Abstract
A sandal strap reinforcement apparatus which is incorporated into a sandal having a multi-hardness midsole to reinforce the opening around the straps. The apparatus may be made of a molded material, fabric, tape, an o-ring, cord, or the same material as the harder layer. The apparatus is molded into the midsole and serves to protect the hole or slot from damage from a strap inserted through the hole or slot.
Claims
1. A sandal comprising: a midsole comprising more than one layers of material, including a top layer material and a bottom layer material, wherein the top layer material is made of softer material than the bottom layer material; an outsole coupled to said midsole; a plurality of strap openings in said midsole that straps are inserted through for attachment to said sandal; and a cylindrical insert for each strap opening, wherein the insert's height is the full height of said midsole and the strap goes through said insert, comprising material more durable than the top layer material, the cylindrical insert being molded into the midsole.
2. A sandal according to claim 1 wherein said cylindrical insert is a molded sleeve, or a section of tape.
3. A sandal according to claim 1 wherein said more durable material for said cylindrical insert is more resistant to cracking or tearing than the top layer of said multilayer midsole.
Description
LIST OF DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 is a isometric perspective view of the apparatus in multilayer sole.
(2) FIG. 2A is a top view of the apparatus in multilayer sole.
(3) FIG. 2B is the cutout view of a lateral section of the apparatus in FIG. 2A.
(4) FIG. 2C is the cutout view of a longitudinal section of the apparatus in FIG. 2A.
(5) FIG. 3A is another cross section view from the rear showing the apparatus in another embodiment of a multilayer sole.
(6) FIG. 3B is another cross section view from the rear showing the apparatus as part of second layer of a multilayer midsole.
(7) FIG. 4 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the apparatus shown as a sleeve.
(8) FIG. 5 is an isometric view of another embodiment of the apparatus shown as wrapped tape.
(9) FIG. 6A is the isometric view of another embodiment of the apparatus shown as an O-ring configuration.
(10) FIG. 6B is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 6A.
(11) FIG. 7 is a side cutout view of the apparatus in an O-ring configuration in multilayer sole.
(12) FIG. 8 is a isometric view of the apparatus in another embodiment in a multilayer sole.
(13) FIG. 9 is a side cutout view of the apparatus of FIG. 8.
(14) FIG. 10 is side view of another embodiment of the apparatus whereas the apparatus is between the multi-layer sole.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
(15) With reference to the above-listed drawings, this section describes particular embodiments and their detailed construction and operation. The embodiments described herein are set forth by way of illustration only and not limitation. Those skilled in the art will recognize in light of the teachings herein that there is a range of equivalents to the example embodiments described herein. Most notably, other embodiments are possible, variations can be made to the embodiments described herein, and there may be equivalents to the components, parts, or steps that make up the described embodiments.
(16) As one skilled in the art will appreciate in light of this disclosure, certain embodiments are capable of achieving certain advantages over the known prior art, including some or all of the following: (1) less wear on the straps; (2) less wear of the top layer of a multi-layer midsole sandal or shoe to prevent damage to the midsole due to the straps; and (3) easily molded in the midsole. These and other advantages of various embodiments will be apparent upon reading the remainder of this section.
(17) FIG. 1 shows a general diagram of the preferred embodiment of the invention. The embodiment is made up of a multilayer midsole 200 and an outer sole 203 to form a sandal or similar type shoe. The straps are not shown. Midsole 200 is comprised of two layers, in this embodiment, layer 201 made of a harder material and layer 202 made from a softer material. This can be reversed with the top layer being harder and the bottom layer being softer. Apparatus 100, consisting of a molded sleeve or wrapped fabric or tape or an O-Ring is molded into midsole part 200 leaving several holes, or slots, 150. The apparatus 100 reinforces the area around the strap and provide other capabilities. The holes or slots, or openings will be referred as strap openings for insertion of the straps for the sandal or shoes. The slot 150 is large enough for a securing strap, or straps, to fit through the midsole. Apparatus 100 is intended to protect the material of the midsole so as to prevent the material from cracking or tearing. This will allow for the top midsole material to be made softer without concern for the material tearing, and to provide more cushion.
(18) FIG. 2A shows a top view of midsole 200 with only layer 202 visible. Apparatus 100 and the slots 150 are visible. Additionally, lines A-A and B-B are shown and further illustrated in FIGS. 2B and 2C.
(19) FIG. 2B shows a cross section of line A-A, shown in FIG. 2A, of midsole 200 that presents apparatus 100 from the side view. In this instance, the height of apparatus 100 is the full height of midsole 200.
(20) FIG. 2C shows a cross section of line B-B, shown in FIG. 2A, on midsole 200 that presents a view of apparatus 100 from the back. In this instance also, the height of apparatus 100 is the full height of midsole 200.
(21) FIG. 3A shows another cross section from the rear, showing midsole 200 with the medial and lateral walls of apparatus 100 visible and slot 150 clearly shown. In this instance, the height of apparatus 100 is shorter than that of midsole 200.
(22) FIG. 3B shows another cross section from the rear, showing the midsole 200 with apparatus 100 as part of the second layer 201. Apparatus 100 is made out the same material as layer 201 and part of the same mold. The top layer 202 is top layer of the multi-layer midsole. The advantage of this design is that no addition component is needed.
(23) FIG. 4 shows apparatus 100 in isolation. In this instance, apparatus 100 is a molded sleeve. The material for the molded sleeve is made of materials that is more durable than the top layer of the sole.
(24) FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the invention whereby the reinforcement is made from a wrapped tape or fabric as demonstrated with apparatus 101. In this illustration, the fabric/tape 101 has been wrapped counterclockwise and the finishing edge of the fabric/tape is shown on the outside of the reinforcement and the starting edge in shown inside slot 150.
(25) The apparatus can also be produced with an O-ring as seen with apparatus 102 in FIGS. 6A and 6B.
(26) FIG. 7 shows a cross section of midsole 200 from the rear, illustrating layer 201 and layer 202 with apparatus 102 molded in place.
(27) In FIG. 8, another embodiment of the invention is shown whereby a thin fabric or laminate material is sandwiched in-between layer 201 and layer 202. In this embodiment, the apparatus 103 is only placed in the area immediately surrounding where slots 150 are located.
(28) FIG. 9 shows a cross-section of midsole 200 from the rear, illustrating apparatus 103 sandwiched between layer 201 and layer 202
(29) Another application of the invention is using a apparatus 103 that covers the full area between layer 201 and layer 202 as shown in FIG. 10.
(30) The terms and descriptions used above are set forth by way of illustration only and are not meant as limitations. Those skilled in the art will recognize that those and many other variations, enhancements and modifications of the concepts described herein are possible without departing from the underlying principles of the invention. The scope of the invention should therefore be determined only by the following claims and their equivalents.
