SYSTEM FOR INTERLOCKING A PAIR OF SHOES
An embodiment of the present invention is a system for interlocking a pair of shoes for storage. The system comprises a right shoe having a sole and a first cavity within the sole of the right shoe; a left shoe having a sole and a second cavity within the sole of the left shoe; a male fastener rotatably mounted within one of either the first cavity or the second cavity; and a female fastener rotatably mounted within the other of either the first cavity or the second cavity; wherein the male fastener and the female fastener may be releasably fastened to each other when rotated in a position which is substantially perpendicular to the soles of the right shoe and the left shoe so as to couple the right shoe and left shoe together.
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The present invention generally relates to shoes and a system for releasably interlocking a pair of shoes.
NO GOVERNMENT LICENSE RIGHTSNo federal government funding was used to develop the present invention. Rather, the present invention was conceived as part of a class project at the Abraham Joshua Heschel School in New York City, N.Y.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to an embodiment of the present invention, a system is provided for interlocking a pair of shoes particularly for storage purposes. The system comprises a right shoe having a sole and a first cavity within the sole of the right shoe; a left shoe having a sole and a second cavity within the sole of the left shoe; a male fastener rotatably mounted within one of either the first cavity or the second cavity; a female fastener rotatably mounted within the other of either the first cavity or the second cavity; wherein the male fastener and the female fastener may be releasably fastened to each other when rotated in a position which is substantially perpendicular to the soles of the right shoe and the left shoe so as to couple the right shoe and left shoe together.
In at least one embodiment, the male fastener may be mounted within the right shoe and the female fastener may be mounted within the left shoe. Alternatively, in another embodiment, the male fastener may be mounted within the left shoe and the female fastener may be mounted within the right shoe.
In at least one embodiment, the fastener may be a buckle.
In at least one embodiment, the fastener may be a side release buckle.
In at least one embodiment, the fastener may be a center release buckle.
In at least one embodiment, the sum of the length of the male fastener and female fastener, when interconnected, is greater than two inches and less than five inches.
In at least one embodiment, the system may further comprise: a third cavity within the sole of the right shoe; a fourth cavity within the sole of the left shoe; a male fastener rotatably mounted within one of either the third cavity or the fourth cavity; and a female fastener rotatably mounted within the other of either the third cavity or the fourth cavity.
The above and related objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following, detailed description of an embodiment of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, wherein:
The following is a description of various embodiments of the present invention. Although the intention is not to narrowly limit the present invention to the exact specifics described herein but to cover systems that lie within the spirit and scope of the invention.
The present invention relates to a system 1 for interlocking a pair of shoes 10 and 15. By interlocking a left shoe 10 and a right shoe 15 in a pair of shoes together, the present invention makes loss or misplacement of one shoe, relative to the other shoe, far less likely. It also reduces the need for a separate storage device, such as a bag or box for keeping the pair of shoes together. This may be further advantageous, not only to the shoes' owners, but also to retailers who can dispense with the need to store large, space-consuming, shoe boxes. It can accomplish these purposes by utilizing at least one fastener mechanism comprising at least one male fastener 30 and at least one female fastener 40 releaseably mounted in the soles of each shoe in the pair.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a system for interlocking a pair of shoes through the use of a fastening mechanism. This fastening mechanism allows the shoes to be easily and quickly interlocked or released. Since the system and fastening mechanism are readily available, a user may be more likely to utilize the system. This is in contrast to the use of a bag or case, which a user may be more likely to leave at home or otherwise misplace. An embodiment of the present invention is capable of being quickly and easily detached and rotated to a stowed position within the sole of the shoe.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the interconnection is accomplished through the use of a side-release buckle. The location of the buckle within the sole, as well as the length of the buckle, is designed to facilitate ease of connection.
Various embodiments of the present invention are hereto described by references to the Figures. These embodiments are meant to be merely illustrative and not limiting of the present invention.
An embodiment of the present invention using a single pair of fasteners is shown in the context of
In each embodiment, the fastening mechanisms are capable of being completely stowed within the sole of the right and left shoe. The fastening mechanism may be retained in the stowed position through the use of a detent molded to the fastener, by the friction of the rotation mechanism, or by other mechanisms known to those skilled in the art.
Now that various embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described in detail, various modifications and improvements thereon will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, and all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
Claims
1. A system for interlocking a pair of shoes comprising:
- a right shoe having a sole and a first cavity within the sole of the right shoe;
- a left shoe having a sole and a second cavity within the sole of the left shoe;
- a male fastener rotatably mounted within one of either the first cavity or the second cavity; and
- a female fastener rotatably mounted within the other of either the first cavity or the second cavity;
- wherein the male fastener and the female fastener may be releasably fastened to each other when rotated in a position which is substantially perpendicular to the soles of the right shoe and the left shoe so as to couple the right shoe and left shoe together.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the male fastener is mounted within the right shoe and the female fastener is mounted within the left shoe.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the male fastener is mounted within the left show and the female fastener is mounted within the right shoe.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the fastener is a buckle.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the fastener is a side release buckle.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the fastener is a center release buckle.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the sum of the length of the male fastener and female fastener, when interconnected, is greater than two inches and less than five inches.
8. The system of claim 1 further comprising:
- a third cavity within the sole of the right shoe;
- a fourth cavity within the sole of the left shoe;
- a male fastener rotatably mounted within one of either the third cavity or the fourth cavity; and
- a female fastener rotatably mounted within the other of either the third cavity or the fourth cavity.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 11, 2009
Publication Date: Feb 17, 2011
Applicant: Abraham Joshua Heschel School (New York, NY)
Inventors: Susan Lynn Moskovits (New York, NY), Ilana Mauskopf (New York, NY), Sara Guenoun (New York, NY), Andrew Farage (New York, NY), Benjamin Seidman (New York, NY)
Application Number: 12/538,943
International Classification: A44B 17/00 (20060101); A43B 13/00 (20060101);