Abstract:
A flip-flop shoe comprising a base having a foot engagement body joined to the base, and having combined ribbon strips tied and adhered to the foot engagement body, and coated in a hairspray. A method of making a flip-flop shoe comprising providing a base and providing a foot engagement body and joining the foot engagement body to the base, and providing combined ribbon strips and tying the combined ribbon strips to the foot engagement body with knots, and applying an adhesive to the knots and coating the combined ribbon strips with a hairspray, and trimming the combined ribbon strips.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/660,292, filed Mar. 10, 2005, to Sussman et al. for a Flip-Flop Shoe and Method of Making Same. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Many people wear open air shoes, especially in the summer months. In some geographic areas, warm weather allows use of such open air shoes and sandals year round.  
         [0003]     One type of open air shoe is commonly known as a “flip-flop” shoe. Almost everyone has seen such shoes, and one such flip-flop shoe is shown in  FIG. 1 , which is a prior art shoe  18  as noted in drawing  FIG. 1 . The shoe  18  has a base  20  that is typically formed from a soft plastic material. The base  20  has a foot contact side  22  and a ground contact side  24 . Extending from and joined with the base  20  is a foot engagement body  26  comprising a toe portion  28  and first and second arch portions,  30 , 32 , respectively. The toe portion  28  and first and second arch portions,  30 , 32 , respectively, meet and are joined with one another at junction  34 , as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0004]     To use the flip-flop, the wearer inserts her or his big toe and adjacent toe (toes not shown) into the flip-flop  18 , such that the big toe and adjacent toe surround the sides of the toe portion  28 . The first and second arch portions,  30 , 32 , respectively, fit over the wearer&#39;s foot, such that when she or he walks the flip-flop shoes  18  are lifted off the ground.  
         [0005]     However, such flip-flop shoes are not without drawbacks. For example, small children oftentimes prefer to run about without any shoes on, and will not wear flip-flop shoes to protect their feet. As a result, feet can be exposed to dangerous objects, for example glass and nails, and thus injury may result. In addition, even if flip-flop shoes are worn, they offer little protection from feet becoming sunburned, being bitten by insects, and the environment. Thus, there is a need for a better shoe that protects the foot and that increases the likelihood that people will wear their shoes.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0006]     The present invention is for a flip-flop shoe having a foot engagement body to which are joined bundles of ribbons. In particular, in one of the preferred embodiments, three separate ribbons are provided and are layered to form a stack of ribbons, or a combined ribbon strip. A plurality of combined ribbon strips are tied or joined to the first and second arch portions of the foot engagement body.  
         [0007]     A method is provided for joining the combined ribbon strips to the first and second arch portions. The method includes cutting the ribbons to a predetermined length and bringing three ribbons together to form a combined ribbon strip, tying the combined ribbon strips to the first and second arch portions of the foot engagement body with knots, applying an adhesive or glue to the knot so that it cannot unravel, allowing the adhesive or glue to dry, and cutting the individual ribbons that extend from the flip-flop shoe to a predetermined length, and spraying the combined ribbon strips with a hairspray to stiffen the ribbons. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     One of the preferred embodiments of the invention is illustrated in the drawings, in which, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures of which:  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a prior art shoe;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the flip-flop shoe of the invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the flip-flop shoe of the invention showing the foot engagement body and a combined ribbon strip tied to the first arch portion of the foot engagement body;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3A  is a sectional view taken along cut line A-A of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of a combined ribbon strip;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the combined ribbon strip showing three ribbons;  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the flip-flop shoe;  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a bottom plan view of the flip-flop shoe;  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  is a rear elevational view of the flip-flop shoe;  
         [0018]      FIG. 9  is a front elevational view of the flip-flop shoe;  
         [0019]      FIG. 10  is a right end elevational view of the flip-flop shoe;  
         [0020]      FIG. 11  is a left end elevational view of the flip-flop shoe; and  
         [0021]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a pair of flip-flop shoes showing a left flip-flop shoe and a right flip-flop shoe. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0022]     A pair of flip-flop shoes  48  is shown in  FIG. 12 , and the pair of flip-flop shoes  48  comprises a right flip-flop shoe  50  and a left flip-flop shoe  52 . The right flip flop shoe  50  will be described presently, with the understanding that the left-flip flop shoe  52  is made in a substantially identical manner.  
         [0023]     The right flip-flop shoe  50  (hereinafter shoe  50 ) is shown generally in  FIGS. 2-12 . The shoe  50  comprises a base  20  that has a foot contact side  22  as shown in  FIG. 2  and a ground contact side  24 , as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . A surrounding sidewall  25  extends between the foot contact side  22  and the ground contact side  24 , as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . The ground contact side  24  can, in one of the preferred embodiments, have traction protrusions  38  formed in it, as shown in  FIG. 7 . The base  20  can comprise plastics, foam materials, rubber, natural products and combinations thereof.  
         [0024]     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , extending from and joined with the base  20  is a foot engagement body  26  comprising a toe portion  28  and first and second arch portions,  30 , 32 , respectively, as shown in  FIG. 3 . The toe portion  28  is proximal a toe end  29  of the base  20 , and the first and second arch portions,  30 , 32 , respectively, are proximal a heel end  31  of the base  20 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The toe portion  28  and first and second arch portions,  30 , 32 , respectively, meet and are joined with one another at junction  34 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The foot engagement body  26  can be formed as a one piece body as shown in the drawing figures, and can be made of plastic(s), rubber, organic materials and other suitable materials.  
         [0025]     The base  20  has three openings, commonly designated  35 , and the openings  35  are for receiving an end of the toe portion  28 , an end of the first arch portion  30  and an end of the third arch portion  32 .  FIG. 3A  is a sectional view taken along cut line A-A of  FIG. 3 , and shows the toe portion  28  extending through opening  35  from the foot contact side  22  to the ground contact side  24  of the base  20 . As shown in  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 3A , an enlarged portion  56  is formed at the end of the toe portion  28 , and similar enlarged portions  56  are formed at the ends of the first and second arch portions  30 , 32 , respectively. The enlarged portions  56  have a diameter, designated D 2  in  FIG. 3A , that is greater than a diameter, designated D 1  in  FIG. 3A , of the openings  35 .  FIG. 3A  also shows the enlarged portion  56  at the end of the toe portion  28  abutting against the ground contacting side  24  of the base  20 , such that the enlarged portion  56  cannot be readily slid out of the opening  35 . The ends of the first and second arch portions  30 , 32 , respectively, have enlarged portions  56  as shown in  FIG. 7  which prevents them from moving out of the openings  35  in the above-described manner.  
         [0026]     The shoe  50  of the present invention comprises ribbons  60  that are joined to the foot engagement body  26 , as shown in  FIGS. 2, 3 , and  4 - 11 . The ribbons  60  can be variously embodied and can comprise different materials. For example, the ribbons  60  can be embodied to be any color and any pattern. The ribbons  60  can comprise fabrics, woven fabrics, nonwoven fabrics, silk, rayon; satin, cloths, plastic, natural fibers, synthetic fibers, rubber, and other suitable materials. In addition, the ribbons  60  can be embodied to have colors and can have patterns. The ribbons  60  can also be embodied to have different widths, different textures and different lengths. Thus, the ribbons  60  shown throughout the figures are for one of the preferred embodiments of the ribbons  60 .  
         [0027]     In one of the preferred embodiments, the ribbons  60  are stacked into a combined ribbon strip  62 , and each combined ribbon strip  62  has three ribbons  60 . These three ribbons  60  can have the same or different widths. In one of the preferred embodiments, the combined ribbon strip  62  is manually held together as a bundle, that is, the individual ribbons  60  are stacked on top of each other and manually held together.  
         [0028]     The combined ribbon strip  62  is then wrapped around the first arch portion  30  of the foot engagement body  26  and tied in a knot  64 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The knot  64  thus joins the combined ribbon strip  62  to the first arch portion  30 . Then, a glue or adhesive  70  is applied to the knot  64  for purposes preventing the knot  64  from unraveling. As shown in  FIG. 3 , after the knot  64  has been tied, the combined ribbon strip  62  has a smooth surface  61  that faces the foot contact side  22  of the shoe  50 , which advantageously provides for a comfortable shoe  50 , because no rugged or sharp projections from the combined ribbon strip  62  will cause injury or discomfort to a person wearing the shoe  50 . In one of the preferred embodiments, the combined ribbon strips  62  are each tied to the first and second arch portions  30 , 32 , respectively, very close to one another, such that adjacent knots  64  abut against one another.  
         [0029]     The tying of the combined ribbons strips  62  advantageously has a doubling effect, such that after tying there are six (6) ribbons  60  that extend from the flip-flop shoe  50 . The tied combined ribbon strips  62  advantageously protect the wearer&#39;s feet from the environment, the sun, rain, debris, insects, and other contaminants. In addition, because the ribbons  60  tied to each shoe  50  can be different as described above, it is easy for a shoe  50  owner to quickly locate his or her shoes  50 , and this advantageously decreases the likelihood of the shoes  50  being misidentified or mistakenly taken or worn. The flip-flop shoe  50  can be advantageously washed if the adhesive or glue  70  is waterproof.  
         [0030]     In addition, the present invention advantageously provides a method for making the shoe  50 . To make the flip-flop shoe  50 , the base  20  having the foot engagement body  26  joined to it is provided. Next, a plurality of different types of ribbon  60  are provided, for example, there can be between two to ten styles of colored and patterned ribbons  60  utilized. In other embodiments, more styles of ribbon  60  can be used. The process of selecting the ribbon  60  to be used with a particular pair of flip-flops shoes  50 , includes matching the ribbon  60  to the specific color of the selected pair of flip-flops  50 , which can be variously colored. In one of the preferred embodiments, the ribbons  60  each have a width that is between about 0.1 inches to about 0.75 inches, and a length that is about ten (10) inches. In other embodiments the ribbons  60  can have the same widths and can have various patterns and colors, and can be wider or narrower than the above described range width.  
         [0031]     Next, three of the ribbons  60 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , are collected and aligned with one another, to form the combined ribbon strip  62 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . The combined ribbon strip  62  is tied tightly to the foot engagement body  26 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . In one of the preferred embodiments, the combined ribbon strip  62  is joined to the foot engagement body  26  by a standard double knot  64 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . In other embodiments, other knots could be utilized to tie the combined ribbon strip  62  to the foot engagement body  26 , for example a square knot, and these other knots are well known to those having ordinary skill in the art.  
         [0032]     The combined ribbon strips  62  are first tied to the first arch portion  30 , with the first combined ribbon strip  62  tied such that it abuts against the foot contact side  22  of the base  20 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . Another combined ribbon strip  62  (not shown) is tied adjacent to that, such that it abuts against the previously tied combined ribbon strip  62 . The combined ribbon strips  62  are tied all along the first arch portion  30  to the junction  34 , and thence along the second arch portion  32  and back to the foot contact side  22  of the base  20 . Thus, a plurality of combined ribbon strips  62  are tied to the first arch portion  30  and the second arch portion  32 . After the last combined ribbon strip  62  has been tied, each tied combined ribbon strip  62  abuts the adjacent combined ribbon strip  62 , and all the smooth surfaces  61  of the knots  64  face the foot contact side  22  of the shoe  50 . This advantageously provides for increased wearer comfort because the knots  64  will not irritate the foot of the person wearing the shoe  50 .  
         [0033]     After tying, an adhesive  70 , for example glue, is applied to or introduced into each knot  64 , and the adhesive secures the knot  64  and prevents it from unraveling, and further serves to join the combined ribbon strips  62  to the flip-flop shoe  50 . The glue or adhesive  70  can deposited as a drop of adhesive on each knot  64 . In addition, the adhesive  70  is deposited on the surfaces  31  of the first arch portion  30  and second arch portion  32 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The adhesive or glue  70  eliminates the possibility that the knots  64  will unravel. In one of the preferred embodiments, the glue or adhesive  70  is clear when dry to avoid a messy appearance of the shoe  50 . In addition, the glue or adhesive  70  can be a waterproof glue or adhesive when it dries. Waterproof adhesives and glues are well known to those having ordinary skill in the art. This advantageously allows the shoe  50  to be worn in wet conditions.  
         [0034]     The combined ribbon strips  62  are not tied along the toe portion  28 , as placement of combined ribbon strips  62  on the toe portion  28  could potentially result in wearer discomfort. However, in another embodiment, the combined ribbon strips  62  could be tied and glued to the toe portion  28  of the foot engagement body  26  in the same manner as described above.  
         [0035]     Next, each of the ribbons  60  is cut to a desired length with any suitable tool, for example, scissors (not shown). Then, each shoe  50  is inverted such that its ribbons  60  hang down due to gravity forces, and the flip-flop shoe  50  is shook. This achieves the fullness of the ribbons  60 . Next, the ribbons  60  are sprayed with a fabric stiffening agent, such as a hair spray  68 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . Hairspray is well known to those having ordinary skill in the art. In other embodiments, waterproof fabric stiffening sprays could be applied to the ribbons  60 , such sprays well known to those having ordinary skill in the art. Then, after the hairspray  68  dries on the ribbons  60 , any uneven ribbons  60  are cut to a desired length with the cutting tool.  
         [0036]     To use the flip-flop shoe  50 , the wearer inserts her or his big toe and adjacent toe (toes not shown) into the flip-flop shoe  50 , such that the big toe and adjacent toe surround the sides of the toe portion  28 . The flip-flop shoe  50  stays on the wearer as she or he walks due to this fit. In addition, the first and second arch portions,  30 , 32 , respectively, fit over the wearer&#39;s foot, such that when the wearer walks in the flip-flop shoes  50  they are lifted off the ground. The combined ribbon strips  62  advantageously cover and protect the top portion of the wearer&#39;s foot. The shoe  50  invention advantageously protects the foot of the wearer from environmental factors, such as the sun and insects and increases the probability of a person purchasing the shoes because of these advantages. In addition, the shoe  50  advantageously allows the owner to quickly identify his or her shoes  50  and can be washed. All of the above advantageously entices consumers to purchase and wear the show  50 .  
         [0037]     It is to be understood that the shoe  50  shown throughout the figures is for illustrating one embodiment of the invention, but, as described above, the flip-flop shoe  50  can be variously embodied by varying the lengths, texture, colors, patterns, widths, and number ribbons  60  used. In addition, in other embodiments, the number of ribbons  60  used in each combined ribbon strip  62  can be varied to include at least two ribbons  60 . In another embodiment, single ribbons  60  are individually tied to the shoe  50  in the above described manner. Therefore, the scope of this invention is broad and covers all of these various embodiments and configurations.  
         [0038]     While the invention has been described in connection with certain embodiments, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular forms set forth, but, on the contrary, it is intended to cover such modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.