Patent Abstract:
A pair of foldable footwear, each footwear incorporating a flexible hinge within a sole of the footwear. The flexible hinge consists of a molded flexible hinge section  40 , a molded hinge aperture  38 , a hinge top slot  34  and a hinge limitation contact section  42 . The molded flexible hinge section  40  and molded hinge aperture  38  provides a flexible and reliable member allowing the sole to be folded. The sole can comprise a hinge section along a transverse orientation or a longitudinal orientation about the center of the sole. The hinge limitation contact section  42  ensures that a heel section of the sole remains in a wearable configuration during use.

Full Description:
RELATED US PATENT APPLICATIONS 
     This is a Divisional United States Non-Provisional Utility Patent Application, which claims the benefit of United States Non-Provisional Utility patent application Ser. No. 12/757,998, filed on Apr. 10, 2010, which is a Continuation-In-Part Application of Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 11/518,830 filed on Sep. 11, 2006 (Now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,694,435 on Apr. 13, 2010), which are incorporated in their entireties by reference herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to footwear, more specifically, a footwear item that incorporates a formed hinge allowing the footwear to be folded for storage. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     People wear footwear to protect their feet from hazards, heat, and other items when walking. Flip Flops are one form of footwear, generally a style of footwear that is associated with a more causal environment. Further, that style of footwear is conducive to being a carry along type of item for such scenarios as a trip to the beach, where the flip flops would only be worn at the destination and packed during travel. 
     Tartaglia, et al. teaches, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,032,327, footwear that is collapsible. Tartaglia, et al. teaches a footwear comprising an intermediate portion includes sufficient flexibility to significantly reduce the size of the sandal by folding the sole into a stored orientation defined by the front and rear portions disposed in at least partially overlying relation to one another. The design of the intermediate portion of Tartaglia, et al. is limited in that the fold section is not a favorable and reliable hinge design. Further, as said intermediate section continues to flex, not only will the flexible section allow the sole to collapse as designed, but it will also allow the heel section of the sole to hang downward when walking causing potential injury to the wearer and excessive wear to the heel section of the footwear. 
     What is desired is inexpensive footwear that is foldable for storage. Further desired is a foldable mechanism that is reliable and ensures the heel section of the footwear remains in a planar configuration when worn. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention provides an apparatus for wearing on a person&#39;s feet, more specifically foldable footwear. The footwear incorporates a hinge for folding said footwear into a more compact shape for storage. 
     A first aspect of the present invention is a flip flop style of footwear. 
     A second aspect of the present invention is a flip flop style of footwear with a foldable section. 
     A third aspect of the present invention is a flip flop style of footwear with a foldable section, wherein said foldable section provides a hinge that is transverse to the flip flop. 
     A fourth aspect of the present invention is a flip flop style of footwear with a foldable section, wherein said foldable section provides a hinge that is longitudinally to the flip flop. 
     A fifth aspect of the present invention is a flip flop style of footwear with two foldable sections, wherein said foldable sections provides a first hinge that is transverse to the flip flop and a second hinge that is longitudinally to the flip flop. 
     A sixth aspect of the present invention is a hinge design wherein said hinge is molded into a sole of the flip flop. 
     A seventh aspect of the present invention is a hinge design wherein said hinge is molded into the sole of the flip flop, wherein said hinge comprising an aperture or slot along the length of the hinge. 
     An eighth aspect of the present invention is a hinge design wherein said hinge is molded into the sole of the flip flop, wherein said hinge comprising a limit feature to ensure that the sole of the flip flop remains planar in a worn configuration. 
     A ninth aspect of the present invention is a hinge design wherein said hinge is molded into the sole of the flip flop, wherein said hinge comprising a limit feature to ensure that the sole of the flip flop remains planar in a worn configuration, wherein said limit feature further comprising a contact point. 
     A tenth aspect of the present invention is wherein said hinge is of a symmetric design. 
     An eleventh aspect of the present invention is a hinge upper clearance section. 
     A twelfth aspect of the present invention is an upper shoe section for removably coupling said flip flop to a wearer&#39;s foot. 
     A thirteenth aspect of the present invention is wherein said hinge sections are oriented approximately at the center of the footwear. 
     A fourteenth aspect of the present invention is wherein said hinge sections are oriented approximately at the center of the footwear and in a transverse orientation. 
     A fifteenth aspect of the present invention is wherein said hinge sections are oriented approximately at the center of the footwear and in a longitudinal orientation. 
     A sixteenth aspect of the present invention is the inclusion of a storage bag for said footwear. 
     A seventeenth aspect of the present invention is the inclusion of a storage bag for said footwear, wherein said bag is sized to store said footwear in a folded configuration. 
     An eighteenth aspect of the present invention incorporates the transverse hinged sole into any footwear form factor. 
     A nineteenth aspect of the present invention incorporates the transverse hinged sole into a boot. 
     A twentieth aspect of the present invention incorporates the transverse hinged sole into a casual shoe. 
     A twenty-first aspect of the present invention incorporates the transverse hinged sole into a flat. 
     A twenty-second aspect of the present invention incorporates the transverse hinged sole into a slipper. 
     The disclosed aspects of the present invention define each aspect individually, wherein it is understood that each of the aspects can be combined to provide various embodiments of a foldable flip flop. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1A  presents a side view of a flip flop incorporating the present invention; 
         FIG. 1B  presents a bottom view of a flip flop incorporating the present invention; 
         FIG. 1C  presents a top view of a flip flop incorporating the present invention; 
         FIG. 2A  presents a side view of a flip flop incorporating the present invention, further detailing a moldable hinge section; 
         FIG. 2B  presents a enlarged side view of a section of the flip flop incorporating the present invention, shown in a planar configuration; 
         FIG. 2C  presents a enlarged side view of a section of the flip flop incorporating the present invention, shown in a folded configuration; 
         FIG. 3  presents an isometric view of a flip flop incorporating the present invention; and 
         FIG. 4  presents a detailed cross sectional view of the molded hinge section respective to the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  presents a boot comprising a sole having an integrated transverse molded hinge; 
         FIG. 6  presents a casual shoe comprising a sole having an integrated transverse molded hinge; 
         FIG. 7  presents a flat comprising a sole having an integrated transverse molded hinge; and 
         FIG. 8  presents a slipper comprising a sole having an integrated transverse molded hinge. 
     
    
    
     Various like features are shown throughout the drawings. It is recognized that the features described for a transverse hinge can be applied to a longitudinal hinge. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “rear”, “right”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in  FIG. 1 . Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
       FIG. 1  presents various orientations of a foldable flip flop  10 , including a side view as illustrated in  FIG. 1A , a bottom view as illustrated in  FIG. 1B  and a top view as illustrated in  FIG. 1C . Said foldable flip flop  10  comprising a flip flop sole with molded hinge  12  and a flip flop upper strap member  24 . Said flip flop sole with molded hinge  12  is a single, molded sole that is generally fabricated of molded rubber. Said flip flop upper strap member  24  is assembled to said flip flop sole with molded hinge  12  to provide an upper member for coupling said foldable flip flop  10  to a wearer&#39;s foot (not shown). Said flip flop upper strap member  24  couples to said foldable flip flop  10  at a midpoint via a upper front securing aperture  26 . Said flip flop upper strap member  24  can be of a woven canvas, molded plastic, molded rubber, leather, and the like. It is recognized that jewels and other decorative items can be added to said flip flop upper strap member  24 . Various features of said foldable flip flop  10  comprise a sole toe section  14  and a sole heel section  16 . Additionally introduced are a foot contact surface  20  and a ground contact surface  22 . Said foldable flip flop  10  incorporates a molded hinge section  18 . Several features respective to said molded hinge section  18  located on the ground contact surface  22  of said foldable flip flop  10  include a transverse hinge stop contact section  30  and a longitudinal hinge stop contact point  32 . Further, features respective to said molded hinge section  18  located on the foot contact surface  20  of said foldable flip flop  10  include a transverse hinge top slot  34  and a longitudinal hinge top slot  36 . 
       FIG. 2  presents a more detailed illustration of said molded hinge section  18  shown in both a wearable state as illustrated in  FIG. 2B  and a stored state as illustrated in  FIG. 2C .  FIG. 2A  illustrates said foldable flip flop  10  of  FIG. 1 , further presenting said enlarged detailed hinge section  50 , wherein said enlarged detailed hinge section  50  is to illustrate said molded hinge section  18  in more detail.  FIG. 2B  illustrates said molded hinge section  18  in a wearable configuration, wherein said molded hinge section  18  comprising said transverse hinge stop contact section  30  and said transverse hinge top slot  34  as introduced in  FIG. 1 . Said molded hinge section  18  incorporates a flexible hinge slot  38  and a molded flexible hinge section  40  which combined provide a flexible cross section of said molded hinge section  18 . Said transverse hinge top slot  34  is a recess incorporated to reduce any bulging or creasing of the material of said flip flop sole with molded hinge  12 , wherein when said flip flop sole with molded hinge  12  is folded as shown in  FIG. 2C . Without said transverse hinge top slot  34 , the material of said flip flop sole with molded hinge  12  would bulge or crease along said foot contact surface  20 . Said flexible hinge slot  38  provides a reduced cross sectional area about said molded hinge section  18 , thus creating a more flexible section about said molded flexible hinge section  40 . To ensure that said sole heel section  16  does not droop when a wearer is wearing and walking in said foldable flip flop  10 , the present invention incorporates an inventive footwear hinge limitation contact section  42 . Said hinge limitation contact section  42  is presented as a ridge that runs generally parallel to said molded hinge section  18 . It is preferred that said hinge limitation contact section  42  is incorporated into said molded hinge section  18  as a pair, one said hinge limitation contact section  42  associated on a sole toe section  14  side and an opposing said hinge limitation contact section  42  associated on a sole heel section  16  side wherein said hinge limitation contact section  42  contact along said transverse hinge stop contact section  30 . Said hinge limitation contact section  42  provides a feature of said molded hinge section  18  that maintains said flip flop sole with molded hinge  12  in a normal state when worn, ensuring that said sole heel section  16  section does not flex downward towards the ground when said foldable flip flop  10  is worn. It is recognized that other form factors can be incorporated to provide the same features as said hinge limitation contact section  42  as illustrated.  FIG. 2C  illustrates said foldable flip flop  10  in a stored orientation. When storing said foldable flip flop  10 , the user would fold said foldable flip flop  10  as illustrated contacting along said foot contact surface  20  and having said ground contact surface  22  on the outer or exposed side of the fold. The illustration presents the benefit of said transverse hinge top slot  34  as well as the flexibility of said molded flexible hinge section  40  resulting from the area reduced by the incorporation of said flexible hinge slot  38 . 
     It is recognized that the features are illustrated respective to a hinge that is oriented transverse to said flip flop sole with molded hinge  12 , the same features are incorporated in a hinge that is oriented longitudinal to said flip flop sole with molded hinge  12 , such as along said longitudinal hinge stop contact point  32  and said longitudinal hinge top slot  36  presented in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an isometric view of said foldable flip flop  10 , presented for additional clarity of the present invention. One alternate embodiment of said flip flop upper strap member  24  is illustrated wherein said flip flop upper strap member  24  comprising a pair of straps, wherein each side is secured to said flip flop sole with molded hinge  12  (as understood by  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) and secured at a toe section via a upper front securing member  28  that is coupled to said flip flop sole with molded hinge  12  via said upper front securing aperture  26 . The illustration presents said molded hinge section  18  respective to said transverse hinge top slot  34 , incorporated transverse to said flip flop sole with molded hinge  12 . It is understood that a similar said molded hinge section  18  could optionally be incorporated respective to an optional said longitudinal hinge top slot  36 , incorporated longitudinal to said flip flop sole with molded hinge  12 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates said molded hinge section  18 , further presenting dimensional properties in conjunction with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Said flip flop sole with molded hinge  12  would have a thickness of sole thickness at hinge  52  at the region proximate said molded hinge section  18 . Said flexible hinge slot  38  would be of a diameter respective to hinge aperture height  54 , wherein said hinge aperture height  54  is optimally ⅓ of said sole thickness at hinge  52 . Said hinge aperture height  54  can be anywhere between 1/10 of said sole thickness at hinge  52  and ¾ of said sole thickness at hinge  52 . Said molded flexible hinge section  40  would have a cross sectional thickness designated by molded flexible hinge section thickness  56 , wherein said molded flexible hinge section thickness  56  is optimally ⅓ of said sole thickness at hinge  52 . Said molded flexible hinge section thickness  56  can be anywhere between ¼ of said sole thickness at hinge  52  and 9/10 of said sole thickness at hinge  52 . Said transverse hinge top slot  34  would have a depth of approximately 1/10 of said sole thickness at hinge  52 . Said hinge limitation contact section  42  would have a thickness of the balance of material, approximately ⅓ of said sole thickness at hinge  52 . 
     It is also recognized that the features illustrated respective to the hinge  18  can be inverted, aiding in folding the foldable flip flop  10  in a reverse direction, positioning the ground contact surfaces  22  of the sole toe section  14  and sole heel section  16  against one another. The hinge aperture height  54  would be measured downward from the foot contact surface  20 . The transverse hinge top slot  34  would be located on the ground contact surface  22  side of the flip flop sole with molded hinge  12 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in a form factor referred to as a folding soled boot  110 . The folding soled boot  110  comprises a boot upper section  124  disposed upon to a boot sole with molded hinge  112 . The boot upper section  124  is shaped in a form factor having the features of a common boot, including a foot covering and an ankle/lower leg covering extending upwards from the foot covering. The boot upper section  124  is preferably of a soft, flexible material to ensure long term wear of the folding soled boot  110 . The boot sole with molded hinge  112  has a lower surface defined as a ground contact surface  122  and an upper surface defined as a foot contact surface  120 . The boot sole with molded hinge  112  can be portioned into a sole toe section  114  and a sole heel section  116  being separated by a molded hinge section  118 . The molded hinge section  118  is provided in a transverse orientation and shaped having the same dimensions and features as previously presented in  FIG. 4 . This configuration offers the shoe owner the ability to fold the folding soled boot  110  for any desired reason, including storage. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in a form factor referred to as a folding soled casual shoe  210 . The folding soled casual shoe  210  comprises a casual shoe upper section  224  disposed upon to a casual shoe sole with molded hinge  212 . The casual shoe upper section  224  is shaped in a form factor having the features of a common casual shoe, including a comfortable foot covering. Some included features may include a strap  230 , a tie  232 , and the like. The casual shoe upper section  224  is preferably of a soft, flexible material, such as canvas, a woven material, and the like to ensure long term wear of the folding soled casual shoe  210 . The casual shoe sole with molded hinge  212  has a lower surface defined as a ground contact surface  222  and an upper surface defined as a foot contact surface  220 . The casual shoe sole with molded hinge  212  can be portioned into a sole toe section  214  and a sole heel section  216  being separated by a molded hinge section  218 . The molded hinge section  218  is provided in a transverse orientation and shaped having the same dimensions and features as previously presented in  FIG. 4 . This configuration offers the shoe owner the ability to fold the folding soled casual shoe  210  for any desired reason, including storage. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in a form factor referred to as a folding soled flat  310 . The folding soled flat  310  comprises a flat upper section  324  disposed upon to a flat sole with molded hinge  312 . The flat upper section  324  is shaped in a form factor having the features of a common flat, including a foot covering generally designed to slip onto the wearer&#39;s foot. The flat upper section  324  is preferably of a soft, flexible material, such as canvas, vinyl, cloth, and the like to ensure long term wear of the folding soled flat  310 . The flat upper section  324  normally comprises a toe upper section and a heel upper section joined by a section of elastic (not shown). The flat sole with molded hinge  312  has a lower surface defined as a ground contact surface  322  and an upper surface defined as a foot contact surface  320 . The flat sole with molded hinge  312  can be portioned into a sole toe section  314  and a sole heel section  316  being separated by a molded hinge section  318 . The molded hinge section  318  is provided in a transverse orientation and shaped having the same dimensions and features as previously presented in  FIG. 4 . This configuration offers the shoe owner the ability to fold the folding soled flat  310  for any desired reason, including storage. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in a form factor referred to as a folding soled slipper  410 . The folding soled slipper  410  comprises a slipper upper section  424  disposed upon to a slipper sole with molded hinge  412 . The slipper upper section  424  is shaped in a form factor having the features of a common slipper, including a foot covering generally designed to slip onto the wearer&#39;s foot. The slipper upper section  424  is preferably of a soft, flexible material, such as fleece, and the like to ensure long term wear of the folding soled slipper  410 . The slipper upper section  424  normally comprises a toe upper section and a heel upper section joined by a section of elastic (not shown). The slipper sole with molded hinge  412  has a lower surface defined as a ground contact surface  422  and an upper surface defined as a foot contact surface  420 . The slipper sole with molded hinge  412  can be portioned into a sole toe section  414  and a sole heel section  416  being separated by a molded hinge section  418 . The molded hinge section  418  is provided in a transverse orientation and shaped having the same dimensions and features as previously presented in  FIG. 4 . This configuration offers the shoe owner the ability to fold the folding soled slipper  410  for any desired reason, including storage. 
     Since many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalence.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0