Patent ID: 8028441

Claim:
A shoe system comprising: a removable upper unit having a lower edge, the upper unit having an upper connector extending generally downwardly from the lower edge of the upper unit, the upper unit being configured to extend across at least a portion of a user's foot; and a sole unit comprising a lower connector being attachable to the upper connector of the upper unit to form a removable connection to facilitate removable attachment of the upper unit to the sole unit; and a support structure extending at least partially along a periphery of the sole unit, the support structure extending upwardly from the sole unit to define an upper portion configured to abut at least the upper connector when the sole unit is coupled to the upper unit, the support structure extending inwardly from the periphery of the sole unit from one side of the sole unit to another side thereof, a first portion of the support structure being coupled to an interior area of the sole unit along the periphery thereof, a second portion of the support structure being coupled to the first portion of the support structure and to an upper surface of the interior area to fix the orientation of the upper portion of the support structure relative to the sole unit, the upper portion of the support structure defining an upper edge configured extend above the lower edge of the upper unit when the sole unit is coupled to the upper unit.