Fishing line cutting footwear device

Abstract

A fishing line cutting footwear device includes a sole and a top portion attached to the sole. The top portion is positioned to extend over the sole in the form of an arch to secure the sole to a foot of a person. The top portion has an inner surface facing toward the sole and an outer surface facing away from the sole. A cutter is coupled to the top portion. The cutter is positioned on the outer surface of the top portion. The cutter is designed to cut a fishing line moved into engagement with the cutter by both hands of the person.

Description

(b) CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not Applicable(c) STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not Applicable(d) THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

[0003] Not Applicable(e) INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

[0004] Not Applicable(f) STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

[0005] Not Applicable(g) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION(1) Field of the Invention

[0006] The disclosure relates to fishing accessories and more particularly pertains to a new fishing line cutting footwear device for providing a user an easier way to cut fishing line. In order to cut fishing line, a fisherman must try to hold the line in one hand and then cut using the other hand with a knife or scissors. This can be difficult to do because the fisherman cannot tension the line to facilitate cutting. The fishing line cutting footwear device positions a cutter in an article of footwear, such as tennis shoes, sandals, and boots. The cutter is coupled to the top portion of the footwear, thereby freeing both hands of the fisherman to tension the fishing line for easier cutting.(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

[0007] The prior art relates to fishing accessories and footwear. The prior art, as best understood, does not disclose an article of footwear that includes a cutter for fishing line in a top portion of the footwear, especially not a sandal with a cutter coupled to the outer surface of the strap.(h) BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above in a fishing line cutting footwear device generally comprising a sole and a top portion attached to the sole. The top portion is positioned to extend over the sole in the form of an arch to secure the sole to a foot of a person. The top portion has an inner surface facing toward the sole and an outer surface facing away from the sole. A cutter is coupled to the top portion. The cutter is positioned on the outer surface of the top portion. The cutter is designed to cut a fishing line moved into engagement with the cutter by both hands of the person.

[0009] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

[0010] The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.(i) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0011] The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

[0012] FIG. 1 is a top view of a fishing line cutting footwear device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a close-up view of a cutter of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the cutter in FIG. 3.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure in use.(j) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new fishing line cutting footwear device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

[0018] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the fishing line cutting footwear device 10 generally comprises a sole 12 and a top portion 14 attached to the sole 12. The top portion 14 is positioned to extend over the sole 12 in the form of an arch to secure the sole 12 to a foot 60 of a person. The top portion 14 has an inner surface 16 facing toward the sole 12 and an outer surface 18 facing away from the sole 12. A cutter 20 is coupled to the top portion 14. The cutter 20 is positioned on the outer surface 18 of the top portion 14. The cutter 20 is designed to cut a fishing line 62 moved into engagement with the cutter 20 by both hands 64 of the person.

[0019] The cutter 20 includes a blade 22 projecting out from the top portion 14. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the blade 22 is in the shape of a curved prong projecting out from the top portion 14 to guide and cut the fishing line 62 inserted under the blade 22. In the exemplary embodiment, the blade 22 cooperates with a recess 24 formed in the top portion 14, which recess 24 helps guide the fishing line 62 into the blade 22. The blade 22 could be curved or straight. The blade 22 is oriented horizontally in the exemplary embodiment, though it could be oriented vertically.

[0020] The cutter 20 includes a safety cover 26 coupled to the top portion 14 and positioned to extend over the blade 22. The safety cover 26 is curved and includes an arch-shaped mouth 28 into which the fishing line 62 is movable into engagement with the blade 22. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the safety cover 26 is a dome that has a flange portion 30 that is embedded into the top portion 14. This design of the safety cover 26 is only one possible embodiment, as the safety cover 26 could be different shapes, such as square or rectangular, and could be flat or flattened, rather than curved or domed. The safety cover 26 could be connected by embedding as shown, or could be attached by adhesive or a coupler, such as a snap. In the exemplary embodiment as shown in FIG. 4, the safety cover 26 is integrally formed with the blade 22, though in another possible embodiment they could be separate components.

[0021] The fishing line cutting footwear device 10 can involve any type of footwear, such as sneakers, boots, clogs, and sandals. In the exemplary embodiment, sandals or flip flops are shown, wherein the top portion 14 is a strap attached at a central portion of the sole 12 such that the toes of the person are exposed.

[0022] The fishing line cutting footwear device 10 is used to cut fishing lines or other wires or threads. As shown in FIG. 5, the user uses both hands 64 to press the fishing line 62 over the top portion 14 and under the blade 22. The user pushes the fishing line 62 against the edge or edges of the blade 22 to cut the fishing line 62. Since the top portion 14 is anchored to the sole 12, which is held in place by the foot 60 of the user, the blade 22 provides sufficient resistance to aid in cutting the fishing line 62. In addition, since the cutter 20 is in the top portion 14 of the footwear, the user can easily crouch down or kneel in a very natural position to access the cutter 20, which results in the cutter 20 being located between the hands 64 in front of the user for the easiest access.

[0023] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0024] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

Claims

1. A fishing line cutting footwear device comprising:a sole;a top portion being attached to said sole, said top portion being positioned to extend over said sole in the form of an arch to secure said sole to a foot of a person, said top portion having an inner surface facing toward said sole and an outer surface facing away from said sole; anda cutter being coupled to said top portion, said cutter being positioned on said outer surface of said top portion inset from opposed edges of said top portion such that said cutter is exposed on said outer surface of said top portion facing upwardly away from said sole, said cutter being configured to cut a fishing line moved into engagement with said cutter by both hands of the person.

2. The fishing line cutting footwear device of claim 1, wherein said cutter includes a blade projecting out from said top portion.

3. The fishing line cutting footwear device of claim 2, wherein said cutter includes a safety cover coupled to said top portion and positioned to extend over said blade.

4. The fishing line cutting footwear device of claim 3, wherein said safety cover is curved and includes an arch-shaped mouth into which the fishing line is movable into engagement with said blade.

5. The fishing line cutting footwear device of claim 4, wherein said blade is in the shape of a curved prong projecting out from said top portion to guide and cut the fishing line inserted under said blade.

6. The fishing line cutting footwear device of claim 5, wherein said top portion is a strap attached at a central portion of said sole such that the toes of the person are exposed.

7. The fishing line cutting footwear device of claim 2, wherein said blade is in the shape of a curved prong projecting out from said top portion to guide and cut the fishing line inserted under said blade.

8. The fishing line cutting footwear device of claim 1, wherein said top portion is a strap attached at a central portion of said sole such that the toes of the person are exposed.

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