Patent Publication Number: US-2021169178-A1

Title: Shoe Securing System and Method

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates generally to external shoe securing systems and in particular systems and apparatus for removable systems that may be employed to more securely couple a shoe to a wearer. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     It may be desirable to provide a removable shoe securing system that a user may employ to more securely couple a shoe to a foot, the present invention provides such a system. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The features, objects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference characters identify correspondingly throughout and wherein: 
         FIG. 1A  is a front view of a support strap that may be part of shoe securing system (SsS) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1B  is a front view of a locking strap that may be part of shoe securing system (SsS) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2A  is a simplified right side diagram of an architecture including a SsS coupled to a shoe in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2B  is a simplified left side diagram of an architecture including a SsS coupled to a shoe in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2C  is a simplified back diagram of an architecture including a SsS coupled to a shoe in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2D  is a simplified front diagram of an architecture including a SsS coupled to a shoe in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2E  is a simplified top diagram of an architecture including a SsS coupled to a shoe in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2F  is a simplified bottom diagram of an architecture including a SsS coupled to a shoe in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3A  is a front view of another support strap that may be part of shoe securing system (SsS) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3B  is a front view of another support strap that may be part of shoe securing system (SsS) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 4  is a simplified left side diagram of an architecture including another configuration of a SsS coupled to a shoe in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Throughout this description, embodiments and variations are described for the purpose of illustrating uses and implementations of the invention. The illustrative description should be understood as presenting examples of the invention, rather than as limiting the scope of the invention. 
     A shoe  20  such as show in  FIGS. 2A-2F and 4  may have an open configuration where a user may insert a foot into an insole  29 B and vamp  29 A. The shoe  20  may hold a user&#39;s foot via the vamp  29 A and upper  28 A in a secure manner for its normal intended usage, such as walking on a somewhat smooth surface, particularly where the shoe  20  includes a heel  22 A raising the shank  24 A above the toe spring or front bottom  26 B. In order for a user to ensure that the shoe  20  will remain securely coupled to a foot once inserted therein for other activities, a shoe securing system  30 A ( FIGS. 2A-2F ) and  30 B ( FIG. 4 ) that may employed, the system  30 A-B comprising a support strap  40 ,  60 ,  70  and a locking strap  50 . The other activities may include walking on less secure or level surfaces, dancing, or other more physical activities. 
       FIG. 1A  is a front view of a support strap  40  that may be part of a shoe securing system (SsS)  30 A-B in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 1A , the support strap (SS)  40  may include a right end  42 A separated from a left end  42 B by a length  46 . Each end  42 A-B may include slots  44 A-B formed from two slits where the slot is sized to enable one end  52 B of a locking strap (LS)  50  of a SsS  30 A-B to pass therethrough as shown in  FIGS. 2A-2F and 4 . In an embodiment, a support strap  40  may be made of any flexible, strong materials including man-made and natural materials including polymers, metals, alloys, leather, and other materials and combinations thereof such as car seat belt material. A support strap  40  may have a width of about 0.2 to 2 inches and about 1 inch in an embodiment. A support strap  40  may have a thickness of about 0.05 to 0.4 inches and about 0.1 inches in an embodiment as a function of the materials that comprise the SS  40 . The support strap  40  may have various lengths as a function of the shoe  20  where it is to be employed and whether it is to be employed about the shoe  20  counter  28 B to the insole  29 B as shown in  FIGS. 2A-2F  or about the shank  24 A to the insole  29 B as shown in  FIG. 4 . In an embodiment, a support strap  40  may have a length of about  4  to  10  inches and about  6  inches in an embodiment.  FIG. 2A-2F  are simplified right side, left side, back, front, top, and bottom diagrams, respectively of an architecture  10 A including a SsS  30 A coupled to a shoe in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     In an embodiment shown in  FIG. 3A , a SS  60  may be adjustable in length. As shown in  FIG. 3A , the SS  60  may include a right end  62 A that includes a first Velco® section  66 A with tab lockable to a portion of a longer mating Velco® section  68 A to form a slot  64 A sized to enable one end  52 B of a locking strap (LS)  50  of a SsS  30 A-B to pass therethrough as shown in  FIGS. 2A-2F and 4 . In an embodiment shown in  FIG. 3B , a SS  70  may also be adjustable in length. As shown in  FIG. 3A , the SS  70  may include a right end  72 A and left end  72 B that each includes a first Velco® section  76 A,B with tab lockable to a portion of a longer mating Velco® section  78 A,B to form a slots  74 A,B sized to enable one end  52 B of a locking strap (LS)  50  of a SsS  30 A-B to pass therethrough as shown in  FIGS. 2A-2F and 4 . Other locking mechanisms other than Velco® may be employed in SS  60 ,  70  or LS  50  in an embodiment, including buttons, snaps, hooks, or other mechanisms. 
       FIG. 1B  is a front view of a locking strap  50  that may be part of shoe securing system (SsS)  30 A-B in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 1B , the locking strap (LS)  50  may include a right end  52 A separated from a left end  52 B by a length  56 . The right end  52 A may include a loop or ring  54 D formed from a durable material where the loop or ring  54 D opening is sized to enable the other end  52 B of the LS  50  to pass therethrough as shown in  FIGS. 2A-2F and 4 . As shown in  FIG. 1B , the LS  50  left end  52 A includes a first Velco® section  54 B with tab  54 C lockable to a portion of a longer mating Velco® section  54 A to adjust the overall length of the locking strap  50  when passed through and around the loop  54 D to secure a shoe  20  to a foot (in particular angle region) of a user. 
     In an embodiment, a locking strap  50  and loop  54 D may be made of any flexible, strong materials including man-made and natural materials including polymers, metals, alloys, leather, and other materials and combinations thereof such as seat belt material. A locking strap  50  may have a width of about 0.2 to 2 inches and about 1 inch in an embodiment. A locking strap  50  may have a thickness of about 0.05 to 0.4 inches and about 0.1 inches in an embodiment as a function of the materials that comprise the LS  50 . The locking strap  50  may have various overall lengths as a function of the shoe  20  where it is to be employed and whether it is to be employed about the shank  24 A to the insole  29 B as shown in  FIGS. 2A-2F  or about the shoe  20  counter  28 B to the insole  29 B as shown in  FIG. 4 . In an embodiment, a locking strap  50  may have an overall length of about 8 to 20 inches and about 13 inches in an embodiment and be adjustable in length from about 6 to 18 inches and about 6 to 11 inches in an embodiment. The first Velco section  54 B may have a length of about 0.5 to 2 inches and about 1 inch in an embodiment. The second Velco section  54 A may have a length of about 2 to 5 inches and about 3 inches in an embodiment. The distance between the Velco® sections  54 A,  54 B may be about 2 to 8 inches and about 4 inches in an embodiment. 
     In an embodiment, a SsS  30 A may be coupled to a shoe  20  by first placing a first end  42 A,  42 B of the SS  40  about the shoe  20  counter  28 B to the insole  29 B as shown in  FIGS. 2A-2F  or about the shank  24 A to the insole  29 B as shown in  FIG. 4 . Then the LS  50  second end  52 B may be inserted into a first end  42 A,  42 B slot  44 A,  44 B (with Velco® sections  54 A,  54 B facing away from the SS  40 ) about the shank  24 A to the insole  29 B as shown in  FIGS. 2A-2F  or about the shoe  20  counter  28 B to the insole  29 B as shown in  FIG. 4  and then through the other end  42 B,  42 A of the SS  40 . A user may then insert their foot into the shoe  20 . Then the end  52 B of LS  50  may inserted in and over the loop  54 D and placed against the front side of the LS  50  so the first Velco® section  54 B is securely coupled to the second Velco® section  54 A. 
     While this invention has been described in terms of a best mode for achieving the objectives of the invention, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations may be accomplished in view of these teachings without deviating from the spirit or scope of the present invention. For example, in an embodiment the support strap ends  42 A,  42 B may be permanently secured to section of the locking strap  50  where the combination is sized so it may be placed onto a shoe  20  while coupled together.