...that Thomas Edison's patent application on his phonograph was approved by the Patent Office in just seven weeks? In contrast, it took Gordon Gould, the inventor of the laser, 30 years to obtain his patent -- finally awarded in 1988!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7650704 | Footwear system with interchangeable portions The present invention is directed to a footwear system that is customizable and offers a plurality of interchangeable base portions, upper portions, and connector elements in various styles, colors and designs, thus allowing an assortment of easily interchangeable a... | 01/26/2010 |
| 7644517 | Modular article of footwear An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure and at least two elements that join to form the upper and the sole structure. The elements each form a portion of the upper and a portion of the sole structure. With regard to the upper, the elements each... | 01/12/2010 |
| 7596887 | Orthopedic corrective sandal or shoe An orthopedic sandal or shoe to be worn intermittently with and to correct the effects of high heel shoe wear, includes a body with upper and lower surfaces. The upper surface provides equalized pressure support without concentration on the heel or balls of the foot... | 10/06/2009 |
| 7584553 | Flip flop golf sandal A flip flop sandal comprising a sole portion made from a flexible, resilient and moldable material. The sole has an upper surface and a lower surface. Molded within the upper surface is a foot attachment strap having an enlarged end captured within the sole portion.... | 09/08/2009 |
| 7552546 | Apparatus and method for providing open-heeled foot apparel with improved heel support An article of foot apparel includes a platform curved to anticipate the natural movement of a foot. The article also includes a heel pad having a geometric center point; a retaining covering connected to the platform and configured to retain a foot at the front of t... | 06/30/2009 |
| 7540098 | Sandal with removable upper Sandals, particularly sandals known as thongs or flip-flops that have removable and interchangeable uppers that allow the wearer to have a single pair of soles and multiple uppers so that they can have multiple colors and styles of sandals without having to buy and ... | 06/02/2009 |
| 7513064 | Footwear having an enclosed and articulated toe Articles of footwear having an enclosed articulated toe portion, including a molded midsole with an integrally-molded toe cap shaped to receive a foot therein and to enclose the toes of the foot. The toe cap terminates at a position adjacent to the base of the toes ... | 04/07/2009 |
| 7464488 | Reversible footwear strap The present invention pertains to footwear where the tongue, or strap, may be reversed, in order to change the aesthetics, coloration, indicia, or other appearance of the footwear. A sandal has an outer strap that reverses upon manipulation by the wearer, where the ... | 12/16/2008 |
| 7461469 | Shoe with improved Opanka construction The invention relates to a shoe that has a socklining with a periphery, a sole with a periphery, an upper placed above the socklining and extending downwardly around the periphery of the socklining and between the socklining and the sole. The shoe further includes a... | 12/09/2008 |
| 7448148 | Articulated foldable sandals An articulated foldable sandal may include a sole having a forefoot portion that is adapted to be disposed under a front portion of a wearer's foot and a rear-foot portion that is adapted to be disposed under a rear portion of the wearer's foot. The sole may also ha... | 11/11/2008 |
| 7398607 | Heel strap apparatus and mounting method A heel strap apparatus for securing the rear portion of a strapless shoe to the ankle of a wearer foot includes a linking strap segment having a linking strap segment first end and a linking strap segment second end, for wrapping around the back of a wearer heel; an... | 07/15/2008 |
| 7377054 | Disposable sole for the shoe or foot of a wearer A disposable protective sole is adapted for wear on a foot or shoe of a user. The protective sole includes a multilayer composite having opposing inside and outside major surfaces. The outside major surface is textured to resist slippage of the protective sole on an... | 05/27/2008 |
| 7367142 | Open shoe, such as a slipper, sandal and the like An open shoe, such as a slipper, sandal and the like, comprising a sole with which an insole and an upper are associated. The insole has part of its edges engaged in a corresponding recess, which is provided as an undercut on the upper perimetric side wall of the so... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7363731 | Security footwear A substantially transparent article of footwear includes a substantially transparent resilient sole having a gripping surface and a substantially transparent shoe upper integrally extending from the resilient sole. The upper includes an element for aeration of a foo... | 04/29/2008 |
| 7347010 | Shoe having a variety of lacing styles An article of footwear comprises a first sole including a lip having a plurality of bores from top to bottom of the first sole, the plurality of bores of the lip are spaced apart and disposed around its perimeter, wherein the plurality of bores receive a lace that e... | 03/25/2008 |
| 7340852 | Shoe A shoe includes a toe section fabricated of a plurality of ribs which are pivotally movable relative the sole and support a flexible panel. The toe section is movable between an extended position to enclose the toes of the foot of a wearer and wherein the several ri... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7331122 | Convertible sandal An article of footwear to be used as a convertible sandal comprising a sole, a forefoot cover, and heel strap. The forefoot cover is securely attached to the sole and extends over the forefoot portion of the sole. The heel strap is linked to the sole and extends ove... | 02/19/2008 |
| 7328527 | Shoe strap changing system The shoe strap changing system of the present invention consists of a base shoe, which includes an upper and a sole. The sole includes a slot, which has a height, a width extending from near the heel portion of the sole across the middle portion of the sole toward t... | 02/12/2008 |
| 7328528 | Removably attachable decoration for footwear A removably attachable decoration for footwear is provided. The decoration can be attached to any desired article of footwear, such as a shoe or sandal, at any desired location thereon. The decoration comprises a strand having beads or other adornments attached ther... | 02/12/2008 |
| 7325337 | Stripe changes for footwear A changeable stripe for footwear, that can be applied to any segment of the shoe, or other clothing, or even a purse or backpack, and includes a changeable stripe that is held by means of a base, or through slots provided within the shoe, so that a pull tab connecti... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7322132 | Device for high-heeled shoes and method of constructing a high-heeled shoe A device for insertion in a high-heeled shoe has a first crescent shaped raised area in a region underlying the forward edge of a wearer's heel bone and a second raised area underlying the metatarsals of the wearer is described. Also described is a method for constr... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7322130 | Inner sole for a shoe The present invention relates to an inner sole for a shoe, comprising a base body, a covering layer and several cushioned layers arranged on the surface of the sole. A first cushioned layer is provided in the ball area of the forefoot, a second cushioned layer is in... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7320188 | Running sandal A sandal for receiving a foot of a wearer, the foot having a heel and a forefoot including toes. The sandal includes an upper, a midsole assembly and an outsole component. The midsole assembly includes a main body and a support component that may include a slightly ... | 01/22/2008 |
| 7318289 | Clasp for detachably securing footwear upper A clasp for securing an upper to the outsole of an article of footwear is disclosed. The clasp includes first and second releasably interengaging parts, one of which is attached to the upper and the other to the outsole. The part attached to the outsole includes a b... | 01/15/2008 |
| 7317965 | Automatic sandal manufacturing and vending device An automatic manufacturing-vending machine for sandals according to the present invention comprises a sole housing portion housing a plurality of soles for sandals according to a plurality of sizes, an upper housing portion housing a plurality of uppers for sandals ... | 01/08/2008 |
| 7310894 | Footwear for use in shower A shower shoe diminishes the risk of slipping in wet and slippery areas. The shower shoe or slipper can be easily worn by an individual when taking a shower, bath or simply walking through a slippery area. The shower shoe includes a mesh top through which water can ... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7311210 | High heel shoe envelope holder An envelope holder having the shape of a lady's high heel shoe includes an elongated sole having a forward toe portion and a raised heel portion. A heel extends downwardly from the heel portion and supports the heel portion when the envelope holder is in an operativ... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7290356 | Footwear with multi-piece midsole Articles of footwear having a unitary midsole with an integrally molded toe cap that extends over the wearer's toes are disclosed, in which the midsole is molded in multiple sections one of which includes the integrally-molded toe cap which are joined to one another... | 11/06/2007 |
| 7287294 | Method of making an expandable shoe A method of making an expandable shoe is disclosed. An intermediate footwear structure is provided having an expandable upper portion. A stabilizing material is provided to the intermediate structure to resist expansion of the upper portion, and a last is inserted i... | 10/30/2007 |
| 7287675 | Three-in-one health care system A reacher has a near end with a handle and a trigger. A reacher has a far end. An intermediate extent is provided between the near end and the far end. A sock aide is removably coupled to the reacher adjacent to the far end. A shoe horn is slidably supported on the ... | 10/30/2007 |
| 7284341 | Sand walking sandal The sand walking sandal is a hinged sandal for walking on sand having a forward sole section with a foot receiving portion located thereon and an extended forward sole width portion extending outward and laterally from the foot receiving portion. A rearward sole sec... | 10/23/2007 |
| 7272899 | Exchangeable strap shoes Shoes that are made to allow straps to be attached, removed, covered, or exchanged so that many different looks can be achieved. A properly equipped shoe base could be provided to which appropriate straps may be attached to the front or heel portion of the shoe base... | 09/25/2007 |
| 7272897 | Sandal having a variety of lacing styles A sandal comprising a sole having a plurality of lace holes, grooves, and rings used for arranging at least one lace in a variety of styles when securing the sandal to the foot of the wearer. In other embodiments, the lace can be illuminated and the sole can have mu... | 09/25/2007 |
| 7270627 | Exerciser In order to provide rehabilitation, physiotherapy and maintain suppleness, an exerciser is provided in which a skid with a slide or movement surface is provided on one side and a grip on the other in order that a user can perform controlled oscillatory motions by re... | 09/18/2007 |
| 7266907 | Reversible shoe upper A shoe upper is reversible in its entirety to change the appearance of a shoe. The shoe upper is comprised of one or more straps each having end regions connected by swivel fasteners to the shoe. ... | 09/11/2007 |
| 7264604 | Curable off-loading footwear and methods Custom footbed devices, methods of constructing the devices and kits for constructing custom footbeds are disclosed that may be particularly advantageous in the treatment of plantar ulcers. The devices offer the advantage of off-loading pressure from the plantar ulc... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7237345 | Disposable and non-disposable foot cap Thin, lightweight footwear made of a polyethylene material that is composed of a top part and a sole part that are sewn together such that when fitted properly to the wearer's foot the footwear encompasses the foot and extends to the level of the ankle. The top part... | 07/03/2007 |
| 7234248 | Footwear Footwear having a shoe upper and a sandal type sole are made from an upper having a lower marginal edge with a plurality of spaced fingers extending from the lower marginal edge, a footbed having a peripheral edge and a plurality of spaced slots therethrough adjacen... | 06/26/2007 |
| 7234251 | Toe protection sandal A sandal including a molded rubber outsole configured to support a lower surface of a foot including a heel, midfoot, and a forefoot; a toe cap extending from the outsole and configured to cover a top of at least a portion of the forefoot, the toe cap molded integra... | 06/26/2007 |
| 7222442 | Convertible shoe and sandal A convertible article of footwear has a primary article of footwear and a sandal that is removably inserted into the primary article of footwear. The primary article of footwear includes an outsole and an upper attached to the outsole. The sandal includes at least o... | 05/29/2007 |