Footwear repair

1. An improved grommet assembly for repairing a sandal having a foot retainer attached to a sole by at least one terminus of the foot retainer, the grommet comprising the following:

a flange having a cross-sectional width substantially greater than a cross-sectional width of the at least one terminus;

a bore extending axially through the flange, the bore defining an opening of sufficient size to accommodate insertion of the terminus therethrough;

a collar extending centrally from the flange, wherein the bore passes through the flange and the collar;

a radial slot extending trough the flange and the collar to the bore; and

a securing mechanism adapted and constructed to secure the grommet to the at least one terminus.

2. An improved grommet assembly in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the flange comprises a generally circular flange having a diameter substantially greater than a cross-sectional width of the at least one terminus.

3. An improved grommet assembly in accordance with claim 2 , wherein the flange has a diameter in a range of approximately 0.75 inches to 1.25 inches.

4. An improved grommet assembly in accordance with claim 2 , wherein the flange has a diameter of approximately 1 inch.

5. An improved grommet assembly in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the collar extends approximately ½ inch from the flange.

6. A kit for repairing a sandal having a sole and a generally Y-shaped foot retainer strap that passes between the great toe and second toe, and around either side of the foot of a wearer, the foot retainer being attached to the sole at three termini, the kit comprising the following:

a grommet including a flange having a cross-sectional width substantially greater than a cross-sectional width of the respective termini and a bore extending axially through the flange, the bore defining an opening of sufficient size to accommodate insertion of the respective termini therethrough;

at least one repair grommet;

at least one strap repair strip;

at least one sole repair patch;

at least one junction repair Y-strip; and

at least one securing mechanism adapted and constructed to secure the respective components of the kit to corresponding portions of the sandal to be repaired.

7. A kit in accordance with claim 6 , wherein the flange further comprises a collar extending centrally from the flange, wherein the bore passes through the flange and the collar.

8. A kit in accordance with claim 7 , further comprising a radial slot extending through the flange and the collar to the bore.

9. A kit in accordance with claim 6 , wherein the strap repair strip is fabricated from rubber.

10. A kit in accordance with claim 6 , wherein the sole repair patch is fabricated from rubber.

11. A kit in accordance with claim 6 , wherein the junction repair Y-strip comprises the following:

a pair of flat strap strips forming angular arms of the Y-strip; and

a repair tube forming the leg of the Y-strip.

12. A kit in accordance with claim 6 , wherein at least one securing mechanism comprises adhesive.

13. A kit in accordance with claim 6 , wherein the junction repair Y-strip comprises the following:

a rectangular patch having indicia on at least one side for identifying portions of the patch that can be cut away to form a pair of flat strap strips forming angular arms of the Y-strip and a repair tube forming the leg of the Y-strip.

14. A kit in accordance with claim 6 , wherein the junction repair Y-strip comprises the following:

a rectangular patch having perforations though said patch along which a user can identifying identify portions of the patch that can be removed to form a pair of flat strap strips forming angular arms of the Y-strip and a repair tube forming the leg of the Y-strip.

15. A method for repairing a sandal having a foot retainer attached to a sole by at least one terminus of the foot retainer, the terminus having a generally elongate shaft portion adapted and constructed to extend through the sole, the method comprising the following steps:

providing a grommet including a flange having a cross-sectional width substantially greater than a cross-sectional width of the shaft of the terminus, a collar extending centrally from the flange, a bore extending axially though the flange and the collar the bore defining an opening of sufficient size to accommodate insertion of the shaft therethrough;

extending the shaft of the terminus through the sole;

placing the shaft of the terminus though the bore of the grommet; and

securing the shaft to the grommet.

16. A method in accordance with claim 15 , wherein the step of securing the shaft to the grommet comprises securing the shaft to the grommet using an adhesive.

17. A method in accordance with claim 15 , wherein the step of securing the shaft to the grommet comprises pinning the shaft to the grommet.

18. A kit for repairing a sandal having a sole and a generally Y-shaped foot retainer strap that passes between the great toe and second toe, and around either side of the foot of a wearer, the foot retainer being attached to the sole at three termini, the kit comprising the following:

a grommet including a flange having a cross-sectional width substantially greater than a cross-sectional width of the respective termini and a bore extending axially through the flange, the bore defining an opening of sufficient size to accommodate insertion of the respective termini therethrough;

at least one repair grommet;

at least one sole repair patch; and

at least one securing mechanism adapted and constructed to secure the respective components of the kit to corresponding portions of the sandal to be repaired.