Footwear with arch support and cushioning

Abstract

The present invention provides a footwear article with arch support and cushioning. The footwear article maybe in the form of a sandal including but not limited to a thong sandal, such as a flip flop.

1 . A footwear article comprising:
 an elongate sole comprising a medial side, a lateral side, a longitudinal center, and a latitudinal center;   said elongate sole comprising a top portion, a bottom portion, a sandwich portion, a toe section, a heel section and a mid foot section, wherein said top portion and said bottom portion are affixed together in the toe section and said top portion, said bottom portion and said sandwich portion are affixed together in the heel section and in the mid foot section, wherein said sandwich portion is present between said top portion and said bottom portion and has a width that gradually decreases from said heel section to said mid foot section;   a foot engagement means that is securely connected to said elongate sole; and said top portion of said heel section comprises a spatial provision to accommodate a cushioning material, wherein said cushioning material is present in said spatial provision of the top portion of said heel section.   
     
     
         2 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein said mid foot section has an arch support. 
     
     
         3 . The footwear article of  claim 2 , wherein said arch support has a bulged curvature that decreases gradually radially outward from said medial side of said mid foot section. 
     
     
         4 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein said cushioning material is a cushion gel. 
     
     
         5 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein said cushioning material is a single entity. 
     
     
         6 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein said cushioning material is made of thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
         7 . The footwear article of  claim 5 , wherein said cushioning material being a single entity is centered at said heel section. 
     
     
         8 . The footwear article of  claim 5 , wherein said cushioning material being a single entity has a shape that is elliptical, circular, square, rectangular, orthogonal, rhombic, pentagonal, octagonal, or hexagonal. 
     
     
         9 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein said top portion and said sandwich portion are made of ethyl vinyl acetate. 
     
     
         10 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein said bottom portion is made of vulcanized rubber. 
     
     
         11 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein said foot engagement means has a decorative ornament affixed to it. 
     
     
         12 . The footwear article of  claim 11 , wherein said foot engagement means has an opening to accommodate said decorative ornament. 
     
     
         13 . The footwear article of  claim 11 , wherein said decorative ornament is permanently affixed or removably affixed to the engagement means. 
     
     
         14 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein said foot engagement means is a Y-shaped strap, a buckled strap, a Velcro™ strap, or lace. 
     
     
         15 . The footwear article of  claim 14 , wherein said Y-shaped strap is a single piece with protrusions that serve as locks to secure the Y-shaped strap to the elongate sole via one or more apertures in the elongate sole. 
     
     
         16 . The footwear article of  claim 15 , wherein said protrusions are three in number and a first protrusion securing the Y-shaped strap to said elongate sole at the toe section and a second protrusion and a third protrusion securing the Y-shaped strap to said elongate sole at the heel position. 
     
     
         17 . The footwear article of  claim 14 , wherein said Y-shaped strap is made of thermoplastic polyurethane. 
     
     
         18 . The footwear article of  claim 16 , wherein said first protrusion's top has an opening to accommodate said decorative ornament. 
     
     
         19 . The footwear article of  claim 18 , wherein said decorative ornament is permanently affixed or removably affixed to said first protrusion's top. 
     
     
         20 . The footwear article of  claim 11 , wherein said decorative ornament is a pendant. 
     
     
         21 . The footwear article of  claim 20 , wherein said pendant is made of zinc based alloy. 
     
     
         22 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein said footwear is a sandal, flip flop, Y-shaped flip flop, thong sandal, or jandal. 
     
     
         23 . The footwear article of  claim 13 , wherein said decorative ornament is affixed using a screw mechanism. 
     
     
         24 . The footwear article of  claim 18 , wherein said decorative ornament is affixed using a screw mechanism.