Patent Publication Number: US-9844240-B2

Title: Snap sandals

Description:
The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 61/495,916 filed on Jun. 10, 2011. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for covering the sole of the feet. More specifically, the present invention is a sandal that have a sole and an interchangeable upper portion that are secured by a pair of securing means. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Generally, sandals are made in various materials and styles. Consumers must buy two pairs sandals in order to enjoy two different styles of sandals. However, this can be expensive both for the consumer and the manufacturer, the latter of which must produce a large quantity of sandals every year to keep up with consumer demand. As a result, not only is the current method expensive, it is also harmful to the environment due to the extended production time and use of raw materials. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that saves capital and raw materials by utilizing an interchangeable configuration that allows users to change the style and material of the sandal. The present invention helps the consumer as well as the manufacturer in cutting down financial expenditure, and it is also environmentally friendly as it uses less raw materials, less energy, and less production time during the production. The user of the present invention is able to enjoy different styles of sandals for a lower cost, and he/she will be able to easily mix and match different colors and designs of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the first embodiment showing an upper portion being separated from a sole. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the second embodiment showing the upper portion being separated from the sole. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the first embodiment&#39;s sole. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the second embodiment&#39;s sole. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION 
     All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. 
     In reference to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the present invention is an apparatus for a sandal which comprises an interchangeable component. The present invention comprises an upper portion  1 , a sole  2 , and a securing system  3 . The present invention comprises only one interchangeable component which is the upper portion  1 , and the upper portion  1  interchangeably connects with the sole  2  by the securing system  3 . Because of the interchangeable component, the connection process of the upper portion  1  and the sole  2  is much simpler. The present invention can be any color or size depending on the design and the style of the sole  2  and the upper portion  1 . The upper portion  1  is designed to be positioned around the user&#39;s feet for enhanced placement so that the user can comfortably wear the present invention while covering the dorsum area of the foot. The sole  2  is designed to be comfortably positioned under the planum area of the foot that faces downward while standing. The upper portion  1  and the sole  2  may be composed of, but not limited to, flat, thick, formed, soft, or hard material such as leather, rubber, cloth, gel, or any other related materials. Interchanging of the upper portions  1  provides a customize look for the sandal with reference to users preference. Since the upper portion  1  of the present invention is interchangeable, a user of the present invention can match the color of their sandals with consideration towards their preference, which may be to coordinate with their apparel. The present invention creates a series of soles  2  by which specific upper portions  1  would be designed to accompany a specific sole  2 . 
     The securing system  3  is a male and female snap system whereby the upper portion  1  can be snapped into the sole  2  and snapped out of the sole  2  to change the upper portion&#39;s  1  look and design. The size and color of the securing system  3  is determined by the sole  2  and design of the upper portion  1 . For example, the securing system  3  is not visible to human eye when the upper portion  1  is attached to the sole  2 . The securing system  3  comprises a plurality of male connectors  31  and a plurality of female connectors  32 . The plurality of female connectors  32  is connected to the upper portion  1 , and the plurality of male connectors  31  is connected to the sole  2 . The plurality of male connectors  31  comprises a first male connector  311 , a second male connector  312 , and a third male connector  313 , and the plurality of female connectors  32  comprises a first female connector  321 , a second female connector  322 , and a third female connector  323 . When the upper portion  1  is attached to the sole  2 , the first female connector  321 , the second female connector  322 , and the third female connector  323  are respectively aligned with the first male connector  311 , the second male connector  312 , and the third male connector  313 . The plurality of female connectors  32  and the plurality of male connectors  31  can be made from stainless steel or any other type of high strength corrosion free materials to improves the reliability of the present invention. 
     In reference to  FIG. 3 , the upper portion  1  comprises a first end  11 , a second end  12 , and a third end  13 . In the present invention, the first end  11  is positioned in between the second end  12  and the third end  13  and located away from the second end  12  and the third end  13 . The second end  12  and the third end  13  are adjacently positioned from each other. When the users wear the present invention, the first end  11  positions in between the user&#39;s big toe and second toe, and the second end  12  and the third end  13  respectively position around the inner arch and the outer arch. Since upper portion  1  is the interchangeable component of the present invention, the upper portion  1  can be made into different styles and colors to attract a wider market range, and the upper portion  1  can also be personalized according to the customers. Inside surface of the upper portion  1  can be accompanied with visco-elastic polyurethane foam to improve the user&#39;s comfort. 
     In reference to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , the sole  2  comprises a top panel  21 , an inside panel  22 , an outside panel  23 , a front portion  24 , and a back portion  25 . The top panel  21  positions under the user&#39;s foot while the front portion  24  positions under the user&#39;s toe and the back portion  25  positions under the user&#39;s heel. The top panel  21  may comprises a layer of visco-elastic polyurethane foam to improve the comfort of the user&#39;s feet so that the top panel  21  deforms according to the user&#39;s feet. The inside panel  22  positions facing toward the opposite left or right leg of the user and adjacent with the user&#39;s inner arch. The outside panel  23  positions away from the left leg or the right leg of the user and adjacent with the user&#39;s outer arch. The inside panel  22  and the outside panel  23  are perpendicularly connected with the top panel  21 . The sole  2  can comprise different styles, such as a flat heel, wedge or heel of any height, and different colors to accommodate all desirable customers. The back portion  25  of the top panel  21  can be used to print a trademark, brand name or different style names of the present invention so that the user can avoid confusion between different styles. 
     The present invention comprises a first embodiment and a second embodiment. The main difference between the first embodiment and the second embodiment is the positioning of the plurality of male connectors  31  and the plurality of female connectors  32 . 
     In reference to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 5 , the first embodiment&#39;s second male connector  312  and third male connector  313  are connected to the top panel  21  in between the front portion  24  and the back portion  25 . The first male connector  311  is connected to the top panel  21  from the front portion  24 . The first female connector  321 , the second female connector  322 , and the third female connector  323  are respectively connected to the first end  11 , the second end  12 , and the third end  13 . In the first embodiment, the first end  11 , the second end  12 , and the third end  13  are formed into a parallel position with the top panel  21  so that the securing system  3  delivers optimal performance when the first embodiment is used. When users need to change the upper portion  1  of the first embodiment, they can simply snap out the existing upper portion  1  and snap on a different upper portion  1 . 
     In reference to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 6 , the second embodiment&#39;s second male connector  312  and the third male connector  313  are respectively connected to the inside panel  22  and the outside panel  23  in between the front portion  24  and the back portion  25 . The first male connector  311  is connected to the top panel  21  from the front portion  24 . The first female connector  321 , the second female connector  322 , and the third female connector  323  are respectively connected to the first end  11 , the second end  12 , and the third end  13 . In the second embodiment, the first end  11  is formed into the parallel position with the top panel  21 , but the second end  12  and the third end  13  are formed into a parallel position with the inside panel  22  and the outside panel  23 . When users need to change the upper portion  1  of the second embodiment, they can simply snap out the existing upper portion  1  and snap on a different upper portion  1 . 
     The present invention intends to reduce the cost of materials and production time. Since the raw materials and production energy are reduced during the production process of the present invention, environmental pollution is drastically reduced. Due to the multiple number of upper portions  1  which can be used with one standard sole  2 , the present invention would reduce the production cost for the manufacturers, and the consumers are able to obtain a lower cost final product. 
     Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.