AU8142701A - Breakdown footwear - Google Patents

Abstract

The shape of the shoe or slipper (5) is designed in order to facilitate the conversion from a flat shape into the actual device by closing a zip fastener (4) sewn around the front edge (3) of the shoe. A version comprising a heel part and a boot with a low shaft can also be created with this method. For transport, the shoe or slipper (5) can be returned into its completely flat, space saving shape.

Description

-1-

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: Werner Karl Stegmann Actual Inventor: Werner Karl Stegmann Address for Service: BALDWIN SHELSTON WATERS 60 MARGARET STREET SYDNEY NSW 2000 CCN: 3710000352 0 0 Invention Title: 'BREAKDOWN FOOTWEAR' S0. The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- File: 33297AUP00 ooooo la BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This invention relates to footwear, and in particular to footwear capable of being partially broken down and stored flat or folded.

Background of the 1nvention lt Transportation and/or storage of footwear such as slippers, shoes, etc. presents a problem in that the footwear is generally rigidly constructed, and tends to maintain is bulky, irregular shape. Thus esl a pair of footwear can easily occupy a quarter of the space available in a small suitcase or flight bag. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide footwear which is capable of being broken down and stored flat or folded, in order to save space.

Existing Desizns A number of patents have been granted which teach footwear capable of being broken down to some extent. U.S. Pat. No. 4,214,383 was granted Allen for a normal shoe with a sole which could be separated from the upper in order to easily replace either the upper or the sole for economical and/or fashion reasons. But this was a normal shoe constructed for the sole purpose of having the ability to exchange sole and upper components, allowing use during warm seasons as will as in cold weather, and/or allowing modifications fitting the wearer's fashion preferences.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,822,888 was granted Terry for a slipper item which allowed a pair of mating slippers to be zipped together, thus creating a package-like assembly. While this patent taught a method of attaching two slippers, it did not disclose footwear capable of being broken down in S order to provide flat storage.

German 7,241,339 taught footwear made of light-weight water-resistant material which could be formed into a roll. This rolling arrangement reduced its size, allowing storage in containers such as knapsacks or jacket pockets. No breakdown capabilities were disclosed, however.

0 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide breakdown footwear which can be partially disassembled for storage. Design features allowing this object to be accomplished include means of disengageably fastening an upper to a sole, which may include one or more zippers, hook and loop materials, buttons, laces, etc. Advantages associated with the accomplishment of this object include the ability to store the breakdown footwear flat or folded, the avoidance of the bulky, irregular shape associated with conventional footwear, and increased storage space freed up by storing the breakdown footwear flat.

i0 It is another object of this invention to provide breakdown footwear which is economical. Design features allowing this object to be achieved include the use of materials and components made of readily available materials. Benefits associated with reaching this objective include reduced cost, and hence increased availability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention, together with the other objects, features, aspects and advantages thereof will be more clearly understood from the following in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Eight sheets of drawings are provided. Sheet one contains figures I and 2. Sheet two contains figures 3 and 4. Sheet three contains figures 5 and 6. Sheet four contains figures 7 and 8. Sheet five contains figures 9 and 10. Sheet six contains figures 11 and 12. Sheet seven contains figures 13 and 14. Sheet eight contains figures 15 and 16.

Figure 1 is a side isometric view of a broken down breakdown footwear whose disengageable means of attaching the front upper to the sole is a zipper.

Figure 2 is a side isometric view of an assembled breakdown footwear whose disengageable S 15 means of attaching the front upper to the sole is a zipper..

Figure 3 is a side isometric view of a broken down breakdown footwear whose disengageable means of attaching the front upper and heel upper to the sole is a zipper.

Figure 4 is a side isometric view of an assembled breakdown footwear whose disengageable means of attaching the front upper and heel upper to the sole is a zipper.

Figure 5 is a side isometric view of a broken down breakdown footwear whose disengageable means of attaching the front upper to the sole is hook and loop material.

Figure 6 is a side isometric view of an assembled breakdown footwear whose disengageable means of attaching the front upper to the sole is hook and loop material..

Figure 7 is a side isometric view of a broken down breakdown footwear whose disengageable means of attaching the front upper and heel upper to the sole is hook and loop material.

1) Figure 8 is a side isometric view of an assembled breakdown footwear whose disengageable means of attaching the front upper and heel upper to the sole is hook and loop material.

Figure 9 is a side isometric view of a broken down breakdown footwear whose disengageable means of attaching the front upper to the sole comprises buttons and buttonholes.

Figure 10 is a side isometric view of an assembled breakdown footwear whose disengageable means of attaching the front upper to the sole comprises buttons and buttonholes..

Figure 11 is a side isometric view of a broken down breakdown footwear whose disengageable means of attaching the front upper and heel upper to the sole comprises buttons and buttonholes.

Figure 12 is a side isometric view of an assembled breakdown footwear whose disengageable means of attaching the front upper and heel upper to the sole comprises buttons and buttonholes.

6 Figure 13 is a side isometric view of a broken down breakdown footwear whose disengageable means of attaching the front upper to the sole comprises eyelets and laces.

Figure 14 is a side isometric view of an assembled breakdown footwear whose disengageable means of attaching the front upper to the sole comprises eyelets and laces..

Figure 15 is a side isometric view of a broken down breakdown footwear whose disengageable means of attaching the front upper and heel upper to the sole comprises eyelets and laces.

Figure 16 is a side isometric view of an assembled breakdown footwear whose disengageable means of attaching the front upper and heel upper to the sole comprises eyelets and laces.

*a 7 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to figure 1 we observe a side isometric view of broken-down breakdown footwear 2 whose disengageable means of attaching the front upper to the sole is zipper 12. In general, breakdown footwear 2 comprises front upper 4 hingedly attached to sole 6 at front hinge 8. In the alternate embodiments depicted in figs. 3, 4, 7, 8, 11, 12, 15 and 16 heel upper 10 is hingedly attached to sole 6 at rear hinge 9.

In the embodiments depicted in the figures, front upper 4, sole 6, and optional heel upper 10 were l) made of fabric or other flexible material, and thus front hinge 8 and rear hinge 9 were merely that portion of the fabric or other flexible material from which front upper 4, sole 6, and optional heel upper 10 were made. That is to say, in the embodiments herein depicted, no separate front hinge 8 and/or rear hinge 9 were required, although any suitable separate front hinge 8 and/or rear hinge 9 are considered to be within he scope of this disclosure.

Figure 1 depicts breakdown footwear 2 in the broken down configuration. In the broken down configuration breakdown footwear 2 is easily stored, due to its flat profile. Figure 2 is a side isometric view of breakdown footwear 2 in the assembled configuration, ready for use.

Breakdown footwear 2 is assembled by engaging the disengageable means of attaching front upper 4 to sole 6.

In the embodiments depicted in figures 1 4, the disengageable means of attaching front upper 4 sole 6 is zipper 12. Breakdown footwear 2 is transformed into the assembled configuration 8 depicted in figure 2 by folding front upper 4 over sole 6 at front hinge 8 as indicated by arrows 14 in figure 1, until front upper 4 co-extends with the front portion of sole 6. Then the disengageable means of attaching front upper 4 to sole 6 is engaged. In the embodiments of breakdown footwear 2 depicted in figures 1 4, the disengageable means of attaching front upper 4 to sole 6 s is zipper 12. Therefore, in these embodiments, zipper 12 is zipped up, thereby disengageably attaching front upper 4 to sole 6. At this point breakdown footwear 2 is ready for use, as depicted in figure 2.

Breakdown footwear 2 is transformed into the broken down configuration by reversing the above lt steps. The disengageable means of attaching front upper 4 to sole 6 (zipper 12 in figs. 1 4) is disengaged (unzipped in figs. 1 Then front upper 4 is unfolded from sole 6 at front hinge 8 until breakdown footwear 2 is in the broken down configuration depicted in figure 1, ready for transportation or storage.

15 Figure 3 is a side isometric view of broken-down breakdown footwear 2 comprising heel upper hingedly attached to sole 6 at rear hinge 9. Heel upper 10 is disengageably attached to the rear portion of sole 6 by folding heel upper 10 around the perimeter of the rear portion of sole 6 as depicted by arrow 16 in figure 3. The disengageable means of attaching heel upper 10 to sole 6 is then engaged.

In figures 3 and 4 the disengageable means of attaching heel upper 10 to sole 6 is a zipper 12.

Figure 4 depicts breakdown footwear 2 in the assembled configuration, ready for use. Front upper 4 has been disengageably attached to the front portion of sole 6 by means of a first zipper 12, and heel upper 10 has been disengageably attached to the rear portion of sole 6 by means of a second zipper 12.

The breakdown footwear 2 embodiment depicted in figures 3 and 4 is transformed into the broken down configuration depicted in figure 3 by unzipping both zippers 12, and unfolding front upper 4 and heel upper 10 into the flat position depicted in figure 3. In the broken down configuration depicted in figure 3 breakdown footwear 2 is ready for transportation or storage.

Figures 5 8 depict embodiments of breakdown footwear 2 wherein the disengageable means of attaching front upper 4 to sole 6 is hook and loop material 18. Figures 7 and 8 depict an embodiment of breakdown footwear 2 wherein the disengageable means of attaching heel upper .10 to sole 6 is hook and loop material 18. Hook and loop material 18 can be attached to either the upper or lower surface of sole 6, front upper 4 and heel upper 10, and such variations are considered to be within the scope of this disclosure.

The embodiments of breakdown footwear 2 depicted in figures 5 8 are transformed from broken down configuration to assembled configuration the same way as in the embodiments of breakdown footwear 2 depicted in figures 1 4, except that instead of zipping and unzipping zipper(s) 12, hook and loop material 18 is engaged and disengaged.

Figures 9 12 depict embodiments of breakdown footwear 2 wherein the disengageable means of attaching front upper 4 to sole 6 are buttons 20 and buttonholes 22. Figures 11 and 12 depict an embodiment of breakdown footwear 2 wherein the disengageable means of attaching heel upper to sole 6 are buttons 20 and buttonholes 22. Buttons 20 can be attached to either the upper or lower surface of sole 6, front upper 4 and heel upper 10, and mating buttonholes 22 disposed appropriately, and such variations are considered to be within the scope of this disclosure.

The embodiments of breakdown footwear 2 depicted in figures 9 12 are transformed from broken down configuration to assembled configuration the same way as in the embodiments of breakdown footwear 2 depicted in figures 1 4, except that instead of zipping and unzipping zipper(s) 12, buttons 20 are buttoned and unbuttoned.

Io Figures 13 16 depict embodiments of breakdown footwear 2 wherein the disengageable means of attaching front upper 4 to sole 6 are lace 24 and eyelets 26. Figures 15 and 16 depict an embodiment of breakdown footwear 2 wherein the disengageable means of attaching heel upper .:690: 10 to sole 6 are lace 24 and eyelets 26.

15 The embodiments of breakdown footwear 2 depicted in figures 13 16 are transformed from broken down configuration to assembled configuration the same way as in the embodiments of breakdown footwear 2 depicted in figures 1 4, except that instead of zipping and unzipping zipper(s) 12, lace(s) 24 are threaded through eyelets 26 and tied in conventional fashion, then untied and unlaced to transform breakdown footwear 2 into the broken down configuration depicted in figures 13 and 11 While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated herein, it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the appending claims.

*o *ooo* o 12 DRAWING ITEM INDEX 2 breakdown footwear 4 front upper 6 sole 8 front hinge 9 rear hinge 1 0 heel upper 12 zipper 14 arrow 16 arrow 18 hook and loop material )o2 buttons 22 buttonholes 24 lace 26 eyelets 0

Claims (11)

1. A breakdown footwear comprising a front upper hingedly attached to a sole, and a disengageable means of attaching said front upper to a front portion of said sole.

2. The breakdown footwear of claim 1 wherein said disengageable means of attaching said front upper to a front portion of said sole comprises a zipper.

The breakdown footwear of claim 1 wherein said disengageable means of attaching said fiont upper to a front portion of said sole comprises hook and oop material.

4. The breakdown footwear of claim 1 wherein said disengageable means of attaching said front upper to a front portion of said sole comprises eyelets and lace.

S

6. The breakdown footwear of claim 1 further comprising a heel upper attached to said sole, and a disengageable means of attaching said heel upper to a rear portion of said sole. a disengageable means of attaching said heel upper to a rear portion of said sole.

7. The breakdown footwear of claim 6 wherein said disengageable means of attaching said heel upper to a rear portion of said sole comprises a zipper.

8. The breakdown footwear of claim 6 wherein said disengageable means of attaching said heel upper to a rear portion of said sole comprises hook and loop material.

9. The breakdown footwear of claim 6 wherein said disengageable means of attaching said heel upper to a rear portion of said sole comprises buttons and buttonholes. 1o

10. The.breakdown footwear of claim 6 wherein said disengageable means of attaching said heel S. 0Se@ upper to a rear portion of said sole comprises eyelets and lace.

11. A break down footwear substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and/or rDATED this 18 t day of October 2001 0* WERNER KARL STEGMANN Attorney: JOHN D. FORSTER Fellow Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia *:***ofBALDWIN SHELSTON WATERS BALDWIN SHELSTON WATERS