US20020178613A1

US20020178613A1 - Shoe having interchangeable soles

Info

Publication number: US20020178613A1
Application number: US09/872,017
Authority: US
Inventors: Vincent Williamson; Andrew Nicoletti
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-06-01
Filing date: 2001-06-01
Publication date: 2002-12-05

Abstract

A shoe having interchangeable soles including a shoe portion having an open upper end and a closed lower end. The open upper end receives a foot of a user therein. A plurality of soles are adapted for being removably coupled with the closed lower end of the shoe portion. Each of the soles have an upper surface and a lower surface. The lower surface of the soles each have a different traction components disposed thereon.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a shoe having interchangeable soles and more particularly pertains to allowing a shoe to be changed to accommodate different weather conditions.

The use of shoe accessory devices is known in the prior art. More specifically, shoe accessory devices heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of enhancing shoes are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.

By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,351,120 to Dalebout discloses a boot with attachable interchangeable traction components for various conditions. U.S. Pat. No. 4,367,649 to Smith discloses a show with interchangeable components. U.S. Pat. No. 4,907,355 to Allen discloses a cycling shoe with an adjustable cleat. U.S. Pat. No. 3,949,495 to Hollmann discloses an attachable anti-skidding device for a shoe to prevent slipping during inclement weather.

While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objective and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a shoe having interchangeable soles for allowing a shoe to be changed to accommodate different weather conditions.

In this respect, the shoe having interchangeable soles according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of allowing a shoe to be changed to accommodate different weather conditions.

Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved shoe having interchangeable soles which can be used for allowing a shoe to be changed to accommodate different weather conditions. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of shoe accessory devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved shoe having interchangeable soles. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved shoe having interchangeable soles which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a shoe portion having an open upper end and a closed lower end. The open upper end receives a foot of a user therein. The closed lower end has a plurality of recesses directed upwardly thereof in a spaced relationship. A plurality of soles are adapted for being removably coupled with the closed lower end of the shoe portion. Each of the soles have an upper surface and a lower surface. The upper surface has a plurality of plugs extending upwardly therefrom in a spaced relationship corresponding with the plurality of recesses of the closed lower end of the shoe portion whereby the plurality of plugs are receivable within the plurality of recesses to facilitate securement of one of the soles to the shoe portion. The lower surface of the soles each have a different traction components disposed thereon.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved shoe having interchangeable soles which has all the advantages of the prior art shoe accessory devices and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved shoe having interchangeable soles which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved shoe having interchangeable soles which is of durable and reliable construction.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved shoe having interchangeable soles which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such a shoe having interchangeable soles economically available to the buying public.

Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved shoe having interchangeable soles for allowing a shoe to be changed to accommodate different weather conditions.

Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved shoe having interchangeable soles including a shoe portion having an open upper end and a closed lower end. The open upper end receives a foot of a user therein.

A plurality of soles are adapted for being removably coupled with the closed lower end of the shoe portion. Each of the soles have an upper surface and a lower surface. The lower surface of the soles each have a different traction components disposed thereon.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: [0020]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the shoe having interchangeable soles constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. [0021]
FIG. 2 is a side view of the present invention illustrated with the golf shoe sole in place.[0022]
The same reference numerals refer to the same parts through the various figures. [0023]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular, to FIGS. 1 through 2 thereof, the preferred embodiment of the new and improved shoe having interchangeable soles embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the [0024] reference number 10 will be described.
Specifically, it will be noted in the various figures that the device relates to a shoe having interchangeable soles for allowing a shoe to be changed to accommodate different weather conditions. In its broadest context, the device consists of a shoe portion and a plurality of soles. Such components are individually configured and correlated with respect to each other so as to attain the desired objective. [0025]
The [0026] shoe portion 12 has an open upper end 14 and a closed lower end 16. The open upper end 14 receives a foot of a user therein. The closed lower end 16 has a plurality of recesses 18 directed upwardly thereof in a spaced relationship. The recesses 18 are spaced apart beginning from the toe of the shoe portion 12 and extending all the way to the heel of the shoe portion 12. The more recesses 18 utilized will provide for a more effective coupling with the soles.
The plurality of [0027] soles 20 are adapted for being removably coupled with the closed lower end 16 of the shoe portion 12. Each of the sole's 20 have an upper surface 22 and a lower surface 24. The upper surface 22 has a plurality of plugs 26 extending upwardly therefrom in a spaced relationship corresponding with the plurality of recesses 18 of the closed lower end 16 of the shoe portion 12 whereby the plurality of plugs 26 are receivable within the plurality of recesses 18 to facilitate securement of one of the soles 20 to the shoe portion 12. The plugs 26 are preferably snap-engaged within the recess' 18 to facilitate a secure coupling. The lower surface of the sole's 20 each have a different traction component 28 disposed thereon. The traction component 28 illustrated in FIG. 1 is a standard athletic cleat. The traction component 28 illustrated in FIG. 2 is a standard golf spike. Other traction components can be utilized including, but not limited to, standard walking soles, running soles, hiking soles, etc.
As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. [0028]
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and the manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. [0029]
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. [0030]

Claims

What is claimed as being new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the united states is as follows:

1. A shoe having interchangeable soles for allowing a shoe to be changed to accommodate different weather conditions comprising, in combination:

a shoe portion having an open upper end and a closed lower end, the open upper end receiving a foot of a user therein, the closed lower end having a plurality of recesses directed upwardly thereof in a spaced relationship;

a plurality of soles adapted for being removably coupled with the closed lower end of the shoe portion, each of the soles having an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface having a plurality of plugs extending upwardly therefrom in a spaced relationship corresponding with the plurality of recesses of the closed lower end of the shoe portion whereby the plurality of plugs are receivable within the plurality of recesses to facilitate securement of one of the soles to the shoe portion, the lower surface of the soles each having a different traction components disposed thereon.

2. A shoe having interchangeable soles for allowing a shoe to be changed to accommodate different weather conditions comprising, in combination:

a shoe portion having an open upper end and a closed lower end, the open upper end receiving a foot of a user therein; and

a plurality of soles adapted for being removably coupled with the closed lower end of the shoe portion, each of the soles having an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface of the soles each having a different traction components disposed thereon.

3. The shoe having interchangeable soles as set forth in claim 2, wherein the upper surface of each of the plurality of soles having a plurality of plugs extending upwardly therefrom in a spaced relationship corresponding with a plurality of recesses disposed within the closed lower end of the shoe portion whereby the plurality of plugs are receivable within the plurality of recesses to facilitate securement of one of the soles to the shoe portion.