Abstract:
A foldable flip flop which incorporates 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 recess  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.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to a footwear commonly referred to as a flip flop, more specifically, one that incorporates a formed hinge allowing the flip flop 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, a 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 a 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. 
   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. 1  presents a side view, top view and bottom view of a flip flop incorporating the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  presents a side view of a flip flop incorporating the present invention, further detailing a moldable hinge section; 
       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. 
   

   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 
     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 recess  34  and a longitudinal hinge top recess  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 recess  34  as introduced in  FIG. 1 . Said molded hinge section  18  incorporates a flexible hinge aperture  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 recess  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 recess  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 aperture  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 recess  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 aperture  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 recess  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 recess  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 recess  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 aperture  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 % of said sole thickness at hinge  52  and 9/10 of said sole thickness at hinge  52 . Said transverse hinge top recess  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 . 
   Various changes may be made to the embodiments shown herein without departing from the scope of the present invention which is limited only by the following claims.