FOOT STRAPPING SYSTEM FOR SANDAL

Abstract

A sandal includes a sole, and a foot strapping system having a primary tether which has two end portions attached to the sole, an auxiliary tether having one end portion attached to the sole and engaged with a middle portion of the primary tether, and an adjusting tether having one end portion attached to the sole, and having an intermediate portion engaged with the middle portion of the primary tether for securing a foot of a user to the sole. The tethers each include one or more anchorages attached to the end portions and engaged with the sole for solidly attaching the end portions of the tethers to the sole.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a foot strapping system for a sandal or sports shoe, and more particularly to a foot strapping system for a sandal or sports shoe including an improved structure or configuration that may be easily and quickly made or manufactured with a greatly decreased manufacturing procedure and cost and that may include a compact structure that is excellent for storing and transportation purposes and that may be assembled by the users themselves.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Typical sandals or sports shoes comprise a simplified foot strapping system including one or more straps or thongs or tethers for easily and quickly strapping or fastening or securing a foot of a user to the sole.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,172,330 to Kao, U.S. Pat. No. 4,530,171 to Zabala, U.S. Pat. No. 5,802,738 to Ferniani, U.S. Pat. No. 5,852,885 to Ferniani, U.S. Pat. No. 5,896,684 to Lin, U.S. Pat. No. 8,132,342 to Moon, and U.S. Pat. No. 8,819,964 to Mizrahi-Shapiro disclose several of the typical sandal devices each comprising a foot strapping system including one or more straps or thongs or tethers for easily and quickly strapping or fastening or securing a foot of a user to the sole.

However, the typical foot strapping systems may not be used to solidly and stably fasten or secure the foot of the user to the sole, such that the sandals may not be used for jogging or sporting purposes. In addition, the typical foot strapping systems may not be easily and quickly attached or mounted or assembled to the sole such that the making or manufacturing procedures and costs for the typical foot strapping systems may be greatly increased. Furthermore, the typical foot strapping systems may not be assembled by the users themselves.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional foot strapping systems for sandal devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a foot strapping system for a sandal or sports shoe including an improved structure or configuration that may be easily and quickly made or manufactured with a greatly decreased manufacturing procedure and cost and that may include a compact structure that is excellent for storing and transportation purposes and that may be assembled by the users themselves.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a sandal comprising a sole including an outer front portion, an inner front portion, an outer rear portion, and an inner rear portion, and a foot strapping system including a primary tether having a first end portion attached to the outer front portion of the sole, and having a second end portion attached to the outer rear portion of the sole, an auxiliary tether having a first end portion attached to the inner rear portion of the sole, and the auxiliary tether being engaged with a middle portion of the primary tether, an adjusting tether having a first end portion attached to the inner front portion of the sole, and having an intermediate portion engaged with the middle portion of the primary tether, a first anchorage attached to the first end portion of the adjusting tether, a second anchorage attached to the first end portion of the auxiliary tether, and two third anchorages attached to the first and the second end portions of the primary tether for solidly attaching the end portions of the tethers to the sole.

The adjusting tether includes a buckle engaged with the intermediate portion of the adjusting tether. The sole includes two orifices formed in the outer front portion of the sole, two openings formed in the inner front portion of the sole, two apertures formed in the outer rear portion of the sole, and two holes formed in the inner rear portion of the sole, the adjusting tether includes two cables having first end portion engaged with the openings of the sole, and having the intermediate portion engaged with the middle portion of the primary tether.

The auxiliary tether includes a band having two free ends engaged with the holes of the sole, and having an intermediate portion engaged with the middle portion of the primary tether. The second anchorage is engaged with the free ends of the band of the auxiliary tether for securing the band to the sole. The intermediate portion of the band is wound and engaged with the middle portion of the primary tether. The sole includes a bottom portion having a recess formed therein and communicating with the holes of the sole for engaging with the second anchorage and for shielding and protecting the second anchorage.

The primary tether includes two straps having the first end portion engaged with the orifices of the sole, and having the second end portion engaged with the apertures of the sole. The third anchorages are attached to the first and the second end portions of the straps of the primary tether. The sole includes a bottom portion having two recesses communicating with the orifices and the apertures of the sole for receiving or engaging with the third anchorages and for shielding and protecting the third anchorage.

The first anchorage is attached to or engaged with the first end portions of the cables of the adjusting tether. The sole includes a bottom portion having a recess formed therein and communicating with the openings of the sole for engaging with the first anchorage and for shielding and protecting the first anchorage. The adjusting tether includes a buckle engaged with the intermediate portion of the cables of the adjusting tether. The sole includes a toe retainer attached to a toe portion of the sole.

The first and the second and the third anchorages each include two side beans, a front bar and an intermediate bar and a rear bar straddled and mounted between the side beans for forming two slots between the front and the intermediate and the rear bars for threading or engaging with the cables and the band and the straps of the tethers. The first and the second and the third anchorages each include a first cavity formed in one end portion of the first side beam, and a second cavity formed in one end portion of the second side beam for engaging with the cables and the band and the straps of the tethers and for anchoring the cables and the band and the straps of the tethers to the anchorages.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a foot strapping system for sandal devices in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial exploded view of the foot strapping system for sandal devices;

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the foot strapping system for sandal devices;

FIG. 4 is another bottom perspective view similar to FIG. 3, illustrating the operation of the foot strapping system for sandal devices; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial perspective view illustrating an anchorage of the foot strapping system for sandal devices.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-4, a foot strapping system for a sandal or sports shoe in accordance with the present invention comprises a sole 10 made of soft or resilient rubber or plastic or synthetic materials or the like, including a number of openings or orifices 11, 12, 13, 14 formed therein, for example, the sole 10 includes one or more (such as two) orifices 11 formed in the outer front portion 15 of the sole 10, one or more (such as two) openings 12 formed in the inner front portion 16 of the sole 10, one or more (such as two) apertures 13 formed in the outer rear portion 17 of the sole 10, and one or more (such as two) cavities or holes 14 formed in the inner rear portion 18 of the sole 10.

The sole 10 further includes a lower or bottom portion 19 having a number of depressions or recesses 20 formed therein and communicating with the orifices 11 and openings 12 and apertures 13 and holes 14 respectively, and the recesses 20 of the sole 10 each include a width or dimension or inner diameter greater than that of the orifices 11 and openings 12 and apertures 13 and holes 14 of the sole 10 respectively. It is preferable, but not necessary that the sole 10 further includes a toe band or strap or retainer 21 attached or mounted to the front portion or toe portion 22 of the sole 10 for engaging with a thumb of the user and for solidly and stably anchoring or retaining the foot of the user to the sole 10. However, the toe retainer 21 is not related to the present invention and will not be described in further details.

The foot strapping system further includes a first or primary tether 3 having one or first end portion 30 attached or mounted or secured to the outer front portion 15 of the sole 10, and another or second end portion 31 attached or mounted or secured to the outer rear portion 17 of the sole 10, and a second or auxiliary tether 4 having one or first end portion 40 attached or mounted or secured to the inner rear portion 18 of the sole 10, and another or second end portion 41 loosely or movably attached or mounted or secured to or engaged with the middle or intermediate portion 32 of the primary tether 3. A third or adjusting tether 5 includes one or first end portion 50 attached or mounted or secured to the inner front portion 16 of the sole 10, and includes a middle or intermediate portion 51 engaged with the middle or intermediate portion 32 of the primary tether 3 for adjustably fastening or securing the foot of the user to the sole 10.

It is to be noted that the typical sandal devices failed to teach and provide a foot strapping system for solidly and stably anchoring or retaining the foot of the user to the sole 10. Unlike the typical sandal devices, the foot strapping system in accordance with the present invention may be used to solidly and stably fasten or secure the foot of the user to the sole 10, such that the sandal devices may be used for jogging or sporting purposes. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the primary tether 3 may include two bands or straps 33, 34 having the first end portion 30 engaged with the orifices 11 of the sole 10, and having the second end portion 31 engaged with the apertures 13 of the sole 10, and the auxiliary tether 4 may be formed or wound with a single strap or band 42 having the first end portion 40 or two free ends 43 engaged with the holes 14 of the sole 10, and having the middle or intermediate portion 44 of the band 42 may be loosely or movably wound and engaged with the middle or intermediate portion 32 of the primary tether 3.

The adjusting tether 5 may also include two bands or straps or wires or cables 52, 53 having the first end portion 50 engaged with the openings 12 of the sole 10, and having the middle or intermediate portion 51 engaged with the middle or intermediate portion 32 of the primary tether 3, and a fastener or buckle 60 is engaged with the middle or intermediate portion 51 of the cables 52, 53 or of the adjusting tether 5 for adjustably fastening or securing the middle or intermediate portion 51 of the cables 52, 53 or of the adjusting tether 5 together and for adjustably fastening or securing the foot of the user to the sole 10. A one or first anchorage 55 is attached or mounted or secured to the first end portion 50 of the cables 52, 53 for engaging with the recess 20 of the sole 10 and for solidly and stably anchoring or retaining the first end portion 50 of the cables 52, 53 to the sole 10.

Similarly, the auxiliary tether 4 also includes another or second anchorage 45 attached or mounted or secured to the first end portion 40 or the free ends 43 of the band 42 for engaging with the recesses 20 of the sole 10 and for solidly and stably anchoring or retaining the free ends 43 of the band 42 to the sole 10. The primary tether 3 also includes two further or third anchorages 35 attached or mounted or secured to the end portions 30, 31 of the straps 33, 34 for engaging with the recesses 20 of the sole 10 and for solidly and stably anchoring or retaining the end portions 30, 31 of the straps 33, 34 to the sole 10. The anchorages 35, 45, 55 may be easily and quickly engaged with the first end portion 50 of the cables 52, 53 and the first end portion 40 or the free ends 43 of the band 42 and the end portions 30, 31 of the straps 33, 34 that have been engaged into and through the orifices 11 and openings 12 and apertures 13 and holes 14 of the sole 10 (FIGS. 3, 4) for engaging with the recesses 20 of the sole 10 (FIG. 4) and for solidly and stably anchoring or retaining the tethers 3, 4, 5 to the sole 10.

As shown in FIG. 5, the anchorages 35, 45, 55 of the tethers 3, 4, 5 each include two side walls or beans 70, 71, a front bar 72, a middle or intermediate bar 73 and a rear bar 74 straddled and attached or mounted or secured between the side beans 70, 71 for forming or defining two slots 75, 76 between the bars 72-74, a first cavity 77 formed in one or first end portion 78 of the first side beam 70, and another or second cavity 79 formed in one or first end portion 80 of the second side beam 71, the anchorages 35, 45, 55 of the tethers 3, 4, 5 include the same structure or configuration, one of the cables 52 of the adjusting tether 5 may first be engaged into and through the slot 75 and over the intermediate bar 73 and into and through the other slot 76, and then engaged with and around the rear bar 74, and then engaged into and through the slot 75 again and then engaged into the first cavity 77 at the first end portion 78 of the first side beam 70.

The other cable 53 of the adjusting tether 5 may first be engaged into and through the slot 76 and over the intermediate bar 73 and into and through the other slot 75, and then engaged with and around the front bar 72, and then engaged into and through the slot 76 again and then engaged into the second cavity 79 at the first end portion 80 of the second side beam 71. It is to be noted that the user may strap and adjust the first end portion 50 of the cables 52, 53 and the first end portion 40 or the free ends 43 of the band 42 and the end portions 30, 31 of the straps 33, 34 relative to the anchorages 35, 45, 55 of the tethers 3, 4, 5 for solidly and stably fitting or engaging with the users of different sizes or shapes or heights or standards. A number of covers or caps 81 may further be provided and attached or mounted or engaged into the recesses 20 of the sole 10 (FIGS. 3, 4) for covering and shielding the anchorages 35, 45, 55 and the cables 52, 53 and the band 42 and the straps 33, 34 of the tethers 3, 4, 5.

In operation, as shown in FIG. 1, the foot of the user may be solidly and stably fastened or secured to the sole with the tethers 3, 4, 5 of the foot strapping system in accordance with the present invention for allowing the sandal devices to be used for jogging or sporting purposes. In addition, the anchorages 35, 45, 55 of the tethers 3, 4, 5 may be easily and quickly engaged with the first end portion 50 of the cables 52, 53 and the first end portion 40 or the free ends 43 of the band 42 and the end portions 30, 31 of the straps 33, 34 that have been engaged into and through the orifices 11 and openings 12 and apertures 13 and holes 14 of the sole 10 (FIGS. 3, 4) for engaging with the recesses 20 of the sole 10 (FIG. 4) and for solidly and stably anchoring or retaining the tethers 3, 4, 5 to the sole 10. The sandal device includes a compact structure that is excellent for storing and transportation purposes. Furthermore, the sandal device may be assembled by users themselves such that the manufacturing procedure and cost may be greatly decreased.

Accordingly, the foot strapping system in accordance with the present invention includes an improved structure or configuration that may be easily and quickly made or manufactured with a greatly decreased manufacturing procedure and cost and that may include a compact structure that is excellent for storing and transportation purposes and that may be assembled by the users themselves.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

1. A sandal comprising:

a sole including an outer front portion, an inner front portion, an outer rear portion, and an inner rear portion; and

a foot strapping system including: a primary tether having a first end portion attached to said outer front portion of said sole, and having a second end portion attached to said outer rear portion of said sole; an auxiliary tether having a first end portion attached to said inner rear portion of said sole, and said auxiliary tether being engaged with a middle portion of said primary tether; an adjusting tether having a first end portion attached to said inner front portion of said sole, and having an intermediate portion engaged with said middle portion of said primary tether; a first anchorage attached to said first end portion of said adjusting tether; a second anchorage attached to said first end portion of said auxiliary tether; and two third anchorages attached to said first and said second end portions of said primary tether.

2. The foot strapping system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said adjusting tether includes a buckle engaged with said intermediate portion of said adjusting tether.

3. The foot strapping system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sole includes two orifices formed in said outer front portion of said sole, two openings formed in said inner front portion of said sole, two apertures formed in said outer rear portion of said sole, and two holes formed in said inner rear portion of said sole, said adjusting tether includes two cables having first end portion engaged with said openings of said sole, and having said intermediate portion engaged with said middle portion of said primary tether.

4. The foot strapping system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said auxiliary tether includes a band having two free ends engaged with said holes of said sole, and having an intermediate portion engaged with said middle portion of said primary tether.

5. The foot strapping system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said second anchorage is engaged with said free ends of said band of said auxiliary tether.

6. The foot strapping system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said intermediate portion of said band is wound and engaged with said middle portion of said primary tether.

7. The foot strapping system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said sole includes a bottom portion having a recess formed therein and communicating with said holes of said sole for engaging with said second anchorage.

8. The foot strapping system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said primary tether includes two straps having said first end portion engaged with said orifices of said sole, and having said second end portion engaged with said apertures of said sole.

9. The foot strapping system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said third anchorages are attached to said first and said second end portions of said straps of said primary tether.

10. The foot strapping system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said sole includes a bottom portion having two recesses formed therein and communicating with said orifices and said apertures of said sole for engaging with said third anchorages.

11. The foot strapping system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first anchorage is attached to said first end portions of said cables of said adjusting tether.

12. The foot strapping system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said sole includes a bottom portion having a recess formed therein and communicating with said openings of said sole for engaging with said first anchorage.

13. The foot strapping system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said adjusting tether includes a buckle engaged with said intermediate portion of said cables of said adjusting tether.

14. The foot strapping system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sole includes a toe retainer attached to a toe portion of said sole.

15. The foot strapping system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and said second and said third anchorages each include two side beans, a front bar and an intermediate bar and a rear bar straddled and mounted between said side beans for forming two slots between said front and said intermediate and said rear bars.

16. The foot strapping system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said first and said second and said third anchorages each include a first cavity formed in one end portion of said first side beam, and a second cavity formed in one end portion of said second side beam.