IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,468,252
Granted Patent B2
US 9,468,252 · App. 14/493,282 · Granted Oct 18, 2016

Sandal with pneumatic support

Inventor: Vito E. Dimatteo (West Harrison, NY)
A43B3/128A43B3/108A43B7/142A43B7/143A43B13/203
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,468,252
App. No.
14/493,282
Granted
Oct 18, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

The sandal with pneumatic support includes an inflatable bladder in the sole, in the area immediately beneath the arch of the foot when the sandal is worn. A manual air pump is provided integrally with the sandal. In one embodiment, the pump is located atop the toe divider of a flip-flop type sandal. In another embodiment, the pump is located in the heel. A pressure relief valve is located along one of the upper straps of the sandal. The arch bladder, air pump, and relief valve communicate pneumatically with one another. The sandal may be devoid of structure extending between the toes when worn, but may include straps passing over and/or around the foot. Other embodiments provide additional air bladders in the straps to better secure the sandal on the foot. The sandal provides greatly improved support and reduces or eliminates muscular problems resulting from the lack of arch support.

Claims (44)

1. A sandal with pneumatic support, comprising:

a generally flat sole having an upper surface, a lower surface, a core extending between the upper surface and lower surface, an arch area, a heel portion, and a periphery;

a toe divider extending upwardly from the upper surface of the sole;

a plurality of foot-securing straps extending from the periphery of the sole, at least one of the straps having an air passage and a pneumatically distensible strap bladder disposed therein;

a pneumatically distensible second bladder disposed within the arch area of the sole;

a manually actuated air pump communicating pneumatically with each of the bladders, the air pump being permanently and integrally connected to each of the bladders; and

a pressure relief valve communicating pneumatically with each of the bladders, each of the bladders, the air pump, and the pressure relief valve communicating pneumatically with one another by means of the air passage in the at least one of the straps.

2. The sandal with pneumatic support according to claim 1 , wherein:

said plurality of foot-securing straps comprises a first foot-securing strap and a second foot-securing strap, each of the foot-securing straps extending from the toe divider to the periphery of the sole, the first foot-securing strap having the air passage disposed therethrough and the strap bladder disposed therein, the second foot-securing strap being solid;

said air pump is installed atop the toe divider and permanently and integrally disposed therewith, said air pump communicating pneumatically with each of the bladders through the air passage of the first foot-securing strap; and

said pressure relief valve is disposed along the first foot-securing strap, the pressure relief valve communicating pneumatically with each of the bladders and with said air pump through the air passage of the first foot-securing strap.

3. The sandal with pneumatic support according to claim 1 , wherein:

said plurality of foot-securing straps comprises a first foot-securing strap and a second foot-securing strap, each of the foot-securing straps extending from the toe divider to the periphery of the sole, the first foot-securing strap having the air passage disposed therethrough and the strap bladder disposed therein, the second foot-securing strap being solid;

said air pump is installed in the heel portion of the sole and permanently and integrally disposed therewith, said air pump communicating pneumatically with each of the bladders; and

said pressure relief valve is disposed along the first foot-securing strap, the pressure relief valve communicating pneumatically with each of the bladders and with said air pump through the air passage of the first foot-securing strap.

4. The sandal with pneumatic support according to claim 1 , wherein said plurality of foot-securing straps comprises a first foot-securing strap and a second foot-securing strap, each foot-securing strap having an air passage disposed therethrough and a strap bladder disposed therein.

5. The sandal with pneumatic support according to claim 1 , wherein the air pump comprises a resilient chamber having an inlet and an outlet, the chamber further including a first one-way check valve adjacent the inlet and a second one-way check valve adjacent the outlet.

6. The sandal with pneumatic support according to claim 1 , wherein the relief valve comprises a resilient, selectively openable closure.

7. The sandal with pneumatic support according to claim 1 , wherein the sole and the foot-securing straps are formed of resilient plastic material.

8. The sandal with pneumatic support according to claim 1 , wherein the sole and the foot-securing straps are formed of leather.

9. A sandal with pneumatic support, comprising:

a generally flat sole having an upper surface, a lower surface, a core extending between the upper surface and lower surface, an arch area, a heel portion, and a periphery;

a toe divider extending upwardly from the upper surface of the sole;

a first foot-securing strap and a second foot-securing strap, each of the foot-securing straps extending from the toe divider to the periphery of the sole, the first foot-securing strap having an air passage disposed therethrough and a pneumatically distensible strap bladder disposed therein;

a pneumatically distensible arch bladder disposed within the arch area of the core of the sole;

a manually actuated air pump disposed atop the toe divider and permanently and integrally disposed therewith, the air pump communicating pneumatically with each of the bladders through the air passage in the first foot-securing strap; and

a pressure relief valve disposed along the first foot-securing strap, the pressure relief valve communicating pneumatically with each of the bladders through the air passage in the first foot-securing strap.

10. The sandal with pneumatic support according to claim 9 , further comprising a second air passage disposed through the second foot-securing strap and a second strap bladder disposed in the second foot-securing strap, the second air passage and the second strap bladder communicating pneumatically with said air pump, the air passage and the strap bladder in said first foot-securing strap, said pressure relief valve, and said arch bladder.

11. The sandal with pneumatic support according to claim 9 , wherein the air pump comprises a resilient chamber having an inlet and an outlet, the chamber further including a first one-way check valve adjacent the inlet and a second one-way check valve adjacent the outlet.

12. The sandal with pneumatic support according to claim 9 , wherein the relief valve comprises a resilient, selectively openable closure.

13. The sandal with pneumatic support according to claim 9 , wherein the sole and the foot-securing straps are formed of resilient plastic material.

14. The sandal with pneumatic support according to claim 9 , wherein the sole and the foot-securing straps are formed of leather.

15. A sandal with pneumatic support, comprising:

a generally flat sole having an upper surface, a lower surface, a core extending between the upper surface and lower surface, an arch area, a heel portion, and a periphery;

a toe divider extending upwardly from the upper surface of the sole;

a first foot-securing strap and a second foot-securing strap, each of the foot-securing straps extending from the toe divider to the periphery of the sole, the first foot-securing strap having an air passage disposed therethrough and a pneumatically distensible strap bladder disposed therein;

a pneumatically distensible arch bladder disposed within the arch area of the core of the sole;

a manually actuated air pump disposed in the heel portion of the sole and permanently and integrally disposed therewith, the air pump communicating pneumatically with the arch bladder; and

a pressure relief valve disposed along the first foot-securing strap, the pressure relief valve communicating pneumatically with each of the bladders through the air passage in the first foot-securing strap.

16. The sandal with pneumatic support according to claim 15 , further comprising a second air passage disposed through the second foot-securing strap and a second strap bladder disposed in the second foot-securing strap, the second air passage and the second strap bladder communicating pneumatically with said air pump, the air passage and the strap bladder in said first foot-securing strap, said pressure relief valve, and said arch bladder.

17. The sandal with pneumatic support according to claim 15 , wherein the air pump comprises a resilient chamber having an inlet and an outlet, the chamber further including a first one-way check valve adjacent the inlet and a second one-way check valve adjacent the outlet.

18. The sandal with pneumatic support according to claim 15 , wherein the relief valve comprises a resilient, selectively openable closure.

19. The sandal with pneumatic support according to claim 15 , wherein the sole and the foot-securing straps are formed of resilient plastic material.

20. The sandal with pneumatic support according to claim 15 , wherein the sole and the foot-securing straps are formed of leather.

Continuity (3)
Continuation In Part 13211050 · Aug 16, 2011
Provisional Application 61376089 · Aug 23, 2010
Related Publication 20150007459A1 · Jan 8, 2015