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US 7,980,004 B2Granted
Footwear with retainable strap
AssigneeAustralia Unlimited, Inc.
InventorJames K. Klavano
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to clog and sandal-type footwear having a sole and a heel strap. The heel strap is pivotable to be selectively secure the sole to a foot of a user or to be selectively retained by a channel formed in a heel portion of the sole. The heel strap may be permanently or removably attached to the sole.
Claims10
A method of selectively securing footwear to a foot, comprising:
- providing a sole, having a channel formed therein;
- providing a heel strap that is attachable to the sole such that, when attached to the sole, the heel strap is pivotable to selectively secure the sole to a foot of a user and is pivotable to be selectively retained by the channel formed in the sole, wherein the channel extends around at least a portion of a heel portion of the sole, and wherein the channel is sized and positioned to accommodate and selectively retain the heel strap, wherein the heel strap comprises
- an elongated intermediate portion with a first end and a second end opposite to the first end;
- a first elastic end portion that is attached to the first end of the intermediate portion and that is arranged to be attachable to the sole at a first heel strap attachment point disposed on the sole, and
- a second elastic end portion that is attached to the second end of the intermediate portion and that is arranged to be attachable to the sole at a second heel strap attachment point disposed on the sole,
- wherein the first elastic end portion and the second elastic end portion each comprise elastically stretchable material that is significantly more elastic than the intermediate portion;
- placing the sole onto the foot;
- and
- pivoting the heel strap along the first and second heel strap attachment points from a retained position in the channel onto a heel of the foot to secure the sole to the foot.
6 more elements
A method of selectively securing footwear to a foot, comprising:
- providing a sole, the sole defining a channel configured and arranged for receiving a portion of a heel strap, the channel extending around at least a portion of a heel portion of the sole;
- providing an instep upper portion attached to the sole, the instep upper portion comprising a plurality of heel strap attachment points;
- providing a heel strap that is attachable to the instep upper portion such that, when the heel strap is attached to the instep upper portion, the heel strap is pivotable to selectively secure the sole to a foot of a user and is pivotable to be selectively retained on the footwear,
- wherein providing the heel strap comprises:
- providing an elongated intermediate portion with a first end and a second end opposite to the first end;
- providing a first elastic end portion that is attached to the first end of the intermediate portion and that is arranged to be attachable to a first heel strap attachment point of the plurality of heel strap attachment points;
- and
- providing a second elastic end portion that is attached to the second end of the intermediate portion and that is arranged to be attachable to a second heel strap attachment point of the plurality of heel strap attachment points, wherein the first elastic end portion and the second elastic end portion each comprise elastically stretchable material that is significantly more elastic than the intermediate portion;
- placing the sole onto the foot;
- and
- pivoting the heel strap along the first and second heel strap attachment points from a retained position in the channel onto a heel of the foot to secure the sole to the foot.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.