Abstract:
A piece of footwear includes ornamental protrusions made to resemble toes. The toe-shaped protrusions stick out beyond the user&#39;s toes and may include toenails or other designs. Decorations on the surface of the toes, such as lights or removable ornaments, augment the toes&#39; design. The decorations may take the form of lights within the protrusions that activate selectively in response to the wearer&#39;s movement. The lights may be visible within recesses in the protrusions or through transparent or translucent coverings over the protrusions. The decorations may also take the form of self-adhesive ornaments such as stickers or gems that are provided to the user, allowing the user to customize the look of the toe protrusions through selection and positioning of the ornaments thereon. Ornaments may also include symbols which can be arranged to convey a message selected by the user. Ornaments may be removed and replaced or interchanged as desired.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of my prior provisional applications: U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/383,868, filed Sep. 17, 2010, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/412,063, filed Nov. 10, 2010. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is generally related to footwear, and more particularly to sandals displaying artificial toe protrusions. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     One popular class of footwear is the sandal, defined by a generally solid base surface that leaves some or all of the side and top of the foot exposed. Typically straps or thongs are used to hold the wearer&#39;s foot in place in the sandal. The straps may run over the toes or between the toes. In one well-known sandal design, a thong runs from each side of the base over the top of the foot, terminating in the space between the big toe and the rest of the toes. 
     Many sandals also include rear straps to secure the heel in place. However, in the popular flip flop sandal design, no rear strap is included. Flip flop sandals are often less secure around the feet but are much easier to don and remove; a flip flop sandal can usually be removed by motion of the foot alone, without the need for hand assistance. For this reason, flip flop sandals are a popular leisure option, and are often used as around the pool, around the house, and in the shower. 
     Because sandals are understood primarily as a summer option and often associated with leisure applications, many consumers view them as a casual fashion item. More recently, they have become year-round footwear, especially for girls and young women, Sandals, especially flip flop sandals, are marketed in a large number of styles and colors, and consumers are accustomed to purchasing inexpensive flip flop sandals to match a variety of summer outfits, swimwear, and sleepwear. 
     Because sandals typically show the feet of the wearer, sandals are often associated with bare feet and with visible toenails. Many consumers, especially female consumers, choose to decorate their toenails when wearing sandals. Sandals, especially flip flop sandals, are therefore frequently associated with decorated toenails. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is an article of footwear that includes front protrusions that extend beyond the toes of the wearer. The top of each protrusion is decorated. 
     In one embodiment, there are lights in the top of the each protrusion. The lights are selectively activated by movement of the wearer. 
     In another embodiment, removable ornaments can be chosen and placed on the top of each protrusion by the wearer. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a sandal in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the sandal of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is cross-section side view of the base of the sandal of  FIG. 1  showing the internal heel sensor and light associated with the sandal and a foot in outline. 
         FIG. 4A  is a partial cross-section view of a sandal protrusion with a light in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4B  is a partial cross-section view of a sandal protrusion with a light and covering in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a footwear product including a sandal and user-applied ornaments in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  shows the product with the ornaments applied to the toe protrusions of the sandal and with a foot in outline wearing the sandal. 
         FIG. 7  shows an embodiment of the product with letter ornaments arranged on the toe protrusions of the sandal to spell a word. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1-3  show a sandal  10 , which has a base  12  and at least one strap or thong  30  to secure the base  12  to the foot of the wearer. The sandal  10  is shaped to receive a foot  90  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ), but the base  12  of the sandal  10  is designed to extend past the expected location of the foot  90 . The base  12  of the sandal  10  extends forward past the expected location of the toes of the foot  90 , and includes protrusions  20  that are themselves shaped like toes. This front part of the base  12 , including the toe-shaped protrusions  20 , may be slightly upturned in order to accommodate easier movement by the wearer, or alternatively may lie flat with the rest of the base  12  as shown in the accompanying figures. When worn, the toe-shaped protrusions  20  are prominently visible and eye-catching, and fashionably extend the shape and form of the wearer&#39;s own feet. The thong is specifically designed to be placed at a location rearward of the toe-shaped protrusions so that the toes of the users foot are positioned rearward of the protrusions so that the plurality of lights are not clocked by any portion of the user&#39;s toes when the sandal is worn. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the sandal  10  shown is a flip flop sandal with a between-toe thong  30  and no heel strap as previously described. The structure of the sandal base  12 , including the electronics associated with the toe lights  50 , are shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
     The toe-shaped protrusions  20  of the sandal base  12  may include the visual or tactile suggestion of toenails. For example, as shown, each toe shape  20  may be generally of one color but include a toenail-shaped portion  22  in a second color. The toenail shape may be suggested by indicia, by the material of the base itself, or by another method. Alternatively, the toe shapes  20  may not include any suggestion of toenails. Although shown as human toes, one of ordinary skill will understand that other shapes of protrusion (for example, animal toes or claws) may serve the same ornamental function as the toe-shaped protrusions  20 . Any plurality of protrusions designed to extend past a foot  90  from the front of the sandal base would be understood to be consistent with the invention. 
     Whether or not the toe protrusions  20  include the suggestion of toenails  22 , in the embodiment illustrated by  FIGS. 1-4B , the toe protrusions  20  of the sandal base  12  include light members  50  thereon which are activated during the user&#39;s movement. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the base  12  of the sandal  10  consists of three layers  12   a - c . The lowest layer  12   a  contains the sole material; it may include grips or a tread pattern on its underside to facilitate the interface between the sole of the sandal and the surfaces on which the user will walk while wearing it. The underside of the lower layer  12   a  may include any features known to one of ordinary skill for the bottom of sandals. The lower layer  12   a  is of the same outline as the rest of the sandal base  12 , including the presence of toe protrusions  20 . 
     As shown, the middle layer  12   b  of the base  12  includes a hole  14  in the center part of the arch and heel regions of the base. This hole  14  runs from the heel halfway up the length of the sandal  10 . The heel of the middle layer  12   b  includes a control module  40  which contains all the necessary programming and components to run the lights  50  associated with the sandal. For example, the control module may include a circuit board with firmware programmed to accept input from a button or sensor and selectively power the wire circuits associated with each of the toe lights, RAM or other memory, a timer or other reference component, and batteries to power the sandal control module and the toe lights. The control module  40  is coupled to the wires  42  that power the toe lights  50 , and also to a heel pressure sensor  44 . As shown, the heel pressure sensor  44  is a button that activates when pressed, such as when pressure is applied to the heel as the user walks wearing the sandal  10 . The control module  40  may be configured to activate the toe lights  50  randomly, in sequence, or in tandem in response to a sensor event. Any state of the sensor  44  may be a sensor event depending on the configuration of the control module  40 . For instance, initiation of pressure may be an event while sustained pressure may cease to be considered an event after a set interval. Likewise, an absence of pressure after a sustained interval of pressure may be an event. Different events may have different patterns of light activation, or the patterns of light activation may be consistent or vary in sequence or randomly regardless of the type of event. 
     In a simpler embodiment, the control module may comprise a resilient switch that is “on” whenever pressure is applied to the heel and “off” whenever the pressure ceases, the toe lights  50  activating whenever the switch is “on”. However, a more complicated control module is shown and contemplated. 
     The upper layer  12   c , like the middle and lower layers, has the same cross-sectional area with the same foot shape, including toe protrusions  20 . When wearing the sandal  10 , the user&#39;s foot  90  rests on the top side of the upper layer  12   c , which may include a variety of fashionable designs as shown. Attached to an area appropriate to the nails  22  of the toe protrusions  20  are a set of lights  50 . While LED lights are shown in the figures, one of ordinary skill may be aware of other methods of illumination which will work consistent with the structures described herein. The lights  50  are visible from above, the top side of the upper layer  12   c  having holes  52  matched to each light  50 . As shown in more detail in  FIG. 4A , the holes  52  may be generally empty and sized to receive the lights  50  as shown. Alternatively, the holes  52  may include a transparent or translucent material which still allows the lights  50  to be seen from above the surface of the top layer  12   c  of the protrusions  20  but provides some covering or protection for the lights  50 . The lights  50  are connected by wires  42  which run from the underside of the upper layer  12   c  to the control module  40 , the wires  42  running between the upper and middle layers. 
     The lights themselves may be any of a variety of shapes, which may match the aesthetic of the sandal. Additionally, the lights may be recessed in holes which are aesthetically shaped.  FIG. 4B  illustrates that a lens  54  or other transparent or translucent covering may cover some or all of the lights  50  to provide a different shape or color to the lighted areas, to protect the lights  50  from damage, or to optically alter the path of the light emitted by the lights  50 . Other advantages and uses of a lens  54  or other transparent or translucent covering for the light  50  will be understood by one of skill in the art. 
     The lights  50  may be colored, or the light coverings  54  may instead be colored. The lights may each have a distinct shape or color, or lights may share a common shape or color. The coverings may be permanently affixed, or may be in the form of translucent stickers which can be removably affixed by the user to vary the color and shape of the lighted region on each toe protrusion. 
     Because the top surface of the sandal base may include toenail indicia, shown in some figures as element  22 , the lights  50  may be shaped similar to the toenail indicia  22 , or in a way complimentary of the indicia  22 . Other shapes, sizes, and colors known to one of the art as being complimentary to toenails may be incorporated into the lights  50  themselves or their coverings. 
     Although embodiments show a sandal base  12  having three layers  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c  with a hole  14  in the center layer  12   b  allowing for the wires  42  and control module  40 , one of ordinary skill in the art would understand other configurations of sandal which allow for the lights  50 , wires  42 , sensor  44 , and control module  40  as described. 
       FIGS. 5-7  show a fashion footwear product  102 ,  104  which includes a sandal  110  and ornaments  142 ,  152 . In each figure, the sandal  110  shown is a flip flop sandal with a between-toe thong  130  and no heel strap as previously described. 
     As above with respect to the sandal  10 , the sandal  110  has a base  112  and at least one strap or thong  130  to secure the base  112  to the foot of the wearer. With respect to its shape and architecture, the sandal  110  is as described above with respect to the sandal  10 , and the numbers  110 - 130  correspond to the numbers  10 - 30  in  FIGS. 1-4B  as described above. As above, protrusions  120 , with or without toenail indicia  122 , extend beyond the expected position of a foot  90  as shown. 
     Whether or not the toe protrusions  120  include the suggestion of toenails  122 , the toe protrusions  120  of the sandal base  112  can accept ornaments  142  that are provided to the consumer for custom selection and placement. As shown in  FIG. 5 , these ornaments  142  may be provided on a card  140  or other packaging and are sized appropriately to be placed in the location of the toenail  122  of each toe protrusion  120 . Some of the supplied ornaments  142  may be sized larger or smaller than others to account for the different sizes of toe protrusions  120  or toenails  122 , or all ornaments  142  may be of substantially the same size. The ornaments  142  may be two dimensional, such as stickers, or may instead be three-dimensional, such as adhesive gems. The ornaments may be self-adhesive or may require an external adhesive. The ornaments may be designed to be removed after each use or may be designed to be permanently affixed until the user removes and interchanges them. The ornaments may be designed to be placed over other ornaments to conceal previously placed ornaments. 
     The sandal  110  may be fashionably worn with or without the application of the ornaments  142 , which are provided to be used at the wearer&#39;s discretion. It is expected that some wearers may choose to cover fewer than all toe protrusions  120  with ornaments  142  while some wearers may choose to cover all toe protrusions  120 , thus allowing for a range of different expressions by the wearer. The sandals  110  are depicted as flip flop sandals with a single thong  130  for support, but other thongs or straps, including rear heel straps, may be included in other designs that still incorporate the fashionable toe protrusions  120  of the present invention. The suggestion of toenails  122  on the toe protrusions  120  may also vary; for example they can instead be shaped to match an ornament shape. Toenail portions  122  may be in the shape of a circle, a heart, a commercial logo, etc. 
       FIG. 7  shows an alternative embodiment of a footwear product  104  that includes ornaments  152  which display letters. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the footwear product  104  may be sold with a card  150  or other packaging that includes ornaments  152  representing the entire alphabet including punctuation, or may include a more limited set of letters. In one embodiment, the footwear product  104  may be sold with ornaments  152  already arranged on a card  150  or other packaging to show a set of pre-selected words that they may be arranged to display. 
     Although shown as stickers, ornaments  152  with order-dependent symbols may be gems and represent any suitable two- or three-dimensional shape. Although shown as marks upon a circular background, ornaments  152  could have a shape corresponding to the symbol that each ornament  152  represents. Ornaments  152  may include punctuation, numbers, and other symbols, and some ornaments may have multiple symbols. 
     A variety of colors, shapes, and materials may be used to carry out the invention as described, and one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize a variety of embodiments from this disclosure and the accompanying figures. 
     Many features have been listed with particular configurations, options, and embodiments. Any one or more of the features described may be added to or combined with any of the other embodiments or other standard devices to create alternate combinations and embodiments. 
     Although the examples given include many specificities, they are intended as illustrative of only one possible embodiment of the invention. Other embodiments and modifications will, no doubt, occur to those skilled in the art. Thus, the examples given should only be interpreted as illustrations of some of the preferred embodiments of the invention, and the full scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.