An article of footwear, comprising a sole having a top portion and a bottom portion, and one or more straps, wherein at least one of the straps extends from the top portion to the bottom portion through a channel in the sole, and the strap has a plug end; and a retention element disposed between the plug end and the bottom portion of the sole, wherein the retention element comprises a base and one or more flanges disposed at an outer edge of the base projecting angularly upward and away from the base.

An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a footwear including a sole and at least one upper. The sole includes: a sole body; and at least one first mating connector located on the sole body. The at least one upper includes: an upper body; and at least one first mating connector located on the upper body. Each of the at least one first mating connector of the upper is configured to be detachably attached to one of the at least one first mating connector of the at least one sole.

A sandal comprising a base sole element and an upper element which enclose a human foot therebetween. Toe separators extend between the base sole element and the upper element, with each of the toe separators providing a wedging separation between adjacent toes of the human foot and the toe separators include a material such as memory foam to provide a cushioning sensation to the adjacent toes in contact therewith. A fabric cover of the memory foam may be textured to provide a massaging sensation as well. Separately the fabric may be comprised of an antimicrobial, antibacterial or antifungal fabric to thereby directly treat the area between the toes normally susceptible to athlete's foot.

Disclosed herein is an interchangeable strap on an opened toed footwear that includes a sole and a strap. Connected to one or more of the ends of the strap is an insert. The sole of the footwear includes housing units that are connectable to the strap inserts found on one or more strap end. The connection between the insert and the housing unit is both connectable and detachable.

Footwear comprising: a sole having a supporting surface with a groove, and an upper including a coupling portion, which is reversibly insertable inside the groove, wherein the groove is shaped to prevent axial sliding of the coupling portion when in the groove. A reversible coupling device reversibly couples the upper to the sole, between an operational configuration, where coupling portion is in the groove to prevent the extraction of the respective coupling portion along the insertion direction, and a non-operational configuration, where the coupling portion and the at least one groove are not constrained to each other so that the upper and the sole are separated or separable, and vice versa. The reversible coupling device includes first coupling elements fixed in the groove and second coupling elements fixed to the coupling portion, which are mutually reversibly couplable, said first and second coupling elements defining a quick fastening/unfastening system.

A fastening system includes a sleeve having a cylindrical body, and one or more braking members provided on the sleeve. At least one strap is extendable through the sleeve and movable relative to the sleeve while the sleeve is braced. The one or more braking members resist movement of the at least one strap relative to the sleeve.

A customizable flip flop includes a colored sole: a quick release fastener; a thong formed as a post having a bottom portion fixedly secured to the sole, and an upper portion formed with a receptacle to releasably secure the fastener thereto; and first and second straps. A first end of each strap is secured to a respective side at the rear of the sole. A second end of each strap comprises a ring that is received upon the shaft of the fastener, to releasably secure the straps' second ends to the post. Between each of its ends, the straps may be formed as a tube. Prior to securing the rings of each strap to the post, a plurality of colored plastic loops or rubber bands are received on each strap/tube, to customize coloring of the straps as desired, and to provide added comfort to the top of the wearer's foot.

According to the various embodiments of the present disclosure, footwear with an enhanced toe post is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the footwear may comprise a sole portion to support and protect a wearer's foot, a strap portion attached to the sole to bind the footwear to a wearer's foot, and at least one toe post passing between a wearer's toes constructed at least partially of memory foam or other cushioning materials.

The footwear includes a sole having three holes passing through the sole. A front channel, a first rear channel and a second rear channel are formed in an underside of the sole. The footwear also includes of a strap having a front plug, a first rear plug, and a second rear plug connected to the strap. Each of the three holes in the sole are aligned with respective channels to enable the three respective plugs to pass through each respective hole. The three plugs are releasably attached to the sole and configured to allow a user's foot to be located between the strap and the sole. Each respective plug is completely located within a respective channel such that each respective plug sits flush with the underside of the sole to secure the strap to the sole. The three channels and the three plugs are of complementary size and shape.

A valve assembly includes a rotating shaft 16 rotatably supported and having an internal passage 20 formed within the rotating shaft, first and second connecting portions 26 and 28 connected to both sides of the internal passage within the rotating shaft and adapted to externally send a fluid passing through the internal passage and to receive an external fluid, and a check ball 18 embedded in the internal passage and adapted to control a flow of the fluid. Furthermore, check ball seating portions 24a and 24b adapted to communicate with the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion and to have the check ball seated therein are formed on both insides of the internal passage 20. When the internal passage 20 is inclined by rotation of the rotating shaft 16, the check ball closely adheres to a check ball seating portion at a low position due to gravity or buoyancy and restricts a fluid flow from the internal passage to any one of the first and the second connecting portions.