Patent ID: 8904675

Claim:
A footwear article comprising: an insole configured to support a foot of an individual when the footwear article is worn by the individual; an outsole which contacts the ground when the footwear article is worn by the individual; an upper configured to hold the footwear article to the foot of the individual when the footwear article is worn by the individual, wherein the upper includes a lateral portion and a medial portion; wherein the lateral portion of the upper is configured to retain an interchangeable placard in a position with respect to the footwear article wherein the placard covers substantially an entirety of the lateral portion of the upper of the footwear article; and wherein the lateral and medial portions of the upper individually comprise a retaining region which is changeable between an open configuration to permit ingress and egress of the foot of the individual into and out of the footwear article and a closed configuration wherein the upper holds the footwear article to the foot of the individual, and wherein the placard extends past the attachment region in a forward direction toward a toe region of the footwear article and a rearward direction toward a heel region of the footwear article.