Shoe with changeable upper design

Abstract

A shoe with changeable upper design includes a shoe body having a sole and an upper connected to the sole. The upper has an outer surface provided with at least one decorative portion which includes an indented surface and a first pattern provided on the indented surface. At least one decorative pad having a front side provided with a second pattern is further provided. The decorative pad is attachable to and removable from the indented surface of the upper so that the first and second patterns can be interchangeably presented on the upper.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a shoe, more particularly to a shoe with changeable upper design

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, various bright and elegant colors are used on a shoe to enhance the aesthetic quality and distinction of the outer appearance of the shoe. In addition, various patterns are directly printed on the outer surface of the shoe, or are attached to the outer surface of the shoe body by sewing or adhesive, and such patterns include, for instance, cartoon characters, trademark symbols and figures, objects of fashion and other configurations or designs. While such variations in the colors used and the patterns formed on the shoe may indeed achieve the effect of making the shoe more attractive and pleasing to the eyes, the conventional shoe is designed with only one fixed form of pattern because the pattern or color is formed on the shoe by printing, or by sewing or attaching a pattern or color layer. In a society of diverse culture and interests with constant craving for changes and strong fashion trend, a shoe design will become obsolete even before its newness has worn off. There is therefore a demand for a shoe which has an outer surface or upper design that can be varied as necessary to meet the trend or fashion of the times or the preference of the wearer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a shoe with changeable outer surface design in which the variation of the outer surface design can be made simply and easily.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a shoe with changeable upper design, which comprises a shoe body including a sole and an upper connected to the sole, the upper having an outer surface provided with at least one decorative portion which includes an indented surface and a first pattern provided on the indented surface; and at least one decorative pad having a front side provided with a second pattern, the decorative pad being attachable to and removable from the indented surface so that the first and second patterns can be interchangeably presented on the upper.

The decorative pads are designed with various patterns based on various subjects and to fit on the indented surfaces on the upper such that a substantially smooth overall outer surface of the upper is provided, and are preferably capable of being attached and detached repeatedly and easily

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view illustrating a first preferred embodiment of the shoe with changeable upper design according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in the assembled state;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, sectional view of the first preferred embodiment showing the attachment of a decorative pad on a decorative portion of the shoe upper;

FIG. 5 shows various decorative pads provided with related patterns in series;

FIG. 6 is an exploded, perspective view showing a second preferred embodiment of the shoe according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 6 in the assembled state;

FIG. 8 is an exploded, perspective view of a third preferred embodiment of the shoe according to the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the third preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 8 in the assembled state; and

FIG. 10 is an exploded, perspective view of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 8, in which an additional male-and-female fastener unit is used therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following description of the preferred embodiments of the shoe according to the present invention, it should be noted that like numerals are used to denote like elements.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a shoe generally comprises a shoe body 100 including a sole 1, an upper 3 connected to the sole 1 and extending from around the edges of the sole 1 to define a top opening 2 for insertion of a foot, a tongue opening part 4 with a plurality of eyelets 30 formed on the peripheral edges thereof, and a shoelace 5 inserted into the eyelets 30. According to a first preferred embodiment of the shoe with changeable upper design of the present invention, the upper 3 has an outer surface 31 provided with a plurality of decorative portions each of which includes an indented surface 33 and a first pattern 34 provided on the indented surface 33. A decorative pad 7 having a front side 72 provided with a second pattern 73 is used to vary the design on the upper 3, that is, to change each first pattern 34 presented on the outer surface 31 of the upper 3. The decorative pad 7 is attached to the indented surface 33 to overlay the first pattern 34 and present the second pattern 73 on the upper 3 instead. The decorative pad 7 is designed to be removable from the indented surface 33 so as to be replaceable by another decorative pad 7 provided with a different pattern when the outer shoe design is intended to be changed again, and to match the form or shape of the corresponding indented surface 33 so that, when attached to the indented surface 33, the outer surface 31 of the upper 33 is substantially smooth and even. Slight bulging, however, would still be acceptable.

In the first preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, four irregularly shaped decorative portions, and hence four indented surfaces 33 with four first patterns 34, are provided on a front portion 311, a rear portion 312, and two sides 313,314 of the upper 3, respectively, and four corresponding decorative pads 7 are provided for attachment to the four indented surfaces 33.

To facilitate attachment of the decorative pad 7 to the indented surface 33, the back side 71 of the decorative pad 7 may be coated fully or partially with an adhesive layer 6, as shown in FIG. 4. The adhesive layer 6 may be of such materials as silicone, PU resin, acrylic resin or other rubber materials, and may be added with magnetic powders to enhance the adhesive effect. Furthermore, it is preferred that the adhesive layer has the property of being repeatedly attachable and releasable from adhesion.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the four decorative pads 7 are attached to the four indented surfaces 33, not only are the patterns shown on the upper 3 changed, but the overall appearance of the shoe is enhanced by the new patterns presented thereon. The four first patterns 34 originally presented on the upper 3 are the Zodiac signs of wind (Gemini, Libra and Aquarius). Other groups of Zodiac signs, such as water (Cancer, Scorpio, and Pieces), earth (Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn) and fire (Aries, Leo and Sagittarius), or other series of patterns or words that manifest an integral expression, may be used. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 5, the four patterns 73 on the four decorative pads 7 consist of figures of a baseball pitcher in the four sequential acts of pitching the ball. When these four decorative pads 7 are attached to the corresponding four indented surfaces 33 as shown in FIG. 2, the overall outer appearance of the shoe body 100 is changed and replaced by an interesting design effected by the series of patterns presented.

FIGS. 6 and 7 shows a second preferred embodiment of the present invention in which the upper 3, as in the first preferred embodiment, is formed to have four decorative portions, and hence four indented surfaces 33. In this embodiment, however, only three decorative pads 7 are used. One of the decorative pads 7 is enlarged and is attached on the two indented surfaces 33 on the two sides 313,314 of the upper 3 crossing over the tongue opening part 4 and covering most of the shoelace 5, as shown in FIG. 7. The other two decorative pads 7 are similar to those in the first preferred embodiment and are attached to the other two indented surfaces 33, i.e., those in the front and rear portions 311,312 of the upper 3.

With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9 which shows a third preferred embodiment of the present invention, the upper 3 has four decorative portions as in the first preferred embodiment, and hence four indented surfaces 33. However, this embodiment differs from the previously described embodiments in that the upper 3 further includes four connecting recesses 35 each provided between two adjacent ones of the decorative portions. Furthermore, the four decorative pads 7 are interconnected integrally to form a unitary piece of a corresponding shape to that of the connecting recesses 35 and indented surfaces 33 so as to be received therein in its entirety. This unitary piece not only provides simpler and easier attachment and detachment of the decorative pad, but also expresses a more interesting appearance by the integrated series of patterns 73 formed on the unitary piece.

With reference to FIG. 10, the third preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown to further include a fastener unit consisting of a plurality of male fasteners 8 and a plurality of female fasteners 9, each of which is provided between one of the decorative pads 7 and one of the indented surfaces 33 to reinforce the attachment of the adhesive layer 6. In this embodiment, two male fasteners 8 are provided on each decorative pad 7, and two female fasteners 9 are formed on the each decorative portion on the upper 3. However, it is also possible to form the male fasteners 8 on the decorative portions and the female fasteners 9 on the decorative pads 7. The engagement between the male and female fasteners 8,9 enhances the positioning of the decorative pads 7 which are formed as a unitary piece having a larger area, and prevent inadvertent detachment thereof.

The male-and-female fastening unit is applicable to all embodiments of the present invention. It is, however, particularly preferred in the third embodiment where an adhesive layer 6 alone might not be sufficient to provide reliable attachment of the decorative pads 7 in view of the greater area of the unitary piece formed by four decorative pads 7. The use of the male-and-female fastening unit in addition to the adhesive layer 6 enhances the attachment and positioning of the decorative pads 7 onto the decorative portions of the upper 3 and inadvertent peeling off may be avoided.

While in the various embodiments described above, the patterns 34 on the upper 3 and the patterns 73 on the decorative pads 7 are related to sports and the Zodiac signs, they certainly and naturally may be directed to other subjects and designs.

The shoe according to the present invention allows for replacement of the design on the upper 3 according to a user's taste and fashion sense or personal preference. In contrast to the conventional shoe which is provided with a fixed pattern or design, the patterns on the shoe of the present invention may be varied to conform to the location of use or to the different moods of the user. As long as decorative pads 7 of various patterns are available, it is not necessary to have a number of shoes to suit every occasion and the moods and whims of the user and to follow the fashion trend, since the pattern(s) on the shoe may be simply replaced. The design may be changed according to the fashion and trend to thereby satisfy man's desire for change and constant search for something new.

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein.

Claims

1. A shoe with a changeable upper design comprising:

a shoe body including a sole and an upper connected to said sole, said upper having an outer surface provided with at least one decorative portion which includes an indented surface and a first pattern provided on said indented surface; and

at least one decorative pad having a front side provided with a second pattern, said decorative pad being attachable to and removable from said indented surface so that said first and second patterns can be interchangeably presented on said upper.

2. The shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer surface of said upper is provided with a plurality of said decorative portions, and a plurality of said decorative pads.

3. The shoe as claimed in claim 2, wherein said decorative pad further includes a back side provided with an adhesive layer.

4. The shoe as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said decorative pads has a shape substantially corresponding to that of said indented surface of each of said decorative portions, said decorative pads being attachable to said indented surfaces, respectively.

5. The shoe as claimed in claim 4, wherein said upper further includes connecting recesses each provided between two adjacent ones of said decorative portions for interconnecting said indented surfaces of said decorative portions, and said decorative pads being interconnected integrally to form a unitary piece which can be received in its entirety by said connecting recesses and said indented surfaces.

6. The shoe as claimed in claim 2, wherein said upper further includes a tongue opening part, and two of said decorative portions are respectively provided on two sides of said tongue opening part, one of said decorative pads being attached to said two of said indented surfaces of said decorative portions on said upper crossing over said tongue opening part.

7. The shoe as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a male-and-female fastener unit between said decorative pad and said indented surface.