Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention generally relates to footwear, specifically to a thong style
sandal with
removable cleats for use in sporting activity where extra traction is
necessary.
Background Of The Invention
Sandals constitute one of the earliest footwear known to man. Typically,
sandals
incorporate either a leather or rubberized sole which can be attached to the
human
foot by straps extending across the Achilles heel, and the top of the foot of
the user.
Early sandals were designed for walking. Sandals however, have recently
developed
for more demanding sporting activities. More force and stress is applied to
the sole,
during the stopping and twisting moves during sports activities such as golf,
hiking,
climbing, etc.
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Due to the recent commercial interest in sport sandals, there has become a
need for
a thong style sandal that is already familiar to the user that enhances the
users
ground stability by providing interchangeable cleats without sacrificing
comfort.
Several types of sandals with cleats have been proposed but none currently
reflect a
thong type sandal with removable cleats- for example, in the following United
States
of America patents:
United States Patent 7,584,553
United States Patent 6,295,742
United States Patent 2,525,308
United States Patent 4,051,610
United States Patent 4,525,939
United States Patent 3,597,863
United States Patent 6,052,920
United States Patent D379709
United States Patent D477129
United States Patent D496523
Although such sandals have achieved considerable popularity and commercial
success, there has been a continuing need for improvement. and nevertheless
all the
sandals heretofore known suffer from a number of disadvantages:
(a) Some current types of sandals have permanent molded in traction
enhancing features, which really don't add much more than a typical
sandal sole. Any sole with a semi aggressive groove tread pattern will
have the same stability effect.
(b) Some current types of sandals that do have the removable cleats are
basically just a running shoe with holes cut out of the shoe upper.
(c) With not having removable cleats you are hoping the elemental
conditions do not wear down the sole. The sole is will eventually wear
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(d) down over time, and not having the ability to change and always have
new cleats will lead to a loss of traction which defeats the purpose of the
current types of sandals. Golf shoes have removable spikes for a reason it
is so they can always be replaced ensuring proper traction on-going.
(e) The current types of sandals are only a one purpose use and cannot be
altered to fit different applications or activities. Meaning you cannot
change the use from golf cleats to hiking cleats to no cleats for everyday
walking.
(f) The current types of sandals are one dimensional and only fit one type of
individual's style preference not allowing another person to have a choice
of a casual footwear product to compliment an individual style.
(g) Some traction enhancing systems are required to be strapped to your foot
or a shoe making it very heavy and difficult to move.
Summary of The Invention
The invention, an improved thong style sandal that provides comfort and
stability,
has a foot-bed, a thong foot-strap attached to the front portion of the foot-
bed, side
straps attached to the thong and to the opposite sides of the rear portion of
the foot-
bed, a toe post between the Hallux (Big toe) and the index toe and an outsole
comprised of a plurality of cleats that mount into receiving sockets that
allow the
user to easily, and when necessary change the cleats. The cleat sockets are
placed
around the perimeter of the outsole and form a preferable cleat pattern, a
cleat then
may be mounted into the cleat socket. The cleat socket is embedded into the
sole
and is surrounded by the outsole and foot bed material not allowing it to be
removed from the sandal. The cleat socket is a permanent part of the sandal
and the
socket shape may be changed to accommodate different cleat mounting types.
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Accordingly several advantages of the invention are to provide an improved
thong
style sandal, to provide means of greater comfort, ground engaging traction, a
better
form of foot temperature control, ability to remove the cleats for use in
everyday
situations, and better terrain feel. By not having the foot fully incased with
an
Achilles heel strap it allows the user to maintain a means of control during
sporting
activity. Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a
study of
the following description and accompanying drawings.
In operation the user places the left or right foot sandal on the appropriate
human
foot with the toe post between the Hallux (Big toe) and the index toe. When
the user
steps into the sandal and places their foot onto the foot-bed the sole is
engaged to
the ground. As the weight of the stationary human body and the forces of
gravity is
initiated the cleats firmly grip the ground surface and provide a stable
planting that prevents sliding or twisting of the sole during the activity.
When not
using the sandal during an activity the cleats do not fully engage as the
human
body's weight is not fully planted allowing the cleats solely to provide extra
traction
while walking on the ground surface.
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Detailed Description Of The Invention
FIG. 1 is a perspective left-side view taken from the user sandal 10
constructed in accordance with the invention. The view shows the foot strap 12
attached to the toe-post 13 mounted at two points of the foot-bed 11 and the
seven
visible mounted cleats 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 on the outsole 14 and the
preferable arch support 23.
FIG. 2 is a perspective right-side view of the sandal 10, showing the foot
strap
12, the toe-post 13 mounted at two points to the foot-bed 11 with a preferable
arch
support 23 and the seven visible mounted cleats 15, 16,17, 18,19, 20 and 21 on
the
outsole 14.
FIG. 3 is a perspective top view of the sandal 10, showing the foot strap 12,
the toe-post 13 mounted at three points of the foot-bed 11 and the preferable
arch
support 23.
FIG. 4 is a perspective bottom view of the sandal 10, showing preferable
seven mounted cleats 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 pattern on the outsole 14.
FIG. 5 is a perspective front view of the sandal 10, showing the foot strap
12,
the toe-post 13 mounted at three points to the foot-bed 11 with the preferable
arch
support 23 and the seven visible mounted cleats 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21
on the
outsole 14.
FIG. 6 is a perspective back view of the sandal 10, showing the foot strap 12,
the toe-post 13 mounted at three points to the foot-bed 11 with the preferable
arch
support 23 and the seven visible mounted cleats 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21
on the
outsole 14.
FIG. 7 is a lateral cross section view of the sandal 10, showing the cleat
socket
22 molded in the outsole 14 and foot-bed 11 and cleat 18 not mounted in the
cleat
socket.
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FIG. 8 is a cross section view of the front bottom portion of the sandal 10,
showing the outsole 14 with a cleat socket 22 and cleats 17 and 19 mounted in
the
cleat sockets to the outsole.
