Abstract:
A sandal including a sole having a front region and a back region and an interior side and an exterior side, that includes a first opening located in said front region, a second opening in or near said back region at said interior side and a third opening in or near said back region at said exterior side, and a strap, which includes a plurality of sections, having a first end and a second end and wherein said first end is threaded upwardly through said front opening, through said second opening and looped around said back region, and through said third opening, thereby defining a heel region between said second opening and said third opening.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a sandal worn on the foot. More specifically a sandal with a single continuous, naturally adjusting strap. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Typically, sandals, while protecting the foot from injuries that may be inflicted by sharp objects lying on the ground, do not provide a wearer with a sense of close contact between foot and earth. As a result, it is difficult for a runner wearing sandals to have a natural-feeling running experience, i.e. an experience comparable to what the runner might experience when running with bare feet. 
         [0003]    To better approach a natural-feeling running experience, sandals have been used that employ a single strap that is threaded through holes in the sole to provide a complete encircling of the foot. However, the strap of such sandals is undifferentiated over its length, thereby ill-serving portions of the foot for which the dimensions of the strap are not well matched. In addition, many types of sandals use different straps for different parts of the foot, with buckles that are separately adjustable. This approach makes tightening up the sandal a complicated maneuver. 
         [0004]    Therefore, it would be desirable to have a sandal adapted for running that uses a single strap with sections that are adapted to the requirements of the runner&#39;s foot that are easily adjusted using a single buckle. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope. In various embodiments, one or more of the above-described problems have been reduced or eliminated, while other embodiments are directed to other improvements. 
         [0006]    In one embodiment, the present invention may take the form of a sandal that includes a sole having a front region, a back region, an interior side and an exterior side, including a first opening located in the front region, a second opening in or near the back region at the interior side and a third opening in or near the back region at the exterior side, and a strap, including of a plurality of sections, having a first end and a second end and wherein the first end is threaded upwardly through the front opening, through said second opening and looped around said back region, and through said third opening, thereby defining a heel region between the second opening and the third opening. 
         [0007]    In a second embodiment, the present invention may take the form of a strap for a sandal including a front section at a first end of the strap that terminates in a stop-plug, the stop plug serving to retain the first end of the strap when it is inserted through an opening in the sandal, a heel section adjacent to the front section, a final instep section adjacent to the heel section, and a buckle assembly coupled to the final instep section that retains a second end of the strap, wherein the plurality of sections include at least two sections that are made of different materials. 
         [0008]    In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the drawings and by study of the following detailed descriptions. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced drawings. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a top isometric view of a sandal, according to the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a bottom isometric view of the sandal of claim  1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of the strap of the sandal of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a top isometric view of the sandal of  FIG. 1 , in an initial stage of being laced. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a top isometric view of the sandal of  FIG. 1  in a first intermediate stage of being laced. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a top isometric view of the sandal of  FIG. 1  in a second intermediate stage of being laced. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a top isometric view of the sandal of  FIG. 1  in a final stage of being laced. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    The invention will be more completely understood through the following detailed description, which should be read in conjunction with the attached drawings. Detailed embodiments of the invention are disclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the invention in virtually any appropriately detailed embodiment. 
         [0018]    It may be appreciated by one skilled in the art, that while a principal object of the subject invention is a sandal that is suited for running, the approach described herein is also suited for walking and other uses. Nothing disclosed herein is intended to limit the use of the sandal to running or any other particular use. 
         [0019]    As used herein the following terms have the meanings given below: 
         [0020]    The term user refers to a human that is wearing a sandal of the present invention. In some cases the term user refers to a person that is putting on or adjusting a sandal; in this case the user does not necessarily have to be the same person that is wearing the sandal. For example, a parent may adjust a child&#39;s sandal. 
         [0021]    The “interior” side of a foot, a shoe, a sandal, or a sole of a shoe or sandal, is the side that is closer to the other foot when a wearer is standing with both feet on the ground and with legs uncrossed. The exterior side is the side further from the other foot for a wearer in the same stance. 
         [0022]    The sole of a shoe or sandal has an underside or bottom that makes contact with the ground and a topside or top that is in contact with a user&#39;s foot. 
         [0023]    The terms strap, or lace, refers to a length of material that secures a foot in position on top of the sole of a sandal. 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  is a top isometric view of a preferred embodiment of a running sandal  10 . Running sandal  10  includes a sole  12  that has a front where a user&#39;s toes rest and a back where a user&#39;s heel rests, and an interior side and an exterior side. Running sandal  10  further includes a strap  14 , a buckle assembly  16  and a strap coupler loop  18 . Strap  14  is formed of a plurality of sections, including a toe section  32  and a heel section  40 . Strap  14  is described in further detail hereinbelow with reference to  FIG. 3 . Sole  12  has three openings through which strap  14  passes, a front opening  60  near the front of the sandal, an exterior opening  62  towards the back exterior of the sandal and an interior opening  64  towards the back interior of the sandal. 
         [0025]      FIG. 2  is a bottom isometric view of running sandal  10 . Depicted in  FIG. 2  are portions of strap  14  as they pass through opening  62  and  64 , and a head or termination of strap  14  in the form of a stop-plug  30 , connected to toe section  32 , which secures one end of strap  14  to the underside of sole  12 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , strap  14  includes a head at one end of strap  14  in the form of stop-plug  30 , a toe section  32 , a first joint  34 , a front instep section  36 , heel section  40 , buffered between two joints  38 , a final instep section  42 , and a final tab  44  at the other end of strap  14 . A variable length indicator  48  is shown in both front instep section  36  and final instep section  42  to indicate that these sections are typically longer than depicted in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0027]    A buckle assembly  16  attaches, or couples, to strap  14  via a material loop  50  that encircles strap  14  in front instep section  36 . Buckle assembly  16  further includes a buckle  52 . In a preferred embodiment, final tab  44  and a portion of final instep section  42  are inserted through buckle  52 . Buckle  52  serves to retain one end of strap  14  while the other end is retained by stop-plug  30 . In other embodiments, buckle  52  may be a different type of mechanism that secures one end of strap  14  such as inter alia a clasp or frame-and-prong. 
         [0028]    In a preferred embodiment, buckle assembly  16  may slide along final instep section  42  to relieve pressure or tension that results from a foot pressing against final instep section  42 . The ease with which buckle assembly  16  slides can be regulated through the choice of material used for final instep section  42  and the tightness of material loop  50  around final instep section  42 . 
         [0029]    Thus, in a preferred embodiment, strap  14  includes 4 interconnected sections, i.e. (1) toe section  32 , (2) front instep section  36 , (3) heel section  40 , and (4) final instep section  42 . It may be appreciated by one skilled in the art that in different embodiments strap  14  may include more or less sections without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. In particular, toe section  32  and front instep section  36  may be combined into a single front section. 
         [0030]    It may further be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the length of strap  14  is based on the size of sandal  10 . Further, the lengths of individual sections of strap  14  are selected so as to position them correctly relative to the foot of a user. Further, sandal  10  may be made in various sizes. Table 1, below, indicates a preferred embodiment for the length of front instep section  36 , heel section  40  and final instep section  42  for three sizes of sandals: small, medium, and large. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Section Lengths for Various Sizes of Sandal 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Section Length (in inches) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Sandal 
                 Front Instep 
                 Elastic Heel 
                 Final Instep 
               
               
                 Size 
                 36 
                 40 
                 42 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Small 
                 10 
                 2¾ 
                 13½ 
               
               
                 Medium 
                 10¼  
                 3 
                 14 
               
               
                 Large 
                 10¾ 
                 3¼ 
                 14½ 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0031]    In a preferred embodiment, toe section  32 , front instep section  36  and final instep section  42  are made of woven leather, heel section  40  is made of elasticized leather, and stop plug  30  is made of rubber. Sole  14  may be made of rubber, or rubber with a suede or leather insole. The term elasticized leather refers to a material in which leather is wrapped around elastic. It may also be referred to generically as covered elastic. In other embodiments, heel section  40  may be constructed of elasticized nylon or rubber strapping, similar to the material used in rubber bands. In other embodiments, any or all of toe section  32 , front instep section  36  and final instep section  42  may be made of nylon strap or hemp strap. It may be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the material from which each section of strap  14  is constructed may be freely and independently chosen based on criteria such as utility, comfort, and aesthetics without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. This multi-segment approach is a unique aspect of the design of strap  14  and solves a variety of problems associated with prior art sandals. Notwithstanding the above, a general object of various embodiments of the subject invention is for heel section  40  to be more flexible than other sections of strap  14  to cope with the more several stress placed on this section during running or walking. 
         [0032]    In a preferred embodiment, consecutive segments are woven together and protected with a joint. In other embodiments, some sections may be attached to a joint or connected in other ways. For example, sections may be glued or stapled. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , to assemble sandal  10 , strap  14  is threaded through front opening  60  and is thus secured in front by stop-plug  30 . Strap  14  is extended toward the exterior side of sole  12 , and is threaded downward through slot  62 , is brought up over the exterior side of sole  12  and threaded through the opening between strap  14  as it extends from front opening  60  to exterior opening  62 , and sole  12 . 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , strap  14  is looped elliptically along the contour of the heel of sandal  10 . 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , a similar threading operation is performed with respect to interior opening  64  as was performed with respect to exterior opening  62 . Namely, strap  14  is extended toward the interior side of sole  12 , is threaded downward through slot  64 , is brought up over the exterior side of sole  12  and threaded through the opening between strap  14  as it extends from front opening  60  to interior opening  64 , and sole  12 . 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , final tab  44  is threaded through buckle  52  and pulled by a user to a desired degree of tightness. At any time, the user can tighten the degree to which strap  14  tightens around his/her foot by pulling final tab  44  or final instep section  42 . The reverse operation serves to relax strap  14  around the user&#39;s foot and also serves to remove strap  14  entirely from sole  12 . 
         [0037]    Skilled persons will now appreciate many advantages of the preferred embodiment over prior art sandals. First, buckle assembly  16  can slide on strap  14 , so that this junction can find a comfortable place on the user&#39;s instep. The human instep is notoriously varied in shape, making it difficult to fit footwear with precision. The preferred embodiment provides enough variation so that a user can configure a good instep fit. Moreover, the buckle provides a single, easy to use adjustment for an overall strap tightening, thereby facilitating this step. 
         [0038]    Also, heel portion  40 , which in one preferred embodiment is made of elasticized leather, stretches to accommodate the natural variation in the foot&#39;s size and shape during running. Without this accommodation, the strap  14  would tend to be pulled during the foot&#39;s motion and changing shape during running, eventually causing said heel portion  40  to loosen from the wearer&#39;s heel and potentially slip off. Heel portion  40  permits the strap to vary in length during running, thereby accommodating the foot&#39;s changing shape, without loosening over time, but consistently shrinking back to be held in place on the wearer&#39;s heel, even during running. 
         [0039]    In addition, toe section  32  can bend onto itself transversely, so that it does not cause discomfort between the toes. Instep sections  36  and  42  are made of a strong material, which in a preferred embodiment is stiff in comparison to the toe section material  32 . This avoids any transverse folding, which would be unpleasant and might force a runner to stop, in order to adjust his strap. 
         [0040]    The fact that strap  14  can be withdrawn from the sole  12 , facilitates the replacement of the strap  14 , with alternative strap forms, such as a leather strap, a rope strap, or a strap made of nylon material, but having different dimensions. Also, in one preferred system of materials, different colored leather and rope laces are provided. Accordingly, with a single sole, a user may choose the appearance he wants to present to others, from laid-back rope strap sandal, to the high tech nylon multi-part strap described above, by simply removing one pair of laces and installing another. 
         [0041]    While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those possessed of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and scope. 
         [0042]    In reading the above description, persons skilled in the art will realize that there are many apparent variations that can be applied to the methods and systems described.