US2185762A - Footwear - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 2, 1940.

K. M. cox

FOOTWEAR Filed Feb. 2, 1939 Patented Jan. 2, 1940 UNiTEo STATES r E -Tgo -FicE u FOOTWEAR,

Keith M. Cox, Darlington, Ind., assignor of forty one-hundredths to Raymond F. jAndcrson, v

Darlington, Ind.

Application February 2,'1939, Seria1' No.' 254,284

5 Claims. ores-4.1

This invention relates to footwear, and it is a. particular object of the invention to provide an article of this kind especially designed and adapted for use when taking a shower bath.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an article of footwear so constructed as to provide means to effectively prevent slipping and falling during a shower bath and to keep the foot of the wearer to which it is applied clean while going from the shower to the locker or the like whereby infection, particularly in public places,

is substantially avoided.

Another object of the invention is to provide an article of footwear which is especially intended for use by athletes although it may be used in the home or wherever a shower bath is employed. I

An additional object of the invention is to provide an article of footwear so constructed as to allow the foot to which it is applied to be washed with substantially the same ease as when the foot is in a naked state.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved footwearwhereby certain important advantages are attained and the article rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in top plan of an article of foot wear constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a view in perspective of the device as illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is-a sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

As, disclosed in the accompanying drawing, l denotes the bottom of the shoe formed of sponge rubber and is so designed as to underlie a foot from toe to heel. The marginal portions of this bottom member l are defined by the upstanding flanges 2 the inner faces 3 of which are disposed on an inward and downward incline and particularly along the sides thereof. The flange 2 at the front end of the sole I is formed to provide an inwardly disposed toe clip a. The flange 2 along each side of the shoe is provided therethroughwith the=-longitudinally spaced drain openings or holes 4 and the marginal portions of the'sole 1 along the sides thereof are provided with the outwardly and downwardly inclined drain holes 5. I

The-bottom or under face of the sole I is suitably sealed; as at b, to exclude water while the top or upper surface of the sole-l is provided with the perpendicularlyrelated grooves or channels 6 which providedra'inage' of the water to the dischargeopenings 5. I

Therear' end of the member I or heel portion of the flange 2 is provided with anupstanding counter 1 of desired size and configuration. The upper portion of this counter 1' has. suitably securedthereto the extremities of an ankle encircling cord-or loop 8 comprising a strand of live rubber. The side members of this loop 8 are connected by the cords 90f live rubber with the side flanges'2 at a pointin advance of but closely adjacent to theheel portion of the member I. The forward end portion of the loop member 8 isconne'cted'by the strands it also of liverubber'withthe'up'permarginal portion of the clip. As hereindis'cl'osed; these "strands ill are two'in numbe'i' andin spaced-relation.

Extending upwardly from the front or sole portion of the member I are the knobs ll herein disclosedas being conoidal in form. These knobs l l in practice are preferably three-quarter inch high with a bottom diameter of one-half inch and a top diameter of one-quarter inch. These knobs H are arranged in triangular form with the single knob in the front. These knobs are also positionedat the ball portion of the member I. I

The heel portion of the member I is also provided with the upstanding knobs l2 also conoidal and in triangular relation with the single knob rearwardly disposed and at the transverse center of the heel portion.

These knobs l l and I2 are preferably of sponge rubber or such other material that will readily compress under the weight of a person wearing the shoe yet normally maintaining its fixed conoidal form when free of load or pressure.

The loop 8 together with the cords '9 and I0 provide means for effectively maintaining the article of footwear upon the foot of a person and particularly when the'foot Wearing the article is raised from the floor. When the foot'is raised from the floor when the person is in a shower, the knobs H and I2 will have suificient spring eiiect to force the member I away from the foot allowing suificient space for the wearer to apply soap to the sole of his foot. Then by stamping the foot up and down the sponge rubber member I will form a squishing effect which by forcing water up on the sole of the foot will thorough- 5 ly rinse the soap from the foot. It is also believed to be obvious that any excess water which may collect upon the member I will readily drain out through the openings 4 and 5.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that an article of footwear constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my ing vention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim: 1. A bathing sandal comprising a bottom member of porous material having an under face impervious to moisture, the side marginal portions of said member being provided therealong with downwardly and outwardly inclined drain openings, a plurality of upstanding resilient knobs carried by the bottom member at the heel and sole portion thereof, said members readily compressing but normally maintaining a fixed raised form, and means carried by the bottom member for holding the bottom member in place upon a foot.

2. A bathing sandal comprising a bottom member of porous material having an under face impervious to moisture, the side marginal portions of said member being provided therealong with downwardly and outwardly inclined drain openings, a plurality of upstanding resilient knobs carried by the bottom member at the heel and sole portion thereof, said knobs readily compressing but normally maintaining a fixed raised form, and means carried by the bottom member for holding the bottom member in place upon a foot, said knobs at the toe portion being in triangular arrangement with the apex knob forwardly directed.

3. A bathing sandal comprising a bottom member of porous material having an under face impervious to moisture, the side marginal portions of said member being provided therealong with downwardly and outwardly inclined drain openings, a plurality of upstanding resilient knobs carried by the bottom member at the heel and sole portion thereof, said knobs readily compressing but normally maintaining a fixed raised form, and means carried by the bottom member for holding the bottom member in place upon a foot, the knobs at the heel portion of the bottom member being in triangular arrangement with the apex knob rearwardly disposed.

4. A bathing sandal comprising a bottom member of porous material having an under face impervious to moisture, the side marginal portions of said member being provided therealong with downwardly and outwardly inclined drain openings, a plurality of upstanding resilient knobs carried by the bottom member at the heel and sole portion thereof, said knobs readily compressing but normally maintaining afixed raised form,

and means carried by the bottom member for holding the bottom member in place upon a foot, the side marginal portions of the bottom member being defined by upstanding flanges having drain openings therethrough.

5. A bathing sandal comprising a bottom member of porous material having an under face impervious to moisture, the side marginal portions of said member being provided therealong with downwardly and outwardly inclined drain openr ings, a plurality of upstanding resilient knobs carried by the bottom member at the heel and sole portion thereof, said knobs readily compressing but normally maintaining a fixed raised form, and means carried by the bottom member for holding the bottom member in place upon a foot, the upper surface of the bottom member being provided therethrough with grooves for carrying liquid to the drain openings.

KEITH M. COX.

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