Flip flops with wind and water barrier

Abstract

Flip flops with a barrier circumscribing the flip flop sole. The barrier protects the feet from water splashes, puddles, wet grass and wind. The flip flops are open in a vertical direction, and therefore highly breathable. The barrier is waterproof and therefore provides excellent water protection. The barrier can be about 0.5-4 inches or about 0.7-3 inches tall. Alternatively, the barrier height can be at least 1/3, 40%, 1/2, 2/3, or 3/4 the length of a toe strap. The barrier can be made of closed cell foam or plastic film. The barrier can have attachment tabs for attachment to the sole. The attachment between the sole and barrier is water tight.

1 . A flip flop sandal, comprising:
 1) a sole comprising a foot bed area;   2) a medial foot strap attached to the sole and to a connection point;   3) a lateral foot strap attached to the sole and to the connection point;   4) a toe strap, connected to the sole and to the connection point, wherein the toe strap is located such that it extends between the big toe and the second toe of a wearers foot;   5) a barrier disposed around and attached to the sole, wherein the barrier extends upwardly, forms a continuous loop around the foot bed, and has a height everywhere of at least 40% of a toe strap length   
     
     
         2 . The flip flop sandal of  claim 1  wherein the barrier height is in the range of 0.5 to 5 inches everywhere. 
     
     
         3 . The flip flop sandal of  claim 1  wherein the barrier height is in the range of ½ a toe strap length to 6 inches everywhere. 
     
     
         4 . The flip flop sandal of  claim 1  wherein the barrier height is everywhere in the range of 0.5 inches or ½ a toe strap length, whichever is greater, to 5 inches. 
     
     
         5 . The flip flop sandal of  claim 1  wherein the barrier and the sole comprise a single integral part. 
     
     
         6 . The flip flop sandal of  claim 1  wherein the barrier has a height everywhere of at least ⅔ the toe strap length to 4 inches. 
     
     
         7 . The flip flop sandal of  claim 1  wherein the sole comprises an upper sole and a lower sole, and the barrier comprises an attachment tab disposed between the upper sole and the lower sole. 
     
     
         8 . The flip flop sandal of  claim 1  wherein an outside surface of at least one of the foot straps is attached to an interior surface of the barrier. 
     
     
         9 . The flip flop sandal of  claim 1  further comprising a cover, wherein the cover is removably attachable to at least one of the foot straps. 
     
     
         10 . A flip flop sandal, comprising:
 1) a sole comprising a foot bed area;   2) a medial foot strap attached to the sole and to a connection point;   3) a lateral foot strap attached to the sole and to the connection point;   4) a toe strap, connected to the sole and to the connection point, wherein the toe strap is located such that it extends between the big toe and the second toe of a wearers foot;   5) a barrier attached to the sole, wherein the barrier extends upwardly, forms a continuous loop around the wearers foot, and has a height in the range of ½ of a toe strap length to 6 inches in a front portion, has a height of 1/3  the toe strap length to 4 inches in a rear portion.   
     
     
         11 . The flip flop sandal of  claim 10  wherein the barrier is, on average, taller in the front portion than in the rear portion. 
     
     
         12 . The flip flop sandal of  claim 10  wherein the barrier has a height in the range of ⅔ the toe strap length to 2.5 inches everywhere. 
     
     
         13 . The flip flop sandal of  claim 10  wherein the sole comprises an upper sole and a lower sole, and the barrier comprises an attachment tab disposed between the upper sole and the lower sole. 
     
     
         14 . The flip flop sandal of  claim 10  wherein an outside surface of at least one of the foot straps is attached to an interior surface of the barrier. 
     
     
         15 . The flip flop sandal of  claim 10  further comprising a cover, wherein the cover is removably attachable to at least one of the foot straps. 
     
     
         16 . The flip flop sandal of  claim 10  wherein the barrier and the sole comprise a single integral part. 
     
     
         17 . A flip flop sandal, comprising:
 1) a sole comprising a gap area in a heel portion, and a foot bed area;   2) a medial foot strap attached to the sole and to a connection point;   3) a lateral foot strap attached to the sole and to the connection point;   4) a toe strap, connected to the sole and to the connection point, wherein the toe strap is located such that it extends between the big toe and the second toe of a wearers foot;   5) a barrier disposed around and attached to the sole, wherein the barrier extends upwardly, forms a continuous loop around the foot bed area, is waterproof, and has a height everywhere in the range of 0.7-4 inches.   
     
     
         18 . The flip flop sandal of  claim 17  wherein the barrier height everywhere is in the range of 0.4-4 times a toe strap length. 
     
     
         19 . The flip flop sandal of  claim 17  wherein the sole comprises an upper sole and a lower sole, and the barrier comprises an attachment tab disposed between the upper sole and the lower sole. 
     
     
         20 . The flip flop sandal of  claim 17  wherein an outside surface of at least one of the foot straps is attached to an interior surface of the barrier. 
     
     
         21 . The flip flop sandal of  claim 17  further comprising a cover, wherein the cover is removably attachable to at least one of the foot straps.