Convertible Flip-Flop To Sandal

Abstract

A convertible footwear device includes a sole having opposed toe and heel ends. The footwear device includes a Y-shaped strap assembly having a first strap portion and a second strap portion that are joined together at a post strap portion proximate the toe end. A heel strap assembly including a heel strap having a first end rotatably coupled to the first end of the first strap portion of the Y-shaped strap assembly and a second end rotatably coupled to the first end of the second strap portion of the Y-shaped strap assembly, wherein the heel strap is pivotally movable between a forward configuration in which the heel strap is positioned atop the first and second strap portions a rearward configuration rearwardly displaced from the post assembly for use as a sandal heel strap.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to footwear and, more particularly, to a flip-flop foot covering having an auxiliary strap movable for use as a heel strap as in a sandal. The flip-flop device may also be referred to below as the convertible flip-flop to sandal, the flip-flop footwear device, or merely as the flip-flop device.

A “flip-flop” (sometimes referred to as a “thong”) is a casual type of footwear characterized by a Y-shaped strap that passes between the first and second toes of a user and along both sides of the foot. While a flip-flop is considered a type of sandal, it does not include a heel strap as is characteristic of a typical sandal. The flip-flop, therefore, may be seen as being easier or faster to put on or take off in that the heel strap does not need to be manually positioned or removed from a user's foot. On the other hand, flip-flops are not typically worn in formal settings in that they tend to slide off the user's feet during normal walking or running activities.

Although presumably effective for their intended purposes, a user who may desire a casual footwear product during informal activities and a more stable and formal footwear product during more formal activities is faced with needing to carry more than one shoe product in order to affect a change of shoes as the type or nature of the activity may dictate

Therefore, it would be desirable to have a flip-flop that is easily convertible to a full sandal. Further, it would be desirable to have a flip-flop having an auxiliary sandal strap that extends atop the traditional Y-strap and which may be selectively released and positioned as a heel strap so as to convert the flip-flop into a sandal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A footwear device that is convertible between a flip-flop and a sandal according to the present invention includes a sole having a bottom surface and an upper surface opposed to the bottom surface, the sole having a toe end extending between front ends of a lateral edge and a medial edge of the sole, respectively, and having a heel end extending between rear ends of the lateral edge and the medial edge of the sole, respectively. The footwear device includes a first strap portion having a first end coupled to the upper surface of the sole adjacent the lateral edge and having a second end displaced from the first end of the first strap portion. The footwear device includes a second strap portion having a first end coupled to the upper surface of the sole adjacent the medial edge and having a second end displaced from the first end of the second strap portion. A post assembly includes a post strap portion having a first end coupled to the upper surface of the sole and having a second end extending upwardly away from the first end thereof.

A heel strap assembly including a heel strap having a first end rotatably coupled to the first end of the first strap portion of the Y-shaped strap assembly and a second end rotatably coupled to the first end of the second strap portion of the Y-shaped strap assembly, wherein the heel strap is pivotally movable between a forward configuration adjacent the post assembly and a rearward configuration rearwardly displaced from the post assembly.

Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide footwear device that is convertible between a flip-flop (i.e. a ‘thong’) and a sandal.

Another object of this invention is to provide a footwear device that includes a heel strap element positioned atop the Y-straps of a flip-flop and which is movable to surround the heel of a user's foot.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of footwear that is convertible between a flip-flop and a sandal according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in a flip-flop configuration;

FIG. 2 is convertible footwear according to the present invention, illustrated in a sandal configuration;

FIG. 3a is a top view of the convertible footwear as in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3b is an isolated view on an enlarged scale taken from FIG. 3a;

FIG. 4 is as top view of the convertible footwear as in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a side view of the convertible footwear as in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A flip-flop footwear device according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings. The flip-flop footwear device 10 includes a sole 20, a Y-shaped strap assembly, a post assembly 40, and a heel strap assembly 50.

The sole 20 of the flip-flop footwear device 10 includes a bottom surface and an upper surface 22 opposed to the bottom surface, the sole 20 having a lateral edge 24 (outside edge) and a medial edge 25 (inside edge) opposite the lateral edge 24. The sole 20 includes a toe end 26 extending between front ends of the lateral edge 24 and medial edge 25 of the sole, respectively, and a heel end 28 extending between rear ends of the lateral and medial edges of the sole, respectively.

The flip-flop footwear device 10 may include a Y-shaped strap assembly that includes a first strap portion 30 having a first end 32 mounted to the upper surface 22 of the sole 20 adjacent the lateral edge 24 and having a second end 34 opposite and displaced from the first end 32. Similarly, the Y-shaped strap assembly has a second strap portion 36 having a first end 38 mounted to the upper surface 22 of the sole adjacent the medial edge 25 and having a second end 39 opposite and displaced from the first end 38. Further, the second end 34 of the first strap portion 30 is coupled to the second end 39 of the second strap portion 36 at a position displaced upwardly from the sole 20. It will be understood that the coupling together of the second ends 34, 39 may be referred to as the apex of the Y-shaped strap assembly. In an embodiment, one or both of the strap members may be constructed of a magnetic material so that the flip-flop footwear device 10 may be coupled to a magnetic surface, such as a bicycle or other metal surface.

The post assembly 40 includes a post strap portion 42 that is shorter in length then either the first strap portion 30 or the second strap portion 36, the post strap portion 42 having a first end 44 mounted to the upper surface 22 of the sole and having a second end 46 displaced from the first end 44, the second end 46 being coupled to the apex described above. A coupling member 48 is mounted to an outer surface of the post strap portion 42 of the post assembly 40 and is configured for selectively securing the heel strap assembly 50 to the Y-shaped strap assembly and, more particularly, to the apex as will be described later.

The heel strap assembly 50 includes opposed ends rotatably coupled to first ends of the first strap portion 30 and second strap portion 36, respectively. Preferably, the heel strap assembly 50 is movable between a forward configuration (FIG. 1) releasably coupled to the post assembly 40 and a rearward configuration (FIG. 2) released from and rearwardly displaced from the post assembly 40 and suited for using the flip-flop device 10 as a sandal product.

More particularly, the heel strap assembly 50 has a heel strap 52 that includes a first end 53 rotatably coupled to the first end 32 of the first strap portion 30 with a fastener 54 that allows rotation thereabout. Similarly, the heel strap 52 includes a second end 55 rotatably coupled to the first end 38 of the second strap portion 36 with another fastener 54 (intentionally labeled the same as the fastener 54 previously referred to) that allows rotation thereabout. Suitable fasteners would include snaps, rivets, hook-and-loop fasteners, and the like. The heel strap 52 may be constructed of a cloth material although being constructed of rubber, nylon, leather, or elastic would also be suitable.

An auxiliary fastener 56 is mounted to the heel strap 52 intermediate the first end 53 and the second end 55 of the heel strap 52. The auxiliary fastener 56 of the heel strap assembly 50 and the coupling member 48 of the Y-shaped strap assembly are complementary to one another and capable of being coupled together at the forward configuration and released from one another so that the heel strap 52 is rotatable to the rearward configuration. The auxiliary fastener 56 and coupling member 48 may be snaps, latches, buckles, hook-and-loop fasteners, or the like.

In use, the heel strap assembly 50 and, specifically, the heel strap 52 is coupled to the post strap portion 42 of the post assembly 40 using the fastening members as described above. This usage coincides with a user wanting to wear the flip-flop footwear device 10 in the manner of a traditional flip-flop foot covering. Selectively, the fastening members may be released so that the heel strap assembly 50 may be rotated to the rearward configuration about the axes of rotation of fasteners 54 as described above. This usage coincides with a user wanting to wear the flip-flop footwear device 10 in the manner of a more formal sandal type foot covering.

It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A flip-flop footwear device, comprising: a sole having a bottom surface and an upper surface opposed to said bottom surface, said sole having a toe end extending between front ends of a lateral edge and a medial edge of said sole, respectively, and having a heel end extending between rear ends of said lateral edge and said medial edge of the sole, respectively;a Y-shaped strap assembly that includes a first strap portion having a first end coupled to said upper surface of said sole adjacent said lateral edge and having a second end displaced from said first end of said first strap portion;said Y-shaped strap assembly including a second strap portion having a first end coupled to said upper surface of said sole adjacent said medial edge and having a second end displaced from said first end of said second strap portion;a post assembly includes a post strap portion having a first end coupled to said upper surface of said sole and having a second end extending upwardly away from said first end thereof;wherein said second end of said first strap portion is coupled to said second end of said second strap portion at a position adjacent said second end of said post strap;a heel strap assembly including a heel strap having a first end rotatably coupled to said first end of said first strap portion of said Y-shaped strap assembly and a second end rotatably coupled to said first end of said second strap portion of said Y-shaped strap assembly;wherein said heel strap is pivotally movable between a forward configuration adjacent said post assembly and a rearward configuration rearwardly displaced from said post assembly.

2. The flip-flop footwear device as in claim 1, wherein said heel strap is positioned atop said first strap portion and said second strap portion at said forward configuration and said heel strap is rotated rearwardly and displaced from said first strap portion and said second strap portion at said rearward configuration.

3. The flip-flop footwear device as in claim 1, wherein said post assembly includes a coupling member mounted to an outer surface of said post strap portion for securing said heel strap to said post strap portion at said forward configuration.

4. The flip-flop footwear device as in claim 3, wherein said heel strap includes an intermediate section releasably coupled to said second end of said post strap portion, said intermediate section being positioned about midway between said first end and said second end of said heel strap.

5. The flip-flop footwear device as in claim 4, further comprising an auxiliary fastener mounted to an outer surface of said intermediate section of said heel strap of said heel strap assembly, said auxiliary fastener releasably attached to said coupling member of said post assembly at said forward configuration.

6. The flip-flop footwear device as in claim 1, wherein: said first end of said heel strap is rotatably coupled to said first strap portion with a fastener that defines an axis about which said first end of said heel strap rotates;said second end of said heel strap is rotatably coupled to said second strap portion with a fastener that defines an axis about which said second end of said heel strap rotates.

7. The flip-flop footwear device as in claim 5, wherein: said first end of said heel strap is rotatably coupled to said first strap portion with a fastener that defines an axis about which said first end of said heel strap rotates when said auxiliary fastener is released from said coupling member and thus allowed to rotate;said second end of said heel strap is rotatably coupled to said second strap portion with a fastener that defines an axis about which said second end of said heel strap rotates when said auxiliary fastener is released from said coupling member and thus allowed to rotate.

8. A convertible footwear device, comprising: a sole having a bottom surface and an upper surface opposed to said bottom surface, said sole having a toe end and a heel end opposite the toe end and having opposed lateral and medial edges extending between said toe end and said heel end;a strap assembly that includes a first strap portion having a first end coupled to said upper surface of said sole adjacent said lateral edge and having a second end displaced from said first end of said first strap portion;said strap assembly including a second strap portion having a first end coupled to said upper surface of said sole adjacent said medial edge and having a second end displaced from said first end of said second strap portion;a post strap portion having a first end coupled to said upper surface of said sole and having a second end extending upwardly away from said first end thereof;wherein said second end of said first strap portion is coupled to said second end of said second strap portion adjacent said second end of said post strap portion;a heel strap assembly including a heel strap having a first end rotatably coupled to said first end of said first strap portion of said strap assembly and a second end rotatably coupled to said first end of said second strap portion of said strap assembly;wherein said heel strap is pivotally movable between a forward configuration adjacent said post strap portion and a rearward configuration rearwardly displaced from said post strap portion.

9. The convertible footwear device as in claim 8, wherein said heel strap is positioned atop said first strap portion and said second strap portion at said forward configuration and said heel strap is rotated rearwardly and displaced from said first strap portion and said second strap portion at said rearward configuration.

10. The convertible footwear device as in claim 8, further comprising a coupling member mounted to an outer surface of said post strap portion for securing said heel strap to said post strap portion at said forward configuration.

11. The convertible footwear device as in claim 10, wherein said heel strap includes an intermediate section releasably coupled to said second end of said post strap portion, said intermediate section being positioned about midway between said first end and said second end of said heel strap.

12. The convertible footwear device as in claim 11, further comprising an auxiliary fastener mounted to an outer surface of said intermediate section of said heel strap of said heel strap assembly, said auxiliary fastener being releasably attached to said coupling member of said post assembly at said forward configuration.

13. The convertible footwear device as in claim 8, wherein: said first end of said heel strap is rotatably coupled to said first strap portion with a fastener that defines an axis about which said first end of said heel strap rotates;said second end of said heel strap is rotatably coupled to said second strap portion with a fastener that defines an axis about which said second end of said heel strap rotates.

14. The convertible footwear device as in claim 12, wherein: said first end of said heel strap is rotatably coupled to said first strap portion with a fastener that defines an axis about which said first end of said heel strap rotates when said auxiliary fastener is released from said coupling member and thus being free to rotate;said second end of said heel strap is rotatably coupled to said second strap portion with a fastener that defines an axis about which said second end of said heel strap rotates when said auxiliary fastener is released from said coupling member and thus being free to rotate.