U.S. patent application number 10/136870 was filed with the patent office on 2003-10-30 for interchangeable modular stackable sole system for footwear.
Invention is credited to Gross, Howard M..
Application Number | 20030200675 10/136870 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29249685 |
Filed Date | 2003-10-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030200675 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gross, Howard M. |
October 30, 2003 |
Interchangeable modular stackable sole system for footwear
Abstract
A series of interchangeable stackable intermediate core sole
modules have mating interlocking post and hole connectors and
mating hook and loop fasteners and edge ridges for stacking a
series of the core modules. Footwear uppers have a conventional top
foot accommodating structure and a bottom surface with mating
components to interconnect with the core modules. Footwear bottoms
have a bottom surface with conventional soles and have an upper
surface with mating components to interconnect with the core
modules. Interchangeable core modules vary in material, color,
texture, style, shape, thickness, and other physical features for
individualizing footwear.
Inventors: |
Gross, Howard M.; (Santa
Barbara, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Donald W. Meeker
750 La Playa, #512
San Francisco
CA
94121
US
|
Family ID: |
29249685 |
Appl. No.: |
10/136870 |
Filed: |
April 30, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/15 ; 36/100;
36/11.5; 36/81 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 13/20 20130101;
A43B 1/0081 20130101; A43B 13/189 20130101; A43B 13/36
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/15 ; 36/100;
36/81; 36/11.5 |
International
Class: |
A43B 003/12; A43C
013/00; A43B 007/16; A43B 003/24 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A footwear system having interchangeable components to alter the
height, shape, style, material, color, texture, pattern, and other
features of the footwear, the system comprising: at least one core
module having two faces with at least one interconnecting means on
a first face capable of connecting with at least one mating
interconnecting means on a second face from another identical core
module, wherein a series of core modules are stackable and
interchangeable; a top component having an upper portion configured
as a wearable portion of a piece of footwear and a bottom face
having at least one interconnecting means capable of connecting
with the interconnecting means on the first face of the core
module; a bottom component having a bottom portion configured as a
sole portion of a piece of footwear and a top face having at least
one interconnecting means capable of connecting with the mating
interconnecting means on the second face of the core module.
2. The footwear system of claim 1 wherein a series of core modules
are stackable and interchangeable in any desired order and number,
and the core modules each have characteristics which may vary from
other core modules in material, color, texture, pattern, style,
shape, thickness, and other physical features.
3. The footwear system of claim 1 wherein the at least one core
module has two flat faces and the at least one interconnecting
means comprises mating hook and loop fasteners.
4. The footwear system of claim 1 wherein the at least one
interconnecting means comprises at least one protruding guide post
and the mating interconnecting means comprises at least one mating
opening.
5. The footwear system of claim 1 wherein the at least one core
module further comprises a peripheral edge which assists in
retaining an adjacent core module in contact therewith.
6. The footwear system of claim 1 wherein the at least one core
module is fabricated of a material taken from the list of materials
including real rubber, artificial rubber, rubber-like material,
leather, plastic, foam, fibre, resin, nylon, metal, inflatable
material, air-filled material, liquid-filled material, composite
material, solid material, resilient material, bendable material,
flexible material, and rigid material.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to footwear and in particular
to footwear having an interchangeable modular system of stackable
soles which can be attached in any desired number of layers and any
desired color and style configuration for customizable
footwear.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Footwear is usually purchased in a finished state from shoe
stores, department stores and various other outlets selling shoes.
What you see is what you get. There is very little opportunity if
any to add your own sense of style or individual expression to the
footwear.
[0005] The footwear is usually a specific type with a certain
thickness of sole and thickness of heel that is not alterable. To
change the height of the footwear, you have to switch to a
different pair.
[0006] When footwear wears out normally you have to take them to a
cobbler to have the soles and heels replaced or throw them away.
Often putting a new sole on the footwear actually causes the width
to narrow due to the attaching means of the new soles. It can also
be somewhat expensive for such repairs and often damaging to the
footwear.
[0007] While there have been a number of attempts to offer
flexibility in footwear with replaceable soles or heels or other
parts of the footwear, including the ability to use different soles
for different purposes, this is usually done only for sports shoes
with different sole options for different sports or different
weather conditions.
[0008] Some prior art patents have addressed the interchangeable
sole and heel question, but none provide a very wide range of
change possibilities.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 3,538,628, issued Nov. 10, 1970 to Einstein,
shows replaceable soles for shoes that have downwardly pointing
pins with enlarged heads that insert into holes in the soles to
secure the soles along with mating hook and loop fasteners between
the sole and the shoe.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 6,151,801, issued Nov. 28, 2000 to
Frederiksen, provides a sandal including a sole portion having a
front end and a rear end and a pair of sides. The sole portion is
comprised of a plurality of layers of elastomeric material
including a planar lower layer, an angling intermediate portion,
and an upper layer adapted to receive the foot of a wearer thereon.
The sole portion includes a plurality of intermediate layers. The
upper layer is provided with a pair of longitudinal slits adjacent
to the rear thereof and four circular holes adjacent to the front
thereof. A top strap has an upper section positionable over the
instep of a wearer's foot and a lower section positioned through
the slits and extending there beneath. The strap has four apertures
adjacent to the forward edge thereof in the upper portion. Two
cords with four central extents each have two upper extents
extending through associated apertures of the strap and two lower
extents looped around the holes in the upper layer. Four
cylindrical sleeves encompass the cords.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,280, issued Jul. 9, 1996 to Halliday,
puts forth footwear with interchangeable components that includes a
base footing supporter, an interchangeable middle sole, an
interchangeable insole, an interchangeable base interlocker, an
interchangeable ridge connector, and an interchangeable upper
member. The interchangeable middle sole is removably mounted to the
base footing supporter so that the interchangeable middle sole can
be readily changed by user according to user preference. The
interchangeable insole is removably mounted to the interchangeable
middle sole so that the interchangeable insole can be readily
changed by user according to user preference. The interchangeable
base interlocker is removably mounted to the base footing supporter
so that the interchangeable base interlocker can be readily changed
by user accordingly to user preference. The interchangeable ridge
connector is removably mounted to the interchangeable insole so
that the interchangeable ridge connector can be readily changed by
user according to user preference. And, the interchangeable upper
member is removably mounted to the interchangeable base interlocker
so that the interchangeable upper member can be readily changed by
user according to user preference.
[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 6,345,454, issued Feb. 12, 2002 to Cotton,
shows a shoe (20) having a removable sole includes an upper (22)
and a removable lower sole (34). The upper has an upper sole (24),
a heel portion (26), and a toe portion (28). Upper sole (24) has a
plurality of upwardly opening alignment holes (30). A lock tab (32)
is connected to toe portion (28) and forwardly projects therefrom.
The removable lower sole (34) has a heel portion (36) and a toe
portion (38). A rearwardly opening slot (40) disposed in toe
portion (38) is shaped and dimensioned to receive lock tab (32).
Removable lower sole (34) has a plurality of upwardly protruding
alignment pins (42) which are engageable with alignment holes (30)
in upper sole (24). Lower sole (34) is held in place by inserting
lock tab (32) into the rearwardly opening slot (40) in the toe and
engaging connector (44) to connect heel portion (26) of upper (22)
to heel portion (36) of lower sole (34).
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 5,661,915, issued Sep. 2, 1997 to Smith,
claims a shoe with a removable spike plate. A shoe includes a spike
plate with spikes thereon, removably attached to a sole portion of
the shoe to permit selective removal of the spike plate. The shoe
includes a rib extending around the peripheral side wall of the
sole, and the spike plate includes an upright wall extending around
a peripheral edge of a base plate, the spike plate wall having a
groove formed on an interior surface thereof cooperable with the
rib to selectively connect the spike plate to the shoe. The spike
plate includes a forward section pivotally connected to a rearward
section along a transverse axis, to permit the forward section to
pivot downwardly generally orthogonal to the rearward section of
the spike plate.
[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 4,875,300, issued Oct. 24, 1989 to Kazz,
describes a track shoe with a detachable spike plate by the use of
plastic spikes. This invention is a track shoe comprised of an
upper, an outsole and a spike plate. The outsole, made of an
elastic material, has a bottom surface similar to the bottom
surface of the spike plate. The bottom surface of the outsole, in
addition, has spike receiving sockets where plastic spikes fit in
and attach a detachable spike plate. The spike plate has seven
apertures to allow for the insertion of seven plastic spikes which
hold the spike plate to the outsole. The spike plate can be
replaced by exchanging spike plates. The plastic spikes are
designed to be lighter and more cost effective than steel ones, yet
as easy to replace by the use of a common spike wrench.
[0015] U.S. Pat. No. 4,377,042, issued Mar. 22, 1983 to Bauer,
discloses footwear having a removable sole. Athletic shoes with
removable outsoles are disclosed. Each upper is designed to fit an
individual foot and ankle of a particular wearer and such upper is
provided with an insole securely and permanently connected
therewith. Each insole terminates along its peripheral margin with
one part of a bead-and-recess mechanically detachable locking
member. A removable outsole is provided with a surface contacting
tread which is selected to not only best match the surface of a
particular sports area but also the condition of such surface at a
particular time of use. A flexible member is permanently connected
with the outsole and terminates along its peripheral margin with
the other part of the mechanical locking member. The outsole and
the insole are further connected together by mating Velcro and
Duallock members, tongues and grooves carried by the outsole and
insole in paired relations, and other interlocking means. The forms
and shapes of the bead and recess parts of the bead-and-recess
mechanically detachable locking member are illustrated and
described.
[0016] U.S. Pat. No. 4,062,132, issued Dec. 13, 1977 to
Klimaszewski, indicates footwear having a replaceable heel and
sole. Footwear having a body portion receptive of a person's foot
during use and a replaceable tread portion. The tread portion is
releasably locked into the body portion by a flange having gripping
members on the inner peripheral surface. The tread portion has a
hollowed top portion having an outer peripheral surface with
gripping apertures therein in which the gripping members are
received. The outer peripheral surface of the hollowed top portion
is closely received in the flange and the tread portion is thus
prevented from moving both laterally and perpendicularly
thereby.
[0017] U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,344, issued Dec. 4, 1990 to Ching,
concerns a shoe with an interchangeable vamp and sole which
comprises a sole (10) with a heel (11) which an air inlet guide
(14) is formed in and with an air inlet hole (111) located at the
bottom, exposed portion; a guide hole (141) located at the inside,
near the rearmost of the portion of the sole (10); a receiving
channel (12) with a channel inlet (121) and a channel cavity (122);
a plurality of annular segments (13) which are put in the channel
cavity (122); an upper-shoe assembly (20) which has a vamp (21), an
insole (22); a welt (211) which extends downward from the connected
portion of the vamp (21) and the sole (22), a gas bladder (24) with
an air inlet (241) and a bladder glove (23); by inflating or
deflating the gas bladder (24), the vamp and the sole could be
interchanged with the same size of device.
[0018] U.S. Pat. No. 6,311,413, issued Nov. 6, 2001 to Chern,
illustrates a replaceable elastic air cushion shoe structure which
includes a sole, and a vamp. The sole has a top provided with a
plurality of oblique conical locking grooves and having a periphery
provided with a plurality of waterproof ribs. The sole has a
periphery defining a plurality of locking recesses each provided
with a catch piece. The vamp has a bottom provided with a plurality
of oblique conical locking blocks each locked in the locking groove
of the sole. The bottom of the vamp defines a plurality of
waterproof slots for receiving the waterproof ribs of the sole
therein so that the vamp is integrally formed with the sole. A
plurality of U-shaped snapping pieces are each secured in the
bottom of the vamp and each have two sides each provided with a
hook. A plurality of snapping knobs are each detachably secured on
the snapping piece and each include a press button secured in the
locking recess and locked by the catch piece of the sole, and a
snap pivotally mounted on the press button and snapped on the hook
of the snapping piece.
[0019] U.S. Pat. No. 4,317,294, issued Mar. 2, 1982 to Goodyear, is
for a replaceable shoe sole comprised of a mid-sole, which is
securely attached to the upper portion of the shoe, and an out-sole
removeably attached to the mid-sole. The upper surface of the
out-sole is provided with a continuous ridge which is snapped into
a matching, deformably resilient groove recessed into the bottom
surface of the mid-sole. The configuration of the ridge and the
resiliency of the out-sole and the mid-sole material, which is
preferably a polyurethane resin or foam, permits the out-sole to be
easily and selectively removed and replaced by an out-sole having a
new or distinctive tread pattern, the replaced out-sole being
reusable if desired. The ridge on the out-sole is provided with an
undercut portion to provide secure retention of the out-sole in the
mid-sole, although the specific cross sectional shape of the ridge
may vary depending upon the retentiveness required by a particular
activity.
[0020] U.S. Pat. No. 4,279,083, issued Jul. 21, 1981 to Dilge, is
for a shoe construction including a shoe body which is conventional
except that it does not include a shoe sole, a first layer of
material fixed to the undersurface of the shoe body, a second layer
of material for attaching to and detaching from the first layer of
material, and a shoe sole fixed to the second layer of material.
The first and second layers of material include means such as
velcro for enabling attachment and detachment of the two layers.
With this construction, when a shoe sole becomes worn, it can be
detached from the shoe body and replaced by a new shoe sole.
[0021] U.S. Pat. No. 4,114,296, issued Sep. 19, 1978 to Smith, is
about a shoe adapted for facile interchangeability into a
multiplicity of styles comprising an outsole having a heel portion,
with there being an intervening zone of flexure therebetween.
Forward and rearward inner soles are provided on said outsole and
with their adjacent end portions in overlapping relationship for
relative slidability during foot movement. A retaining strap
extending lengthwise of the shoe serves to optionally maintain a
rear upper in operative position as well as to promote integration
of the shoe components in selected mode of wear. A readily
widthwise adjustable front upper or vamp is detachably mounted upon
the forward portion of said outsole and replaceable by a thong
detachable to the forward portion of the sole.
[0022] U.S. Pat. No. 5,317,822, issued Jun. 7, 1994 to Johnson
describes an athletic shoe with an interchangeable wear sole which
can be selected to match a specific sport, is disclosed. An upper
portion of the athletic shoe is designed for an individual foot of
a particular wearer. This upper portion of the athletic shoe
contains an attached upper sole which has molded on the bottom
surface a plurality of strategically placed protruding resilient
knobs and a protruding resilient edge rail which engages knob
chambers and a rail slot located on the upper surface of the wear
sole. VELCRO surface on the upper sole and the wear sole also are
engaged. Interlocking devices on the edge of the upper sole and
wear sole are pinned together. The above combination holds the
selected wear sole firmly on the upper sole attached to the upper
portion of the athletic shoe.
[0023] U.S. Pat. No. 4,745,693, issued May 24, 1988 to Brown,
provides a shoe having an upper portion and a sole-and-heel portion
which portions are releasably joined together by a circumferential
zipper connection means.
[0024] U.S. Pat. No. 3,019,534, issued Feb. 6, 1962 to Kauffman, is
for shoes with interchangeable soles and heels that have transverse
tongue and groove patterns allowing the soles and heels to slide
sideways on and off the shoes.
[0025] U.S. Pat. No. 3,902,259, issued Sep. 2, 1975 to Cracco,
provides a sandal assembly with five interchangeable elements which
assemble together to form the sandal.
[0026] None of the prior art really addresses the need for complete
flexibility in being able to change color, style, and height of
footwear as well as materials and other features.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0027] An object of the present invention is to provide a wide
range of flexibility in footwear design, style, height, color, and
materials.
[0028] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
modular system of soles for shoes to create a multilevel stackable
sole which can easily be altered as desired for the appearance or
characteristic desired.
[0029] One more object of the present invention is to provide
footwear that is changeable in height and types of materials to put
the footwear to different uses according to the desired degree of
elevation and softness or hardness of the soles.
[0030] In brief, a multilayer interchangeable system of modular
stackable footwear elements including decorative or functional
bottom soles and intermediate interchangeable sole modules that are
quickly and easily added to and removed from a stack arrangement of
any desired height, color, shape, or material attached to the
bottom of a shoe, sandal, boot, or other type of footwear.
[0031] Intermediate sole core modules comprise essentially flat
interlocking pieces that are stackable and lock together using
insertable pins in mating holes and mating hook and loop fasteners
for quick assembly and disassembly. Each core module has at least
two spaced guides or locking pins extending from one side of the
core unit and at least two mating spaced holes in the opposite side
and mating configurations of mating hook and loop fastening means
attached to the two sides of each core module, so that when two
core modules are interconnected the guides or locking pins of one
core module engage and are secured in the mating holes of the
adjacent core module and the hook fastener configuration of one
core module engages the mating loop configuration of the adjacent
core module to form two layers in the pattern of the built-up
sole.
[0032] The top component of the footwear of the invention has a
normal top configuration of a sandal or thong, shoe, boot, or other
conventional footwear and a bottom configuration to mate with a
core module having either protrusions or holes and having either
hooks or loops.
[0033] The bottom component of the footwear of the invention has a
normal bottom configuration of a sole of a sandal or thong, shoe,
boot, or other conventional footwear and a top configuration to
mate with a core module having either protrusions or holes and
having either hooks or loops.
[0034] The core modules and bottom and top components can each be
fabricated of a variety of materials in a variety of colors and
patterns and outline shapes, which may all be combined in any
desired combination for a truly unique look created by each
individual for his or her footwear.
[0035] An advantage of the present invention is that footwear of
unique styles, colors, shapes, heights, designs, and other
configurations can be created.
[0036] Another advantage of the present invention is that soles and
design configurations can be changed quickly and easily.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0037] These and other details of my invention will be described in
connection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only
by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and
in which drawings:
[0038] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the top, bottom and core
modules of the invention aligned for assembly;
[0039] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a bottom of a core
module;
[0040] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the components of the
invention assembled into a piece of footwear;
[0041] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken longitudinally
through the core modules of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1
showing the interconnecting including protruding guide posts and
mating receiving holes and mating hook and loop fasteners;
[0042] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken longitudinally
through the core modules of an alternate embodiment showing the
interconnecting including hollow protruding guide posts with
built-in holes inside the guide posts to receive guide posts from
adjacent core modules and mating hook and loop fasteners.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0043] In FIGS. 1-5, a footwear system 20 has interchangeable
components to alter the height, shape, style, material, color,
texture, pattern, and other physical features of the footwear. The
system comprises a series of core modules 40 and 40A, a top foot
attaching member 30, and a bottom sole member 50.
[0044] Each core module 40 and 40A has two faces with at least one
interconnecting means on an essentially flat first face, such as
spaced guide posts 41 and 41A or locking pins and loop material 45A
and a peripheral ridge 49, capable of connecting with at least one
mating interconnecting means on an essentially flat second face,
such as spaced mating holes 42 (as seen in FIG. 2) and 42A (as seen
in FIG. 5) and mating hook material 45B and a mating recessed edge
47, from another identical core module, so that a series of core
modules are stackable and interchangeable to form a layered sole
(as seen in FIG. 3).
[0045] A series of core modules 40 are stackable and
interchangeable in any desired order and number, and the core
modules each have characteristics which may vary from other core
modules in material, color, texture, pattern, style, shape,
thickness, and other physical features to create individualized
unique variable footwear.
[0046] A top component 30 has an upper portion configured as a
wearable portion of a piece of footwear, such as a thong sandal top
33 with an over-foot strap 36 and toe piece 37 and a bottom face
having at least one interconnecting means, such as spaced holes 42
and hook material 45B and a recessed edge 47 (as seen in FIG. 2),
capable of connecting with the interconnecting means, such as
mating spaced guide posts 41 or locking posts and mating loop
material 45A and a mating peripheral ridge 49, on the first face of
the core module 43.
[0047] A bottom component 50 having a bottom portion configured as
a sole 54 of a piece of footwear and a top face 53 having at least
one interconnecting means, such as spaced guide posts 41 or locking
posts and loop material 45A and a peripheral ridge 49 capable of
connecting with the mating interconnecting means, such as the
spaced mating holes 42 and mating hook material 45B and a mating
recessed edge 47, on the second face 44 of the core module 40.
[0048] In FIG. 4, the spaced guide posts 41 or locking posts are
formed as solid protrusions on the top surface 43 of the core
modules 40 and the mating spaced openings 42 are formed as openings
in the bottom face 44 of the core modules 40.
[0049] In FIG. 5, in an alternate embodiment of the core module
40A, the spaced guide posts 41A are formed from a sheet of plastic
48 or other somewhat shape holding material molded to form a
protrusion post 41A that has a hollow interior forming the opening
42A in the bottom face 44 of the core module 40A.
[0050] The core modules 40, and where appropriate the top
components 30 and bottom components 50, may be formed of real or
artificial rubber or rubber-like material, leather, plastic, foam,
fibre, resin, nylon, metal, inflatable or air-filled material,
liquid-filled material, composite material, solid material,
resilient material, bendable material, flexible material, rigid
material or any other desired material. The core modules 40 and 40A
and top components 30 and bottom components 50 may have any desired
color, texture, pattern, peripheral shape, thickness, material, or
other physical characteristic to provide variety, visual interest
and different physical characteristics to the layered footwear
allowing for individualized expression and custom designing for
specific functional use.
[0051] It is understood that the preceding description is given
merely by way of illustration and not in limitation of the
invention and that various modifications may be made thereto
without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.
* * * * *