SHOE WITH EXCHANGEABLE UPPER
An article of footwear comprising a sole constructed for receiving a foot having a toe section and an ankle section with at least two loops fixedly attached to the toe section; an interchangeable upper, or several interchangeable uppers, having loops for securing the upper to the loops of the sole of the footwear; such uppers and soles attached by specialized clips adapted to facilitate a wide variety of advantages.
Not Applicable
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCHNot Applicable
SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAMNot Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The field to which this invention pertains is shoes with exchangeable uppers, which are typically women's shoes.
2. Description of Related Art
For the most part, shoes comprise a sole to protect the foot from the ground; and uppers, or vamps; to secure the foot to the sole. Shoes are ubiquitous, and a high value is often placed upon appearance. In general, the advantage of shoes with exchangeable uppers is that the appearance of the shoe can be adapted to best coordinate with the rest of one's outfit: mixing and matching fabrics, colors, and styles into aesthetically pleasing combinations. Additionally, the number of sole to upper combinations makes the transport and storage of a wider variety of footwear options easier.
Shoes with removable uppers are not novel to the apparel industry. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,810,253 (Barteet) and U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. US2011/0056091 (Shmurack et al.) describe detachable shoe upper systems currently on the market. Barteet describes a system to affix the sole of the shoe to the uppers using snap fasteners, while Shmurack et al. describes a system to affix the sole of a shoe to the uppers using posts and loops. The disadvantages of both Barteet and Shmurack et al systems are both aesthetic; as the snap, post, and loop fasteners are visible and detract from the aesthetics of the shoe; and functional, as the protruding snaps, posts, and loops can catch on external objects causing the shoe to come apart and risk possible injury to the foot.
Both problems may be solved with a shoe whose fastener is aesthetically pleasing, durable, and secure.
3. Objects and Advantages
None of the particular objects or advantages that follow must be entirely satisfied as they are non-exclusive alternatives and at least one of the following objects is met; accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are:
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- (a) to provide a means for attaching the sole of a shoe to an upper;
- (b) to provide a means for attaching the sole of a shoe to an upper that is aesthetically pleasing;
- (c) to provide a means for attaching the sole of a shoe to an upper that is durable;
- (d) to provide a means for attaching the sole of a shoe to an upper that allows the upper to be quickly and conveniently attached and detached;
- (e) to provide a means for attaching the sole of a shoe to an upper that is unlikely to accidentally catch on another object;
- (f) to provide a means for attaching the sole of a shoe to an upper that is itself capable of being used interchangeably between many shoe soles and uppers;
- (g) to provide a means for attaching the sole of a shoe to an upper that is capable of opening and closing;
- (h) to provide a means for attaching the sole of a shoe to an upper that is capable of remaining open or closed in a secured manner;
- (i) to provide a means for attaching the sole of a shoe to an upper that is cheaply and easily produced;
- (j) to provide a means for attaching the sole of a shoe to an upper that is itself capable of tightening or loosening the shoe upper to a sole;
- (k) these and other objectives and advantages of the instant invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of the instant invention. The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. However, the illustrated embodiments are merely exemplary and many additional embodiments of this invention are possible. For example, a wedge shoe is pictured; however, this invention can be applied to most footwear. It is understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications in the illustrated devices, and such further application of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.
Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings are intended to be read (e.g., arrangement of parts, proportion, degree, etc.) together with the specification, and are to be considered a portion of the entire written description of this invention. As used in the following description, the terms “horizontal”, “vertical”, “left”, “right”, “up” and “down”, as well as adjectival and adverbial derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally”, “rightwardly”, “upwardly”, etc.), simply refer to the orientation of the illustrated structure as the particular drawing figure faces the reader. Similarly, the terms “inwardly” and “outwardly” generally refer to the orientation of a surface relative to its axis of elongation, or axis of rotation, as appropriate.
1. The Shoe
Shown throughout the figures, the instant invention is generally directed toward attaching a sole of a piece of footwear to an upper. An embodiment of such system of attaching the sole of a piece of footwear to an upper is illustrated in
Attached to said sole of the footwear are loops (30) adapted to receive a clip, clasp, hook, carabiner; or other means of removable attachment (32). Additionally, the footwear comprises either one, or multiple, uppers, such as: an upper that secures the toe section (24); an upper that secures the ankle section (26); or any upper that may attach anywhere to a sole (20), thereby securing the foot to said sole (20). This invention contemplates uppers that have loops (28) adapted to receive a clip, clasp, hook, carabiner; or other means of removable attachment (32). The loops of both the sole (30) and of the uppers (28) can be made of any material so long as they are sturdy enough to withstand the wear and tear customary to footwear.
The third component of the footwear is a clip, clasp, hook, carabiner; or other means of removable attachment (32). Such clip can be made of any durable material suitable to its purpose. The loops on the sole (30) and the loops on the uppers (28) are then connected with the clip, clasp, hook, carabiner; or other means of removable attachment (32) creating the complete shoe. In the embodiment shown in
In general, the advantage of shoes with exchangeable uppers is that the appearance of the shoe can be adapted to best coordinate with the rest of one's outfit; mixing and matching fabrics, colors, and styles into aesthetically pleasing combinations. Additionally, the number of sole to upper combinations makes the transport and storage of a wider variety of footwear options easier. It is contemplated that the uppers, soles, and means of attachment of the two can be selected to coordinate with the wearer's wardrobe and can be made out of any suitable material.
2. The Clip, Clasp, Hook, Carabiner; or Other Means of Removable Attachment of the Sole and Upper of the Footwear
This invention presents several improvements over the prior art in the clip, clasp, hook, carabiner; or other means of removable attachment of the sole of the footwear to the upper.
All patents and publications mentioned or incorporated into this specification are indicative of the levels of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. All patents and publications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.
It is to be understood that while certain forms of the invention are illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and any drawings/figures included herein.
One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well-adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantage mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures, and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments; are intended to be exemplary; and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the claims.
REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIXNot Applicable
Claims
1. An article of footwear comprising:
- a sole portion having an upper surface, an opposed bottom surface, and a perimeter outside edge between said upper and bottom surfaces;
- at least two loops, each of said loops secured directly to said sole portion;
- an upper portion adapted to enwrap a foot and secure a foot to said sole;
- at least two loops, each of said loops secured directly to said upper portion;
- a clip, hook, clasp, or carabineer that attaches to one of said loops on both said upper and said sole;
- said clip, hook, clasp or carabineer adapted to have a means for opening and closing that secures said loops of said upper and said sole.
2. The footwear of claim 1, wherein said clip, hook, clasp, or carabiner has a means for snapping closed.
3. The footwear of claim 1, wherein said clip, hook, clasp, or carabiner has a means for screwing closed using oppositely oriented threads.
4. The footwear of claim 1, wherein said clip, hook, clasp, or carabiner has a means for closing with a bar closure.
5. The footwear of claim 1, wherein said clip, hook, clasp, or carabiner has a hinged arm;
- said hinged arm having a means for closure with a hook.
6. The footwear of claim 1, wherein said clip, hook, clasp, or carabiner has two prongs;
- said two prongs having two hooks;
- said hooks having a means for creating an enclosure by attaching to a single loop.
7. The footwear of claim 1, wherein said clip, hook, clasp, or carabiner has two arms;
- each arm having two or more prongs;
- one of said two arms having a means for sliding said prongs into the prongs of the other said arm.
8. The footwear of claim 7, wherein said prongs that slide together are secured to each other with pressure and friction.
9. The footwear of claim 1, wherein said clip, hook, clasp, or carabiner has an arm;
- said arm having a means for sliding outward from of said clip.
10. The footwear of claim 1, wherein an arm of said clip, hook, clasp, or carabiner has an arm;
- said arm having a means for rotating outward from said clip.
11. The footwear of claim 1, wherein said clip, hook, clasp, or carabiner has three prongs;
- the middle prong of which has a hinge;
- the end of the middle prong distal from said hinge having the means for securing the loops of the upper(s) and sole of the footwear to the clip.
12. The footwear of claim 1, wherein said clip, hook, clasp, or carabiner has decorative units;
- said decorative units having said means for securing said loops of said upper and said sole in an enclosed position.
13. An article of footwear comprising:
- a sole portion having an upper surface, an opposed bottom surface, and a perimeter outside edge between said upper and bottom surfaces;
- at least two loops, each of said loops secured directly to said sole portion;
- an upper portion adapted to enwrap a foot and secure a foot to said sole;
- at least two loops, each of said loops secured directly to said upper portion;
- a clip, hook, clasp, or carabineer that attaches to one of said loops on both said upper and said sole;
- said clip, hook, clasp or carabineer creating an enclosure by wrapping around a portion of itself;
- said enclosure securing said loops of said upper and said sole.
14. The footwear of claim 13, wherein said clip, hook, clasp, or carabiner creates an enclosure by wrapping around more than half of itself
15. The footwear of claim 14, wherein said clip, hook, clasp, or carabiner allows said upper and said sole of said footwear to be tightened to said foot by turning said clip, hook, clasp, or carabiner.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 7, 2011
Publication Date: Apr 11, 2013
Inventor: Viviana Schindler (Boulder, CO)
Application Number: 13/269,329