Technical Field

The invention relates to footwear more particularly, the invention relates to flip-flop shoes and similarly configured footwear having toe safety.

Background art

Flip-flops are a type of sandal; having soles with straps attached to them. Flip-flops leave the feet exposed and have a sole, just like sandals do. In history, they were promoted as primarily a casual accessory, typically worn with shorts, bathing suits, or summer dresses. As they became more popular, some people started wearing them for dressier or more formal occasions. Flipflops are lightweight and easy to carry around because they are typically made with less material. Rubber, plastic, and foam are more commonly used to fabricate flip-flops. Sometimes they have fabric as part of the design. For a budget-conscious shopper looking for something without fuss, flip-flops are a perfect choice.

However, Flip-flops have major draw backs such as the lack of support and the lack of protection. According to the preliminary research from Auburn University, the lack of support of shoe puts extra effort to grasp the shoe on to the feet of the person. This leads to walk differently, and could cause problems with legs, knees, hips and backs. That alters his gait and puts strain on muscles persons don’t normally use when walk in regular shoes. Moreover, the flip-flops can rub against the skin and causes ulcerations and sores. The lack of protection means when a person wear flip-flops, his toes and feet are exposed, making them susceptible to falling objects or people stepping on the toes by increasing chances of injury.

According to the prior arts, flip-flops can be particularly problematic for individuals who've lost sensation in their feet (e.g., from diabetes or peripheral neuropathy), older adults with balance issues and young children who may be more easily tripped up or prone to catching shoes on steps or an escalator. Doctors are seeing more nail injuries and broken or bruised toes, which wouldn't happen if a person covered the front of the feet. Doctors are also warning of a new danger Skin Cancer; Skin cancer on the feet can be really, dangerous because the spots are easier to miss, especially if they're between the toes. Additionally, persons having "not-so- pretty" feet can include boils, blisters, corns, fungal infections, athlete's foot ect. and not wish for them to be seen by anyone suffer from unsightly feet may have problems using flip-flops.

As such, there is a need for a flip-flops toe cover, where in prior-art there are two main types of methods; (1) a toe cover as external apparatus/device and (2) a toe cover as cover fabric, some are permanently attached to the sole and others are convertible type attachments. Patent Application US 20120246968 summarizes an apparatus type toe cover, where toe cover portion can be attached to the flip-flop with pressure sensitive adhesive double sided tape. Additionally, padding layer of soft cloth or felt on a back surface of the toe cover has arranged. Patent application US 2013185958 also discloses about the flip-flop cover detachably attached with the flip-flop by means of a magnetic attachment. The magnets can be placed in or on a bottom wall of the cover and the ferromagnetic members can be placed in or on the sole or these components can be reversed. Other attaching mechanism of the said invention is utilizing the straps to hold the sole on the wearer's foot.

US10492563B2 published a shoe/flip-flop including a sole, a strap having a strap and a center connector, and a cover having a material positioned between the sole and the strap which is attached to the perimeter edge of the sole. The material has an aperture for receiving the center connector and a first opening positioned above a rear foot portion of said sole for receiving a person's foot. The center connector is positioned through said aperture and connected to the forefoot portion of the sole. The strap forms a second opening between the cover component and the strap for receiving a person's foot.

Disclosure of Invention

Convertible toe cover apparatus attach to the sole base in different ways, from free insertion of toe cover to the base, to magnet attachment or stitching is available in the prior art. As wears' comfort totally depends on the rigidity of the flip-flop as a whole, convertible type toe covers has considerable practical complications such as the risk of fall down by sudden detachment of toe cover from the flip-flop or sandal. US10492563B2 discloses footwear with a toe cover design having common application of dual purpose in cold and warm weather conditions. In that embodiment the toe cover may be a stretchy fabric which is securely attached to the perimeter edge of the base achieved by fusion, sawing or sandwiching between the inner and outer sole of the base. Person can use this innovative footwear as a regular flip-flop by simply placing his feet in the footwear, under the strap and on top of the covering fabric. The invention further described about the toe cover, which may be a stretchy fabric, allows a person to slip their foot under the covering. In at least one embodiment, the covering is a fabric which stretches and hugs around the foot to keep the foot warm when the foot is fully inserted underneath the covering. Once the foot is removed the stretchy fabric of the covering, it returns back to its flat position at the surface of the base. The dual function of the footwear used alternatively as the ambient temperature changes. Here, any stretchy material, which has the quality to be elastic enough to stretch to two hundred percent of its original shape (i.e. double in size) and return to one hundred percent of its original shape (i.e. its original size) can be used for the covering.

These dual purpose designs have several complications when persons use in practice. First, use of loose fabric material between base and the straps cause relative slippery motion of the foot against the base in sole may lead imbalance and falling down which is a huge safety issue; Second, fabric material is stretched and has permanent deformation with time. If use rigid fabric, it will get creases with time; Third, relative movement of the fabric button hole against the toe post make damage to the toe covering before end of the life of the footwear; Forth wearer hasn't enjoy with the enough room or space of the footwear.

The space of toe area of the casual footwear is heavily expected as wearer expects some comfortability. Permanent stitching gets extra space around 1 cm from the perimeter of the sole. This space further limits the front foot space of the footwear. In addition to that wearer further limits the space for his foot due to the placement of the fabric in between straps and top of the foot. Wearers with special conditions like diabetic patients cannot use such footwear due to that issue. Fifth, Dual purpose fabrics in hot and cold weather is not compatible due the cold weather fabrics causes sweating during the hot weather. It has considerable effect on the wearers comfort even the fabric use under the foot. Sixth, use of 200% stretchy material which is hugs around the foot causes discomfort due to the disturbance of the blood circulation.

Present invention discloses about a footwear more specifically flip-flop or thong or similar model for toe safety having three main components as follows; (1) a base component; (2) a strap component and (3)a toe cover component. The base component is the sole of the footwear having a forefoot portion, a rear foot portion, and a perimeter edge. The strap component is the general strap having three connectors forming Y shape at the connecting point where first connector attached to the left edge and the second connector attached to the right edge and third connector attached to the center of the base as a usual flip-flop. The toe cover component is a fabric or composite material attached to the perimeter edge of the forefront portion of the base and positioned on the strap component. The best attaching method is stitching. Technical problem related to the limiting space for the wearers fore front foot is eliminated in this invention by increasing the size of the fore front portion of the base with approximately 1cm by keeping extra space for the attaching more particularly for stitching. Further, the length of the strap is selected to keep the enough room for forefront portion of the footwear to insert the wearer's foot in a comfortable manner.

The toe cover component of the footwear having forefront portion and rear portion where the shape of the forefront portion is designed to match with the forefront portion of the base and rear portion of the cover component is tongue shaped having a button hole at the edge of the tongue portion. The forefront portion of the cover component is attached to the perimeter edge of the fore front portion of the base more particularly by stitching. Rear portion of the toe cover component is folded in to the cavity of the forefront portion of the footwear and tongue portion is configured in a manner such that the toe post is inserted in to the button hole of the tongue portion keeping rigid configuration of strap component and cover component. The toe cover component of the present invention is configured in a way that the cover component is rigidly lies on the center portion of the strap component where the size and shape of the fabric material is selected as the cover component rigidly keep its shape once attached to the perimeter edge of the base as a rainbow. Moreover, size of the toe cover is selected to avoid loose and tight conditions and to avoid relative slippery motion of the footwear against the foot.

The toe cover component of the footwear can be configured in different styles according to the application such as in one embodiment; the shape of the toe cover component is selected to cover the whole part of the straps, in other embodiment the toe cover component is selected to cover the toe post and Y connecting of the straps. Further, toe cover component can be selected to cover full part of the forefront portion of the base same configuration. The material of the base component of the present invention is any suitable material for the sole such as Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC), Rubber, Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) ect. Similarly, the material of the strap component of the present footwear is any suitable material such as PVC, Rubber, Fabrics, Leather, Silicon ect. The toe cover component of the present invention, the material is any material having properties of stretching, soft, rigid and comfort like "Softy". Toe cover material is also selected as hard rigid material when more safety is required.

Some people like to wear ventilated footwear as they have sweating problem. In such situations, present toe-cover is designed with ventilated eyelets. The same footwear is further modified with herbal medicine pockets, where person's foot can absorb such medicines as a special curing therapy.

Advantageous effects: Flip-flops most popularly used in hotter climates, the modern flip-flop is primarily used as a cheap and simple way to protect the soles of your feet from scorching hot surfaces when walking, whilst also providing excellent foot -ventilation due to the open-toe design. There are distinct advantages of the present invention of flip-flop with the toe cover protection over the general flip-flop as follows;

The major advantage of the present invention is the safeguarding of toe against any damage causing activity such as direct exposure of toe to the fresh world, which susceptible to fractures, burnings, cuts, Scrapes and Bruises on those toes.

The present invention relates with the increased level of comfortability of wearers due to touching of upper foot with comfort fabric like softy. The present invention increases the holding ability of footwear by making "trusty pair" of wearer.

The present invention keeps light weight construction and it can be taken off or put on effortlessly make it very convenient.

Good outer appearance which can be designed to different applications such as beach flip-flop, kid's flip-flop, ladies casual wear, gents casual wear ect..

Additionally the present invention has more advantageous features over the prior art related to the flip-flop with cover component as follows;

Rigid configuration of footwear which has well connected node at the center of the footwear which has firmly holds the cover component and strap component together and wearer feels trust that as no relative motions of foot and components of the footwear.

The present invention is more durable design due to the firm attachment of cover component to the sole by stitching.

The toe cover component is located on the strap component, hence cover component can be designed as general shoe which has comfort, visual attraction and safety aspects of a general shoe with simple easy to use features of casual footwear.

As the toe cover component of the present invention is selected as comfort and rigid rain-bow shaped configuration, footwear can be designed to have more ventilation in the footwear cavity by adding eyelets (12) or suitable item.

As the toe cover component of the present invention is selected as comfort and rigid rain-bow shaped configuration, footwear can be designed to have herbal pockets (10) in the footwear cover by adding herbals in to the cover component.

The cover component of the footwear present invention is designed by inserting toe cap (11). Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is an illustration of components of the general flip-flop.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a base component of the general flip-flop.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a Y strap component of the general flip-flop.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a cover component of the invention.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a stitched cover component to the sole component and tongue arrangement in the foot cavity.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a cross section view of the FIG. 5.

FIG. 7a, 7b, 7c is an illustration of a steps to attach Y strap to the cover.

FIG. 8a, 8b is an illustration of a wearer can configure the opening of the cover component after wearing.

FIG. 9 is an illustration of a ventilated cover component with eyelet.

FIG. 10 is an illustration of a herbal added cover component.

FIG. 11 is an illustration of a Toe cap cover component.

Nomenclature: 1- Y strap, 2-cover of the flip-flop, 3-Stitch attachment, 4- Button hole, 5- Punch, holes of the sole, ,6- Shoe sole, 7- Knobs, 8-Toe post of the strap, 9- Artistic decoration of the strap, 10-Herbal added cover component, 11-Toe cap of the cover, 12- Eyelet holes of the cover, 13- Cover component with a Velcro Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention

Present invention discloses about a footwear more specifically flip-flop or thong or similar model for toe safety having three main components as follows; (1) a base component (2) a strap component and (3) a toe cover component. FIG. 1 shows general flip-flop type footwear. The base component is the sole of the footwear which is any suitable sole depending on the application. For instance, kids footwear, diabetic footwear, and orthopedic footwear, beach footwear where materials include polyurethane, leather, rubber, plastic, sheet and sheet sole. FIG. 2 shows a Base of general flip-flop type footwear. The strap component is the general strap having three connectors forming Y shape at the connecting point where first connector attached to the left edge and the second connector attached to the right edge and third connector attached to the center of the middle punch-hole as usual flip-flop. FIG. 3 shows a Y shape of strap of general flip-flop type footwear.

The toe cover component (FIG. 4) is a fabric material attached to the perimeter edge of the forefront portion of the sole component and positioned on the strap component. The best attaching method is stitching. FIG. 5 shows a stitched cover component to the sole component and FIG. 6 shows a cross section view of the FIG. 5. The strap component may be held to the foot by a narrow thong that generally passes between the first and second toe may or may not have a heel (either low or high) or heel strap. The toe cover component of the footwear having forefront portion and rear portion where the shape of the forefront portion is designed to match with the forefront portion of the sole and rear portion of the cover component is tongue shaped having a button hole at the edge of the tongue portion, FIG. 4. The forefront portion of the cover component is attached to the perimeter edge of the fore front portion of the sole more particularly by stitching and rear portion of the cover component is folded in to the cavity of the forefront portion of the footwear and tongue portion is configured in a manner such that the toe post is inserted in to the button hole of the tongue portion keeping rigid configuration of strap component and cover component. FIG. 7a, 7b, 7c shows a steps to attach Y strap to the cover component.

The toe cover component of the footwear is configured in a manner such that the cover component is rigidly lies on the center portion of the strap component where the size and shape of the fabric material is selected in a manner such that the cover component rigidly keep its shape once attached to the perimeter edge of the sole. The cover component of the footwear can be configured in different styles according to the application such as in one embodiment the shape of the cover component is selected to cover the whole part of the straps, in other embodiment the cover component is selected to cover the toe post and Y connecting of the straps. Further, cover component can be selected to cover full part of the forefront portion of the sole same configuration.

Practical steps to make the product are as follows;

1. Attach Fore front portion of the cover (2) component to the fore front portion of the base (6), most preferable by stitching (3).

2. Turn wrong side of the strap component (1) and Insert knob and toe post (8) of the Y strap in to the button hole of the cover component as FIG. 7a, 7b, 7c.

3. Turn the button hole (4) in to the foot cavity with strap attachment as FIG. 5.

4. Insert three knobs (7) in to the three relevant holes (5) in the base.

Example 1; Kids footwear is designed with flip-flop with a cover. Ten samples were introduced to the selected children age between four to ten. They were walked comfortably in day today life in different environments like beach, garden, shopping ect.

Example 2; Footwear is designed with flip-flop with a cover for elders. Ten samples were introduced to the selected persons age between thirty to eighty. They were walked comfortably in day today life in different environments. They commented as the novel product is comfortable, easy to wear, trusty and fashionable.

The technical design of the present invention is disclosed has novel approach as; the toe cover component is configured to lay on the strap component by rigidly holding the cover component with the strap component with the special design of tongue portion with a button hole at the rear portion of the cover component. The rigid holding mechanism of the central cover component is unique design which maximizes the wearers trust about the holding ability of the footwear with improved durability. In fact, there is no relative motion of the tongue portion along the toe post, hence durability of the toe cover enhanced. Additionally, extra room for footwear cavity is achieved by increasing size of the fore front portion of the foot base.

The inventive step of the invention over the prior art; in one embodiment of the prior art discloses about the collapsible toe cover which holds between the straps and sole component. In other embodiment external toe cover is temporally attach to the insole with magnets. However the present invention is about the permanent attachment of toe cover component with stitching to the sole component and configures to lay on the strap component. More over special design was added to the cover component by adding tongue portion to the cover component to rigid and firm holding configuration of cover component with the strap component. Better safety is achieved and rigidity of the each component assured with the simple design.

Industrial Applicability

Diabetic patients; the present invention is well suitable for any person or who would like to enjoy with flip-flop but with extra toe safety. Diabetic patient is the best application because many diabetic feet have a slower rate of healing and are extra sensitive to heat, friction and injury from foreign particles. Although they advise to open toe footwear, general Flip-flops are not recommended, particularly those with diabetic neuropathy of the feet. This is due to the risk of damaging the fragile tissue between the toes, nor are open heel sandals because of the risk of developing heel calluses that may crack and become infected. Present footwear can be designed as diabetes footwear with vents or cut-out sections on the top of the cover component for improved aeration without creating entry ways for sand and peddles that can injury the soles of the feet. To prevent foot irritation that can lead to blisters and calluses, the interior of the diabetic footwear can be designed with soft fabric straps without seams inside.

Orthopedic patients; Another best application is orthopedic patients as materials of foot-bed are extra soft; padded; comfortable and cushioned which enhances comfort to the feet. It provides better walking comfort and also makes walking life easy and effortlessly. It can be designed with adjustable Velcro for good grip especially for people suffering from swelling Feet. FIG. 8a, 8b shows a wearer can configure the opening of the cover component after wearing. Herbals with antimicrobial, antioxidant properties are used for traditional insoles such as cinnamon insole for sweating or as anti-odor. Same concept can be added to the present invention to design herbal footwear pockets in the cover compartment. FIG. 10 shows a herbal added cover component.

Modern fashion; the present invention can be designed as stylish footwear which fits different lifestyle where the feet looks pretty which provides premium look. Highly attractive features can be added with various colors to gain rich look at a low price. For house slippers designed with a strong light weight fabric meant to eliminate foot odor and let air in for anyone who needs the breathability but hates an open-toe design. For sweating foot wearers, the cover component can be designed with a breathable fabric meaning to allow plenty of air in and out so the feet stay as cool as possible. The present invention also can be designed as a Classic Crocs with added features since they'll come with an open back and holes punctured into the top to let air in and keep the sweat and heat out. FIG. 9 shows a ventilated cover component with eyelets.

Beach wears; Beach wear is all about rest and relaxation. It needs to be quite casual and fuss- free so as to ensure the maximum comfort of the wearer. Essentially, beach slippers are slip-on shoes that are specially designed to be suitable for beaches. The present invention can be designed as well as structured as beach flip-flop with extra toe safety, in a way that makes it extremely easy to walk around in them on sandy beach shores.

Kids wear; kids wear needs to be a comfortable fit in length and width; plenty of room for the toes; a flexible flat sole; the front of the shoe wider than the heel, to match the natural shape of the foot. The present invention is best fit design for kids who can play with simple slip-on and added toe safety.

High safety applications; Toe cap is another safety application of the present invention as present toe-cover can be designed as a toe cap. Material can be plastics, rubber, Kevlar, fiberglass, carbon fiber with strong, durable and flexible features. There specific protection options for particular risks such as: Exposure to water, heat or cold, Objects that might fall from above the foot ect. FIG. 11 shows Toe cap flip-flop; a toe cap is often made of rubber or other highly abrasion-resistant materials and provides additional safety for toe area.