FOLDABLE FOOTWEAR

Abstract

A foldable footwear is disclosed, including a first insole, a second insole, and a third insole. At least one strap, toe box, or upper vamp affixed to the second insole. A sole defines a first channel and a second channel to define a first sole hingedly attached to a second sole. A third sole is hingedly attached to the second sole, wherein the first insole is disposed one the first sole, the second insole is disposed on the second sole, and the third insole is disposed on the third sol. The foldable footwear is constructed and arranged to fold along the first channel and the second channel. Alternatively, the foldable footwear may fold in half via a mid-channel positioned between the first sole and the second sole.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/285,613 filed Dec. 3, 2022, titled “FOLDABLE FOOTWEAR,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The embodiments generally relate to slippers or shoes and more particularly to footwear having increased portability.

BACKGROUND

Slippers, sandals, house shoes, and the like may provide a comfortable footing indoors or with occasional outdoor use. Various types of the aforementioned footwear are readily available to consumers. Often, these footwear types are simply stored in various ways, or carried with the user throughout their daily activities until they are needed. However, there is a need for an easily storable slipper or house shoe that is light weight, compactable, foldable, and easily carried in a pocket, purse, or other bag.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This summary is provided to introduce a variety of concepts in a simplified form that is disclosed further in the detailed description of the embodiments. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

The embodiments described herein relate to a foldable footwear defining at least a first channel and a second channel in the sole of the footwear in which may allow the footwear to bend at the first channel and second channel such that the footwear may be foldable to increase ease of storage, travel, and use of the footwear. The embodiments provide a convenient means for transporting and/or storing footwear which can be readily deployed at the time of use. The footwear may provide easily storable and compactible footwear in scenarios such as, but not limited to, hospital settings, emergency settings, travel settings, camping settings, or the like.

In one aspect, the foldable footwear includes at least one passage to at least partially receive a user's foot.

In one aspect, the foldable footwear is configurable in in-use configuration. The in-use configuration is defined by the first sole and the second sole forming a planar surface.

In one aspect, the foldable footwear is configurable in a storage configuration. The storage configuration is defined by the first sole and the second sole forming a non-planar surface.

In one aspect, the foldable footwear is configured to fold in half or in thirds.

In one aspect, the strap is configured as one of the following: a toecap, to box, upper vamp, or a thong.

In one aspect, the storage configuration is defined as being more compact than the in-use configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A complete understanding of the present embodiments and the advantages and features thereof will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a top elevation view of the foldable footwear in an in-use configuration, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the foldable footwear in an in-use configuration, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the foldable footwear in a storage configuration, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the foldable footwear in an in-use configuration, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the foldable footwear in a storage configuration, according to some embodiments; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the foldable footwear, according to some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The specific details of the single embodiment or variety of embodiments described herein are to the described apparatus. Any specific details of the embodiments are used for demonstration purposes only, and no unnecessary limitations or inferences are to be understood therefrom.

Before describing in detail exemplary embodiments, it is noted that the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of components and procedures related to the apparatus. Accordingly, the apparatus components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

The specific details of the single embodiment or variety of embodiments described herein are set forth in this application. Any specific details of the embodiments are used for demonstration purposes only, and no unnecessary limitation or inferences are to be understood therefrom. Furthermore, as used herein, relational terms, such as “first” and “second,” “top” and “bottom,” and the like, may be used to distinguish one entity or element from another entity or element without necessarily requiring or implying any physical or logical relationship, or order between such entities or elements.

In general, the embodiments described herein relate to a foldable footwear designed for ease of storage and travel by providing a compactable design. The footwear may include a multi piece insole on top of a bottom sole. According to other arrangements, the footwear may include only a bottom sole. The insole and bottom sole may be made of any appropriate material such as foam, rubber, plastic, or the like to provide comfortable support to a wearer. According to some embodiments, the material that makes up the insole and bottom sole may be an easily compressible material to improve compaction of the footwear during storage or travel. According to some embodiments, the combination of insole and bottom sole, or sole alone, may be approximately 2 to 5 millimeters in thickness. According to various other arrangements, the thickness may be approximately 5 to 10 millimeters. Various other sole thicknesses are contemplated by this disclosure.

The insole may be a multipiece insole including a first, second, and third insole. The bottom sole may receive the first, second, and third insole thereon. The bottom sole may define a first channel and a second channel constructed and arranged to allow the footwear to bend at the first and second channels. The first channel may be defined on the bottom sole approximately between the first insole and the second insole. The second channel may be defined on the bottom sole approximately between these second insole the third insole. In use, the footwear may be folded along the first channel and the second channel allowing the first, second, and third insoles to separate from one another entirely while keeping thew bottom sole intact.

The footwear may include a band, strap, to cap, to box, thong, or the like for securing the footwear to a wearer's foot.

In this way, the footwear may provide the ability for users to easily store and travel with separate footwear in case of injury or soreness caused by alternate footwear. Alternatively, the footwear may provide easily storable and compactible footwear in scenarios such as, but not limited to, hospital settings, emergency settings, travel settings, camping settings, or the like.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a foldable footwear 100 may include an insole 102 made up of a first insole 104, a second insole 106, and a third insole 108. The first, second, and third insoles may be separated from one another. The first, second, and third insoles may be disposed on a respective first sole 110, second sole 112, and third sole 114. The first, second, and third sole may be a single sole. The single sole may define a first channel 120 and a second channel 122 therein to partially separate the first, second, and third soles. The first channel 120 and second channel 122 may form hingeable or bendable portions within the single sole such that the foldable footwear 100 is foldable for compactness and ease of storage or travel. The foldable footwear 100 may include a strap 118 affixed to any of the first, second, or third insoles, 104, 106, or 108. The strap 118 may define at least one passage 116 constructed and arranged for receiving a wearer's foot there in and securing the foldable footwear 100 to a user's foot.

Referring to FIG. 3, the foldable footwear 100 may be foldable along the first channel 120 and the second channel 122 such that the foldable footwear may be easily compacted, stored, or the like. The

Referring to FIG. 4, a foldable footwear 100 may include a sole 102 made up of a first sole 104, a second sole 106, and a third sole 108. The first, second, and third soles may be partially separated from one another. The sole 102 may define a first channel 120 and a second channel 122 therein to partially separate the first, second, and third insoles. The first channel 120 and second channel 122 may form hingeable or bendable portions within the sole 102 such that the foldable footwear 100 is foldable for compactness and ease of storage or travel. According to some embodiments, a strap 318 may take many forms and arrangements such as, but not limited to, a toecap, to box, upper vamp, thong, or the like.

Referring to FIG. 5, the foldable footwear 100 may be foldable along the first channel 120 and the second channel 122 such that the foldable footwear may be easily compacted, stored, or the like. As best seen in FIG. 5, this strap 318 may be in the form of a toe box defining a recess 502 constructed and arranged to comfortably enclose at least a portion of a user's foot including the toes.

Referring to FIG. 6, a cross-sectional view of a foldable footwear 100 is depicted and may include an insole 102 made up of a first insole 104, a second insole 106, and a third insole 108. The first, second, and third insoles may be separated from one another. the foldable footwear 100 may be foldable along a first bendable portion 160 and a second bendable portion 170 located at the first channel 120 and the second channel 122, respectively, such that the foldable footwear may be easily compacted, stored, or the like.

In some embodiments, the foldable footwear 100 may fold about in half, rather than in thirds as is shown in FIGS. 1-6. For example, the foldable footwear may include the first sole 110 and second sole 112, wherein the first sole 110 and second sole 112 having the mid channel 140 positioned at or near the midpoint 150 of the foldable footwear 100 to allow the foldable footwear to 100 to fold in half (see FIG. 1).

The following description of variants is only illustrative of components, elements, acts, products, and methods considered to be within the scope of the invention and are not in any way intended to limit such scope by what is specifically disclosed or not expressly set forth. The components, elements, acts, products, and methods as described herein may be combined and rearranged other than as expressly described herein and are still considered to be within the scope of the invention.

According to variation 1, a foldable slipper may include a first insole; a second insole; a third insole; at least one strap, toe box, or upper vamp affixed to at least one of the second insole or second insole; a sole defining a first channel and a second channel to define a first sole hingedly attached to a second sole, and a third sole hingedly attached to the second sole, wherein the first insole is disposed on the first sole, the second insole is disposed on the second sole, and third insole is disposed on the third sole; and wherein the foldable footwear is constructed and arranged to fold along the first channel and the second channel.

Many different embodiments have been disclosed herein, in connection with the above description and the drawings. It will be understood that it would be unduly repetitious and obfuscating to describe and illustrate every combination and subcombination of these embodiments. Accordingly, all embodiments can be combined in any way and/or combination, and the present specification, including the drawings, shall be construed to constitute a complete written description of all combinations and subcombinations of the embodiments described herein, and of the manner and process of making and using them, and shall support claims to any such combination or subcombination.

An equivalent substitution of two or more elements can be made for any one of the elements in the claims below or that a single element can be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. Although elements can be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination and that the claimed combination can be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present embodiment is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the following claims.

Claims

1. A foldable footwear, comprising:

a first insole;

a second insole;

a third insole;

at least one strap, toe box, or upper vamp affixed to the second insole;

a sole defining a first channel and a second channel to define a first sole hingedly attached to a second sole, and a third sole hingedly attached to the second sole, wherein the first insole is disposed one the first sole, the second insole is disposed on the second sole, and the third insole is disposed on the third sole; and

wherein the foldable footwear is constructed and arranged to fold along the first channel and the second channel.

2. The foldable footwear of claim 1, further comprising at least one passage to at least partially receive a user's foot.

3. The foldable footwear of claim 1, wherein the foldable footwear is configurable in in-use configuration.

4. The foldable footwear of claim 3, wherein the in-use configuration is defined by the first sole, the second sole, and the third sole forming a planar surface.

5. The foldable footwear of claim 1, wherein the foldable footwear is configurable in a storage configuration.

6. The foldable footwear of claim 3, wherein the storage configuration is defined by the first sole, the second sole, and the third sole forming a non-planar surface.

7. The foldable footwear of claim 1, wherein the foldable footwear is configured to fold in thirds.

8. The foldable footwear of claim 1, wherein the strap is configured as one of the following: a toecap, to box, upper vamp, or a thong.

9. The foldable footwear of claim 1, wherein the storage configuration is defined as being more compact than the in-use configuration.

10. A foldable footwear, comprising:

a first insole;

a second insole;

at least one strap, toe box, or upper vamp affixed to the second insole;

a sole defining a mid-channel to define a first sole hingedly attached to a second sole via the mid channel, wherein the first insole is disposed one the first sole, the second insole is disposed on the second sole, and the second insole is disposed on the second sole; and

wherein the foldable footwear is constructed and arranged to fold along a mid-channel.

11. The foldable footwear of claim 10, further comprising at least one passage to at least partially receive a user's foot.

12. The foldable footwear of claim 10, wherein the foldable footwear is configurable in in-use configuration.

13. The foldable footwear of claim 12, wherein the in-use configuration is defined by the first sole and the second sole forming a planar surface.

14. The foldable footwear of claim 10, wherein the foldable footwear is configurable in a storage configuration.

15. The foldable footwear of claim 14, wherein the storage configuration is defined by the first sole and the second sole forming a non-planar surface.

16. The foldable footwear of claim 10, wherein the foldable footwear is configured to fold in half.

17. The foldable footwear of claim 10, wherein the strap is configured as one of the following: a toecap, to box, upper vamp, or a thong.

18. The foldable footwear of claim 10, wherein the storage configuration is defined as being more compact than the in-use configuration.