US20080110052A1

US20080110052A1 - Novelty footwear item with concealed wax comb

Info

Publication number: US20080110052A1
Application number: US11/820,704
Authority: US
Inventors: Brett D. Ritter; Amy Lynn McMahan
Original assignee: South Cone Inc
Current assignee: South Cone Inc
Priority date: 2006-11-11
Filing date: 2007-06-20
Publication date: 2008-05-15

Abstract

A novelty footwear item includes a footwear construction with a heel compartment that has a sufficient height dimension and a sufficient width dimension to support from below the heel of a user and which is adapted to receive therein a removable locking surfboard wax roughing comb which in turn has sufficient height, width and depth dimensions for the storage of a bar of surfboard wax.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/595,095 entitled “Novelty Footwear with Stash”, filed on Nov. 11, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to novelty footwear and more particularly to a combination sandal and cassette-like comb which has sufficient length, width and depth dimensions to facilitate the temporary storage of small loose items, such as coins, keys, and paper currency within the novelty footwear.

PRIOR ART

When wearing footwear at the beach, park or other places of outdoor relaxation and entertainment it may be necessary to carry loose items such as keys, coins and paper currency while in such venues. Therefore, it would be highly desirable to have a new and improved novelty footwear item that permits a user to carry one or more loose items in a concealed manner within the footwear while further providing the user with a unique utility tool such as a comb.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A new and improved novelty footwear item includes A novelty footwear item includes an outer sole and a footbed which are permanently affixed thereto about their respective front portions and sandwiched about a hollow collapsible midsole extending between about an instep area of the outer sole and the footbed and a distal end of the outer sole and the footbed; a hollow midsole support member dimensioned to be received within the hollow collapsible midsole in a snug friction tight fit prevents its collapsing under load and provides a receiving space for a surfboard utility tool which is slidably lockingly received within the hollow midsole support member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned features and steps of the invention and the manner of attaining them will become apparent, and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following description of the embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a right-side perspective view of a novelty footwear item, which is constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the novelty footwear item of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is front perspective view of the novelty footwear item of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is top plan view of the novelty footwear item of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a right side elevational view of the novelty footwear item of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a left side elevational view of the novelty footwear item of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the novelty footwear item of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the novelty footwear item of FIG. 1 with its strap assembly removed;

FIG. 9 is a real elevational view of the novelty footwear item of FIG. 1, with its strap assembly removed;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the footwear item of FIG. 7, taken substantially along line 10-10 thereof;

FIG. 11 is an exploded view of the footwear item of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of a stash compartment forming part of the footwear item of FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the stash compartment of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of a stash drawer forming part of the footwear item of FIG. 1;

FIG. 15 is a top plan view of the stash drawer of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a top plan view of a stash drawer forming part of the novelty footwear item of FIG. 1, illustrating a set of cut-out for key placement within the drawer;

FIG. 17 is sectional view of the stash drawer of FIG. 16 taken substantially along line 17-17;

FIG. 18 is another sectional view of the stash drawer of FIG. 16 taken substantially along line 18-18;

FIG. 19 is still yet another sectional view of the stash drawer of FIG. 16 taken substantially along line 19-19;

FIG. 20 is a right-side elevational view of another novelty footwear item, which is constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a rear perspective view of another novelty footwear item, which is constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a side elevational view of a stash compartment forming part of the footwear item of FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a top plan view of the stash compartment of FIG. 22;

FIG. 24 is a side elevational view of a stash drawer forming part of the footwear item of FIG. 21; and

FIG. 25 is a top plan view of the stash drawer of FIG. 24.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 1-6 there is shown an illustrative preferred embodiment of a sandal or novelty footwear item 10, which is constructed in accordance with the present invention. The novelty footwear item 10 when used in accordance with a novel method of using the footwear item 10, not only protects and supports the foot of a user (not shown) with an attractive fashion wear appearance but also provides a novelty footwear item which provides the user with an easily accessed utility tool for use on a surfboard as will be explained hereinafter in greater detail. The unique utility tool integrated into the footwear item 10 also provides the user with an easily accessed storage arrangement which has a sufficient volume for storage of small items such as keys, coins and the like.
Considering the novelty footwear item 10 in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 1-11, the novelty footwear item 10 generally comprises an upper or foot strap assembly 12 and a bottom or foot-shaped sole assembly 14 which is held to the foot of the user by the foot strap assembly 12. The upper 12 and bottom 14 in combination, provide the foot of the user with an attractive fashion wear appearance.
Considering now the top or strap assembly 12 in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 1-6 and 11, the strap assembly 12 has a unitary construction which generally includes a foot or main body strap 88 having extending therefrom a front strap 90, a medial side strap 92 and a lateral side strap 94. Extending from the distal end of the medial-side strap 92 is a pair of narrow finger anchoring straps, indicated generally at 95 and 96 respectively. As best seen in FIG. 11, the anchoring straps 95, 96 have sufficient lengths and widths to be adhesively secured to the sole assembly 14 as will be explained hereinafter in greater detail. In a similar manner, extending from the distal end of the lateral-side strap 94 is another pair of narrow finger anchoring straps, indicated generally at 97 and 98 respectively. The anchoring straps 97 and 98, like the anchoring straps 95, 96 also have sufficient lengths and widths to be adhesively secured to the sole assembly 14 as will be explained hereinafter in greater detail.
Considering now the bottom or sole assembly 14 in greater detail with reference to FIG. 1-6 and 11, the sole assembly 14 generally comprises an outer sole 22 for providing the footwear item with good ground traction, a foot-platform or mid-sole 24 for supporting from below the underside of the foot of a user, and a stash assembly 26 which is sandwiched between the outer sole 22 and the foot-platform 24 at about the heel end of the footwear, indicated generally at H. As noted earlier, the stash assembly 26 provides the user of the footwear 10 with provides the user with an easily accessed utility tool for use on a surfboard as well as will an easily accessed storage arrangement which has a sufficient volume for the storage of small items such as keys, coins and the like.
Considering now the stash assembly 26 in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 10-11, the stash assembly 26 generally includes a soft flexible retainer 35, a cassette-like compartment 36 which is received within the retainer 35, and an elongated comb, in the form of a stash drawer 38. The retainer 35 which is configured to receive and retain therein the cassette-like compartment or storage box 36, in combination with one another provides the footwear item 10 with a heel support and an arch support that will be explained hereinafter in greater detail.
As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 12-15, the hollow cassette-like box 36 is dimensioned for slidably receiving therein an elongated comb 40, which is disposed on the distal end of the stash drawer 38. Although in the preferred embodiment of the present invention the comb 40 is disclosed as being in the form of a surfboard wax comb, it is contemplated that the comb could also be in the form of different types of combs, such as for example, a hair comb.
As previously mentioned and as best seen in FIG. 15, the comb 40 is disposed on the distal end of the stash drawer 38 which has sufficient length (L), width (W) and depth (D) dimensions for the storage of loose items when the drawer 38 is disposed within the cassette-like box 36. When the drawer 38 is slidably received within the cassette-like box 36, the drawer 38 locks into place in a friction tight fit for providing the user with a sufficient volume and storage area within the footwear item for the temporary storage of small items such as keys, coins, paper money and other paper items like a fishing license or the like.
In order to assist the user is unlocking the stash drawer 38 from its locking engagement within the cassette box 36, the stash assembly 26 also includes a pull tab or strap 80 which is removably attached to the stash drawer and which is configured to be secured to a top surface area of the foot platform 24 as will be explained hereinafter in greater detail. Each of the footwear item components will be described hereinafter in greater detail.
Considering now the outer sole 22 in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 7-10, the outer sole 22 is shaped to be received within an outer sole retaining area of the mid-sole 24, which outer sole retaining area is indicated generally at 42. For the purpose of helping to align the outer sole 22 within the outer sole retaining area 42, the mid-sole 24 includes a front retaining wall, which extends between wall end points 43 and 43′ as best seen in FIG. 7. To further facilitate the proper alignment of the outer sole 22 within the outer sole retaining area 42, the mid-sole 24 further includes an inwardly projecting alignment wall indicated generally at 44. In this regard, the outer sole 22 has a notch or cutout 46 that is dimensioned to align about the alignment wall 44. When the outer sole 22 is properly aligned within the outer sole retaining area 42 of the mid-sole 24, a cassette retainer space is then formed between the outer sole 22 and the mid-sole 24, which extends from about the wall end points 43 and 43′ to the distal ends of the outer sole 22 and mid-sole 24, indicated generally at 46 and 48 respectively. The cassette retainer space has a sufficient volume and area for receiving therein the cassette component retainer 35 as best seen in FIG. 10.
In order to provide proper alignment between the outer sole 22 and the mid-sole 24 relative to the cassette component retainer 35, the cassette component retainer 35 includes an upper retainer wall indicated generally at 50 and a lower retainer wall indicated generally at 52. In this regard, the upper retainer wall 50 has a sufficient height and boundary area to receive therein in alignment a rear or heel portion of the mid sole 24. In a similar manner, the lower retainer wall 52 has a sufficient height and boundary area to receive therein in alignment a rear or heel portion of the outer sole 22. From the foregoing, and as best seen in 1-6, those skilled in the art will understand that the outer sole 22 and the mid-sole 24 are sandwiched together at about the front part of the sandal extending rearwardly to about the mid-point of the sandal and then the outer sole 22 and the mid sole 24 are sandwiched apart from one another and about the stash assembly 26 to provide the footwear 10 with a pleasing rear heel appearance.
As best seen in FIGS. 5-6, the retainer 35 is also provided with a plurality of decorative windows, such as the decorative windows, such as the windows 70 and 72 respectively. The purpose of the decorative windows 70, 72, is to enable a user to see the sidewalls 51 and 52 of the cassette-like box 36, which is disposed within the retainer 35. In this regard, since the box 36 functions as an ornamental insert to provide the footwear 10 with a decorative heel and arch support which in turn provides the footwear with a pleasing ornamental feature.
Considering now the mid-sole 24 in still greater detail with reference to FIGS. 1-6, the mid-sole 24 has a foot-platform configuration dimensioned to receive thereon and support from below the under foot of the user. The mid-sole is composed of soft cushioning mater, such as ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), which provides a stable and easily tolerated platform for supporting and cushioning the foot of the user. As noted earlier, the mid-sole 24 is constructed to engage and to be secured adhesively to the strap assembly 12, the outer sole 22 and the stash assembly 26 to function to not only support the foot and heel of the user in a comfortable manner but also to function to help provide a storage area and ready access to the wax comb 40.
While the mid-sole 24 has been describes as being composed of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) is should be understood by those skilled in the art, that the mid-sole 24 may be composed of a wide variety of flexible materials, such as thermoplastic, thermosetting polymer compounds, foam polyurethane plastic or foam rubber. Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) is a preferred material because of its hardness and density which provides the user with a relatively soft cushioning like platform that facilitates foot comfort.
Considering now the outer sole 22 in still greater detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 7, the outer sole 22 is composed of a wide variety of flexible materials, such as rubber compounds, thermoplastic, thermosetting polymer compounds, foam polyurethane plastic, foam rubber and ethylene vinyl acetate. A rubber compound is a preferred material, which is sufficiently durable to function over an extended period of time as a wear surface for engaging the ground and providing the footwear 10 with the ability to grip and maintain traction with the ground. Also since the bottom surface of the outer sole 22 is highly visible, the bottom surface of the outer sole 22, as best seen in FIG. 7, bears a unique non-skid stylized pattern which functions to prevent the footwear item 10 from slipping on the ground, to provide the footwear item 10 with traction and to provide the outer sole 22 with an attractive appearance. As will be explained hereinafter in greater detail, the outer sole 22 also functions for facilitating transferring the dynamic energy imparted by the user to the footwear item 10 into controlled motion in a user desired and selected direction.
Considering now the cassette component retainer 35 in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 5-6 and 11, the cassette component retainer 35 is composed of a soft cushioning material, such as ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), which provides a stable and easily tolerated platform for supporting and cushioning the heel of the user. As noted earlier, the retainer 35 is constructed to engage and to be secured adhesively to the mid-sole 24 a about it heel portion H. As best seen in FIG. 11, the retainer 35 includes a lower rear wall 65 and an upper rear wall 67, which walls 65, 67 engage the lower wall 56 and upper walls 58 and 58′ respectively of the cassette 36 when it is received within the retainer 35. The retainer 35 also includes a pair of designer shaped windows 70 and 72 respectively as best seen in FIG. 5-6, which enable the side wall member 51 and 53 respectively of the cassette to be seen as an ornamental feature of the sandal. In this regard, the cassette 36 is formed from a brightly colored plastic material that is pleasing to the sight. Also, In order to enable a user to grasps the drawer 38 when it is disposed within the cassette 36, the cassette retainer 35 also includes a rear window indicated generally at 74
To further facilitate the extraction of the drawer 38 from within the cassette 36 by a user, the footwear item 10 is also provided with a decorative extraction strap 80 having a decorative emblem member 85 disposed on its distal end. The proximate end of the extraction strap 80 is looped around the rear end of the drawer 38, via a pair of elongated slots indicated at 82 and 84 respectively (FIG. 9). A cutout 25 in the shape of the emblem member 85 is disposed in the heel portion H of the mid-sole 24. The floor of the cutout 25 is provided with a series of either hooks or piles, while the underside of the emblem member 85 is also provided with a series of either hooks or piles. In this manner, when the emblem member 85 is positions within the cutout 25 it will be held in place until need by the user.
As best seen in FIGS. 5-6 and 11, the mid-sole 24 and the retainer 35 when adhesively secured together form the heel portion of the footwear 10. However, because the mid-sole and retainer 35 are both composed of ethylene vinyl acetate, which is a soft cushioning material, the resulting construction would be insufficiently stable to support the weight of the user and would thus, collapse under the weight of the user. In order to prevent the heel portion of the footwear 10 from collapsing, the retainer 35 includes a generally rectangular shaped cutout 54 having a sufficient volume for receiving therein in a snug friction tight fit, the hollow box 36, which is composed of a hard plastic material. In this regard, this material is sufficiently hard that it will not collapse or crush under the weight of a user so it provides the heel portion H of the sandal 10 with the necessary strength to support the weight of a user.
Considering now the box 36 in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 12-13, the box 36 is generally rectangular in shape except at about its distal end which is rounded to conform to the distal end shape of the mid-sole 24 and the retainer 35. To allow the box 36 to fit in snug engagement within the cutout 50 of the retainer 35, the cassette or box 36 has a generally planar bottom wall member 56. The upper surface of the bottom wall member 56, which is disposed within the interior of the box 36, is sufficiently smooth to support from below for sliding engagement the drawer 38. The bottom wall member 56 also includes a small circular cutout or hole, indicated generally at 56′, which is dimensioned for receiving therein a generally semi-spherical shaped detent 66 which is disposed on the underside of the drawer 38 as best seen in FIG. 14. In this regard, when the drawer 38 is slide into the interior of the box 36, the detent 66 will align and snap into the hole 56′, thereby locking the drawer 38 into place within the box 36. The detent 66 is sufficient small, to allow a user to grasp distal end of the drawer 38, between his or her fingers, and pull the drawer 38 rearwardly to disengage the detent 66 from within the cutout 56′.
The box 36 also includes a top wall member 58 that is parallel to the bottom wall member 56 over a substantial portion of its overall longitudinal length, extending from its distal end indicated generally at 60 toward it proximate end, indicated generally at 62. However, as the top wall 58 approaches its proximate end, it drops closer and closer to the bottom wall member 56 to form a narrow passageway indicated generally at P within the box 36. The bottom wall member 56 and the top wall member 58 both terminate in a front wall member 59 which is disposed at the proximal end of the box 36. This is an important feature of the present invention as this allows the box 36 to conform to the shape of the retainer 35, and also allows the formation of a passageway P within the box 36 that limit the forward motion of the drawer 38 as it slides into the box 38 so that the teeth of the comb 40, which are arranged in a series of closely spaced peaks and valleys as best seen in FIG. 15, are not broken by engagement with the front wall 59. This structure also provides the box 36 with a smooth upper surface area for supporting from below the heel portion of the mid-sole 24.
Defined broadly then, the present invention generally comprises a novelty footwear item 10 having an outer sole, a footbed, a foot strap, and a midsole where: 1) the outer sole includes an exterior ground engaging surface and an interior footbed engaging surface; 2) the footbed includes an upper foot support surface for supporting from below the foot of a user and a lower outer sole engaging surface; 3) the foot strap includes a main body strap disposed substantially above the footbed and a plurality of anchoring straps disposed below the footbed and sandwiched between the interior footbed engaging surface and the lower outer sole engaging surface; and 4) where the midsole includes: a) a hollow collapsible wedge shaped heel cushioning member having an upper footbed engaging surface and a lower outer sole engaging surface; b) a hollow heel support member disposed within the collapsible wedge shaped heel cushioning member for preventing the collapse of the wedge shaped heel cushioning member under the load of a user; and c) a comb slidably received within the heel support member.
Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 21-26 there is shown another preferred embodiment of a sandal construction 310 which not only protects and supports the foot of a user (not shown) with an attractive fashion wear appearance but which also provides the user with the immediate and easy access to a surfboard utility tool for roughing up a wax coated surface of a surfboard SB.
Considering now the sandal construction 310 in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 21-25, the sandal construction 310 generally includes an upper 312, a bottom 314 and a utility tool assembly 316 which is wedged or sandwiched between rear portions of the upper 312 and the bottom 314. In this regard, the utility tool assembly 316, as will be explained hereinafter in greater detail has a dual function: it functions first as a heel support for the sandal construction 310 and second as a storage compartment for a surfboard utility tool in the form of a wax roughing comb 338 (FIG. 25). The roughing wax comb 338 is slidably removable from the utility tool assembly 316 and when removed, the wax comb 338 may be utilized by the user for roughing up the wax coated surface of the surfboard (not shown).
Considering now the sandal construction 310 in still greater detail with reference to FIGS. 21-25, the upper 312 generally comprises a foot strap 320 and a footbed or foot-platform 324. The foot strap 320 is adhesively affixed or attached to footbed 324 to facilitate holding the foot of the user in a fixed relationship relative to the footbed 324. In this regard, the foot strap 320 and footbed 324 cooperate with one another to removably hold the sandal construction 310 to the foot of the user allowing the footbed 324 to support from below the underside of the foot of a user.
The foot strap 320 is substantially similar to the strap assembly 12 previously described herein as having a unitary construction with a plurality of strap members. As the foot strap 320 is substantially similar to the strap assembly 12, the foot strap 320 will not be described hereinafter in greater detail.
The footbed 324 is substantially similar to the foot-platform or mid-sole 24 previously described herein and accordingly, the footbed 324 will not be described hereinafter in greater detail.
Considering now the bottom 314 in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 21-25, the bottom generally comprises an outer sole 322 having an abrasive non-skid wearing quality for engaging the ground when the sandal construction 310 is being worn by a user. The outer sole 322 is permanently attached to the underside of the footbed 324 from the forepart of the sandal construction to adjacent about an instep area of the sandal construction, which instep area is indicated generally at 317.
As best seen in FIG. 21, the underside of the footbed 324 starting at about the instep 317 is spaced from the outer sole 322 by the utility tool assembly 316 which functions as the heel support for the sandal construction 310 as previously noted. In the regard, the underside of the footbed 324 is permanently attached from about the instep area 317 of the footbed 324 to the upper surface of the utility tool assembly 316. The lower surface of the utility tool assembly 316 is permanently attached to the upper or inner surface of the outer sole 322 from about the instep area 317 of the outer sole 322 to its distal or rear end. In this manner, the utility tool assembly 316 is sandwiched or wedged between the outer sole 322 and the footbed 324 from about the instep 317 of the sandal construction 310 to the distal end of the sandal construction 310.
The outer sole 322 is substantially similar to the outer sole 22 previously described herein and accordingly, the outer sole 322 will not be described hereinafter in greater detail.
Considering now the utility tool assembly 316 in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 21-25, the utility tool assembly 316 in a side elevational view is generally wedge shape having a narrow pointed proximal end and a wide distal end. The tool assembly 316 generally includes a hollow wedge shaped heel cushioning retainer 335 which is constructed of a soft flexible material. The interior of the retainer 335 is dimensioned for receiving therein in a snug friction tight fix a hollow cassette-like heel support member or comb holder 336 which not only prevents the retainer from collapsing under the weigh load of a user but also serves as a holder or storage compartment for the surfboard wax comb 338. In this regard, the heel support member 336 is dimensioned for slidably receiving therein the surfboard wax comb 338. The wax comb 338 has a plurality of comb teeth 140 (FIG. 25) which are disposed at a distal end.
Considering now the heel support member 336 in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 22-25, the heel support member 336 is generally rectangular in shape except at about its distal end which is rounded to conform to the distal end shape of the footbed 324 and the retainer 335. To allow the heel support member 336 to fit in snug engagement within the interior space of the retainer 335, the heel support member 336 has a generally planar bottom wall member 156. The upper surface of the bottom wall member 156, which is disposed within the interior of the heel support member 336, is sufficiently smooth to support from below for sliding engagement the comb 338. The bottom wall member 156 also includes a set of small circular cutout or holes, indicated generally at 156A′, 156B′ and 156C′ as best seen in FIG. 22. The cutouts 156A′-156C′ are dimensioned for receiving therein a corresponding set of generally semi-spherical shaped detents 166A, 166B, and 166C respectively. The dents 166A, 166B and 166C are disposed on the underside of the comb 338 as best seen in FIG. 21. In this regard, when the comb 338 is slide into the interior of the heel support member 336, the detents 166A-166C will align and snap into the holes 156A′-156C′ respectively, thereby locking the comb 338 into place within the heel support member 336. The detents 166A-166C are sufficient small, to allow a user to grasp distal end of the comb 338, between his or her fingers, and pull the comb 338 rearwardly to disengage the detents 166A-166C from within their respective ones of the cutout 156A′-156C′. To help facilitate removal of the comb 338 from the comb 338 has attached to proximal end a pull strap 380 (FIG. 21), which is substantially similar to strap 80 previously described.
The heel support member 336 also includes a top wall member 158 that is parallel to the bottom wall member 156 over a substantial portion of its overall longitudinal length, extending from its distal end indicated generally at 160 toward it proximate end, indicated generally at 162. However, as the top wall 158 approaches its proximate end, it drops closer and closer to the bottom wall member 156 to form a narrow passageway indicated generally at P within the heel support member 336. The bottom wall member 156 and the top wall member 158 both terminate in a front wall member 159 which is disposed at the proximal end of the heel support member 336. This is an important feature of the present invention as this allows the heel support member 336 to conform to the shape of the retainer 335, and also allows the formation of a passageway P within the heel support member 336 that limit the forward motion of the comb 338 as it slides into the heel support member 336 so that the teeth 140 of the comb 338, which are arranged in a series of closely spaced peaks and valleys as best seen in FIG. 25, are not broken by engagement with the front wall 159. This structure also provides the heel support member 336 with a smooth upper surface area for supporting from below the heel portion of the footbed 324, thereby providing a comfortable heel platform for supporting the heel of the user.
Except for the extra dents and dent receiving holes disposed in the comb 338 and heel support member 336 respectively, the overall structure of the utility tool assembly 316 is substantially the same as the stash assembly 26 previously described herein. Since these structures are substantially similar except as otherwise noted, further details of the structure of the utility tool assembly 316 will not be provided.
From the foregoing, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the wax roughing comb has sufficient length, width and depth dimensions for the storage of loose items therein. Also as best seen in FIGS. 16-19 and 26, the wax roughing comb includes at least one cutout in its top surface for storage and retrieval of a small loose item such as a house or car key (not shown). In addition, the wax roughing comb because of its height, width and depth dimensions has a sufficient volume for the storage of a small bar of surfboard wax (not shown).
In an alternative embodiment the present invention defined in detail is a novelty footwear item, comprising: (a) an outer sole; (b) a footbed; (c) a hollow collapsible midsole extending between about an instep area of the outer sole and the footbed and a distal end of the outer sole and the footbed; (d) a hollow midsole support member dimensioned to be received within the hollow collapsible midsole in a snug friction tight fit; and (e) a surfboard utility tool slidably received within the hollow midsole support member.
In the present invention, the surfboard utility tool which is a wax roughing comb also has sufficient length, width and depth dimensions to permit the storage therein of small personal items such as a car key, coins, paper money, a credit card, a small bar of surfboard wax and the like.
It is evident that there are additional embodiments and applications of the new and improved novelty footwear item which are not disclosed in this detailed description, but which would clearly fall with the scope of said invention. For example, although the footwear 10 is illustrated as a sandal, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that other types and kinds of footwear could also be utilized to include such a novelty stash. For example, the novelty footwear could be configured in the form of a shoe, such as the shoe 210 as illustrated in FIG. 20 instead of a sandal. As another example, the preferred embodiment of the present invention describes the stash as being located in the heel portion of the footwear so the drawer can be extracted rearwardly from the heel. It is contemplated that the stash compartment may be disposed in other locations of the footwear, such as at the arch support or in the front toe area of the footwear for forward drawer extractions and sideway drawer extraction. As still yet another example, although the preferred embodiment describes a wax roughing comb as being stored in the stash drawer, it is contemplated that the teeth could be more narrow and longer so as to function as a hair comb instead of a wax roughing comb. Based on the foregoing, this specification is intended therefore to illustrate and clarify the nature of this invention and not limit its scope.

Claims

1. A novelty footwear item, comprising:

an outer sole, said outer sole having an exterior ground engaging surface and an interior footbed engaging surface;

a footbed having an upper foot support surface for supporting from below the foot of a user and a lower outer sole engaging surface;

a foot strap having a main body strap disposed substantially above said footbed and a plurality of anchoring straps disposed below said footbed sandwiched between said interior footbed engaging surface and said lower outer sole engaging surface;

a hollow collapsible wedge shaped heel cushioning member having an upper footbed engaging surface and a lower outer sole engaging surface;

a hollow heel support member disposed within said collapsible wedge shaped heel cushioning member for preventing the collapse of said wedge shaped heel cushioning member under the load of a user; and

a comb slidably received within said heel support member.

2. The novelty footwear item according to claim 1, wherein said footbed includes a cutout for receiving therein a distal end portion of a pull strap;

said pull strap having a proximal end attached to a rear portion of said comb to facilitate removing said comb from within said heel support member.

3. The novelty footwear item according to claim 1, wherein said hollow heel support member includes a plurality of detent receiving holes to help facilitate removably locking said comb within said heel support member.

4. The novelty footwear item according to claim 2, wherein said comb has a corresponding plurality of detents dimensioned to be received within corresponding ones of said detent receiving holes to help facilitate removably locking said comb within said heel support member.

5. The novelty footwear item according to claim 4, wherein said footbed includes a cutout for receiving therein a distal end portion of a pull strap;

said pull strap having a proximal end attached to a rear portion of said comb to facilitate unlocking and removing said comb from within said heel support member.

6. The novelty footwear item according to claim 5, wherein said comb is a wax roughing comb.

7. The novelty footwear item according to claim 5, wherein said comb is a hair comb.

8. A novelty footwear item, comprising:

a foot-shaped outer sole;

a foot-shaped footbed;

said foot-shaped outer sole and said foot shaped footbed being permanently fixed together at their front portions and being spaced apart from one another at their rear portions;

a wedge shaped midsole permanently sandwiched between said outer sole and said foot bed at about their respective rear portions; and

said wedge shaped midsole including:

a soft outer hollow heel cushioning member;

a hard inner hollow tool receiving member; and

a surfboard utility tool slidably received within said tool receiving member.

9. The novelty footwear item according to claim 8, wherein said hollow tool receiving member includes a plurality of detent receiving holes to help facilitate removably locking said surfboard utility tool within said midsole.

10. The novelty footwear item according to claim 9, wherein said surfboard utility tool has a corresponding plurality of detents dimensioned to be received within corresponding ones of said detent receiving holes to help facilitate removably locking said surfboard utility tool within said tool receiving member.

11. The novelty footwear item according to claim 10, wherein said footbed includes a cutout for receiving therein a distal end portion of a pull strap;

said pull strap having a proximal end attached to a rear portion of said surfboard utility tool to facilitate unlocking and removing said surfboard utility tool from within said tool receiving member.

12. The novelty footwear item according to claim 11, wherein said surfboard utility tool is a wax roughing comb.

13. A novelty footwear item, comprising:

a footwear construction including a wax comb compartment member having a sufficient height dimension and a sufficient width dimension to support from below the heel of a user; and

a removable locking comb slidably received within said wax comb compartment member.

14. The novelty footwear item according to claim 13, wherein said comb is a surfboard wax roughing comb which includes a set of spaced apart teeth; and

wherein said footwear construction further includes:

an outer sole;

a footbed;

a hollow collapsible midsole extending between about an instep area of said outer sole and said footbed and a distal end of said outer sole and said footbed; and

a hollow midsole support member dimensioned to be received within said hollow collapsible midsole in a snug friction tight fit.

15. The novelty footwear item according to claim 14, wherein said wax roughing comb includes a plurality of detents for removably locking said wax roughing comb within said hollow midsole support member.

16. The novelty footwear item according to claim 15, wherein said wax comb has attached thereto a pull strap to help facilitate removing said wax rough comb from said midsole support member.

17. The novelty footwear item according to claim 16, wherein said pull strap has a pull tab disposed on its distal end; and

wherein said footbed has a cutout disposed in a rear upper surface area thereof, said cutout being conformed to receive therein a distal end portion of said pull strap and said pull tab.

18. The novelty footwear item according to claim 14, wherein said slidably removable wax roughing comb has sufficient length, width and depth dimensions for the storage of loose items therein.

19. The novelty footwear item according to claim 14, wherein said wax roughing comb has at least one cutout in a top surface area thereof for receiving therein a loose item for storage and retrieval from said wax roughing comb.

20. The novelty footwear item according to claim 14, wherein said wax roughing comb functions as a stash drawer, said stash drawer having sufficient length, width and depth dimensions for the storage of surfboard wax therein.