Patent Publication Number: US-7716856-B2

Title: Chalk shoe

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to being able to draw with a tilt of your toe when wearing a pair of shoes. More particularly the present invention relates to the field of art, or creative drawing on a sure using your shoes. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Active footwear with a piece of chalk located in the toe was invented by the inventor with the help of her 10 year old son for a school science project. The chalk shoe is intended for children to draw or write on an outside surface such as a patio or driveway without using their hands. Drawing or writing with your shoe is not difficult and seems to be a good way in gaining the interest of learning manipulative skills and letter forming for early readers and writers. However this product is not limited to young children and may appeal to several different age groups. The option for removing the chalk from the shoe is also a unique feature to help keep children from writing and drawing in areas that may be prohibited by law. Most importantly the chalk shoe enables children to use their creativity and imagination in the field of art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An active footwear with a piece of removable chalk embedded in this specific area located in the forefoot toe portion of a shoe sole intended to broaden the field of art for young children. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, illustrate several aspects of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. A brief description of the drawings is as follows: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of the present invention which is the chalk writing shoe and shows a chalk embedded inside the forefoot toe portion of the shoe&#39;s sole with only a portion of the chalk visible. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross section view showing the inside of the chalk shoes sole. 
         FIG. 3  is a exploded view of  FIG. 2 , showing each individual component of the inventions mechanism. 
     
    
    
     
         
           10 —the chalk shoe 
           15 —the chalk 
           20 —the forefoot portion of the shoes sole 
           25 —chalk opening in the sole 
           30 —a thin opening created within the forefoot sole of the chalk shoe for the adjustment lever. 
           31 - 40 - 45 —are small notch made from the sole of the shoe for the chalk lever 
           50 —chalk adjustment lever 
           55 —metal chamber/shaft that is like a sleeve for protecting the chalk 
           56 —a slot cut through the chamber/shaft for the adjustment lever to go through 
           60 —the chalk holding clamp
 
Detailed Description of Chalk Walkers
 
       
    
     The best way to describe the present invention is an article of footwear containing a writing implement  15  in the forefoot portion of the shoes sole  20  referring now  FIG. 1 , the present invention an article of active footwear  10 , containing  15  a piece of removable chalk inside  20  the forefoot sole portion of article  10 , enable the wearer to go from walking to drawing or writing with a tilt of the foot. The wearer can cause the chalk  15  to make contact with a surface by applying light pressure and tilting the toe area of the shoe  10  slightly toward the ground. The present invention as shown in  FIG. 1 , also enables the wearer to remove the writing implement  15  from the opening  25  while still wearing it. Allowing the wearer to change colors of chalk if desired. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the chalk  15  has a sliding lever  50 , that pushed the chalk  15  up and out to assist in manual removal by the wearer. In some situations the wearer may not be permitted to wear chalk  15  on a said premises or during certain social situations. A wearer might also be required to remove chalk  15  form the shoe in areas prohibited by law, therefore, the chalk shoe  10  of  FIG. 1 , remains stable and can be worn with or without the chalk  15  inside. (See  FIG. 2 ,  55 )  55  shown in  FIG. 2  as the chamber/shaft which is a sleeve that holds the chalk  15  and also keeps the sole stable because it is comprised of metal material and is permanently fixed inside article  10 . Shaft  55  is not visible to the eye from the outside of shoe article  10  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The chalk adjustment lever  50 , of  FIG. 1  is a chalk moving mechanism that enables the wearer to manually slide the chalk  15  up or back. In  FIG. 1 , a small portion of lever  50  is visible. A full view of the chalk adjustment lever  50  is shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . Adjustment lever  50  is therefore shown on the outer portion of  10  as in  FIG. 1 . Through a thin opening  30  created within the forefoot sole  20  of article  10  and is only partly visible from the outer side of article  10 . For example, if the wearer were wearing the chalk shoe  10  on the right foot, lever  50  would be slightly visible on the right outer side of the forefoot sole  20 . In addition slot  30  enables lever  50  to remain stable in sole  20 . Wherein the lever  50  is firmly sandwiched in between opening  30 , which is part of sole  20 . Along the bottom of  30  are three notches  35 ,  40 , and  45 , which are integral to the forefront sole  20 , which hold the adjustment lever  50  in the desired position. Lever  50  is also held in place by slot  56 , of  FIG. 2 . Movement of adjustment lever  50 , which in turn is connected to a clamp  60  that holds chalk  15 , together they move the chalk  15  which is inside chamber/shaft  55 . (shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) When  50  is held in the notch of  35 ,  40 , or  45 , lever  50  stay fixed in its location until the wearer manually adjusts lever  50  within the slot of  30 . Wherein the hole opening of  30  being part of the forefoot sole  20  of article  10  in  FIG. 1 . Furthermore, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the chalk shoe  10  typically looks average and if chalk  15  were retracted in position  45  of article  10 , using lever  50 , or removed from  25 , this article of footwear  10  would not be obvious to ones eye that it in fad is also a writing implement or drawing device. Therefore, article  10  can be worn most anywhere on most any casual occasion as part of a regular wardrobe for children teens and adults. 
     Referring now,  FIG. 2 , the present invention showing a cross section view of the inside of the forefoot sole  20 , which is also shown as the same  20 , which is part of  10  in  FIG. 1 . Wherein  55  a metal chamber/shaft is fixed to the sole  20  and imbedded inside the chalk opening  25 , not being visible form the outside of sole  20 . Chamber/shaft  55  made out of metal material surrounds  15  and provides a stable environment to prevent  15  from being damaged. Inside  55  there is a clamping device  60  made from stable material and fixed onto lever  50  enabling clamp  60  and lever  50  to slide the chalk  15  that is inside  55 . The clamping device  60  shaped an configured for holding chalk  15  securely inside chamber/shaft  55 . Furthermore,  FIG. 2  dearly shows that clamp  60 , lever  50  and chalk  15  move as a unit inside the chamber/shaft  55 .  FIG. 2  also shows a view of slot  56 , a slot through  55  on one side to guide  50  and allow access for  50  to connect to  60 . 
     Now referring  FIG. 3 , an exploded view of  FIG. 2  to show each individual component of the assembled mechanism  20  through  60  and chalk  15  which are assembled inside of article  10  in  FIG. 1 . To remove chalk  15  the wearer must use lever  50  to slide chalk  15  forward and pull the chalk  15  out of the clamp  60  for replacement. To add a new piece of chalk  15  the wearer must place the new chalk  15  inside of clamp  60  to hold chalk  15  firmly in place so chalk  15  will stay in chamber  55  while the wearer is running or engaging in active movements such as exercise. 
     Alternate variations of the components of the invention not shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3  should be readily accepted as part of the chalk shoe invention. For example, various sizes shapes and colors of chalk in the specific forefoot sole area  20  of a shoe article  10 . Various sizes of chalk opening areas and sliding mechanisms for the reason of fitting all different shoe types and sizes. Alternative chalk moving and or sliding mechanisms are also optional features of the chalk shoe invention.