Pivotable footwear device

Abstract

Footwear having a pivotable bottom portion are generally described. For example, the footwear may include a sole having a first portion and a second portion pivotally coupled to one another. The first portion may include a tongue and the second portion may include a recess for receiving the tongue. A rod may be arranged to extend across a width of the sole and through the tongue for pivotally coupling the first portion to the second portion. In various aspects, the footwear may further include a stopper coupled to any of the tongue and the second portion proximate to the recess for limiting relative pivotal motion of the first and second portions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Footwear, comprising:
 a sole having a first portion and a second portion pivotally coupled to one another, the first portion comprising a tongue and the second portion comprising a recess for receiving the tongue;   a rod extending across a width of the sole and through the tongue for pivotally coupling the first portion to the second portion; and   a stopper coupled to any of the tongue and the second portion proximate to the recess for limiting relative pivotal motion of the first and second portions.   
     
     
         2 . The footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion is a front portion and the second portion is a back portion of the sole. 
     
     
         3 . The footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion is back portion and the second portion is a front portion of the sole. 
     
     
         4 . The footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the tongue comprises a channel for receiving the rod. 
     
     
         5 . The footwear of  claim 4 , wherein the second portion comprises a channel aligned with the channel formed in the tongue for receiving the rod such that the rod extends across a width of the sole through the tongue portion. 
     
     
         6 . The footwear of  claim 5 , further comprising at least one recess arranged around an opening providing access to the channel of the second portion, the at least one recess being configured to receive a head portion of the rod. 
     
     
         7 . The footwear of  claim 6 , wherein the head portion is configured to engage a sidewall of the at least one recess in an interference fit, thereby inhibiting movement of the rod. 
     
     
         8 . The footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the rod comprises an opening at each end thereof for receiving a fastener. 
     
     
         9 . The footwear of  claim 8 , wherein the fastener facilitates securing the rod within the channel of the second portion. 
     
     
         10 . The footwear of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first retaining element opening arranged within the first portion; and   a first retaining element disposed within the first retaining element opening, the retaining element being configured to retain a foot of a wearer of the footwear.   
     
     
         11 . The footwear of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one spike projection arranged on a head of the rod. 
     
     
         12 . The footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one spike projection is configured to penetrate into the second portion to prevent movement of the rod when the rod is installed in the footwear. 
     
     
         13 . Footwear having a pivotable bottom portion, comprising:
 a first portion having a tongue and a stopper portion;   a second portion having a recess configured to receive the tongue; and   at least one rod configured to be arranged within the tongue and the second portion to pivotably connect the first portion to the second portion,   wherein the first portion and the second portion are configured to pivot about an axis formed by the rod,   wherein the stopper is configured to engage the second portion to prevent rotation of the first portion.   
     
     
         14 . The footwear of  claim 13 , wherein the first portion is a front portion and the second portion is a back portion of the sole. 
     
     
         15 . The footwear of  claim 13 , wherein the first portion is back portion and the second portion is a front portion of the sole. 
     
     
         16 . The footwear of  claim 13 , wherein the tongue comprises a channel for receiving the rod. 
     
     
         17 . The footwear of  claim 16 , wherein the second portion comprises a channel aligned with the channel formed in the tongue for receiving the rod such that the rod extends across a width of the sole through the tongue portion. 
     
     
         18 . The footwear of  claim 17 , further comprising at least one recess arranged around an opening providing access to the channel of the second portion, the at least one recess being configured to receive a head portion of the rod. 
     
     
         19 . The footwear of  claim 18 , wherein the head portion is configured to engage a sidewall of the at least one recess in an interference fit, thereby inhibiting movement of the rod. 
     
     
         20 . The footwear of  claim 13 , wherein the rod comprises an opening at each end thereof for receiving a fastener. 
     
     
         21 . The footwear of  claim 20 , wherein the fastener facilitates securing the rod within the channel of the second portion. 
     
     
         22 . The footwear of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a first retaining element opening arranged within the first portion; and   a first retaining element disposed within the first retaining element opening, the retaining element being configured to retain a foot of a wearer of the footwear.   
     
     
         23 . The footwear of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one spike projection arranged on a head of the at least one rod. 
     
     
         24 . The footwear of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one spike projection is configured to penetrate into the second portion to prevent movement of the at least one rod when the at least one rod is installed in the footwear. 
     
     
         25 . A method of manufacturing footwear, comprising:
 providing a sole having a first portion and a second portion pivotally coupled to one another, the first portion comprising a tongue and the second portion comprising a recess for receiving the tongue; and   extending a rod across a width of the sole and through the tongue for pivotally coupling the first portion to the second portion,   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising forming a stopper coupled to any of the tongue and the second portion proximate to the recess for limiting relative pivotal motion of the first and second portions. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the first portion is a front portion and the second portion is a back portion of the sole. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the first portion is back portion and the second portion is a front portion of the sole. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising forming a first channel within the tongue comprises for receiving the rod. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 forming a second channel within the second portion that is aligned with the channel formed in the tongue for receiving the rod; and   inserting the rod through the first channel and the second channel such that the rod extends across a width of the sole through the tongue portion.