US20060236561A1

US20060236561A1 - Sole for footwear

Info

Publication number: US20060236561A1
Application number: US11/110,186
Authority: US
Inventors: Kenneth Lee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-04-20
Filing date: 2005-04-20
Publication date: 2006-10-26

Abstract

A sole for footwear having straps includes a first surface substantially of the shape of bottom of a foot, a second surface having a predetermined friction, and an edge connecting the first surface and the second surface The first and second surfaces and the edge are made of a light, flexible, and water repellent material. The first surface is substantially flat and adapted to accommodate a human foot. The first surface includes a surface contour similar to the geometrical surface contour of the bottom of the foot or grooves of predetermined pattern. The groove is for further repelling of water off the first surface and has open edges to let water off the first surface. The second surface is substantially flat and adapted to tramp on a ground. The material of sole includes ethylene vinyl acetate, synthetic glue, DICUMYL peroxide, blowing agent, stearic acid, and pigment.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a sole for footwear. More particularly, this invention relates to a sole for footwear, which is light, flexible, and water repellent.
Feet of human being, which have been accustomed to all sorts of footwear through the history, still need footwear even on a soft ground like beach sands most of the cases and people do so nearly subconsciously.
On a soft ground including the beach sands, many people want to wear some kinds of footwear. There are many possible reasons. The sands radiated all day long by the sizzling summer sun might be too hot for the bare feet. The beach sands might have shards of seashells too sharp to tramp on.
People wear beach sandals for those reasons. Since there is too much water and sands on the beach, it is desirable to shed off them as quickly as possible. In addition to these, light weight and stylishness is always a plus.
Accordingly, a need for a sole for footwear has been present for a long time. This invention is directed to solve these problems and satisfy the long-felt need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention contrives to solve the disadvantages of the prior art.
An object of the invention is to provide a sole for footwear.
Another object of the invention is to provide a sole for footwear, especially for beach sandals.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a sole for footwear, which is light in weight, colorful, water repellent.
A sole for footwear having straps includes a first surface substantially of the shape of bottom of a foot, a second surface having a predetermined friction, and an edge connecting the first surface and the second surface, where the first and second surfaces and the edge are made of a light, flexible, and water repellent material.
The first surface is substantially flat and adapted to accommodate a human foot. The first surface includes a surface contour similar to the geometrical surface contour of the bottom of the foot. Also, the first surface may include grooves of predetermined pattern. The groove is for further repelling of water off the first surface. The groove includes open edges to let water or sand grain off the first surface. The groove is also for increasing the friction between the foot and the first surface. The pattern is substantially perpendicular to the line connecting toe and heel.
The second surface is substantially flat and adapted to tramp on a ground. The second surface includes grooves of a predetermined pattern. The pattern of the grooves on the second surface increases the friction between the second surface and the ground.
The sole includes one or more straps having one or more end portions. The first surface includes a fixing member for attaching the straps. The fixing member includes a hole, which is adapted to accommodate the end portion of the strap. The strap has a letter Y-shape with three end portions.
The material of sole has a composition of about 81.0-96.0% of ethylene vinyl acetate, about 3.0-7.0% of synthetic glue, about 0.2-1.5% of DICUMYL peroxide, about 2.0-6.0% of blowing agent (DPTDD), about 0.1-0.9% of stearic acid, and about 1.0-3.0% of pigment.
More specifically, the material of sole has a composition of about 85.0-90.0% of ethylene vinyl acetate, about 4.5-5.0% of synthetic glue, about 0.6-1.0% of DICUMYL peroxide, about 3.5-5.0% of blowing agent (DPTDD), about 0.3-0.7% of stearic acid, and about 1.5-2.5% of pigment.
Still more specifically, the material of sole has a composition of about 88.4% of ethylene vinyl acetate, about 4.7% of synthetic glue, about 0.8% of DICUMYL peroxide, about 3.7% of blowing agent (DPTDD), about 0.5% of stearic acid, and about 1.9% of pigment.
The first surface may include a plurality of pits. The pit's size is about 0.2-2 mm.
The advantages of the present invention are: (1) the sole is of light weight and stylish; (2) the sole is good for beach sandals since it repels water and sand grains.
Although the present invention is briefly summarized, the fuller understanding of the invention can be obtained by the following drawings, detailed description and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sole with straps according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the top of the sole; and
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the bottom of the sole;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 show a perspective view of a sole with straps of the invention.
A sole 11 for footwear having straps 20 includes a first surface 12 substantially of the shape of bottom of a foot, a second surface 14 having a predetermined friction, and an edge 16 connecting the first surface 12 and the second surface 14, where the first and second surfaces 12, 14 and the edge 16 are made of a light, flexible, and water repellent material.
The first surface 12 is substantially flat and adapted to accommodate a human foot. The first surface 12 includes a surface contour 13 similar to the geometrical surface contour of the bottom of the foot. Also, the first surface 12 may include grooves 15 of predetermined pattern. The groove 15 is for further repelling of water off the first surface 12. The groove 15 includes open edges 17 to let water or sand grain off the first surface 12. The groove 15 is also for increasing the friction between the foot and the first surface 12. The pattern is substantially perpendicular to the line connecting toe and heel.
The second surface 14 is substantially flat and adapted to tramp on a ground. The second surface 14 includes grooves 19 of a predetermined pattern. The pattern of the grooves 19 on the second surface 14 increases the friction between the second surface 14 and the ground.
The sole 11 includes one or more straps 20 having one or more end portions 21. The first surface 12 includes a fixing member 18 for attaching the straps 20. The fixing member 18 includes a hole, which is adapted to accommodate the end portion 21 of the strap 20. Preferably the strap 20 has a letter Y-shape with three end portions 21.
The material of sole 11 has a composition of about 81.0-96.0% of ethylene vinyl acetate, about 3.0-7.0% of synthetic glue, about 0.2-1.5% of DICUMYL peroxide, about 2.0-6.0% of blowing agent (DPTDD), about 0.1-0.9% of stearic acid, and about 1.0-3.0% of pigment, where DPTDD is a style name used by a Taiwanese manufacturer.
More specifically, the material of sole 11 has a composition of about 85.0-90.0% of ethylene vinyl acetate, about 4.5-5.0% of synthetic glue, about 0.6-1.0% of DICUMYL peroxide, about 3.5-5.0% of blowing agent (DPTDD), about 0.3-0.7% of stearic acid, and about 1.5-2.5% of pigment.
Still more specifically, the material of sole 11 has a composition of about 88.4% of ethylene vinyl acetate, about 4.7% of synthetic glue, about 0.8% of DICUMYL peroxide, about 3.7% of blowing agent (DPTDD), about 0.5% of stearic acid, and about 1.9% of pigment.
The first surface 12 may include a plurality of pits 23. The size of the pit 23 is about 0.2-2 mm. These tiny pits 23 are provided by blowing the material in manufacturing. The surface of the sole 11 can be made to be glittering.
The beach sandal 10 is suitable for dry sands, wet sands, and hard floor.
While the invention has been shown and described with reference to different embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations in form, detail, compositions and operation may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A sole for footwear having straps comprising:

a) a first surface substantially of the shape of bottom of a foot;

b) a second surface having a predetermined friction; and

c) an edge connecting the first surface and the second surface,

wherein the first and second surfaces and the edge are made of a light, flexible, and water repellent material.

2. The sole of claim 1, wherein the first surface is substantially flat.

3. The sole of claim 2, wherein the first surface is adapted to accommodate a human foot.

4. The sole of claim 3, wherein the first surface comprises a surface contour similar to the geometrical surface contour of the bottom of the foot.

5. The sole of claim 3, wherein the first surface comprises grooves of predetermined pattern.

6. The sole of claim 5, wherein the groove is for further repelling of water off the first surface.

7. The sole of claim 6, wherein the groove comprises open edges to let water off the first surface.

8. The sole of claim 5, wherein the groove is for increasing the friction between the foot and the first surface.

9. The sole of claim 8, wherein the pattern is substantially perpendicular to the line connecting toe and heel.

10. The sole of claim 1, wherein the second surface is substantially flat.

11. The sole of claim 10, wherein the second surface is adapted to tramp on a ground.

12. The sole of claim 11, wherein the second surface comprises grooves of a predetermined pattern.

13. The sole of claim 12, wherein the pattern of the grooves on the second surface increases the friction between the second surface and the ground.

14. The sole of claim 1, further comprising one or more straps having one or more end portions.

15. The sole of claim 14, wherein the first surface comprises a fixing member for attaching the straps.

16. The sole of claim 15, wherein the fixing member comprises a hole, wherein the hole is adapted to accommodate the end portion of the strap.

17. The sole of claim 16, wherein the strap has a letter Y-shape with three end portions.

18. The sole of claim 1, wherein the material of sole has a composition of:

a) about 81.0-96.0% of ethylene vinyl acetate;

b) about 3.0-7.0% of synthetic glue;

c) about 0.2-1.5% of DICUMYL peroxide;

d) about 2.0-6.0% of blowing agent;

e) about 0.1-0.9% of stearic acid; and

f) about 1.0-3.0% of pigment.

19. The sole of claim 18, wherein the material of sole has a composition of:

a) about 85.0-90.0% of ethylene vinyl acetate;

b) about 4.5-5.0% of synthetic glue;

c) about 0.6-1.0% of DICUMYL peroxide;

d) about 3.5-5.0% of blowing agent;

e) about 0.3-0.7% of stearic acid; and

f) about 1.5-2.5% of pigment.

20. The sole of claim 19, wherein the material of sole has a composition of:

a) about 88.4% of ethylene vinyl acetate;

b) about 4.7% of synthetic glue;

c) about 0.8% of DICUMYL peroxide;

d) about 3.7% of blowing agent;

e) about 0.5% of stearic acid; and

f) about 1.9% of pigment.

21. The sole of claim 1, wherein the first surface comprises a plurality of pits.

22. The sole of claim 21, wherein the pit's size is about 0.2-2.0 mm.