Performance sandal shoe and method of manufacture

Abstract

An athletic performance shoe with an open toe and an open heal for improved ventilation and comfort. The body of the shoe should be of suitable flexible material, such as the “Flyknit” fabric used by Nike, Inc. The shoe should include standard laces for enclosing the user's foot in the shoe as the laces suitably secure the shoe about the foot. The interior of the shoe should include soft, malleable padding which forms to the user's foot such that users with wide feet, narrow feet, or other factors will be comfortable in the shoe and the shoe will form around their foot without slipping or uncomfortably compressing the foot. A preferred embodiment would have a thin, highly-flexible sole. The open toe and heel being the primary features of the shoe.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: 
     
         1 . A footwear device comprising:
 a main body having a top opening, closed sides and top, an open toe portion, and an open heel portion;   said open heal portion and said top opening separated by a strap configured to secure the footwear device in place;   a flexible sole exposed at said open toe portion and at said open heel portion; and   said main body comprising a stretchable, breathable fabric.   
     
     
         2 . The footwear device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of shoe lace holes; and   a tongue located between two side portions of said main body, said tongue protruding into and forming a portion of said top opening.   
     
     
         3 . The footwear device of  claim 2 , further comprising a shoe lace configured to be threaded through said plurality of shoe lace holes thereby securing said side portions of said main body about said tongue. 
     
     
         4 . A method of manufacturing a footwear device, the method comprising the steps:
 providing a footwear device having a top opening, a toe portion, a heel portion, and two side portions;   removing said toe portion, thereby forming a toe opening and exposing a sole of said footwear device; and   removing said heel portion, thereby forming a heel opening and exposing said sole of said footwear device and creating a strap portion between said top opening and said heel opening.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said footwear device includes a plurality of shoe lace holes located along said side portions. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said footwear device includes a tongue located between two side portions of said main body, said tongue protruding into and forming a portion of said top opening. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the steps:
 threading a shoelace through said plurality of shoe lace holes; and   securing said side portions above and about said tongue.   
     
     
         8 . A method of manufacturing a footwear device, the method comprising the steps:
 forming a footwear body from a piece of material, said footwear body including a top opening, a toe opening, a heel opening, and side portions, said heel opening and toe opening forming a back strap between them;   placing said footwear body onto a sole, whereby said sole is exposed at said toe portion and at said heel portion; and   providing a base beneath said sole, said base providing traction.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said footwear body includes a plurality of shoe lace holes located along said side portions. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , including a tongue located between two side portions of said main body, said tongue protruding into and forming a portion of said top opening and said tongue formed from said piece of material. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the steps:
 threading a shoelace through said plurality of shoe lace holes; and   securing said side portions above and about said tongue.