Patent Application
20090249655
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
This invention relates generally to the field of footwear and more specifically to a clock sandal.
Footwear known as sandals are well known. One sub-class of sandals are called flip-flops. These type of sandals are constructed of a flexible sole plate and a pair of straps that join at the front of the sole plate to form a single strap where the space between wearer's big toe and second toe can retain the strap and thereby hold the sandal onto the wearer's foot.
Flip-flop type sandals are often worn by people when going to the beach. During these occasions it is often necessary to carry items such as a time keeping device or keys. However, bathing suits and other beach attire often do not have pockets and having to carry a separate tote bag can also be inconvenient. Others have attempted to address this problem. For example, R. Lewis in her U.S. Pat. No. 7,028,422 discloses a slipper type shoe that includes a thin compartment to carry paper money or the like. D Weitzner in her U.S. Pat. No. 3,328,900 discloses an under the shoe sole plate that can be lifted to reveal a compartment for holding small items. And J Patrikios in his patent D370,112 discloses a show that includes a time piece built into the side of the shoe.
However there are deficiencies in the prior art because none of the previous patents discloses both a generous storage department accessible from the top heal portion of a flip-flop type sandal as well as a time keeping device built into the top portion of the sandal that can be easily read by the wearer while the sandals are in use by the wearer.
The primary object of the invention is to provide a sandal that incorporates a time keeping device in the sandal so that a separate watch or other time keeping device does not need to be carried by the user.
Another object of the invention is to provide a sandal that incorporates a storage compartment so that a person can carry small items without having to carry an additional carrying case or clothing having pockets.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed clock sandal comprising: a flexible sole plate, a pair of flexible foot retaining straps, a time keeping device, a time keeping device retaining loop, said sole plate including a thin flexible top layer of material: said sole heal portion including a hollow cavity, said hollow cavity covered by a hinged top plate, said foot retaining straps each attached to the left and right heal portion of said sole plate and said straps joining to form a single strap that is fixedly connected to the portion of said sole plate that corresponds to the space between the wearer's big toe and second toe, said time keeping device retaining loop fixedly attached to said single strap at said strap joining location and said time keeping device frictionally retained within said device retaining loop.
The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.
Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.
Referring now to
While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
