Sand shoe

Abstract

The sand shoe includes a frame enclosing a large-gauge, interwoven tread portion. The frame is fabricated from a lightweight metal. A clog is attached to the upper surface of the interwoven tread. The clog is fabricated from lightweight material and is designed with an open back for easy access and a plurality of openings for air circulation.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/193,690, filed Dec. 16, 2008.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to footwear, and more particularly to a sand shoe that enhances maneuverability when walking on soft sand.

2. Description of the Related Art

Leisurely strolling along a lakefront or hiking on the beach at the seashore can be arduous due to the traction impediment caused by soft sand. Because of body weight and the instinctive angle of a walker's feet, whether bare or shod the feet sink relatively deeply in the soft sand. This circumstance requires the walker to expend extra energy on the trek across the soft sand. The task is exacerbated if the walker is loaded with hiking gear or the like. The art would certainly welcome a portable device that would enhance mobility on soft sand without unduly confining the feet and yet be easily donned and removed. Thus, a sand shoe solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The sand shoe comprises a frame enclosing an interwoven tread portion. The frame is fabricated from lightweight metal. Titanium is presently preferred, but other lightweight metals or plastics could be employed, if suitable. A clog is attached to the upper surface of the interwoven tread. The clog is fabricated from lightweight material and is provided with a plurality of openings for air circulation.

Accordingly, the invention presents a shoe that can be easily donned and removed. The shoe is wide enough to prevent a user's foot from sinking in soft sand, thereby making a walk or hike in such soft sand more efficient and less tiring. The invention provides for improved elements thereof in an arrangement for the purposes described that are inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing their intended purposes.

These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a sand shoe according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a sand shoe according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of a sand shoe according to the present invention.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Attention is directed to FIGS. 1-3 wherein the sand shoe is generally indicated at 10. As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, sand shoe 10 comprises a frame 12 fabricated from lightweight metal, preferably titanium. Frame 12 is about the size of a standard racquetball racquet but can be fabricated in different sizes (small, medium, large) to accommodate children and/or adults of different sizes and weights. Frame 12 encloses a large-gauge mesh tread 14 that is preferably fabricated from a synthetic material, such as nylon strings or filaments. The nylon tread 14 is arranged in an interwoven pattern and is attached around the inner periphery of frame 12. A clog 16 is attached to the upper surface of tread 14. Ties (not shown) are employed to attach the clog 16 to tread 14. Clog 16 is fabricated from lightweight material and is designed with an open back 16a. A plurality of openings 16b are provided in a toe-enclosing front portion.

In use, a wearer W (FIG. 1) would merely slip each foot into the shoe(s) 10 when it is desired to walk on the sand S. The shoe(s) would permit the wearer to traverse the sand quickly and efficiently without expending excessive energy.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A sand shoe, comprising:

a frame made from lightweight metal;

an interwoven, large-gauge mesh tread extending across the frame; and

a lightweight clog attached to the tread, the clog having an open back and an enclosed front portion, the front portion having a plurality of apertures formed therethrough.

2. The sand shoe according to claim 1, wherein said interwoven tread is made from a synthetic material.

3. The sand shoe according to claim 1, wherein said lightweight metal is titanium.

4. The sand shoe according to claim 1, wherein said frame has an inner periphery and said interwoven, large-gauge mesh tread is attached to said frame at said inner periphery.

5. A sand shoe, comprising:

a frame made from titanium metal;

an interwoven, large-gauge mesh tread fabricated from synthetic material and extending across the frame; and

a lightweight clog attached to the tread, the clog having an open back and an enclosed front portion, the front portion having a plurality of evenly spaced apertures formed therethrough.

6. The sand shoe according to claim 5, wherein said synthetic material is nylon.

7. The sand shoe according to claim 5, wherein said frame has an inner periphery and said interwoven, large-gauge mesh tread is attached to said frame at said inner periphery.

8. A sand shoe, comprising:

a frame made from titanium metal, said frame having a substantially ovate configuration;

an interwoven, large-gauge mesh tread fabricated from synthetic material and extending across the frame; and

a lightweight clog attached to the tread, the clog having an open back and an enclosed front portion, the front portion having a plurality of evenly spaced apertures formed therethrough.

9. The sand shoe according to claim 8, wherein said synthetic material is nylon.

10. The sand shoe according to claim 9, wherein said frame has an inner periphery and said interwoven, large-gauge mesh tread is attached to said frame at said inner periphery.