Patent Publication Number: US-11026470-B2

Title: Flip flop accessory device and method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to and the benefit of the filing of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/615,641, filed on Jan. 10, 2018, entitled “Flip Flop Accessory Device and Method” and the specification thereof is incorporated here by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The field of the present invention is footwear accessories. Specifically, a flip flop accessory that attaches the footwear to the user&#39;s foot more securely. Flip flops are a type of backless footwear consisting of a flat sole held loosely on the foot by a Y-shaped strap known as—and referred to herein as—an “upper” that passes between the first and second toes and around both sides of the foot. Unlike other sandals, flip flops do not provide any contact with the back of the foot, the ankle, or the heel area other than the bottom of the heel of the foot. This makes them easy to put on and take off. 
     Sometimes, the flip flop wearer may want the shoes to fit more snugly and be more secure. For instance, if the user knows they may need to run, jog, jump, or walk backwards, then their flip flops need to be more secure. Or if the wearer is worried they will fall off while their feet are dangling, say in a Ferris wheel car, on a roller coaster, while hang gliding, or sitting on the back of a boat, they would want a more secure fit. The present invention accomplishes this. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is an accessory to the flip flop that is designed to hold the flip flop more securely to a person&#39;s foot by applying a gentle yet firm inward and upward pull. It is comprised of two anchoring points on either side of the flip flop&#39;s sole, and a cord or strap, preferably elasticized, with two anchoring screws or nails. The screws can be screwed into the flip flop sole at the location of the anchoring points and the cord attached to the anchoring points by looping the cord&#39;s ends around the screws and holding the loop in place using a sliding bead. In the preferred embodiment, the method of installation would be to screw one anchoring screw into to the inside of the sole, screw the other anchoring screw into to the outside of the sole, secure one end of the cord to one anchoring screw, wrap the cord around the ankle one turn starting in the back, and securing the other end of the cord to the other anchoring screw. At least one of the cord&#39;s ends may include an additional sliding bead so that the wearer can adjust the length of the cord to maximize comfort and functionality. 
     When the present invention is installed on a flip flop, it holds the sole of the flip flop so that the sole contacts the entire bottom of the foot, including the heel, while the foot is in the air during mid-stride while walking or if jumping, running, hang-gliding, or riding a roller coaster. This eliminates the need to take shortened strides while walking in everyday flip flops or to scrunch the toes in order to hold the flip flop on the foot. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the anchoring screws are specially selected coarse threaded screws that attach to the flip flop sole just under the area where the upper is secured on the inside and outside portions of the sole. Also, the strap or cord is elastic and is made of a very soft, fabric-coated elastic band that gently yet firmly hugs the ankle. Additionally, the elastic cord may include a piece of material that lies between the back of the person&#39;s ankle and the elastic cord to protect the ankle from discomfort. A simple sliding bead slips on the elastic cord to create a small loop that hooks to the anchoring screw. The anchoring screw may also have a barbed fishhook like threading to prevent the screw from backing out of the sole of the flip flop. 
     Also in the preferred embodiment, the elastic cord can be adjusted to fit all flip flops and ankle sizes. The strap or cord can be made of a flat elastic band or a round cord type of elastic band. The elasticity of the cord should be carefully determined so as to balance the wearer&#39;s comfort with the functionality of the accessory. Each band can also be customized and embellished with any type of decorative charm or bead, which can also function as the sliding beads. Simple catch phrases such as “Beach Bum” can also be added to any strap to appeal to different markets. Flat elastic bands and straps could also be printed with company logos for promotional reasons. 
     Further, the anchoring point on the inside of the flip flop should be approximately directly below the inside arch of the person&#39;s foot. The anchoring screws should be screwed into the sole at a 90 degree angle so that the anchor screw is approximately horizontal to the ground and should protrude from the sole approximately ⅛ inch. This facilitates the looped knotted ends of the elastic cord being wrapped around, and anchored to, the anchoring screws. Also in the preferred embodiment, the other anchoring screw on the outside of the sole should be located approximately directly across from anchoring screw on the inside of the sole. Additionally, there should be about ¼ inch of extra elastic cord after the knot to prevent the knotted end from unravelling. The adjustable knotted end of the elastic cord (marked by two sliding beads instead of one) should be anchored to the anchoring screw on the outside of the sole so that the elastic cord can be easily adjusted. 
     The flip flop accessory may also be modified for use with flip flops or sandals that are pre-fabricated to include anchoring points or anchoring points with screws or nail type devices already attached to the flip flop&#39;s sole. 
     The preferred embodiment of the method of using the flip flop accessory of the present invention is a follows: Obtaining a flip flop, said flip flop comprised of at least an upper and a sole, said sole having top, bottom, inside and outside portions; Locating a first anchoring point on either the inside or outside of the sole of the flip flop; Screwing a first anchoring screw comprised of a screw head and a screw shank, into the first anchoring point allowing the screw shank to partially protrude from the inside of the sole; Screwing a second anchoring screw into a second anchoring point located on the other side of the sole allowing the screw shank to partially protrude from the inside of the sole; Obtaining an elastic cord, said cord comprising two knotted ends, each formed into a loop that is secured with a first sliding bead; Putting the flip flop on a person&#39;s foot; Inserting the first anchoring screw into the loop of the first knotted end of the elastic cord and sliding the first sliding bead toward the first anchoring screw to secure the elastic cord around the anchoring screw; Wrapping the elastic cord around the person&#39;s ankle beginning from the back of the ankle, around the front of the ankle, and returning to the back of the ankle; Inserting the second anchoring screw into the loop of the second knotted end of the elastic cord; And sliding the sliding beads on the knotted ends so that the elastic cord fits comfortably around the person&#39;s ankle and secures the flip flop to the person&#39;s foot. Sliding beads can be used to adjust the cord length so that the flip flop accessory secures the flip flop to the person&#39;s foot while fitting comfortably around the ankle. The same process may then be repeated for the flip flop on the person&#39;s other foot. 
     To remove the flip flop accessory, the wearer simply slips their heel out while pulling down on the cord or they can unhook either side of the looped knotted ends from around at least one anchoring screw. 
     As used herein, certain terms have the following definitions: 
     FLIP FLOPS are a type of backless footwear consisting of a sole held on the foot by a Y-shaped strap known as an “upper” that passes between the first and second toes and around both sides of the foot. 
     ELASTICITY is the ability of an object or material, such as a cord, to resume its normal shape after being stretched or compressed. 
     A SLIDING BEAD is a bead of any shape or size with a hole roughly the width of the looped elastic cord and smaller than the knots at the ends of the cord. The sliding bead may be made from any material that holds a shape including glass, metal, leather, wood, bone, stone, resin, clay, quartz, and the like. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of the present invention showing the inside view of the flip flop accessory. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the present invention showing the outside view of the flip flop accessory. 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of the flip flop accessory. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the flip flop accessory. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the present invention showing the outside and top of the flip flop accessory. 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the flip flop accessory including a detailed view of one anchoring point. 
         FIG. 7  shows the flip flop accessory by itself and unattached to a flip flop. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of the present invention showing the inside view of the flip flop accessory  12  comprised of an anchoring screw  13  with a screw head  14  and a screw shaft  15  (not shown, see  FIG. 6 ); An anchoring point  16  located in the flip flop&#39;s sole  31 , said sole  31  having top, bottom, inside  34 , and outside  35  (not shown, see  FIG. 2 ) portions; A cord  18  sized to extend from the first anchoring point  16 , wrapping around a person&#39;s ankle, to the second anchoring point  16  (not shown, see  FIG. 2 ). If said cord  18  is an elastic cord then is should have sufficient elasticity to comfortably wrap around the person&#39;s ankle while securing the flip flop&#39;s sole  31  to the person&#39;s foot; And the cord  18  has a knotted end  19  formed into a loop that is secured with a first sliding bead  20 . 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the present invention showing the outside view of the flip flop accessory  12  comprised of an anchoring screw  13  with a screw head  14  and a screw shaft  15  (not shown, see  FIG. 6 ); An anchoring point  16  located in the flip flop&#39;s sole  31 , said sole  31  having an inside  34  (not shown, see  FIG. 1 ) and outside  35  portion; An elastic cord  18  sized to extend from the first anchoring point  16  (not shown, see  FIG. 1 ), wrapping around a person&#39;s ankle, to the second anchoring point  16 , said elastic cord  18  having sufficient elasticity to comfortably wrap around the person&#39;s ankle while securing the flip flop&#39;s sole  31  to the person&#39;s foot; The elastic cord  18  has a knotted end  19  formed into a loop that is secured with a first sliding bead  20 ; And at least one knotted end  19  having a second sliding bead  20  located between the knotted end  20  and the first sliding bead  20 , thereby making the length of the elastic cord  18  adjustable by moving the second sliding bead  20 . 
       FIG. 3  is a rear view of the present invention showing the flip flop accessory  12  comprised of two anchoring screws  13 , each comprised of a screw head  14  and a screw shaft  15  (not shown, see  FIG. 6 ); Two anchoring points  16  being located on the inside of the sole  34  and the second anchoring point  16  being located on the outside of the sole  35 ; And an elastic cord  18  sized to extend from the first anchoring point  16 , wrapping around a person&#39;s ankle, to the second anchoring point  16 , said elastic cord  18  having sufficient elasticity to comfortably wrap around the person&#39;s ankle while securing the flip flop&#39;s sole  31  to the person&#39;s foot. 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of the present invention showing the flip flop accessory  12  comprised of two anchoring screws  13 , each comprised of a screw head  14  and a screw shaft  15  (not shown, see  FIG. 6 ); Two anchoring points  16  located in a flip flop&#39;s sole  31 ; The first anchoring point  16  being located on the inside of the sole  34  and the second anchoring point  16  being located on the outside of the sole  35 ; And an elastic cord  18  sized to extend from the first anchoring point  16 , wrapping around a person&#39;s ankle, to the second anchoring point  16 , said elastic cord  18  having sufficient elasticity to comfortably wrap around the person&#39;s ankle while securing the flip flop&#39;s sole  31  to the person&#39;s foot. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the present invention showing the outside and top view of the flip flop accessory  12  comprised of an anchoring screw  13  with a screw head  14  and a screw shaft  15  (not shown, see  FIG. 6 ); An anchoring point  16  located in the flip flop&#39;s sole  31 , said sole  31  having an inside  34  (not shown, see  FIG. 1 ) and outside  35  portion; An elastic cord  18  sized to extend from the first anchoring point  16  (not shown, see  FIG. 1 ), wrapping around a person&#39;s ankle, to the second anchoring point  16 , said elastic cord  18  having sufficient elasticity to comfortably wrap around the person&#39;s ankle while securing the flip flop&#39;s sole  31  to the person&#39;s foot; The elastic cord  18  has a knotted end  19  formed into a loop that is secured with a first sliding bead  20 ; And at least one knotted end  19  having a second sliding bead  20  located between the knotted end  20  and the first sliding bead  20 , thereby making the length of the elastic cord  18  adjustable by moving the second sliding bead  20 . 
       FIG. 6  is a top view of the flip flop accessory  12  (see detailed description of  FIG. 4 ) including a detailed view of one anchoring point  16 ; The flip flop accessory  12  being comprised of two anchoring screws  13 , each comprised of a screw head  14  and a screw shaft  15 ; Two anchoring points  16  located in a flip flop&#39;s sole  31 , said anchoring points  16  being comprised of a hole  17  into which the anchoring screw  13  can be detachably fastened to the sole  31 ; An elastic cord  18  extending from the first anchoring point  16  to the second anchoring point  16 ; And the elastic cord  18  having two knotted ends  19  each formed into a loop that is secured with a first sliding bead  20 . 
       FIG. 7  depicts the flip flop accessory  12  comprising two anchoring screws  13 , an elastic cord  18  having two knotted ends  19 , each formed into a loop that is secured with a first sliding bead  20 ; And at least one knotted end  19  having a second sliding bead  20  located between the knotted end  20  and the first sliding bead  20 , thereby making the length of the elastic cord  18  adjustable by moving the second sliding bead  20 . 
     A method of using the flip flop accessory  12  can be understood by viewing  FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 6 . The method comprises the steps of obtaining a flip flop  30 , said flip flop  30  comprised of at least an upper  36  and a sole  31 , said sole  31  having top  32 , bottom  33 , inside  34  and outside  35  portions; Locating a first anchoring point  16  on either the inside  34  or outside  35  of the sole of the flip flop  31 ; Screwing a first anchoring screw  13 , comprised of a screw head  14  and a screw shank  15 , into the first anchoring point  16  allowing the screw shank  15  to partially protrude from the inside of the sole  34 ; Screwing a second anchoring screw  13  into a second anchoring point  16  located on the other side of the sole allowing the screw shank  15  to partially protrude from the inside of the sole  34 ; Obtaining an elastic cord  18 , said cord comprising two knotted ends  19 , each formed into a loop that is secured with a first sliding bead  20 ; Putting the flip flop  30  on a person&#39;s foot; Inserting the first anchoring screw  13  into the loop of the first knotted end  19  of the elastic cord  18  and sliding the first sliding bead  20  toward the first anchoring screw  13  to secure the elastic cord  18  around the anchoring screw  13 ; Wrapping the elastic cord  18  around the person&#39;s ankle beginning from the back of the ankle, around the front of the ankle, and returning to the back of the ankle; Inserting the second anchoring screw  13  into the loop of the second knotted end  19  of the elastic cord  18 ; And sliding the sliding beads  20  on the knotted ends so that the elastic cord  18  fits comfortably around the person&#39;s ankle and secures the flip flop  30  to the person&#39;s foot. 
     Whereas the figures and description have illustrated and described the concept and preferred embodiment of the present invention, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the form of the invention without affecting the scope thereof. The detailed description above is not intended in any way to limit the broad features or principles of the invention, or the scope of patent monopoly to be granted.