This disclosure relates generally to a pair of shoes that convert from a pair of flip-flip shoes with a toe thong to a pair of sandal shoes without a toe thong, and vice versa.
Many users desire to wear flip-flop shoes having a toe thong as it provides for the toe to more easily secure the foot to the shoe. However, many of these same users sometimes desire a sandal shoe without a toe thong, as it provides for more comfort in that there is nothing between the user's toes, or it can allow a user to wear socks. It is desirable to have a shoe that can convert between a flip-flip with a toe thong to a sandal without a toe-thong.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need for methods and apparatus for converting a flip-flip shoe with a toe thong to a sandal shoe without a toe thong, and vice versa.
Provided herein is a system including a pair of shoes. The pair of shoes includes a left sole and a right sole. At least 6 sole connectors on the left sole and at least 6 sole connectors on the right sole. The pair of shoes also includes a left foot fastener and a right foot fastener. At least 3 foot fasteners connectors are positioned on said left foot fastener and at least 6 sole connectors are positioned on said right sole. Said left foot fastener is configured to connect to said left sole in a sandal mode and said right foot fastener is configured to connect to said right sole in a sandal mode. Said left foot fastener is further configured to connect to said left sole in a flip-flop mode forming a toe thong, and said right foot fastener is further configured to connect to said right sole in said flip-flop mode forming a toe thong.
As used herein, a sandal is a shoe that does not have a toe thong. As used herein, a flip-flop is a shoe that does have a toe thong. As used herein, toe thong is formed from a foot fastener that is positioned between two toes that is used to help keep the shoe on the user's foot. The toe thong is usually between the first and second toes, however, it may be between any two adjacent toes.
In one embodiment, the at least 6 sole connectors on the left sole, the at least 6 sole connectors on the right sole, the at least 3 foot fasteners connectors on the left foot fastener, and the at least 3 foot fasteners connectors on the right foot fastener can include Velcro®. The at least 3 foot fasteners connectors on the left foot fastener and the at least 3 foot fasteners connectors on the right foot fastener can be Velcro® hooks, and the at least 6 sole connectors on the left sole and the at least 6 sole connectors on the right sole can be Velcro® loops.
In one embodiment, the at least 6 sole connectors on the left sole, the at least 6 sole connectors on the right sole, the at least 3 foot fasteners connectors on the left foot fastener, and the at least 3 foot fasteners connectors on the right foot fastener can include magnets.
In one embodiment, the at least 6 sole connectors on the left sole can be 7 sole connectors, the at least 6 sole connectors on the right sole can be 7 sole connectors, the at least 3 foot fasteners connectors on the left foot fastener can be 4 foot fasteners connectors, and the at least 3 foot fasteners connectors on the right foot fastener can be 4 foot fasteners connectors.
In one embodiment, the pair of shoes can also include a left cover and a right cover. The left cover covers the left sole and the right cover covers the right sole. The left cover includes at least one slit that covers at least one sole connector of the at least 6 sole connectors on the left sole, and the right cover includes at least one slit that covers at least one sole connector of the at least 6 sole connectors on the right sole. The at least one slit can be in the shape of an “X.” The left cover can include one slit that covers one sole connector of each of the at least 6 sole connectors on the left sole, and the right cover can include one slit that covers one sole connector of each of the at least 6 sole connectors on the right sole.
In one embodiment, the left foot fastener and/or the right foot fastener can include a shaping area configured to shape the left foot fastener and/or the right foot fastener into the toe thong in the flip-flop mode.
In one embodiment, the pair of shoes can also include at least one slide connector. The at least one slide connector is configured to change the left foot fastener and/or the right foot fastener from the flip-flop mode to the sandal mode.
In a related aspect, provided is method for using a shoe. The shoe includes a sole with at least 6 sole connectors are on the sole. The method includes connecting at least 3 foot fastener connectors on a foot fastener to at least 3 sole connectors. The connecting causes the foot fastener to form a toe thong such that the shoe is in a flip-flop mode. The method includes connecting the at least 3 foot fastener connectors on a foot fastener to another at least 3 sole connectors. The connecting causes the foot fastener to place the shoe in a sandal mode. The at least 3 foot fastener connectors can be magnets or can be Velcro®. The shoe can include a cover and connecting the at least 3 foot fastener connectors on the foot fastener can include connecting the at least 3 foot fastener connectors on the foot fastener through a slit in the cover that covers the at least 3 sole connectors and/or another at least 3 sole connectors. The method for using a shoe can further include adjusting the length of the foot fastener.
Provided herein is an apparatus including a shoe. The shoe includes a sole with 6 sole connectors positioned on the sole. The shoe also includes a cover positioned over the sole and the 6 sole connectors. The cover including 6 slits with each slit of the 6 slits disposed over each sole connector of the 6 sole connectors. The shoe also includes a foot fastener. The foot fastener includes a shaping area configured to shape the foot fastener into a toe thong when the shoe is in a flip-flop mode. Three foot fasteners connectors are positioned on the foot fastener. The foot fastener is configured to connect to the sole in a sandal mode, and the foot fastener is further configured to connect to the sole in the flip-flop mode forming the toe thong.
In one embodiment, the 6 sole connectors can be Velcro® loops and the 3 foot fasteners connectors can be Velcro® hooks.
In one embodiment, the foot fastener can be made from an elastic material, and the positioning of the 6 sole connectors on the sole is such that the foot fastener stretches to accommodate a difference in lengths between when the shoe is in the sandal mode and when the shoe is in the flip-flop mode.
In one embodiment, the foot fastener can be made from an inelastic material, and the positioning of the 6 sole connectors on the sole is such that the foot fastener does not stretch between when the shoe is in the sandal mode and when the shoe is in the flip-flop mode.
The details of one or more variations of the subject matter described herein are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages of the subject matter described herein will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.
The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which:
The following description and the drawings illustrate specific embodiments sufficient to enable those skilled in the art to practice the system and method described. Other embodiments may incorporate structural, logical, process and other changes. Examples merely typify possible variations. Individual components and functions are generally optional unless explicitly required, and the sequence of operations may vary. Portions and features of some embodiments may be included in or substituted for those of others.
As shown in the attached figures, embodiments comprising a flip-flip shoe with a toe thong convert to a sandal shoe without a toe thong, and vice versa, are disclosed. An embodiment according to the present disclosure connects a foot fastener to a sole to allow a shoe to convert to flip-flop mode to allow the shoe to be used as a flip-flip. An embodiment according to the present disclosure connects a foot fastener to a sole to allow a shoe to convert to a sandal mode to allow shoe to be used as a sandal. The foot fastener can be connected to the sole using a variety of connection devices, including Velcro, magnets, hook-and-loop fasteners, snaps, buckles, slides, zippers, buttons, clasps, eyelets, frog closures, pins, laces, loop fasteners, grommets, hook and eyes, and the like.
Sole connectors 101-106 can be any number of connectors that enable a foot fastener to be connected to the sole, including between 3 and 12, between 5 and 8, between 6 and 8, more than 3, more than 6, and more than 8. As disclosed in the embodiment according to
In embodiments, a distance between sole connectors 102 and 105 can be equal to a distance between sole connectors 102 and 106. In embodiments, a distance between sole connectors 101 and 103 can be equal to a distance between sole connectors 101 and 104. In embodiments, a distance between sole connectors 102 and 105, a distance between sole connectors 102 and 106, a distance between sole connectors 101 and 103, and a distance between sole connectors 101 and 104 can all be equal. In embodiments, a first distance between sole connectors 102 and 105 equals a first distance between sole connectors 102 and 106, and a second distance between sole connectors 101 and 103 equals a second distance between sole connectors 101 and 104, but the first distance does not equal the second distance.
In the embodiment of
In embodiments, a distance between sole connectors 202 and 205 can be equal to a distance between sole connectors 202 and 206. In embodiments, a distance between sole connectors 201 and 203 can be equal to a distance between sole connectors 201 and 204. In embodiments, a distance between sole connectors 202 and 205, a distance between sole connectors 202 and 206, a distance between sole connectors 201 and 203, and a distance between sole connectors 201 and 204 can all be equal. In embodiments, a first distance between sole connectors 202 and 205 equals a first distance between sole connectors 202 and 206, and a second distance between sole connectors 201 and 203 equals a second distance between sole connectors 201 and 204, but the first distance does not equal the second distance.
Shoes will generally be a pair of shoes that comprise a left shoe and a right shoe, with left and right shoes each having a sole and the sole connectors as described herein.
When it is desired to switch the shoe between a flip-flop mode and a sandal mode, foot fasteners 311, 321 can be removed from the respective soles 107, 207 and then placed into the desired configuration. For example, when desired to use the shoe in the flip-flop mode, (left) foot fastener 311 is connected to (left) sole 107 using a foot fastener connector 308 to sole connector 106; foot fastener connector 309 is connected to sole connector 102; and foot fastener connector 310 is connected to sole connector 105. The (right) foot fastener 321 is connected to (right) sole 207 using foot fastener connector 328 to sole connector 206; foot fastener connector 329 is connected to sole connector 202; and foot fastener connector 330 is connected to sole connector 205.
Foot fasteners can be constructed from an elastic material or inelastic material. In embodiments where the sole connectors are positioned such that the first distance between sole connectors 202 and 205 equals the first distance between sole connectors 202 and 206, and the second distance between sole connectors 201 and 203 equals the second distance between sole connectors 201 and 204, but the first distance does not equal the second distance, foot fasteners constructed from an elastic material are preferred. In this manner, the foot fastener can stretch to accommodate the differences in length between when a shoe is in the sandal mode and when the shoe is in the flip-flop mode. In embodiments where the sole connectors are positioned such that the distance between sole connectors 202 and 205, the distance between sole connectors 202 and 206, the distance between sole connectors 201 and 203, and the distance between sole connectors 201 and 204 are all equal, foot fasteners constructed from an inelastic material can be used. In this manner, the foot fastener does not need to stretch to accommodate the same lengths between when a shoe is in the sandal mode and when the shoe is in the flip-flop mode.
In general, foot fasteners can be constructed of elastic bands, textile material, plastic, nylon, polyester, leather, woven material, non-woven material, and the like. While the aforementioned distances are described in terms of the right shoe and right sole, the foot fasteners embodiments apply similarly to the left shoe and the left sole. While the aforementioned sole connectors are described with regards to
For example, when desired to use the shoe in sandal mode, left foot fastener 311 is connected to sole 107 using foot fastener connector 308 to sole connector 101; foot fastener connector 309 to sole connector 103; and foot fastener connector 310 to sole connector 104. Right foot fastener 321 is connected to sole 207 using foot fastener connector 328 to sole connector 201; foot fastener connector 329 to sole connector 203; and foot fastener connector 330 to sole connector 204.
When desiring to switch to sandal mode, the foot fasteners 311, 321 can be removed and then connected to soles 107, 207 as shown in
Foot fastener 1021 can also be adjustable in length, using for example a buckle, Velcro®, cam buckle, D-rings, or the like. Foot fastener 1021 could also be made of an elastic material that allows it to stretch to different sizes. This can allow for different feet sizes to fit within the shoe. In one embodiment, foot fastener 1021 when used in flip-flop mode is half the size of foot fastener 1021 when used in sandal mode, and thus when used in flip-flop mode, the foot fastener 1021 is double backed.
Although a few variations have been described in detail above, other modifications or additions are possible. In particular, further features and/or variations can be provided in addition to those set forth herein. For example, the implementations described above can be directed to various combinations and sub-combinations of the disclosed features and/or combinations and sub-combinations of several further features disclosed above. Similarly, elements located on the front, back, side, top, or bottom of an embodiment or implementation are to be understood as relatively positioned, unless otherwise specified. Other embodiments can be within the scope of the claims.
This application is intended to cover any variations, uses or adaptations of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention, and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known and customary practice within the art to which the invention pertains. The foregoing description of specific embodiments reveals the general nature of the disclosure sufficiently that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt the system and method for various applications without departing from the general concept. Therefore, such adaptations and modifications are within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. The phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.