Transformable Footwear

Abstract

This invention relates to an article of footwear which may be transformed simply by substituting one of its elements. The shoe comprises three independent elements, constituted by a bottom comprising a wearing sole and a heel, an inner shoe assembly comprising an insole connected to a complete lining, and an outer dressing chosen from a series created for its variety, this outer dressing comprising a visible upper extended by a lower inset part to enable it to be fitted on the inner shoe assembly; projecting tongues belonging to the insole may be engaged in slots in the upper surface of the bottom to ensure the temporary but firm connection of this latter with the inner shoe assembly covered by the outer dressing. The invention is applicable to any article of foot wear.

Description

The present invention relates to a shoe that may be transformed simply by substituting one of its elements.

Its object is to make it possible for the client to buy one pair of shoes only and, inspite of this, to be able to change its appearance by varying its form, colour, nature of covering, etc., simply by substituting one of the elements of each shoe by another element, by a manoeuvre which anyone could carry out.

Another object is to conserve for each shoe on the one hand its usual dimensions without exaggerating certain of them, for example the thickness of the sole and on the other hand its comfort and suppleness, particularly at the shank.

To achieve these ends and in accordance with the invention, the shoe comprises three independent components constituted by:

- a bottom comprising a wearing sole and a heel

- an inner shoe assembly comprising an insole integral with a complete lining

- and an outer dressing chosen from a series created for its variety, this outer dressing comprising a visible upper which is extended by a lower inset part to enable it to be fitted on the inner shoe assembly, dismountable connecting means being provided between the insole and the bottom.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the insole of the inner shoe assembly is integral with three thin tongues located at the heel, waist and front respectively, the first two being directed rearwardly and the third frontwardly, whilst the bottom defines three housings accessible on its upper surface by three slots for receiving the tongues of the inner shoe assembly by bending said latter downwardly at both ends.

According to a preferred but non-limiting embodiment, the tongues are cut, so as to project slightly, from a resistant but flexible sheet, preferably made of steel, fixed beneath the insole of the inner shoe assembly; another sheet, preferably of the same nature, is fixed to the bottom so that the slots that its presents are located above recesses made in this bottom for giving access to the above-mentioned housings for the tongues; the upper of the outer dressing is integral with a supple bottom having windows for the passage of the tongues of the inner shoe assembly.

This particular structure of the shoe presents numerous other advantages.

In particular, being given, on the one hand, that the dressing is the only support for the variation of the models and on the other hand that this dressing is relatively inexpensive, the consumers may follow the fashion and adapt their shoes to their attire without involving too many expenses.

In addition, the care of the shoe is limited to the minimum, it is not expensive to replace this dressing, and shoe-mending costs are reduced.

Moreover, the shoe is perfectly water-tight since there is a gap between the bottom and the insole of the inner shoe assembly.

The invention will be more readily understood on reading the following non-limiting description given with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 to 3 are perspective views shown synoptically with respect to each other and illustrating the various elements constituting the shoe.

The shoe is composed of three independent elements: a bottom 1, an inner shoe assembly 2 and a dressing 3.

The bottom 1 (FIG. 3), whatever its mode of manufacture and nature of the material used (leather, rubber, synthetic material, etc.), presents a sole 4 and a heel 5, a shank (not shown in the drawing being in this example incorporated in said bottom.)

The inner shoe assembly 2 (FIG. 1) which may be made of skin or breathable synthetic material, comprises a lining 6 integral with an insole 7. Of course, for this inner shoe assembly to take the shape of the foot perfectly, but still to be easily pulled on, it is provided at the instep with a facing made of elastic material.

The bottom 1 and the inner shoe assembly 2 must be connected by means such that they permit any later dismantling, on condition that said dismantling be voluntary, but which conserve the usual qualities of comfort and movement of a shoe and which cannot accidentally come apart particularly when the foot is bent.

In the example shown, a strip 8 (FIG. 1) is interposed between the insole 7 and an edge 9 obtained by folding back the lining 6; the strip 8 is connected to the edge 9 and the insole 8 by gluing and by means of rivets 10 and possibly by parts 11 made of the same material as the inner shoe assembly.

Similarly, the upper surface of the bottom 1 is connected by rivets 12 to a steel strip 13 (FIG. 3).

To ensure that the inner shoe assembly 2 is connected with the bottom 1, the strip 8 has three thin tongues 14 located at the heel, waist and front respectively; these tongues are obtained by cutting the strip along three sides and by slightly bending along the fourth side; thus, the tongues project slightly downwards; the tongue of the front being directed forwards whilst the tongues of the heel and the waist are orientated rearwardly.

The strip 13 of the bottom has three slots 15 located opposite the tongues; one of the edges of each slot is sunken and the other is raised, so as to facilitate the penetration of the corresponding tongue. In addition, the upper surface of the bottom is hollowed out so as to make housings between said latter and the strip 13 which receive the tongues via the slots 15.

It is a simple matter to assembly the inner shoe assembly 2 on the bottom 1. In fact, after having engaged the two rear tongues 14 in the corresponding slots 15, it is sufficient to bend the insole downwardly at both ends, then, when the free end of the front tongue is in the slot located opposite, to flatten said insole until said front tongue has completely penetrated into its housing.

It is important to note that when walking, running, jumping, going upstairs, etc., the user, on bending his foot, bends the insole 7 and bottom 1 upwardly at both ends. Under these conditions, it is impossible for the tongues 14 to come out involuntarily.

Of course, the strips 8 and 13 are not indispensable. Any technique enabling tongues 14 to be flexibly and solidly made beneath the insole 7, and housings accessible by slots 15 to be made in the bottom 1, is perfectly suitable for carrying out the invention. For example, the insole and at least the upper surface of the bottom may be made from a laminate of synthetic material and fibre glass fabric.

All the outer dressings 3 (FIG. 2) that may be assembled on the shoe assembly 1-2 comprise, whatever their final form, colour, decoration, etc., an upper 16 connected to a supple bottom 17 having windows 18 for the passage of the tongues 14.

Since an outer dressing 3 is fitted onto the inner shoe assembly 2, it is sufficient to proceed as indicated hereinbefore for temporarily but firmly connecting said inner shoe assembly with the bottom 1; the bottom 17 of the outer dressing is then interposed between the insole 7 of the inner shoe assembly and the top surface of the bottom 1.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment that has just been described, since various modifications may be made thereto without departing from its scope.

In particular, the dismountable locking means may be of another type, for example constituted by thin lateral straps.

The invention is applicable to footwear.

Claims

What I claim is:

1. A shoe which is transformable simply by substituting one of its elements, wherein said shoe comprises three independent components constituted by a bottom comprising a wearing sole and a heel, an inner shoe assembly comprising an insole integral with a complete lining, and an outer dressing chosen from a series created for its variety, this outer dressing comprising a visible upper extended by a lower inset part to allow it to be fitted onto the inner shoe assembly and wherein dismountable connecting means are provided between the insole and the bottom.

2. A shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insole of the inner shoe assembly includes three thin tongues located at the heel, waist and front respectively, the first two being directed rparwardly and the third forwardly, and the bottom defines three housings on the top surface thereof accessible through three slots formed therein for receiving the tongues of the inner shoe assembly by bending said inner shoe assembly downwardly at its opposite ends.

3. A shoe as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tongues are cut, so as to project slightly, from a resistant but flexible sheet fixed beneath the insole of the inner shoe assembly and another flexible sheet having said slots formed therein is fixed to the bottom so that the slots that it presents are located above recesses made in this bottom, giving access to the above-mentioned housings for the tongues.

4. A shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper of the outer dressing is integral with a supple bottom having windows for the passage of the tongues of the inner shoe assembly.

5. A shoe as claimed in any one of claims 1, wherein a shank is incorporated in the bottom and/or in the insole of the inner shoe assembly.

6. A shoe as claimed in claim 3 wherein said flexible sheets are formed from flexible steel sheets.