Convertible sandal

Abstract

A convertible sandal comprises first and second connectors provided in or on a vamp of the sandal along respective medial and lateral sides of the vamp adjacent a rear margin of the vamp. The sandal may further include first and second holders located along the respective medial and lateral sides of the vamp. A removable strap may be selectively connected in a first position, in which end sections thereof are detachably connected to the connectors and the strap extends around a heel of the wearer's foot, or in a second position, in which the end sections are detached from the connectors and connected to the holders so that the strap extends over the wearer's forefoot.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates to footwear and, in particular, to sandals that are convertible between a slide configuration and a heel-strap configuration.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,336,683 of Schellkopf, 4,461,102 of DeVincentis, 4,584,782 of Thatcher, and 5,992,058 of Jneid disclose various shoes having uppers that are convertible between a heel-strap configuration, in which a heel strap wraps around the wearer's heel to secure the shoe in place, and a slide configuration, in which the heel strap is moved clear of the heel for easier donning and removal of the shoe. In some of these shoes, the heel straps are disconnected from the shoes when converting to the slide configuration and must thereafter be stored separately or carried by the wearer (e.g., in the wearer's pocket), subjecting the heel straps to being misplaced or lost. In others, the heel straps are folded forwardly for converting the shoes to the slide configuration, but remain attached to the shoes so that a portion of the straps may awkwardly dangle or press against the user's leg or forefoot. Whether a forwardly-folded heel strap dangles or presses against the foot may depend on the length of the heel strap, the point at which it connects to the shoe, and the shape of the wearer's foot.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,249 of Aguerre discloses a sandal having a vamp and an elastic heel strap rotatably connected to the vamp via a pair of pivot mechanisms so that the heel strap can be pivoted between a lowered position about the heel of the wearer's foot and a raised position over the arch of the foot and the vamp. The pivot mechanisms increase the complexity of the sandal construction and are subject to mechanical failure.

The present inventor has recognized a need for an improved sandal that is convertible between a heel-strap configuration and a slide configuration and for methods of converting a sandal between such configurations.

SUMMARY

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, a convertible sandal comprises a sole for supporting a wearer's foot and a vamp attached to the sole for extending over a forefoot portion of the wearer's foot. The vamp includes first and second connectors located along respective medial and lateral sides of the vamp adjacent a rear margin of the vamp, and may further include first and second holders located along the respective medial and lateral sides of the vamp. A removable strap may be selectively connected in a first position, in which end sections thereof are detachably connected to the connectors and the strap extends around a heel of the wearer's foot, or in a second position, in which the end sections are detached from the connectors and connected to the holders so that the strap extends over the wearer's forefoot.

The connectors may comprise elongated eyelets formed in the sides of the vamp and through which the end sections of the strap are threaded when the strap is in the first position. The strap preferably includes complementary sections of hook-and-loop fastener material arranged for engagement when the end sections are folded back upon the strap after threading through the eyelets, to thereby detachably secure the strap to the vamp. The holders preferably comprise loops or segments of fabric sewn to the vamp to form keeper loops along the sides of the vamp that are sized to receive the end sections of the strap therethrough. The vamp may be split longitudinally to facilitate adjustment of the vamp to fit the wearer's foot. When in the second position, the strap may be tightened over an opening in the vamp to help secure the convertible sandal to the wearer's foot.

Additional aspects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a lateral side perspective view of a sandal in accordance with a preferred embodiment, shown in a heel-strap configuration; and

FIG. 2 is a lateral side perspective view of the sandal of FIG. 1, shown in a slide configuration.

In FIG. 2, the phantom lines extending away from the lateral side of the sandal represent an alternative configuration of the strap in which the strap may be used to secure the sandal to another object. All other broken lines in FIGS. 1-2 represent stitching.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a lateral side perspective view of a sandal 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment, including a strap 14 shown configured in a first position, in which strap 14 is positioned to fit around a heel of a wearer's foot (foot not illustrated). With reference to FIG. 1, sandal 10 includes a sole 20 for supporting the foot and a vamp 30 for extending over a forefoot portion of the wearer's foot. Vamp 30 extends between a medial margin 34 of sole 20 and a lateral margin 36 of sole 20 to fit over the forefoot and keep sandal 10 on the wearer's foot.

Sole 20 may be made by any of a variety of known methods and materials, such as injection molded resins, sewn leather or synthetic materials, and thermoforming, for example. Vamp 30 is preferably split longitudinally so that it comprises medial and lateral side sections 44 and 46 attached to sole 20 along the respective medial and lateral margins 34 and 36. Medial and lateral side sections 44 and 46 come together at a split 48 along the top of the wearer's foot where they are joined together by one or more cinch straps 50. Split 48 may comprise an abutting or overlapping region of or a gap between medial and lateral side sections 44 and 46. In some embodiments laces may be used in place of or in addition to cinch straps 50. In still other embodiments, other devices of joining medial and lateral side sections 44 and 46 may be employed. For example, a section of elastic material may be permanently or removably attached to medial and lateral side sections 44 and 46 to span a gap therebetween. In yet other embodiments, vamp 30 is not split longitudinally.

Vamp 30 is preferably split along its entire length, as shown in FIG. 1. However, in alternative embodiments, vamp 30 is split along only a portion of the length of vamp 30. The resulting split 48 (or partial split) between the medial and lateral side sections 44 and 46 of vamp 30 allow vamp 30 to be adjusted to fit the wearer's foot via adjustment of cinch straps 50 or laces. Split 48 preferably includes a longitudinal component, but may run at a significant angle to the longitudinal axis of the sandal 10. Thus, the phrase “split longitudinally,” as used herein, is meant to encompass both a “full” split 48 running the entire length of vamp 30 and a partial split (not shown) extending longitudinally along only a portion of vamp 30, and is also meant to encompass splits running at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of sandal 10.

Vamp 30 includes a foot opening 52 sized so that when strap 14 is removed from the heel region, as shown in FIG. 2, sandal 10 functions as a slide, allowing the wearer to don and remove sandal 10 without using his or her hands. Vamp 30 need not cover the entire forefoot, and may include one or more windows 56 or other openings or holes, to promote breathability and reduce the overall weight of sandal 10, among other possible benefits. In some embodiments (not shown), vamp 30 may extend to the rear end of sole 20 to cup the wearer's heel along the edge of the heel pad. In one embodiment, vamp 30 extends forwardly to the toe end of the sole 20. Thus, the term “vamp,” as used herein, is intended to be construed broadly, to include a wide range of devices of various shapes, sizes, and compositions, which extend between the medial and lateral margins 34 and 36 of sole 20 and over the wearer's forefoot for keeping sandal 10 on the wearer's foot. Vamp 30 and sole 20 may be constructed and attached together using any of a variety of conventional methods well known to persons skilled in the art.

Vamp 30 includes first and second connectors 62 and 64 located along respective medial and lateral sides of vamp 30 and generally adjacent a rear margin 68 of vamp 30. Connectors 62 and 64 preferably comprise elongated eyelets formed in respective medial and lateral side sections 44 and 46 of vamp 30 and sized to fit first and second end sections 72 and 74 of strap 30 therethrough, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Complementary sections of hook-and-loop fastener material 80 (FIG. 2) of the type sold under the trademark VELCRO®, for example, are arranged on strap 14 so that one or both of end sections 72 and 74 are held in place when folded back upon strap to thereby detachably connect strap 14 to connectors 62 and 64. The eyelets of connectors 62 and 64 may be lined with grommets or plastic inserts sewn to vamp 30 to reinforce the slots and reduce friction and wear of strap 14. In other embodiments (not shown), connectors 62 and 64 may comprise any of a variety of other devices formed or attached in, on, or to vamp 30, and which cooperate with strap 14 for holding strap 14 in place. Such connection devices may tend to align strap 14 in the heel-strap configuration as in the embodiment of FIG. 1, to prevent strap from flapping along or sliding down the wearer's heel when strap 14 is in the first position. Exemplary connecting devices include plastic or metal buckles, snaps, hooks, and/or small eyelets for receiving laces or hooks attached to strap 14, for example. Thus, connectors 62 and 64 preferably facilitate a simple, strong, durable, and convenient detachable connection between strap 14 and vamp 30. Connectors 62 and 64 are also preferably made such that when strap 14 is detached, the connectors 62 and 64 do not flap outwardly from vamp 30, make noise, or snag other objects to any significant degree.

FIG. 2 is a lateral side perspective view of the sandal 10 of FIG. 1, shown configured in a second position wherein strap 14 is disconnected from connectors 62 and 64 and moved clear of the wearer's heel (heel not illustrated) so that sandal 10 functions as a slide. With reference to FIG. 2, when in the second position, strap 14 may be detachably connected to first and second holders 86 located along the respective medial and sides of vamp 30 (the first holder is hidden in the figures, but is substantially similar to second holder 86). When connected to holders 86, strap 14 extends over the forefoot of the wearer's foot for convenient storage and where strap 14 may be tightened to provide added security. In a preferred embodiment, strap 14 may be contoured to fit best in the second position, when strap 14 is reversed left-to-right relative to the first position, i.e., with first end section 72 connected to second holder 86 along lateral side section 46 of vamp 30 and second end section 74 connected to the first holder along the medial side section 44 of vamp 30. If a central window 90 (FIG. 2) is provided in vamp 30 between first and second holders 86, strap 14 may be cinched down across central window 90 and against a top portion of the wearer's foot to improve the fit of sandal 10.

Holders 86 preferably comprise segments or loops of fabric, sewn to vamp 30 to form keeper loops along the medial and lateral sides of vamp 30. Keeper loops are preferably located along outer side surfaces of vamp 30 (as illustrated), but may alternatively be located along inner side surfaces of vamp 30 (not shown). In other embodiments (not shown), holders 86 may comprise any of a variety of other devices formed or attached in, on, or to vamp 30, and which cooperate with strap 14 for holding strap 14 in place. Such holder devices may tend to align strap 14 relative to vamp 30, to prevent strap 14 from sliding or flapping when in the second position. Exemplary holder devices include plastic or metal buckles, snaps, hooks, and/or small eyelets for receiving laces or hooks attached to strap 14, for example.

Holders 86 may also serve as lash points for connecting a pair of sandals 10 together using a strap 14, as partially illustrated in phantom lines in FIG. 2 (second sandal not shown), to prevent the pair of sandals from becoming separated when not in use. When strap 14 is used to connect together a pair of sandals 10 it may also serve as a convenient carrying strap. In addition, to prevent loss of sandals 10 when not being worn, strap 14 may be used to removably secure sandal 10 to another article, such as a carabiner, a backpack, or a lifeline of a boat. When securing sandal 10 to another article, one of the end sections 72, 74 of strap 14 may be connected to one of the connectors 62, 64 or holders 86, and the other of the end sections 72, 74 may be connected to the other object. The hook-and-loop fastener material 80 of strap 14 may provide a convenient means of removably attaching an end of strap 14 to a lifeline of a boat, for example.

It will be obvious to those having skill in the art that many changes may be made to the details of the above-described embodiments without departing from the underlying principles of the invention. The scope of the present invention should, therefore, be determined only by the following claims.

Claims

1. A convertible sandal, comprising:

(a) a sole for supporting a wearer's foot;

(b) a vamp attached to the sole for extending over a forefoot of the wearer's foot between medial and lateral margins of the sole, the vamp including: (i) medial and lateral sides proximal of the medial and lateral margins of the sole, respectively, (ii) first and second connectors located along the respective medial and lateral sides adjacent a rear margin of the vamp, and (iii) first and second holders located along the respective medial and lateral sides of the vamp; and

(c) a strap including opposing first and second end sections, the strap being movable between a first position, in which the first and second end sections are detachably connected to the first and second connectors, respectively, for extending around a heel of the wearer's foot, and a second position, in which the first and second end sections are detached from the first and second connectors and detachably connected to the first and second holders for extending over the forefoot.

2. The convertible sandal of claim 1, wherein at least one of the connectors comprises an eyelet.

3. The convertible sandal of claim 2, wherein the eyelet is elongated to fit one of the first and second end sections of the strap therethrough.

4. The convertible sandal of claim 2, further comprising complementary sections of hook-and-loop fastener material arranged on the strap for engagement when at least one of the end sections is threaded through the eyelet and folded back upon the strap, thereby detachably connecting the strap to the vamp.

5. The convertible sandal of claim 1, wherein:

the connectors comprise elongated eyelets sized for threading the first and second end sections therethrough; and

the strap includes complementary sections of hook-and-loop fastener material arranged so that the first and second end sections may be threaded through the eyelets of the respective first and second connectors and folded back upon themselves, where they are releasably held in place to detachably secure the strap to the vamp in the first position.

6. The convertible sandal of claim 5, wherein at least one of the holders includes a keeper loop sized to receive one of the first and second end sections of the strap therethrough.

7. The convertible sandal of claim 1, wherein at least one of the holders includes a keeper loop.

8. The convertible sandal of claim 1, wherein the keeper loop is sewn to the vamp.

9. The convertible sandal of claim 1, wherein the vamp is split longitudinally to facilitate adjustment of the vamp to fit the wearer's foot.

10. The convertible sandal of claim 9, further comprising one or more cinch straps or laces, or both, extending between the medial and lateral sides of the vamp for tightening the vamp to fit the wearer's foot.

11. A convertible sandal, comprising:

a sole for supporting a wearer's foot;

a detachable strap including opposing first and second end sections; and

a vamp attached to the sole for extending over a forefoot of the wearer's foot between medial and lateral margins of the sole, the vamp including first and second connector means located along respective medial and lateral sides of the vamp adjacent a rear margin of the vamp for detachably connecting the respective first and second end sections of the strap thereto in a first position in which the strap extends around a heel of the wearer's foot, and the vamp further including first and second holder means different from the first and second connector means and located along the respective medial and lateral sides of the vamp for detachably holding the first and second end sections of the strap thereto in a second position in which the strap extends over the forefoot.

12. The convertible sandal of claim 11, wherein at least one of the connector means comprises an eyelet sized to fit one of the first and second end sections of the strap therethrough.

13. The convertible sandal of claim 12, further comprising complementary sections of hook-and-loop fastener material arranged on the strap so that at least one of the end sections may be folded back upon the strap, after threading through the eyelet, where said at least one end section is releasably held in place for detachably connecting the strap to the vamp.

14. The convertible sandal of claim 11, wherein at least one of the holder means includes a keeper loop sized to receive one of the first and second end sections of the strap therethrough.

15. The convertible sandal of claim 14, wherein the keeper loop is sewn to the vamp.

16. The convertible sandal of claim 11, further comprising means for adjusting the vamp to fit the wearer's foot.

17. In a sandal having a sole for supporting a wearer's foot, a vamp attached to the sole and extending over a forefoot portion of the wearer's foot between medial and lateral margins of the sole, and a strap including opposing first and second end sections, an improved method of reconfiguring the sandal between a heel-strap configuration, in which the strap extends around a heel of the wearer's foot, and a slide configuration, in which the strap is moved clear of the heel, comprising:

providing first and second connectors in or on the vamp at respective medial and lateral sides of the vamp adjacent a rear margin of the vamp;

providing first and second holders along the respective medial and lateral sides of the vamp;

detachably connecting the first and second end sections to the first and second connectors, respectively, thereby configuring the sandal in the heel-strap configuration;

detaching the first and second end sections from the first and second connectors; and

detachably connecting the first and second end sections to the first and second holders, so that the strap extends over the forefoot, thereby configuring the sandal in the slide configuration.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the connectors include elongated eyelets sized for threading the first and second end sections of the strap therethrough; and

detachably connecting the first and second end sections to the first and second connectors includes threading the first and second end sections through the eyelets and folding back the first and second end sections over the strap for detachably securing the strap to the vamp in the heel-strap configuration.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein:

at least one of the holders includes a keeper loop sized to receive one of the first and second end sections of the strap therethrough; and

the connecting of the first and second end sections to the first and second holders includes threading at least one of the end sections through the keeper loop.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising adjusting the vamp to fit the wearer's foot.

21. A convertible sandal, comprising:

(a) a sole for supporting a wearer's foot;

(b) a vamp attached to the sole for extending over a forefoot of the wearer's foot between medial and lateral margins of the sole, the vamp including: (i) medial and lateral sides proximal of the medial and lateral margins of the sole, respectively, and (ii) first and second connectors located along the respective medial and lateral sides adjacent a rear margin of the vamp; and

(c) a heel strap including opposing first and second end sections threaded through the first and second connectors, respectively, the heel strap including complementary sections of hook-and-loop fastener material arranged thereon for engagement when at least one of the end sections is folded back upon the strap, to thereby detachably connect the strap to the vamp.

22. The convertible sandal of claim 21, wherein the vamp is split longitudinally to facilitate adjustment of the vamp to fit the wearer's foot.

23. The convertible sandal of claim 22, further comprising one or more cinch straps or laces, or both, extending between the medial and lateral sides of the vamp for tightening the vamp to fit the wearer's foot.

24. The convertible sandal of claim 21, wherein the vamp further includes first and second holders different from the first and second connectors, the first and second holders located along the medial and lateral sides of the vamp, respectively, for detachably securing the heel strap over the forefoot.