Shoe with improved strap assembly

Abstract

A sandal including a footbed, a toe securing strap operably coupled to the footbed, an ankle strap operably coupled to the footbed at an ankle attachment location and at a yoke attachment location, and a main strap operably coupled to the footbed at a main attachment location and at the yoke attachment location, where the main attachment location and the yoke attachment location are aligned along a single edge of the footbed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shoe comprising:
 a footbed having a top surface, a lateral edge, and a medial edge;   a front anchor secured to a front portion of the footbed and configured to secure a distal portion of a wearer's foot;   a lateral strap coupled to the footbed at a first location adjacent to the lateral edge and a second location adjacent to the medial edge; and   a main strap coupled to the footed at a third location adjacent to the lateral edge and a fourth location adjacent to the lateral edge.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the main strap is not coupled to the medial edge. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe of  claim 1 , further comprising a yoke coupled to the footbed, the lateral strap, and the main strap, wherein the main strap is coupled to the footbed at the fourth location via the yoke. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the main strap is directly connected to the footbed at the third location and indirectly connected to the footbed at the fourth location. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the main strap further comprises a tensioning assembly connected thereto for selectively varying a tension force applied to the wearer's foot. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the main strap extends beneath the lateral strap as it extends between the third and fourth locations. 
     
     
         7 . The shoe of  claim 6 , wherein the main strap extends laterally across the wearer's foot and along a portion of a longitudinal length of the wearer's foot. 
     
     
         8 . A sandal comprising:
 a footbed;   a toe securing strap operably coupled to the footbed;   an ankle strap operably coupled to the footbed at a lateral attachment location and at a yoke attachment location;   a main strap operably coupled to the footbed at a main attachment location and at the yoke attachment location, wherein the main attachment location and the yoke attachment location are aligned to be adjacent to a single edge of the footbed.   
     
     
         9 . The sandal of  claim 8 , further comprising a yoke coupled to the ankle strap and the main strap, wherein the yoke is secured to the footed at the yoke attachment location. 
     
     
         10 . The sandal of  claim 8 , wherein the main strap extends beneath or over the ankle strap between the main attachment location and the yoke attachment location. 
     
     
         11 . The sandal of  claim 10 , wherein the main strap is freely movable relative to the lateral strap. 
     
     
         12 . The sandal of  claim 10 , wherein the lateral attachment location is adjacent a medial edge of the footbed, the yoke attachment location and the main attachment location are adjacent a lateral edge of the footbed. 
     
     
         13 . The sandal of  claim 12 , wherein the main strap is unsupported on the medial edge of the footbed. 
     
     
         14 . The sandal of  claim 8 , wherein the main strap is configured to seat over a dorsal surface of a wearer's foot and a heel surface of the wearer's foot. 
     
     
         15 . The sandal of  claim 8 , wherein the main strap is formed of a single piece of material. 
     
     
         16 . The sandal of  claim 8 , wherein the main strap collapses onto the footbed when a user's foot is removed from the sandal. 
     
     
         17 . The sandal of  claim 8 , wherein the main attachment location is selected to correspond to a location of the user's fifth metatarsal when the user's foot is positioned on the footbed. 
     
     
         18 . A pair of shoes comprising two sandals as claimed in  claim 8 . 
     
     
         19 . A shoe comprising:
 a sole;   a toe anchor strap connected to the sole at a distal end thereof;   a dorsal strap connected to the sole at a medial attachment location and a coupling location, wherein the medial attachment location and the coupling location are generally laterally aligned with one another but positioned on opposing edges of the sole; and   a main strap connected to the sole at a main attachment location and the coupling location, wherein the coupling location is longitudinally aligned along a length of the sole with the main attachment location.   
     
     
         20 . The shoe of  claim 19 , wherein the coupling location and the main attachment location correspond to a lateral edge of a user's foot.