SHOE WITH INSERTS

Abstract

There is disclosed a shoe (10) having a main portion (11) and an insert portion (12). The main portion (11) includes a sole (14) and an upper (15) which includes an outer layer (16) and an inner layer (17) which form a pocket (18) therebetween, the top edges (22) and (21), respectively, of which are coupled through fastening means (23). The outer layer (16) has a clear portions (24) through which the insert portion (12) positioned within the pocket is visible.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Applicant claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/755,805 filed Jan. 23, 2013.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to a shoe, and more particularly to a shoe with an appearance that can change.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Shoes have existed for many centuries. Today, a shoe, even a sports shoe, can be a fashion statement for an individual. The problem is that shoes have become very expense, yet people are inclined to purchase multiple shoes of different colors or patterns so that they coordinate with different articles of clothing or wardrobes. The desire to have many differently colored shoes may not be achievable to a person on a budget.

Accordingly, it is seen that a need remains for a shoe that can change appearance. It is to the provision of such therefore that the present invention is primarily directed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe embodying principles of the invention in a preferred form.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the shoe of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference next to the drawings, there is shown a shoe 10 according to the present invention. The shoe 10 has a main portion 11 and an insert portion 12. The main portion 11 may be conformed in any conventional style, such as the athletic shoe shown in the preferred embodiment but not limited to such.

The shoe main portion 11 includes a sole 14 and an upper or cover 15 coupled to the sole 14. The upper 15 includes an exterior or outer layer 16 and an interior or inner layer 17 separated from the outer layer 16 so as to form a pocket 18 therebetween. A top edge 21 of the inner layer 17 is coupled to a top edge 22 of the outer layer 16 with and conventionally known releasable fastener or fastening means 23, such as with hook and loop type fasteners of the preferred embodiment. The outer layer 16, or at least a portion or portions of the outer layer, has a clear, open, or transparent portion(s) or window(s) 24 which is made of a clear or transparent flexible plastic material or remain open. Alternatively, the entire outer layer may be made of a transparent plastic material, wherein the entire outer layer may be considered the transparent portion or window. The inner layer 17 is made of a flexible material, such as a cloth, leather, imitation leather, or any other material suitable for the making of shoes or the like.

The insert portion 12 is made of a flexible material, which may be a cloth, leather, imitation leather, or the suitable material or the like. The insert portion 12 has the same general shape and size as that of the upper's pocket 18. As such, the insert portion 12 may be inserted into the pocket 18 of the upper by first separating the fastener 23 and opening the pocket 18 between the outer and inner layers. The insert portion 12 is then slid into the pocket and the fastener 23 meshed to couple the inner and outer layers of the upper together to maintain the position of the insert portion 12. Once positioned within the upper, the insert portion 12 is visible through the clear portions 24 of the shoes.

It should be understood that the insert portion 12 may be easily interchanged with a different, second or any number of insert portion(s) 12′ which the same configuration as the first insert 12 to enable one to change the look, color, or appearance of the shoe without having to purchase an entirely new shoe. Such an interchangeable insert would also allow the changing of inserts reflecting the support of different sports related teams.

It should be noted that the insert portion 12 may be made of the same material of a person's other article of clothing, such as a shirt, pants, or jacket, so that the shoes coordinate exactly with that article of clothing. It should be noted that the fastener or fastener means may be any conventionally know device for releasably holding or coupling two layers together, such as snaps, buttons, adhesives, tongue and groove fasteners, or the like.

Lastly, it should be understood that the clear portion or window 24 may be in the form of an opening without any material therein, i.e., an open window through which the insert is viewable.

It thus is seen that a shoe is now provided which overcomes problems associated with shoes of the prior art. While this invention has been described in detail with particular references to the preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood that many modifications, additions and deletions, in addition to those expressly recited, may be made thereto without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A shoe comprising,

a sole,

an upper coupled to said sole, said upper having an inner layer, and an outer layer spaced from said inner layer to form a pocket therebetween, said outer layer having a clear portion, and

a first insert configured to be removably received within said pocket and viewable through said clear portion of said outer layer.

2. The shoe of claim 1 further comprising a releasable fastener releasably coupling a portion of said inner layer to a portion of said outer layer.

3. The shoe of claim 1 wherein said inner layer has an inner layer top edge and said outer layer has an outer layer top edge, and wherein said releasable fastener releasably couples together said inner layer top edge to said outer layer top edge.

4. The shoe of claim 3 wherein said releasable fastener is a hook and loop type fastener.

5. The shoe of claim 1 further comprising a second insert configured similarly to said first insert so that said second insert and said first insert may be interchangeable.

6. A shoe comprising,

a sole,

a cover interior layer coupled to said sole,

a cover exterior layer coupled to said cover interior layer to form a pocket at least a portion of which is generally transparent, and

a first insert configured to be removably received within said pocket and viewable through said transparent portion of said outer layer.

7. The shoe of claim 6 further comprising a releasable fastener releasably coupling at least of a portion of said cover interior layer to a portion of said cover exterior layer.

8. The shoe of claim 6 wherein said cover interior layer has a top edge and said cover exterior layer has a top edge, and wherein said releasable fastener releasably couples to cover exterior layer top edge to said cover interior layer top edge.

9. The shoe of claim 8 wherein said releasable fastener is a hook and loop type fastener.

10. The shoe of claim 6 further comprising a second insert configured similarly to said first insert so that said second insert and said first insert may be interchangeable.

11. A shoe comprising,

a sole,

an upper coupled to said sole, said upper having a first layer with an exterior facing surface, a second layer spaced from said inner layer exterior facing surface to form a pocket therebetween, said second layer having a window therethrough, and a releasable fastener releasably coupling a portion of said first layer to a portion of said second layer, and

a first insert configured to be removably received within said pocket and viewable through said window of said second layer.

12. The shoe of claim 11 wherein said first layer has a first layer top edge and said second layer has an second layer top edge, and wherein said releasable fastener releasably couples together said first layer top edge to said second layer top edge.

13. The shoe of claim 12 wherein said releasable fastener is a hook and loop type fastener.

14. The shoe of claim 11 further comprising a second insert configured similarly to said first insert so that said second insert and said first insert may be interchangeable.

15. The shoe of claim 11 wherein said window includes a transparent material covering said window.