WO2008109893A2 - An article of footwear - Google Patents

An article of footwear Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2008109893A2
WO2008109893A2 PCT/ZA2008/000010 ZA2008000010W WO2008109893A2 WO 2008109893 A2 WO2008109893 A2 WO 2008109893A2 ZA 2008000010 W ZA2008000010 W ZA 2008000010W WO 2008109893 A2 WO2008109893 A2 WO 2008109893A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
article
footwear
sole
foot
sole portion
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/ZA2008/000010
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2008109893A3 (en
Inventor
Apostolos Savvas Sfetsios
Original Assignee
Apostolos Savvas Sfetsios
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Apostolos Savvas Sfetsios filed Critical Apostolos Savvas Sfetsios
Publication of WO2008109893A2 publication Critical patent/WO2008109893A2/en
Publication of WO2008109893A3 publication Critical patent/WO2008109893A3/en

Links

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43FOOTWEAR
    • A43BCHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B3/00Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
    • A43B3/24Collapsible or convertible
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43FOOTWEAR
    • A43BCHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B3/00Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
    • A43B3/12Sandals; Strap guides thereon
    • A43B3/124Disposable sandals; One piece sandals
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43FOOTWEAR
    • A43BCHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B3/00Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
    • A43B3/24Collapsible or convertible
    • A43B3/248Collapsible, e.g. foldable for travelling
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43FOOTWEAR
    • A43BCHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B7/00Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
    • A43B7/14Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts
    • A43B7/1405Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form
    • A43B7/1455Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form with special properties
    • A43B7/146Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form with special properties provided with acupressure points or means for foot massage

Definitions

  • This invention relates to footwear.
  • Footwear consists of articles worn on the foot and is worn for various reasons which include inter alia, hygiene and decoration.
  • a sandal is one type of footwear consisting of a sole which is secured to the wearer's foot by straps or thongs passing around the ankle or thongs between the toes.
  • an article of footwear which includes:- a sole portion configured to receive a sole of a user's foot thereon, and first and second retaining means which extend from and are formed integrally the sole portion, the first and second retaining means being configured to be displaceable relative to the sole portion to enable them to overlap each other to define an opening through which a foot of a user can pass and, in an operative condition, to hold the user's foot captive in contact with a sole receiving surface of the sole portion.
  • the first and second retaining means may be configured to circumscribe at least a portion of a heel receiving portion and toe receiving portion of the sole portion, respectively, in an inoperative condition.
  • a groove may be defined intermediate the sole portion and the first and second retaining means to facilitate displacement of the first and second retaining means towards an overlapping condition.
  • the sole portion may be formed from two layers; an underside or ground engaging layer and a foot engaging layer.
  • the underside or ground engaging layer may have a density of between 90 to 130kg/m 3 to assist in reducing wear and the foot engaging layer may have a density of between 45 to 60kg/m 3 to improve the cushioning and comfort characteristics of the article of footwear.
  • the article of footwear may be formed from any suitable, synthetic plastics or rubber material, preferably Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA).
  • EVA Ethylene Vinyl Acetate
  • the sole may be formed from EVA having a density which varies through the thickness of the sole portion so as to encourage furling of the heel and toe regions of the sole portion to facilitate engagement of the sole of a foot of a user with the sole receiving surface in use.
  • the density of the article of footwear will decrease from a ground engaging surface of the sole portion towards the sole receiving surface of the sole portion.
  • the sole thickness will vary between 16mm to 22mm depending on the size of the foot of the user.
  • Treads may also be defined in the surface of the ground engaging layer of the sole portion to improve contact with the ground.
  • Massaging nodes may also be provided on or defined by the surface of the foot engaging layer to facilitate massaging of a users foot in use.
  • Indentations may further be defined in the surface of the foot engaging layer, which are configured to receive partially thereon, the toes and sole of a user.
  • a method of forming an article of footwear as described herein includes steps of:- cutting a profile out of a blank lay flat sheet of any suitable resiliently deformable material which generally conforms to the shape of a sole of a foot of a user, the dimensions of such profile being slightly greater than the dimensions of the user's sole to be received thereon; and making a first incision in the profile to form a heel receiving region, the incision being dimensioned to define a retaining means which is displaceable relative to the heel receiving region to facilitate engagement with a region between the foot and shin of a user in use; and making a further incision in the profile to form a toe receiving region, the incision being dimensioned to define a second retaining means which is displaceable relative to the heel and toe receiving regions to permit overlapping of the first and second retaining means thereby to define an opening through which a users foot may pass, the second retaining means being dimensioned to engage an achillies tendon
  • the cutting step may be performed using any suitable roller die and /or flat press cutting process.
  • FIG. 1 shows a plan view of an article of footwear in accordance with the invention
  • figures 2, 3 and 4 are plan and side views of an article of footwear showing displacement of a first retaining means of an article of footwear
  • figures 5 and 6 show plan and side views of an article of footwear showing displacement of a second retaining means of an article of footwear
  • figures 7 to 10 show side views of an article of footwear in various foot receiving conditions
  • figures 11 and 12 are plan views of an article of footwear showing embodiments of indentations in accordance with the invention
  • figure 13 shows a side view of an article of footwear showing furling of the heel and toe regions of the sole portion in accordance with the invention.
  • reference numeral 10 generally designates an article of footwear.
  • the footwear is formed from any suitable resiliently deformable material such as EVA.
  • the article of footwear 10 includes a sole portion 12 which is configured to receive a sole of a user's foot 14 thereon, and first and second retaining means in the form of straps 16 and 18 which extend from and are formed integrally the sole portion 12.
  • the straps 16 and 18 are configured to be displaceable relative to the sole portion 12 to enable them to overlap each other to define an opening 20 through which the foot 14 can pass, thereby serving to hold the user's foot 14 captive there between and to maintain contact been a sole of the users foot 14 and a sole receiving surface 22 of the sole portion 12.
  • the straps 16 and 18 are configured to circumscribe at least a portion of a heel receiving region 24 and a toe receiving region 26 of the sole portion 12, respectively.
  • Grooves 28 and 30 are defined intermediate zones 32 and 34 of the sole portion 12 and the straps 16 and 18 to facilitate displacement thereof towards the overlapping condition.
  • the sole portion 12 is formed from EVA having a density which varies through the thickness of the sole portion 12, so as to encourage furling of the heel and toe receiving regions 24 and 26 to facilitate engagement with the sole of a user's foot 14 in use.
  • the sole portion 12 is formed from two layers (not shown) wherein an underside or ground engaging layer has a density of between 90 to 130kg/m 3 to reduce wear, and an upper or foot engaging layer having a density of between 45 to 60kg/m 3 to improve the cushioning and comfort characteristics of the article of footwear.
  • the thickness of the sole portion 12 generally varies between 16mm to 22mm depending on the size of the foot 14 of the user.
  • Treads are defined in a ground engaging surface 36 of the underside or ground engaging layer of the sole portion 12 to improve contact with the ground.
  • Massaging nodes are also provided on a foot engaging surface 40 of the foot engaging layer 38 to facilitate massaging of a users foot 14 in use.
  • indentations 48 are defined in the surface of the foot engaging layer 38 to partially receive and facilitate the toes and sole of the user.
  • the user first displaces strap 16 in the direction of arrow 42 and thereafter strap 18 in the direction of arrow 44 to a position wherein the straps 16 overlap to define the opening 20.
  • the user then inserts his foot 14, toe first, through the opening 20 (direction of arrow 46) until a position is reached wherein the sole of his foot 14 is in registering abutment with the foot engaging surface 40 and the straps 16 and 18 engage the ankle region of the user to hold the user's foot captive in contact with the sole portion 12.
  • an article of footwear 10 in accordance with the invention is advantageous in that it provides a cost effective alternative to casual beach footwear and /or sandals.

Abstract

The article of footwear (10) includes a sole portion (12) which is configured to receive a sole of a user's foot (14) thereon, and first and second retaining means in the form of straps (16) and (18) which extend from and are formed integrally the sole portion (12). The straps (16) and (18) are configured to be displaceable relative to the sole portion (12) to enable them to overlap each other to define an opening (20) through which the foot (14) can pass, thereby serving to hold the user's foot (14) captive there between and to maintain contact been a sole of the users foot (14) and a sole receiving surface (22) of the sole portion (12).

Description

AN ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to footwear.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
Footwear consists of articles worn on the foot and is worn for various reasons which include inter alia, hygiene and decoration. A sandal is one type of footwear consisting of a sole which is secured to the wearer's foot by straps or thongs passing around the ankle or thongs between the toes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided an article of footwear which includes:- a sole portion configured to receive a sole of a user's foot thereon, and first and second retaining means which extend from and are formed integrally the sole portion, the first and second retaining means being configured to be displaceable relative to the sole portion to enable them to overlap each other to define an opening through which a foot of a user can pass and, in an operative condition, to hold the user's foot captive in contact with a sole receiving surface of the sole portion.
The first and second retaining means may be configured to circumscribe at least a portion of a heel receiving portion and toe receiving portion of the sole portion, respectively, in an inoperative condition.
A groove may be defined intermediate the sole portion and the first and second retaining means to facilitate displacement of the first and second retaining means towards an overlapping condition. The sole portion may be formed from two layers; an underside or ground engaging layer and a foot engaging layer. The underside or ground engaging layer may have a density of between 90 to 130kg/m3 to assist in reducing wear and the foot engaging layer may have a density of between 45 to 60kg/m3 to improve the cushioning and comfort characteristics of the article of footwear.
The article of footwear may be formed from any suitable, synthetic plastics or rubber material, preferably Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA).
The sole may be formed from EVA having a density which varies through the thickness of the sole portion so as to encourage furling of the heel and toe regions of the sole portion to facilitate engagement of the sole of a foot of a user with the sole receiving surface in use.
Typically, the density of the article of footwear will decrease from a ground engaging surface of the sole portion towards the sole receiving surface of the sole portion. Typically, the sole thickness will vary between 16mm to 22mm depending on the size of the foot of the user.
Treads may also be defined in the surface of the ground engaging layer of the sole portion to improve contact with the ground. Massaging nodes may also be provided on or defined by the surface of the foot engaging layer to facilitate massaging of a users foot in use. Indentations may further be defined in the surface of the foot engaging layer, which are configured to receive partially thereon, the toes and sole of a user.
According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of forming an article of footwear as described herein, which method includes steps of:- cutting a profile out of a blank lay flat sheet of any suitable resiliently deformable material which generally conforms to the shape of a sole of a foot of a user, the dimensions of such profile being slightly greater than the dimensions of the user's sole to be received thereon; and making a first incision in the profile to form a heel receiving region, the incision being dimensioned to define a retaining means which is displaceable relative to the heel receiving region to facilitate engagement with a region between the foot and shin of a user in use; and making a further incision in the profile to form a toe receiving region, the incision being dimensioned to define a second retaining means which is displaceable relative to the heel and toe receiving regions to permit overlapping of the first and second retaining means thereby to define an opening through which a users foot may pass, the second retaining means being dimensioned to engage an achillies tendon region of a user in use, the first and second retaining means together serving to hold the foot of the user captive on and maintain contact with a sole portion formed by the heel and toe receiving regions, in use.
The cutting step may be performed using any suitable roller die and /or flat press cutting process.
SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In the drawings:- figure 1 shows a plan view of an article of footwear in accordance with the invention; figures 2, 3 and 4 are plan and side views of an article of footwear showing displacement of a first retaining means of an article of footwear; figures 5 and 6 show plan and side views of an article of footwear showing displacement of a second retaining means of an article of footwear; figures 7 to 10 show side views of an article of footwear in various foot receiving conditions; figures 11 and 12 are plan views of an article of footwear showing embodiments of indentations in accordance with the invention; and figure 13 shows a side view of an article of footwear showing furling of the heel and toe regions of the sole portion in accordance with the invention.
Referring now to the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally designates an article of footwear. The footwear is formed from any suitable resiliently deformable material such as EVA.
More particularly, the article of footwear 10 includes a sole portion 12 which is configured to receive a sole of a user's foot 14 thereon, and first and second retaining means in the form of straps 16 and 18 which extend from and are formed integrally the sole portion 12. The straps 16 and 18 are configured to be displaceable relative to the sole portion 12 to enable them to overlap each other to define an opening 20 through which the foot 14 can pass, thereby serving to hold the user's foot 14 captive there between and to maintain contact been a sole of the users foot 14 and a sole receiving surface 22 of the sole portion 12.
As can be seen in figure 1 , the straps 16 and 18 are configured to circumscribe at least a portion of a heel receiving region 24 and a toe receiving region 26 of the sole portion 12, respectively.
Grooves 28 and 30 are defined intermediate zones 32 and 34 of the sole portion 12 and the straps 16 and 18 to facilitate displacement thereof towards the overlapping condition.
The sole portion 12 is formed from EVA having a density which varies through the thickness of the sole portion 12, so as to encourage furling of the heel and toe receiving regions 24 and 26 to facilitate engagement with the sole of a user's foot 14 in use. Typically, the sole portion 12 is formed from two layers (not shown) wherein an underside or ground engaging layer has a density of between 90 to 130kg/m3 to reduce wear, and an upper or foot engaging layer having a density of between 45 to 60kg/m3 to improve the cushioning and comfort characteristics of the article of footwear. The thickness of the sole portion 12 generally varies between 16mm to 22mm depending on the size of the foot 14 of the user.
Treads (not shown) are defined in a ground engaging surface 36 of the underside or ground engaging layer of the sole portion 12 to improve contact with the ground. Massaging nodes (not shown) are also provided on a foot engaging surface 40 of the foot engaging layer 38 to facilitate massaging of a users foot 14 in use.
As can be seen in figures 11 and 12, indentations 48 are defined in the surface of the foot engaging layer 38 to partially receive and facilitate the toes and sole of the user.
In use, the user first displaces strap 16 in the direction of arrow 42 and thereafter strap 18 in the direction of arrow 44 to a position wherein the straps 16 overlap to define the opening 20. The user then inserts his foot 14, toe first, through the opening 20 (direction of arrow 46) until a position is reached wherein the sole of his foot 14 is in registering abutment with the foot engaging surface 40 and the straps 16 and 18 engage the ankle region of the user to hold the user's foot captive in contact with the sole portion 12.
The applicant believes that an article of footwear 10 in accordance with the invention is advantageous in that it provides a cost effective alternative to casual beach footwear and /or sandals.
It is of course to be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the precise constructional and /or functional details as hereinbefore described and may be varied as desired.

Claims

Claims
1. An article of footwear which includes:- a sole portion configured to receive a sole of a user's foot thereon ; and first and second retaining means which extend from and are formed integrally the sole portion, the first and second retaining means being configured to be displaceable relative to the sole portion to enable them to overlap each other to define an opening through which a foot of a user can pass, and, in an operative condition, to hold the user's foot captive in contact with a sole receiving surface of the sole portion.
2. An article of footwear as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, in an inoperative condition, the first and second retaining means are configured to circumscribe at least a portion of a heel receiving portion and a toe receiving portion of the sole portion.
3. An article of footwear as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein grooves are defined intermediate the sole portion and the first and second retaining means to facilitate displacement of the first and second retaining means towards an overlapping condition.
4. An article of footwear as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sole portion is formed from two layers; an underside or ground engaging layer and a foot engaging layer.
5. An article of footwear as claimed in claim 4, wherein the underside or ground engaging layer has a density of between 90 kg/m3 and 130kg/m3 to reduce wear of said article.
6. An article of footwear as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the foot engaging layer has a density of between 45 kg/m3 and 60 kg/m3 to improve cushioning and comfort characteristics of said article.
7. An article of footwear as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein any one of the sole portion or retaining means is made from any suitable, resiliently deformable material.
8. An article of footwear as claimed in claim 7, wherein the resiliently deformable material is a synthetic plastics or rubber material.
9. An article of footwear as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the deformable material is Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA).
10. An article of footwear as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sole portion is formed from EVA having a density which varies through the thickness of the sole portion so as to promote furling of the heel and toe regions of the sole portion and thereby facilitate engagement of the sole of a foot of a user with a sole receiving surface.
11. An article of footwear as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the density of the article decreases from a ground engaging surface of the sole portion towards a sole receiving surface of the sole portion.
12. An article of footwear as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the thickness of the sole portion ranges between 16mm and 22mm.
13. An article of footwear as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 12, wherein treads are defined in the surface of the ground engaging layer of the sole portion to improve contact with the ground.
14. An article of footwear as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 13, wherein massaging nodes are provided on or defined by the surface of the foot engaging layer to facilitate massaging of a user's foot in use.
15. An article of footwear as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 14, wherein indentations are defined in the surface of the foot engaging layer.
16. An article of footwear as claimed in claim 15 in which the indentations are configured to receive partially thereon, the toes and sole of a user.
17. A method of making an article of footwear as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, said method including: cutting a profile out of a blank lay flat sheet of any suitable, resiliently deformable material which generally conforms to the shape of a sole of a foot of a user, the dimensions of said profile being slightly greater than the dimensions of the user's sole to be received thereon; making a first incision in the profile to form a heel receiving region, the incision being dimensioned to define a retaining means which is displaceable relative to the heel receiving region to facilitate engagement with a region between the foot and shin of a user in use; and making a second incision in the profile to form a toe receiving region, the incision being dimensioned to define a second retaining means which is displaceable relative to the heel and the toe receiving regions to permit overlapping of the first and second retaining means thereby to define an opening through which a user's foot is able to pass, in use.
18. A method of making an article of footwear as claimed in claim 17, wherein the second retaining means is dimensioned to engage an achillies tendon region of a user in use.
19. A method of making an article of footwear as claimed in claim 17 or claim 18, wherein the first and second retaining means together serve to hold the foot of the user captive on a sole portion formed by the heel and toe receiving regions, in use.
20. A method of making an article of footwear as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 19, in which the cutting procedure is carried out using any suitable roller die or flat press cutting process.
21. A new article of footwear according to the invention, as herein before generally described.
22. An article of footwear a specifically described with reference to or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
PCT/ZA2008/000010 2007-02-08 2008-02-08 An article of footwear WO2008109893A2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ZA200609518 2007-02-08
ZA2006/9518 2007-02-08

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2008109893A2 true WO2008109893A2 (en) 2008-09-12
WO2008109893A3 WO2008109893A3 (en) 2008-11-13

Family

ID=39712415

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/ZA2008/000010 WO2008109893A2 (en) 2007-02-08 2008-02-08 An article of footwear

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2008109893A2 (en)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2950695A1 (en) * 1979-12-17 1981-06-19 Carl Martin 7800 Freiburg Hansen Disposable slippers for hotels and public places - are one-size with tear-off lengths and strap across toes
DE8913428U1 (en) * 1988-11-16 1990-01-25 Soder-Feichtenschlager, Ferdinand, Unken, At
US5615496A (en) * 1994-05-31 1997-04-01 Sharpstein; Sid Flat thong
US5737853A (en) * 1996-01-26 1998-04-14 Smejkal; Miroslav Convertible thong beach shoe
US20040000070A1 (en) * 2002-07-01 2004-01-01 Wright Clifford A. Foot protection kit and method of making same

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2950695A1 (en) * 1979-12-17 1981-06-19 Carl Martin 7800 Freiburg Hansen Disposable slippers for hotels and public places - are one-size with tear-off lengths and strap across toes
DE8913428U1 (en) * 1988-11-16 1990-01-25 Soder-Feichtenschlager, Ferdinand, Unken, At
US5615496A (en) * 1994-05-31 1997-04-01 Sharpstein; Sid Flat thong
US5737853A (en) * 1996-01-26 1998-04-14 Smejkal; Miroslav Convertible thong beach shoe
US20040000070A1 (en) * 2002-07-01 2004-01-01 Wright Clifford A. Foot protection kit and method of making same

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