Abstract:
The sandal with pneumatic support includes an inflatable bladder in the sole, in the area immediately beneath the arch of the foot when the sandal is worn. A manual air pump is provided integrally with the sandal. In one embodiment, the pump is located atop the toe divider of a flip-flop type sandal. In another embodiment, the pump is located in the heel. A pressure relief valve is located along one of the upper straps of the sandal. The arch bladder, air pump, and relief valve communicate pneumatically with one another. The sandal may be devoid of structure extending between the toes when worn, but may include straps passing over and/or around the foot. The sandal provides greatly improved support and reduces or eliminates muscular problems resulting from the lack of arch support in sandals.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/376,089, filed Aug. 23, 2010. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to footwear, and more particularly to an open shoe or sandal having a pneumatically inflatable arch support. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    The development of at least primitive footwear (sandals, moccasins, etc.) occurred very early in human history due to the need to protect the foot from injury during the typical hunting, gathering, and nomadic existence of early humankind. This early footwear amounted to little more than a means of securing a sheet of protective material beneath the sole of the foot, and thus provided no additional arch or other support. However, people had acclimated to such lack of support due to their normal barefoot custom, and thus the lack of arch support was not critical in such early footwear. 
         [0006]    Eventually, shoes and other footwear developed to provide greater protection and comfort for the foot, with thicker soles to prevent penetration by foreign objects, arch support, softer and more comfortable lining, etc., being developed. In addition to the above, stylistic considerations have resulted in shoes and other footwear evolving in myriad different configurations. Shoes or at least some form of footwear is expected, and in most instances required, in virtually all areas of the civilized world in the present day. 
         [0007]    Accordingly, nearly everyone becomes accustomed to wearing shoes from their earliest years. Such shoes nearly universally provide the wearer with at least reasonably good arch support, and other benefits as well. As a result, the foot becomes accustomed to such support, and the tendon and muscle structure of the foot may lose much of its supportive ability and strength. This may not be of any great consequence so long as shoes providing the proper support are worn, but such is not always the case. 
         [0008]    An example of this occurs when people who are used to wearing supportive shoes, begin to wear sandals during warmer weather. An extreme example is the type of sandal originally known by the Japanese term “zori” but which has become perhaps better known in the vernacular as the “flip-flop,” i.e., an inexpensive sandal having a forwardly disposed toe divider that is worn between the big toe and second toe, with left and right side straps extending over the foot and rearward to the edges of the sole. The soles of such flip-flop footwear are universally flat and provide no arch support whatsoever, as is the case with most open (sandal) footwear. 
         [0009]    As a result, people who habitually wear such inexpensive footwear during most of the day for months at a time during the warm season may experience various problems due to the lack of arch support provided by such footwear. The lack of proper arch support often results in subconscious adjustments to the posture, with the muscular structure of the legs, hips, and lower back being unaccustomed to such changes. This can result in various muscle aches and pains, strained tendons, plantar fasciitis, and other physical problems to the feet, legs, hips, and lower back, with the problems requiring costly and time consuming treatment to rectify. 
         [0010]    Thus, a sandal with pneumatic support solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The sandal with pneumatic support is a sandal having a substantially flat sole and an upper structure securing the sandal to the foot. The sole includes a pneumatically inflatable bladder in the area of the arch of the foot. A small, manually actuated air pump is provided in another area of the sandal. In one embodiment, comprising a flip-flop type sandal, the air pump is located at the top of the toe divider at its juncture with the left and right straps. In another flip-flop sandal embodiment, the air pump is located in the heel. A pressure relief valve is also provided, preferably along one of the upper straps. The pneumatic arch support bladder, inflation pump, and relief valve all communicate with one another pneumatically through suitable passages. The pneumatically inflatable arch support may be applied to any practicable type of sandal, including sandals devoid of a toe divider but having a plurality of straps passing over and around the foot to secure the sandal thereto. 
         [0012]    These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is an environmental, perspective view of a first embodiment of a sandal with pneumatic support according to the present invention, illustrating its operation. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a right side view in section of the sandal of  FIG. 1 , one of the sandal straps being broken away and in section to illustrate further details thereof. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is an environmental, perspective view of a second embodiment of a sandal with pneumatic support according to the present invention, illustrating its operation. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a right side view in section of the sandal of  FIG. 3 , one of the sandal straps being broken away and in section to illustrate further details thereof. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is an environmental, perspective view of a third embodiment of a sandal with pneumatic support according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0018]    Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    The sandal with pneumatic support is a sandal having a wearer-adjustable pneumatic arch support therein. The sandal with pneumatic support is primarily directed to zori or “flip-flop” type sandals, i.e., sandals having a toe divider between the big toe and second toe when worn, and two straps extending outwardly and rearwardly from the top of the toe divider that are attached to the opposite edges of the sole. However, the adjustable pneumatic arch support may be adapted to virtually any type of sandal or other open shoe. 
         [0020]      FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings illustrate a first embodiment of a sandal with pneumatic support, designated generally as  110  in the drawings, which is a flip-flop sandal having a small, manually actuated air pump  112  permanently affixed atop the toe divider  114  of the sandal, and integrally formed therewith. The flat sole  116  is devoid of supportive contour for the foot, other than the pneumatic arch support. The sole  116  has a lower surface  118 , an upper surface  120  parallel thereto, and a core  122  therebetween, and may be formed of leather, foam or other resilient plastic material, or other suitable material. Opposite first and second foot-securing straps  124  and  126  extend from the top of the toe divider  114  rearward to opposite points along the rearward periphery  128  of the sole  116  near the heel portion  130  thereof. 
         [0021]    The sole  116  includes a pneumatically inflatable bladder  132  disposed within the core  122  between the upper and lower surfaces  118  and  120 , in the arch portion  134  of the sole. The bladder  132  is shown in its distended state in broken lines in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , as it would appear when inflated. The bladder  132  communicates pneumatically with the air pump  112  by means of an elongate air passage  136 , shown in broken lines in  FIG. 2 , that extends through the first strap  124  of the sandal  110 . Only one such air passage  136  is required. The second strap  126  may be of solid core construction, as shown in the broken away portion illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0022]    The sandal  110  operates by the user or wearer of the sandal actuating the air pump  112  (by pressing a button or portion of the pump  112  accessible through an opening at the junction of the straps  124 ,  126 ) to inflate the pneumatic bladder  132  to the desired height and firmness. Air is pumped from the pump  112  to the bladder  132  through the air passage  136  of the first strap  124  to adjust the inflation of the bladder  132  for the desired degree of support and comfort. A relief valve  138  is located along the first strap  124 . The relief valve communicates pneumatically with the air passage  136  that extends through the first strap  124 . The relief valve  138  may be located elsewhere on the sandal  110 , so long as the valve  138  communicates pneumatically with the bladder  132 . In the event that the user or wearer of the sandal  110  wishes to lower the height of the arch area  134 , he or she need only open the relief valve  138  to relieve air pressure within the bladder  132  through the air passage  136  in the strap  124 , and thence to the relief valve  138 . The resilient nature of the materials used in the construction of the sole  116  result in the bladder  132  deflating to lower the arch area  134  as pressure is relieved within the bladder  132 . 
         [0023]      FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate a second embodiment of a zori or flip-flop type sandal, designated as sandal  210 . The sandal  210  is quite similar to the sandal  110  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , discussed in detail above, but the air pump  212  has been relocated to an area within the heel portion  230  of the sole  216  where it is contained integrally therein as a permanent component. Otherwise, the sandal  210  is much like the sandal  110  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The sole  216  has a lower surface  218 , an upper surface  220  parallel thereto, and a core  222  therebetween. The sole  216  is formed of leather, foam or other resilient plastic material, or other suitable material. Opposite first and second foot-securing straps  224  and  226  extend from the top of the toe divider  214  rearward to opposite points along the rearward periphery  228  of the sole  216  near the heel portion  230  thereof. 
         [0024]    The sole  216  includes a pneumatically inflatable bladder  232  disposed within the core  222  between the upper and lower surfaces  218  and  220 , in the arch portion  234  of the sole. The bladder  232  is shown in its distended state in broken lines in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , as it would appear when inflated. The bladder  232  communicates pneumatically with the air pump  212  in the heel by means of an air passage  235 , shown in the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 4 , that extends from the pump  212  chamber to the rearward portion or end of the pneumatic bladder  232 .  FIG. 4  also provides a cross-sectional view of the air pump  212 , showing its internal configuration. The air pump  212  includes one-way inlet and outlet check valves  240   a  and  240   b  (e.g., conventional duckbill valves, flapper valves, etc.) that prevent air from passing back through the pump and back through the pump inlet  242 . 
         [0025]    The sandal  210  with its pneumatic arch support operates in essentially the same manner as described further above for the operation of the sandal  110  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , i.e., by actuating the air pump  212  (by pressing a button or portion of the pump accessible through an opening in the lower surface  218  of the sole  216 ) to inflate the pneumatic bladder  232  to the desired height and firmness. Air is pumped from the pump  212  to the bladder  232  through the air passage  235  within the sole  216  to adjust the inflation of the bladder  232  as desired. A relief valve  238  is located along the first strap  224 . The relief valve communicates pneumatically with the air passage  236  that extends through the first strap  224 . The opposite second strap  226  is solid, as in the case of the second strap  126  of the sandal  110  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The relief valve  238  is formed of a resilient material, as in the case of other materials used in the construction of the sandal. 
         [0026]    The relief valve may comprise a conventional button or the like that may be pushed in or pulled out to open the valve and returned to its original position to seat or close the valve. Such low-pressure valves are conventional and well known in the art. The pressure relief valve  238  may be located elsewhere on the sandal  210 , so long as the valve  238  communicates pneumatically with the bladder  232 . In the event that the user or wearer of the sandal  210  wishes to lower the height of the arch area  234 , he or she need only open the relief valve  238  to relieve air pressure within the bladder  232  through the air passage  236  within the strap  224  to the relief valve  238 . The resilient nature of the materials used in the construction of the sole  216  result in the bladder  232  deflating to lower the arch area  234  as pressure is relieved within the bladder  232 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 5  provides an environmental perspective view of another alternative embodiment of a sandal with pneumatic support, designated as sandal  310 . The construction of the lower portion of the sandal  310  is much like that of the sandals  110  and  210  described further above, i.e., having a flat sole  316  essentially devoid of supportive contour for the foot, other than the pneumatic arch support. The sole  316  has a lower surface  318 , an upper surface  320  parallel thereto, and a core  322  therebetween formed of leather, foam or other resilient plastic material, or other suitable material. Rather than having the ‘flip-flop” sandal configuration of the embodiments of  FIGS. 1 through 4 , the sandal  310  of  FIG. 5  has a multiple strap configuration, comprising a forward lateral strap  324   a  and an upper strap  324   b  extending rearward to the juncture of a diagonal rear strap  324   c  and an ankle strap  324   d . The straps  324   a  and  324   c  are connected to the sole  316  along or near the periphery  328  thereof near the forward end and heel portion  330 . The straps are preferably formed of leather, plastic, or some other suitable resilient material. 
         [0028]    The sole  316  includes a pneumatically inflatable bladder  332  disposed within the core  322  between the upper and lower surfaces  318  and  320 , in the arch portion  334  of the sole. The bladder  332  is shown in its distended state in broken lines in  FIG. 5 , as it would appear when inflated. In the sandal embodiment  310  of  FIG. 5  the small, manually actuated air pump  312  used to inflate the bladder  332  is permanently and integrally disposed atop the juncture of the forward lateral strap  324   a  and the upper strap  324   b . The air pump  312  is structured much the same as the air pump  212  illustrated in section in  FIG. 4  for the sandal  210 . However, it will be seen that the pump  312  may be located elsewhere on the sandal, so long as it communicates pneumatically with the air bladder  332 . 
         [0029]    In the example illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the bladder  332  communicates pneumatically with the air pump  312  by means of an elongate air passage  336 , shown in broken lines in  FIG. 5 , that extends through the forward lateral strap  324   a  of the sandal  310  from the air pump  312  to the forward end of the bladder  332 . Only one such air passage  136  is required, with the other straps  324   b ,  324   c , and  324   d  being of solid core construction. 
         [0030]    The sandal  310  operates in essentially the same manner as described further above for the operation of the sandal  110  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  and the sandal  210  of  FIGS. 3 and 4 , i.e., by actuating the air pump  312  (by pressing a button or a portion of the pump accessible at the junction of the forward lateral strap  324   a  and the upper strap  324   b ) to inflate the pneumatic bladder  332  to the desired height and firmness. Air is pumped from the pump  312  to the bladder  332  through the air passage  336  within the forward lateral strap  324   a  to adjust the inflation of the bladder  332 . 
         [0031]    A relief valve  338  is located along the forward lateral strap  324   a . The relief valve communicates pneumatically with the air passage  336  that extends through the forward lateral strap  324   a . The relief valve  338  is preferably essentially identical to the relief valves  138  and  238  of the sandal embodiments  110  and  210 , i.e., comprising a conventional button or the like that may be pushed in or pulled out to open the valve and returned to its original position to seat or close the valve. Such low-pressure valves are conventional and well known in the art. The pressure relief valve  338  may be located elsewhere on the sandal  310 , so long as the valve  338  communicates pneumatically with the bladder  332 . In the event that the user or wearer of the sandal  310  wishes to lower the height of the arch area  334 , he or she need only open the relief valve  338  to relieve air pressure within the bladder  332  through the air passage  336  through the strap  324   a  to the relief valve  338 . The resilient nature of the materials used in the construction of the sole  316  result in the bladder  332  deflating to lower the arch area  334  as pressure is relieved within the bladder  332 . 
         [0032]    The sandal with pneumatic support, in any of its various embodiments, permits the wearer of the sandal to adjust the height and support provided by the arch portion of the sole to suit his or her individual needs and foot structure. While only left sandals are illustrated in the drawings, it will be noted that the illustrated structures may be applied equally to right sandals as well. The individually adjustable arch areas of the soles of such sandals permit the wearer of the sandals to adjust each arch support area individually as required. If one foot requires less arch support than the other, the wearer may apply a lower supporting pressure to the bladder of that sandal, as required. Accordingly, the sandal with pneumatic support will prove to be a valuable article of footwear for many people who enjoy wearing such open footwear when the opportunity arises. 
         [0033]    It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.