Structural arrangement of uppers on sandals

Abstract

The utility model relates to a structural arrangement for attaching flexible uppers to sandals such as flip-flops, consisting of an upper (2) comprising three longitudinal straps (7, 8 and 9) provided with, in the most distal regions thereof, an upper protuberance (10) in contact with an upper surface (5) of a sole (1), a lower protuberance (11) in contact with a lower surface (6) of said sole (1), and a hollow space (12) that passes through cavities (4) in the sole (1) and receives a stopper (3) made of rigid plastic, said stopper having both a region with a smaller diameter (13) and a region with a larger diameter (14), the latter covering the lower recess (11) of the most distal end of the upper (2), as well as a central hole (15) that connects the inside of the hollow space to the outside environment.

Claims

1. A structural arrangement of uppers on sandals, the arrangement comprising: a flexible upper comprising a main longitudinal strap and two side longitudinal straps that extend from a first end of the main longitudinal strap, wherein each of the side longitudinal straps comprise, in distal regions, an upper protuberance which is in contact with an upper surface of a flexible sole, a lower protuberance which is in contact with the lower surface of the flexible sole, and wherein the lower protuberance defines a hollow space that passes through cavities in the flexible sole and receives, in its interior, a region with a smaller diameter of a rigid plastic stopper, said stopper having a region of larger diameter that overlies the lower protrusion of the most distal end of the upper, as well as a central hole which connects the inside of the hollow space to the outside environment.

2. The structural arrangement of claim 1 wherein the structural arrangement further comprises a first one and a second one of the rigid plastic stoppers that anchor the side longitudinal straps to the flexible sole, each being configured to be inserted, respectfully, into one of the lower protuberances at the distal ends of the two side longitudinal straps.

3. The structural arrangement of claim 1 wherein a second end of the main longitudinal strap comprises one of the upper protuberance and one of the lower protuberance that defines the hollow space.

4. The structural arrangement of claim 1, further comprising: one of the rigid plastic stoppers designed to be inserted into the lower protuberance located at the second end of the main longitudinal strap.

5. The structural arrangement of claim 1, wherein the two side longitudinal straps are connected to the main longitudinal strap such that the flexible upper comprises a Y-shape structure made up of the two side longitudinal straps and the main longitudinal strap.

6. The structural arrangement of claim 1, wherein the flexible upper consists of the two side longitudinal straps and the main longitudinal strap.

7. The structural arrangement of claim 1, wherein the flexible upper is formed as a one-piece structure wherein the two side longitudinal straps are integrally formed with the main longitudinal strap.

8. The structural arrangement of claim 2 wherein a second end of the main longitudinal strap comprises one of the upper protuberance and one of the lower protuberance that defines the hollow space.

9. The structural arrangement of claim 2, wherein the lower protuberance at the distal end of the side longitudinal straps each comprise a flange that extends outwardly to mechanically engage a lower surface of the flexible sole; and wherein the first one and the second one of the rigid plastic stoppers each comprise: an upper cylindrical section corresponding to the region with the smaller diameter that are inserted into the hollow spaces of the lower protuberances; a middle cylindrical section also of the smaller diameter and serving to abut the inside surface of the lower protuberance so as to bias the flange of the lower protuberance into engagement with the lower surface of the flexible sole when the first one and the second one of the rigid plastic stoppers are inserted into the hollow spaces; and the region of larger diameter that covers the lower protuberance, which surround and rigidly contact the lower protuberance and the flange and thereby create a hook mechanism that secures the distal ends of the side longitudinal straps into the flexible sole.

10. The structural arrangement of claim 2, further comprising: a third one of the rigid plastic stoppers, designed to be inserted into the lower protuberance located at the second end of the main longitudinal strap.

11. The structural arrangement of claim 3, further comprising: a third one of the rigid plastic stoppers designed to be inserted into the lower protuberance located at the second end of the main longitudinal strap.

12. The structural arrangement of claim 11, wherein the two side longitudinal straps are connected to the main longitudinal strap such that the flexible upper comprises a Y-shape structure made up of the two side longitudinal straps and the main longitudinal strap.

13. The structural arrangement of claim 12, wherein the flexible upper consists of the two side longitudinal straps and the main longitudinal strap.

14. The structural arrangement of claim 13, wherein the flexible upper is formed as a one-piece structure wherein the two side longitudinal straps are integrally formed with the main longitudinal strap.

15. The structural arrangement of claim 3, wherein the lower protuberance at the distal end of the side longitudinal straps each comprise a flange that extends outwardly to mechanically engage a lower surface of the flexible sole; and wherein the first one and the second one of the rigid plastic stoppers each comprise: an upper cylindrical section corresponding to the region with the smaller diameter that are inserted into the hollow spaces of the lower protuberances; a middle cylindrical section also of the smaller diameter and serving to abut the inside surface of the lower protuberance so as to bias the flange of the lower protuberance into engagement with the lower surface of the flexible sole when the first one and the second one of the rigid plastic stoppers are inserted into the hollow spaces; and the region of larger diameter that covers the lower protuberance, which surround and rigidly contact the lower protuberance and the flange and thereby create a hook mechanism that secures the distal ends of the side longitudinal straps into the flexible sole.

16. The structural arrangement of claim 15, wherein the lower protuberance at a distal end of the main longitudinal strap comprises a flange that extends outwardly to mechanically engage a lower surface of the flexible sole; and wherein the third one of the rigid plastic stoppers comprised: an upper cylindrical section corresponding to the region with the smaller diameter that is inserted into the hollow space of the lower protuberance at a distal end of the main longitudinal strap; a middle cylindrical section also of the smaller diameter and serving to abut the inside surface of the lower protuberance at the distal end of the main longitudinal strap so as to bias the flange into engagement with the lower surface of the flexible sole when the third one of the rigid plastic stoppers is inserted into the hollow space at of the lower protuberance of the main longitudinal strap; and the region of larger diameter that covers the lower protuberance, wherein the middle cylindrical section and the region of larger diameter surround and rigidly contact the lower protuberance and the flange and thereby create a hook mechanism that secures the distal end of the main longitudinal strap into the flexible sole.

17. The structural arrangement of claim 15, wherein the two side longitudinal straps are connected to the main longitudinal strap such that the flexible upper comprises a Y-shape structure made up of the two side longitudinal straps and the main longitudinal strap.

18. The structural arrangement of claim 17, wherein the flexible upper consists of the two side longitudinal straps and the main longitudinal strap.

19. The structural arrangement of claim 18, wherein the flexible upper is formed as a one-piece structure wherein the two side longitudinal straps are integrally formed with the main longitudinal strap.

20. The structural arrangement of claim 19, wherein the lower protuberance at a distal end of the main longitudinal strap comprises a flange that extends outwardly to mechanically engage a lower surface of the flexible sole; and wherein the third one of the rigid plastic stoppers comprised: an upper cylindrical section corresponding to the region with the smaller diameter that is inserted into the hollow space of the lower protuberance at a distal end of the main longitudinal strap; a middle cylindrical section also of the smaller diameter and serving to abut the inside surface of the lower protuberance at the distal end of the main longitudinal strap so as to bias the flange into engagement with the lower surface of the flexible sole when the third one of the rigid plastic stoppers is inserted into the hollow space at of the lower protuberance of the main longitudinal strap; and the region of larger diameter that covers the lower protuberance, wherein the middle cylindrical section and the region of larger diameter surround and rigidly contact the lower protuberance and the flange and thereby create a hook mechanism that secures the distal end of the main longitudinal strap into the flexible sole.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) In the following, the present utility model is described in more detail regarding the drawings.

(2) FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the upper.

(3) FIG. 2 is a top view of the upper.

(4) FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the upper.

(5) FIG. 4 is a right side view of the upper.

(6) FIG. 5 is a left side view of the upper.

(7) FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the rigid plastic stopper.

(8) FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of the rigid plastic stopper.

(9) FIG. 8 is a top view of the rigid plastic stopper.

(10) FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the rigid plastic stopper.

(11) FIG. 10 is a side view of the rigid plastic stopper.

(12) FIG. 11 is a bottom perspective view of the detached rigid plastic stopper and upper assembly.

(13) FIG. 12 is a bottom perspective view of the attached rigid plastic stopper and upper assembly.

(14) FIG. 13 is a top perspective view of the positioning of the attachment mechanism structures.

(15) FIG. 14 is a bottom perspective view of the positioning of the attachment mechanism structures.

(16) FIG. 15 is a cross-section side view of the attachment mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE UTILITY MODEL

(17) The object of the present utility model is preferably manufactured in plastic with characteristics such as flexibility and high durability, which allow its use for a long time. However, any other materials of compatible durability and flexibility can be applied, such as vegetable fibers. Likewise, other upper shapes are included in the scope of protection of the object of this utility model, since the functionality of the upper attachment mechanism remains unaffected.

(18) Additionally, the proposed structural arrangement should not be limited to just flip-flop sandals, since the stopper exchange is possible in other upper variations.

(19) Referring to the above-mentioned figures and according to FIG. 1, the present utility model comprises a flexible Y-shaped upper (2), equipped with three longitudinal straps, the main strap being cylindrical in shape (7) positioned between the hallux and the second toe, and two other side cylindrical straps starting from the main strap, one covering the right side (8) and the other covering the left side (9) of the user's feet.

(20) Also according to FIG. 1 and FIGS. 3 to 13, each of the cylindrical longitudinal straps (7, 8 and 9) of the upper (2) has two small protuberances (10 and 11), one in contact with the upper surface (5) of the flexible sole (1) and the user's feet, and another in contact with the lower surface (6) of the flexible sole (1) and the stopper (3) (FIG. 13). The longitudinal straps (7, 8 and 9) also have a hollow space (12) (FIG. 1) at their most distal ends, which pass through cavities (4) of the flexible sole (1) (FIG. 13) and fit tightly to the stoppers (3). The central longitudinal strap (7) part, located between the upper protuberance (10) and the lower protrusion (11), has a larger diameter than the rest of this strap, resulting in a firmer fit on the sole (1) (FIG. 1).

(21) Also according to FIGS. 6, 11 and 14, the present utility model presents stoppers (3) made of rigid plastic, equipped with a smaller diameter region (13) (FIG. 6), which fits perfectly into the hollow space (12) of the distal ends of the upper (2) (FIG. 11), and a larger diameter region (14) that covers the lower protuberance (11) of the ends of the upper (2), and firmly attaches to the bottom part (6) of the sole (1) (FIG. 14). The stoppers (3) also have a central hole (15), which serves to escape the air inside the hollow spaces (12) of the upper (2) (FIG. 11), since the fit is tight.

(22) It is possible to see (FIG. 12) the upper (2) with each of the longitudinal straps (7, 8, and 9) fitted with stoppers (3).

(23) In FIGS. 13 and 14, on the other hand, all the component structures of the fitting mechanism proposed in the present utility model are observed, comprising: the ends of the upper (2) with the upper protuberance (10) and lower protuberance (11); the upper surface (5) and lower surface (6) of the sole (1), in addition to the cavities (4) of the sole (1); and the stoppers (3) comprising the region with the smallest diameter (13), the largest diameter (14) and the central hole (15). It is also possible to notice recesses in the sole (1) both on the upper surface (5) (FIG. 13) and on the lower surface (6) (FIG. 14). These recesses receive both the upper protuberance (10) and the larger diameter part (13) of the stopper (3), which covers the lower protuberance of the upper (2).

(24) Finally, it is possible to see a detailed view of the fitting mechanism in FIG. 15, where the upper recess (10) of the upper (2) in contact with the upper surface (5) of the sole (1) and passing through the cavity is observed (4), where the lower protuberance (11) of the upper (2) attaches to the lower surface (6) of the sole (1). It is also possible to visualize the hollow space (12) of the upper (2), which receives the region with the smallest diameter (13) of the stopper (3), while the region with the largest diameter (14) of the stopper (3) covers the lower protuberance (11) of the upper (2), creating a hook mechanism. It is also possible to perceive the channel for the escape of air through the central hole (15) of the stopper (3), which escapes from the hollow space (12) of the upper (2) during the moment of fitting with the largest diameter region (14) the stopper (3).