US20100251569A1

US20100251569A1 - Sandal with toe separators

Info

Publication number: US20100251569A1
Application number: US12/384,450
Authority: US
Inventors: Gina Stern
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-04-06
Filing date: 2009-04-06
Publication date: 2010-10-07

Abstract

A sandal with a base plate, sandal strap and four toe separators where each separator member terminates at its top surface in a female ball joint member. Male ball joint members are fixedly attached to the front edge of the sandal strap and spaced apart to allow space for each toe when the female and male ball joints are snapped together. A preferred embodiment includes the male and female ball joints are constructed of injection molded resilient plastic allowing male portion of each the male ball joint member to snap into each female ball joint member and where the male and female ball joint members can be unsnapped when so desired to allow a user to lift his or her toes from the sandal in an unencumbered a way to not disturb newly applied nail polish that may have been applied to the user's toe nails.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of footwear construction and more specifically to a sandal with toe separators.
Sandals are a well known form of footwear. One type of sandal is called a flip flop, or thong type sandal and is commonly used in warm weather environments such as the sea shore. It is also used near swimming pools and at massage salons. This type of sandal has a retaining strap that fits between the big toe and the toe adjacent to the big toe. The strap is fastened to the base plate of the sandal and then forms a T just above the toes. Each leg of the T top traverses the top of the foot and each leg of the T terminates toward the rear of the foot at the right and left edge of the sandal's base plate.
A variation on the classic flip flop sandal incorporates toe separator members between each toe. This configuration helps separate the toes while receiving a pedicure, where it is important to have full access to each toe nail during the polish application procedure.
However, there is a deficiency in the prior pedicure sandal technology. When a person tries to remove his or her toes from the pedicure type sandal, there is a strong possibility of damaging the freshly applied nail polish in the process because the toes and toenails need to slide out between the toe separator members. During the process, one or more toenails can be swiped by a toe separator member causing a blemish in the still drying toenail polish.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the invention is to provide a sandal with toe separators that can be used for a pedicure where the separators can be detached from the body of the sandal so that the user can lift her or his toes out of the sandal without the danger of damaging the newly applied nail polish.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed sandal with toe separators comprising: a resilient sandal base plate sized to receive the sole of a human foot, a plurality of toe separator members sized to accommodate the space between five human toes of said human foot, a foot retaining strap sized to accommodate the top portion of said human foot, a plurality of female ball joint members each fixedly attached to the top portion of each said toe separator member, and a plurality of male ball joint members each fixedly attached the front edge of said foot retaining strap and spaced apart so that each male ball joint can attach to each female ball joint while leaving room for each said toe between each said toe separator member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the invention with the foot strap separated from the toe separators.

FIG. 3 is a partial section view of the invention showing the construction of a typical toe separator member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.
Referring now to FIG. 1 we see a perspective view of the sandal of the present invention 100. The sandal 100 is comprised of a base plate 4, a foot strap 2 and a plurality of toe separator members 6. The separator members are designed to keep a person's toes and toenails separate while having a pedicure, where nail polish is brushed onto each toenail.
Although the toenail separator members 6 are effective in doing their job, they become problematic when a person removes his or her toes from the sandal 100. The sliding action of the toe and toenail against the separators 6 can cause the newly applied nail polish to become scraped and degraded. The present invention 100 includes small universal joints comprised of a male portion 8 and a female portion 10.
Each universal joint 8, 10 is molded out of resilient plastic such as nylon so that the two portions of the joint 8, 10 can be unsnapped as shown in FIG. 2 and re-snapped again for further use. In the unsnapped position, a person can lift his or her foot and toes up in a vertical fashion thereby reducing the chance of damage to a newly polished toenail. Other fastening means may be employed such as standard snaps or hook and loop fasteners, however, the limited space between the toes does not allow for a fastener that has a relatively broad foot print. The ball joint fastener shown can be confined to the width of each toe separator and the angular adjustability of the joint increases the wearer's comfort during normal operation. The male portion 8 of the ball joint easily slips into the female portion 10 so that re-attachment of the joint can be done easily by the user.
FIG. 3 shows a partial section view of the sandal base plate 4, a toe separator 6 and the foot strap 2. The strap 2 includes the male half of the universal joint 8 which is fixedly retained in place by flange 9. Female universal joint half 10 includes a neck 11 which is fixedly attached, by standard means such as adhesive, into the top hollow portion of separator member 6. The resilient nature of the joint allows the male 8 and female 10 halves to be pulled apart when needed and then snapped back together for the next use.
While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. sandal with toe separators comprising:

a resilient sandal base plate sized to receive the sole of a human foot;

a plurality of toe separator members sized to accommodate the space between five human toes of said human foot;

a foot retaining strap sized to accommodate the top portion of said human foot;

a plurality of resilient female ball joint members each fixedly attached to the top portion of each said toe separator member; and

a plurality of resilient male ball joint members each fixedly attached the front edge of said foot retaining strap and spaced apart so that each male ball joint can removably snap into each female ball joint while leaving room for each said toe between each said toe separator member.

2. Sandal with toe separators as claimed in claim 1 wherein said male and female ball joints are constructed of injection molded resilient plastic allowing male portion of each said male ball joint member to snap into each female ball joint member and where said male and female ball joint members can be unsnapped when so desired to allow a user to lift his or her toes from said sandal in an unencumbered a way so as to not disturb newly applied nail polish has been applied to said user's toe nails.

3. Sandal with toe separators as claimed in claim 1 wherein said ball joint members are constructed of nylon.