US Patent
12,453,391 B1
A granted United States utility patent covering a topless footwear architecture — engineered without traditional front foot coverings or toe attachments.
- Patent no.
- US 12,453,391 B1
- Title
- Topless Shoes
- Inventor
- Timothy Flanagan · Hazlet, NJ
- Assignee
- Comfy Toes LLC
- Application no.
- 18/798,507
- Filed
- August 8, 2024
- Granted
- October 28, 2025
- Jurisdiction
- United States (USPTO)
- Int. Cl.
- A43B 3/12
- CPC
- A43B 3/122; A43B 3/12; A43B 3/126
- Examiner
- Marie D. Bays
- Attorney
- Thompson Patent Law Offices PC
- Scope
- 8 Claims · 3 Drawing Sheets
- Status
- Granted · in force
Abstract.
"The invention relates to footwear that does not have the traditional coverings or attachments on the front part of the shoe, but instead has innovative and proprietary adjustable side straps between the sole or bottom of the footwear."
In addition, the footwear has a back strap elevated above the heel level and a top strap crossing over near the wearer's ankle. All the straps are adjustable such as by Velcro, snaps, buckles, and other adjusting and fastening means.
Verbatim from USPTO record · Section (57)
Figures 1–3.
Selected figures from the granted patent, illustrating the perspective view, the side view on foot, and the top-down geometry across three drawing sheets.
US Patent 12,453,391 B1
Origin of the invention.
Shoes have been in use for thousands of years to protect human feet from the ground, to keep the foot warm, dry, or otherwise protected from the environment. Shoe designers — including designers of sandals and slides — continually look for ways to enhance the appeal of shoes to consumers from a functional or aesthetic purpose.
The inventor suffered from hammer toes and neuropathy in the ball of the foot and big toe, and could not find any footwear to alleviate the pain and discomfort. That was the genesis of this entirely new category of innovative footwear.
By creating footwear without coverings on the front part of the foot, the toes and front portions of the feet are free of the confinement, squishing, abrasion, and discomfort associated with sandals or traditional footwear. The front of the foot can breathe, get a tan, and promote healthy circulation. Hammer toes are frequently caused or aggravated by the traditional coverings on the front part of the foot; wearing Topless Footwear, the wearer can finally straighten out their hammer toes.
Strap architecture & materials.
The strap on the upper part of the foot — the Ankle Strap (3) — and the straps between the Ankle Strap and the sole of the footwear on the sole in the area of the ball of the foot, on both sides — the Side Straps (2) — are all infinitely adjustable with Velcro straps, slide buckles, or other adjustment method. A Back Strap (1) behind the ankle is connected to the Side Straps below the ankle, and the innovative adjustable side straps are also connected to the sole in the area of the ball of the foot.
The uppers are made of leather, synthetic leather, and/or other desirable materials. The soles contacting the foot are made of synthetic or natural material with possible antimicrobial properties. Sole bottoms contacting the ground are made of synthetic rubber or other materials for light-weight comfort and extended wear.
- Beach variant — nylon & polyester blend woven uppers with Velcro or slide buckles, dries quickly without retaining moisture.
- Dress variant — leather or other high quality materials, with snaps or belt buckles replacing the Velcro closure.
The granted patent contains 8 formal claims across 3 drawing sheets. The paraphrases below summarize the core architecture for readability; the complete formal claim text is included in the downloadable PDF.
- 01
"A footwear article defined by an open front architecture in which no strap, thong, or covering extends across the toes or the front region of the foot."
- 02
"An adjustable side strap and buckle assembly anchored to opposing edges of a sole platform, cooperating with a rear ankle element to retain the foot on the platform."
- 03
"An instep closure providing tunable fit across a range of foot geometries while preserving the open front foot area."
The full patent document.
US Patent 12,453,391 B1 is a matter of public record. Download the complete granted patent PDF — including all 8 formal claims, drawings, and prosecution details — directly.
Download full patent (PDF)