Footwear with exchangeable fastening system

• US 7,793,436 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2007
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey A. Sink
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey A. Sink
• Inventors: Sink, Jeffrey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mohandesi; Jila M
• Application Number:
  US11/810,663
• Publication Number:
  US 20070283594A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,197 Days
• Field of Search: 36/501, 36/51, 36/52, 36/115, 243/00, 243/01
• US Class Current: 36/50.1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/122 characterised by the attachment of the straps
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/126 characterised by the shape or layout of the straps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/314 Elastic connector
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/316 Strap connector

Abstract

A footwear member includes a set of stretchable fastening members that allow a user to select and attach those fastening members that provide the best fit. Each selected fastening member is attached at its opposite ends to connection structures that are paired. For example, the paired connection structures may be two posts that have grooves in order to properly seat and retain the ends of the fastening members. Two acceptable materials for forming the fastening members are rubber and urethane. The fastening members may be referred to as “bungee cords.” There are at least two different lengths of fastening members in order to provide selection on the basis of the shape or size of a user'"'"'s foot. Selection of the proper “bungee cord” also applies to an attachment at the Achilles area of the wearer'"'"'s foot.

Claims

1. A footwear member comprising:

a foot-receiving portion configured to be worn on a human foot;

a set of fastening members formed of a material selected to enable said fastening members to stretch in order to secure said foot-receiving portion to said human foot, said fastening members of said set having at least two different lengths when in a relaxed condition, each said fastening member having a first end and a second end; and

a plurality of paired connection structures, each paired connection structure being first and second connection structures configured for attachment of one of said fastening members for securing said foot-receiving portion to said human foot, said fastening members in said set being greater in number than said paired connection structures;

wherein attachment of a selected said fastening member to a particular said paired connection structure includes structurally different couplings to said first and second connection structures, respectively, said first end being coupled to said first connection structure in a releasable but more secure manner as compared to coupling of said second end to said second connection structure, wherein said couplings to said first and second connection structures are limited to a single seating position of said first end to first connection structure and a single seating position of said second end to said second connection structure, such that adjustment of said selected fastening member with respect to said human foot is based only on said material selected to enable stretch, said material enabling bungee cord stretching.

2. The footwear member of claim 1 wherein said first and second ends have different configurations, each said first end having an O-ring shape and each said second end having a U-shape, said first ends thereby being more securely coupled to said first connection structures than said second ends are connected to said second connection structures.

3. The footwear member of claim 2 wherein said second ends are slidably fit to said second connection structures, while said first ends are shaped to fit about posts by conforming to a shape of said posts, said first ends being flexible such that removal from said posts is enabled, each said second end including an extension tab for use as a handle as said second end is moved into and out of attachment to a second post upon sliding said second end perpendicular to an axis of said second post.

4. The footwear member of claim 2 wherein each of said first and second connection structures includes a grooved post.

5. The footwear member of claim 1 wherein said foot-receiving portion defines a sandal having non-stretch straps, each said strap being operatively associated with one of said paired connection structures.

6. The footwear member of claim 5 further comprising a stretchable member attached at a rearward region of said foot-receiving portion to contact an Achilles area of said human foot.

7. The footwear member of claim 6 wherein said stretchable member is releasably attached to said foot-receiving portion to enable replacement.

8. The footwear member of claim 1 wherein each said paired connection structure includes a pair of O-ring holders configured to couple to said first and second ends of one of said fastening members.

9. The footwear member of claim 1 wherein said foot-receiving portion defines a shoe, said fastening members being attached to said paired connection structures such that said first ends are coupled to a shoe portion that passes over the top of said human foot while said second ends are coupled to a sole portion.

10. A fastening system for securing a footwear member to a human foot comprising:

a plurality of pairs of operationally associated connection structures, said connection structures being fixed to a foot-receiving portion of said footwear and being positioned such that force which is applied to pressure said operatively associated connection structures of any one of said pairs operates to secure said footwear; and

a set of fastening members formed of a material that enables bungee cord stretching, said fastening members having relaxed conditions and stretched conditions, said fastening members having a plurality of different lengths when in said relaxed conditions, each said fastening member having first and second ends configured to attach to said connection structures of one of said pairs in a releasable manner, said first ends having a shape different than a shape of said second ends, said shape of said first ends being such that said first ends require a press fit to said connection structures, while said second ends have a U-shape that enables said second ends to slide onto said connection structures after said fastening members are stretched past said connection structures and then allowed to retract so as to slide onto said connection structures.

11. The fastening system of claim 10 wherein each said fastening member is formed of rubber or urethane.

12. The fastening system of claim 10 wherein each said connection structure is a post.

13. The fastening system of claim 10 wherein the number of said fastening members in said set exceeds the number of said pairs of connection structures.

14. A fastening system for securing a footwear member to a human foot comprising:

a plurality of pairs of operationally associated connection structures, said connection structures being fixed to a foot-receiving portion of said footwear and being positioned such that force which is applied to pressure said operatively associated connection structures of any one of said pairs operates to secure said footwear; and

a set of fastening members having relaxed conditions and stretched conditions, said fastening members having a plurality of different lengths when in said relaxed conditions, each said fastening member having first and second ends configured to attach to said connection structures of one of said pairs in a releasable manner, said first ends having a shape different than a shape of said second ends, said shape of said first ends being such that said first ends require a press fit to said connection structures, while said second ends have a shape that enables said second ends to slide onto said connection structures;

wherein each said connection structure is a post.

15. The fastening system of claim 14 wherein each said post is grooved and wherein said first ends of said fastening members are O-shaped and dimensioned to fit about one of said posts.

16. The fastening system of claim 15 wherein said second ends of said fastening members are U-shaped to enable said second ends to slide onto said posts.