Abstract:
An improved shoe having interchangeable soles and uppers. The upper is composed of a footbed and mid-sole with an attached last that inserts into the molded interior of the sole base in such a manner that the upper can be removed and replaced with another upper and such that the connection is secure while wearing the shoe. Shoes produced in this manner allow the consumer to personalize and customize their foot apparel by creating unique combination of uppers and soles.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to shoes. In particular, the present invention relates to shoes having interchangeable uppers and soles.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     The shoe, as a durable covering that provides protection for the foot and aids natural human mobility, has changed little through the centuries. Modifications have focused primarily on materials used in shoe manufacture, on methods to manufacture shoes, on footbed inserts to aid in the comfort of the shoe, and even on “bladders” that enable the internal part of the shoe to mold to the individual foot.  
         [0005]     Several previous devices exist which allow modification of the appearance of shoes.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 2,153,968 shows a shoe which allows for the replacement of straps by means of snaps. This invention is limited to shoes having straps as uppers, includes snaps which would interfere with the comfort of the wearer and does not provide a continuous connection between the upper and the sole.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 2,367,232 shows a method for attaching an upper to a shoe. Again, this method is for strap shoes only. Further, this method is to simplify the manufacturing process, resulting in an upper which is “locked in position” rather than replaceable.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 2,607,133 shows a shoe having a detachable upper. This design is intended to simplify the manufacture of different sized shoes. The upper connection means is quite complex, relying on bolts to connect the upper to the sole of the shoe.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 2,761,224 shows a shoe having a detachable upper. The upper is held in place by a channel in the sole. This design does not provide a secure attachment method.  
         [0010]     U.S. Pat. No. 3,983,642 shows a shoe having a detachable upper which uses buckles to hold straps in place. U.S. Pat. No. 4,450,633 is similar in design.  
         [0011]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,103,440 shows a shoe having a detachable upper which uses a zipper to attach the upper to the sole.  
         [0012]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,344 shows a shoe which uses an inflatable tube to hold a shoe upper to a specially designed sole.  
         [0013]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,083,385 shows a shoe which uses an adhesive layer to hold a shoe upper to its sole. The upper fits within the sole to provide additional connection between the upper and the sole.  
         [0014]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,727,334 shows a high traction shoe for use by roofers or other personnel on a high incline surface. The design allows for replacement of the soles which are subject to excessive wear due to the extreme stress under which they are placed. The soles are held in place by hood and loop fasteners to allow replacement of the quickly worn soles.  
         [0015]     Several patents show shoes which have reconfigurable straps: U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,669,036; 2,680,309; and 5,992,058. None of these devices are designed to provide a shoe having an interchangeable upper and sole, regardless of the shoe type.  
         [0016]     Therefore, there has been and continues to be a need for a shoe having interchangeable uppers and soles for any type of shoe which relies on a simple, secure connection method.  
         [0017]     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a shoe which has an interchangeable upper and sole.  
         [0018]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a shoe which has a simple connection between the upper and the sole.  
         [0019]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a shoe in which the connection means between the upper and the sole is not visible during wear.  
         [0020]     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a shoe which has a connection between the upper and the sole that is secure and safe for the wearer.  
         [0021]     It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a shoe in which the connection between the upper and the sole is comfortable.  
         [0022]     Finally, it is an object of the present invention to accomplish the foregoing objectives in a simple and cost effective manner.  
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE  
       [0023]     A shoe having interchangeable uppers and soles is described which includes a shoe upper and a shoe sole. The sole and upper are releasably connected about their peripheries and along an area which is not at their peripheries. The connection means is preferably flanged or winged extensions which extend into holes. The wings or flanges are forced through the holes and hold the sole and upper together. The extensions are preferably made from a flexible material such as rubber. The upper is preferably formed from a footbed, a support layer attached to the lower surface of the footbed, an overlayment attached to the lower surface of the support layer, an underlayment and a last which is attached at its lateral edges to the lower surface of the overlayment and the upper surface of the underlayment. The support layer, the overlayment and the underlayment are made from a pliable material with the support layer preferably mad from foam and the overlayment and underlayment preferably made from rubber. The sole is made from a durable material such as polyurethane, metal, wood, plastic or composite materials. In addition to connection means, the sole preferably includes at least one support area and a ridge surrounding the periphery of the shoe sole. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0024]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an upper of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0026]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a sole of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     ELEMENT LIST  
       [0027]    
       
           12  upper  
           14  footbed  
           16  support layer  
           18  overlayment  
           20  last  
           22  underlayment  
           24  male component  
           26  female grid  
           28  sole  
           30  molded ridge  
           32  reinforcement elements  
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0038]     The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention.  
         [0039]     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a shoe having interchangeable uppers and soles is described. First, a mold is selected for the sole that externally provides the height, shape, and heel design of the shoe, that internally and dorsally supports side-to-side and front to back integrity; and that houses a grid to support attachment of the upper. Second, an upper is selected that includes an external covering fused to a footbed that may or may not be contoured; fused to a thin piece of rubber overlayment which is fused to the last, and additionally creates a rubber male component, shaped and molded to fit securely into the sole grid.  
         [0040]     A preferred embodiment of the interchangeable shoe is shown in the accompanying figures.  FIG. 1  shows the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The topmost layer of the upper  12  is a footbed  14 , an external covering of natural or manmade material onto which the sole of the foot rests. It is typically about {fraction (1/32)} of an inch thick. It is layered and fused to a support layer  16 , preferably made from foam or other pliable material, that is often contoured for arch or heel support and comfort. The thickness of this support layer  16  preferably varies from {fraction (1/16)} to ⅛ inch thick. A thin, {fraction (1/16)} inch overlayment  18 , preferably made of rubber, provides a flexible surface beneath the foam layer  16  and the upper surface to which the last  20  is fused by heat or other appropriate bonding process. This is followed by an underlayment  22  which is preferably a one-piece molded construction made from rubber. Its upper surface provides the second and lower surface for fusion of the last  20 . Its lower surface creates a plurality of rubber male components  24  that are compatible with and fit into the female grid  26  of the sole  28 . This rubber underlayment is approximately ⅓ inch thick and its male components  24  with wings or flanges fit flexibly through and extend under the base of the female grid  26  and hold the upper  12  in place, with effectively a rubber stitch. These components, the footbed  14 , support layer  16 , overlayment  18 , last  20  and underlayment  22 , are fused or bonded together to create the whole of the upper  12  shoe.  
         [0041]     Attachment of the last  20 , at the point of the arch requires particular attention due to the upward pressure at the arch during walking—especially in a sandal when the arch of the foot pushes against the last  20 . The preferred method is to provide additional reinforcement at this area without creating a bulky seam that might cause discomfort. This is provided using two-layer construction with pliable layer  18  above and underlayment  22  below, both layers preferably being made from rubber, and fuse the last  20  between them using compression bonding with an adhesive. This bonding operation can be performed simultaneously with other needed bonding operations that result in the upper  12 . Bonding would involve an elevated temperature which is dependent on the adhesive being used and allows the rubber and last material to undergo cure, drying and melt flow. Bonding also augments toughness of the material and decreases the tendency of material to stretch at the point of arch stress.  
         [0042]     The upper shoe  12 , as a separate and interchangeable component, fits onto the selected sole  28  of the shoe. The shape of the sole  28  is dictated, in part, by fashion and generally covered with a natural or man-made material. On its topmost, peripheral surface there is a molded ridge  30  that sits approximately ⅛ of an inch above the footbed  14 , typically covered in the material that used on the external surface of the sole  28 . This ridge  30  helps prevent the upper  12  from shifting out of position and also serves as a water barrier. The female grid  26  that accepts the male components  24  courses along the entire periphery of the shoe in addition to reinforced areas at the toe, arch, and heel. This female grid  26  is preferably made of polyurethane and has an airgap on the ventral surface to accept the male components  24  providing a secure but removable connection between the sole  28  and the upper  12 . The grid can be made from a sawdust and glue mixture that would harden to form grid walls, metal or wood. The sole  28  is preferably reinforced front to back, top to bottom, and side to side with reinforcement elements  32  which are preferably additional polyurethane grids. These reinforcement elements  32  do not accept any male components and provide support for the underlayment  22 . The bottom surface of the sole  28  is in contact with the ground surface and is typical in its construction, either molded waffle style, or covered with natural or man-made material.  FIG. 3  shows the upper surface of the sole  28  in greater detail.  
         [0043]      FIG. 2  shows the upper  12  in the bonded or fused configuration. The elements which comprise the upper, namely, the footbed  14 , inner layer  16 , overlayment  18 , last  20  and underlayment  22 , are fused or bonded together with the male components  24  extending from the lower surface of the upper to create the whole of the upper  12  shoe.  
         [heading-0044]     Use of the Invention  
         [0045]     An upper  12  and sole  28  are selected by the prospective wearer. Any combination of upper  12  and sole  28  can be selected, allowing many combinations. The lower surface of the upper  12  for the left foot, i.e., the surface which includes the male components  24  extending therefrom, is placed in contact with the upper surface of the sole for the left foot, i.e., the surface which includes the female grid  26 . The male components  24  are guided into the female grid  26 , forcing the winged or flanged edges of the male components through the holes in the female grid  26 . Once through the holes in the female grid  26 , the wings or flanges of the male components expand to effect a connection between the upper  12  and the sole  28 . The same process is followed for the right shoe.  
         [0046]     The upper  12  and sole  28  are released by pulling up on an edge of the upper  12  and releasing the connection between the male components  24  and the female grid  26  thus removing the upper  12  from the sole  28 .  
         [0047]     While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.