WO2018142317A1

WO2018142317A1 - Footwear with an interchangeable strap

Info

Publication number: WO2018142317A1
Application number: PCT/IB2018/050625
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shashank PAWAR
Original assignee: Pawar Shashank
Priority date: 2017-02-03
Filing date: 2018-02-01
Publication date: 2018-08-09

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relates to a footwear comprising a sole and a strap. The sole comprises a plurality of threaded stalks projecting outwards from peripheral side of the sole. The toe separator is mounted at one end on the sole. The strap is capable of being strapped on the sole, and comprises a plurality of end portions, wherein a front-end portion is having a front aperture, configured to be fixed into a threaded stem portion of the toe separator. A plurality of rear end portions of the strap comprises a plurality of rear apertures configured to be fixed into corresponding threaded stalks, configured on the sole. The strap is configured to be removed from the sole of the footwear.

Description

TITLE: "FOOTWEAR WITH AN INTERCHANGEABLE STRAP" CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority from Indian Provisional Patent Application Number 201741004011, filed on February 03, 2017, the entirety of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHINCAL FIELD

[0002] Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relates to a footwear, and more particularly to a footwear with an interchangeable strap.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Conventional footwears like sandals or flipflops includes a sole and with straps extending across the sole and permanently secured to the structure of sole. Typically, the strap is therefore not removable and if the strap breaks or the strap becomes soiled, the footwear is often not usable, even though the sole may still be capable of additional usage. Permanently secured strap doesn't allow the user of the footwear to change the strap into different types of style or material or design without changing the sole. Thus, the user needs to buy a separate footwear for each separate strap style or material or design, which results in buying footwear a quite costly affair for the user.

[0004] The use of interchangeable strap for a footwear is known in the art. However, with the application of magnets, springs, clipping mechanisms, Velcro's, or other arrangements in interchangeable strap footwear results in less the reliability, clean-ability, environmental resistance, and life footwear. Therefore, there is a need for a system for overcoming the existing challenges. Consequently, those skilled in the art will appreciate the present disclosure that provides many advantages and overcomes all the above and other limitations.

SUMMARY

[0005] The shortcomings of the prior art are overcome and additional advantages are provided through the provision of method of the present disclosure. [0006] Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed disclosure.

[0007] In an aspect of the present disclosure, a footwear is provided. The footwear comprising a sole and a strap. The sole comprises a plurality of threaded stalks projecting outwards from peripheral side of the sole. The toe separator is mounted at one end on the sole. The strap is capable of being strapped on the sole, and comprises a plurality of end portions, wherein a front-end portion is having a front aperture, configured to be fixed into a threaded stem portion of the toe separator. A plurality of rear end portions of the strap comprises a plurality of rear apertures configured to be fixed into corresponding threaded stalks, configured on the sole. The strap is configured to be removed from the sole of the footwear.

[0008] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The novel features and characteristics of the disclosure are explained herein. The embodiments of the disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, regarding the accompanying drawing in which:

[0010] Fig. 1 shows an exemplary footwear with an interchangeable strap, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0011] Fig. 2A illustrates a sole of the footwear, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0012] Fig. 2B illustrates a sole of the footwear, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0013] Fig. 3 shows an illustration of a toe separator with hat screw, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; [0014] Fig. 4 illustrates a perspective view of strap, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0015] Fig. 5 A illustrates the sole of the footwear having grooves and sole plates, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0016] Fig. 5B illustrates the sole plates along with the cap screws, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0017] Figs. 6A and 6B shows the sole of the footwear, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0018] Figs. 7 A and 7B shows the sole of the footwear, in accordance with other embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0019] Figs. 8 A and 8B shows the sole of the footwear, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0020] Figs. 9A and 9B shows the sole of the footwear, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0021] Figs. 10A and 10B shows the sole of the footwear, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0022] The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only.

One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structure and mechanism illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] The foregoing has broadly outlined the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description of the disclosure that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described hereinafter. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other assemblies for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the disclosure, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure.

[0024] The terms "comprises", "comprising", or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a setup, device or method that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or device or method. In other words, one or more elements in a system or apparatus proceeded by "comprises... a" does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or apparatus.

[0025] Fig. 1 illustrates an exploded perspective view of footwear with interchangeable strap system, hereinafter referred to as footwear 100. The footwear 100 comprising a sole 101, toe separator 110, and a strap 120. The sole 101 of footwear 100 may be a standard type platform to rest the user's feet.

[0026] Fig. 2A illustrates a sole of the footwear, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The sole 101 consists of a plurality of threaded stalks 102 projecting outwards from the peripheral side of the sole 101. Fig. 2B illustrates a sole of the footwear, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0027] The toe separator 110 is employed to separate the toe finger and to provide a grip to the user while walking with the footwear 100. The toe separator 110 is mounted at one end on the sole 101. Fig. 3 shows an illustration of a toe separator with hat screw, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 3, the toe separator 110 consists of a base 111, a stem 112, and a threaded stem portion 113. The base 111 of the toe separator 110 goes inside the sole 101 and is fixed firmly to the footwear 100. In an alternate embodiment, the toe separator 110 may be an integral part of the sole 101. The threaded stem portion 113 may comprise a hat screw 114 fastened over the threaded stem portion 113.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 4, the strap 120 comprises three end portions 121, 122, 123. The strap front end 121 has a first aperture 123 to fit and sit into the threaded stem portion 113. Each of the strap rear ends 122 comprises a plurality of second apertures 124 placed in a row, adjacent to each other. In an embodiment, the plurality of second apertures 124 are two in number. The plurality of second apertures 124 are spaced so as to fit exactly into the corresponding threaded stalks 102 present on the sole 101. The first aperture 123 is confined securely to the toe separator 110 by fastening the hat screw 114 over the threaded stem portion 113. The plurality of apertures 124 is confined securely to the sole 101 by fastening cap screws 103 over the threaded stalks 102.

[0029] The strap 120 acts as a washer, when the hat screw 114 and the cap screw 103 are fastened against the threaded stem portion 113 and threaded stalks portion 102 respectively, thereby resulting in a positive lock between the threaded portions and screws. The straps 120 may be made of any material such as, but not limited to, paper, fabrics, natural and artificial leather. The sole 101 or the toe separator 110 or the strap 120 may be manufactured by 3D printed, moulding or machining, knitting and weaving or any known process.

[0030] The footwear is manufactured using any one of the materials, such as, but not limited to polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and nylon.

[0031] In one embodiment, the sole 101 may be manufactured using any material such as, but not limited to, polyurethane (PU), leather, ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA) and cork. The toe separator 110 may be manufactured using any material such as, but not limited to plastic and metal. The strap 120 may be manufactured using one of fabric, leather, faux leather, PU and foam, in an embodiment. A conventional or standard manufacturing technique may be used to manufacture the footwear.

[0032] Fig. 5A illustrates the sole of the footwear having grooves and sole plates, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 5A, the footwear having an interchangeable strap system comprises a sole with grooves 130 instead of single piece sole 101. The grooves 130 in the sole accommodates a pair of sole plates 131. The sole plates 131 comprises the threaded stalk portions 102 embedded internally. The sole plates 131 are fixed to the sole with grooves 130 with any known fixing or adhesive arrangement.

[0033] The sole with grooves 130 can be made of any known material unless the thickness of sole 101 is enough to withstand forces exerted by human when walking or to achieve aesthetic for the user's fashion sense and as per the comfort for human use.

[0034] The thickness and other dimensions of the cap screw 103 or the hat screw 114 can be varied either for functional or aesthetic purpose. Different colours of threaded stem portion 113 or threaded stalks 110 and female portion for caps screw 103 or hat screw 114 may be used for varying functional, as shown in Fig. 3. The stems/ stalks may be made of any material which may withstand forces exerted by feet, depending on the material the thickness may vary. The cap screw 103 or the hat screw 114 can be attached with shiny stones/ precious stones for aesthetic purposes. The cap screw 103 and the hat screw 114, attachment may be of any shape and colour externally. Also, the cap screw 103 may be shaped into any character by leveraging one of 3D printing technology, hand modelling and machining.

[0035] Fig. 5B illustrates the sole plates along with the cap screws, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 5B, the sole with grooves 130 comprises the sole plate 131 having the threaded stalk portions 102 which are being configured to a strap using the cap screws 103.

[0036] Figs. 6A and 6B shows the sole of the footwear 600, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in the Fig. 6A, the sole 101 comprises a toe separator 110, a plurality of stalks 102, which are six in number, three on either side of peripheral side of the sole 101, projecting outwards and corresponding fastening cap screws 103. The plurality of stalks 102 are positioned at equidistance in middle peripheral portion of the sole 101. Fig. 6B illustrates a top view of the sole 101, of the footwear 600, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0037] Figs. 7A and 7B shows the sole of the footwear 700, in accordance with other embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in the Fig. 7A, the sole 101 comprises a toe separator 110, a plurality of stalks 102, which are six in number, three on either side of peripheral side of the sole 101, projecting outwards and corresponding fastening cap screws 103. The plurality of stalks 102 are positioned front peripheral portion of the sole 101. Fig. 7B illustrates a top view of the sole 101, of the footwear 700, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0038] Figs. 8A and 8B shows the sole of the footwear 800, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in the Fig. 8A, the sole 101 comprises a toe separator 110, a plurality of stalks 102, which are six in number, three on either side of peripheral side of the sole 101, projecting outwards and corresponding fastening cap screws 103. The plurality of stalks 102 are positioned on peripheral portion of the sole 101, as shown in Fig. 8A. Fig. 8B illustrates a top view of the sole 101, of the footwear 800, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0039] Figs. 9A and 9B shows the sole of the footwear 900, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in the Fig. 9A, the sole 101 comprises a toe separator 110, a plurality of stalks 102, which are eight in number, four on either side of peripheral side of the sole 101, projecting outwards and corresponding fastening cap screws 103. The plurality of stalks 102 are positioned on peripheral portion of the sole 101, as shown in Fig. 9A. Fig. 9B illustrates a top view of the sole 101, of the footwear 900, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0040] Figs. 10A and 10B shows the sole of the footwear, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 10A an 10B, the footwear 1000 is a variant of footwears shown in Figs. 1, 2A, 2B, 5 A, 6A, 6B, 7 A, 7B, 8 A, 8B, 9A and 9B. the footwear 1000 comprises the sole 101 consists of a plurality of holes 1002 on peripheral side of the sole 101 and cap screws with threaded stalks 1004, also referred as nuts, to fasten corresponding plurality of apertures 123, 124, configured in the strap 120.

[0041] In another embodiment, the footwear as shown in Figs. 1, 2A, 2B, 5A, 6A, 6B, 7A, 7B, 8A, 8B, 9A, 9B, 10A and 10B comprises the sole 101 consists of a plurality of holes 1002 projecting from the peripheral side of the sole 101 and a strap 120 having a plurality of cap screws with threaded stalks or nut mechanism. The plurality of cap screws of the strap may be fastened with the corresponding plurality of holes of the sole 101.

[0042] Advantages of the present disclosure are illustrated herein:

[0043] In an embodiment, the footwear with interchangeable strap system is simple and easy to use.

[0044] In an embodiment, the footwear with interchangeable strap system is compact and robust.

[0045] In an embodiment, the footwear with interchangeable strap system has maintenance free construction.

[0046] In an embodiment, the footwear with interchangeable strap system is equipped with a better operational reliability, and is easy to manufacture, as it has minimum number of parts.

[0047] In an embodiment, the footwear provides higher aesthetic appeal as the end user can choose shapes and colours of fasteners.

[0048] In an embodiment, the footwear is environmental friendly as the user of the footwear can change the strap and retain the sole.

[0049] The terms "an embodiment", "embodiment", "embodiments", "the embodiment", "the embodiments", "one or more embodiments", "some embodiments", and "one embodiment" mean "one or more (but not all) embodiments of the invention(s)" unless expressly specified otherwise. [0050] The terms "including", "comprising", "having" and variations thereof mean "including but not limited to", unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0051] The enumerated listing of items does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms "a", "an" and "the" mean "one or more", unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0052] A description of an embodiment with several components in communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. On the contrary a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the invention.

[0053] When a single device or article is described herein, it will be clear that more than one device/article (whether they cooperate) may be used in place of a single device/article. Similarly, where more than one device or article is described herein (whether they cooperate), it will be clear that a single device/article may be used in place of the more than one device or article or a different number of devices/articles may be used instead of the shown number of devices or programs. The functionality and/or the features of a device may be alternatively embodied by one or more other devices which are not explicitly described as having such functionality/features. Thus, other embodiments of the invention need not include the device itself.

[0054] Finally, the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and it may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter. It is therefore intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description. Accordingly, the disclosure of the embodiments of the invention is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention.

[0055] While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting.

Referral numerals:

Reference No Description

100 Footwear

101 Sole

102 Threaded stalks 103 Cap screw

110 Toe separator

111 Base

112 Stem

113 Threaded stem portion

114 Hat screw

120 Strap

121 Strap front end

122 Strap rear end

123 Front aperture

124 Rear aperture

130 Sole with grooves

131 Sole plate

0, 700, 800,

Footwear

900, 1000

1002 plurality of holes

1004 cap screws with threaded stalks

Claims

Claims What is claimed is:

1. A footwear, comprising:

a sole 101 comprising a plurality of threaded stalks 102 projecting outwards from peripheral side of the sole 101;

a toe separator 110 mounted at one end on the sole 101; and

a strap 120, capable of being strapped on the sole 101, comprising a plurality of end portions 121, 122, wherein a front-end portion 121 having a front aperture 123 is configured to be fixed into a threaded stem portion 113 of the toe separator 110, a plurality of rear end portions of the strap 122 comprises a plurality of rear apertures 124 configured to be fixed into corresponding threaded stalks 102, configured on the sole 101;

wherein the strap 120 is configured to be removed from the sole 101 of the footwear 100.

2. The footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of threaded stalk 102 is one of two, four, six and eight in number.

3. The footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein the toe separator 110 comprising a base 111, a stem 112, and a threaded stem portion 113.

4. The footwear as claimed in claim 3, wherein the threaded stem portion 113 comprises a hat screw 114, fastened over the threaded stem portion 113.

5. The footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front aperture 123 and the plurality of rear apertures 124 are fixed into the corresponding threaded stalks 102 using fastening cap screws 103.

6. The footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hat screw 114 and the cap screw 103 are fastened against the threaded stem portion 113 and threaded stalks portion 102 respectively, thereby resulting in a positive lock between the threaded portions and screws

7. The footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sole 101 comprises a plurality of holes 1002 on peripheral side of the sole 101 and cap screws with threaded stalks 1004 configured to fasten corresponding plurality of apertures 123, 124 configured on the strap 120.

8. The footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein the footwear material is at least one of polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and nylon.

9. The footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sole 101 comprising plurality of threaded stalks 102 projecting outwards from at least one of front peripheral side and rear peripheral side of the sole 101.

10. The footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sole 130 comprises a plurality of grooves 130 for accommodating a pair of sole plates 131.