Sandal ankle strap utilizing dial strap system

Abstract

The present invention relates to an ankle strap that functions in a sandal-type shoe, in which an upper does not completely cover the foot, to press the foot against the shoe and fix the foot while wrapping the ankle. Existing ankle straps attached to Crocs-type shoes cannot be adjusted in length, and thus the feet of a wearer often slip out of the shoes if the shoes do not fit perfectly. Although ankle straps that can be adjusted in length using a hook-and-loop fastener have been created, there are problems in that hook-and-loop fasteners have poor durability and a narrow range of length adjustment, and are inconvenient to manipulate. In order to solve such problems, the present invention applies a dial strap system (10), commonly used as a simple means for tightening and loosening shoelaces in shoes, such as sneakers, in which the uppers completely cover the feet, to an ankle strap of a sandal-type shoe, and uses a strap body (100), on which the dial strap system (10) is mounted at the center, and an auxiliary strap (200), which serves to adjust the total length of the strap by a dial strap (11), so that the length of the ankle strap can be adjusted by a simple manipulation of a dial, thereby improving the ease of use of the ankle strap.

Description

Sandal ankle strap with dial strap system {SANDAL HEEL STRAP WITH DIAL SYSTEM}

[0001] The present invention relates to an ankle fixing strap that functions to hold the back ankle of a wearer's foot to prevent the wearer's foot from coming off the shoe in a sandal-type shoe in which the upper does not entirely cover the foot, and more specifically, to an ankle fixing strap device whose length can be simply increased or decreased using a dial wire.

[0002]

[0003] Sandal-style shoes with an upper that does not completely enclose the foot, especially those manufactured primarily by Crocs in the United States in which the upper and sole are formed as one piece (hereinafter referred to as "Crocs-style shoes"), have ankle straps that are flexibly connected to the shoe via connecting devices on both sides of the lower central upper to secure the wearer's ankle. When the ankle-secure function is not needed, such as for light shoes worn indoors or for short distances, this ankle strap is positioned in front of the wearer's ankle in the middle of the shoe, blending in with the overall shoe design. However, when stability is required, such as during exercise or driving, it is moved to the back of the ankle, wrapping the wearer's ankle and securing the wearer's foot to the shoe. Therefore, these Crocs-style shoes offer the functionality of being lightweight for everyday wear and providing stability when needed, as well as the convenience of being able to be worn on both land and water. In addition, various items called Jibbitz can be attached directly to the shoes to create a unique pair of shoes. These shoes are widely used as fashion shoes.

[0004] However, the ankle strap on these Crocs shoes does not have a length-adjusting function, so if the wearer's foot does not fit the shoe exactly, it is difficult to properly perform the ankle-fixing function, so the shoes frequently come off while walking, which can also lead to injuries. Adults can walk while being mindful of their shoes coming off, but young children are less aware of this, so injuries and shoe loss due to shoes coming off are common. Crocs shoes, in particular, can be worn on land and water, and are often worn in streams or water parks, where injuries and loss due to shoes coming off are common.

[0005] To address these issues, shoes with adjustable ankle straps using Velcro have been developed. However, the range of adjustment that Velcro can cover is limited, so it is often not enough to secure the wearer's foot tightly to shoes like Crocs, which are made larger than regular shoes. Furthermore, if the length of the Velcro is shortened near the limit of the adjustable range, the binding strength weakens and the strap may come loose. Even if the wearer's foot is tightly secured to the shoe with Velcro, if the length is shortened and then the device is moved to the middle of the shoe in front of the ankle for a lighter fit, it is cumbersome to adjust the length again by removing and reattaching the Velcro. Furthermore, Velcro has a limited durability, so it is easy for that area to become worn even with a little use.

[0006] In shoes with uppers that completely wrap around the wearer's feet, such as sneakers or hiking boots, a dial lacing system that allows the user to simply tighten and loosen the foot opening by operating a dial has recently become popular. However, in sandals, which do not completely wrap around the feet, there are no products with a dial lacing system that allows the user to tighten and loosen the ankle strap.

[0007] The registered patent (10-2023-0023971) for "Detachable Custom Shoes" describes a device in which a wire strap of a jog dial-type lace adjustment part is connected to a strap that holds the ankle, allowing the length of the ankle strap to be easily adjusted by rotating the dial. However, this description does not specifically describe how the strap and the wire strap are connected, nor how the shortened strap is handled when connected to the wire. This information regarding how the shortened strap is handled is essential for determining whether the lace adjustment part can properly perform its function. Therefore, it is difficult to manufacture an actual product based on this description alone. Even if an actual product were to be implemented, the description of the invention states that the strap adjustment part releases the force that secures the strap when pressure is applied to the jog dial. This could lead to the strap being easily released by external impacts on the shoe. In addition, it is described that the jog dial of the above-mentioned strap adjustment part can be formed on one or both sides of the left and right side of the shoe. However, if the strap length is adjusted on one side of the shoe, the member formed on the surface where the strap and the wearer's back ankle meet, which prevents the wearer's back ankle from slipping against the strap, may be biased to one side and may not function properly. However, if the jog dial is formed on both sides, it is not only inconvenient and uneconomical to have to use both hands to adjust the length, but also difficult to harmonize with the appearance of the shoe if the size of the jog dial cannot be made small.

[0008]

[0009] The present invention aims to improve upon the problems of the existing ankle straps of Crocs shoes and ankle straps that complement them, thereby ensuring that the ankle straps faithfully fulfill their original function of securing the ankle, and to simplify the method of operating them, thereby enhancing their usability. Furthermore, the present invention aims to ensure that the ankle straps harmonize with the overall design of the shoe even when their function is not in use and they are positioned in front of the ankle.

[0010]

[0011] The present invention applies a dial lacing system, which is already commonly used to tighten and loosen the upper of shoes such as sneakers that completely wrap the foot, to a type of shoe that uses an ankle strap to secure the foot to the shoe, such as sandals. More specifically, the invention comprises a strap body having a centrally attached dial lacing system that, when the dial is pressed and rotated in one direction, simultaneously shortens two strings fixed inside the dial to the same length and locks, and when the dial is pulled, the wound wires can be released, and on both sides of the strap body having a receiving portion for receiving auxiliary straps; an auxiliary strap that, while being received in the receiving portion of the strap body, is connected to the string of the dial and moves horizontally within the receiving portion according to the length adjustment of the string, thereby adjusting the external length of the ankle strap and having a connection portion with the shoe; a receiving portion cover that covers the receiving portion and slidably engages with the strap body to prevent the auxiliary strap from coming off the receiving portion while being received in the receiving portion; and a cushion formed on the rear of the strap body to cushion the tightening pressure of the ankle strap applied to the rear ankle and prevent the rear ankle from slipping against the ankle strap.

[0012]

[0013] The sandal-type shoe with the ankle strap of the present invention can be easily tightened by pressing and rotating the dial, thus securing the foot to the shoe. Similarly, the ankle strap can be returned to its original length by simply pulling the dial and pulling the strap body back, making it very convenient to use. Furthermore, even when the ankle strap is positioned at the mid-length of the shoe without using the ankle fixing function, it can still harmonize with the overall design of the shoe. Furthermore, the dial can be manufactured in various shapes other than the typical circle, or characters, logos, etc. can be engraved on the dial to create a unique shoe design. Furthermore, the present invention can be manufactured as an integral part of the shoe. Furthermore, the ankle strap of an existing product can be removed and the ankle strap of the present invention can be attached, allowing the user to create a uniquely designed shoe simply by replacing the ankle strap. Furthermore, the present invention can be applied not only to sandal-type shoes, but also to various types of shoes that secure and secure the wearer's foot to the shoe using an ankle strap.

[0014]

[0015] [Figure 1] is a basic configuration and combination plan view of the present invention as seen from above.

[0016] [Figure 2] is a front view of the combination of the present invention.

[0017] [Figure 3] is the process of tying a knot on a string connected to an auxiliary strap.

[0018] [Figure 4] is an image of an ankle strap in which the overall length is reduced as the auxiliary strap connected to the string moves to the center of the receiving portion when the dial is pressed and rotated with the string connected.

[0019] [Figure 5] shows the ankle strap being pulled to its maximum contraction and the dial being pulled outward to return to its original state.

[0020] [Figure 6] shows the basic state of the present invention completed by combining the receiving cover with the string connection completed.

[0021] [Figure 7] shows a cushion attached to the back of the strap body in addition to the basic invention.

[0022] [Figure 8] is a view showing the ankle strap contracting as the dial is pressed and rotated while the present invention is connected to the shoe through a connecting device.

[0023] [Figure 9] shows the ankle strap returning to its original state by pulling the dial and pulling the strap body while it is contracted.

[0024]

[0025] As follows.

[0026] The present invention basically consists of a strap body (100), an auxiliary strap (200), and a receiving cover (300) as shown in [Figure 1]. A dial lacing system (10) is mounted at the center of the strap body (100). When the dial is pressed and rotated in one direction, a reel with two strings fixed inside the dial rotates together to wind the string and enter a locked state. When the string is pulled while the dial is pulled, the wound string can be released. This is a method commonly used when tightening and loosening shoelaces in general shoes such as sneakers. The specific operating principle of the dial lacing system (10) is not discussed in the present invention.

[0027] As shown in [Figure 2], while pulling the dial, each string (11) coming out from the left and right string entrances (12) of the dial string system (10) is inserted from the outside to the inside of each string hole (121) formed at the upper end of the central side wall of each receiving portion (120). Then, each string (11) is inserted into the string connection hole (201) formed at the center of the head of each auxiliary strap (200), and while being discharged, both auxiliary straps (200) are placed into both receiving portions (120) and positioned so that the head protrusions (202) formed on the left and right sides of the head engage with the head hooks (124) at the outer ends of the receiving portions (120). Subsequently, each string (11) is inserted into the inner knot hole (122) formed at the lower end of the central side wall of each receiving portion (120), discharged through the outer knot hole (123), and the remainder of the string (11) is cut, and the cut surface of the string (11) is pressed and knotted with a knot member (15) made of metal. As shown in [Fig. 3], when the dial (10) is pressed and rotated in one direction while the two auxiliary straps (200) are pulled outward and fixed in this state, the end of the knotted string (11) enters the external knot hole (123) and the dial (10) can no longer be rotated without artificial force. In this way, the ankle strap of the present invention becomes operable, and when the pulled and fixed state of the two auxiliary straps (200) is released and the dial (10) is pressed and rotated in one direction as shown in [Fig. 4], the auxiliary strap (200) connected to the string (11) moves to the central side wall of the receiving portion (120), causing the overall length of the ankle strap to contract. And, as shown in [Figure 5], when the dial (10) is in a pulled state (30) with the ankle strap contracted, and both auxiliary straps (200) are pulled outward, the auxiliary strap (200) moves outward until the head protrusion (202) of the auxiliary strap (200) engages with the head hook (124) of the receiving portion (120), returning to its original state.In order to prevent the auxiliary strap (200) from coming off above the receiving portion (120), the fastening projections (310) formed on the upper, lower left, and right sides of the receiving portion cover (300) are slidably fastened to the fastening grooves (125) of the strap body (100) while the receiving portion cover (300) is coupled to the strap body (100), thereby completing the basic configuration of the present invention as shown in [Fig. 6].

[0028] [Figure 8] to [Figure 9] are views showing the basic configuration of the present invention in operation when connected to a Crocs-type shoe. The length of the ankle strap can be reduced by a simple operation of pressing and rotating the dial (10), and the ankle strap can be returned to its original state by a simple operation of pulling the dial (10) again and pulling the strap body (100) back.

[0029] The overall material of the strap body (100) and the auxiliary strap (200) is preferably rubber or synthetic resin that has flexibility and resilience against bending, and the central side wall of the receiving portion (120) where the force of the dial strap (11) acts and the strap connection hole (201) are preferably made of synthetic resin or metal that has enough rigidity to withstand the force of the strap.

[0030] And in the basic configuration of the present invention, in order to cushion the tightening pressure of the ankle strap applied to the back ankle and prevent slipping between the back ankle and the ankle strap, a cushion (400) made of leather or silicone may be included on the back of the strap body (100) as shown in [Fig. 7].

[0031]

[0032] The invention can be applied to Crocs-type shoes, which are already widely used and popular, and thus can be used not only for the production of new products but also for simply replacing the device applied to existing products, demonstrating significant industrial potential. Furthermore, the invention can be applied not only to shoes classified as sandals, but also to various types of shoes that secure the foot in place with an ankle strap.

Claims

1. An ankle strap for a sandal-type shoe to which a dial strap system (10) is applied, characterized by comprising: a strap body (100) equipped with a dial strap system (10) and having a receiving portion (120) for receiving an auxiliary strap (200) on one or both sides thereof; an auxiliary strap (200) having a connection portion (203) with a shoe, which is connected to a dial strap (11) while being received in the receiving portions (120) on both sides of the strap body (100) and moves in parallel within the receiving portion (120) according to the length adjustment of the strap (11) to adjust the overall length of the ankle strap; and a receiving portion cover (300) that covers the receiving portion (120) while the auxiliary strap (200) is received in the receiving portion (120) and is coupled to the strap body (100).

2. In paragraph 1, The receiving portion (120) of the strap body (100) above has a string hole (121) formed on the upper side of the central side wall so that the string (11) coming out of the dial string entrance (12) is inserted into the receiving portion (120) and connected to the auxiliary strap (200), and an internal knot hole (122) and an external knot hole (123) are formed on the lower side of the central side wall so that the string (11) coming out of the receiving portion (120) can be fixed to the external knot hole (123) in a knotted state, and a head hook (124) is formed on the outer wall of the receiving portion (120) so that it engages with the head protrusion (202) of the auxiliary strap (200) to prevent the auxiliary strap (200) from coming out to the outside while being received in the receiving portion (120), and the surfaces that are combined with the upper and lower left and right receiving portion covers (300) of the receiving portion (120) have fastening protrusions (310) of the receiving portion cover (300) and An ankle strap for a sandal-type shoe having a dial lacing system (10) characterized by having a sliding fastening groove (125).

3. In paragraph 1, An ankle strap for a sandal-type shoe with a dial strap system (10), characterized in that the back of the strap body (100) may include a cushion (400) that buffers the pressure applied to the back ankle due to tightening of the strap and prevents slipping of the back ankle and the strap.

4. In paragraph 1, The above auxiliary strap (200) has a string connection hole (201) formed in the center of the head that is connected to a dial string (11) and moves in parallel with the space of the receiving portion (120) of the strap body (100) according to the length adjustment of the string (11) to adjust the overall length of the ankle strap, and a head protrusion (202) is formed on the left and right sides of the head to interlock with a head hook (124) at the outer end of the receiving portion (120) so as not to leave the receiving portion (120) and is fluidly combined with the strap body (100) within the space of the receiving portion (120) to adjust the overall length of the ankle strap. An ankle strap for a sandal-type shoe to which a dial string system (10) is applied.

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