Abstract:
A reversible shoe that can be taken apart and reassembled with inside and outside faces reversed includes: (a) a reversible sole; (b) two side flaps, each affixed to the sole along a longitudinal side edge of the sole; (c) a heel flap attached at one end to a posterior end of the sole; and (d) attachment means, such as zippers, laces, snaps, and buttons, for attaching one portion of the shoe to another. The reversible shoe has a generally flat, unassembled position for storage, and two opposite assembled positions ready for wear as a shoe. This reversible shoe allows the user to switch from one style to another, one color to another, monotone to multi-hued, or from plain to decorated. A method for assembling a reversible shoe, and a kit for building a reversible, readily assembled shoe are also included.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present device is a reversible shoe that allows the wearer to change the color of the shoe by disassembling it and reversing the inside and outside of the shoe, and then reassembling it. 
     2. Background Information 
     Many women and a growing number of men in the United States are enthusiastic shoe collectors. As fashions change, they continually add to their shoe collection and discard barely worn shoes from the previous season. For women especially, shoe styles change each season, and staying in style is a costly endeavor for them. 
     The reversible shoe of the present invention fulfills a need for an inexpensive, versatile, stylish shoe which can be quickly and easily converted from one side to the other. The reversible shoe cuts down on the number of separate pairs of shoes that must be purchased for different occasions, for example, casual shoes for wearing to work and dressier shoes for a evening out. In addition to cost savings, being able to maintain fewer shoes helps to free up closet space, reduce shopping time, lower the number of trips to shoe repair shops, and facilitate packing for trips. With the present invention, gentlemen and ladies need not carry an extra pair of shoes for going out to dinner after work. Instead, they can carry the reversible shoe of the present invention, to decorate and add color to their shoes. This reversible shoe allows the user to switch from one style to another, one color to another, monotone to multi-hued, or from plain to decorated. The reversible shoe can be designed to suit certain occasions, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. Shoes according to the present invention, then, are more versatile than conventional shoes because they can be worn to match several outfits. 
     Also, some people wear their shoes out from the inside out, particularly in the toe area of the shoe. Many commercially available shoes are shelved or discarded because the toe area wears out or is in poor condition. With the present invention, their shoes will last longer because they worn on both sides. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a reversible shoe that can be taken apart and reassembled with inside and outside faces reversed, the shoe comprising: 
     (a) a generally flat, reversible sole; 
     (b) two side flaps, each affixed to the sole along a longitudinal side edge of the side flap, and a longitudinal side edge of the sole; 
     (c) a heel flap attached at one end to a posterior end of the sole; and 
     (d) attachment means for attaching one portion of the shoe to another; 
     wherein the attachment means are attached to the shoe along two opposite side edges of the heel flap on both faces, with complementary attachment means along a posterior end of each side flap on both faces; along both faces of a free edge of each side flap, with complementary attachment means on opposite anterior portions of the side flaps on both faces; and 
     wherein the reversible shoe has a flat, unassembled position for storage, and two opposite assembled positions ready for wear as a shoe. Also included herein are a method for assembling a reversible shoe, and a kit for building a reversible, readily assembled shoe. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A more complete understanding of the invention and its advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein examples of the invention are shown, and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a reversible shoe according to the present invention, shown in an unassembled button and snap embodiment; 
     FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of a reversible shoe according to the present invention, shown in an assembled button and snap embodiment; 
     FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of a shoe heel according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a right perspective view of a reversible shoe according to the present invention, shown in the assembled button and snap embodiment; 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the shoe according to FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a right perspective view of a reversible shoe according to the present invention, shown reversed, with insert, in the button and snap embodiment; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a reversible shoe according to the present invention, shown in an unassembled zipper embodiment; 
     FIG. 8 is a rear elevational view of a reversible shoe according to the present invention, shown in an assembled zipper embodiment; 
     FIG. 9 is a right perspective view of a reversible shoe according to the present invention, shown in an assembled zipper embodiment with insert; 
     FIG. 10 is a right perspective view of a reversible shoe according to the present invention, shown reversed, in an assembled zipper embodiment; 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a reversible shoe according to the present invention, shown in an unassembled zipper and button embodiment; 
     FIG. 12 is a rear elevational view of a reversible shoe according to the present invention, shown in an assembled zipper and button embodiment; 
     FIG. 13 is a left perspective view of a reversible shoe according to the present invention, shown in an assembled zipper and button embodiment; 
     FIG. 14 is a right elevational view of a reversible shoe according to the present invention, shown in an assembled zipper and button embodiment with insert; 
     FIG. 15 is a right perspective view of a reversible shoe according to the present invention, shown in a reversed, zipper and button embodiment; 
     FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a reversible shoe according to the present invention, shown in an unassembled lace-up embodiment; 
     FIG. 17 is a rear elevational view of a reversible shoe according to the present invention, shown in an assembled lace-up embodiment; 
     FIG. 18 is a right elevational view of a reversible shoe according to the present invention, shown in an assembled lace-up embodiment with insert; and 
     FIG. 19 is a right perspective view of a reversible shoe according to the present invention, shown in a reversed lace-up embodiment. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views. Also, in the following description, it is to be understood that such terms as “front,” “back,” “inside,” and the like are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms. Referring in more detail to the drawings, the invention will now be described. 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a reversible shoe of the present invention, generally referred to as  10 , is shown in a first embodiment, a button and snap embodiment. The reversible shoe  10  includes: (a) a sole  11  in approximately the shape of a sole of an ordinary shoe or foot, the sole having a front toe portion and a rear heel portion; (b) two side flaps  12 ,  13  each joining the sole  11  along a longitudinal edge of the sole, corresponding to the sides of the wearer&#39;s foot; (c) a front flap constituting the tongue  15  of the shoe  10 , the tongue  15  having a narrow end portion attached to the toe portion of the sole; (d) a heel flap  16  attached at one end to the heel portion of the sole  11 ; and (e) attachment means for attaching one portion of the shoe  10  to another. The heel flap  16  is joined to the sole  11  along the narrow, curved rear edge of the heel portion, corresponding to the back of a wearer&#39;s foot. 
     The button and snap embodiment of FIG. 1 is preferably made from a single piece of flexible material, such as leather or a sturdy, durable fabric. The side flaps  12 ,  13 , tongue  15 , and heel flap  16  may be made from the same piece of material as the sole  11 , or may be separate pieces attached by stitching or other means to the sole  11 . A generally rectangular flap  14  is attached to one side  12  by stitching  22 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 1,  2 ,  4 , and  6 , to assemble the button and snap shoe  10  for wearing, the tongue  15  is folded back over the sole  11 , as in an ordinary shoe. The side flaps  12 ,  13  are pulled toward the center of the sole  11  and the rectangular flap  14  is attached to the opposite side  13  by buttons  23  attached through conventional buttonholes  21 . The side flaps  12 ,  13  are curved from front to back, so that the front of each is narrower than the back. Snap members  20  at the edge of one side flap  12  are snapped onto complementary snap members  19  on the edge of the opposite side flap  13  of the shoe. Thus, when the shoe  10  is assembled, the side flaps  12 ,  13  are joined together at their anterior (toe) portions by snaps, closing the front portion of the shoe  10 , while the middle portion of the shoe  10  remains partly open. The two sides  12 ,  13  are joined by, and the top arch of the foot is covered by, the rectangular flap  14 . The tongue  15  also covers the top of the foot. The rear of the shoe  10  is held together by buttoning the heel flap  16  to the side flaps  12 ,  13 , by means of a row of buttons  25  sewn in to a row of tabs  17  on the fabric and buttoned to a row of corresponding button holes  24  on the back edge of each side  12 ,  13 . The side flaps, heel flap, and rectangular flap can be attached in any order. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1,  3 , and  5 , the sole  11  also includes a heel plate  18  with female snap members  30  whereby a detachable heel  32  may be attached to the sole  11 . The detachable heel  32  contains a set of male (or female) snap members  31  corresponding to the female (or male) snap members  30  in the heel plate  18 . The detachable heel  32  may thus be easily attached to or removed from the sole  11  of the shoe  10  as desired by the wearer. 
     Comparing FIG.  4  and FIG. 6, the shoe  10  may be reversibly assembled, so that the side of the shoe  10  shown in FIG. 1 becomes the outside when assembled as in FIG. 4, or the inside when assembled as in FIG.  6 . Thus, the right side  12  in one assembly, shown in FIG. 4, becomes the left side  12  in the reverse assembly, shown in FIG. 6, and the left side  13  in the first assembly, shown in FIG. 4, becomes the right side  13  in the reverse assembly, shown in FIG.  6 . The entire shoe  10  may be of different colors on opposite sides, so that when the shoe  10  is assembled in reverse, a different color will show on the outside. To facilitate reverse assembly, buttons  23  on the rectangular flap  14  and buttons  25  on the heel flap  16  are placed on both sides of the flap, so that assembly is the same when reversed. The edge  33  of the sole can be seen from the outside in FIG.  4 . The sole  11  may be thick or thin. 
     With continued attention to FIG. 6, a sole insert  34  may also be placed inside the shoe  10 , so that, when the shoe assembly  10  is reversed, the wearer&#39;s foot need not directly contact the surface that previously was on the outside and directly in contact with the ground. For the purpose of illustration, the insert is shown protruding from the top of the shoe in FIG.  6 . In use, the sole insert  34  is placed down inside the shoe  10  over the sole  11 . 
     In general, the wearer can disassemble and then reassemble this shoe  10 , with the inside and outside reversed. The shoe is made of at least one, and preferably only one, piece of leather, cloth, or other durable fabric. It can be made of one piece of one type of material and have an overlay of another type of material, such as leather and fabric. It can be easily assembled into a shoe by means of laces, zippers, button, and snaps, or combinations thereof. The shoe preferably includes a detachable heel. The detachable heel is preferably attached on one side and not the other. The heel can alternatively be worn on either side, i.e., it can be removed and reattached from the other side when the shoe is reversed. The heel can be worn or omitted according to the wearer&#39;s preference. The shoe can also include a sole insert that is generally intended to be worn in all preferred embodiments of the shoe, although the shoe can be worn without the sole insert. The sole insert protects the shoe from dirt and wear, and it can be discarded and replaced when/if it becomes soiled. Once removed, the shoe can be put back on the foot with the inside and outside reversed, thus allowing the wearer to choose between two different colors or decorative styles in the same pair of shoes. 
     Turning to FIGS. 7,  8 ,  9 , and  10 , an alternative embodiment of the invention utilizes zippers  48 ,  49 ,  50 ,  52  to assemble the shoe  40 . In this embodiment, the tongue  15  from the button and snap embodiment  10  in FIG. 1 may be omitted. The two sides  42 ,  43  are joined together by means of zippers  52  placed along the front edges. When assembled, the front zipper  52  runs along the center of the shoe  40  towards the back, stopping approximately two-thirds of the way from the front to the back, leaving the two sides  42 ,  43  unconnected to each other in the rear portion along the top edges, allowing a space for the wearer&#39;s ankle, as in an ordinary shoe. The back edge of each side  42 ,  43  is attached to the edge of the heel flap  44  similarly to the button and snap embodiment in FIG. 1, by means of back side zippers  48 ,  49  instead of buttons  25 . A single tab  45  at the top of each side of the heel flap  44  may be included with a button or male snap  47  which may be attached to a corresponding button hole or female snap  58  placed toward the rear of each side  42 ,  43 . As in the button and snap embodiment in FIG.  4  and FIG. 6, the shoe  40  may be reversed, so that the outside becomes the inside, and vice-versa, thus allowing the wearer to change the color of the shoe  40 . A sole insert  53  may also be used, as in the previous embodiment, FIG.  6 . When the shoe assembly is reversed, the sole insert prevents the wearer&#39;s foot from contacting the surface of the shoe that previously was on the outside and directly in contact with the ground. 
     Referring to FIGS. 11 through 15, another embodiment of the shoe  60  may be assembled by means of a combination of zippers  69  and buttons  68 ,  75 . In this zipper and button embodiment  60 , the heel flap  76  may be comprised of two pieces  65 ,  66  joined by a center zipper  69  to form a symmetrical flap having two tabs  67  at the top, as in the zipper configuration shown in FIG. 7, each of which attaches by means of a button  68  or male snap member to a corresponding buttonhole  71  or female snap member on the trailing edge of each side flap  62 ,  63 . When the shoe  60  is assembled, the side flaps  62 ,  63  are folded toward the center and joined to the heel flap  76  as described above, while the tongue  64  is folded back and may remain on the outside of the shoe  60 , being joined to each side flap  62 ,  63  by a button  75  and buttonhole  72 , as shown in FIG.  13  and FIG. 14, or may be placed inside the shoe  60 , as shown in FIG.  15 . As in the previous embodiments, the shoe  60  may be disassembled and reassembled in reverse, and a sole insert  76  and detachable heel  74  may be used. The sole insert  76  optionally comprises a soft cloth overlay  77  on the toe portion for comfort. 
     Turning to FIGS. 16 through 19, in another embodiment the shoe  80  may be constructed with a lace-up configuration. As shown in FIG. 16, this embodiment of the shoe  80  includes the sole  81 , and the heel plate  86  with female snap members  87 . In this embodiment, the entire edge of each side  82 ,  83  is perforated with a row of lace eyelets  89 , and the two side flaps  82 ,  83  are pulled together and joined by laces  88 , such as shoelaces. The tongue  84  is pulled back, as in the previous embodiments, and placed inside the shoe  80 , that is, beneath the side flaps. The side flaps  82 ,  83  are joined to the heel flap  85 , also by laces  90  through a row of eyelets  91  along the trailing edge of the sides  82 ,  83 . The heel flap  85  may be in two pieces  96 ,  97 , as shown in FIG. 17, joined by a center lace  92  to form a rectangular flap  85 , or may be constructed of one piece with no center laces. In other respects, the lace-up configuration is similar to the other embodiments. A sole insert  95  and detachable heel  94  may be used, and the entire shoe  80  may be reversibly assembled. 
     In summary, a preferred embodiment of the shoe includes: 
     (1) a tongue  15  having a narrow end portion attached to the anterior toe portion of the sole and an opposite free end; 
     (2) a rectangular flap  14  affixed along one of its edges to one of the side flaps of the shoe, the rectangular flap comprising attachment means along an opposite edge; 
     (3) laces or zippers as the attachment means; 
     (4) a detachable heel  32 ; 
     (5) a heel plate  18  attached to the sole  11 , the heel plate having snap members  30  on its face, the snap members  30  being attachable to corresponding snap members  31  on an upper face of the detachable heel  32 ; and 
     (6) a zipper  69  up the center of the heel flap, joining one longitudinal half of the heel flap to the other  65 ,  66 . 
     In a preferred embodiment: 
     (a) the reversible shoe  10  is made of a single piece of material, or a two-ply layer of material (e.g., canvas on one face and leather on an opposite face); 
     (b) the side flaps  12 ,  13  are generally rectangular in shape, and curved at their anterior ends, with a straight edge at each posterior end, the anterior portions of each side flap being narrower than their posterior portions; 
     (c) the heel flap  16  comprises from one to about five tabs  17  projecting from each side edge of the heel flap, with the same number of tabs  17  on each side edge, a means of attachment  25  being affixed to both faces of each tab  17 , with a corresponding means of attachment  24  affixed to a posterior edge on both faces of each side flap, with the same number of attachment members  24  on each side flap; and 
     (d) the attachment means are buttons  68  and buttonholes  71 ,  72 , or snaps  20 . 
     Also included in the present invention is a method for assembling a reversible shoe  10  on a wearer&#39;s foot, the shoe  10  including a sole  11 , a tongue  15  attached to an anterior end of the sole  11 , two side flaps  12 ,  13  attached to the longitudinal edges of the sole, a rectangular flap  14  attached to a side flap  12 , and attachment means attached to the shoe  10 . The method includes the steps of: 
     (a) pulling the heel flap  16  up to a generally vertical position; 
     (b) attaching attachment means  25  on the heel flap  16  to complementary attachment means  24  at the posterior ends of each of the side flaps  12 ,  13 ; 
     (c) folding the tongue  15  back over the top of the wearer&#39;s foot in the shoe  10 ; 
     (d) pulling the side flaps  13  up over the wearer&#39;s foot; 
     (e) attaching the side flaps  12 ,  13  to one another at an anterior toe portion of the side flaps using complementary attachment means  20  on each side flap  12 ,  13 . 
     The method preferably further includes the steps of: 
     (d1) pulling a free edge of the rectangular flap  14  over a top arch of the wearer&#39;s foot over to the opposite side flap  13 ; 
     (d2) attaching attachment means  23  on the free edge of the rectangular flap  14  to complementary attachment means  21  on the opposite side flap  13 . The method preferably further includes the step of attaching a detachable heel  32  to the bottom of the shoe  10  at the heel. The steps related to attaching the rectangular flap  14 , may follow or precede the step related to attaching the side flaps  12 ,  13  to one another, (e). The steps related to attaching the heel flap  16  may follow or preceded the step related to attaching the side flaps  12 ,  13  to one another, (e). Preferably, the attachment means are buttons, zippers, snaps, or a mixture thereof. In one embodiment, the attachment means comprise laces  88 ,  90 ,  92 , and step (e) comprises removably fastening the side flaps to one another and the heel flap to the posterior edges of the side flaps by lacing at least one lace through eyelets  89 ,  91  along the edges of the side flaps and heel flap. The method preferably further includes the step of attaching a detachable heel  32  to the bottom of the shoe at the heel. The attachment means preferably include zippers. 
     Also included herein is a portable kit for building a reversible, readily assembled shoe. The kit includes: 
     (a) a flat, unassembled shoe  10 , comprising a sole  11 , a tongue  15  attached to an anterior end of the sole  11 , two side flaps  12 ,  13  attached to the longitudinal edges of the sole, a rectangular flap  14  attached to a side flap  12 , and attachment means attached to the shoe  10  for detachably attaching one portion of the shoe to another; and 
     (b) a detachable heel  32 . 
     The reversible shoe  10  with detachable heel  32  is as described herein. The unassembled shoe  10  is easy to carry, in a purse or pocket, for example, or store when it is folded or rolled up. It can optionally comprise a lace or band at one end for encompassing the rolled up shoe, so that it resembles a sleeping bag. 
     From the foregoing it can be realized that the described device of the present invention may be easily and conveniently utilized as a means for making a shoe that is reversible from inside to outside, allowing an interchange of colors or of other decorative or stylistic features of the shoe. The wearer thus has the advantages of two pairs of shoes in one. It is to be understood that any dimensions given herein are illustrative, and are not meant to be limiting. 
     While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described using specific terms, this description is for illustrative purposes only. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications, substitutions, omissions, and changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, and that such are intended to be within the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims. It is intended that the doctrine of equivalents be relied upon to determine the fair scope of these claims in connection with any other person&#39;s product which fall outside the literal wording of these claims, but which in reality do not materially depart from this invention. 
     Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention. 
     BRIEF LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS USED IN THE DRAWINGS 
       10  reversible shoe in button and snap embodiment 
       11  sole 
       12  right side flap 
       13  left side flap 
       14  rectangular flap 
       15  tongue 
       16  heel flap 
       17  tabs on heel flap 
       18  heel plate 
       19  snap members 
       20  opposite snap members 
       21  buttonholes 
       22  stitching 
       23  side buttons 
       24  back buttonholes 
       25  back buttons 
       30  heel snap members (female) 
       31  heel snap members (male) 
       32  detachable heel 
       33  edge of sole 
       34  sole insert 
       40  Embodiment 2: zipper, unassembled 
       41  sole 
       42  right side flap 
       43  left side flap 
       44  heel flap 
       45  back tabs 
       46  heel plate 
       47  snaps 
       48  left back side zipper 
       49  right back side zipper 
       50  back center zipper 
       51  heel snap members (female) 
       52  front center zipper 
       53  sole insert 
       54  zipper fly 
       56  detachable heel 
       57  heel snaps 
       58  snaps 
       60  Embodiment 3: zipper and button, unassembled 
       61  sole 
       62  right side flap 
       63  left side flap 
       64  tongue 
       65  heel flap, right side 
       66  heel flap, left side 
       67  back tabs 
       68  button 
       69  center zipper 
       70  zipper fly 
       71  side flap buttonholes 
       72  tongue buttonholes 
       73  edge of sole 
       74  detachable heel 
       75  button 
       76  heel flap 
       77  cloth overlay on sole insert 
       80  Embodiment 4: lace-up, unassembled 
       81  sole 
       82  right side flap 
       83  left side flap 
       84  tongue 
       85  heel flap 
       86  heel plate 
       87  heel snap members (female) 
       88  center laces 
       89  center lace eyelets 
       90  back laces 
       91  back lace eyelets 
       92  back center laces 
       93  edge of sole 
       94  detachable heel 
       95  sole insert 
       96  heel flap, left side 
       97  heel flap, right side