Abstract:
A convertible interchangeable post assembly for sandals/flip flop footwear. The post assembly allows for a variety of decorative toe post to be selectively available for a sandal toe post flip flop configuration by using an interchangeable toe post assembly that is removably inserted into a fixed receptacle within the sole of the footwear.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     This invention relates to footwear, specifically sandals and so called flip flops that typically have a simple sole element with a toe engagement post and extending strap configurations that hold the footwear on the user&#39;s foot. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     Prior art footwear of this type have relied on a number of different post and strap constructions characterized by sandal thongs, slip on like designs. Examples of footwear with adjustment and replaceable straps and post assemblies can be seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,904,706 and 7,681,331. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 6,904,706 a sandal thong having a reversible tongue, vamp or strap utilizing a ball socket configuration allowing portions of the strap to be adjustable. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,681,331 is directed to a sandal having an adjustable center post assembly wherein a post has one or more flexible straps that can be adjustably secured to transversely extending sandal straps. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An interchangeable decorative toe post system for sandals/flip flop type footwear having a post receiving receptacle within the sole to selectively secure a variety of decoratively different interchangeable toe post having a common universal locking insertion mount. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the assembled footwear. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the footwear prior to assembly. 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of an assembled footwear. 
         FIG. 4  is a section on lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the toe post assembly of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the receiving mount for the toe post. 
         FIG. 7  is a side elevational view of the completed footwear. 
         FIG. 8  is an end plan view on lines  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view of the toe post and footwear assembly sequence. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, a footwear sandal/flip flop  10  of the invention can be seen having a contoured sole  11  with a toe end portion  12  and oppositely disposed heel end portion  13 . The toe end portion  12  is of an increased transverse dimension with a toe post mounting area at  14  thereon. The sole  11 , in this example, is of a multi-layer fabrication having a bottom sole layer  15  of an overall equal dimensional thickness, best seen in  FIGS. 4 and 9  of the drawings. A top sole layer  16  of a registerably exterior dimension that of said bottom layer  15  has a tapered increasing thickness extending from the toe end portion  12  to a maximum thickness at the heel end portion  13 . 
     An interlocking removable toe post assembly  17  of the invention can be seen in  FIGS. 2 ,  4 ,  5  and  6  of the drawings having a post receiving mount  18  and interlocking insert  19  and an elongated transversely annular curved exterior resilient post body  20 . 
     The receiver mount  18 , best seen in  FIGS. 4 ,  6  and  9  of the drawings has an annular disk shape base  21  with upstanding apertured arcuate step lugs  22  spaced oppositely extending therefrom. The lug  22  defines a key hole shaped retainment opening extending therethrough. The receiver mount  18  is positioned on an upper surface  15 A of the bottom sole layer  15  before assembly in the hereinbefore defined toe post receiving area  14 . The sole layer  16  has an opening at  16 A therein for registering alignment over the positioned lug  22  and is accordingly bonded to the layer  15  forming the assembled sole configuration as best seen in  FIG. 4  of the drawings. 
     The interlocking insert  19  has a central cylindrical bifurcated body member  23  defining independent oppositely disposed locking tabs  24 A and  24 B with tapered upper surfaces  25  thereon extending therefrom. An apertured annular embodiment disk portion  26  extends integrally from the cylindrical body member  23  best seen in  FIGS. 4 and 9  of the drawings and provides a retainment engagement surface for the exterior resilient post body  20  as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. 
     The flexible soft post body  20  is in practice over molded around the hereinbefore described embodiment retainment disk portion  26  of the interlocking insert  19  which affords selective retainment thereof within the receiver lock mount  18  securing same to the assembled sole  11  as best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings. 
     The resilient molded post body  20  has a contoured upstanding body portion  20 A with an enlarged flared annular top portion  20 B having a flat upper surface  20 C thereon. The contoured body portion  20 A has a central area of reduced transverse dimension at  20 D defining a curvilinear shape when viewed in its assembled, inserted and locked mounting position in alignment with the longitudinal center axis of the assembled sole  11  illustrated best in  FIG. 8  of the drawings. 
     In use, a variety of different decorative design ornamentations (not shown) can be attached to or formed within the annular top portion  20 B upper surface  20 C of the post body  20  which will allow for interchangeable design embellishments by replacing the so designed post assembly. 
     To selectively secure the post assembly  17  into the receiving mount  18 , the orientation of the locking tabs  24 A and  24 B positioned therewithin having tapered upper surfaces  25  will engage with correspondingly form registering surfaces  27  on the lug  22  so that by aligning the post tabs  24 A and  24 B for first insertion into the key hole opening and then with post rotation ninety degrees enable the securing tabs for registration therewithin to securely lock the post assembly  17  within the receiver mount  18  and therefore to the fabricated sole  11  as hereinbefore described. 
     It will thus be seen that a new and novel interchangeable footwear assembly construction has been illustrated and described and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.