Non-constrictive footwear
The non-constrictive footwear has interchangeable foot dressings. The footwear includes sandals having soles fabricated from a soft, flexible material. The foot dressings include wraps or straps that are fabricated from materials that are stretchable, soft and breathable such as fabric used in swimsuits, bras and/or sportswear and the like. The foot dressings can be easily detached from the sole and replaced with a dressing of another color or pattern if desired. The dressings also may be accessorized with jewelry so as to stylize the dressing.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to wearing apparel. More specifically, the present invention is drawn to non-constrictive footwear.
2. Description of the Related Art
The sandal has become the “chic” footwear apparel for activities such as picnics, beach outings and the like, or for just everyday leisure wear. Heretofore, the sandal wearer has required many different conventional sandal styles to appease the desire to remain “foot-fashionable”. Furthermore, the usual rigidity of conventional sandals functions to restrict blood flow in the feet and are uncomfortable to wear for extended periods. The art would certainly welcome sandals that can be easily modified to give a different look to fit the occasion, which sandals are also non-restrictive and comfortable. Thus, non-constrictive footwear solving the aforementioned problems is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is drawn to non-constrictive footwear having interchangeable foot dressings. The footwear comprises sandals having soles fabricated from any conventional sole material but preferably a soft flexible material. The foot dressings include wraps or straps that are fabricated from materials that are stretchable, soft and breathable such as fabrics used in swimsuits, lingerie and/or sportswear and the like as opposed to the relatively rigid leather and/or plastic straps currently employed in the sandal industry. The foot dressings can be easily detached from the sole and replaced with a dressing of another color or pattern. Alternatively, the dressings may be permanently attached to the sole in some instances. The dressings also may be accessorized with jewelry so as to stylize the dressing.
Accordingly, the invention presents footwear that is comfortable and fashionable. The invention permits a wearer to modify the footwear to attain a desired “look”. The footwear is especially beneficial to wearers having medical problems such as Hallux Valgus (deformed big toe) or diabetes, in that the footwear is non-constrictive and permits better blood circulation in the feet. The invention provides for improved elements thereof in an arrangement for the purposes described that are inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing their intended purposes.
These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTSAttention is first directed to
A third embodiment of the invention, named “The Chameleon” is best seen in
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. An article of non-constrictive footwear, comprising:
- a sole member having an upper surface for supporting a wearer's foot thereon; and
- a foot-engaging dressing mounted to the sole, the foot-engaging dressing securing the wearer's foot on the sole, the foot-engaging dressing being fabricated from a soft, stretchable, breathable material.
2. The article of non-restrictive footwear according to claim 1, wherein said sole member is fabricated from a soft, flexible material.
3. The article of non-restrictive footwear according to claim 1, wherein said foot engaging dressing is easily detachable from said sole member.
4. The article of non-restrictive footwear according to claim 1, wherein said foot dressing is a cloth wrap fabricated from a soft, stretchable, breathable material.
5. The article of non-restrictive footwear according to claim 1, wherein said foot dressing is an array of straps, the straps being fabricated from a soft, stretchable, breathable material.
6. An article of non-constrictive footwear, comprising:
- a sole member having an upper surface for supporting a wearer's foot thereon; and
- a cloth foot-engaging wrap dressing detachably mounted to the sole, the cloth foot-engaging wrap dressing securing the wearer's foot on the sole, the cloth foot-engaging, wrap dressing being fabricated from a soft, stretchable, breathable material.
7. The article of non-restrictive footwear according to claim 6, wherein said cloth, foot-engaging wrap includes a toe wrap portion, a mid-foot wrap portion and an ankle wrap portion.
8. The article of non-restrictive footwear according to claim 7, wherein said sole member is fabricated from a soft, flexible material.
9. An article of non-constrictive footwear, comprising:
- a sole member having an upper surface for supporting a wearer's foot thereon; and
- an array of foot-engaging straps detachably mounted to the sole, the array of foot-engaging straps securing the wearer's foot on the sole, the array of foot-engaging straps being fabricated from a soft, stretchable, breathable material.
10. The article of non-restrictive footwear according to claim 9, wherein said array of foot-engaging straps includes a between-toe loop portion and a mid-foot strap portion.
11. The article of non-restrictive footwear according to claim 9, wherein said array of foot-engaging straps includes a front-foot strap portion, a mid-foot strap portion and an ankle strap portion.
12. The article of non-restrictive footwear according to claim 11, wherein said front foot strap portion includes a between-toe strap portion.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 28, 2007
Publication Date: May 28, 2009
Inventor: Elsa Cantoni (Naples, FL)
Application Number: 11/987,248
International Classification: A43B 3/24 (20060101); A43B 3/12 (20060101);