Patent Publication Number: US-2015059215-A1

Title: Open-toed sandal with an integrated bladder filled pouch having a non-evaporative liquid composition

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application is non-provisional application and claims priority to the U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/870,249 titled ‘LIQUID FILLED FLIP FLOP’ filed on Aug. 27, 2013. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE TECHNOLOGY 
     This disclosure relates generally to the field of podiatry, and more particularly, to an open-toed sandal with an integrated bladder filled pouch having a non-evaporative liquid composition, according to one embodiment. 
     BACKGROUND 
     An open-toed sandal may be worn in casual situations, such as outside and/or at the beach. The open-toed sandal may be formed from a flat sole (e.g., a sole member) held loosely on a foot by a Y-shaped strap that passes between first and second toes and around either side of the foot. The open-toed sandal may also be held to the foot with a single strap over the top of the foot. The open-toed sandal may not benefit from inserts of a shoe (e.g., ergonomic inserts, massaging inserts) because the open-toed sandal may not fully encapsulate the foot and therefore the inserts may not be held in place when a wearer of the open-toed sandal walks. 
     SUMMARY 
     Disclosed is an open-toed sandal with an integrated bladder filled pouch having a non-evaporative liquid composition, according to one embodiment. 
     In one aspect, an open-toed sandal includes a sole member and a bladder filled pouch filled with a non-evaporative liquid affixed on a top surface of the sole member on which a wearer of the open-toed sandal rests a foot. A shape of the bladder filled pouch contorts as the wearer of the open-toed sandal walks. The contortion of the bladder filled pouch is triggered by a movement of the non-evaporative liquid within the bladder filled pouch (e.g., in response to a pressure placed on the bladder when the wearer walks). A securing support member is connected to the sole member. The securing support member wraps around the sole member to secure the foot in the open-toed sandal. 
     The bladder filled pouch may retain a memory of a motion of the foot (e.g., when a material forming the pouch progressively changes permanent shape) based on the pressure placed on the bladder filled pouch filled with the non-evaporative liquid when the wearer walks in any direction (e.g., based on a bending of a material forming the bladder filled pouch responsive to a motion of the wearer). The material forming the bladder filled pouch may be latex. A thickness of the bladder filled pouch may be approximately 1 inch thick. 
     The non-evaporative liquid may be a blend including approximately 96% glycerin, 3% vegetable oil, and/or 1% water. The blend may eliminate a sound of the non-evaporative liquid swishing around in the bladder filled pouch when the wearer walks in any direction (e.g., thereby eliminating an undesirable sound of flatulence when the wearer walks that would otherwise be caused by the movement of the non-evaporative liquid within the bladder filled pouch in response to the pressure placed on the bladder filled pouch when the wearer walks). The bladder filled pouch may be covered with a fabric that is heat pressed with glue and/or attached to contours of the sole member. The fabric may encapsulate the bladder filled pouch in the open-toed sandal, such that the wearer walks on the fabric on the surface of the sole member encapsulating the bladder filled pouch. The open-toed sandal may be a liquid filled massaging flip-flop. 
     In another aspect, a flip-flop includes a sole member and a pouch filled with a non-evaporative liquid affixed on a top surface of the sole member. A shape of the pouch contorts as the wearer of the flip-flop walks. The contortion of the pouch is responsive to a movement of the non-evaporative liquid within the pouch based on a pressure placed on the bladder when the wearer walks. The flip-flop includes a securing support member connected to the sole member which wraps around the sole member to secure the foot in the flip-flop formed by the sole member connected to the securing support member. 
     The pouch may retain a memory of a motion of the foot when a material forming the pouch progressively changes permanent shape (e.g., based on the pressure placed on the pouch filled with the non-evaporative liquid) when the wearer walks in any direction (e.g., based on a bending of a material forming the pouch responsive to a motion of the wearer). The material forming the pouch may be latex. 
     A thickness of the pouch may be approximately 1 inch thick. The non-evaporative liquid may be a blend including approximately 96% glycerin, 3% vegetable oil, and/or 1% water. The blend may eliminate a sound of the non-evaporative liquid swishing around in the pouch when the wearer walks in any direction (e.g., thereby eliminating an undesirable sound of flatulence when the wearer walks that would otherwise be caused by the movement of the non-evaporative liquid within the bladder filled pouch in response to the pressure placed on the bladder filled pouch when the wearer walks). 
     The pouch may be covered with a fabric that is heat pressed with glue and/or attached to contours of the sole member. The fabric may encapsulate the pouch in the flip-flop, such that the wearer walks on the fabric on the surface of the sole member encapsulating the pouch. The flip-flop may be a liquid filled massaging flip-flop. 
     In yet another aspect, a method includes affixing a bladder filled pouch filled with a non-evaporative liquid affixed on a top surface of a sole member of a sole member on which a wearer of an open-toed sandal rests a foot. A shape of the bladder filled pouch contorts as the wearer of the open-toed sandal walks. The contortion of the bladder filled pouch is triggered by a movement of the non-evaporative liquid within the bladder filled pouch in response to a pressure placed on the bladder when the wearer walks. A securing support member is connected to the sole member. The securing support member wraps around the sole member to secure the foot in the open-toed sandal. The securing support member is a Y-connection support, a wrap around support, and/or a heel support. 
     The bladder filled pouch may retain a memory of a motion of the foot when a material forming the pouch progressively may change permanent shape based on the pressure placed on the bladder filled pouch filled (e.g., with the non-evaporative liquid) when the wearer walks in any direction based on a bending of a material forming the bladder filled pouch responsive to a motion of the wearer. The material forming the bladder filled pouch may be latex. A thickness of the bladder filled pouch may be approximately 1 inch thick. The non-evaporative liquid may be a blend including approximately 96% glycerin, 3% vegetable oil, and/or 1% water. The blend including approximately 96% glycerin, 3% vegetable oil, and/or 1% water may eliminate a sound of the non-evaporative liquid swishing around in the bladder filled pouch when the wearer walks in any direction (e.g., thereby eliminating an undesirable sound of flatulence when the wearer walks that would otherwise be caused by the movement of the non-evaporative liquid within the bladder filled pouch in response to the pressure placed on the bladder filled pouch when the wearer walks). 
     The bladder filled pouch may be covered with a fabric that is heat pressed with glue and/or attached to contours of the sole member. The fabric may encapsulate the bladder filled pouch in the open-toed sandal (e.g., such that the wearer walks on the fabric on the surface of the sole member encapsulating the bladder filled pouch). The open-toed sandal may be a liquid filled massaging flip-flop. 
     The methods and systems disclosed herein may be implemented in any means for achieving various aspects, and may be executed in a form of a machine-readable medium embodying a set of instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform any of the operations disclosed herein. Other features will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follows. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       Example embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view illustrating an open-toed sandal having a sole member affixed with a bladder filled pouch, according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2A  is an overhead view of the open-toed sandal having a set of contours surrounded by a pouch in a top surface of the open-toed sandal, according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2B  is a sectional view illustrating the pouch of  FIG. 2A  encapsulated by a fabric, according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 3A  is a side view of the open-toed sandal of  FIG. 2A  having a contortion caused by the bending of a non-evaporative liquid within the pouch, according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 3B  is an exploded view of the open-toed sandal of  FIG. 2A  illustrating layers that form a sole member of the open-toed sandal having the pouch, according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 4A  is a wearer in motion view that illustrates a movement of non-evaporative liquid when the open-toed sandal of  FIG. 2A  is in motion, according to at least one embodiment. 
         FIG. 4B  and  FIG. 4C  are sequential figures that illustrate a permanently changed shape of the pouch after repeated walking with the open-toed sandal of FIG.  2 A to best conform with a wearer of the open-toed sandal and based on a retained memory of a motion of the foot, at least one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     Other features of the present embodiments will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follows. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Disclosed is an open-toed sandal with an integrated bladder filled pouch having a non-evaporative liquid composition, according to one embodiment. 
     In one embodiment, an open-toed sandal  100  includes a sole member  102  and a bladder filled pouch  104  filled with a non-evaporative liquid  106  affixed on a top surface  108  of the sole member  102  on which a wearer  110  of the open-toed sandal  100  rests a foot  112 . A shape  114  of the bladder filled pouch  104  contorts as the wearer  110  of the open-toed sandal  100  walks. The contortion of the bladder filled pouch  104  is triggered by a movement  116  of the non-evaporative liquid  106  within the bladder filled pouch  104  (e.g., in response to a pressure  118  placed on the bladder filled pouch  104  when the wearer  110  walks). A securing support member  120  is connected to the sole member  102 . The securing support member  120  wraps around the sole member  102  to secure the foot  112  in the open-toed sandal  100 . 
     The bladder filled pouch  104  may retain a memory of a motion (e.g., retained impression of the motion of the foot) of the foot  112  (e.g., when a material forming the pouch  204  progressively changes permanent shape  114 ) based on the pressure  118  placed on the bladder filled pouch  104  filled with the non-evaporative liquid  106  when the wearer  110  walks in any direction (e.g., based on a bending of a material forming the bladder filled pouch  104  responsive to a motion of the wearer  110 ). The material forming the bladder filled pouch  104  may be latex. A thickness of the bladder filled pouch  104  may be approximately 1 inch thick. 
     The non-evaporative liquid  106  may be a blend including approximately 96% glycerin, 3% vegetable oil, and/or 1% water. 
     The blend may include approximately 96% glycerin, 3% vegetable oil, and/or 1% water. The blend may eliminate a sound of the non-evaporative liquid  106  swishing around in the bladder filled pouch  104  when the wearer  110  walks in any direction (e.g., thereby eliminating an undesirable sound of flatulence when the wearer  110  walks that would otherwise be caused by the movement  116  of the non-evaporative liquid  106  within the bladder filled pouch  104  in response to the pressure  118  placed on the bladder filled pouch  104  when the wearer  110  walks). The bladder filled pouch  104  may be covered with a fabric  206  that is heat pressed with glue and/or attached to contours  208  of the sole member  102 . The fabric  206  may encapsulate the bladder filled pouch  104  in the open-toed sandal  100 , such that the wearer  110  walks on the fabric  206  on the surface of the sole member  102  encapsulating the bladder filled pouch  104 . The open-toed sandal  100  may be a liquid filled massaging flip-flop. 
     In another embodiment, a flip-flop includes a sole member  102  and a pouch  204  filled with a non-evaporative liquid  106  affixed on a top surface  108  of the sole member  102 . A shape  114  of the pouch  204  contorts as the wearer  110  of the flip-flop walks. The contortion of the pouch  204  is responsive to a movement  116  of the non-evaporative liquid  106  within the pouch  204  based on a pressure  118  placed on the bladder when the wearer  110  walks. The flip-flop includes a securing support member  120  connected to the sole member  102  which wraps around the sole member  102  to secure the foot  112  in the flip-flop formed by the sole member  102  connected to the securing support member  120 . 
     The pouch  204  may retain a memory of a motion of the foot  112  when a material forming the pouch  204  progressively changes permanent shape  114  (e.g., based on the pressure  118  placed on the pouch  204  filled with the non-evaporative liquid  106 ) when the wearer  110  walks in any direction (e.g., based on a bending of a material forming the pouch  204  responsive to a motion of the wearer  110 ). The material forming the pouch  204  may be latex. A thickness of the pouch  204  may be approximately 1 inch thick. The non-evaporative liquid  106  may be a blend including approximately 96% glycerin, 3% vegetable oil, and/or 1% water. The blend may eliminate a sound of the non-evaporative liquid  106  swishing around in the pouch  204  when the wearer  110  walks in any direction (e.g., thereby eliminating an undesirable sound of flatulence when the wearer  110  walks that would otherwise be caused by the movement  116  of the non-evaporative liquid  106  within the bladder filled pouch  104  in response to the pressure  118  placed on the bladder filled pouch  104  when the wearer  110  walks). 
     The pouch  204  may be covered with a fabric  206  that is heat pressed with glue and/or attached to contours  208  of the sole member  102 . The fabric  206  may encapsulate the pouch  204  in the flip-flop, such that the wearer  110  walks on the fabric  206  on the surface of the sole member  102  encapsulating the pouch. The flip-flop may be a liquid filled massaging flip-flop. 
     In yet another embodiment, a method includes affixing a bladder filled pouch  104  filled with a non-evaporative liquid  106  affixed on a top surface  108  of a sole member  102  of a sole member  102  on which a wearer  110  of an open-toed sandal  100  rests a foot  112 . A shape  114  of the bladder filled pouch  104  contorts as the wearer  110  of the open-toed sandal  100  walks. The contortion of the bladder filled pouch  104  is triggered by a movement  116  of the non-evaporative liquid  106  within the bladder filled pouch  104  in response to a pressure  118  placed on the bladder when the wearer  110  walks. A securing support member  120  is connected to the sole member  102 . The securing support member  120  wraps around the sole member  102  to secure the foot  112  in the open-toed sandal  100 . The securing support member  120  is a Y-connection support, a wrap around support, and/or a heel support. 
     The bladder filled pouch  104  may retain a memory of a motion of the foot  112  when a material forming the pouch  204  progressively may change permanent shape  114  based on the pressure  118  placed on the bladder filled pouch  104  filled (e.g., with the non-evaporative liquid  106 ) when the wearer  110  walks in any direction based on a bending of a material forming the bladder filled pouch  104  responsive to a motion of the wearer  110 . The material forming the bladder filled pouch  104  may be latex. A thickness of the bladder filled pouch  104  may be approximately 1 inch thick. The non-evaporative liquid  106  may be a blend including approximately 96% glycerin, 3% vegetable oil, and/or 1% water. The blend including approximately 96% glycerin, 3% vegetable oil, and/or 1% water may eliminate a sound of the non-evaporative liquid  106  swishing around in the bladder filled pouch  104  when the wearer  110  walks in any direction (e.g., thereby eliminating an undesirable sound of flatulence when the wearer  110  walks that would otherwise be caused by the movement  116  of the non-evaporative liquid  106  within the bladder filled pouch  104  in response to the pressure  118  placed on the bladder filled pouch  104  when the wearer  110  walks). 
     The bladder filled pouch  104  may be covered with a fabric  206  that is heat pressed with glue and/or attached to contours  208  of the sole member  102 . The fabric  206  may encapsulate the bladder filled pouch  104  in the open-toed sandal  100  (e.g., such that the wearer  110  walks on the fabric  206  on the surface of the sole member  102  encapsulating the bladder filled pouch  104 ). The open-toed sandal  100  may be a liquid filled massaging flip-flop. 
     An open-toed sandal  100  may be a type of shoe that does not cover the ends of a set of human toes, according to one embodiment. The open-toed sandal  100  may be created from leather, fabric, and/or another material, according to one embodiment. The open-toed sandal  100  may be an open type of outdoor footwear including a sole held to the wearer&#39;s foot by straps (e.g., belts) passing over the instep and, possibly, around the ankle. People may choose to wear sandals for several reasons, among them economy (sandals tend to require less material than shoes and are usually easier to construct), comfort in warm weather, and/or as a fashion choice. People may wear sandals in warmer climates and/or during warmer parts of the year in order to keep their feet cool and/or dry. The risk of developing athlete&#39;s foot (e.g., a fungal infection that usually begins between the toes) may be lower with the open-toed sandal  100  than with enclosed shoes, and the wearing of open-toed sandal  100  may be part of the treatment regimen for such an infection. 
     The open-toed sandal  100  may also take the form of a flip flop. The flip flop (also called a thong, a jandal, a plugger, a go-ahead, a slap, a slide, a step-in, a chankla, etc.) may be a type of the open-toed sandal  100  sometimes worn in casual situations, such as outside and/or at the beach. They may include a flat sole held loosely on the foot by a Y-shaped strap that passes between the first and second toes and around either side of the foot. They may also be held to the foot with a single strap over the top of the foot rather than a thong. A sole member  102  may be a base of the open-toed sandal  100 , according to one embodiment. A bladder filled pouch  104  may be a distensible membranous sac (e.g., a thin sheet of natural or synthetic material that may be increased, as in size, volume, expanded, dilated, etc.) that may include the non-evaporative liquid  106 , according to one embodiment. 
     A non-evaporative liquid  106  may be selected very carefully to ensure desirable attributes, according to one embodiment. In one empirically tested formula, the non-evaporative liquid is preferably a blend that may include approximately 96% glycerin, 3% vegetable oil, and/or 1% water. A top surface  108  may be an upper portion of the open-toed sandal, according to one embodiment. A wearer  110  may be an individual human who puts on (e.g., wears) the open-toed sandal  100 , according to one embodiment. A foot  112  may be a lower extremity of a leg below an ankle, on which a person stands and/or walks, according to one embodiment. A shape  114  may be the external form, contours, or outline of a membrane forming the bladder filled pouch  104 , according to one embodiment. 
     A movement  116  may be a motion and/or act of moving that is taken when the wearer walks, runs, and/or otherwise exerts pressure on the open-toed sandal  100 , according to one embodiment. A pressure  118  may be a physical force exerted on or against the open-toed sandal  100  by the foot  112  in contact with it, according to one embodiment. A securing support member  120  may be may be a mechanism by which the sole member  102  and the foot  112  are secured together inside a cavity formed between junctions of supporting members, according to one embodiment. An open toed sandal  100 A may be a type of open-toed sandal  100  of  FIG. 1  having a Y securing support means, according to one embodiment. 
     A section at A-A  200  may be a location at which cross sectional view is illustrated, according to one embodiment. A pouch  204  may be the bladder filled pouch  104  in a form of a small flexible bag, according to one embodiment. Contours  208  may be an outline representing a boundary of the bladder filled pouch  104  to provide ergonomic support for the foot  112 , according to one embodiment. A securing support member  220  may be a mechanism by which the sole member  102  and the foot  112  are secured together inside a cavity formed between junctions of supporting members, according to one embodiment. A fabric  206  may be cloth produced using a weaving and/or knitting textile fibers, according to one embodiment. A contortion  300  may be twisting, bending, flexing, and/or distortion of the open-toed sandal  100 , according to one embodiment. Layers  302  may be sections of the open-toed sandal  100 , according to one embodiment. 
     A heel pressure  402  may be a force applied to a back part of the human foot below the ankle, according to one embodiment. In one embodiment, the heel pressure  402  may be exerted by a force of an ankle of the foot  112 . A toe pressure  404  may be a force applied by any of the five digits at the end of the foot  112 , according to one embodiment. A contortion of the pouch effect  406  may be a change in the open-toed sandal as a result and/or as a consequence of action caused by repeated exertion of pressure on the bladder filled pouch  104  when the wearer  110  creates movement, according to one embodiment. A movement of the non-evaporative liquid effect  408  may be a change inside the bladder filled pouch  104  when the wearer  110  creates movement, according to one embodiment. 
     A bending of material effect  410  may be a distortion created in the sole member  102  and/or in the bladder filled pouch  104  when the wearer  110  creates movement, according to one embodiment. An original shape  412  may be an initial shape of the open-toed sandal  100  prior to the wearer  110  exerting a pressure on the open-toed sandal  100 , according to one embodiment. A memory shape  414  may be a retained shape of the bladder filled pouch caused by a chemistry of either a material forming the bladder filled pouch  104  and/or the non-evaporative liquid  106 , according to one embodiment. A motion of foot effect may be a change created by a movement of the  112 , according to one embodiment. 
     An example embodiment will now be described. John may have recently entered middle age, attaining the ripe old age of 45. At this age, John may start experiencing significant foot discomfort and heel pain. John may not feel like going for his daily walks as a result. John may gain weight and get depressed. Thankfully, one day, John discovers the wonders of the new liquid filled massaging flip flop (e.g., a type of open-toed sandal  100  having integrated within a layer of fabric a bladder filled pouch  104  filled with the non-evaporative liquid  106 ). John&#39;s foot pain may be relieved. Therefore, John may develop a renewed sense of confidence. In addition, John may begin his daily walks, this time wearing his new liquid filled massaging flip flop providing him with significant comfort while walking. 
     The various embodiments of the open-toed sandal  100  of  FIGS. 1 to 4C  may help to alleviate a number of foot related circulatory and health ailments. For example, the various embodiments of  FIGS. 1 to 4C  may help to reduce venous stasis, a common disorder that places the general population at risk of deep vein thrombosis, lower extremity edema, cellulitis, thrombophlebitis, and many other complications of compromised circulation. The embodiments of the open-toed sandal  100  of  FIGS. 1 to 4C  described herein may provide a valuable method for increasing venous circulation because of the bladder filled pouch  104  having the non-evaporative liquid  106  directly integrated within the open-toed sandal  100  instead of placed on top of it, according to one embodiment. Particularly, motion of the non-evaporative liquid  106  is predictable because it may be integrated directly in the sole member  102 , according to one embodiment. The embodiments of the open-toed sandal  100  of  FIGS. 1 to 4C  may prove particularly beneficial for a number of conditions including inflammation (e.g., Morton&#39;s Neuroma), poor circulation, corns, calluses, tired/sore feet, back pain, hip pain, knee pain, and plantar fascitis, according to one embodiment. 
     A number of embodiments have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention. In addition, the logic flows depicted in the figures do not require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. In addition, other steps may be provided, or steps may be eliminated, from the described flows, and other components may be added to, or removed from, the described systems. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. 
     It may be appreciated that the various open-toed sandals disclosed herein may be manufactured and/or implemented using computing technology including software that is stored in a machine-readable medium and/or a machine accessible medium compatible with a data processing system (e.g., a computer system having a processor and memory). 
     The structures and modules in the figures may be shown as distinct and communicating with only a few specific structures and not others. The structures may be merged with each other, may perform overlapping functions, and may communicate with other structures not shown to be connected in the figures. Accordingly, the specification and/or drawings may be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.