Convertible Flip-Flop To Sandal

Abstract

A convertible footwear device includes a sole having opposed toe and heel ends. The footwear device includes a Y-shaped strap assembly having a first strap portion and a second strap portion that are joined together at a post strap portion proximate the toe end. A heel strap assembly including a heel strap having a first end rotatably coupled to the first end of the first strap portion of the Y-shaped strap assembly and a second end rotatably coupled to the first end of the second strap portion of the Y-shaped strap assembly, wherein the heel strap is pivotally movable between a forward configuration in which the heel strap is positioned atop the first and second strap portions a rearward configuration rearwardly displaced from the post assembly for use as a sandal heel strap.

1 . A flip-flop footwear device, comprising:
 a sole having a bottom surface and an upper surface opposed to said bottom surface, said sole having a toe end extending between front ends of a lateral edge and a medial edge of said sole, respectively, and having a heel end extending between rear ends of said lateral edge and said medial edge of the sole, respectively;   a Y-shaped strap assembly that includes a first strap portion having a first end coupled to said upper surface of said sole adjacent said lateral edge and having a second end displaced from said first end of said first strap portion;   said Y-shaped strap assembly including a second strap portion having a first end coupled to said upper surface of said sole adjacent said medial edge and having a second end displaced from said first end of said second strap portion;   a post assembly includes a post strap portion having a first end coupled to said upper surface of said sole and having a second end extending upwardly away from said first end thereof;   wherein said second end of said first strap portion is coupled to said second end of said second strap portion at a position adjacent said second end of said post strap;   a heel strap assembly including a heel strap having a first end rotatably coupled to said first end of said first strap portion of said Y-shaped strap assembly and a second end rotatably coupled to said first end of said second strap portion of said Y-shaped strap assembly;   wherein said heel strap is pivotally movable between a forward configuration adjacent said post assembly and a rearward configuration rearwardly displaced from said post assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The flip-flop footwear device as in  claim 1 , wherein said heel strap is positioned atop said first strap portion and said second strap portion at said forward configuration and said heel strap is rotated rearwardly and displaced from said first strap portion and said second strap portion at said rearward configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The flip-flop footwear device as in  claim 1 , wherein said post assembly includes a coupling member mounted to an outer surface of said post strap portion for securing said heel strap to said post strap portion at said forward configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The flip-flop footwear device as in  claim 3 , wherein said heel strap includes an intermediate section releasably coupled to said second end of said post strap portion, said intermediate section being positioned about midway between said first end and said second end of said heel strap. 
     
     
         5 . The flip-flop footwear device as in  claim 4 , further comprising an auxiliary fastener mounted to an outer surface of said intermediate section of said heel strap of said heel strap assembly, said auxiliary fastener releasably attached to said coupling member of said post assembly at said forward configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The flip-flop footwear device as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said first end of said heel strap is rotatably coupled to said first strap portion with a fastener that defines an axis about which said first end of said heel strap rotates;   said second end of said heel strap is rotatably coupled to said second strap portion with a fastener that defines an axis about which said second end of said heel strap rotates.   
     
     
         7 . The flip-flop footwear device as in  claim 5 , wherein:
 said first end of said heel strap is rotatably coupled to said first strap portion with a fastener that defines an axis about which said first end of said heel strap rotates when said auxiliary fastener is released from said coupling member and thus allowed to rotate;   said second end of said heel strap is rotatably coupled to said second strap portion with a fastener that defines an axis about which said second end of said heel strap rotates when said auxiliary fastener is released from said coupling member and thus allowed to rotate.   
     
     
         8 . A convertible footwear device, comprising:
 a sole having a bottom surface and an upper surface opposed to said bottom surface, said sole having a toe end and a heel end opposite the toe end and having opposed lateral and medial edges extending between said toe end and said heel end;   a strap assembly that includes a first strap portion having a first end coupled to said upper surface of said sole adjacent said lateral edge and having a second end displaced from said first end of said first strap portion;   said strap assembly including a second strap portion having a first end coupled to said upper surface of said sole adjacent said medial edge and having a second end displaced from said first end of said second strap portion;   a post strap portion having a first end coupled to said upper surface of said sole and having a second end extending upwardly away from said first end thereof;   wherein said second end of said first strap portion is coupled to said second end of said second strap portion adjacent said second end of said post strap portion;   a heel strap assembly including a heel strap having a first end rotatably coupled to said first end of said first strap portion of said strap assembly and a second end rotatably coupled to said first end of said second strap portion of said strap assembly;   wherein said heel strap is pivotally movable between a forward configuration adjacent said post strap portion and a rearward configuration rearwardly displaced from said post strap portion.   
     
     
         9 . The convertible footwear device as in  claim 8 , wherein said heel strap is positioned atop said first strap portion and said second strap portion at said forward configuration and said heel strap is rotated rearwardly and displaced from said first strap portion and said second strap portion at said rearward configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The convertible footwear device as in  claim 8 , further comprising a coupling member mounted to an outer surface of said post strap portion for securing said heel strap to said post strap portion at said forward configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The convertible footwear device as in  claim 10 , wherein said heel strap includes an intermediate section releasably coupled to said second end of said post strap portion, said intermediate section being positioned about midway between said first end and said second end of said heel strap. 
     
     
         12 . The convertible footwear device as in  claim 11 , further comprising an auxiliary fastener mounted to an outer surface of said intermediate section of said heel strap of said heel strap assembly, said auxiliary fastener being releasably attached to said coupling member of said post assembly at said forward configuration. 
     
     
         13 . The convertible footwear device as in  claim 8 , wherein:
 said first end of said heel strap is rotatably coupled to said first strap portion with a fastener that defines an axis about which said first end of said heel strap rotates;   said second end of said heel strap is rotatably coupled to said second strap portion with a fastener that defines an axis about which said second end of said heel strap rotates.   
     
     
         14 . The convertible footwear device as in  claim 12 , wherein:
 said first end of said heel strap is rotatably coupled to said first strap portion with a fastener that defines an axis about which said first end of said heel strap rotates when said auxiliary fastener is released from said coupling member and thus being free to rotate;   said second end of said heel strap is rotatably coupled to said second strap portion with a fastener that defines an axis about which said second end of said heel strap rotates when said auxiliary fastener is released from said coupling member and thus being free to rotate.