet, wide feet, or some other uncommon feature. The shoe should employ laces rather than straps, snaps, or hook-and-loop fasteners. The laces secure the body of the shoe in a comfortable manner around the foot of the user in a way that straps do not.
  • The sole 18 of the shoe should be flexible and as thin as necessary to protect the foot. This allows additional comfort when using the shoes. The interior of the shoe should include padding which conforms to the shape of the user's foot, such as the padding of the Barefoot Ride shoe indicated above.
  • The toe area 6 of the shoe should be cut out, providing superior air flow to the foot that simple venting does not provide. Venting could be included in other areas of the shoe body not cut out. The heel area 8 is also cut out, leaving a band 10 that wraps around a portion of the ankle above the heel. In this way, the shoe resembles a sandal, but retains the structural elements of an athletic shoe that makes the present invention perfect for comfortable athletic performance.
  • III. Alternative Embodiment Performance Sandal Shoe 52
  • A version of the athletic sandal shoes embodied in FIGS. 1 and 3 above could also be manufactured out of a monotone color (e.g. black) which would transform these shoes into a more casual dress shoe which retains the athletic performance and comfort of the preferred embodiment disclosed above. This would be ideal for casual day-to-day wear. As shown in FIGS. 4-7, a manufactured performance sandal shoe 52 includes all of the same elements.
  • As above, the manufactured performance sandal shoe 52 includes a top opening 62, an open toe 64, and an open heel space 66. A back strap 60 supports the shoe about the foot and ankle. The sole 68 is exposed. The shoe may include lace holes 70, and a tongue 72. A shoe lace 74 would be threaded through the lace holes 70 to secure the shoe about the foot.
  • It is to be understood that while certain embodiments and/or aspects of the invention have been shown and described, the invention is not limited thereto and encompasses various other embodiments and aspects.

Claims (8)

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:
1. A method of manufacturing a footwear device, the method comprising the steps:
providing a footwear device having a top opening, a toe portion, a heel portion, and two side portions;
removing said toe portion, thereby forming a toe opening and exposing a sole of said footwear device; and
removing said heel portion, thereby forming a heel opening and exposing said sole of said footwear device and creating a strap portion formed from material left between said top opening and said heel opening.
2. The method of claim 4, wherein said footwear device includes a plurality of shoe lace holes located along said side portions.
3. The method of claim 5, wherein said footwear device includes a tongue located between two side portions of said main body, said tongue protruding into and forming a portion of said top opening.
4. The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps:
threading a shoelace through said plurality of shoe lace holes; and
securing said side portions above and about said tongue.
5. A method of manufacturing a footwear device, the method comprising the steps:
forming a footwear body from a piece of material, said footwear body including a top opening, a toe opening, a heel opening, and side portions, said heel opening and toe opening forming a back strap between them;
placing said footwear body onto a sole, whereby said sole is exposed at said toe portion and at said heel portion; and
providing a base beneath said sole, said base providing traction.
6. The method of claim 8, wherein said footwear body includes a plurality of shoe lace holes located along said side portions.
7. The method of claim 9, including a tongue located between two side portions of said main body, said tongue protruding into and forming a portion of said top opening and said tongue formed from said piece of material.
8. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps:
threading a shoelace through said plurality of shoe lace holes; and
securing said side portions above and about said tongue.
US16/701,550 2016-03-24 2019-12-03 Performance sandal shoe and method of use Abandoned US20200100557A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US16/701,550 US20200100557A1 (en) 2016-03-24 2019-12-03 Performance sandal shoe and method of use

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US201662312530P 2016-03-24 2016-03-24
US15/469,233 US20170273395A1 (en) 2016-03-24 2017-03-24 Performance sandal shoe and method of manufacture
US16/701,550 US20200100557A1 (en) 2016-03-24 2019-12-03 Performance sandal shoe and method of use

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US15/469,233 Continuation US20170273395A1 (en) 2016-03-24 2017-03-24 Performance sandal shoe and method of manufacture

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US20200100557A1 true US20200100557A1 (en) 2020-04-02

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US15/469,233 Abandoned US20170273395A1 (en) 2016-03-24 2017-03-24 Performance sandal shoe and method of manufacture
US16/701,550 Abandoned US20200100557A1 (en) 2016-03-24 2019-12-03 Performance sandal shoe and method of use

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Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR3087319B1 (en) * 2018-10-22 2020-12-18 Vincent Gattaz ITEM MULTI-SIZE CLIMBING SHOES
USD901142S1 (en) * 2019-05-17 2020-11-10 Nike, Inc. Shoe
USD980588S1 (en) * 2020-10-22 2023-03-14 Nike, Inc. Shoe
BR202020026628U2 (en) * 2020-12-23 2021-05-04 Helena Barbon Maria arrangement introduced in footwear with openings for ventilation
USD995096S1 (en) * 2021-04-28 2023-08-15 Shoes West, Inc. Shoe upper

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3566487A (en) * 1969-11-12 1971-03-02 Leroy E Beightol Cast shoe
USD350223S (en) * 1992-06-22 1994-09-06 Buckner J Bart Tennis shoe sandal
FR2811869B1 (en) * 2000-07-21 2002-12-13 Salomon Sa TIGHTENING DEVICE FOR FOOTWEAR
USD568589S1 (en) * 2007-02-06 2008-05-13 Alvarado Ralph G Pair of sandal sneakers
USD634530S1 (en) * 2010-12-28 2011-03-22 Converse Inc. Shoe upper
USD724306S1 (en) * 2014-03-26 2015-03-17 Helen Ketcham Open toe jogging shoe

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