Patent Application
20210022434
The present disclosure is directed to footwear. Specifically, the present invention is directed to footwear combined with toe separators.
The beauty business is a million, if not billion, dollar industry. Manicures and pedicures are common beauty treatments people seek. As nail salon customers know once the service is obtained time must be budgeted in to allow the nail color to dry and set. Pedicures, in particular, require an extended “wait time” because use of shoes or anything closed-toe can compromise the quality and finish of the pedicure.
Another factor to consider or remember when obtaining nail services is to bring open-toe footwear. Customers who are prepared to get a pedicure will bring open-toe footwear to the nail salon. Those customers who forget open-toe footwear will forgo a pedicure or use flimsy footwear provided by the nail salon. Not only are the common nail salon footwear flimsy but they provide no separation of toes other than the thong between the first toe, also known as the hallux, “big toe”, the innermost toe and the second toe, or “index toe”. In addition to open-toe footwear, a nail service customer will have to place rolled-up paper towels between the toes or use a separate toe separator.
Another type of pedicure sandal exists such as those in D558,959 and D575,484, however these designs only provide dividers between each toe. Specifically, between each of the following: the first toe, also known as the hallux or “big toe”, which is the innermost toe; the second toe also known as the “index toe”; the third toe also known as the “middle toe”; the fourth toe and the fifth toe also known as the “little toe”, “pinky toe”, or the outermost toe. The dividers often are attached and extend between the strap and the sole of the footwear.
What is desired is a pedicure footwear that is sturdy and can be worn by a nail service patron both in the salon and on the streets. It is desired that this pedicure footwear have toe separators incorporated in the sole of the footwear. It is desired that this pedicure footwear separate each toe. It is also desired that the fifth toe be protected from possible contact with foreign objects.
A pedicure footwear provides a toe separator embedded in the sole of the footwear. The toe separator has five knobs and receives each the second toe, the third toe, the fourth toe and the fifth toe. The first knob abuts an inner side of the first toe and the fifth knob abuts the outer side of the fifth toe.
In one embodiment the five knobs 36, 38, 42 are individual plugs that are inserted through the bottom surface 18 of the sole 10 and exit the top surface of the sole 10. Alternatively, the knobs may be screwed or fit into the sole 10 via the top surface of the footware 100. In these embodiments, the knobs 36, 38, 42 may be selectively used. For instance, when needed the knobs 36, 38, 42 may be placed on the footware 100 and when not needed the knobs 36, 38, 42 may be stored elsewhere. In yet another embodiment the toe separator may 30 be a single unit with knobs 36, 38, 42 and this single unit will be dimensioned and configured to fit into the top surface of the footware sole 10 via some attachment means including but not limited to Velcro, a slot, and the like.
The knobs 36, 38, 42 each have at least one contoured side while the first knob 36 and the fifth knob 42 may each have at least one straight side. Specifically, knob 36 has a side with a straight edge and a contoured side. Knob 36 is not limited to only a straight side. In an alternative embodiment, each side of first knob 36 may be contoured, see for instance knob 36 in
The narrow ends 32 between first knob 36 and knob 38 forms a valley to receive the second toe, the narrow ends 32 between the two adjacent knobs 38 receive each the third and fourth toes. The narrow ends 32 between knob 38 and fifth knob 42 receives the fifth toe. The fifth knob 42 protects the fifth toe from contacting foreign objects that may affect any toe nail polish applied on the fifth toe. The toe separator 30 abuts the first toe and receives the second toe, the third toe, the fourth toe and the fifth toe.
While specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, such embodiments should be considered illustrative of the invention only and not as limiting the invention as construed in accordance with the accompanying claims. One of ordinary skill in the art could alter the above embodiments or provide insubstantial changes that may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.
