MAGNETICALLY COUPLEABLE FOOTWEAR

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein are directed towards magnetically coupleable footwear. The footwear can include a first footwear piece having a first sole, the first sole having a bottom surface and at least one magnet disposed in the first sole, and a second footwear piece having a second sole, the second sole having a bottom surface and at least one complementary magnet disposed in the second sole, wherein the at least one magnet and the at least one complementary magnet are oriented so as to attract each other when the bottom surface of the first sole is facing the bottom surface of the second sole.

Description

BACKGROUND

Many situations exist where an individual must remove their footwear or transport their footwear. Such situations include, for example, entering into certain households, during classes such as yoga and aerobics, and walking on the beach. In some of these situations, the removed footwear is placed into a group of other footwear, increasing the chance that one or both of the footwear pieces may be misplaced or lost. Additionally, carrying footwear by hand is frequently inconvenient, requiring one to either grab both pieces with one hand or carry one piece in each hand. A solution for conveniently maintaining footwear together is therefore desired.

SUMMARY

Embodiments disclosed herein are directed towards magnetically coupleable footwear. The footwear can include a first footwear piece having a first sole, the first sole having a bottom surface and at least one magnet disposed in the first sole, and a second footwear piece having a second sole, the second sole having a bottom surface and at least one complementary magnet disposed in the second sole, wherein at least one magnet and at least one complementary magnet are oriented so as to attract each other when the bottom surface of the first sole is facing the bottom surface of the second sole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments. The following detailed description should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1a is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a pair of magnetically coupleable footwear.

FIGS. 1b-1c are cross-sectional views of magnets embedded in the sole of a footwear piece.

FIG. 1d shows a bottom view of the soles of an exemplary embodiment of a pair of magnetically coupleable footwear.

FIGS. 2a-2c show exemplary magnet arrangements for a pair of magnetically coupleable footwear.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary display panel for use with a pair of magnetically coupleable footwear.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary backpack for use with a pair of magnetically coupleable footwear.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the invention are disclosed in the following description and related drawings directed to specific embodiments of the invention. Alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention. Further, to facilitate an understanding of the description, a discussion of several terms used herein follows.

As used herein, the word “exemplary” means “serving as an example, instance or illustration.” The embodiments described herein are not limiting, but rather are exemplary only. It should be understood that the described embodiment are not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Moreover, the terms “embodiments of the invention”, “embodiments” or “invention” do not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation.

Referring to FIGS. 1a-1d, and according to at least one exemplary embodiment, a pair of magnetically coupleable footwear pieces 100 is disclosed. The magnetically coupleable footwear pieces 100 can include a first footwear piece 100a and a second footwear piece 100b.

Turning to FIG. 1a, each of magnetically coupleable footwear pieces 100 can include a sole 102, at least one upper portion 104, a front end 106, and a rear end 108. Sole 102 and at least one upper portion 104 can have any desired shape and surface configuration, which may be contemplated and provided as desired based on aesthetic, functional, orthopedic, and other considerations. Sole 102 can include any desired tread pattern or design. Furthermore, all portions of footwear pieces 100 may be made from any desired materials, for example, leather, rubber, natural materials, synthetic compounds, or any other suitable material that enables footwear 100 to function as described herein.

Turning to FIGS. 1b-1c, sole 102 can include a top surface 110 and a bottom surface 112. At least one recess 114 may be disposed within sole 102 substantially proximate bottom surface 112. Disposed within recess 114 may be a permanent magnet 116. Magnet 116 may be a rare-earth magnet, for example, a neodymium magnet. Magnet 116 may be coupled to sole 102 by any suitable attachment, such as, for example, an adhesive. Magnet 116 may be oriented such that the magnetic moment of magnet 116 is oriented perpendicular to the plane of sole 102. Magnet 116 may have any configuration that enables footwear 100 to function as described herein. For example, magnet 116 may be a disc magnet. If desired, magnet 116 may further include a coating, for example a rubber or other polymer coating.

In some exemplary embodiments, recess 114 may be exposed to the external environment. In other exemplary embodiments, recess 114 may be enclosed within sole 102, with a membrane 118 separating recess 114 from the external environment. Membrane 118 may be formed integrally with sole 102, or may be provided separately and coupled to sole 102 by any suitable attachment, such as, for example, an adhesive. Membrane 118 may have any thickness that allows footwear 100 to function as described herein.

As shown in FIG. 1d, first footwear piece 100a can include at least one magnet 116a in the sole 102a thereof. Similarly, second footwear piece 100b can include at least one complementary magnet 116b in the sole 102b thereof. The polarity of complementary magnet 116b may be opposite the polarity of magnet 116a, resulting in an attractive force between magnets 116a, 116b. Thus, when the soles 102a, 102b of first and second footwear pieces 100a, 100b are oriented such that the bottom surfaces 112a, 112b face each other, and brought into sufficient proximity to each other, the magnetic force can result in the coupling of footwear pieces 100a, 100b to each other. This can allow for easy transport and storage of footwear 100, as well as reducing the likelihood of loss or misplacement of any one of the footwear pieces.

Exemplary embodiments of footwear 100 can include a plurality of magnets 116 disposed in any desired arrangement, pattern, or decorative form. For example, the magnets may be positioned at the front end 106 and rear end 108 of the footwear piece 100, as shown in FIGS. 1a and 1d. In other exemplary embodiments, the placement of magnets 116 may be based on, or may be a part of, a particular tread design of footwear 100. For example, in FIGS. 2a-2c, an exemplary checkerboard tread design is shown, with magnets 116 arranged as part of the tread design.

In some exemplary embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 2a-2c, the arrangement of magnets 116a of first footwear piece 100a may mirror the arrangement of complementary magnets 116b of second footwear piece 100b. Magnets 116 may be provided in a sufficient amount and arrangement such that when footwear pieces 100a, 100b are coupled, the bottom surfaces 112 of soles 102a, 102b may be substantially coterminous with each other. The minoring of the magnet arrangements on footwear pieces 100a, 100b can result in that each of magnets 116a faces a complementary magnet 116b when the bottom surfaces 112 of soles 102a and 102b are oriented to face each other and when the front ends 106 and/or rear ends 108 of footwear pieces 100a, 100b are aligned with each other.

In some exemplary embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2a, the plurality of magnets 116 in a footwear piece 100 can have the same polarity. For example, all magnets 116a in a first footwear piece 100a may have the north pole oriented toward bottom surface 112 of sole 102a. Consequently, all complementary magnets 116b in a second footwear piece 100b can have the opposite polarity, with the south pole oriented toward bottom surface 112 of sole 102b, and with the arrangement of complementary magnets 116b mirroring the arrangement of magnets 116a.

In some exemplary embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2b, the plurality of magnets 116 in a footwear piece 100 can have alternating polarities. That is, a first portion of the plurality of magnets 116a in a first footwear piece 100a may have may have the north pole oriented toward bottom surface 112 of sole 102a, while a second portion of the plurality of magnets 116a may have the south pole oriented toward bottom surface 112 of sole 102b. Consequently a first portion of the plurality of complementary magnets 116b in a second footwear piece 100b may have the south pole oriented toward bottom surface 112 of sole 102a, while a second portion of the plurality of complementary magnets 116b may have the north pole oriented toward bottom surface 112 of sole 102b, with the arrangement of complementary magnets 116b mirroring the arrangement of magnets 116a.

The arrangement of polarities of magnets 116 in a footwear piece 100 may be provided as desired. In some exemplary embodiments, magnets 116 may be arranged in regularly alternating polarities. For example, the magnets 116a may be arranged in a checkerboard-type pattern on sole 102a, and complementary magnets 116b may mirror the pattern on sole 102b with opposite polarities.

In other exemplary embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2c, the amount of magnets 116 with a particular polarity, as well as the orientation of the magnets 116 on sole 102 may be substantially arbitrary. Thus, for each pair of footwear 100, and for every magnet 116a on sole 102a, the pole that is oriented towards bottom surface 112 of sole 102a may be decided substantially randomly, for example during manufacture of the footwear pair. However, it should be appreciated that, in the same pair of footwear 100, a complementary magnet 116b on sole 102b in a position mirroring that of magnet 102a on sole 102a would have a pole orientation opposite to that of magnet 116a. Consequently the plurality of magnets 116a, 116b in any paired footwear pieces 100a, 100b can have a substantially distinctive combination of alternating polarities. That is, given a plurality of magnets 116, each of which can be arranged in either a north/south orientation or a south/north orientation, a substantially large number of distinctive orientation combinations can result. The number N of distinctive combinations can be obtained by N=2^m, where m is the number of magnets 116 in a particular footwear piece 100. This feature can provide convenience to the user of a pair of footwear pieces 100, due to the high likelihood that a particular first footwear piece 100a can couple only to a corresponding second footwear piece 100b of the same pair of footwear. Consequently, in situations where multiple pairs of footwear 100 are present, the likelihood of mixing and mismatching of footwear pieces of different pairs may be reduced.

The embodiments of footwear pieces 100 disclosed herein can facilitate easy storage of the footwear 100. For example, footwear pieces 100a, 100b may be coupled to each other and may be hung from a hanger or hook, placed in a shoe organizer such as a shoe rack, shoe tree, pocket shoe organizer, or any other organizer known in the art. Footwear pieces 100a, 100b may also be coupled to each other and hung from a turnstile or other retail display. Coupling footwear pieces 100a, 100b to each other can reduce the possibility of loss or misplacement of the footwear pieces during storage, transport, or any other contemplated situation.

Specialized structures and apparatuses may also be provided for display or storage of the embodiments of footwear 100. FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of a panel 300. Panel 300 can include at least one paramagnetic element 302, for example a magnetic metal or metal alloy portion to which footwear pieces 100a, 100b may be attached. The paramagnetic element 302 may be provided with a coating if desired, for example a rubber or other polymer coating. The panel 300 can facilitate the display of footwear pieces 100 in retail situations, and can include indicia 304, which can display information about the footwear pieces 100. Panel 300 can also facilitate convenient storage of footwear 100 in any situation, for example on a surface, in a closet or wardrobe. Panel 300 can further include mounting elements 306 to facilitate mounting, hanging or otherwise conveniently disposing the panel in any desired location. The mounting elements 306 can include hanger hooks, apertures, fasteners, or any other mounting element known to one having ordinary skill in the art. It should be appreciated that any display structure having a paramagnetic element thereon may be contemplated and provided as desired.

Carrying devices may also be provided for use with the embodiments of footwear 100. FIG. 4 shows an exemplary backpack 400. Backpack 400 can include at least one paramagnetic element 402, for example a magnetic metal or metal alloy portion to which footwear pieces 100a, 100b may be attached. The paramagnetic element 402 may be embedded within backpack 400, for example between the fabric layers of the backpack. In an exemplary embodiment, a paramagnetic element 402 may be provided on each of the side panels 404 of backpack 400, allowing a footwear piece 100 to be attached to each side of backpack 400. In other exemplary embodiments, the paramagnetic element 402 may be provided in any desired location on the backpack 400. Any other carrying device for footwear 100 may be contemplated and provided as desired, for example, a bag, a purse, and so forth, the carrying device having paramagnetic elements 402 disposed in any desired location therein.

While the embodiments of footwear 100 are illustrated in the accompanying figures as sandals, it should be appreciated that the magnetic arrangements disclosed herein may be used with any article of footwear, such as sneakers, shoes, dress shoes, pumps, heeled shoes, and so forth.

The foregoing description and accompanying figures illustrate the principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the invention. However, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Additional variations of the embodiments discussed above will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that variations to those embodiments can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A pair of soles for footwear, comprising:

a first sole having a bottom surface and at least one magnet disposed in the first sole; and

a second sole having a bottom surface and at least one complementary magnet disposed in the second sole;

wherein the at least one magnet and the at least one complementary magnet are oriented so as to attract each other when the bottom surface of the first sole is facing the bottom surface of the second sole.

2. The pair of soles of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of magnets disposed in the first sole; and

a plurality of complementary magnets disposed in the second sole.

3. The pair of soles of claim 2, wherein the magnets and complementary magnets are positioned so as to align the first sole and the second sole such that the bottom surface of the first sole and the bottom surface of the second sole are substantially coterminous.

4. The pair of soles of claim 2, wherein the magnets of the first sole are positioned so as to mirror the positions of the complementary magnets in the second sole.

5. The pair of soles of claim 1, wherein the magnets and complementary magnets are neodymium magnets.

6. The pair of soles of claim 1, wherein:

the magnet has a magnetic moment oriented perpendicularly to the plane of the first sole; and

the complementary magnet has a magnetic moment oriented perpendicularly to the plane of the second sole.

7. A pair of footwear pieces comprising the pair of soles of claim 1.

8. A pair of footwear pieces, comprising:

a first footwear piece having a first sole, the first sole having a bottom surface and at least one magnet disposed in the first sole; and

a second footwear piece having a second sole, the second sole having a bottom surface and at least one complementary magnet disposed in the second sole;

wherein the at least one magnet and the at least one complementary magnet are oriented so as to attract each other when the bottom surface of the first sole is facing the bottom surface of the second sole.

9. The pair of footwear pieces of claim 8, further comprising:

a plurality of magnets disposed in the first sole; and

a plurality of complementary magnets disposed in the second sole.

10. The pair of footwear pieces of claim 9, wherein the magnets and complementary magnets are positioned so as to align the first sole and the second sole such that the bottom surface of the first sole and the bottom surface of the second sole are substantially coterminous.

11. The pair of footwear pieces of claim 9, wherein the magnets of the first sole are positioned so as to mirror the positions of the complementary magnets in the second sole.

12. The pair of footwear pieces of claim 9, wherein the magnets and complementary magnets are neodymium magnets.

13. The pair of footwear pieces of claim 8, wherein:

the magnet has a magnetic moment oriented perpendicularly to the plane of the first sole; and

the complementary magnet has a magnetic moment oriented perpendicularly to the plane of the second sole.