Patent ID: 7980004

Claim:
A method of selectively securing footwear to a foot, comprising: providing a sole, having a channel formed therein; providing a heel strap that is attachable to the sole such that, when attached to the sole, the heel strap is pivotable to selectively secure the sole to a foot of a user and is pivotable to be selectively retained by the channel formed in the sole, wherein the channel extends around at least a portion of a heel portion of the sole, and wherein the channel is sized and positioned to accommodate and selectively retain the heel strap, wherein the heel strap comprises an elongated intermediate portion with a first end and a second end opposite to the first end; a first elastic end portion that is attached to the first end of the intermediate portion and that is arranged to be attachable to the sole at a first heel strap attachment point disposed on the sole, and a second elastic end portion that is attached to the second end of the intermediate portion and that is arranged to be attachable to the sole at a second heel strap attachment point disposed on the sole, wherein the first elastic end portion and the second elastic end portion each comprise elastically stretchable material that is significantly more elastic than the intermediate portion; placing the sole onto the foot; and pivoting the heel strap along the first and second heel strap attachment points from a retained position in the channel onto a heel of the foot to secure the sole to the foot.