Abstract:
Sandals with adjustable post assemblies are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a sandal can include a sole assembly and a first strap coupled to the sole assembly. The first strap is positioned to engage a forefoot area of a wearer&#39;s foot. The first strap includes an aperture proximate to an intermediate portion of the first strap. The sandal also includes an adjustable post assembly extending through the aperture. The post assembly includes a post portion coupled to the sole assembly and one or more flexible second straps projecting from the post portion and configured to be releasably coupled to the first strap. The first strap is movable along at least one of the post portion and the one or more flexible second straps to adjust the position of the first strap relative to the sole assembly for engagement with the wearer&#39;s foot. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims (37 C.F.R. 1.72(b)).

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure is directed toward footwear and, more particularly, toward sandal-style footwear. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Sandals are becoming increasingly popular for activities such as walking, hiking, running, water sports, golfing, and a variety of other sports related activities. Sandals for such activities are currently available in a wide variety of different styles and shapes. For example, sandals typically include a leather or rubberized sole that can be attached to a wearer&#39;s foot by strap(s) extending across one or more portions of the wearer&#39;s foot. Sandals are generally classified as either “open-heel” or “closed-heel”. “Open-heel” sandals, for example, are typically provided with (a) a single strap that passes over the wearer&#39;s foot above the bridge, or (b) a combination of a strap with a center post or “toe-thong” positioned between two of the wearer&#39;s toe and extending from a strap over the bridge of the wearer&#39;s foot to the sole of the sandal (e.g., “flip-flops” or “thong” sandals). “Closed-heel” sandals typically include a strap or upper portion positioned behind the wearer&#39;s heel to support the wearer&#39;s foot within the sandal. Both types of sandals generally have an open toe structure. 
         [0003]    One concern with many conventional flip-flops or thong-type sandals is that the strap that passes over the front portion of a wearer&#39;s foot does not fit correctly. For example, if the front of the wearer&#39;s foot is relatively thin, then the strap can be too loose and the wearer&#39;s foot can inadvertently slide forward and/or backward, causing chafing or blisters on the sole of the foot and on the skin surfaces under the strap or center post. Likewise, if the wearer&#39;s foot is relatively thick then the strap can be too tight, which can also cause chafing and/or blisters on the wearer&#39;s foot. Such ill-fitting sandals are uncomfortable if worn for any extended period of time and are generally unsuitable for most outdoor activities or sports. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1A-1C  are isometric views of a sandal including an adjustable center post assembly configured in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of a sandal including an adjustable center post assembly configured in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0006]    The present disclosure is directed to sandals with adjustable center post assemblies. Many specific details of certain embodiments of the invention are set forth in the following description and in  FIGS. 1A-2  to provide a thorough understanding of these embodiments. Well-known structures, systems, and methods often associated with such systems have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the various embodiments of the invention. In addition, those of ordinary skill in the relevant art will understand that additional embodiments of the invention may be practiced without several of the details described below. 
         [0007]      FIGS. 1A-1C  are isometric views of a sandal  100  including an adjustable center post assembly  140  configured in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. More specifically,  FIGS. 1A-1C  illustrate various stages in a method of adjusting the sandal&#39;s center post assembly  140  to conform to a wearer&#39;s foot.  FIG. 1A , for example, is an isometric view of the sandal  100  at a preliminary stage of the method before the wearer&#39;s foot is placed in the sandal  100 . The sandal  100  includes a sole or base assembly  110 , an upper  130  coupled to the sole assembly  110 , and the adjustable center post or toe post assembly  140 . The sandal  100  includes several features generally similar to the so-called “flip-flops” or thong-type sandals described above (e.g., a generally V-shaped strap that fits over a front portion and side portions of the wearer&#39;s foot and a center post or toe post that is fixed to the sandal&#39;s sole and generally fits between the wearer&#39;s first and second toes. As described in detail below, however, the sandal  100  with the adjustable center post assembly  140  is expected to provide a significantly more comfortable and secure fit as compared with conventional flip-flops or thong-type sandals. 
         [0008]    The sole assembly  110  is generally configured to have a profile corresponding to the profile of a plantar surface of a human foot. For example, the sole assembly  110  includes a front portion  112  and a rear portion  114 . The front portion  112  corresponds to a wearer&#39;s forefoot and toes, while the rear portion  114  corresponds to a wearer&#39;s heel area. The sole assembly  110  of the illustrated embodiment further includes an outsole  116 , a midsole  118 , and an insole  120  with a generally wedge-shaped arch  122 . The outsole  116  is adhered to at least a portion of the bottom of the midsole  118 . The outsole  116  is configured to provide grip on external surfaces. In several embodiments, for example, the outsole  116  can include variable sized traction lugs (not shown) to provide traction for a variety of different surfaces. The outsole  116  can also include a support component (not shown) including one or more support features, such as an arch shank or stabilizer and/or a heel cup. The outsole  116  can be formed from a single material or a dual-density material (i.e., composed of two or more materials). In one embodiment, the sole assembly includes a contoured cavity in the foot bed area. The cavity is configured to removably receive a selected one of a plurality of interchangeable insoles shaped and sized to fit in the cavity. 
         [0009]    The midsole  118  is typically composed of a shock-absorbing material such as Phylon foam, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam, polyurethane foam, or a combination of materials. (e.g., a dual-density material). The midsole  118  includes a contoured cavity configured to receive and support the insole  120 . The insole  120  in the illustrated embodiment includes an interchangeable insole  123  that is tailored to a specific activity (e.g., walking, running, hiking, etc.) and/or a particular foot-type. In other embodiments, however, the sole assembly  110  may include an integral or fixed insole portion rather than the interchangeable insole  123 . 
         [0010]    The sole assembly  110  can include a toe guard  124  configured to protect the wearer&#39;s toes. The toe guard  124  extends from the front of the sole assembly  110 . The toe guard  124  can be a fixed or removable component. In other embodiments, the toe guard  124  may not be included. Further details regarding suitable configurations and features for the outsole  116 , the midsole  118 , the insole  120 , and suitable interchangeable insoles  123  that can be used with the sandal  100  are described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,055,265, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. Although the sole assembly  110  is described above as having a midsole and insole, the sole assembly of other embodiments does not need to include a midsole and/or an insole. For example, the sole assembly can be a unitary structure with a bottom surface that engages the ground and a top surface that supports the wearer&#39;s foot, or an insole (removeable or non-removeable) that supports the wearer&#39;s foot. 
         [0011]    The upper  130  includes one or more fixed first straps  132  (only one is shown) connected to the sole assembly  110  and positioned to engage the wearer&#39;s foot (not shown). As mentioned previously, the first strap  132  is a generally V-shaped front strap positioned to engage a front and side portions of the wearer&#39;s foot. The first strap  132  includes end portions  133  (only one is visible in  FIG. 1A ) attached to the sole assembly  110  (e.g., the outsole  116 ). The foot strap  132  also has an intermediate or center portion  134  between the end portions  133  and positioned above the front portion  112  of the sole assembly  110 . The intermediate portion  134  of the first strap  132  is adjustably movable relative to the sole assembly  110  and includes (a) an aperture or opening  136  configured to receive the center post assembly  140 , and (b) one or more attachment portions  138  (two are shown in the illustrated embodiment) positioned to engage at least a portion of the center post assembly  140 , as described in further detail below with reference to  FIGS. 1B and 1C . The first strap  132  can be composed of leather, fabric, rubber, a synthetic material, or another suitable material. In several embodiments, for example, the first strap  132  can be formed from the same material as at least a portion of the sole assembly  110 . In other embodiments, however, the first strap  132  and the sole assembly  110  can be composed of different materials. 
         [0012]    The center post assembly  140  includes a post or body portion  142  fixedly attached to the sole assembly  110  and two flexible second straps  144  projecting from the post  142 . In the illustrated embodiment, the post portion  142  is flexible. In other embodiments, however, at least a portion of the post  142  can be generally rigid. The second straps  144  are adjustable straps that each include a first or outer side  146  and a second or inner side  148  configured to releasably engage the corresponding attachment portions  138  on the first strap  132 . The second straps  144  (and in some embodiments the post portion  142 ) can be composed of a fabric, leather, rubber, or synthetic material or another suitable material having sufficient strength to releasably secure the first strap  132  against the wearer&#39;s foot. 
         [0013]    Referring next to  FIG. 1B , the sandal  100  is shown at an intermediate stage of adjusting center post assembly  140  and the first strap  132  after the wearer&#39;s foot  190  (shown in broken lines) has been inserted into the sandal  100 . In this stage of the method, the flexible post  142  is at least partially received between the wearer&#39;s first and second toes and the second straps  144  have been at least partially inserted through the aperture  136  in the first strap  132 . More specifically, the second straps  144  (and in some instances, at least a portion of the flexible post  142 ) have been inserted through the aperture  136  such that the position of the intermediate portion  134  of the first strap  132  can be adjustably moved relative to a top of the wearer&#39;s foot  190  along the flexible post  142  (as shown by the arrow A). In this way, the position of the first strap  132  can be adjusted until the first strap  132  is at a desired position relative to the top of the wearer&#39;s foot  190 . While the adjustment of the first strap  132  and the center post assembly  140  are discussed above when the wearers foot is on the sandal  100 , it is to be understood that the first strap  132  and the center post assembly can be adjusted relative to the sole assembly  110  when the wearer&#39;s foot is not on the sandal. 
         [0014]    After moving the first strap  132  to the desired position, the second straps  144  can be releasably attached to the first strap  132  (as shown by the arrows B) to secure the sandal  100  in place against the wearer&#39;s foot  190 . More specifically, the second or inner side  148  of the second straps  144  can be releasably fastened or otherwise engaged with corresponding attachment portions  138  on the first strap  132 . In the illustrated embodiment, a hook-and-loop material, such as Velcro®, is used to releasably fasten the second straps  144  to the corresponding portions of the first strap  132 . In other embodiments, however, fasteners such as snaps, buttons, hooks, clips, ties, or other suitable fasteners may be used to releasably secure the second straps  144  to the first strap  132 . 
         [0015]      FIG. 1C  is an isometric view of the sandal  100  after the second straps  144  have been releasably fastened to the first strap  132 . In the illustrated embodiment, for example, the second straps  144  have been pulled through the aperture  136  and attached to the first strap  132  to snugly secure the first strap  132  over the front portion of the wearer&#39;s foot, thereby comfortably securing the wearer&#39;s foot evenly and firmly into the sandal  100 . 
         [0016]    One advantage of the sandal  100  including the adjustable center post assembly  140  described above with reference to  FIGS. 1A-1C  is that the vertical position of the first strap  132  relative to the insole  120  can be adjusted to accommodate a wide range of foot shapes and sizes. Accordingly, the sandal  100  can provide a comfortable fit with many different foot types. Furthermore, the strap system is configured such that adjustments can be performed quickly and easily. Compared with conventional flip-flop or thong-type sandals that provide little or no adjustment, the sandal  100  is expected to provide increased comfort, stability, and support for the wearer. 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of a sandal  200  including an adjustable center post assembly  240  configured in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. The sandal  200  is generally similar to the sandal  100  described above with reference to  FIG. 1A-1C  and, accordingly, like reference numbers refer to like components. The sandal  200  differs from the sandal  100 , however, in that the sandal  200  includes a center post assembly  240  having a different configuration than the center post assembly  140  of the sandal  100 . More specifically, the center post assembly  240  includes a flexible post or body portion  242  attached to the sole assembly  110  and a single adjustable second strap  244  projecting from the post  242 , rather than the two second straps  144  of the center post assembly  140 . The flexible second strap  244  includes a first or upper side  246  and a second or inner side  248 . 
         [0018]    The sandal  200  also includes an upper  230  having a first strap  232  with end portions  233  attached to the sole assembly  110  and an intermediate or center portion  234  between the end portions  233 . The intermediate portion  234  includes an aperture  236  configured to receive the second strap  244 . The first strap  232  also includes an attachment portion  238  positioned to engage at least a portion of the second strap  244 . In the illustrated embodiment, for example, the second or inner side  248  of the second strap  244  is releasably fastened or otherwise secured to the attachment portion  238  using materials and/or techniques similar to those described above (e.g., Velcro®, etc.). 
         [0019]    From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be made without deviating from the invention. For example, the sole assembly  110  can include one or more additional components (e.g., a curved forefoot plate, beveled heel and flex grooves, a fluid drainage system, etc.) and/or one or more components of the sole assembly  110  may be omitted. Furthermore, in other embodiments the first straps  132 / 232  can include more than a single strap. Aspects of the invention described in the context of particular embodiments may be combined or eliminated in other embodiments. For example, aspects of the invention described in the context of open heel sandals (e.g., flip-flops or thong-type sandals) can be implemented in other types of sandals (e.g., closed heel sandals, sandals designed for particular sport activities, etc.). Further, while advantages associated with certain embodiments of the invention have been described in the context of those embodiments, other embodiments may also exhibit such advantages, and not all embodiments need necessarily exhibit such advantages to fall within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited, except as by the appended claims.