Flip-flop-sandal

Abstract

A flip flop sandal having a shoe sole and a big toe compartment for separately accommodating the big toe to separate the big toe from the other toes so as to orthopedically correct and/or prevent hallux valgus. The flip-flop sandal includes a metatarsal strap for supporting the metatarsus that is connected to the shoe sole by a centering apparatus in a pre-determined orientation, the metatarsal strap including lateral foot sole support segments that extend laterally under the foot sole and over the shoe sole so as to be lifted up relative to the shoe sole in order to support the metatarsus from the foot sole with upwardly oriented lateral pressure so as to support the metatarsus in the upright position even when the foot sole lifts up from the shoe sole during a rolling movement of the foot which occurs when a wearer is walking.

1 . A sandal comprising:
 a sole defining a longitudinal axis thereof, edges on either side of the longitudinal axis so as to provide a sole center portion therebetween within an interior of the sandal, and tip portions at each end of the longitudinal axis;   a big toe compartment for separately accommodating the big toe separate from other toes of the foot;   a metatarsal strap for supporting the metatarsus and having lateral foot sole support segments that are directed inward toward the sole center portion, the lateral foot sole support segments being unconnected to lateral edges of the sole; and   a centering apparatus for centering the sandal sole relative to the metatarsal strap, the centering apparatus being connected to each of the sandal sole and the metatarsal strap so that the lateral foot sole support segments are positioned above the sandal sole so as to support the metatarsus of the foot of a wearer of the sandal when the wearer is walking.   
     
     
         2 . The sandal in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein, during a rolling movement of the foot occurring during walking, the sandal sole lifts upwardly toward the lateral foot sole support segments of the metatarsal strap without being twisted relative to the metatarsal strap and out of alignment with the foot of the wearer. 
     
     
         3 . The sandal in accordance with any one of the foregoing claims, the centering apparatus comprising at least one pair of connecting straps, each of the connecting straps being connected to the sandal sole and to the metatarsal strap, the connecting straps being disposed at an incline and in opposite directions relative to the metatarsal strap and the sandal sole. 
     
     
         4 . The sandal in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the connecting straps are symmetrically inclined at an acute angle relative to a center longitudinal plane that runs upright through the shoe sole. 
     
     
         5 . The sandal in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the connecting straps are inclined relative to one another in a V-shape at a spread angle from 45° to 150°. 
     
     
         6 . The sandal in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the distance between the connection of each of the connecting straps to the sandal sole is less than ⅔ of the distance between connection of each of the connecting straps to the metatarsal strap. 
     
     
         7 . The sandal in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the connecting straps, when seen in cross-section relative to the metatarsal strap, are each respectively connected to the metatarsal strap at substantially 7 o'clock to 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock to 5 o'clock. 
     
     
         8 . The sandal in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein points of connection for the centering apparatus are arranged so as to be spaced apart from the edges of the sandal sole by at least ¼ of the width of the sandal sole and are inwardly offset toward the center of the sandal sole. 
     
     
         9 . The sandal in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the metatarsal strap comprises tensioning means for tightening the metatarsal strap. 
     
     
         10 . The sandal in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the tensioning means comprises length adjusting means for adjusting the length of the metatarsal strap. 
     
     
         11 . The sandal in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the foot sole support segments of the metatarsal strap are not directly connected to the sandal sole and are positioned over a segment of the sandal sole that is at least ¼ of the width of the sandal sole. 
     
     
         12 . The sandal in accordance with  claim 11 , further comprising a big toe strap for exerting a corrective force on the big toe towards the sandal interior. 
     
     
         13 . The sandal in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the big toe strap forms at least part of the big toe compartment. 
     
     
         14 . The sandal in accordance with  claim 13 , further comprising tensioning means for tightening the big toe strap towards the sandal interior. 
     
     
         15 . The sandal in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the tensioning means includes a length adjusting means for adjusting the length of the big toe strap. 
     
     
         16 . The sandal in accordance with either of  claim 1  or  12 , wherein the sandal sole comprises a big toe segment that is separated from an adjacent toe segment of the sandal sole by a notch in the sandal sole that runs in the longitudinal direction of the sandal and that can be bent independently in the rolling direction of the sandal so as to be independently movable about an axis which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the sandal. 
     
     
         17 . The sandal in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein the notch is formed by a cut and/or slit in the sandal sole. 
     
     
         18 . The sandal in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein the notch comprises a length substantially defined as the distance from the tip of the sandal proximate the big toe compartment to the second joint in the big toe.