SHOE, IN PARTICULAR A BATHING SANDAL

Abstract

A shoe is provided that includes a sole with an outsole and toe bridge opening, a tread arranged in the form of a tread pattern on the outsole, a strap which, together with the sole, forms a foot opening for holding the foot in the metatarsal and/or toe area, and a toe bridge. The toe bridge extends from the strap through the foot opening and through the toe bridge opening of the sole. A button is configured to secure the toe bridge to the sole by preventing the toe bridge from being pulled out of the toe bridge opening. The button has a shape that completes the tread pattern. In embodiments, the shoe is a bathing sandal.

Claims

1. A shoe, comprising: a sole with an outsole and a toe bridge opening, a tread arranged in the form of a tread pattern on the outsole, a strap which, together with the sole, forms a foot opening for holding the foot in the metatarsal and/or toe area, a toe bridge, wherein the toe bridge extends from the strap through the foot opening and through the toe bridge opening of the sole, and a button configured to secure the toe bridge to the sole by preventing the toe bridge from being pulled out of the toe bridge opening, wherein the button has a shape that completes the tread pattern.

2. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the tread is composed of individual, recurring tread elements which form a relief-like structure, and wherein the button has the shape of a tread element and thus forms a tread element of the tread.

3. The shoe according to claim 1, further comprising a recess for holding the button provided in the outsole, wherein the outline of the recess corresponds to the outline of the button.

4. The shoe according to claim 1, further comprising a heel strap for holding the heel of the foot.

5. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the tread of the outsole extends onto the strap and thereby increases the roughness and/or the stiffness in this region, the tread being continued in particular with an unchanged tread pattern on the strap.

6. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the tread pattern comprises a plurality of different recurring geometric shapes, and the button has the shape of one of these recurring shapes.

7. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the sole further comprises a base body and an inner sole, wherein the inner sole comprises at least one insole made of a conformable, non-slip material.

8. The shoe according to claim 7, wherein: the sole has a ball region for contact with the ball of the foot, the sole has a heel region for contact with the heel of the foot, and the sole has a mid region arranged between the ball region and the heel region, the mid region having a smaller bending stiffness than the ball region and the heel region.

9. The shoe according to claim 8, wherein: the insole is omitted in the mid region for reducing the bending stiffness in the mid region, and the insole is provided in the ball region and a further insert is provided in the heel region.

10. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the strap, the outsole and the tread are formed by an integral body of flexible plastic or rubber.

11. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the button is made of the same material as the tread.

12. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the toe bridge is made of the same material as the tread.

13. The shoe according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of different recurring geometric shapes are selected from the group including circles, rectangles, parallelograms, semi-circles, arcs, stars, or the like.

14. The shoe according to claim 1, comprising a bathing sandal.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a sectional view of a possible embodiment of a shoe.

[0029] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of one embodiment of the shoe.

[0030] FIG. 3 shows a side view of a possible embodiment of a shoe.

[0031] FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c show different possible embodiments of the tread.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0032] Unless otherwise stated, the reference signs correspond to the following components:

[0033] Sole 1, outsole 2, tread 3, strap 4, foot opening 5, toe bridge 6, toe bridge opening 7, button 8, tread element 9, recess (for holding the button) 10, heel strap 11, base body 12, inner sole 13, insole 14, ball region 15, heel region 16, mid region 17.

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a sectional view of a possible embodiment of a shoe according to the invention. In particular, the shoe is formed as a bathing sandal. It comprises a sole 1 and a strap 4. The strap 4 is arranged above the sole 1 and forms a foot opening 5 into which a foot can be inserted so that it is held in the metatarsal or toe area.

[0035] The shoe comprises a toe bridge 6 which extends through the foot opening 5 to pass between two toes, as is known for example in flip-flops. The toe bridge 6 extends from the strap 4 to the sole 1. In particular, the toe bridge 6 extends through a toe bridge opening 7 of the sole 1. A button 8 is provided to fix the toe bridge 6 to the sole 1. This button 8 should be larger in size than the toe bridge opening 7, thereby preventing the toe bridge 6 from being pulled out of the toe bridge opening 7. Preferably, the toe bridge 6 is also connected to the strap 4, wherein this connection may be made, for example, in a materially bonded manner by means of an adhesive connection or welded connection.

[0036] In the present embodiment, a recess 10 is provided in the sole 1. This recess 10 serves to hold respectively receive the button 8.

[0037] In this embodiment, the shoe comprises a heel strap 11 adapted and/or configured to be arranged above the heel of the user.

[0038] In the present embodiment, the sole 1 comprises a base body 12 having an inner sole 13 that is in contact with the user's foot when worn. The inner sole 13 may comprise respectively be partially formed from at least one insole 14. In the present embodiment, two insoles 14 are provided, one in the ball region 15 and one in the heel region 16. For example, the insoles 14 may be formed of a material that increases the comfort and also the safety of the shoe. For example, the insoles 14 may be formed of a foam material respectively a closed-cell foam material.

[0039] In the present embodiment, the mid region 17 is kept free, i.e., no insole 14 is arranged in this region. For example, the material of the insole 14 is selected such that it increases the bending stiffness of the sole 1 as a stiffening element. By omitting the insole 14 in the mid region 17, the sole 1 can have a lower bending stiffness in this region, which may increase the wearing comfort but also the safety of the shoe.

[0040] The outsole 2 of the sole 1 comprises a tread 3. This tread 3 comprises multiple tread elements 9. Preferably, it is provided that the button 8 completes the tread 3. In particular, the button 8 has the shape and/or properties of a tread element 9.

[0041] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of the shoe, in particular of the embodiment of FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, a section line is shown, which is the section line for the sectional view of FIG. 1, for example.

[0042] FIG. 2 shows in particular a plan view of the outsole 2 of the sole 1. It has a tread 3 with multiple tread elements 9. The tread elements 9 and the tread 3 follow a certain tread pattern. The latter preferably comprises multiple recurring tread elements 9. The tread elements 9 serve primarily the technical purpose of increasing the friction relative to different grounds, but their shape may be varied within the scope of technical possibilities. In the present embodiment, they have wedge-shaped respectively semi-circular outlines.

[0043] The shoe comprises a button 8 for positively holding the toe bridge 6 on the sole 1. In this embodiment, the button 8 has the outline respectively the shape of a tread element 9. Preferably, the button 8 is made of a material which has substantially the same properties as the tread elements 9.

[0044] In the sole 1, a recess 10 is provided, into which a button 8 may be at least partially inserted. In particular, the recess 10 is designed such that the button 8 is also held laterally. Preferably, the recess 10 has an outline, which corresponds to the outline of the button 8. In the present embodiment, the recess 10 is semi-circularly shaped.

[0045] Preferably, the button 8 has a greater extension than the toe bridge opening 7, so that the toe bridge 6 is positively prevented from being pulled out of the sole 1.

[0046] FIG. 3 shows a side view of a possible embodiment of a shoe, wherein the embodiment preferably corresponds to the embodiment of the FIGS. 1 and/or 2. The shoe comprises a sole 1 with an outsole 2 and a tread 3. Further, the shoe comprises a strap 4, which, together with the sole 1, forms or defines a foot opening 5 for receiving a foot. In the present embodiment, the tread 3 extends at least partially onto the strap 4 as well. In particular, multiple tread elements 9 are provided on the strap 4, which are also found in this shape on the outsole 2. By arranging a tread 3 on the strap 4, the coefficient of friction in this region may be increased and the strap 4 may optionally be reinforced.

[0047] In the present embodiment, a heel strap 11 is also provided on the shoe. The tread 3 may also be provided on this heel strap 11.

[0048] FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c show different possible embodiments of the tread 3 that may be arranged on the outsole 2 of the sole 1. In particular, the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 3 may alternatively be provided with one of these treads 3.

[0049] In FIG. 4a, the tread elements 9 of the tread 3 are circular in shape, and the button 8 is also circular in shape. In FIG. 4b, the tread elements 9 are star-shaped, and in FIG. 4c, the tread elements 9 have the exemplary shape of butterflies.

[0050] In all embodiments, it is preferably provided that the button 8 has a shape completing the tread pattern. In this way, the technical advantages according to the invention can be achieved.

[0051] The button 8 has a shape that completes the tread pattern. In particular, this forms a uniform tread 3. Preferably, the button 8 has a shape corresponding to the shape of a recurring tread element 9. However, optionally, the sizes of the individual tread elements 9 and thereby also of the button 8 may be varied with respect to the tread elements 9. The proportions may be maintained or slightly modified.