Patent ID: 7686025
Filing Date: 2010-03-30
Classification: A45B,A61H

Abstract:
1. A beach cane flip-flop system for assisting a cane user while walking on sand through the distribution of force from a small cane tip to an extended area rather than the sinking of the small cane tip into the sand, the assisting being done in a safe, convenient and economical manner, the system comprising, in combination: a sole having a forward end and a rearward end with lateral side edges there between, the sole having an upper surface and a lower surface with a periphery there between, a forward extent constituting about 5 percent and a rearward extent constituting about 5 percent of a length of the sole, the sole being curved about a short first axis of rotation above the sole and between the forward and rearward end, a central extent of each sole between the forward and rearward extents being curved about a long second axis of rotation greater than the first axis of rotation, the sole being in an hour glass configuration having a width being narrower in the central extent and wider in the forward and rearward extents; an upwardly extending tube having a free upper end and a lower end coupled to the upper surface of the sole, the tube having a vertical axis essentially equally spaced between the forward and rearward end, the vertical axis essentially equally spaced between the laterally spaced sides edges, an interior diameter of the tube being between 40 percent and 60 percent of the width of the sole at its narrowest extent and between 30 percent and 50 percent of the width of the sole at its widest extent, and between 8 percent and 12 percent of the length of the sole, an axial length of the tube being essentially equal to an exterior diameter of the tube, the tube having a threaded aperture there through facing the rearward end with a bolt threadedly received within the threaded aperture; strengthening ribs coupled to the upper surface of the sole, the ribs including a forward central rib extending between the tube and the forward end, the ribs including a rearward central rib extending between the tube and the rearward end, the ribs including a V-shaped rib with an apex formed between the tube and the forward end and with free ends at the lateral side edges between the tube and the rearward end, each rib having a curved lower edge with an axis of rotation above the sole, each rib having a curved upper edge with an axis of rotation below the sole; a position indicia including five toe indicators formed on the upper surface of each sole in the forward extent, two of the toe indicators located on a first side of the forward rib and three of the toe indicators located on a second side of the forward rib; a plurality of treads coupled to the lower surface of the sole, each tread having an upper surface in a curved configuration conforming to the lower surface of the sole, each tread having a lower surface in a common horizontal plane, each tread being in a V-shaped configuration with an apex facing forwardly and free ends adjacent to the lateral side edges, the sole and ribs and treads being fabricated of polycarbonate with flexibility and resilience; and a cane with a lower end positioned in the tube with the bolt threaded into contact with the lower end of the cane for securement purposes.