Reversible Footwear
Reversible footwear includes a flexible sole, flexible vamp and flexible quarter combined with stretchable inserts in the upper located at approximately the arch position of the footwear. A removable insole may be added to the footwear. The insole is removed prior to reversing the footwear and then reinserted after the reversal is completed.
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This disclosure relates to footwear; specifically, reversible footwear made of flexible materials and having stretchable inserts in the medial and lateral sides of the upper in approximately the arch area of the footwear.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREThe reversible footwear described herein is constructed in a unique manner which distinguishes it from the prior art designs. A very simple, but effective, construction allows a user to quickly reverse the interior and exterior portions by essentially turning the footwear inside out. The footwear includes flexible portions and stretchable inserts in the upper at approximately the arch position of the footwear on both the medial and lateral sides. A removable insole may be added to the footwear. It is removed prior to reversing the footwear and then reinserted after the reversal is completed.
The design allows the footwear to be constructed with traditional materials and requires the use of only simple manufacturing techniques, resulting in a cost effective product that can be quickly produced in large quantities.
The accompanying diagrams and descriptions will aid in the visualization of the described features, and functionality of the device.
The footwear 2 also has a vamp topline 26 and a quarter topline 28. The flexible sole 8 includes a sole exterior surface 24 and a sole interior surface 25. As depicted in
The figures depict designs 14, 15, 16 and 18 on the interior and exterior surfaces of the footwear 2 so that the reversal process may be more easily followed. The designs depicted are for reference only and could be any other design or no design at all. Because the product is reversible, what is denominated as an exterior design will become an interior design, and vice versa, when reversal is complete.
The reversal process is depicted in
After the heel portion of sole second surface 25 passes through the opening 30, the toe portion 8b is pushed upwardly (relative to the figures).
It should be noted that the exact shape and size of the footwear is not limited to what is depicted in the drawings. The footwear can be sized for adults and children, female and male. The footwear may include open portions in the upper as is common in sandals and the shapes of the components may be different than depicted to conform to popular fashions.
While the above description contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the disclosure, but rather as an exemplification of the embodiment disclosed. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this specific embodiment. Accordingly, the invention is not limited to the precise embodiment described in detail hereinabove. With respect to the claims, it is applicant's intention that the claims not be interpreted in accordance with the sixth paragraph of 35 U.S.C. §112 unless the term “means” is used followed by a functional statement. Further, with respect to the claims, it should be understood that any of the claims described below may be combined for the purposes of the invention.
Claims
1. Reversible footwear comprising:
- a flexible sole;
- an upper;
- the upper having a flexible vamp;
- the upper having a flexible quarter;
- a stretchable midpiece between the vamp and the quarter;
- the sole, vamp, quarter and midpiece each having an exterior surface and an interior surface;
- the vamp having a vamp topline;
- the quarter having a quarter topline;
- an opening in the upper between the vamp topline and the quarter topline through which a foot may be inserted;
- the midpiece adapted to stretch when the vamp topline is pulled in a direction generally away from the quarter topline by hand when a foot is not present in the footwear;
- the flexible sole adapted to pass through the opening when the vamp topline is pulled in a direction generally away from the quarter topline;
- whereby the exterior surfaces and interior surfaces are reversed.
2. The reversible footwear of claim 1 further comprising a removable insole.
3. The reversible footwear of claim 1 wherein the stretchable midpiece is wider near the topline than near the sole.
4. The reversible footwear of claim 3 wherein the stretchable midpiece is a trapezoidal shaped gusset.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 5, 2013
Publication Date: Oct 9, 2014
Applicant: ACI International (Los Angeles, CA)
Inventor: Daniel Young (Los Angeles, CA)
Application Number: 13/857,559
International Classification: A43B 3/24 (20060101);