Molded shoe with unitary strap attachment connector

Abstract

A shoe having a one-piece connector attaching a strap to the shoe and method of construction the same is provided. The shoe has: a sole; an upper portion extending from the sole with an aperture defined in the upper portion; a strap with a strap aperture defined in an end of the strap; and a one-piece connector having a shaft, an inner head fixed to a first end of the shaft and an outer head fixed to a second end of the shaft. The connector secures the strap to the upper portion of the shoe by the shaft extending through the aperture and the strap aperture. Material surrounding the apertures is elastic to allow diameters of the apertures to be temporarily stretched allowing the inner head of the connector to pass through the apertures before the diameters of the apertures contract, holding the connector in place.

1 . A footwear piece comprising: 
 a sole;    an upper portion extending from the sole and having a rear opening operative to receive a foot of a user and a footwear aperture defined in a back part of the upper portion, wherein a first material defining the footwear aperture has a first thickness and is elastic such that a diameter of the footwear aperture can be increased by stretching;    a strap having a first end, a second end and a strap aperture defined in the first end of the strap, wherein a second material defining the strap aperture has a second thickness and is elastic such that a diameter of the strap aperture can be increased by stretching; and    a connector having a shaft with a length substantially equal to a total of the first thickness plus the second thickness, an inner head fixedly connected to a first end of the shaft and an outer head fixedly connected to a second end of the shaft,    wherein the connector secures the first end of the strap to the upper portion by the shaft extending through the footwear aperture and the strap aperture.    
   
   
       2 . The footwear piece of  claim 1  wherein the first material and second material are moldable foam material.  
   
   
       3 . The footwear piece of  claim 1  wherein the footwear piece is made of a moldable foam material.  
   
   
       4 . The footwear piece of  claim 1  wherein the diameter of the footwear aperture and the diameter of the strap aperture can be stretched larger than a diameter of the inner head of the connector.  
   
   
       5 . The footwear piece of  claim 1  wherein the strap is operative to hold the foot of the user in the rear opening of the footwear piece.  
   
   
       6 . The footwear piece of  claim 1  wherein a design is provided on an outside surface of the outer head of the connector.  
   
   
       7 . The footwear piece of  claim 1  wherein the outer head is a decorative object.  
   
   
       8 . The footwear piece of  claim 1  wherein an attachment device is provided on an outside surface of the outer head of the connector that allows a decorative object to be attached to the outside surface of the outer head.  
   
   
       9 . The footwear piece of  claim 8  wherein the attachment device is an aperture that mates with a tab flange on the decorative object allowing the decorative object to be removable attached to the outside surface of the outer head.  
   
   
       10 . The footwear piece of  claim 1  wherein the inner head and the outer head each have a diameter that is substantially the same.  
   
   
       11 . The footwear piece of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a second footwear aperture defined on an opposite side of the upper portion of the footwear piece from the footwear aperture, wherein a third material defining the second footwear aperture has a third thickness and is elastic such that a diameter of the second footwear aperture can be increased by stretching;    a second strap aperture defined in the second end of the strap, wherein a fourth material defining the second strap aperture has a fourth thickness and is elastic such that a diameter of the second strap aperture can be increased by stretching    a second connector having a shaft having a length substantially equal to the third thickness and fourth thickness, an inner head fixedly connected to a first end of the shaft; and an outer head fixedly connected to the other end of the shaft,    wherein the second connector secures the second end of the strap to the upper portion by the shaft extending through the second footwear aperture and the second strap aperture.    
   
   
       12 . The footwear piece of  claim 9  wherein the first material and third material are made from the same type of material and the second material and fourth material are made from the same type of material.  
   
   
       13 . The footwear piece of  claim 9  wherein the footwear aperture and second footwear aperture are defined on substantially opposing sides of the rear opening of the footwear piece causing the attached strap to be positioned across the rear opening.  
   
   
       14 . The footwear piece of  claim 13  wherein the connector and second connector allow the strap to pivot freely relative to the upper portion of the footwear piece.  
   
   
       15 . A method of attaching a strap to a footwear piece using a connector, the method comprising: 
 providing a connector having a shaft, an inner head fixedly connected to a first end of the shaft and an outer head fixedly connected to a second end of the shaft;    aligning a footwear aperture defined in a back part of an upper portion of the footwear piece with a strap aperture defined at an end of the strap;    stretching the strap aperture and the footwear aperture to allow the inner head of the connector to pass through the footwear aperture and strap aperture;    passing the inner head of the connector through the footwear aperture and strap aperture; and    once the inner head of the connector has passed through the footwear aperture and the strap aperture, allowing a diameter of the footwear aperture and a diameter of the strap aperture to contract to a size less than a diameter of the inner head of the connector.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the strap is attached to the upper portion so that the strap is positioned across a rear opening of the piece of footwear to engage a heel of a foot of a user and maintain the foot of the user in the upper portion of the footwear piece.