Abstract:
A shoe is described having a removable heel, removable platform, and in some embodiments one or more removable straps. The removable shoe provides for flexibility in design with the same sole by allowing for replacement of one type of heel with another and in some shoes replacement of the strap or straps by alternate styles or colors of straps. The replaceability or modularity of the heel and straps allows for compact storage as well, which is desirable during travel. The removeability of the platform enables the shoe to adjust to different heights. Additionally, some embodiments have one or more hinges formed in the sole to allow the shoe to collapse to an even smaller size for storage or travel.

Description:
CROSS-RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/715,745 filed on Sep. 10, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all that it disclosed. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates in general to shoes and methods for using and making same and more particularly to a collapsible shoe and methods for using and making same. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   Shoes have been in existence for thousands of years. Their utility is beyond question. There are numerous varieties of shoes. Various types and styles of shoes may be used for different occasions such as formal occasions or informal occasions. 
   When traveling, multiple pairs of shoes are often needed in order that an appropriate pair of shoes is available to a traveler for any particular social occasion and to match various articles of clothing brought by the traveler. Packing multiple pairs of shoes in one&#39;s luggage can often take an excessive amount of space and may not be practical. 
   Furthermore, shoes are often singular in styling and aesthetics and can be limited in their ability to match various types of attire or styling. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In one embodiment, a collapsible shoe is disclosed comprising a sole, a heel, and a connector, wherein the connector is configured to removably attach the heel to the sole. 
   In some embodiments, the connector is a threaded rod. In some embodiments, the connector is a threaded rod extending through the heel and further comprises a threaded cap nut. The threaded cap nut in some embodiments is part of the sole of the shoe and in other embodiments it is separate from the sole and attaches the sole to the heel. 
   In another embodiment, a collapsible shoe is disclosed comprising a first sole portion, a second portion and a hinge wherein the hinge connects the first sole portion to the second portion. 
   In another embodiment, a collapsible shoe is disclosed comprising a removable strap portion. Some such embodiments further comprise a removable heel portion. 
   In some of the embodiments, the removable heel portion further comprises slots adapted to connect removable heel portion to the sole portion. 
   In another aspect, a modular decorative element is disclosed comprising a first decorative portion and a second base portion, wherein the decorative portion removeably attaches to the base portion. In some such embodiments, the decorative portion further comprises a jewel, ornamentation or any other aesthetic item. Some embodiments of the modular decorative element further comprise a connection. In some such embodiments, the connection further comprises slots or channels. Other embodiments comprise at least one connection, which further comprises at least one magnet. 
   In some embodiments, the base portion further comprises an earring, a pendant, a broach, a ring, a shoe portion, or further connective portion adapted to connect the decorative element to other clothing, body part or device. 

   
     IN THE DRAWING 
     The features disclosed herein and the manner of attaining them will become apparent and will be best understood by reference to the following description of certain embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a collapsible shoe. 
       FIG. 2  is a partial side view of  FIG. 1  taken substantially on line  2 - 2  thereof. 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded view of a portion of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 4  is a partial sectional view of  FIG. 1  taken substantially on line  4 - 4 . 
       FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view of one embodiment of a collapsible shoe. 
       FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of the collapsible shoe embodiment of  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a collapsible shoe. 
       FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional side view of the base and removable heel. 
       FIG. 9  is a bottom plan view of one embodiment of a collapsible shoe. 
       FIG. 10  is an exploded view of a heel sliding into the base. 
       FIG. 11  is a side elevational view of one embodiment of a removable heel. 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of  FIG. 11  illustrating one embodiment of a removable heel. 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a removable straps mechanism. 
       FIG. 14  is a side view of  FIG. 7  illustrating the use of  FIG. 13  as it pertains to removing a strap. 
       FIG. 15  is a bottom view of a removable platform. 
       FIG. 16  is a perspective view of an interchangeable platform with a strap attachment. 
       FIG. 17  is a view of a small platform. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   It will be readily understood that the components of the embodiments as generally described and illustrated in the drawings herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the system, components and methods of the present embodiments, as represented in the drawings, is not intended to limit the scope of any invention, but is merely representative of the various embodiments. 
   According to certain embodiments, there is provided a collapsible shoe having a removable heel. The removable heel being removably attached to the base, or sole of the shoe. In some embodiments, the removable attachment is via a threaded rod or the like, and a fastening device such as a cap nut while in other embodiments it is via slots or dovetails or other locking mechanism. The shoe may further include one or more removable straps releasable attached to the base of the shoe. The releasable attachment can be via hooks and loops, via tabs and slots, via balls, via latch and slots or any other engaging/disengaging mechanism. 
   In some embodiments, the connector is part of the heel. The connector is a modification to the heel head designed so to fit securely into the sole. The sole has a release button that is depressed so the heel head may slide past it and fit into an empty cavity. The heel enters the cavity and locks into place by wedging against the button head and the back of the sole. 
   According to other embodiments, there is provided a method of manufacturing a collapsible shoe having a removable heel including the steps of forming a base having a fastening device such as a cap nut formed therein or an empty cavity with a release mechanism such as a button. The method further includes providing a removable heel and sole with a release button or the like for releasably attaching the removable heel to the base. The method of some embodiments further includes providing removable straps for removable attachment to the base. 
   According to yet another embodiment, there is provided a method of using a collapsible shoe having a removable heel including the steps of removably attaching a removable heel to the base of a collapsible shoe to prepare the collapsible shoe for subsequent use, and subsequently removing the removable heel to collapse the collapsible shoe for storage. The method of use may further include attaching one or more straps to the base. 
   According to yet another embodiment, a decorative element is disclosed that can be part of the collapsible shoe in order to provide modular decorative elements to the shoe. The decorative element provides easy quick fastening of jewels or other aesthetic elements to clothes, jewelry, shoes or other items. Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to  FIG. 1  thereof, there is shown a collapsible shoe  10  having a removable heel  15 . The removable heel  15  of the illustrated embodiment is attached to the collapsible shoe  10  near its rear end in a manner in which it may be removed and replaced. Some embodiments of the collapsible shoe include a base  30  for supporting the wearer&#39;s foot (not shown). The base  30  in some embodiments is formed of a suitable material, such as plastic, cardstock material, wood or other suitable material or combination thereof. The bottom surface of the base  30  of some embodiments forms the sole (not shown) of the collapsible shoe  10 . The sole is formed of any material, such as rubber, cork, leather, wood or other suitable material or combination thereof. 
   Some embodiments of the collapsible shoe  10  further include a heel plate  20  interposed between the base  30  and the removable heel  15 . The heel plate  20  may serve to support the removable heel  15  and to rigidly and releasably mount the removable heel  15  to the base  30 . In some embodiments, the heel plate  20  is formed of a rigid material such as plastic, wood or metal and may either be permanently or releasably attached to the base  30 . 
   Some embodiments of the collapsible shoe  10  further include an empty cavity  173  for the heel head  167  to slide past a button  163  and lock into place. The empty cavity is molded into the base predesigned to fit the head of the heel. 
   A fastening device such as a cap nut  25  is counter sunk within the base  30  of some embodiments and is permanently affixed thereto in some such embodiments. The cap nut  25  is used to mate with a threaded rod  70  ( FIG. 2 ) which is inserted through a central axial bore  80  in the removable heel  15  and the heel plate  20  and which, in some embodiments, removably affixes the removable heel  15  and heel plate  20  to the base  30 . 
   With continued reference to  FIG. 1 , some embodiments include one or more removable straps  35  that are releasably attached to the base  30  of the collapsible shoe  10  in order to provide support and to contain the user&#39;s foot (not shown) onto the base  30  of the collapsible shoe  10 . The removable straps  35  of some embodiments also serve to add decorative content to the collapsible shoe  10 . For example, the removable straps  35  may be formed of different colors or materials to match the outfit of the user (not shown). In some embodiments, different thicknesses of the straps may be employed to achieve a variety of styles and appearances. 
   Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the removable straps  35  of some embodiments are releasably attached to the base  30  of the collapsible shoe  10  via a set of loops and hooks, such as loop  40  and hook  45 . In such embodiments, order to releasably attach the removable straps  35  to the base  30 , one or more loops in the form of screw eyes, such as loop  40 , are attached to the outside edge of the base  30 . In one embodiment, three loops  40 ,  50  and  60  are attached to the outside base  30 . The releasable straps shown generally at  35  each contain a hook, such as hooks  45 ,  55 , and  65 , which are adapted to releasably attach to their corresponding loops  40 ,  50 , and  60 , respectively. In this regard, the releasable straps may be releasably attached to the base  30 . It should be understood that any number of loops can be attached to the outside edge of the base in multiple positions to receive any number of releasable straps. Furthermore, the hooks and loops may be replaced with Velcro® or any other attachment devices. It is contemplated that the straps may be attached to the base  30  in a variety of different configurations to achieve a variety of different appearances for the shoe  10 . 
   In some embodiments, a retainer clasp  152  is used to attach and detach a strap from the base of the shoe. In this method a series of strap retainers  140  are molded into the base. In some embodiments, one end of the clasp attaches to the fabric via a jump ring or like material and the other end of the clasp fits into the lower strap retainer  143 , moves up thru the retainer  142  and into the third chamber of the retainer  141  to lock into place. The three retainers are slightly different sizes. In some embodiments, the lower retainer  143  is slightly larger than the other two, thus creating tension on the clasp  152  as it moves into the third retainer  141 . In some embodiments, this tension is what keeps the clasp in place, thus securing the strap to the base of the shoe. In  FIG. 14 ,  144  shows the clasp in the locked position in strap retainer  141 . When the clasp is in the unlocked position, it is in the lower strap retainer  143  and is demonstrated in  145 . The size, shape, material make-up, and texture of the clasp will vary depending upon style and designer. The clasp and strap retainer mechanism is not limited to any hole size or shape as well. It should be understood that there can be any number of strap retainers on the sides of the sole and retainers may also be located under the sole or on the top surface. The strap retainers may appear in different shapes such as squares, ovals, rectangles. 
   In some embodiments the clasp will enter one hole and lock into place via the tension caused by material or size of the retainer. When the clasp moves past the small retainers (regardless of size and shape) into the shoe it will lock into place due to the side tension placed on the clasp. It doesn&#39;t have to move into a second chamber or third chamber to lock. 
   In operation, the user of the collapsible shoe  10  may first assemble the collapsible shoe  10  by attaching the removable heel  15  to the heel plate  20  which is removably attached to the base  30  as illustrated in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1  or in any of the embodiments illustrated and/or described in Exhibit B. In addition, the removable straps  35  or any embodiment illustrated in Exhibit B may be releasably attached to the outer edge of the base  30  by inserting the hooks of each releasable strap onto the loops attached to the outer edge of the base  30  or as illustrated in Exhibit B. For example, hook  45  would be releasably attached to the loop  40 . After the collapsible shoe  10  is assembled as described heretofore, the user may place their foot (not shown) onto the base  30 . The foot (not shown) of the user (not shown) may then be held by the releasable straps  35  and may thereby walk with the collapsible shoe  10 . 
   In another embodiment,  FIG. 10  illustrates the removeable heel  15  sliding into the base from the toe of the heel to back of the shoe. The heel slides over  163  the spring loaded release button. As it slides past the button, the weight of the heel with the pressure of the user depresses the heel and creates a space for the heel to move into the empty cavity. The head of the heel  167  slides along the bottom of the heel cavity and the heel attachment site  170  becomes flush with the base of the shoe. As the heel moves completely into the cavity, the button no longer is blocked and the spring lifts forward to become flush with the heel front  171 . 
   In some embodiments, the removable heel  15  is locked into place, see  FIG. 8 , and held there by  171  the front of the heel head resting flush with  166  the back of the spring loaded retaining button. The two surfaces, rest against each other when the heel is in a locked position. Once the heel is into the hollow cavity, the button is released and keeps the heel in place. In some embodiments, when  163  is pushed down, the spring recoils and allows  171  to slide out and past  163  the spring loaded retainer button, thus releasing the heel from the sole. 
   In a similar manner, when the user of the collapsible shoe  10  desires to collapse the collapsible shoe  10  for storage or for travel, the user (not shown) would remove their foot (not shown) from the base  30 . The removable heel  15  would then be removed thereby reducing the required space for storing of for traveling. The heel plate  20 , on embodiments having a separate such part, may also be removed from the base  30  to further collapse and reduce the required space for the collapsible shoe  10 . 
   Considering now the removable heel  15  and the heel plate  20  in more detail and in reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the removable heel  15  of such embodiments has an axial bore  80  ( FIG. 3 ) formed within its longitudinal axis that extends from the bottom to the top of the removable heel  15  and further extends through the bottom and top of the removable heel  15 . The axial bore  80  serves to receive and support the threaded rod  70  ( FIG. 2 ) therein. A boss  100  is provided in some embodiments at the top of the removable heel  15  and disposed in communicating relationship with the axial bore so. 
   Considering now the threaded rod  70  in more detail and with reference to  FIG. 3 , the threaded rod  70  can be formed of a rigid metallic or plastic material having threads formed thereon. The threaded rod  70  further includes a heel cap  75  which can serve a number of different functions. First, the heel cap  75  can facilitate insertion of the threaded rod  70  within the axial bore  80  of the removable heel  15 . Second, the heel cap  75  further facilitates rotation of the threaded rod within the axial bore  80  by the user (not shown). Third, the heel cap  75  in some embodiments provides support for the removable heel  15  when the collapsible shoe  10  ( FIG. 1 ) is being worn by the user (not shown) as the heel cap  75  will be in direct contact with the ground. Since the heel cap may be in direct contact with the ground, the heel cap may be formed of a durable material, such as rubber or plastic. 
   Considering now the heel plate  20  in more detail and with continued reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the heel plate  20  can be interposed between the removable heel  15  in the base  30  ( FIG. 2 ). The heel plate  20  of some embodiments includes an axial bore  85  along the short axis of the heel plate  20  as best shown in  FIG. 3 . The axial bore  85  of the heel plate  20  serves to receive both a boss  100  of the removable heel  15  and the threaded rod  70  passing from the axial bore  80  of the removable heel  80 . In this way, the threaded rod  70  may pass completely through the axial bore  85  from the axial bore  80  to be received by a cap nut shown generally at  25  ( FIG. 2 ). 
   With reference to  FIG. 3 , the cap nut shown  25  of the illustrated embodiment includes a cap portion  90  and a nut portion  95 . The nut portion  95  can be formed of a metallic or plastic threaded material for threadably receiving the threaded rod  70 . Moreover, as best shown in  FIG. 2 , the cap nut  25  of some embodiments is disposed within the base  30  where the cap portion  90  may be flush with or disposed slightly below the top surface of the base  30  of the collapsible shoe  10  so that the user&#39;s heel (not shown) may not touch or be bothered by the cap nut  25 . The nut portion  95  of the cap nut  25  extends downwardly from the cap portion  90  through the base  30  so that the threaded portion of the nut portion  95  may be accessible from the bottom of the base  30  and may threadably receive the threaded rod  70 . 
   Considering the assembly of the collapsible shoe  10  in more detail and with reference to the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 , the user may first place the heel plate  20  onto the bottom surface of the base  30 . This may be best accomplished by turning the base  30  upside down so that the heel plate  20  may rest onto the bottom surface of the base  30  by gravity. The axial bore  85  of the heel plate  20  may then be axially aligned with the nut portion  95  of the cap nut  25 . The removable heel  15  may then be placed onto the heel plate  20  and the boss  100  placed within the axial bore  85  of the heel plate  20  so that the axial bore  80  of the removable heel  15  is placed in axial alignment with both the axial bore  85  of the heel plate  20  and the nut portion  95  of the cap nut  25 . 
   Still referring to the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 , the threaded rod  70  may then be inserted into the axial bore  80  of the removable heel  15  through the bottom of the removable heel  15  and pass entirely through the axial bore  80  and then through the boss  100  into the axial bore  85  of the heel plate  20 . The threaded rod then continues to be inserted into the nut portion  95  of the cap nut  25 . When the threaded rod  70  engages the nut portion  95  of the cap nut  25 , the user then may rotate the threaded rod  70  using the heel cap  75  to facilitate rotation until the threaded rod  70  is threadably secured within the cap nut  25 . After the threaded rod  70  is threadably secured within the cap nut  25 , the heel cap  75  will then be positioned abutting the bottom surface of the removable heel  15 . In addition, the heel plate  20  and the removable heel  15  may be rigidly secured between the heel cap  75  and the base  30 . 
   Considering the construction of the removable heel and the heel plate  20  in more detail and with reference to  FIG. 4 , the removable heel  15  further includes a pair of integral extensions or projections, such as integral projections  105  and  110  extending from the top surface of the removable heel  15 . The projections  105  and  110  help to prevent rotation of the removable heel  15  when attached to the heel plate  20 . The integral projections  105  and  110  are adapted to be received by two corresponding bores  115  and  120  formed within the heel plate  20  at the bottom surface thereof. The bores  115  and  110  are generally shown at  115  and  120 , having the integral projections  105  and  110  inserted therein. 
   In operation, when the removable heel  15  is disposed abutting the bottom surface of the heel plate  20 , the integral projections  105  and  110  are then inserted and received by the bores  115  and  120 . Thus, when the threaded rod  70  is inserted into the cap nut  25  and tightened, the removable heel  15  is secured flat against the heel plate  20  and the projections  105  and  110  and held tightly within the bores  115  and  120 . In this way, the removable heel  15  may not be inadvertently loosened or removed from the heel plate  20  of the shoe  10 . Furthermore, the removable heel  15  may not rotate since the integral projections  105  and  110  may not permit this to occur since they inhibit rotation of the heel  15  relative to the heel plate  20 . 
   In another embodiment of the present invention and with reference to  FIG. 5 , the collapsible shoe  10  can be further reduced in size for storage or travel purposes by including a slit  130  formed within the base  30 . The slit  130  permits the base  30  of the collapsible shoe  10  to fold back upon itself as best shown in  FIG. 6 . To facilitate this operation, a hinge  135  can be affixed to the bottom surface of the base  30  as best shown in  FIG. 5 . The center of the hinge  135  of the illustrated embodiment is disposed over the slit  130  so that the hinge may permit the base  30  to fold back upon itself. The hinge  135  then serves to permit folding and collapsing of the base  30  while preventing the two sections of the base  30  separated by the slit  130  from separating by an extensive distance where they could then be misplaced. 
   In operation, with reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , after the user (not shown) is finished using the collapsible shoe  10 , the user removes the shoe  10  and the removable heel  15  and then folds the base  30  of the collapsible shoe back upon itself as best shown in  FIG. 6 . When the user desires to utilize the collapsible shoe  10  once again, the collapsible shoe  10  is unfolded via the hinge  135  so that the base  30  is generally flat as best shown in  FIG. 5 . At this point, the removable heel  15  would then be attached to the base  30  of the collapsible shoe  10  as described heretofore. 
   Consider the construction of the removeable heel in  FIGS. 11 and 12 ; the heel is made of the plastic, metal, wood, or like material. The head of the heel consists of a fillet raised edge that will be identical in all heels. The head is attached to a larger flatter area  170  known as the attachment site to the base. Once the heel is inserted into the cavity  173 , the heel attachment site  170  will lay against the base attachment site  188  with a seamless edge. The upper portion of the heel will be the same in each heel; however the lower portion of the heel  15  will change aesthetically in shape, color, size, fabric covering, material, thickness, etc. There is a steel rod  190 , within the heel for stability and structure. You can&#39;t see the rod from the outside. A heel cap  75  will be attached to the end of the heel, covering the steel rod from the bottom. Changing the heels in the sole, allows the consumer to interchange a thin heel, for a wedge heel or a pump heel. The shapes and styles of the heels that will be created to interchange with the removable heel  15  will be determined by fashion trends and should not be limited to any said configuration in this patent. 
   In some embodiments, the heel head  167  may vary in shape or design, depending on the shape and design of the base attachment sight. The two pieces, the heel  15  and the shoe  10  will be designed in unison so that they fit into each other. The heel head  167  may be more circular, rectangular, or square in each model depending on the particular design of the shoe. This will depend on fashion trend. 
   In some embodiments the heel head  167  will be extended to fit on a wedge heel (not pictured). The surface area of the heel cap  75  is much larger as is the shape of the entire heel  15 . When the sole of the shoe is made to accommodate a wedge, the attachment sight for the sole  188  will be larger in dimensions, as will the entire cavity  173  and the heel head  167 . In some embodiments, the same locking mechanism will be used and the same design concept will be used. In some embodiments, the components will just be larger than those pictured and shaped slightly different. 
   In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the heel enters the bottom of the sole. In this particular drawing, the heel is shown entering the sole from the front of the shoe  10  to the back of the shoe. Thus, adding more stability when the consumer walks on the heel. This approach minimized the chance of the heel  15  coming off the sole from the back. In some embodiments the heel may slide in from the back of the sole to the front of the sole. The spring loaded retaining button  163  would be moved to the back of the cavity  173  to enable it to be depressed by the heel as it enters the cavity. 
   In some embodiments, the spring loaded heel-retaining button  163  in  FIG. 9  will be decorated or ornamented according to fashion trends. It will also vary in size, color, material, and shape. The size of the spring will also vary in size, material, color, and strength. 
   In one embodiment, the spring loaded heel-retaining button  163  is shown in  FIG. 8 , is a separate piece made to fit into the sole. The button  163  is connected to the sole via  162  a clip attaching the button to the sole via small screws  161  but not limited to screws, pins, or like structures. In one embodiment the button is molded into the construction of the sole (not pictured), and  162  is not needed. The spring  165  is then attached to the sole under the heel release button. The spring loaded retaining button is used to release and attach the heel  15 . 
   Consider in  FIG. 8 , how the front heel retaining plate  171  rest against  166  the front of the button when the heel is completely in the cavity. In some embodiments, the heel will be completely inside the cavity in order for the spring loaded retaining button to release and rise up flush with the heel front  171 . 
   In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the construction of the sole&#39;s heel cavity is designed to mirror the exact dimensions of the heel head  167 . There can be a small ridge on the inside of the cavity  173  that allows for the filleted edges of the heel neck to dip down lower into the cavity. This can create an added locking mechanism because once the heel is lowered in to the cavity; it may not be pulled up because the neck of the heel is trapped underneath the ridge in some embodiments. 
   In some embodiments,  FIG. 13 , the clasp  152  has two sides. One end of the clasp  151  can be inserted into the holes  140  of the sole. The other end of the clasp  154 , can have a hole in it, where a jumpring  153 , or like configuration, is inserted through the hole to attach the strap  35 . In some embodiments, the strap is fed thru the jumpring and sew on itself to secure the latch to the strap. The size of the hole  153  in the clasp may vary in size, shape, or location depending on design style. The shape of  151  and  154  of the clasp is altered in some embodiments. In some embodiments the ends are square or rectangular. The design of this clasp is not limited to the shape, circular design, measurements, or material. 
   In one embodiment,  FIG. 14 , the strap retainer  140  is on the sides of the shoe. One strap retainer is divided into three parts; the bottom portion of the strap retainer  143 , the middle portion of the strap retainer  142 , and the upper portion of the strap retainer  141 . The three parts are slightly different dimensions. The bottom retainer  143  is where the clasp end  151  is inserted into the shoe. The clasp can be inserted into the side of the shoe  10  so that only the  154  end of the clasp is exposed. In some embodiments, the depth of the strap retainer is molded into the side of the shoe, and is determined by the clasp length. The clasp end  151  enters the bottom strap retainer and is moved past  142 , which is a smaller strap retainer dimension. In some embodiments, the smaller dimensions can create tension on the clasp as it moves past the strap retainers. Then the clasp is forced by direct upward pressure into the smallest of the strap retainers  141 , where it snaps into place, in some embodiments. Strap retainer  141  is just big enough for the  151  clasp end to fit into the retainer; this creates side tension on the clasp and keeps the clasp in the strap retainer. In  FIG. 14 ,  144  illustrates the clasp in the upward, locked position in one embodiment. The fabric is attached to the clasp and can be secured to the sole of the shoe. When the consumer wants to remove the strap, the consumer can push downward on the clasp in position  141  and move the latch past  142  into  143  in some embodiments. 
   In some embodiments,  140  can consists of just one chamber instead of three spaces like  141 , 142 , 143 . The dimension of the strap retainer is slightly larger than the clasp end  151 . The consumer can push the clasp end  151  into the strap retainer comprising of one compartment, and the side tension can make it difficult to slide the clasp past the hole. This side tension is what will secure the clasp to the shoe in some embodiments. 
   In some embodiments the size, shape, design, and material of the strap retainer can be altered for design style. The dimensions of the strap retainer are dependent upon the size and shape of the clasp. The shape of the clasp is determined by fashion trend and designer interpretations. It is also determined by the material used to create the clasp which can range from plastic, metal, wood, nylon, or other synthetic material. 
   In review, the purpose of creating an interchangeable shoe is to enable the consumer to own one pair of shoes (soles) and purchase heels and straps separately to change the style of your shoes. The shoe preferable has a quick-release/locking mechanism that allows a heel to be inserted and locked, or removed, in a second or two. In some embodiments of the interchangeable shoe, you can change a thin, stiletto heel for a thicker/wedge heel. In some embodiments you can change one thick strap for a strap comprising of 3 or 4 decorative straps. In some embodiments, the hinge in the sole will enable the consumer to fold the sole in half, to pack the shoe easier for traveling. In some embodiments, the heels and straps will come in variety of colors, shapes, material types, and style. The consumer will be able to interchange the straps and heels per fashion trends or per functionality. 
   In some embodiments, the platform is removable from the base via a spring loaded button  195 . Once the button  195 , is depressed the platform is twisted to one side and released. In  FIG. 15 ,  192  demonstrates one such removable platform. Note  196 , are the guides that are used for the interchangeable platform to get and stay in place. The platform is reattached by lining up the cog  194  on the inside of the platform with the hole in the bottom on the base. The platform is in place once the guide is lined up on each side of the lever (spring loaded button,  195 ). The same cog design is seen in both mates: the base and platform. The cog is lined up and the platform is twisted into place. The button is depressed upon twisting.  FIG. 15 , In this particular embodiment, the removable wedge heel is attached after the platform in attached and adds security to the removable platform. The platform in removable to increase or decrease the height of the shoe. The platforms may be constructed in several heights.  FIG. 17  shows a small platform, but several heights exist. Once the desired platform height is attached, the removable heel that corresponds to that height will be inserted into the shoe. In some embodiments, this is how the interchangeable platforms and interchangeable heels can add or subtract height to a shoe. 
   In some embodiments, the interchangeable platforms also feature a strap attachment site,  193  in  FIG. 16 . There is a strap cut-out on the inside of the removable platform. The cut-out dictates where the straps will be positioned. Once the platform is attached to the base, the straps will be sandwiched in between the platform and the base. This will ensure that the strap will not come off the foot or the base. 
   It will become apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed embodiments of the invention are subject to a variety of modifications without departing from the invention and such variations are assumed to be within the skill of those in the art such that they are included in this disclosure.