Patent ID: 7669352
Filing Date: 2010-03-02
Classification: A43B

Abstract:
1. A shoe system comprising: a removable upper unit having a lower edge extending at least partially along a lower periphery of the upper unit, the upper unit having an upper connecting means extending generally downwardly from the lower edge of the upper unit, the upper unit being configured to extend across at least a portion of a user's foot; a sole unit having a sole base and an upper edge extending generally upwardly therefrom, the sole base defining a sole periphery and an interior area, the upper edge extending at least partially about the sole periphery, the sole unit having a lower connecting means extending generally upwardly from the upper edge, the lower connecting means being attachable to the upper connecting means of the upper unit in order to facilitate removable attachment of the upper unit to the sole unit, the sole unit further having a support panel extending about at least a portion of the sole periphery, the support panel having a lower portion and an upper portion, the lower portion of the support panel being attached to the sole base and extending generally inwardly toward the interior area relative to the sole periphery, the upper portion of the support panel extending generally upwardly from the lower portion and being disposed circumferentially within the interior of the lower connecting means along the sole periphery, the upper portion of the support panel extending at least partially above the lower connecting means, the sole unit further comprising a sole insert being sized and configured to be received within the interior area of the sole base to at least partially overlap the lower portion of the support panel, the sole insert being attachable to the lower portion of the support panel and to a top surface of the sole base for fixing the orientation of the support panel with respect to the sole base, the support panel being configured so as to provide structural strength to the shoe system when worn to resist transverse force and to reduce tactile friction of the user's foot against the upper and lower connecting means; and an insole having an insole periphery and a raised wall extending generally upwardly from the insole at least partially about the insole periphery, the insole being sized and configured to be fitted into the interior area of the sole base with the raised wall abutting at least a portion of an interior face of the support panel for supplementing the structural strength of the support panel against transverse force.