Shoes with Interchangeable and Reversible Tops
Footwear with reversible and moveable tops is presented and includes zippers positioned all around the base of the shoe in order for the top half of the shoe to be changed or reversed. The tops are made of various materials and different styles. There can be full-covered footwear, sandal-type or any type of strapped shoe for women or men. Shoes and boots may include reversible uppers, leg shafts, or other pieces, to be used in conjunction with reversible zippers. A reversible slider allows zippers to be used with reversible pieces in each of their orientations.
This application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 15/044,926 for “Shoes with Interchangeable and Inter-Zippable Tops” filed Feb. 16, 2016, and currently co-pending, which is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 10/922,366, entitled “Shoes with interchangeable and inter-zippable tops”, filed on Aug. 20, 2004, and currently co-pending, which in turn claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Applications 60/497,052 filed Aug. 22, 2003, and currently expired, 60/499,647 filed Sep. 3, 2003, and currently expired, and 60/529,952 filed Dec. 16, 2003, and currently expired, with each application fully incorporated herein by this reference.
This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/447,099 for “Shoes with Interchangeable and Reversible Tops” filed Jan. 17, 2017, and currently co-pending.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention pertains generally to footwear. More specifically, the present invention pertains to a shoe with interchangeable and reversible parts.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONShoes have evolved over the years from simple moccasins to more elaborate and sophisticated sneakers and athletic shoes. Despite these marvelous advancements in the footwear industry, there is nevertheless a challenge which exists with all footwear. Specifically, a shoe, once created, is unchangeable and therefore, presents a limitation to the wardrobe because the colors, styles and materials of the shoes as manufactured are fixed. In light of the above, it would be advantageous to provide footwear that can be changed according to the wearer's desired style and wardrobe requirements, such as color and shape.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe invention is a shoe with reversible and moveable tops. There is a zipper all around the base of the shoe in order for the top half of the shoe to be changed. In a preferred embodiment, the zipper is a double-sided zipper which allows for convenient reversibility of the top. Tops are made of various materials and different styles. There can be full-covered footwear, sandal-type or any type of strapped shoe for women or men.
The footwear of the present invention provides for a wardrobe solution in that the tops of the shoes may be modified as desired in order to change the appearance and structure of the footwear. In a preferred embodiment, the upper portion, or top, of the footwear can be removed and interchanged with another top to provide a different appearance.
Additional embodiments of the present invention include tops with no laces, one or more elastic bands spanning the top to hold the shoe on a wearer's foot, reversible pull zippers, multi-colored zippers, and designs having a high or low top, a high or low heel, and a high or low sole. Other embodiments allow multiple tops to be stacked upon one another to create a custom boot.
The nature, object, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout, and wherein:
Referring initially to
By moving zipper 314 in direction 317, the top 310 may be removed from the sole 302. For instance, referring now to
It is to be appreciated from
Referring to
Upper edge 324 and lower edge 326 can be contoured to provide a distinct visual appearance, and may have shapes consistent with the other embodiments of the present invention disclosed herein. Also, panels 320 and/or 322 may be produced with a design, such as heart-shaped embroidery 328 (shown in dashed lines).
While several different embodiments of the shoe of the present invention have been shown herein, it is to be appreciated that these embodiments are not exclusive. Rather, the present embodiments are exemplary of the preferred embodiments, and that other embodiments of the present invention may be constructed by mixing and combining various aspects of the presently preferred embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
Referring now to
With reference to
In a preferred embodiment, upper 406 may be made from any materials known in the art, including but not limited to denim, canvas, leather, and terry cloth. From
Laces 414 may be positioned on the upper 406 such that the shoe 400 may be tied upon the wearer's foot simply by reversing the position of the bow. This provides for a fully reversible upper. Alternatively, instead of laces, a strap of elastic material known in the art may be used to maintain the upper 406 securely on the wearer's foot.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Also shown in
It is to be appreciated by someone skilled in the art that the various portions of shoe 500 may have differing physical dimensions without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, sole 502 may be of a high platform design, as shown in
Referring now to
To assemble shoe 520, leg shaft extension 512 is connected to upper 506 by mating zipper portion 508a with zipper portion 514a, located along the bottom perimeter of leg shaft extension 512, using slider 509. As discussed above, zipper portions 508a and 514a, along with slider 509, are reversible thereby allowing for leg shaft extension 512 to be turned inside out thereby making original interior 515 the new exterior of leg shaft extension 512. Leg shaft 510 connects to the top of leg shaft extension 512 using zipper portion 508b mated with zipper portion 514b, located along the top perimeter of leg extension 512, using slider 516. The zipper combination of zipper portions 508b and 514 and slider 516 is reversible to allow leg shaft 512 to be turned inside out.
Moving on now to
Lastly, shoe 530 further comprises leg shaft 540. Leg shaft 540 comprises zipper portion 542 located along the bottom perimeter of leg shaft 540. Leg shaft 540 also comprises lace portion 546, which consists of a first lace tab 546a and a second lace tab 546b. Lace 544 laces together lace tabs 546a and 546b. Located adjacent lace tabs 546a and 546b is tongue 548. Leg shaft 540 also has a zipper 550 and zipper slider 549, which run from the top to the bottom of leg shaft 540.
In use, a wearer assembles shoe 530 using sole 502, upper 506, leg shaft 540, and leg shaft extension 532. It is to be appreciated by someone skilled in the art that a sole of one color and material, an upper of a different color and material, a leg shaft extension of a third color and material, and a leg shaft of a fourth color and material may be combined to form a distinctive shoe 530. Zippers 536 and 550 are disengaged by moving sliders 539 and 549 from the top to the bottom of leg shaft extension 532 and leg shaft 540 respectively, thereby allowing a wearer to more easily put on and take off shoe 530. Once the wearer puts on shoe 530, sliders 539 and 549 are moved from the bottom to the top of leg shaft extension 532 and leg shaft 540 respectively, thereby engaging zippers 536 and 550. The wearer then pulls on laces 538 and 544 until the wearer achieves the desired fit. After laces 538 and 544 are adjusted to achieve the desired fit, the wearer only needs to use zippers 536 and 550 to more quickly and easily put on and take off shoe 530. Since zippers 536 and 550 are reversible, leg shaft 540 and leg shaft extension 532 may be turned inside out while still allowing the use of zippers 536 and 540.
Leg shaft extension 532 is removed from and replaced on upper 506 by mating zipper portion 508a with zipper portion 534a, located along the bottom perimeter of leg shaft extension 532, using slider 509. As discussed above, zipper portions 508a and 534a, along with slider 509, are reversible thereby allowing for leg shaft extension 532 to be turned inside out thereby making original interior the new exterior of leg shaft extension 532. Leg shaft 540 connects to the top of leg shaft extension 532 using zipper portion 534b mated with zipper portion 542, located along the top perimeter of leg extension 532, using slider 535. The zipper combination of zipper portions 534b and 542 and slider 535 is reversible to allow leg shaft 532 to be turned inside out.
Moving now to
Also shown in
An additional configuration of the leg shaft and the leg shaft extension has the horizontal zippers starting and ending at the vertical zippers. This configuration allows the leg shaft or leg shaft extension to be separated and laid flat on a surface by fully unzipping the vertical zippers. This allows for easier storage of boot pieces and enhances the ability of a wearer to more easily put on and take off the boot. It also makes it easier for a user to turn the leg shafts 510 and 540 or the leg shaft extensions 512 and 532 inside out. For example, using
It is to be appreciated by someone skilled in the art that flap 564 may be added to the bottom of leg shafts 510 and 540 and leg shaft extensions 512 and 532 to provide a protective layer between the inside surface of a zipper and a user's skin.
Referring now to
The present invention as shown herein by preferred and alternative embodiments is merely exemplary of the variety of embodiments contemplated. It is to be appreciated that the features shown herein may be combined in different combinations to provide shoe of the present invention having various appearances and dynamic stylistic features.
Soles discussed herein may be made from any material known in the art, including but not limited to, wood, rubber, leather, and synthetic materials. Styles of the shoes discussed herein may include, but are not limited to, sneakers, tennis shoes, moccasin, slippers, sandals, boots, and other shoe styles known in the art.
Claims
1. A shoe comprising:
- a sole having a zipper portion attached to the top perimeter of the sole and zipper slider attached to the zipper portion;
- an upper having a lower zipper portion attached to the bottom perimeter of the upper and an upper zipper portion attached to the top perimeter of the upper, the upper zipper portion having a reversible zipper slider; and
- a leg shaft having a zipper portion attached to the lower perimeter of the leg shaft,
- wherein the upper's lower zipper portion is oriented to match the sole's zipper portion, and the leg shaft's zipper portion is oriented to match the upper's upper zipper portion, and
- wherein the leg shaft is configured to extend up a user's calf such that when the sole is attached to the bottom of the upper and the leg shaft is attached to the top of the upper, a wearable shoe is formed.
2. The shoe of claim 1, further comprising a removable leg shaft extension having a lower zipper portion attached to a lower perimeter of the leg shaft extension and an upper zipper portion attached to the upper perimeter of the leg shaft extension, wherein the lower zipper portion of the leg shaft extension is configured to connect to the upper zipper portion of the upper, and the upper zipper portion of the leg shaft extension is configured to connect to the zipper portion of the leg shaft, thereby extending the leg shaft's length and the shoe's overall height.
3. The shoe of claim 2, wherein the upper zipper portion of the leg shaft extension further comprises a reversible zipper slider.
4. The shoe of claim 2, wherein the leg shaft extension further comprises a vertically oriented first lace tab having lace holes and a corresponding vertically oriented second lace tab having lace holes, and wherein the leg shaft extension is configured to allow laces to be laced through the lace holes thereby allowing the leg shaft extension to be tightened around a user's leg.
5. The shoe of claim 2, wherein the leg shaft extension further comprises a vertical zipper having a reversible zipper slider, the vertical zipper extending from the bottom perimeter to the top perimeter of the leg shaft extension.
6. The shoe of claim 5, wherein the lower zipper portion of the leg shaft extension and the upper zipper portion of the leg shaft extension start and end at the vertical zipper such that the leg shaft extension lays flat when the vertical zipper is unzipped.
7. The shoe of claim 2, wherein the leg shaft extension is reversible such that the interior of the leg shaft extension becomes the exterior when the leg shaft extension is reversed.
8. The shoe of claim 2, wherein the leg shaft extension and the leg shaft are made from the same material.
9. The shoe of claim 1, further comprising a finishing collar, the finishing collar comprising:
- a zipper portion attached to the lower perimeter of the finishing collar; and
- a flap attached to the lower perimeter of the finishing collar and configured to provide a protective layer between the inside surfaces of the zipper portion and a user's skin.
10. The shoe of claim 9, wherein the finishing collar further comprises lace holes.
11. The shoe of claim 9, wherein the finishing collar further comprises a pad attached to the top perimeter of the finishing collar.
12. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the leg shaft further comprises a vertically oriented first lace tab having lace holes and a corresponding vertically oriented second lace tab having lace holes, and wherein the leg shaft is configured to allow laces to be laced through the lace holes thereby allowing the leg shaft to be tightened around a user's leg.
13. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the leg shaft further comprises a vertical zipper having a zipper slider, the vertical zipper extending from the bottom perimeter to the top perimeter of the leg shaft.
14. The shoe of claim 13, wherein the zipper slider of the vertical zipper of the leg shaft is a reversible slider.
15. The shoe of claim 13, wherein the lower zipper portion of the leg shaft and the upper zipper portion of the leg shaft start and end at the vertical zipper such that the leg shaft lays flat when the vertical zipper is unzipped.
16. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the leg shaft is reversible such that the interior of the leg shaft becomes the exterior when the leg shaft is reversed.
17. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the sole has a top portion and a heel portion distinct from the top portion.
18. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the sole is a platform.
19. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the sole, upper, and leg shaft are made from a material selected from the group consisting of leather, faux leather, canvas, and flexible plastics.
20. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the upper is reversible such that the interior of the upper becomes the exterior when the upper is reversed.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 17, 2018
Publication Date: Jul 5, 2018
Inventor: Elizabeth Stillwagon (Chula Vista, CA)
Application Number: 15/873,161