Removable and interchangeable shoe tongue

Abstract

The present invention is a detachable tongue for a shoe. The shoe has an upper covering, disposed on a sole, which defines an instep opening and an ankle opening communicating therewith. The instep opening has a fore end and an aft end. The detachable tongue is an elongated strip of material having fore and aft ends which is disposed in the instep opening. The shoe with the detachable tongue includes means for removably fastening the strip to the upper covering at the instep opening. The fastening means includes fasteners such as a fabric fastener defining a hook and loop fastening system, one or more buttons, a snap system, a hook and eye system, a zipper, and a string system. In one embodiment the detachable tongue is removably disposed on the upper covering of the shoe at the fore end of the instep opening such that the fastener is hidden from view.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A detachable tongue for a shoe, said shoe having an upper covering disposed on a sole, said upper covering defining an instep opening and an ankle opening communicating therewith, said instep opening having a fore end and an aft end, said detachable tongue comprising: 
 an elongated strip of material having fore and aft ends adapted to be disposed in said instep opening; and    means for removably fastening said fore end of said strip to said upper covering near said fore end of said instep opening.    
     
     
         2 . A detachable tongue as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said fastening means is disposed at the strip fore end.  
     
     
         3 . A detachable tongue as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said fastening means is a fastener from the group of a fabric fastener defining a hook and loop fastening system, one or more buttons, a snap system, a hook and eye system, a zipper, and a string system.  
     
     
         4 . A detachable tongue as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said fastening means is disposed at the strip fore end and beneath said upper covering such that said fastening means is hidden from view.  
     
     
         5 . A detachable tongue as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said elongated strip of material includes cushioning.  
     
     
         6 . A detachable tongue as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said fastening means permits said strip to be removed.  
     
     
         7 . A detachable tongue as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said strip is one of a plurality of strips adapted to be interchanged.  
     
     
         8 . A detachable tongue as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said strip bears indicia including indicia from the group of advertising indicia, wearer indicia, team member indicia, and trademark indicia.  
     
     
         9 . A shoe, comprising: 
 a sole;    an upper covering disposed on said sole, said upper covering defining an instep opening and an ankle opening communicating therewith, said instep opening having a fore end and an aft end;    a detachable tongue having fore and aft ends, said tongue removably disposed in said instep opening; and    means for removably fastening said fore end of said tongue with said upper covering near said fore end of said instep opening.    
     
     
         10 . A shoe as claimed in  claim 9  wherein said fastening means are disposed at the tongue fore end and the instep opening fore end.  
     
     
         11 . A shoe as claimed in  claim 9  wherein said fastening means is a fastener from the group of a fabric fastener defining a hook and loop fastening system, one or more buttons, a snap system, a hook and eye system, a zipper, and a string system.  
     
     
         12 . A shoe as claimed in  claim 9  wherein said fastening means are disposed at the tongue fore end and on an underside of said upper covering.  
     
     
         13 . A shoe as claimed in  claim 9  wherein said tongue includes cushioning.  
     
     
         14 . A shoe as claimed in  claim 9  wherein said fastening means permits said tongue to be removed.  
     
     
         15 . A shoe as claimed in  claim 9  wherein said tongue is one of a plurality of tongues adapted to be interchanged.  
     
     
         16 . A shoe as claimed in  claim 9  wherein said tongue bears indicia including indicia from the group of advertising indicia, wearer indicia, team member indicia, and trademark indicia.  
     
     
         17 . A detachable tongue for a shoe, said shoe having an upper covering disposed on a sole, said upper covering defining an instep opening and an ankle opening communicating therewith, said instep opening having a fore end, an aft end, and side walls, said detachable tongue comprising: 
 an elongated strip of material having a fore end, an aft end, and opposing side walls, said strip adapted to be disposed in said instep opening; and    one or more fasteners disposed on said strip at one or more locations from the group consisting of a fore end location and opposing side wall locations, for removably fastening said said strip to said upper covering.    
     
     
         18 . A detachable tongue as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said one or more fasteners is disposed at the strip fore end.  
     
     
         19 . A detachable tongue as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said one or more fasteners is disposed at the strip fore end and one of the strip side walls.  
     
     
         20 . A detachable tongue as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said one or more fasteners is disposed at the strip fore end and both of the opposing side walls.  
     
     
         21 . A detachable tongue as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said one or more fasteners is disposed at both of the opposing side walls.  
     
     
         22 . A detachable tongue as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said one or more fasteners is a fastener from the group of a fabric fastener defining a hook and loop fastening system, one or more buttons, a snap system, a hook and eye system, a zipper, and a string system.  
     
     
         23 . A detachable tongue as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said one or more fasteners is disposed on the strip and beneath said upper covering such that said one or more fasteners is hidden from view.  
     
     
         24 . A detachable tongue as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said elongated strip of material includes cushioning.  
     
     
         25 . A detachable tongue as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said strip is one of a plurality of strips adapted to be interchanged.  
     
     
         26 . A detachable tongue as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said strip bears indicia including indicia from the group of advertising indicia, wearer indicia, team member indicia, and trademark indicia.  
     
     
         27 . A shoe, comprising: 
 a sole;    an upper covering disposed on said sole, said upper covering defining an instep opening and an ankle opening communicating therewith, said instep opening having a fore end, an aft end and opposing side walls;    a detachable tongue having a fore end, an aft end, and opposing side walls, said tongue removably disposed in said instep opening; and    one or more fasteners disposed on said tongue at one or more locations from the group consisting of a fore end location and opposing side wall locations.    
     
     
         28 . A shoe as claimed in  claim 27  wherein said one or more fasteners is a fastener from the group of a fabric fastener defining a hook and loop fastening system, one or more buttons, a snap system, a hook and eye system, a zipper, and a string system.  
     
     
         29 . A shoe as claimed in  claim 27  wherein said one or more fasteners is disposed on said tongue and on an underside of said upper covering.  
     
     
         30 . A shoe as claimed in  claim 27  wherein said tongue includes cushioning.  
     
     
         31 . A shoe as claimed in  claim 27  wherein said tongue is one of a plurality of tongues adapted to be interchanged.  
     
     
         32 . A shoe as claimed in  claim 27  wherein said tongue bears indicia including indicia from the group of advertising indicia, wearer indicia, team member indicia, and trademark indicia.