Patent Publication Number: US-7222442-B2

Title: Convertible shoe and sandal

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an article of footwear. More specifically, the invention relates to an article of footwear that is convertible from a primary article of footwear to another article of footwear. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Footwear is usually designed to meet a user&#39;s specific needs. For example, casual shoes are designed for comfort, to be worn during daily activities. Sports shoes are designed for active sports. Sandals can be designed for active sports or leisurely activities. As a result, users typically have many different pairs of footwear for different needs. However, traveling or carrying several pairs of footwear can be an inconvenience. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for an article of footwear that can be used for multiple purposes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the invention, the above-listed needs are met or exceeded by a convertible article of footwear having a primary article of footwear and a sandal that is removably inserted into the primary article of footwear. The primary article of footwear includes an outsole and an upper attached to the outsole. The sandal also includes at least one strap. When the sandal is inserted into the primary article of footwear, it is disposed within the upper above the outsole, and forms a midsole of the primary article of footwear. When the sandal is removed from the primary article of footwear, the sandal can be worn independently of the primary article of footwear. 
     Another aspect of the invention is a sandal for removable insertion into a primary article of footwear. The sandal includes a sole having a storage structure and a receiving structure, and at least one strap connected to the sole for retaining a user&#39;s foot. When the sandal is disposed in the primary article of footwear, the strap is stored in the storage structure of the sole, and when the sandal is removed from the primary article of footwear, the strap can be moved to the receiving structure of the sole. The sandal can be worn independently of the primary article of footwear. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, a sandal for removable insertion into a primary article of footwear having an outsole and an upper is provided. The sandal includes a sole and at least one strap associated with the sole for retaining a user&#39;s foot. When the sandal is removably inserted into the primary article of footwear and disposed above the outsole, the sandal forms a midsole of the primary article of footwear, and when the sandal is removed from the primary article of footwear, the sandal can be worn independently of the primary article of footwear. 
     Another feature of the invention is a strapping system for a sandal having a sole including a heel portion and a forefoot portion. The sandal includes a sole having a storage structure at a peripheral edge of the sole and a receiving structure at a forefoot portion of the sole. The sandal also includes at least one strap associated with the sole. The strap is stored in the storage structure in a stored position, and is received at the receiving structure in a wearing position. When the strap is in the wearing position, it retains a foot in the sandal. 
     Still another feature of the invention is a primary article of footwear for removably receiving a sandal within the primary article of footwear. The primary article of footwear includes an outsole and an upper attached to the outsole. The primary article of footwear also includes a midsole removably contained within the upper above the outsole, wherein the midsole is removable from the upper and can be worn independently as a sandal. 
     Another aspect of the invention is a method of converting a shoe into a sandal comprising the steps of providing a shoe with a removable midsole, said midsole having a strap, and removing the midsole from the shoe. The strap is moved from a stored position to a wearing position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a convertible shoe of the present invention, where a sandal is removable from a primary article of footwear; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the sandal of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the sandal of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-section of the sandal taken along line  4 — 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-section of the sandal taken along line  5 — 5  of  FIG. 3 ; and 
         FIG. 6  is a back elevation view of the sandal of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a convertible article of footwear incorporating a primary article of footwear and a sandal that is removably inserted into the primary article of footwear is generally designated  10 . The convertible article of footwear  10  can be worn with the primary article of footwear  12  and the sandal  14  assembled, or the sandal  14  can be worn independently. An example of when the convertible article of footwear  10  can be used is during airline travel, when a user may want to wear the primary article of footwear  12  in the airport, but only wear the sandal  14  on the plane. 
     In  FIG. 1 , the primary article of footwear  12  is depicted as a low-rise boot, however it is contemplated that the primary article of footwear can be of any variety, such as a shoe, a clog, or even a sandal. The primary article of footwear  12 , (hereinafter referred as “boot  12 ”), includes an outsole  16  and an upper  18 . The boot  12  may also include a midsole (not shown) disposed above the outsole  16 . Having generally the same size and shape as the outsole  16 , the sandal  14  includes a sole  20  with a forefoot portion  22 , a heel portion  24  and a midfoot portion  26 . The sandal  14  fits into the boot  12  above the outsole  16 , and within the upper  18 . 
     When the sandal  14  is removably inserted into the boot  12 , the sole  20  forms a midsole of the boot. Alternatively, the sole  20  may form a sockliner or insole if the boot  12  already includes a midsole (not shown). Thus, the boot  12  is constructed and arranged to receive the sandal  14 , and to accommodate the sole  20  of the sandal within the boot  12 . When inserted into the boot  12 , the periphery of the sandal  14  fits snugly within the boot  12 . Further, the upper  18  is sized and designed to accommodate a user&#39;s foot within the boot while the sandal  14  is disposed within the boot. 
     A vent  30  is preferably provided in the upper  18  to facilitate access to the sandal for removing the sandal from within the boot. The vent  30  can be provided with a fastener  31  such as a zipper. It is contemplated that any other fastener, such as laces, Velcro®, elastic, and snaps, or any other closure means may be used. A handle (not shown), such as a looped piece of woven fabric, may be disposed on the sandal  14  to facilitate grasping and manually pulling the sandal from within the boot  12 . 
     Preferably, the sole  20  of the sandal  14  is configured to the profile of the plantar surface of the human foot, and preferably comprises a main sole  32  and an insole  34 . The main sole  32  is preferably fabricated from stiff and resilient material, such as polyurethane, dual density SSR rubber, vulcanized rubber or ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA), and may include a plurality of different materials in different locations to provide varying amounts of support to different parts of the foot. Further, the insole  34  may be provided with a microban zinc based anti-microbial protectant. In addition, other elements such as shock pads and shanks may be incorporated in the sole  20 , as is well known in the art. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , at least one strap  36  is fabricated from any suitable flexible material having a tensile strength sufficient to maintain the sandal  14  on the user&#39;s foot, such as woven fabric or leather, or any material known in the art. In the preferred embodiment, the strap  36  is preferably a single, continuous strap that is attached to the sole  20 . However, multiple straps  36  may be attached to the sole  20 . 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , a closed-channel  38  extends transversely through the sole  20 , preferably through the midfoot portion  26 . In the preferred embodiment, the strap  36  is fed through the closed-channel  38  and forms a complete loop that is permanently retained within the sole  20 , and the strap is prevented from movement within the sole. However, the strap  36  may be permitted to move within the closed-channel  38 . Other ways of attaching the strap  36  to the sole  20  are also contemplated, such as fixedly attaching the strap to the sole with adhesive. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , preferably slidably disposed on the strap  36  is an anchor  40  for securing the strap in a wearing position, as will be discussed later. The anchor  40  is preferably a “buckle”-like member that receives the strap  36  in an aperture structure  42 , and preferably has a length longer than a width. The anchor  40  is preferably made of a metal or plastic, and preferably has a smooth contoured peripheral edge  44 . 
     In the sandal  14  of the present invention, the strap  36  can be moved from a storage position when the sandal is disposed within the boot  12  (as seen in  FIG. 1 ), to a wearing position when the strap is used for retaining a foot (as seen in  FIG. 3 ). 
       FIG. 1  shows the strap  36  stored in a storage means  46 . The storage means  46  is preferably a structure including a channel  48  on a peripheral edge  50  of the sole  20 , the storage means  46  preferably tucks the strap  36  tautly into the sides of the sole so that the strap does not significantly protrude from the peripheral edge. However, other storage means  46  are contemplated, such as fasteners, to store the strap  36  against the peripheral edge  50 . Further, it is contemplated that the storage means  46  can retain the strap  36  on any other surface of the sandal  14  or within the boot  12 . 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 6 , the storage means  46  includes an anchor cavity  52 . In the preferred embodiment, the anchor cavity  52  is an enlarged portion of the channel  48  at the back peripheral edge  50  of the sandal  14  which is sized and shaped to receive the anchor  40 . The anchor cavity  52  preferably has a secondary cavity  54  which can accept the aperture structure  42  of the anchor  40 . When the anchor  40  is disposed in the anchor cavity  52 , preferably the anchor does not significantly protrude from the peripheral edge  50 . 
     When the user removes the strap  36  from the stored position in the storage means  46 , the user applies a slight pressure to remove the strap  36  from the channel  48 , and brings the strap forward into a wearing position (See  FIG. 2 ). The strap  36  is extended toward the forefoot portion  22  of the sole  20 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 5 , a receiving means  56  receives or engages the strap  36 , and more preferably the anchor  40  and the strap, at the forefoot portion  22 . In the preferred embodiment, the receiving means  56  is a structure that includes a hole  58  from a top surface  60  to a bottom surface  62  of the sole  20 , and a detent  64  in the bottom surface. The detent  64  has a geometry generally corresponding to the geometry of the anchor  40 . When the anchor  40  is fed through the hole  58 , it has a first orientation generally transverse to the plane of the sole  20 , and when the anchor is seated in the detent  64 , it has a second orientation generally parallel to the plane of the sole  20 . The user applies pressure to push the anchor  40  through the hole  58 . In the preferred embodiment, the sole  20  surrounding the receiving means  56  is made of a different material than other portions of the sole to facilitate the entry and exit of the anchor  40 . 
     The receiving means  56  is constructed and arranged to receive the strap  36  without protruding from the top surface  60  of the insole  34 . The receiving means  56  preferably should not protrude from the top surface  60  because when the sandal  14  is used as the midsole  28  of the boot  12 , the receiving means should not interfere with foot placement inside the boot. Further, the receiving means  56  preferably should not protrude from the bottom surface  62  so as not to interfere with a tread  66  disposed on the bottom surface. Other types of receiving means  56  are also contemplated, such as a hook for hooking the strap into the wearing position. Any mechanical device for releasably holding the strap to the forefoot is considered “receiving means” for the purposes of this application. 
     Although the sandal  14  is depicted as a having a “thong”-strapping configuration, other strapping configurations are contemplated. Further, in an embodiment with multiple straps  36 , all or some may have a stored position and a wearing position. In yet another embodiment, the strap  36  may have a stored position that is pulled taut against the top surface  60  of the sole  20  from the bottom surface  62  or the peripheral edge  50 . 
     While specific embodiments of the convertible article of footwear  10 , the primary article of footwear  12 , the sandal  14 , and the strapping system of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the invention in its broader aspects and as set forth in the following claims.