Patent ID: 8322054

Claim:
A shoe with an interchangeable strap, comprising: a sole member having an upper surface configured to receive a user's foot and a lower surface configured to contact a support surface, the sole member further having a first side wall and a second side wall spaced from the first side wall, the side walls extending between the upper and lower surfaces; the sole member having a slot defined therethrough, the slot extending between the first and second side walls and being spaced from the upper and lower surface of the sole member, the slot having an upper limit and a lower limit spaced apart by a slot height, the slot having a front edge and a rear edge spaced apart by a slot length, the slot having a slot shape as viewed from above; a strap having an assembled position wherein the strap extends through the slot and forms a loop extending over the upper surface of the sole member such that the strap forms an upper for the shoe, the strap having a slot engaging portion that is generally disposed in the slot when the strap is in the assembled position, the slot engaging portion having a first thickness, the strap further having an exposed portion that is not disposed in the slot when the strap is in the assembled position, the majority of the exposed portion having a thickness substantially less than the first thickness; a toe post element having a first end interconnected with the sole member and a second end extending upwardly from the upper surface of the sole member, the second end including a strap engaging feature; wherein the strap engaging feature engages the exposed portion of the strap when the strap is in the assembled position; and wherein the strap is removable from the sole member by removing the strap from the slot and disengaging the strap from the strap engaging feature.