Footwear With Transformation System

Abstract

Footwear includes a base member including a outsole and at least of a portion of an upper rigidly secured to the outsole, a first footbed including an insole securable to the base member with at least a portion of the first footbed located within the portion of the upper, and a second footbed including an insole securable to the base member with at least a portion of the second footbed located within the portion of the upper rigidly secured to the outsole. The first and second footbeds are interchangeably secured to the base member by a snap lock connection formed by a plurality protrusions that resiliently snap into a plurality of cooperating recesses to form an interlock to selectively form different configurations of the footwear. The first and second footbeds can each include another portion of the upper.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO APPENDIX

Not Applicable

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the present invention generally relates to footwear, and more particularly to footwear with interchangeable components to transform the footwear into different configurations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fashion dictates that a wide variety of different shoes are necessary to be owned. Additionally, different activities or conditions dictates that a wide variety of different shoes are necessary to be owned. However, owning a sufficient number of shoes can be extremely costly. As a result there have been many attempts to provide shoes with interchangeable components in order to reduce the number shoes that must be purchased. The attempts have provided less than desirable results.

Accordingly, there is a need for improved footwear with interchangeable components that transform the footwear into different configurations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed herein are footwear with a transformation system which overcome at least one of the deficiencies of the prior art. Disclosed is footwear comprising, in combination, a base member including a outsole and at least of a portion of an upper rigidly secured to the outsole and a footbed including an insole removably secured to the base member with at least a portion of the footbed located within the portion of the upper rigidly secured to the outsole. The footbed and the base member are removably secured together by a snap lock connection formed by a plurality protrusions that resiliently snap into a plurality of cooperating recesses to form an interlock.

Also disclosed is footwear comprising, in combination, a base member including a outsole and a first portion of an upper rigidly secured to the outsole and a footbed including an insole and a second portion of the upper rigidly secured to the footbed. The footbed is removably secured to the base member with at least a portion of the footbed located within the first portion of the upper rigidly secured to the outsole.

Also disclosed is footwear comprising, in combination, a base member including a outsole and at least of a portion of an upper rigidly secured to the outsole, a first footbed including an insole securable to the base member with at least a portion of the first footbed located within the portion of the upper, and a second footbed including an insole securable to the base member with at least a portion of the second footbed located within the portion of the upper rigidly secured to the outsole. The first and second footbeds are interchangeably secured to the base member by a snap lock connection formed by a plurality protrusions that resiliently snap into a plurality of cooperating recesses to form an interlock.

From the foregoing disclosure and the following more detailed description of various preferred embodiments it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention provides a significant advance in the technology and art of footwear. Particularly significant in this regard is the potential the invention affords for providing an easy to use, easy to transform footwear that is relatively inexpensive and simple in design. Additional features and advantages of various preferred embodiments will be better understood in view of the detailed description provided below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and further features of the present invention will be apparent with reference to the following description and drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of footwear with a transformation system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged right side view of a base member of the footwear FIG. 1 which includes a footwear outsole and a portion of a footwear upper.

FIG. 3 is a right side view of the outsole of the base member of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is bottom view of the outsole of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 a cross sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 a cross sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 5 but wherein a portion of a footbed is removably secured within the outsole.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 5 but wherein a portion of a footbed is removably secured within the outsole.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a first footbed of the footwear of FIG. 1 which includes an insole and a portion of the upper.

FIG. 10 is top view of the first footbed of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is bottom view of the first footbed of FIGS. 9 and 10.

FIG. 12 is right side view of the first footbed of FIGS. 9 to 11.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged perspective view of a second footbed of the footwear of FIG. 1 which includes an insole and a portion of the upper.

FIG. 14 is bottom view of the second footbed of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is right side view of the second footbed of FIGS. 13 and 14.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged perspective view of a second footbed of the footwear of FIG. 1 which includes an insole and a portion of the upper.

FIG. 17 is bottom view of the second footbed of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is right side view of the second footbed of FIGS. 16 and 17.

It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various preferred features illustrative of the basic principles of the invention. The specific design features of the footwear as disclosed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes of the various components, will be determined in part by the particular intended application and use environment. Certain features of the illustrated embodiments have been enlarged or distorted relative to others to facilitate visualization and clear understanding. In particular, thin features may be thickened, for example, for clarity or illustration. All references to direction and position, unless otherwise indicated, refer to the orientation of the footwear illustrated in the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that is, to those who have knowledge or experience in this area of technology, that many uses and design variations are possible for the improved footwear disclosed herein. The following detailed discussion of various alternative and preferred embodiments will illustrate the general principles of the invention with regard to footwear in the form of clogs. Other embodiments suitable for other applications will be apparent to those skilled in the art given the benefit of this disclosure.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates footwear or a shoe 10 having a transformation system according to the present invention. The illustrated footwear 10 includes a base member 12 having a outsole 14 and at least of a portion of an upper 16 rigidly secured to the outsole 14, a first footbed 18A including an insole 20 securable to the base member 12 with at least a portion of the first footbed 18A located within the portion of the upper 16 rigidly secured to the outsole 14, a second footbed 18B including an insole 20 securable to the base member 12 with at least a portion of the second footbed 18B located within the portion of the upper 16 rigidly secured to the outsole 14, and a third footbed 18C including an insole 20 securable to the base member 12 with at least a portion of the third footbed 18C located within the portion of the upper 16 rigidly secured to the outsole 14. The first, second and third footbeds 18A, 18B, 18C are interchangeably secured to the base member 12 to secretively form different configurations of the footwear 10 and are removably secured by a snap fit or snap lock connection 22 formed by a plurality protrusions 24 that resiliently snap into a plurality of cooperating recesses 26 to form an interlock.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary base member 12 forming the entire outsole 14 and at least a first portion 16A of the upper 16 rigidly or permanently secured to the outsole 14. The illustrated first portion of the upper 16A is in the form of a clog which has a section secured to forward end of the outsole 14 to form interior space having a rearward facing opening configured to receive the forward portion of a wearer's foot therein. The illustrated first portion of the upper 16A also includes a relatively short section that extends around the perimeter of the rear end of the outsole 14 at a top of the outsole 14. The illustrated first portion of the upper 16A comprises a synthetic material that is wipeable and stain resistant to keep clean but any other suitable material can alternatively be utilized. The illustrated first portion of the upper 16A is rigidly or permanently secured to the outsole 14 by stitching 28 but it is noted that it can alternatively be rigidly secured to the outsole 14 in any other suitable manner. The first portion of the upper 16A is preferably secured to the outsole 14 by Opanka construction which is hand-crafted shoe construction method in which the upper 16A is attached to the outsole 14 with a heavy waxed thread making the footwear extremely flexible. The heavy waxed threading is used instead of a normal stitch to increase the flexibility of the shoe 10. The thread allows the upper 16A and the outsole 14 to move with the natural movement of the foot. The illustrated first portion of the upper 16A is provided with a 4-way stretch neoprene flexible section 30 at a central portion of rearward edge which may engage a wearer's ankle or foot just below the ankle in order to improve comfort. The illustrated first portion of the upper 16A is also provided with a toe cover 32 at a forward end of the first portion of the upper 16A comprising a high abrasion material in order to reduce damage or wear at the forward end of the first portion of the upper 16A. The illustrated first portion of the upper 16A is also provided with a charm holder 34 that is permanently attached to the first portion of the upper 16A so that the wearer can interchangeably attach charms to the first portion of the upper 16A. It is noted that the first portion of the upper 16A can alternatively have any other suitable configuration.

FIGS. 3 to 6 illustrate an exemplary outsole 14. The illustrated outsole 14 includes a heel 36 at the bottom rearward end and forms an upward facing cavity 38 along the top which is configured to receive a bottom portion of the footbed 18A, 18B, 18C. The illustrated outsole 14 has a three-part construction of molded materials. The main body 40 of the outsole 14 is molded of a high density polyurethane. The bottom surface of the outsole is formed by a molded rubber outsole skin 42 which provides a slip-resistant bottom tread surface. A soft or low density polyurethane portion 44 is molded in a central portion of the outsole between the upper surface formed by the high density poly urethane main body 40 and the rubber outsole skin 42. This construction provides a comfortable, durable, and slip resistant construction. It is noted that the outsole 14 can alternatively have any other suitable configuration.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate the snap lock connection 22 between the base member 12 and the footbed 18A, 18B, 18C formed by a plurality protrusions 24 on the outsole 14 that resiliently snap into a plurality of cooperating recesses 26 in the bottom of the footbed 18A, 18B, 18C to form an interlock therebetween so that the footbed 18A, 18B, 18C is removably secured to the outsole 14 when the footbed 18A, 18B, 18C is within the cavity 38 on the top of the outsole 14. While the illustrated protrusions 24 are formed by the base member 12 and the illustrated recesses 26 are formed by the footbed 18A, 18B, 18C, they can be reversed if desired but it may require adjustment of materials. The protrusions 24 are a plurality of laterally extending and longitudinally spaced-apart (in the forward/rearward direction) ribs or rails. The illustrated ribs 24 extend vertically upward from the top of the outsole 14 and form lips 46 at forward and rearward sides near the top of each rib 24. The lips 46 form downward facing abutments. The illustrated recesses 26 are a plurality of laterally extending and longitudinally spaced-apart (in the forward/rearward direction) channels or grooves that are configured to cooperate with the protrusions to form the snap-lock connection 22. The illustrated channels 26 extend vertically upward from the bottom of the footbed 18A, 18B, 18C and form lips 48 at forward and rearward sides near the top of each channel 26. The lips 48 form upward facing abutments which engage the downward facing abutments of the ribs 26 when the ribs 24 are fully within the channels 26 to form an interlock therebetween that secures the footbed t18A, 18B, 18C o the outsole 14. One or both of the ribs and channels 24, 26 are formed of a suitably resilient material such that the ribs 24 can be resiliently snapped into and out of the channels 26 and form a suitable interlock when snapped therein. The illustrated embodiment includes three of the ribs 24 and three of the channels 26 but it is noted that any other suitable quantity can be alternatively utilized. It is noted that the protrusions 24 and/or recesses 26 can alternatively have any other suitable configuration.

The illustrated protrusions 24 and the recesses 26 are each located directly above the heel 36 of the outsole 14 but it is noted that they can alternatively have any other suitable location. The illustrated embodiment also includes detents 50, 52 at the forward and rearward ends of the footwear 10 to further removable secure the footbed 18A, 18B, 18C to the outsole 14. The first detent 50 is formed by a horizontal and laterally disposed protrusion 54 of the footbed t18A, 18B, 18C hat rearwardly extends from the rear end of the footbed 18A, 18B, 18C and a cooperating horizontal and laterally disposed opening or recess 56 of the outsole 14 that forwardly faces from the rear end of the outsole 14 within the cavity 38. The protrusion 54 is resiliently snapped into and out of the opening 56 to removable secure the rear end of the footbed t18A, 181B, 18C o the outsole 14. The second detent 52 is formed by a horizontal and laterally disposed protrusion 58 of the footbed 18A, 18B, 18C that forwardly extends from the front end of the footbed 18A, 18B, 18C and a cooperating horizontal and laterally disposed opening or recess 60 of the outsole 14 that rearwardly faces from the front end of the outsole 14 within the cavity 38. The protrusion 58 is resiliently snapped into and out of the opening 60 to removable secure the front end of the footbed 18A, 18B, 18C to the outsole 14. While the illustrated protrusions 58 are formed by the footbed 18A, 18B, 18C and the illustrated openings 60 are formed by the outsole 14, they can be reversed if desired but it may require adjustment of materials. One or both of the protrusions and openings 58, 60 are formed of a suitably resilient material such that the protrusions 58 can be resiliently snapped into and out of the openings 60 and form a suitable interlock when snapped therein.

FIGS. 9 to 12 illustrate the first exemplary footbed 18A. The illustrated first footbed 18A forms the insole 20 at an upper side thereof and is sized and shaped to completely fill the cavity 38 of the outsole 14 when secured thereto as described above. A main body of the illustrated first footbed 18A is molded of Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) but any other suitable material can alternatively be utilized. The bottom surface of the illustrated first footbed 18A forward of the ribs is provided with a slip-resistant bottom tread surface in order to reduce relative movement between the first footbed 18A and the outsole 14. A gel 62 is molded into the first footbed 18A at a rear end of the top of the first footbed 18A above the heel 36 of the outsole 14 where a heel of the wearer engages the first footbed 18A. The remainder of the upper surface of the illustrated first footbed covered with a moisture management and anti microbial lining 64. This construction provides a comfortable, durable, and slip resistant construction. It is noted that the first footbed 18A can alternatively have any other suitable configuration.

FIGS. 13 to 15 illustrate the second exemplary footbed 18B. The illustrated second footbed 18B is substantially the same as the illustrated first footbed 18A described above except that the illustrated second footbed 18B also includes a second portion of the upper 16B. The illustrated second portion of the upper 16B is rearwardly extending strap configured to extend about the rear of the wearer's foot.

FIGS. 16 to 18 illustrate the third exemplary footbed 18C. The illustrated third footbed 18C is substantially the same as the illustrated second footbed 18B described above except that the second portion of the upper 16B is rearwardly extending enclosure configured to extend about and cover the entire rear portion of the wearer's foot rather than being partially open like in the illustrated second footbed.

While the illustrated embodiment of the footwear 10 includes three of the footbeds 18A, 18B, 18C, it should be understood that a greater or lesser quantity of the footbeds 18A, 18B, 18C can alternatively be utilized to be interchangeably secured to the base member 12 to change the configuration of the footwear 10. It should also be appreciated that the footbeds 18A, 18B, 18C can have alternatively have any other desirable configuration.

It is noted that each of the features and variations of the above disclosed embodiments can be used in any combination which each of the other embodiments.

From the foregoing disclosure it is apparent that the footwear of the present invention addresses the previously mentioned needs in the art by providing a system and method that quickly, consistently, accurately and safely determines transforms the footwear into different configurations as to both comfort and style.

From the foregoing disclosure and detailed description of certain preferred embodiments, it is also apparent that various modifications, additions and other alternative embodiments are possible without departing from the true scope and spirit of the present invention. The embodiments discussed were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the present invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the present invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the benefit to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.

Claims

1. Footwear comprising, in combination:

a base member including a outsole and at least of a portion of an upper rigidly secured to the outsole;

a footbed including an insole removably secured to the base member with at least a portion of the footbed located within the portion of the upper rigidly secured to the outsole; and

wherein the footbed and the base member are removably secured together by a snap lock connection formed by a plurality protrusions that resiliently snap into a plurality of cooperating recesses to form an interlock.

2. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein the footbed includes another portion of the upper rigidly secured to the footbed.

3. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein the protrusions are formed by the base member and the recesses are formed by the footbed.

4. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein the protrusions are a plurality of laterally extending and spaced-apart ribs and the recesses are a plurality of laterally extending and spaced apart channels.

5. The footwear according to claim 4, wherein there are three of the ribs and three of the channels.

6. The footwear according to claim 4, wherein the protrusions are formed by the base member and the recesses are formed by the footbed.

7. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein the protrusions and the recesses are located above a heel of the outsole.

8. Footwear comprising, in combination:

a base member including a outsole and a first portion of an upper rigidly secured to the outsole;

a footbed including an insole and a second portion of the upper rigidly secured to the footbed; and

wherein the footbed is removably secured to the base member with at least a portion of the footbed located within the first portion of the upper rigidly secured to the outsole;

9. The footwear according to claim 8, wherein the footbed includes another portion of the upper rigidly secured to the footbed, wherein the footbed and the base member are removably secured together by a snap lock connection formed by a plurality protrusions that resiliently snap into a plurality of cooperating recesses to form an interlock.

10. The footwear according to claim 9, wherein the protrusions are formed by the base member and the recesses are formed by the footbed.

11. The footwear according to claim 9, wherein the protrusions are a plurality of laterally extending and spaced-apart ribs and the recesses are a plurality of laterally extending and spaced apart channels.

12. The footwear according to claim 11, wherein there are three of the ribs and three of the channels.

13. The footwear according to claim 11, wherein the protrusions are formed by the base member and the recesses are formed by the footbed.

14. The footwear according to claim 11, wherein the protrusions and the recesses are located above a heel of the outsole.

15. Footwear comprising, in combination:

a base member including a outsole and at least of a portion of an upper rigidly secured to the outsole;

a first footbed including an insole securable to the base member with at least a portion of the first footbed located within the portion of the upper rigidly secured to the outsole; and

a second footbed including an insole securable to the base member with at least a portion of the second footbed located within the portion of the upper rigidly secured to the outsole; and

wherein the first and second footbeds are interchangeably secured to the base member by a snap lock connection formed by a plurality protrusions that resiliently snap into a plurality of cooperating recesses to form an interlock.

16. The footwear according to claim 15, wherein the first and second footbeds each include another portion of the upper rigidly secured to the first and second footbeds respectively.

17. The footwear according to claim 15, wherein the protrusions are a plurality of laterally extending and spaced-apart ribs and the recesses are a plurality of laterally extending and spaced apart channels.

18. The footwear according to claim 17, wherein there are three of the ribs and three of the channels.

19. The footwear according to claim 17, wherein the protrusions are formed by the base member and the recesses are formed by the first and second footbeds.

20. The footwear according to claim 17, wherein the protrusions and the recesses are located above a heel of the outsole.