Patent ID: 7328527

Claim:
An article of footwear, comprising: an upper; a sole having a toe portion, a middle portion, a heel portion, a medial side and a lateral side, wherein said sole includes a slot having a height, a width extending from near the heel portion of said sole across the middle portion of said sole toward the toe portion of said sole, and a depth extending from the medial side of said sole to the lateral side of said sole; and a first strap having a stopper attached to said first strap, wherein the stopper is disposed in a location away from the ends of said first strap, wherein the stopper has a height greater than the height of said slot so as to provide leverage for tightening said strap and to limit movement of said first strap through said slot, wherein said first strap extends through said slot and around at least a portion of said upper and said first strap is removable and replaceable by a second strap.