Patent ID: 7284341
Filing Date: 2007-10-23
Classification: A43B

Abstract:
1. A hinged sandal for normal, full-stride walking on very soft sand, the sandal being elongated and having a longitudinal axis, comprising: a rigid forward sole section having a foot receiving portion disposed thereon, said forward sole section having an inside portion, an outside portion and a leading end intermediate the two portions of the forward sole section; a rigid rearward sole section having a foot receiving portion disposed thereon, a rearward sole section length extension integrally projecting rearward from said foot receiving portion whereby the extension is dimensioned and contoured to extend rearward at least 0.75 inch beyond the heel of the user's foot, said rearward sole section and said sole extension having an inside portion substantially aligned with said inside portion of said forward sole section, an outside portion substantially aligned with said outside portion of said forward sole section, and a trailing end intermediate the inner and outside portions of the rearward sole and sole extension sections; means for hinging the forward and rearward sole sections together, whereby each of the sole sections is allowed to angularly rotate about the hinge means independent of each other; and means for holding a user's foot to the sandal, said holding means including a first portion being asymmetrically mounted relative to the longitudinal axis on the foot receiving portion of the forward sole section for securing a user's toe portion to the sandal adjacent said inside portion of the forward sole section, said holding means further including a second portion secured asymmetrically to said rearward sole section, wherein the user's foot is secured to the sandal adjacent to said inside portion thereby forming unencumbered extended forward and rearward sole width portions; whereby the hinge means permits angular rotation of the forward and rearward sole sections during normal full-stride walking on very soft sand thereby creating a mechanical advantage when the sole sections impact upon the soft sand and allow the heel pressure concentrated well-forward of the trailing end of the rearward sole extension, and the extended sole width portions to limit the amount of soft sand penetration by the sandal.