US2595643A - Strap construction for bathing sandals - Google Patents

Description

May 6, 1952, B. "P. DAUGHERTY, JR 2,595,643

STRAP CNSTRUCTION FOR BATH-ING 'SANDALS Filed Sept. 7, 1951 ATTORNEKS Patented May 6, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STRAP CONSTRUCTION FOR` BATHIN G SANDALS Burton P. Daugherty, Jr., Washington, D. C. Application September 7, 1951, Serial No. `245,493

3 Claims. l

This invention relates to an article of footwear. and more particularly, to a sandal having a novel construction including an improved means for securing the strap to the sole.

In the prior art sandals having straps for securing the sole to the foot of the wearer are well known. However, these prior art sandals have several defects or disadvantages. More specically, the straps are frequently in the form of cord, thongs, or other narrow strips which ltend to cut and chafe the foot. In those devices which have employed broad straps the later tended to twist and thereby made it diicult to place the sandal on the foot, as well as being irritating and uncomfortable to wear. Furthermore, the prior art sandals have securing means for connecting the straps to the sole which are unreliable in that they frequently tend to break, provide unsightly and bothersome projecting connections, and are relatively expensive as to cost of manufacture.

Itis, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide a sandal having broad straps so arranged that the straps will lie flat against the foot of the wearer throughout their lengths and will be restrained against twistingr out of this position, thereby preventing any chang or cutting.

Another object of the presentl invention is to provide a novel securing` means for the straps, these securing means comprising strap portions extending downwardly through apertures in the sole and having enlarged shoulders abutting against the lower surface of the sole so as to restrain the strap portions against upward movement.

A further object is to provide hollow rubber bosses on the V lower surface of the sole for enclosing said shoulder projections, the bosses serving both as a protective enclosure for the enlarged shoulders and also as a suction cup gripping means to improve the traction of the sole with respect to the ground.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent and are inherent in the structure as described in the specification and as shown in the drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a sandal constructed in accordance with the present invention,

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view showing the lower surface of the sole,

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 3--3 of Figure 1, and shows the structural details of a rubber boss and the enclosed shoulder therein for restraining the forward ends ofthe strap sections against upwardV movement; and

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 1 and shows the rubber boss and securing means for the rear ends of the strap sections.

Referring to the drawing, the reference numeral H indicates generally the sole of the sandal. The upper surface I2 of the sole Il is preferably provided with a series of longitudinal slits I3 crossed by transverse slits I 4 which are spaced relatively closer than, and are somewhat shallower than, the longitudinal slits I3. At the forward or toe end i5 and at the rear or heel end l5 of the sole Il are provided longitudinally extending slits |1 and I8 respectively, the slits l1 and I8 being relatively closer to each other and shallow, similar to the transverse slits I4.

Referring now to Figure 2, the lower surface i t of the sole l l is preferably provided with a peripherally extending rib or raised portion 20. Within the area enclosed by the rib 2U are several diferent types of projecting configurations such as at 2l, 22, 23,724 and 25, these projections serving as a gripping means to increase the traction of the sole with respect to the ground and also providing a decorative effect. It will be obvious that the particular shapes of these congurations have no bearing on the present invention and may be varied as desired.

The strap member, generally designated as 26, comprises two strap sections 21 and 28. Each of the strap sections 21 and 28 extends from its rear end 21-28f forwardly to its respective forward end 21." -28. The strap member 26 is preferably made integral so that the strap section forward end 21" is continuous with the strap section forward end 28". However, if desired, the strap sectionsV 21 and 28 may be made of individual pieces and secured together at their forward ends 21"-28". It will be noted that the strap sections 21 and 28 are of a somewhat arcuate configuration so as toV accommodate the contour of the wearers foot.

Approximately adjacent the forward or toe end i5 of the lower surface of the sole Il and intermediate the longitudinal side edges 29 and 30 of the latter there is provided a downwardly extending hollow boss or projection 3|. The boss 3i is preferably of a circular configuration as shown in the drawing, but it will be obvious that other cross sectional shapes may be employed.

Referring now to Figure 3, the sole Il is provided with an aperture 32 coaxial and communicating with the opening in the boss 3 I. A projection 33 extends downwardly through the aperture 32 and is provided at its lower end with an enlarged shoulder portion 34 which abuts against the lower surface of the sole II. The upper end of the projection 33 is adhesively or otherwise secured to the forward ends 21"-28 of the strap sections 21 and 28. It will also be noted that the lower portion of the boss 3| extends downwardly beneath the enlarged shoulder 34 so as to provide a hollow space 35 within the boss 3|. This enables the boss 3| to act as a suction cup gripping means as will be explained in more detail below.

A pair of bosses 3B and 31 are provided approximately adjacent the rear or heel end I6 of the sole I I and extend downwardly from the peripheral rib 20 with which they are inegrally formed.

As best seen in Figure 1, the bosses 36 and 31 are constructed similarly to the boss 3| described above. The sole II is provided with a pair of apertures 38 extending therethrough, each aperture 38 being coaxial and communicating with a respective one of the openings in the interior of the bosses 36 and 31. Each of the rear ends 21T- 28' of the strap sections 21 and 28 is provided with a reduced portion 39 extending downwardly through a respective aperture 38. The portions 39 are each provided with an enlarged shoulder 46 abutting against the lower surface of the sole II so as to restrain the strap section ends 21-28' against upward movement.` The shoulders 40 are enclosed by the bosses 36 and 31 but fill only the upper portion of the space within the bosses 36 and 31 so as to provide an air space 4I within the lower portions of each of the bosses 36 and 31. The air space 4| enable the bosses 36 and 31 to act as a suction cup or gripping means so as to increase the traction of the sole with respect to the ground.

Referring now to Figure 1. it will be noted that the strap sections 21 and 28 are of greater width than thickness so as to provide large flat surface areas adapted to contact the foot of the wearer without causing chang or irritation. The rear ends 21-28 of the strap sections 21 and 28 lie substantially horizontal and flat against the upper surface I2 of the sole I I. As the strap sections 21 and 28 extend outwardly and forwardly they twist gradually so that their intermediate portions 21-28 are approximately vertical. The strap sections 21 and 28 continue to twist as they extend forwardly until at the forward ends 21"-28" the strap sections 21 and 28 have each twisted approximately 180 so as to lie substantially horizontal and in inverted relation with respect to their original alignment at the rear ends 21-28. This arrangement of the strap sections 21 and 28 provides that their broad interior surfaces lie flat against the surface of the wearers foot. Furthermore, although the strap sections 21 and 28 and also their projecting reduced portions 33-39, are preferably made of rubber and are, therefore, somewhat resilient, these elements are suiciently stiff so that the strap sections 21 and 28 tend to maintain their open arcuate raised positions shown in the drawing so as to enable the wearer to slip his foot between and beneath the strap sections 21 and 23 with ease and rapidity.

As shown in Figure 1' the projecting or reduced portion 33 to which the strap section forward ends 21"-28" are secured is relatively narrow in the transverse direction so as to easily fit between the large and second toes of the wearer.

The sole II and strap sections 21 and 28 may iil) be made of any suitable material such as rubber. plastic, fabric or the like. However, rubber is thought preferable in that it is easily washable, durable, and soft and comfortable to the wearer. Furthermore, the resilient nature of rubber tends to urge or bias the strap sections 21 and 28 toward the open arcuate raised position shown in the drawing whereby the shoulder portions 34 and 4B are maintained in abutment against the sole I I and the wearer may slip his foot quickly and easily beneath and between the strap sections 21 and 28.

As a result of the resilient nature of the rubber material of the strap sections 21 and 28, the shoulder portions 34 and 4U are maintained in the upper portions of the bosses 3| and 3E whereby the free air spaces 35 and 4| in the lower portions of the bosses 3| and 36 allow the lat- A ter to act as suction cups which increase the gripping or traction effect of the sole I I with respect to the ground.

It is to be understood that the specific embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing and described in the specification is merely illustrative of one of the many forms which the invention may take in practice; the scope of the invention being delineated in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A sandal comprising a sole having an upper surface upon which the foot of the wearer may rest and a lower surface adapted to contact the ground, a strap member extending above said sole and being adapted to extend over the foot of the wearer for holding the sandal in wearing position on the foot, said strap member being of greater width than thickness and comprising two sections each having a rear end located approximately adjacent the rear or heel end of the sole and a forward end approximately adjacent the front or toe end of the sole, and a projection extending upwardly from the sole and secured at its upper end to one face of said strap section forward ends, said strap sections lying substantially horizontal at their connection to said projection and gradually twisting inwardly as they extend rearwardly so as to be Substantially horizontal and inverted at their rear ends whereby the entire length of the strap sections will lie substantially flat` against the surface of the wearers foot, and connections between said sole and the rear ends of said strap sections on the opposite face of said strap sections.

2. A sandal comprising a sole having an upper surface upon which the foot of the wearer may rest and a lower surface adapted to contact the ground, a strap member extending above said sole and being adapted to extend over the foot of the wearer for holding the sandal in wearing position on the foot, said strap member being of greater width than the thickness and comprising two sections each having a rear end located approximately adjacent the rear or heel end of the sole and a forward end approximately adjacent the front or toe end of the sole, a projection extending upwardly from the sole and secured at its upper end to one face of said strap section forward ends, said strap sections lying substantially horizontal at their forward ends and gradually twisting 180 inwardly as they extend rearwardly so as to be substantially horizontal and inverted at their rear ends whereby the entire length of the strap sections will lie substantially flat against the surface of the wearers foot, said sole having three apertures therethrough, said projection and said strap section rear ends each having a portion extending downwardly through a respective one of said apertures, the portions on said rear ends being on the opposite face of said strap sections and an enlarged shoulder on each of the lowermost ends of said portions and abutting against said sole lower surface so as t0 retain said strap sections in twisted relation and said strap section ends against vupward movement with respect to the sole.

3. A sandal comprising a sole having an upper surface upon which the foot of the wearer may rest and a lower surface adapted to contact the ground, a strap member extending above said sole and being adapted to extend over the foot of the wearer for holding ythe sandal in wearing position on the foot, said strap member being of greater width than the thickness and comprising two sections each having a rear end located approximately adjacent the rear or heel end of the sole and a forward end approximately adjacent the front or toe end of the sole, a projection extending upwardly from the sole and secured at its upper end to one face of said strap section forward ends, said strap sections lying substantially horizontal at their forward ends and gradually twisting 180 inwardly as they eX- tend rearwardly so as to be substantially horizontal and inverted at their rear ends whereby the entire length of the strap sections will lie substantially iiat against the surface of the wearers foot, said sole having three apertures therethrough, said projection and said strap section rear ends each having a portion extending downwardly through a respective one of said apertures, the portions on said'rear ends being on the opposite face of said strap sections, an enlarged shoulder on each of the lowermost ends of said portions and abutting against said sole lower surface so as to retain said strap sections in twisted relation and said strap section ends against upward movement with respect to the sole,land three hollow rubber bosses secured to the lower surface of the sole, each boss surrounding a respective one of said enlarged shoulders and extending downwardly thereabout and downwardly therebelow.

BURTON P. DAUGHERTY, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date- 1,875,162 Sayers Aug. 30, 1932 v2,114,421 Guire Apr. 19, 1938 2,526,940 Fello Oct. 24, 1950 2,544,270 LHollier Mar. 6, 1951 2,554,823 Goldman May 29, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 244: Great Britain Mar. 29, 1911

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