WO2010006384A1

WO2010006384A1 - Footwear and kit

Info

Publication number: WO2010006384A1
Application number: PCT/AU2009/001182
Authority: WO
Inventors: Aniwa Baker
Original assignee: Aniwa Baker
Priority date: 2008-09-12
Filing date: 2009-09-09
Publication date: 2010-01-21
Also published as: AU2009250965A1

Abstract

According to the present invention, there is provided a footwear assembly including a sole with a front sole portion, a rear sole portion and an intermediate sole portion pivotally connected to the front and rear sole portions, and an engagement element extending from the sole for engaging a user's foot wherein the footwear assembly is movable between a deployed position, wherein the front, rear and intermediate sole portions form a planar surface for supporting a user's foot, and a stowed position, wherein the sole is folded such that the front, rear and intermediate sole portions form an overlapping arrangement, and also a bag having an opening, wherein the bag is movable between an expanded state, wherein a pair of regular footwear can be received therewithin, and a compacted state, wherein a storage area of the bag is reduced to receive the pair of footwear assemblies in the stowed position therewithin.

Description

FOOTWEAR AND KIT

Technical Field

The present invention relates to footwear and a kit for footwear. In one particular form, the footwear is movable between a stowed and deployed position.

Background Art

Generally, aesthetically pleasing footwear is uncomfortable for extended periods of use and are impractical for particular uses. For example, high heel shoes are considered quite aesthetically pleasing, yet cannot be used on uneven terrain and cannot be comfortably worn for extended periods of time without causing discomfort for the user.

In order to overcome this problem, users have begun carrying spare footwear which is more practical and comfortable, such that footwear can be substituted for different conditions and uses. In most cases, the spare footwear is carried in a bag, typically a handbag or the like. However, handbags are generally of small size and thus it can be awkward to attempt to carry footwear therein whilst still being able to access other contents of the bag in a practical manner.

Therefore there is a need for footwear which overcomes or ameliorates one or more of the above mentioned problems.

The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or admission or any form of suggestion that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

Summary of Invention

In one aspect there is provided a footwear assembly including: • a sole including:

- a front sole portion;

- a rear sole portion; and

- an intermediate sole portion pivotally connected to the front and rear sole portions; and

• an engagement element extending from the sole for engaging a user's foot;

• wherein the footwear assembly is movable between:

- a deployed position, wherein the front, rear and intermediate sole portions form a substantially planar surface for supporting a user's foot; and

- a stowed position, wherein the sole is folded such that the front, rear and intermediate sole portions form an overlapping arrangement.

In one form, the footwear assembly moves from the deployed position to the stowed position via concertinaed movement of the front and rear sole portions relative to the intermediate sole portion.

In another form, the front sole portion is hingedly connected to the intermediate sole portion.

In an additional form, the rear sole portion is hingedly connected to the intermediate sole portion.

In one embodiment, the sole includes a first slit and a second slit which define the front, rear and intermediate sole portions.

In a preferable form, the first and second slits are evenly spaced along the length of the sole such that the front, rear and intermediate portions have substantially similar length.

In one form, the first slit extends from a top surface of the sole to partially within the sole, and the second slit extends from a bottom surface of the sole to partially within the sole, to thereby allow a concertinaed movement of the front and rear sole portions relative to the intermediate sole portion when moving between the deployed and stowed positions. In another form, the sole may be resilient such that the footwear assembly is biased from the stowed position to the deployed position, wherein in the stowed position, a portion of the engagement element may retain the footwear assembly in the stowed position.

In a preferable form, the engagement element extends from the intermediate sole portion and the front sole portion, wherein in the stowed position, a portion of the engagement element engages a portion of the rear sole portion to thereby retain the footwear assembly in the stowed position.

In an optional form, the bottom surface of the rear sole portion includes one or more groves to engage a portion of the engagement element.

In one form, the engagement element is a resilient.

In another aspect, there is provided a kit including:

• a pair of footwear assemblies, each footwear assembly including:

- a sole including a plurality of pivoting sole portions, wherein the sole is movable between a deployed position, wherein the plurality of pivoting sole portions form a substantially planar surface for supporting the user's foot, and a stowed position wherein the plurality of sole portions form an overlapping arrangement; and

- an engagement element extending from the sole for engaging a user's foot; and

• a bag having an opening, wherein the bag is movable between a expanded state, wherein a pair of regular footwear can be received therewithin, and a compacted state, wherein a storage area of the bag is reduced to tight fittingly receive the pair of footwear assemblies in the stowed position therewithin.

In one form, the bag is movable between the expanded state to the compacted state by rolling or folding a closed end of the bag up a side surface of the bag to thereby reduce the depth of the bag, wherein the bag includes a retaining element for retaining the bag in the compacted state. In another form, the bag includes a closing arrangement for releasably closing the opening of the bag.

Brief Description of the Figures

The example embodiment of the present invention should become apparent from the following description, which is given by way of example only, of a preferred but non-limiting embodiment, described in connection with the accompanying figures.

Figure IA illustrates a side view of an example of a footwear assembly in a deployed position;

Figure IB illustrates a side view of the footwear assembly of Figure IA in an intermediary position;

Figure 1C illustrates a side view of the footwear assembly of Figure IA in a stowed position;

Figure ID illustrates a plan view of the footwear assembly of Figure IA in the deployed position;

Figure 2A illustrates a side view of another example of a footwear assembly in a deployed position;

Figure 2B illustrates a side view of the footwear assembly of Figure 2A in an intermediary position;

Figure 2C illustrates a side view of the footwear assembly of Figure IA in a stowed position;

Figure 2D illustrates a plan view of the footwear assembly of Figure 2A in the deployed position;

Figure 3A illustrates a side view of an example of a footwear assembly in a deployed position; Figure 3B illustrates a side view of the footwear assembly of Figure 3A in an intermediary position;

Figure 3C illustrates a side view of the footwear assembly of Figure 3 A in a stowed position;

Figure 3D illustrates a plan view of the footwear assembly of Figure 3A in the deployed position;

Figure 4A illustrates a side view of an example of a footwear assembly in a deployed position;

Figure 4B illustrates a side view of the footwear assembly of Figure IA in an intermediary position;

Figure 4C illustrates a side view of the footwear assembly of Figure IA in a stowed position;

Figure 4D illustrates a plan view of the footwear assembly of Figure 4A in the deployed position;

Figure 5A illustrates a side view of the footwear assembly of Figure IA with the engagement element engaging a portion of the rear sole portion;

Figure 5B illustrates a side view of the footwear assembly of Figure 2A with the engagement element engaging a portion of the rear sole portion;

Figure 5C illustrates a plan view of the rear sole portion of the footwear assembly of Figures 5 A and 5 B including a retaining structure;

Figure 5D illustrates a plan view of the rear sole portion of the footwear assembly of illustrated in 5C retaining a portion of the engagement element; Figure 6A illustrates a front view of an example of a bag in the expanded state storing therewithin a pair of regular footwear;

Figure 6B illustrates a rear view of the bag of Figure 6A;

Figure 6C illustrates a perspective view of the bag of 6A in the compacted state storing therewithin a pair of footwear assembly in the stowed position;

Figure 7A illustrates a plan view of an alternate example of a bag in the expanded state storing therewithin a pair of regular footwear;

Figure 7B illustrates a plan view of the bag of Figure 7A in the compacted state storing therewithin a pair of footwear assembly in the stowed position.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Referring to Figures IA, IB, 1C and ID there is illustrated an example of a footwear assembly 10 including a sole 20 and an engagement element 30 extending from the sole 20 for engaging a user's foot (not shown). The sole 20 includes a front sole portion 40, a rear sole portion 50 and an intermediate sole portion 60 pivotally connected to the front and rear sole portions 40, 50. The footwear assembly 10 is movable between a deployed position and a stowed position as shown in Figures IA and 1C whilst IB shows an intermediary position. In the deployed position, the front, rear and intermediate sole portions 40, 50, 60 form a substantially planar surface for supporting a user's foot. In the stowed position, the sole 20 is folded such that the front, rear and intermediate sole portions 40, 50, 60 form an overlapping arrangement 70.

A significant reduction in the length of the footwear is obtained by enabling the sole to be folded such that the sole portions 40, 50, 60 overlap. In this form, the footwear assembly can be easily transported, such as in a handbag or the like.

Referring more specifically to Figures IA and IB, the sole 20 includes a first slit 80 and a second slit 90. As shown in Figure 1, the first slit 80 may extend from a top surface 100 of the sole 20 to partially within the sole 20, and the second slit 90 may extend from a bottom surface 1 10 of the sole 20 to partially within the sole 20. The first slit 80 and the second slit 90 substantially divide the sole 20 into three equal portions 40, 50, 60, thereby defining the edges of the front, rear and intermediate sole portions 40, 50, 60.

The first slit 80 allows the front sole portion 40 to fold underneath the intermediate sole portion 60 when being moved from the deployed position to the stowed position such that a bottom surface 120 of the front sole portion 40 faces a bottom surface 130 of the intermediate portion 60. In the stowed position, the bottom surfaces 130, 120 of the intermediate and front sole portions 40, 60 can be in contact with each other.

The second slit 90 allows the rear sole portion 50 to fold over the intermediate sole portion 60 when being moved from the deployed position to the stowed position. Whilst in the stowed position, the top surface 140 of the rear sole portion 50 faces the top surface 150 of the intermediate sole portion 60. In the stowed position, the top surfaces 150, 140 of the intermediate and rear sole portions 60, 50 can be in contact each other.

Referring to Figures 2 A and 2B there is shown a further example of a footwear assembly 10 wherein the first slit 80 extends from the bottom surface 110 to partially within the sole 20 and the second slit 90 extends from the top surface 100 to partially within the sole 20. In this arrangement, the sole portions 40, 50, 60 fold in an opposite manner to the footwear arrangement 10 illustrated in Figures IA and IB, wherein the rear sole portion 50 folds underneath the intermediate portion 60 and the front sole portion 40 folds over and on-top of the intermediate sole portion 60. In this arrangement illustrated by Figures 2A and 2B, the top surfaces 150, 155 of the intermediate and front sole portions 60, 40 face and contact each other in the stowed position, and the bottom surfaces 157, 130 of the rear and intermediate sole portions 50, 60 contact each other in the stowed position.

As can be seen from Figures IA, IB, 2 A and 2B, the sole 20 of the footwear assembly 10 folds in a concertinaed manner to thereby provide a compact arrangement of the footwear assembly in the stowed position. As can be seen from Figures IA, IB, 2A and 2B, the rear and front sole portions 50, 40 rotate in the same direction (i.e. clockwise or anti-clockwise) when the footwear assembly 10 is being moved between the deployed and stowed positions. Referring to Figures 3 A and 3B there is shown a further example of a footwear assembly 10 wherein both the first and second slits 80, 90 extend from the bottom surface 110 to partially within the sole 20. In this arrangement, both the front and rear sole portions fold 40, 50 over the intermediate sole portion 60. However, either the rear sole portion 50 or front sole portion 50 may bend in order to provide an overlapping arrangement. Alternatively, as illustrated in Figures 4A and 4B, the first and second slits 80, 90 can be configured to extend from the top surface 100 to partially within the sole 20, such that the front and rear sole portions 40, 50 fold underneath the intermediate sole portion 60.

It will be appreciated that although the first and second slits 80, 90 act as a hinge to allow the front and rear sole portions 40, 50 to hingedly move relative to the intermediate sole portion 60, other forms of hinging means, such as a hinge or articulating member, may be used. However, the first and second slits 80, 90 are preferred due simplicity and also to provide a single integral sole 20.

As shown in Figures IA and IB, the engagement element 30 can be provided in the form of strapping 160 to engage the user's foot (not shown). The strapping 160 may be made from a rubber-like material which may be resilient. In the figures, the strapping 160 which extends from the sole 20. Specifically, two rear plugs of the strapping 160 extend from the side of the rear portion of the intermediate sole portion 60, and a front plug of the strapping 160 extends from a front portion of the front sole portion 40, thereby creating a delta-shaped profile as shown in the plan views.

Referring to Figures 5 A, 5B and 5C, a portion 170 of the strapping 160 may engage the rear sole portion 50 in the stowed position. As the sole 20 can be made from a resilient material such as foam or rubber, the sole 20 is naturally biased from the stowed position to the deployed position. However, by hooking a portion of each strap 160 over or under respective corner portions 170 of the rear sole portion 160, the strapping 160 retains the footwear in the stowed position until each strap is disengaged from the corner portions 170 of the rear sole portion 160. This is advantageous as it is inconvenient for the footwear assembly 10, in the stowed position, to unintentionally expand in a compact storage area such as a handbag. Referring to Figure 5D, the bottom surface 157 of the rear sole portion 50 may include a retaining structure 180, such as a grove 190 having a strap-like profile, in order to retain the portion of the strap 170 which engages the bottom surface 157 of the rear sole portion 50 in the stowed position.

As will be appreciated, a pair of footwear assemblies can be provided for conventional use.

A kit 200 may also be provided including a pair of footwear assemblies 10, and a bag 210. Each footwear assembly 10 includes a sole 20 having a plurality of pivoting sole portions, 40, 50, 60. The sole 20 is movable between a deployed position, wherein the plurality of pivoting sole portions 40, 50, 60 form a substantially planar surface for supporting the user's foot (not shown), and a stowed position wherein the plurality of sole portions 40, 50, 60 form an overlapping arrangement 70. Each footwear assembly 10 also includes an engagement element 30 extending from the sole 20 for engaging a user's foot. The bag 210 includes an opening 220, wherein the bag 210 is movable between an expanded state, wherein a pair of regular footwear 300 can be received therewithin, and a compacted state, wherein a storage area of the bag 210 is reduced to tight fittingly receive therewithin the pair of footwear assemblies 10 in the stowed position.

It will be appreciated that an example of a footwear assembly 10 for use with the kit 200 is exemplified by Figure IA through to Figure 5B.

Referring specifically to Figures 6A, 6B, and 6C there is shown a first example of a bag 200 shown in the expanded and compacted states. The opening 220 includes a releasable closing arrangement 230 for substantially closing the opening 220 to thereby store and retain the regular shoes 300 within the bag in the expanded state. The closing arrangement 230 may include at least one of a button, a zipper, a hook and loop arrangement, a pull string arrangement, one or more buttons, or the like.

The bag 210 can be moved from the expanded state to the compacted state by folding or rolling the end of the bag 210 upon itself to thereby reduce the depth of the bag 210 as shown in Figure 6C. The bag 210 can be retained in the compacted state by a retaining element 235 shown in Figures 6A and 6B in the forms of male and female button elements 240, 250 located on opposing sides of the bag 210. However, it will be appreciated that other forms of retaining elements can be used such as a hook and loop arrangement, a zipper or the like. The pair of footwear assemblies 10 in the stowed position can then be tight fittingly received within the bag 210 in the compacted state, and the opening 220 can be closed as described above.

Referring to Figures 7A and 7B, there is shown an alternate example of a bag 210 shown in the expanded and compacted states. In particular, the opening 220 is located between ends of the bag such that the opening 210 extends between opposing edges 250, 260 of the bag 210. As described above, the bag 210 may include a closing arrangement 235 to close the opening 220. In the expanded state, a pair of regular footwear 300 can be placed within the bag 210 via the opening 240, and the opening 220 can be substantially closed by the closing arrangement 235.

The bag 210 can be moved from the expanded state to the compacted state by folding a first bag portion 270 of the bag 210 within a second bag portion 280 of the bag 210 by turning the first bag portion 270 of the bag 210 inside out and within the second bag portion 280 of the bag 210. This effectively reduces the storage volume within the bag. The pair of footwear assemblies 10 in the stowed position can be placed within the compacted bag 210 via the opening 220, and the opening 220 can be substantially closed to retain the pair of footwear assemblies 10 within the bag 210.

It will be appreciated throughout the side view drawings of the footwear assembly only depict one strap of the engagement element 30 for clarity.

Optional embodiments of the present invention may also be said to broadly consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated herein, individually or collectively, in any or all combinations of two or more of the parts, elements or features, and wherein specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which the invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth. Although a preferred embodiment has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A footwear assembly including:

• a sole including: