Abstract:
An article of footwear an outer sole that houses a removable inner sole. The interchangeable nature allows different uses, appearances, and configurations. The outer sole can be used as a shoe itself (e.g. a sandal) or as the sole for other transformations. Various types of footwear elements can be inserted into/over the outer sole, allowing conversion of the footwear into a sports, formal, sandal, water, slipper, dress, ornamented shoe or other footwear.

Description:
This application is a continuation application of pending prior international application Number PCT/US2002/030045, filed on 23 Sep. 2002, which designates the United States and which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and for which priority is claimed under 35 U.S.C. §120. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates in general to footwear and, more particularly to a shoe of a selectively versatile character, which is uniquely constructed for interchangeability of use. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Heretofore, numerous efforts have been undertaken to develop shoes for men and women that in appearance through facile alteration by the wearer. Prior art is extensive with footwear having changeable components to achieve a variety of purposes. 
     Most of such earlier attempts have been directed to what might be considered ornamental effects to increase the style of the shoe, such as shown in Smith&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 4,267,649. Other efforts have been directed toward alternation in components for style, purposes of color and design; see e.g. Bailey&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,369; Smith&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 4,267,649; Halford&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 5,083,385; Blakely&#39;s U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2001/0052195 A1; Dupree et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,484; and Dupree&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 4,958,447. 
     Additionally, various efforts have been made to create a versatile shoe for athletic purposes. Most of such attempts have been for one specific athletic purpose or another (e.g. roller skating or bowling), such as Clementi&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,392. Other interchangeable shoes focused on creating a sole suitable for the insertion of tools to practice various sports as shown by Schaefer&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 4,114,295 and Aveni&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 5,459,948. 
     There has been some focus in creating a versatile water shoe, although not interchangeable, serving many purposes as shown by U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,802,740; 5,960,565; 5,732,480; 5,771,610; and 5,737,853. 
     Yet other inventions have focused on making a comfortable, affordable, easy to use versatile shoe. For example, Throneburg&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 5,724,753 discloses a footwear system that includes a sock specifically made for the shoe. Others patents simply disclose slippers and sandals that are lightweight and affordable for beach use, e.g. Huard et al. U.S. Des. Pat. No. D450,179 S. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention embodies an interchangeable article of footwear. The footwear includes an outer sole of unitary construction and an inner sole adapted to be housed by the outer sole. The outer sole of unitary construction includes a united toe, central and heel portion. The top sole sits upon the toe, central and heel portion of the shoe making it a single unit. This outer sole unit can be used as a shoe itself, as a sandal, or as the sole for other transformations of footwear. 
     The central portion of this outer sole unites toes and heel portion be an arch supporter which made be covered with materials such as Kevlar or composite materials. As a fastener for the outer sole, two bands of materials, such as hook-and-loop fasteners, can attach by a variety of means around the toe and ankle portion of the shoe. The ankle portion is also attached to a heel supporter that curves around the upper back heel of the shoe. The ankle portion is also attached to a heel supporter that curves around the upper back heel of the shoe. The abovementioned increased arch support permits sliding of wearer&#39;s arch. It also permits ready flexing and bending of the shoe within a zone intermediate to the heel and sole to provide increased walking comfort and natural flexing. 
     The outer sole may include a mechanism to adjust the height of the same or the softness/firmness level of the shoe. The preferred mechanism includes a dial, a switch mechanism; and may include a magnetic fluid (or MR fluid) that may serve as a shock absorber and to adjust the softness/firmness of the footwear. The mechanism may be placed at different location of the outer sole. 
     The sandal is the bottom sole of the interchangeable article of footwear invention, wherein diverse interchangeable inner shoes (also referred to as inner soles) may be inserted at user&#39;s preference. Wearer according to his or her specific needs or intended use can combine this inner shoe style and outer shoe type. Therefore, this outer sole may include variations of this invention by inserting one of the components or inner shoes/soles mentioned herein under, but it may also be worn as a sandal on its own. 
     The inner footwear (inner shoe or inner sole) is an interchangeable component that is housed by the outer sole without being permanently attached to the outer sole or sandal. Moreover, this component may be inserted into the outer sole or sandal and used as a sneaker, amongst other uses. The sports shoe or sneaker can be removed and the sandal worn on its own. 
     Other preferred versions of the present invention include an inner sole adapted to replicate to configuration, comfort, and uses of a water shoe, slipper, or sock insole. A preferred sock insole includes a two unit padding, one unit to be attached to the upper portion of the sock&#39;s heel and the other for the lower portion of the sock&#39;s heel. Padding in two units enables the sole to be attachable to socks of different sizes. In addition, the sock may include an elastic strap at the middle of the sock, providing wearer with massages. This elastic strap assists the wearer relieve pain and serve as an extra foot support. 
     OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention constitutes a significant improvement in several aspects over such previously identified efforts of the cited references and the prior art. Although the above-mentioned patent examples may be suitable for the particular purposes that they address, they are not suitable for the purposes of the present invention heretofore described. 
     Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a shoe designed for men, women, and children and having components of an interchangeable nature which are uniquely independent to provide greatly improved quick and simple alteration of the shoe to effect numerous uses permitted by said components. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a shoe of the character stated which will accommodate various foot sizes and yet, for all such sizes is not only comfortable to the wearer, but also retains “imperative usefulness.” 
     A further object of the invention is the provision of a shoe that permits ready flexing and bending of the shoe within a zone intermediate the heel and sole to provide increased walking comfort and natural flexing. 
     A still further object of the present invention is to provide a shoe with increased arch support for the wearer to enhance walking comfort. In the junior version (for children or teenagers) the increased arch support is particularly important given low friction materials used for the arch support, such as Kevlar, carbon fiber, Teflon, or any man made plastic. This band surface would permit sliding of wearer&#39;s arch. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a shoe that provides a stable and mechanically secure structural nature with the independent component of the sandal footwear and which should become even more stable and mechanically secure when the components of the shoe are in their various states of assembly. 
     Yet another object of the invention is to provide a shoe that embodies cooperative elements that are selectively configured by easy manipulation to provide quick and easy alteration of the utility and the appearance of the shoe. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a shoe with multiple interchangeable constituents which may be easily disposed into chosen activity without resort to extrinsic tools and without requiring advance skill on the part of the wearer so that the average individual can quite simply and rapidly bring about the desired use within the range provided. 
     It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a shoe adapted for supporting various uses corresponding to particular activities through the attachment or detachment of a particular shoe to the outer sole. 
     An additional object of this invention is to provide an article of footwear that may be accommodated as a sock insole or sock slipper including elastic that provides increased firmness of the sock and massages wearer&#39;s foot. This sock insole or sock slipper can also assist the wearer relieve pain and serve as an extra foot support. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a shoe of the character stated which may be most economically manufactured; which is extremely durable in usage; and which in and of itself serves the purpose of several pairs of shoes so as to bring about a substantial savings to the user. 
     These objects of the invention are not meant to be exclusive. Furthermore, some features may apply to certain versions of the invention, but not others. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art when read in conjunction with the following description, and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A to 1D  are side elevation views of the embodiments of the footwear, from right to left, as an outer sole or sandal ( FIG. 1A ), sports&#39; shoe ( FIG. 1B ), water shoe ( FIG. 1C ), and sock insole/slipper shoe ( FIG. 1D ). 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the footwear as an outer sole or sandal. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the footwear as a water shoe without the outer sole or sandal attached. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the invention comprising the sandal or outer sole with a sports shoe as the inner sole/shoe inserted into the outer sole. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of another embodiment of the footwear without the outer sole or sandal attached. 
         FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B  are side elevation views of, from left to right, the sports shoe without the outer sole attached ( FIG. 6A ) and of the outer sole/sandal ( FIG. 6B ). 
         FIG. 7  is a side elevation view of the sports shoe and the outer sole or sandal. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the interchangeable shoe. 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of one embodiment of the outer sole or sandal of the invention featuring the dial control mechanism. 
         FIG. 10  is a side elevation view of the one embodiment of the outer sole or sandal of the invention featuring the dial control. 
         FIG. 11  is a front view of one embodiment of the outer sole or sandal of the invention, featuring the dial control mechanism. 
         FIG. 12  is a side view of the one embodiment of the invention 
         FIG. 13  is a side view of one of the independent inner soles of the invention, the sock insole. 
         FIG. 14  is a side view of an inner sole or inner shoe. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Turning first to  FIG. 1A-D , the present invention embodies an interchangeable article of footwear  100 . As  FIGS. 2 and 3  show, the footwear  100  includes an outer sole  102  of unitary construction and an inner sole  104  adapted to be housed by the outer sole  102 . The outer sole  102  of unitary construction includes a united toe portion  110 , central portion  112 , and heel portion  114 . The top sole includes the toe, central, and heel portion of the shoe making it a single unit. This outer sole unit can be used as a shoe itself, as a sandal, or as the sole for other transformations of footwear. The outer sole may be made of various materials such as inflexible materials including wood, metal, and the like or flexible materials including rubber, plastic, leather, fabric or man-made materials. 
     The central portion  112  of this outer sole unites toe portion  110  and heel portion  114  by an arch supporter. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, this arch supporter may be covered with materials such as but not limited to Kevlar or composite materials. Other embodiments of the present invention may include a curved toe portion for increased firmness of the wearer&#39;s foot inside the outer sole. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , two bands of materials, e.g. VELCRO, attach by a variety of means around the toe and ankle portion of the outer sole  102  of the shoe  100 . The ankle portion  114  is also attached to a heel supporter that curves around the upper back heel of the outer sole  102  of the shoe  100 . The abovementioned increased arch support permits sliding of wearer&#39;s arch. It also permits ready flexing and bending of the shoe within a zone intermediate to the heel and sole to provide increased walking comfort and natural flexing.  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 10  further depict an outer sole handle  150 . The handle  150  is an outcropping of the outer sole  102  that allows a wearer to grasp the outer sole  102  while removing his foot from the interior of the outer sole  102 . 
     As  FIGS. 9-12  illustrate, the outer sole may include an adjustment mechanism  120  to adjust the height of the same or the softness/firmness level of the shoe. This adjustment mechanism  120  includes a dial and to a switch mechanism; wherein rotation of the dial would actuate a threaded lift screw, and displacement of the switch would actuate a lever lift platform. Preferred materials for the composition of the adjustment mechanism include metals and plastics. The mechanism may also include a magnetic fluid (or MR fluid) that may serve as a shock absorber and to adjust the softness/firmness of the footwear. This mechanism may be placed at different locations of the outer sole, such as the rear end section of the sole or on a lower end section of the sole. The preferred embodiment of the invention includes a dial mechanism working in mechanical conjunction with the magnetic fluid to adjust these characteristics at user&#39;s preference. In the preferred embodiment, this dial mechanism is placed on the rear end section of the sole, as per  FIGS. 10 and 11 . In addition, this mechanism  120  may be adjusted manually, mechanically, or electronically. In the preferred embodiment, this mechanism shall be adjusted manually. In the preferred embodiment, this mechanism shall be adjusted manually. 
     Generally designated in  FIGS. 2 and 9  is a sandal  100  embodiment of the present invention. The outer sole  102  accepts diverse interchangeable inner shoes (not shown), which may be inserted at user&#39;s preference. Wearer according to his or her specific needs or intended use can combine multiple inner sole styles with the outer sole  102 . Therefore, this outer sole  102  may include variations of this invention by inserting one of the components or inner shoes/soles, but it may also be worn as a sandal on its own. 
     The preferred embodiment of this element of the invention is constructed of leather or any man made materials. The material from which the present invention is constructed should ensure that the configuration of the outer sole remains unaltered structurally upon the inclusion and removal of the inner sole. 
       FIGS. 6-8  illustrate the physical interrelationship between the outer sole  102  and inner sole  104  of the present invention. The inner sole  104  may be used without being attached to the outer sole or sandal. Moreover, this component may be inserted into the interior of the outer sole  102  or sandal and used as a sneaker, amongst other uses. As shown by  FIG. 6B , the outer sole  102  need not necessarily include physical attachment means located on the inner sole (not shown); rather, in most instances it will be sufficient that the fastener  130  of the shoes obstruct the release of the inner sole  104 —as opposed to physical anchoring means (e.g. VELCRO) located on both the interior of the outer sole and the interior of the inner sole. As shown by  FIG. 6B  and  FIG. 1B , the preferred fasteners  130  of the present invention include VELCRO straps and shoelaces; however, other forms of fasteners known in the shoe arts will similarly be amenable to the present invention. As detailed by  FIG. 7 , the inner sole  104  enters the interior of the outer sole  102  by the same route that the human foot would take; which in the case of VELCRO fasteners may be through the fasteners, or in the case of shoelaces, may be only through the foot entrance and not through the released fasteners. The sports shoe or sneaker can be removed and the sandal worn on its own. 
       FIGS. 4 and 8  illustrate the preferred embodiment of the footwear as a sports shoe or sneaker. Here, the inner sole has been strapped and secured to the outer sole and are both worn in conjunction. 
       FIGS. 1C and 3  illustrate the water shoe  100 , which is preferably made of rubber or any other made material resistant to water. This is a water impermeable shoe and may have alternative uses to that of an article of footwear to be used in or with water. This element of the invention may be used as an entity to which the outer sole  102  can be attached and the footwear  100  worn as a beach sandal. 
     As shown by  FIG. 13 , A preferred sock insole  104  acts to mimic a slipper and includes a two unit padding, one padding unit  142  to be attached to the upper portion of the sock&#39;s heel and the other padding unit  142  for the lower portion of the sock&#39;s heel. Padding in two units enables the sole to be attachable to socks of different sizes. In addition, the sock may include an elastic strap  144  at the middle of the sock, providing wearer with massages. This elastic strap  144  assists the wearer relieve pain and serve as an extra foot support. 
     In instances where in the insole is a sock, the sock may be made of materials such as but not limited to cotton, nylon, etc.; the outer sole may be made of materials such as but not limited to plastic, gel, rubber, or leather. 
       FIGS. 12 and 14  show an evening shoe  100  of the present invention with an alternate version of the adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism includes a pin  160  adapted to fit into multiple grooves  162 . The heel  164  includes a perforated lower heel portion  166  slidably inserted into an upper heel portion  168 . The upper heel portion  168  includes at least one groove  162  to mate with one or more grooves on the lower heel portion  166 . To adjust the height of the evening shoe  100 , the user would simply remove or release the pin  160 , slide the lower heel  166  to the proper adjustment setting such that a groove of the upper heel is flush with a groove of the lower heel, and insert the pin. The inner sole  104  is removable from the outer sole  102 . 
     Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions would be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.