Combination Sock and Strapless Flip Flop Sole

Abstract

A combination sock and strapless flip flop sole includes a sock adjoined through Velcro or any other adhesive or adjoining material to the strapless flip flop sole, securely and subsequently partially (medially) held to the foot of a wearer. The combination sock and strapless flip flop sole is constructed with Velcro or any other adhesive material at the dorsal or vamp (top) of the strapless flip flop sole. The combination sock and strapless flip flop sole elastic dorsal or vamp opening of the sock(s) securely engages around the dorsal or vamp of the wearer's foot and holds the wearer's foot to the combination sock and strapless flip flop sole by adjoining the combination sock and strapless flip flop sole by the Velcro or any other adhesive material, thereby enabling the strapless flip flop sole to partially separate away from the heel of the wearer's foot during walking.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention The present invention pertains to a novel construction of a combination sock and strapless flip flop sole that is securely and subsequently partially (medially) held to the foot of a wearer. In particular, the present invention pertains to a combination sock and strapless flip flop sole that includes a conventionally constructed flip flop sole, an external and internal sock which functions as one for all purpose sock(s) that is secured partially to the flip flop sole. The sock(s) is constructed to adjoin and un-adjoin at the wearer's discretion by the wearer mounting the foot on the Velcro or any other adhesive material top surfaced strapless flip flop sole. The combination sock and strapless flip flop sole elastic dorsal opening of the sock securely engages around the dorsal or vamp of the wearer's foot and holds the wearer's foot to the combination sock and strapless flip flop sole by adjoining the combination sock and strapless flip flop sole by the Velcro or any other adhesive material, thereby enabling the strapless flip flop sole to partially separate away from the heel of the wearer's foot during walking.

2. Description of the Related Art

Casual shoes and slippers had been constructed that are combinations of a shoe sole and a sock. The prior art combination shoe and sock is basically constructed by securing the bottom surface of a sock to a top surface of a shoe sole. However, in the prior art combination shoe and sock construction the shoe sole is typically more rigid and less flexible than the material of the sock, therefore, decreasing comfort-ability significantly. Furthermore, the sock is bounded to the shoe sole which prevents the comfort and pleasure of a flip flop and wearer's ultimate desire, which is to feel as if they're not wearing a shoe. En addition, the wearer does not have the option and is restricted by the prior art for interchanging the socks and strapless flip flop soles. Prior art, deficiency of interchangeability restrict continuity of fashion, comfort, safety, healthy outcomes, and variations of styles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the problems associated with the prior art combination shoe and sock by providing a novel construction of a combination sock and strapless flip flop sole that securely holds the strapless flip flop sole to the forefoot of a wearer's foot as the wearer walks wearing the combination sock and strapless flip flop sole. The combination sock and strapless flip flop sole of the invention is comprised of a strapless flip flop sole, a sock that is secured to the front portion of the strapless flip flop sole, and the sock is provided with an elastic dorsal or vamp opening.

The strapless flip flop sole of the combination sock and strapless flip :flop sole is constructed of materials typically employed in constructing the soles of advanced athletic & casual sandals & flip flops sole such as crocks, athletic shoes, flip flops, and sandals. The strapless flip flop sole basically has a top surface, a bottom surface, and a sidewall that surrounds the strapless flip flop sole. The strapless flip flop sole bottom surface is the traction surface of the combination sock and strapless flip flop sole.

The sock can be constructed of any fabric or material typically employed in constructing socks. The sock is also constructed with the typical configuration of a sock. A bottom portion of the sock is secured to the top surface of the strapless flip flop sole. A top portion or vamp portion of the sock extends upwardly, defining a forward foot area of the sock and strapless flip flop sole combination. A heel portion of the sock extends upwardly from the bottom portion and rearward from the top portion and defines a rearward foot area of the combination sock and strapless flip flop sole. A forefront portion of the sock extends upwardly from both the vamp portion and heel portion and defines a forefront elastic band opening into the sock.

Band(s) having elastic property surrounds a forefront opening of the sock. The band can be stretched from a contracted shape to an expanded shape, where the forefront opening of the sock in the expanded shape is larger than the forefront opening in the contracted shape. The elastic properties of the band enable the sock forefront opening to return to the contracted forefront opening area after being stretched to the expanded forefront opening area. The elastic bands are embedded inside the sock therefore concealed from view. In addition, the sock enables the wearer's foot to be easily inserted into the combination sock and strapless flip flop sole, in the same manner as inserting the foot into conventional sock.

With the wearer's foot inserted into the combination sock and strapless flip flop sole, the embedded elastic band adjoined with the bottom portion of Velcro or any other adhesive material of the sock securely engages around the forefront of the wearer's foot by adjoining to the top of the strapless flip flop sole by Velcro or any other adhesive material top surface of the strapless flip flop sole, this secures the combination sock and strapless flip flop sole to the wearer's foot. When walking with the combination sock and strapless flip flop sole on the wearer's foot, as the heel of the foot is lifted during a stride, the elastic band of the sock securely holds the strapless flip flop sole adjacent to bottom of the wearer's heel and thereby prevents the disadvantage of prior art combination shoes and socks where the heel will lift away from the sole during a stride and the material of the sock that was surrounding the ankle then slides beneath the heel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features of combination sock and strapless flip flop sole are set forth in the following detailed description of the invention and in the drawing figures:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of the combination sock and strapless flip flop sole.

FIG. 2 is a side cross-section view of the combination sock and strapless flip flop sole.

FIG. 3 is a front cross-section view of the combination sock and strapless flip flop sole.

FIG. 4 is a rear cross-section view of the combination sock and strapless flip flop sole.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As stated earlier, the novel construction of the combination sock and strapless flip flop sole of the invention 12 shown in the drawing FIGS. 1-4 overcomes disadvantages associated with prior related art such as shoe and sock constructions by securely holding the sock of the combination sock and strapless flip flop sole to the forefront of a wearer's foot as the wearer walks wearing the combination sock and strapless flip flop sole. The construction of the combination sock and strapless flip flop sole 12 is basically comprised of a strapless flip flop sole 14, and sock 16. The combination sock and strapless flip flop sole of the invention is described herein and is shown in the drawing figures by only referring to one of a left foot and right foot pair of the combination sock and strapless flip flop sole. Because the left and right foot pairs are mirror images of each other, only one combination sock and strapless flip flop sole of the invention is described herein.

The strapless flip flop sole 14 is constructed of materials typically employed of advanced athletic & casual sandals & flip flops shoes such as crocks, athletic shoes, flip flops, and sandals. In addition, the strapless flip flop sole 14 of the invention could have substantially the same constructions as other known casual shoes and advanced flip flops that provide comfortable support to the bottom of the wearer's foot. In view of this, the strapless flip flop sole 14 of the combination sock and strapless flip flop sole 12 is shown only generally in the drawing figures, without specific details of the strapless flip flop sole construction being shown or described herein. The strapless flip flop sole 14 basically has a top surface 24 that supports the wearer's foot, and an opposite bottom surface 26 that functions as the traction surface of the combination sock and strapless flip flop sole 12. The strapless flip flop sole 14 also has a sidewall that extends completely around the sole and separates the top surface 24 from the bottom surface 26. The sidewall has opposite toe 28 and heel 32 sections, and opposite side sections 32, 34 that together completely surround the strapless flip flop sole 14. In the cross-section view of FIGS. 2-3, it can be seen that an upper margin of the sole sidewall extends upwardly from the sole top surface 24.

In the illustrated embodiment of the combination sock and strapless flip flop sole 12 shown in the drawing figures, a toe cap 42 is provided over the toe area of the strapless flip flop sole 14. In other embodiments of the combination sock and strapless flip flop sole 12, the toe cap 42 could be eliminated.

The sock 16 is secured to the top surface 24 of the strapless flip flop sole 14. Adhesives, Velcro or other equivalent methods could be employed in securing the sock 16 to the strapless flip flop sole 14. The sock 16 is constructed of fabric or material typically employed in constructing socks. Such materials could have elastic properties that will securely hold the sock 16 around the configuration of a wearer's foot and forefront. Furthermore, the sock 16 shown in the drawing figures has an extended length that will extend well over the calf of a wearer's leg. This extended length of the exterior sock 16 is illustrative only, and the sock of the combination sock and strapless flip flop sole of the invention could and can be of any length.

Referring to FIGS. 2-4, the sock 16 has a bottom portion 44 that is secured to the top surface 24 of the strapless flip flop sole 14. This bottom portion 44 is basically dimensioned to underlie the bottom of a wearer's foot, without wearer's walking stride and in stance, whereas the wearer's foot is flat on the surface. The sock 16 extends upwardly from the strapless flip flop sole 14 adjacent the sidewall of the strapless flip flop sole. A vamp portion 46 of the sock extends upwardly from the bottom portion 44 from the toe section 28 of the sole sidewall and adjacent the side sections 34, 36 of the sole sidewall. The vamp portion 46 is dimensioned to cover over a forward portion of a wearer's foot.

A heel portion 48 of the sock 16 also extends upwardly from the bottom portion 44. The heel portion 48 of the sock extends upwardly along the heel section 32 of the strapless flip flop sole sidewall and along the side sections 34, 36 of the sidewall. The heel portion extends forwardly and joins with the vamp portion 46 of the sock and is dimensioned to surround the heel of a wearer's foot.

A forefront portion 52 of the sock 16 extends upwardly from the sock vamp portion 46 and heel portion 48. The embodiment of the combination sock and strapless flip flop sole 12 in the drawing figures comprises an exterior sock ankle portion 52 that extends upwardly from the sock vamp portion 46 and heel portion 48. In other embodiments of the invention, the length of the forefront portion 52 could be much shorter with the forefront portion 52 extending only around the forefront of a wearer's foot. The top of the exterior sock forefront portion 52 defines a forefront opening 54 into the combination sock and strapless flip flop sole 12.

In the embodiment of the combination sock and strapless flip flop sole 12 shown in the drawing figures, the upper portions of the strapless flip flop sole sidewall sections 28, 32, 34, 36 extend over the sock 16. These upward extensions of the sidewall of the strapless flip flop sole 14 provide a secure connection between the strapless flip flop sole 14 and the sock 16. In other embodiments of the combination sock and strapless flip flop sole only the bottom portion 44 of the sock 16 is secured to the strapless flip flop sole top surface 24.

With the wearer's foot inserted into the combination sock and strapless flip flop sole 12, the embedded elastic band adjoined with the bottom portion of Velcro of the sock 16, securely engages around the forefront of the wearer's foot by adjoining to the top of the strapless flip flop sole by Velcro top surface of the strapless flip flop sole. This secures the combination sock and strapless flip flop sole 12 to the wearer's foot. When walking with the combination sock and strapless flip flop sole on the wearer's foot, as the heel of the foot is lifted during a stride, the elastic band of the sock securely holds the strapless flip flop sole adjacent the bottom of the wearer's heel and thereby prevents the disadvantage of prior art combination shoes and socks where the heel will lift away from the sole during a stride and the material of the sock that was surrounding the ankle then slides beneath the heel.

Although the combination sock and strapless flip flop sole of the invention has been described above by referring to a particular embodiment, it should be understood that modifications and variations could be made to the combination sock and strapless flip flop sole without departing from the intended scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A combination sock and strapless flip flop sole comprising: a strapless flip flop sole having opposite top and bottom surfaces and a sidewall that extends entirely around the strapless flip flop sole and separates the top surface and the bottom surface, the sidewall having a toe section and a heel section at opposite ends of the strapless flip flop sole and the sidewall having a left side section and a right side section at opposite sides of the strapless flip flop sole, the strapless flip flop sole bottom surface being an exterior traction surface of the strapless flip flop sole; an external and internal sock constructed of a flexible material that is more flexible than the strapless flip flop sole, the external sock being secured to the strapless flip flop sole top surface and extending upwardly from the strapless flip flop sole sidewall (adjoined), the external sock having a bottom portion that is secured partially (medially) to the strapless flip flop sole top surface, the elastic straps adjoined by the vamp portion that extends upwardly from the bottom portion along the left side section, the right side section, and the toe section of the strapless flip flop sole sidewall, a heel portion that extends upwardly from the bottom portion along the left side section, the right side section, and the heel section of the strapless flip flop sole sidewall, and an ankle portion that extends upwardly from the vamp portion and the dorsal portion extends around an elastic opening of the sock, where the bottom portion, the vamp portion, heel portion and the ankle portion of the socks) are a single continuous piece of material; embedded (possibly woven) in the inside bottom of the external sock the elastic band; embedded on the outside bottom of the external sock Velcro or any other adhesive material, the sock composed and having elastic properties that enable the dorsal or vamp elastic band opening to be stretched from a contracted dorsal or vamp (top) opening area to an expanded palmer (bottom) opening area that is larger than the contracted dorsal or vamp opening area, and that enable the sock(s) bottom opening to return to the contracted palmar opening area after being stretched to the expanded dorsal opening area.

2. The combination sock and strapless flip flop sole of claim 1, further comprising: the sock can be of any length extending upwardly from the strapless flip flop sole either beyond or until the sock reaches the ankle.

3. The combination sock and strapless flip flop sole of claim 1, further comprising: the sock heel portion being separate from and not secured to strapless flip flop sole.

4. The combination sock and strapless flip flop sole of claim 1, further comprising: the sock forefoot portion adjoined and secured to strapless flip flop sole.

5. The combination sock and strapless flip flop sole of claim 1, further comprising: the sock being constructed of a flexible material.

6. The combination sock and strapless flip flop sole of claim 1, further comprising: the sock being constructed of a continuous material that completely surrounds a wearer's foot.

7. The combination sock and strapless flip flop sole of claim 1, further comprising: the sock of continuous material is able to fully engage (adjoin) and disengage from any portion of the strapless flip flop sole, at the discretion and intention of the wearer.

8. The combination sock and strapless flip flop sole of claim 1, further comprising; internal sock that conceals structure and is adjoined (possibly woven) into external sock.

9. The combination sock and strapless flip flop sole of claim 1, further comprising, gel made material is embedded in the sole or sock of the combination sock and strapless flip flop sole.