CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present application claims the benefit of co-pending United States provisional application Serial No. 61/091,918, filed August 26, 2008, entitled "ADJUSTMENT SYSTEM

FOR SANDAL STRAPS", the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Background of the Invention

A. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention is directed toward footwear. More particularly, the invention relates to an adjustment system for sandal straps comprising moorings to anchor the straps in various locations on the sandal and enhance adjustability. The design, configuration, and location of the adjustment system for sandal straps may vary significantly and still be within the scope of the present invention.

B. Description of the Related Art

[0003] The sport shoe industry is currently enjoying great success in the consumer environment. This explosion may be attributed to a trend of ever-increasing sophistication in the products. In recent years, sport shoes have been customized to fit a great many number of activities (e.g., skiing, hiking, trail running, distance running, etc.), each with its own performance criteria. Design considerations also may vary based on upon such criteria as gender, durability, and aesthetics. [0004] These variable considerations have led to the production of a large spectrum of performance highly-specialized footwear, wherein each design may be directed toward a specific activity and/or situation. For instance, shoes designed for short distance runners may concentrate on comfort, whereas shoes designed for long distance runners may prioritize low weight and streamlined design. Similarly, competitive runners may have different performance criteria than recreational runners. In each case, using a shoe designed for another purpose may have negative consequences on performance, and even the user's health.

[0005] For many watersports (e.g., kayaking, rafting), the most effective footwear choice may be sandals. Sandals soles provide protection from the elements (e.g., water, rocks), while the relatively sparse body (e.g., straps) of the sandal minimizes the amount of wet material the wearer is burdened with.

[0006] The wide gain in popularity of water sports has created a demand for high- performance sandals. One of the most important design criteria for these high-performance sandals is adjustability. The athlete must be able to adjust the sandals to any number of elements (e.g., water, rocks), conditions (i.e., wet, dry), or activities (e.g., hiking, rafting, swimming). In addition, the sandals may need to provide adjustability to allow each user a custom fit. [0007] Often, after sufficient use, sandal users often find that the sandal strap condition to no longer be optimal. However, in the present art, sport sandal embodiments typically employ a monolithic shoe strap design, in that the user cannot replace the straps. In such cases, the user is required to purchase a new pair of sandals. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008] Figure 1 provides a perspective view of an exemplary mooring embodiment according to the present invention;

[0009] Figure 2 provides a perspective view of an exemplary mooring embodiment according to the present invention from the reverse side as that shown in Figure 1;

[0010] Figure 3 provides an exemplary illustration of a sandal embodiment according to the present invention comprising an adjustment system for sandal straps;

[0011] Figure 4 provides an exemplary illustration of a sandal embodiment including straps according to the present invention comprising an adjustment system for sandal straps;

[0012] Figure 5 provides an exemplary illustration of a sandal embodiment including straps according to the present invention comprising an adjustment system for sandal straps; and

[0013] Figures 6a-c provides exemplary illustration of a sandal embodiment including straps according to the present invention comprising an adjustment system for sandal straps.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

[0014] The present invention relates to an adjustment system for sandal straps. In embodiments of the present invention, the design is uniquely optimized based on multiple criteria. In one exemplary embodiment, a sandal strap adjustment system may comprise may comprise at least one strap along with at least one sandal mooring to anchor the strap. [0015] Detailed descriptions of one or more embodiments of the invention follow, examples of which may be graphically illustrated in the drawings. Each example and embodiment are provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not meant as a limitation of the invention. For example, features or described as part of one embodiment may be utilized with another embodiment to yield still a further embodiment. It is intended that the present invention include these and other modifications and variations.

[0016] Figure 1 provides a perspective view of an exemplary mooring embodiment according to the present invention. In this embodiment, mooring 100 comprises a ring 103 comprising slot 101, and edge 102. Slot 101 may allow a strap of a sandal to pass through. Edge 102 may anchor mooring 100 to the sandal body (e.g., the sole). Figure 2 provides a perspective view of an exemplary mooring embodiment according to the present invention from the reverse side as that shown in Figure 1.

[0017] Figure 3 provides an exemplary illustration of a sandal embodiment according to the present invention comprising an adjustment system for sandal straps. In this embodiment, two pair of moorings 301&302 and 303&304 are located on the both sides of the sandal. Moorings 301 and 302 each comprise dual slots 305&306 and 307&308, in that their dual slots 305&306 and 307&308 allow for a strap to pass through the mooring in two places. As illustrated, moorings 303&304, located near lateral portion of the rearfoot region of the sandal embodiment, comprise single slots 309&310. In addition, this sandal embodiment comprises single mooring 311 comprising single slot 312 located at the heel region of the sandal embodiment.

[0018] Figure 4 provides an exemplary illustration of a sandal embodiment (including straps) comprising an adjustment system for sandal straps according to the present invention. In this embodiment, two pair of moorings 401&402 and 403&404 are located on the both sides of the sandal. Moorings 401 (located near the lateral side of the midfoot portion) and 402 (located near the medial side of the midfoot portion) each comprise dual slots 405&406 and 407&408, in that their dual slots 405&406 and 407&408 allow for a strap to pass through the mooring in two places. As illustrated, moorings 403 (located near the lateral side of the rearfoot portion) and 404 (located near the medial side of the rearfoot portion) comprise single slots 409 and 410 respectively. In addition, this sandal embodiment comprises single mooring 411 comprising single slot 412 located at the heel.

[0019] As illustrated, straps may be located on various portion of the sandal to facilitate optimum fitting. In this exemplary embodiment, first end 414 of first strap 413 may originate at slot 405. Similarly, second end 416 of second strap 415 may originate at slot 407. In both cases, first strap 413 and second strap 415 extend from their respective slots toward buckle 417. Buckle 417 may comprise multiple openings to facilitate the pass-through of first strap 413 and second strap 415. In this embodiment, first strap 413 extends through the openings of buckle 417 and reverses back toward slot 406, while second strap 415 through the openings of buckle 417 and reverses back toward slot 408. After, passing through slots 406 and 408 respectively, first strap 413 and second strap 415 extend toward second buckle 418 and third buckle 419. As shown, first strap 413 passing through second buckle 418 and extends toward and ends at mooring 403, while second strap 414 passes through third buckle 419 and extends toward and ends at mooring 404.

[0020] Figure 5 provides an exemplary illustration of a sandal embodiment including straps according to the present invention comprising an adjustment system for sandal straps. In this embodiment, two pair of moorings 501&502 and 503&504 are located on the both sides of the sandal. Moorings 501 and 502 each comprise dual slots 505&506 and 507&508, in that their dual slots 505&506 and 507&508 allow for a strap to pass through the mooring in two places. As illustrated, moorings 503&504 comprise single slots 509&510. In addition, this sandal embodiment comprises single mooring 511 comprising single slot 512 located at the heel. [0021] The configurations depicted in Figures 3-5 are not intended to exclude other possibilities. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the foregoing systems and methods are susceptible of various modifications and alterations. For example, Figures 6a-c provides exemplary illustration of a sandal embodiment (including straps) comprising an adjustment system for sandal straps according to the present invention. In this embodiment, two pair of moorings 601&602 and 603&604 are located along the outer sides of the sandal. Each of the moorings 601, 602, 603, and 604, comprises a single slot. Along the inner side of the sandal, there is mooring 605 and mooring pair 606&607. Mooring 605 is located approximately near the forefoot, while mooring pair 606&607 is located approximately near the rearfoot. [0022] Similar to the embodiments described above, straps may be located on various portion of the sandal to facilitate optimum fitting. In this exemplary embodiment, a first end 608a of a first strap 608 may originate at mooring 601. Similarly, a first end 609a of a second strap 609 may originate at mooring 605. In both cases, the first strap 608 and the second strap 609 extend from their respective slots toward first buckle 610. Buckle 610 may comprise multiple openings to facilitate the pass-through of first strap 608 and second strap 609. In this embodiment, first strap 608 extends through the openings of first buckle 610 and reverses back to end at mooring 602 (i.e., second end 608b), while second strap 609 extends through the openings of first buckle 610 and toward second buckle 611. Second strap 609 passes through second buckle 611 to end at third buckle 612 at its second end 609a. A first end 613a of a third strap 613 may originate at mooring 604, extend toward fourth buckle 614, a triangle buckle, and end at its second end 613b at mooring 603. A fourth strap 615 may connect second buckle 611 and fourth buckle 614.

[0023] While the present invention has been described with reference to the aforementioned applications, this description of the preferred embodiments is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. It shall be understood that all aspects of the present invention are not limited to the specific depictions, configurations or dimensions set forth herein which depend upon a variety of principles and variables. Various modifications in form and detail of the disclosed apparatus, as well as other variations of the present invention, will be apparent to a person skilled in the art upon reference to the present disclosure. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims shall cover any such modifications or variations of the described embodiments as falling within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.