Abstract:
A footwear apparatus and method including a sole to which fasteners are attached. Straps are mounted to fasteners and extend across the user&#39;s foot when the footwear is worn. The invention permits enormous variety in constructing footwear for the user to change the straps to suit his or her interests. Preferred straps include woven rubber or silicon bands forming a strip that is attached using loops at the ends of the straps. The fasteners are preferably pins extending through apertures formed in the soles of the footwear, where the pins have enlarged heads that prevent the pins from pulling the apertures and hooks or loops in the ends of the pins. Clips can fasten the loops on the straps to the loops on the pins.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/903,014 filed Nov. 12, 2013. This prior application is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    (Not Applicable) 
       THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    (Not Applicable) 
       REFERENCE TO AN APPENDIX 
       [0004]    (Not Applicable) 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The invention relates generally to footwear, and more particularly to footwear that has various functional and decorative structures attached to the footwear. 
         [0006]    Footwear comes in various shapes, colors and textures. Sandals alone are made in a virtually unlimited number of styles and colors. So-called “flip-flop” sandals, shown in  FIG. 1 , have a known appearance and are commonly made of a planar, polymer foam base  6  with one or more straps  8  extending from the base. The straps are used to retain the flip-flop to the foot, commonly by extending over the top of the foot, and with a structure between the large toe and next adjacent toe. Flip-flops are often worn without socks, and the wearer places his or her foot onto the base while extending the toes and parts of the foot beneath the straps. 
         [0007]    Flip-flops are common casual wear for people in the age group 8-25 years, and this is a group that desires a wide variety in the appearance of footwear. In response to the demand for varieties in footwear, flip-flop makers have created and sold countless colors, patterns and textures of flip-flops. Nevertheless, there is a need for more varieties of colors, textures and styles in footwear. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The invention allows the user to design and assemble his or her own footwear by making and/or buying straps that may attach to a variety of mounting points on a base or sole, such as a substantially planar sole. The sole may be as simple as a flip-flop base with three mounting points to attach straps, and the straps may be purchased or created by the user. One method for creating the straps is to weave them out of elastomeric bands by hand or using a loom such as the FUNLOOM brand loom. The user can buy or create an almost endless variety of bands to attach to the shoe base or sole using a variety of mounting points, materials and stitches. 
         [0009]    The mounting points can be formed at known locations in some embodiments that are similar to the flip-flop, or they can be placed wherever the designer&#39;s creativity requires. The designer can extend fasteners, such as pins that have an enlarged lower head and a loop at the upper end, through apertures in the sole, and then removably mount the straps to the fasteners. This provides an enormous variety of footwear for the user to enjoy and modify as often as he or she likes when the straps are removably fastened to the fasteners. 
         [0010]    With the present invention, a user can construct footwear that has the appearance and function desired, but can be modified after construction without destroying the constructed footwear. Instead, the modification typically can be carried out by the user with only his or her hands. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a top view illustrating a pair of prior art sandals. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a top view illustrating a sole that is contemplated for use in the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a side view illustrating the sole of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a side view illustrating an alternative pin fastener. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a top view illustrating an alternative sole that is contemplated for use in the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a top view illustrating an alternative sole that is contemplated for use in the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a top view illustrating an alternative sole that is contemplated for use in the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a view in perspective illustrating an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a top view illustrating the alternative embodiment of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a front view in perspective illustrating the alternative embodiment of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is front view in perspective illustrating an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is a view in perspective illustrating the alternative embodiment of  FIG. 11 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  is a front view in perspective illustrating the alternative embodiment of  FIG. 11 . 
       
    
    
       [0024]    In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the specific term so selected and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. For example, the word connected or terms similar thereto are often used. They are not limited to direct connection, but include connection through other elements where such connection is recognized as being equivalent by those skilled in the art. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0025]    U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/903,014 filed Nov. 12, 2013 is herein incorporated in this application by reference. 
         [0026]    In a first embodiment, the sole  20  is a planar, flexible polymer foam, such as the soles that conventional flip-flop sandals are made of. The sole can be the same thickness throughout, it can be of varying thickness (such as a wedge shape), or it can incorporate a heel and be made of multiple materials used for producing traditional footwear. Only the planar, single thickness sole  20  is illustrated, but the person of ordinary skill will know from the description herein how to prepare other soles in accordance with the invention. 
         [0027]    The sole  20  has a top major surface  21  and an opposing bottom major surface  23  (see  FIG. 3 ), which typically rests upon the surface on which the wearer of the shoes is supported, such as a floor, earth, pavement or any other supportive surface. The user&#39;s foot, or a stocking covering the foot, rests upon the top major surface  21  during use. 
         [0028]    A mounting point  22  is formed at the location where a gap between the user&#39;s big toe and next adjacent toe will be positioned during use. Two additional mounting points  24  and  26  are located, one on either side of where the foot will be positioned during use. The first mounting point  24  can be on one side of the foot and as far back as where the ankle will be positioned during use, and another mounting point  26  can be on the opposite side of the foot, as far back as where the ankle will be positioned. The mounting points contemplated for all embodiments of the invention include any suitable fastener to which a “strap” can be attached. 
         [0029]    “Straps” are flexible structures that are contemplated to include, without limitation, flexible rubber, urethane, string, bands, wires, tied or bound rubber bands, woven rubber bands, woven string, woven wires, or any other flexible, elongated structure. Straps can be woven strips of any material that is suitable for extending over the human foot, or any suitable material that is comfortable to the human user. The preferred straps have loops at their ends, defined as an opening formed in the strap into which an object, such as a hook or other structure, can be inserted. The ends, or areas near the ends, of each strap can be a section of a rubber band or any other structure that is readily connected to another object including, without limitation, a loop of material, a flexible band or strip, a hook, a magnet, or a tacky material. 
         [0030]    The preferred mounting points include hooks, loops, magnets, clasps, or other fasteners to which a strap can readily mount. Any suitable fastener can be used at the ends of each strap, so long as the fastener permits attachment of the strap to the respective mounting points, along with detachment without destruction or damage to the strap. One type of attachment or fastening is a loop through which an intermediate portion of a strap passes, such as when a strap is mounted at or near its ends to fasteners, but passes through a loop in another fastener. Such a configuration is considered consistent with the invention, because the fasteners at the ends of the strap removably mount the strap to the two fasteners, and the loop in the center of the strap also removably mounts the strap to the loop portion of the fastener, even though a strap passing through a loop may not be considered a fastener in common vernacular. A physical connection that restricts the movement of a strap is considered a “fastener” for the purposes of the invention. 
         [0031]    One example of a mounting point contemplated is shown in  FIG. 3 . The sole  20  is shown from the side and has a plurality of apertures (shown in dashed lines) extending substantially perpendicularly to the major surfaces  21  and  23  through the sole  20 . A pin  32  extends through the aperture  30 , as shown in a magnified view, with a larger head  32   h  at the bottom to resist an upward component of force pulling the head  32   h  through the aperture. A tip is formed at the top end of the pin  32  with a hook  34  formed therein, thereby forming a fastener. The hook  34  can receive a rubber band, loop or another structure of a strap. The hook  34  has a gate  34 ′ that is spring-loaded to prevent withdrawal of the strap from the hook, such as during removal of the sandal from the user&#39;s foot. However, when the strap is deliberately being removed by the user this is a simple process accomplished without any tools. 
         [0032]    Looking now to  FIG. 4 , the alternative pin  132  has an opening  134  through which a band  136  can extend or pass through, or to which a clasp can attach. The band  136  can be a rubber band or any similar strap structure, such as an elongated collection of tied or otherwise joined rubber bands, for example the woven collection of rubber bands shown in U.S. Pat. No. 8,485,565, which is incorporated herein by reference. Furthermore, the band  136  is contemplated to include any clip or other structure used to extend through the opening  134  and through the loop in the end of the strap. The band  136  can be a C-shaped clip that is conventionally used to connect the ends of a strap of woven rubber bands together to form bracelets, as shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,485,565. 
         [0033]    Although the above pins  32  and  132  have long thin shafts extending from enlarged heads, which can be circular or shaped otherwise, various pins are contemplated. The pins  32  and  132  can be rigid (metal or hard plastic), semi-rigid (flexible plastic) or highly flexible (string, rubber bands and fabric). Alternative pins include flexible fabric strips with looped ends used as fasteners on one side of the sole, with a rod across the aperture on the bottom of the sole and around which opposite ends of the fabric strip are extended to prevent the fabric from pulling through. String is also contemplated, as is any other rigid or flexible material that is suitably strong and can be attached to the sole to form a fastener to which the straps can be removably mounted. 
         [0034]    As defined herein, the term “removably mounted” (or similar terms, such as “removably attached”) is defined as an attachment that can be made using human hands without any parts that are destroyed or damaged, and that can be detached using human hands without destroying or damaging any parts. Thus, sewing is not considered “removably mounted”, nor are riveting, gluing, stapling or other forms of attachment. “Removably attached” and similar terms include, without limitation, the use of hooks extended through loops, attracting magnets, hooks-and-loops (e.g., VELCRO brand fastener), knots tied by hand, clasps, snaps, and other equivalent or substitute fasteners. 
         [0035]    In one embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 5 , the sole  200  has openings for establishing more than three mounting points as in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 . The  FIG. 5  embodiment allows for a variety of designs because the straps can be attached at many different places to form different angles across or around the foot, or merely for decoration, upon placement of a mounting point at those locations. 
         [0036]    The number of mounting arrangements of the  FIG. 5  embodiment is virtually unlimited, and multiple such openings  230  through the sole are shown in  FIG. 5  at the perimeter of the sole. Each opening  230  can form a mounting point with a pin as shown and described herein, or any equivalent or suitable fastener. Thus, the three basic mounting points for a flip flop can be expanded to create mounting points all around the perimeter of the sole. The user can thereby attach additional straps across and behind the foot to create a sandal with various straps. In another embodiment, not shown, it is contemplated to insert pins in every opening  230  in the sole  200 , and extend straps over the major surface against which the foot rests in order to provide athletic footwear that can be modified to a great extent to ensure the user&#39;s foot is sufficiently supported. 
         [0037]    In an embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , the straps  334  and  336  are attached from pins or other fasteners at one or more of the mounting points to the toe position mounting point  330  in a configuration similar to a standard flip-flop. A third strap  332  extends across to form an ankle support, and this third strap  332  can be made of various materials. Virtually any strap position possible is contemplated with the present invention, due to the location of the apertures around the perimeter, and the ability to attach straps of any length from one mounting point to another. 
         [0038]    In an embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , the sole  432  has a plurality of apertures, to which a single strap  434  is mounted across the sole  432  to extend across the top of the user&#39;s foot near the toes. In an embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 , the sole  532  has three fasteners  536 ,  537  and  538 , to which a single strap  534  removably attaches. The strap  534  attaches at its opposing ends to the fasteners  537  and  538 , but removably attaches to the fastener  536  by passing through an opening in the fastener  536 . This opening can be loose or tight, as determined by the user, to allow the strap  534  to slide therein or be held tightly thereby. In any case, such a physical relationship is considered “removably mounted” for the purposes of the invention. Thus, a single strap can extend between three fasteners, and provide, in effect, the structure of two straps. This embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . A similar, but slightly different embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 11 ,  12  and  13  in which the sole  632  has a plurality of straps  634   a ,  634   b  and  634   c  all passing through the fastener  636  similarly to the strap  534  through the fastener  536  in parallel fashion. The straps  634   a ,  634   b  and  634   c  fasten, at their opposing ends, to the fasteners  637  and  638 . Thus, straps can be attached in parallel for decorative and/or functional purposes. It should also be noted that charms, embellishments, and/or any other decorative structures can be connected to the straps by inserting the straps through the structures, weaving the straps into or around the structures, or otherwise connecting the structures to the straps that are used in the present invention. 
         [0039]    It is notable that, in any embodiment described herein, the straps can be purchased, or they can be made of a structure constructed by the end user of the shoe, and installed to the shoe sole/base by the end user of the shoe. Thus, the straps can be rubber bands, strings, braided strings or bands, otherwise tied or looped bands, or any suitable strap structure or material. In one contemplated example, the straps are made of a plurality of small rubber bands, silicon bands or other elastomeric material bands, which small bands are woven into a sufficiently-sized strap by the end user of the shoe. The end user removably attaches ends of these straps to fasteners at the mounting points chosen by the user, and thereby uses the woven band straps as decorative and/or supportive portions of the footwear. Whenever desired, the user can remove one or more ends of the straps and mounts the strap to the footwear in a different manner. This allows the end user to thereby removably mount the straps in a way that is desired at one time, and then modify the location and/or appearance of the straps to produce footwear that has straps mounted a different way at a later time. 
         [0040]    It is contemplated to provide a sole with an upper, such as in the form of a clog or shoe, where the sole has apertures through which one or more pins are extended, and straps are made or purchased. The straps can be attached to the pins or other fasteners at mounting points and used in a functional manner, or in a decorative manner, or in a manner that is both decorative and functional. For example, one or more straps could be used to form a support behind the heel on a pair of clog-like shoes. The pin can extend through an aperture in the sole or in the upper, and the strap can extend behind the heel in an operable orientation. Furthermore, it is contemplated to have pins extend through the upper or sole, and extend straps alongside the upper to provide a decorative feature. 
         [0041]    The straps can attach to the sole in a variety of ways including hooks built into the sole or mounting pins that protrude up from the bottom of the sole with an attachment point for the straps, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . There are countless ways straps can be attached to the sole and extended from one mounting point to another mounting point. The preferred embodiment allows the user to extend a structure through an aperture in the sole and then attach, detach, and rearrange the mounting points and straps as they wish at any time. Of course, an aperture is not required, but a fastener can be attached to the sole, or a loop or other structure can be formed on the sole through which a fastener can extend. This allows the user to create a large variety of shoe designs using the basic components of the sole, mounting points, pins or other fasteners, with the straps. 
         [0042]    The structures may be sold as a kit in which a sole with openings, mounting points, a loom, and bands to make straps are included. It may also and alternatively be sold in a kit without a loom for those who already own a loom or wish to purchase already assembled straps or choose to assemble straps by hand. The combination may also be sold in a kit with the sole only, or the sole with mounting point pins for those who already have all of the other components. 
         [0043]    This detailed description in connection with the drawings is intended principally as a description of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and is not intended to represent the only form in which the present invention may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the designs, functions, means, and methods of implementing the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and features may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention and that various modifications may be adopted without departing from the invention or scope of the following claims.