US20070113429A1

US20070113429A1 - Shoe

Info

Publication number: US20070113429A1
Application number: US11/284,629
Authority: US
Inventors: Spencer Long
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-11-23
Filing date: 2005-11-23
Publication date: 2007-05-24

Abstract

A casual shoe such as a sandal has a sole joined to an upper portion having a fixed dimension and adjustable openable and closable fastening straps with the straps extending from a fixed dimension upper portion to openings in a tab affixed to the upper portion and back again upon themselves. The folded fastening straps provide a securing pocket for the placement of a waterproof flat compartment. Another embodiment has an upper portion made up of two side members extending upwardly from each side of the sole, joined together and then extending downwardly and forwardly to join the sole as a single member. Both embodiments have waterproof pockets formed in the heels of each shoe

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to shoes and, more particularly, to casual shoes like sandals provided with one or more storage compartments incorporated in the shoe structure and having utility for the temporary storage of personal items during shoe usage as when enjoying a beach, lake or pool.
2. Description of Prior Art
There is a need for shoes, especially casual or athletic shoes, that are provided with storage compartments for small articles such as golf tees, coins, keys, cards or the like. Early versions of such articles included providing pockets in the calf portion of a shoe or boot, attaching a purse to the frontal shoe upper, using the laces to hold articles and others. Later developments included the provision of a pocket in the heel or other section of the shoe.
There is perceived a real need for casual shoes such as sandas to have a compartment for containing these small items particularly when the wearer is on the beach or at a pool where normally worn clothing such as shorts or bathing suites does not normally contain adequate pocket space for such items. It is to this perceived need that the present invention is directed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention intends to provide multiple storage compartments in casual shoes such as sandals into the sole and upper of the footwear to hold small personal items such as keys, credit cards and money while further incorporating in its construction various means to assure retention and prevent the untimely loss of such items.
It is, therefore, a principal objective of the present invention to provide multiple pocket portions in the structure of the shoe with appropriate closure means to assure that personal items contained therein will not be inadvertently lost by the wearer.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide such multiple pocket portions to achieve safe and secure storage for small items that may enhance the appearance of the footwear.
Yet a further objective of the present invention is to such multiple pocket portions that will not bring discomfort to the wearer when such multiple pocket footwear is worn.
These and other objectives will become more apparent to those skilled in the art upon reviewing the summary of this invention, and upon undertaking a study of the description of its preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with drawings.
This invention contemplates the formation of multiple pockets or compartments for the storage of small personal items in a casual shoe. The casual shoe provided has an upper portion and a sole to which it attaches. The sole has a heel in which is positioned a compartment having an opening with an opening and closing mechanism such as a zipper. The upper portion includes a tab with two openings and two closing strips one end of which is fixedly secured to the upper portion and the other end of which goes through the openings and folds back upon itself to be secured together with appropriate fastening means. The space between the fold straps provides another pocket or compartment for storage of more small items.
In another preferred embodiment having a different upper portion, two side members making up the upper portion extend upwardly from each side of the sole, are joined together and then extend downwardly to connect with the sole as a single member. One or both of the sides have article receiving and retaining means therein which in preferred form is an openable and closable zipper. One or both of the heels are fashioned with compartments similar to those described in the first embodiment. In both cases, the heel compartments are waterproof to preserve papers and cards carried thereby. One or both of the compartments in the side members of the second embodiment may be made waterproof.
Thus there has been outlined the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In that respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its arrangement of the components set forth in the following description and illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.
It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting in any respect. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the concept upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for designing other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of this development. It is important that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent methods and products resulting therefrom that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The application is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by its claims, nor to limit its scope in any way.
Thus, the objectives of the invention set forth above, along with the various features of novelty, which characterize the invention, are noted with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific results obtained by its use, reference should be made to the following detailed specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views.
The drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. They illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with their description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is perspective view of a first embodiment of a casual shoe with receiving and securing compartments for small items such as coins and keys having overlapping and securing side members.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a casual shoe with receiving and securing compartments for small items having two upper portion side members, each extending upwardly from each side of the sole, joined together and then extending downwardly to join the sole as a single member.
FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the casual shoe shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the casual shoe shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, a casual shoe 10 has a sole 12 joined to an upper portion shown generally as 14. Sole 12 has a heel 16 and forward section 18 to which is secured to upper portion 14. Upper portion 14 has a fixed dimension and the fixed dimension portion fits over and around the foot of the wearer. Two closing straps 22 extend from a secured end 24 on upper portion 14 over to and through openings 26 in tab 21 and then back again to upper portion 14 as shown in FIG. 3. A securing element such as Velcro material 23 is used to connect the folded engaging closing straps 22 as shown in FIG. 3. A substantially flat pocket 28 for carrying cards, change or keys is positioned between folded closing straps 22 and is held in place by additional securing elements such as Velcro material 23. Pocket 28 is sealable to prevent moisture from entering the compartment and damaging its contents.
An additional waterproof pocket or compartment 30 is formed in each shoe heel 16 as shown in FIG. 1 with an exterior openable and closable zipper 32. Compartment 30 preferably contains a waterproof container to protect any contents from damage.
A second preferred embodiment of a casual shoe is shown generally in FIG. 2 as 34. A sole 36 supports an upper portion shown generally as 38 and lade up of side members 40. Side members 40 extend upwardly from each side 42 of sole 36, join together and then extend forwardly and downwardly to connect with sole 36 as a single member 44. Longitudinal compartments 46 are formed in each side member 40 as shown which may or may not be waterproof. Zippers 48 close compartments 46 attractively along a good length of side members 40.
Each shoe of the second embodiment casual shoe 34 has a heel compartment 50 formed similarly to compartment 30 of first embodiment casual shoe 10.
From the preceding description, it can be seen that casual shoes with article-receiving and retaining compartments have been provided that will meet all of the advantages of prior art devices and offer additional advantages not heretofore achievable. With respect to the foregoing invention, the optimum relationship to the parts of the invention including variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, use and assembly are deemed readily apparent to those skilled in the art. All equivalent relationships illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed herein.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, and it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. All suitable modifications and equivalents that fall within the scope of the amended claims are deemed within the present inventive concept.

Claims

1. A shoe comprising: an upper portion; a sole joined to the upper portion and including a heel; the heel including a compartment having an opening and the opening having opening and closing means cooperatively associated therewith; the upper portion including foot engaging means; and the foot engaging means having article receiving and retaining means.

2. The shoe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the upper portion is secured about the foot and forms an article retaining pocket therein.

3. The shoe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the upper portion includes a side member extending upwardly from each side of the sole, joined together and then extending downwardly to reconnect to the sole.

4. The shoe as claimed in claim 2 wherein the upper portion has a tab with one or more openings and one or more closing strips that engage the one or more openings and fold back to be secured to each other.

5. The shoe as claimed in claim 3 wherein the joined together side members extend downwardly to rejoin the sole as a single member.

6. The shoe as claimed in claim 3 wherein at least one of the side members has an article receiving and retaining means therein.

7. A sandal for casual use comprising: an upper portion having a foot-engaging portion, a connected end, and a free end; a sole joined to the upper portion and including a heel, the heel including a compartment having an opening and the opening having opening and closing means cooperatively associated therewith to hold the upper configured about the foot to form an article-retaining portion therebetween.

8. The sandal as claimed in claim 6 wherein each of the side members has an article receiving and retaining means therein.

9. A sandal for casual use comprising: an upper portion having two side members each with a foot- engaging portion, a connected end, and a joined end; a sole joined to each of the side members at the side member connected end and including a heel, the heel including a compartment having an opening and the opening having opening and closing means cooperatively associated therewith, the upper portion including a side member extending upwardly from each side of the sole, joined together and then extending downwardly to reconnect to the sole, the joined together side members extending downwardly to rejoin the sole as a single member and at least one of the side members has an article receiving and retaining means therein.

10. The sandal as claimed in claim 9 wherein each of the side members has an article receiving and retaining means therein.

11. The sandal as claimed in claim 9 wherein the article receiving and retaining means is a compartment openable and closeable by a zipper.

12. The sandal as claimed in claim 10 wherein each of the article receiving and retaining means is a compartment openable and closable by a zipper.