Abstract:
Shoe used for skateboarding are often worn and torn in specific areas needed to grip and control the skateboard. This wear and tear affects the visual appearance of the shoe as well as its function for skateboarding. According to the invention, a renewal part of the upper part of the shoe can be removed and replaced. An inner layer of the renewal part is arranged to hold a removable outer layer of the renewal part in place.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a shoe, in particular a shoe adapted for use by skateboard riders. 
       BACKGROUND AND RELATED ART 
       [0002]    Basic street skateboarding causes a lot of wear and tear on the shoes. Every trick starts with an Ollie maneuver and in order to execute an Ollie the rider pivots his foot so the side and top on the foot interacts with the sandpaper griptape skateboard surface. Street skateboarders basically “juggle” the skateboard with their feet. Using the side and the top of the shoe to control the board. This interaction creates wear and tear which impairs both the appearance of the shoe and its performance properties. 
         [0003]    Skateboarders use silicon nitride sandpaper, the most abrasive available to create friction between the foot and the deck which is used to spin and control the deck. 
         [0004]    This destroys shoes, an active skater can wear out a pair of shoes in just a few weeks. Usually, ordinary sports shoes are used for skating. Some skateboard shoes have featured a rubber/leather reinforcement/protection located at the typical wear areas. These were permanently glued on to protect the parts that are most easily worn. However, this reinforcements also wear rather quickly and often were not made from materials that provided optimum interaction with the sandpaper griptape. 
         [0005]    It is an object of the invention to provide shoes that are suitable for skateboarding and have a longer lifespan than prior art skateboarding shoes. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The invention therefore relates to a shoe having a sole part and an upper part, at least a first portion of the upper part having a main outer surface, said shoe being characterized in that at least a portion of the upper part outside of the main outer surface comprises a renewal portion comprising an inner layer having an indented outer surface compared to the main outer surface, said indented outer surface being arranged to cooperate with a detachable outer layer having a shape matching the renewal portion, in such a way as to retain the outer layer attached to the renewal portion. 
         [0007]    The invention therefore also relates to a shoe assembly having a sole part and an upper part, at least a replacement portion of the upper part having an inner layer and an outer layer, said outer layer attached to the shoe being releasable, wherein said outer layer has an outer surface and an inner surface, the outer surface of the outer layer having a shape defining the outer shape of the replacement portion of the shoe and the inner surface of the outer layer being shaped to match the inner layer, said outer layer element further comprises mechanical fastening means on its inner surface arranged to cooperate with the outer surface of the inner layer, for attaching the upper layer element to the shoe. 
         [0008]    The invention also relates to an outer layer element arranged to be applied on the outside of a shoe as defined above, matching an inner layer forming a replacement portion of the shoe, said outer layer element having an outer surface and an inner surface, the outer surface of the outer layer having a shape defining the outer shape of the portion of the shoe and the inner surface of the outer layer being shaped to match the inner layer, said outer layer further comprises mechanical fastening means for attaching it firmly to the shoe 
         [0009]    The invention also relates to an outer layer element arranged to be applied on the outside of a shoe but which only covers select regions of the front upper part of the shoe. In a preferred embodiment the select region include the front outer corner of the shoe, that is, the area where the toe of the shoe meets the outer side of the shoe. 
         [0010]    By enabling the exchange of the outer surface of the shoe in the parts of the shoe where it is particularly subjected to wear and tear, the appearance of the shoe can be improved by replacing the worn part. At the same time, when the performance of the shoe has been reduced, the replacement surface will enable control of the skateboard on the same level as when the shoe was new. Preferably materials ensuring high performance and skateboard deck interaction are selected for the shoe. 
         [0011]    The fastening means can be any means suitable for attaching the outer layer element to the shoe. 
         [0012]    For example, the inside of the outer layer element and the outside of the inner layer of the shoe may have matching hook and loop fabric fasteners. Such hook and loop fasteners are available for example under the brand name Velcro®. In one embodiment the fabric fastener is applied over all of the respective surfaces of the inner and outer layer whole outer layer and inner layer to maximize the fixation of the outer layer element to the inner layer. If only applied to one or more portions of the inner and outer layers, the fabric fastener should be applied to matching portions on the respective surfaces and preferably at least around the edges of the surfaces to ensure that the edges of the outer layer are fixed to the inner layer. 
         [0013]    Alternatively, an adhesive could be applied, over the whole inner and outer surfaces, or over suitable portions of them. 
         [0014]    As yet another alternative, the inner surface of the outer layer element and the outer surface of the inner layer may be formed in materials that will cooperate to hold the outer layer element in place by means of friction. 
         [0015]    In addition, or alternatively, other types of fastening means may be applied, such as buttons, zippers or stud buttons. These may be used around the edges, on other parts of the shoe. 
         [0016]    In addition there may also be one or more elements such as straps arranged to fix the outer layer element to an outer surface of the main portion of the shoe, the straps arranged to be fixed both to the outer surface of the outer layer element and to the outer surface of the main portion. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    The invention will be described in more detail in the following, with reference to the appended drawings, in which 
           [0018]      FIGS. 1 a -1 c    show a shoe and its parts according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIGS. 2 a -2 c    show a shoe and its parts according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIGS. 3 a -3 c    show a shoe and its parts according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  shows a type of fabric fastener that is used in preferred embodiments of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0022]      FIG. 1 a    shows a shoe according to a first embodiment of the present invention, having a sole part  11  and an upper part  13 . The sole part and the upper part, and how they are joined, may be implemented in any manner known in the art. In the shoe of  FIG. 1 a    the sole part has a vertical extension so that the sole part  11  and the upper part  13  are joined a distance above the ground. The upper part has a main portion  15  in which it is designed like a prior art shoe. Typically, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the main portion  15  comprises the back of the shoe. The front end of the shoe has a renewal area  16  in which the shoe comprises at least two layers: an outer layer facing outwards, and inner layer, which is attached to the main part of the shoe. The inner layer may extend as an inner layer over a portion of the main part of the shoe, or may form an inner layer for the whole shoe. Hence, in the renewal area  16  there is an outer layer part  17 , attached to the inner layer of the shoe which is removable so that it can be replaced, for example when wear and tear has rendered it less attractive and/or less functional. 
         [0023]      FIG. 1 b    shows the outer layer part  17  removed from the shoe, according to one embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the renewal area  16  comprises the whole front part of the shoe. As can be seen, the shape of the outer layer part  17  matches the renewal area as shown in  FIG. 1 a   . The inner surface of the outer layer part  17  comprises fastening means arranged to cooperate with the outer surface of the inner layer, to hold the outer layer part  17  in place in the renewal area. 
         [0024]      FIG. 1 c    shows the shoe with the outer layer part  17  removed. The main part  15  of the shoe, which is comprised of the back of the shoe, is not affected according to this embodiment, and is the same as shown in  FIG. 1 a   . In the renewal area  16  the inner layer  19  is seen. The inner layer  19  in the renewal area  16  has an outer surface comprising fastening means arranged to cooperate with the inner surface of the outer layer part to hold the outer layer part  17  in place in the renewal area. 
         [0025]    The nature of the fastening means will be discussed below. 
         [0026]      FIG. 2 a    shows a shoe according to a second embodiment of the invention. As in  FIG. 1 a   , the shoe has a sole part  21  and an upper part  23 . The upper part  23  has a main portion  25  in which it is designed like a prior art shoe. In this embodiment, the shoe has a renewal area  26  covering a portion of the shoe in which there is normally much wear and tear when the shoe is in use. As in  FIG. 1 a   , the shoe in the renewal area  26  comprises at least two layers: an outer layer  27  facing outwards, and inner layer  29 , which is attached to the main part of the shoe.  FIG. 2 a    shows the shoe with the outer layer  27  part removed. The inner layer  29  may extend as an inner layer over a portion of the main part of the shoe, or may form an inner layer for the whole shoe. The outer layer part  27 , attached to the inner layer  29  of the shoe is removable, in this embodiment it has the form of a patch having the same outline as the renewal area  26 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 2 b    shows the outer layer part  27  removed from the shoe, according to the second embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the renewal area  26  comprises a portion of the side of the shoe. As can be seen, the shape of the outer layer part  27  matches the renewal area  26  as shown in  FIG. 2 a   . The inner surface of the outer layer part  27  comprises fastening means arranged to cooperate with the outer surface of the inner layer, to hold the outer layer part  27  in place in the renewal area. 
         [0028]    The main part  25  of the shoe, which includes most of the shoe, is not affected according to this embodiment. In the renewal area the inner layer  29  is seen. The inner layer  29  in the renewal area  26  has an outer surface comprising fastening means arranged to cooperate with the inner surface of the outer layer part  27  to hold the outer layer part  27  in place in the renewal area  26 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 3 a    shows a shoe according to a third embodiment of the invention. As before, the shoe has a sole part  31  and an upper part  33 . The upper part  33  has a main portion  35  in which it is designed like a prior art shoe. In this embodiment, as in  FIG. 1 a   , the sole part extends vertically to form an edge around the lower part of the shoe. The shoe has a renewal area  36  covering the front of the shoe and extending over the edge formed by the sole part. As in the previous embodiments, the shoe in the renewal area  36  comprises at least two layers: an outer layer  37  facing outwards, and inner layer  39 , which is attached to the main part of the shoe. The main part  35  of the shoe, which includes most of the shoe, is not affected according to this embodiment. In the renewal area the inner layer  39  is seen. The inner layer  39  in the renewal area  36  has an outer surface comprising fastening means arranged to cooperate with the inner surface of the outer layer part  37  to hold the outer layer part  37  in place in the renewal area  36 . The inner layer  39  may extend as an inner layer over a portion of the main part of the shoe, or may form an inner layer for the whole shoe. The outer layer part  37 , attached to the inner layer  39  of the shoe is removable, in this embodiment it has at least two areas: an upper area  37   a  matching the upper part of the shoe and a lower area  37   b  matching the vertical extension of the sole part  31 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 3 b    shows the outer layer part  37  removed from the shoe, according to the third embodiment of the invention. As can be seen, the outline of the outer layer part  37  matches the renewal area  36  as shown in  FIG. 3 a   . The inner surface of the outer layer part  37  comprises fastening means arranged to cooperate with the outer surface of the inner layer, to hold the outer layer part  37  in place in the renewal area. 
         [0031]    Preferably, in all embodiments, the outline of the upper layer part  17 ,  27 ,  37  matches the renewal area exactly. Preferably, also, the thickness of the upper layer part  17 ,  27 ,  37  matches the thickness of an indent formed and built in to the renewal area compared to the main portion, so that when in place the upper layer part and the main portion will form essentially one continuous outer surface of the shoe. 
         [0032]    As can be seen, in all embodiments the renewal area is indented compared to the main portion  5  of the shoe, so that it can receive an upper layer part  9  in such a manner that the outer surface of the upper layer part is flush with the outer surface of the main part  5  of the shoe. This is not necessary; the upper layer part may be thicker or thinner than the indent formed by the replacement area so that it extends a bit outside of the outer surface of the main part, or ends a bit further in. Strictly speaking the inner layer does not have to be indented compared to the outer surface of the main part of the shoe, although it preferably is. 
         [0033]    Preferably, the material or materials of the outer surface of the upper layer part  17 ,  27 ,  37  are chosen and arranged so they match the outer surface of the main part  15 ,  25 ,  35  to give the shoe an attractive appearance. This may involve matching the coloring of different parts of the shoes, the choice of materials and other aspects contributing to the visual appearance of the shoe. 
         [0034]      FIG. 4  illustrates a preferred type of fastening means that may be used with the invention, which is a fabric fastener comprising a first  41  fastener layer and a second fastener layer  42  having cooperating surfaces  43  and  44 , respectively, arranged to engage each other. The first cooperating surface  43  typically has hook fasteners and the other one  44  has loop fasteners. Preferably the fastener layer  42  having the loop surface  44  is arranged on the outer surface of the inner layer  19 ,  29 ,  39  and the fastener layer  41  having the hook surface  43  is arranged on the inner surface of the outer layer  17 ,  27 ,  37 . Such hook and loop fasteners are available for example under the brand name Velcro®. The fabric fastener should be applied over at least a part of the outer layer  17 ,  27 ,  29  and the inner layer  19 ,  29 ,  39 . The best fixation of the outer layer element to the inner layer will be achieved if the fastener fabric is applied over all of the respective surfaces of the inner and outer layer. If only applied to one or more portions of the inner and outer layers, the fabric fastener should be applied to matching portions on the respective surfaces and preferably at least around the edges of the surfaces to ensure that the edges of the outer layer are fixed to the inner layer. 
         [0035]    The inner and outer surface of the outer and inner layer, respectively, may also be selected so that they bonded to each other by means of friction. For example, some combinations of a rubber surface and a fabric surface have been shown to have a high friction. In such an embodiment, the rubber could be applied across the whole inner or outer surface, or in patches on one of the surfaces or both, to ensure friction between the rubber patches and the fabric of the surfaces. 
         [0036]    To further improve the bonding of the replaceable outer layer to the shoe, other types of fastening means may be used. For example, one or more buttons or stud buttons may be applied in corresponding positions on the outer layer part and the inner layer, for example, around the edges. It would also be possible to apply a zipper along part of the edge, or around the whole renewal portion, or use an adhesive to bond the parts together. Further, the replaceable outer layer may be secured to the inner layer by means of staples, or stitches. The other types of fastening means mentioned in this paragraph are preferably used in addition to the fabric fastener or friction bonding. One or more straps may be applied, which are connectable to both the outer surface of the main part and the outer surface of the outer layer element of the shoe, to help keep the outer layer element in place. The straps may be fastened with fabric fasteners as discussed above, or with buttons or stud buttons, or in any other suitable way. 
         [0037]    In addition, the outer layer part  17 ,  37  may be shaped in such a way that it includes one or more of the holes arranged for lacing the shoe in these embodiments. In that way, the lacing of the shoe may be used for additional fixation of the outer layer part to the shoe. 
         [0038]    Further, it should be pointed out that the replacement parts, and outer layer elements according to the invention could be applied to any type of shoe, including but not limited to sports shoes. Although the examples discussed in this document all include lacing, the invention could easily work with shoes without laces as well.