Shoe with interchangeable upper

Abstract

A shoe including a releasable attachment system on the exposed surfaces of the shoe upper. A ornamental cover is shaped to fit the shoe upper and has a mating attachment system on its lower surface. A kit may contain a number of covers of various colors and/or carrying various ornamental designs or patterns or elements such as colored beads. By changing the covers, the appearance of the shoe can be completely changed. Shoes may be of the flip-flop or sandal type in which the uppers are formed primarily of strap or ribbon shaped members.

What I claim as my invention is:  
     
         1 . A shoe system comprising: 
 a shoe upper having an upper surface comprising, at least partially, one part of a releasable attachment system, and    a cover having substantially the same dimensions of said shoe upper, said cover having a lower surface comprising, at least partially, a second part of a releasable attachment system.    
     
     
         2 . A shoe system according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an ornamental element carried on an upper surface of said cover.    
     
     
         3 . A shoe system according to  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said ornamental element comprises a design printed onto said cover.    
     
     
         4 . A shoe system according to  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said cover comprises a woven material; and    said ornamental element comprises a design woven into said cover.    
     
     
         5 . A shoe system according to  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said ornamental element comprises a molded element attached to said cover.    
     
     
         6 . A shoe system according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said releasable attachment system comprises a hook and loop type attachment system.    
     
     
         7 . A shoe system according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the upper surface of said shoe upper is substantially covered by said attachment system.    
     
     
         8 . A shoe system according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said attachment system is a two part hook and loop system, with a first part attached to the upper surface of said shoe upper and a second part attached to the lower surface of said cover.    
     
     
         9 . A shoe system according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said shoe system comprises a flip-flop type shoe having a sole and two straps, said two straps each having a first end joined together and attached to the sole at a toe end of the sole, and each having a second end attached to the sides of said sole between said toe end and a heel end of said sole.    
     
     
         10 . A shoe system according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said shoe system comprises a sandal type shoe having a sole and one strap, said strap having two ends attached to the sides of said sole at an instep portion of said sole.    
     
     
         11 . A kit comprising: 
 a pair of shoes, each shoe having an upper having an upper surface comprising, at least partially, one part of a releasable attachment system, and    a plurality of covers each having substantially the same dimensions of said shoe uppers, said covers having lower surfaces comprising, at least partially, a second part of a releasable attachment system.    
     
     
         12 . A kit according to  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 ornamental elements carried on upper surfaces of said covers.    
     
     
         13 . A kit according to  claim 12 , wherein: 
 said ornamental elements comprise designs printed onto said covers.    
     
     
         14 . A kit according to  claim 12 , wherein: 
 said covers comprise a woven material and    said ornamental elements comprise a design woven into said covers.    
     
     
         15 . A kit according to  claim 12 , wherein: 
 said ornamental elements comprise molded elements attached to said covers.    
     
     
         16 . A kit according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 said releasable attachment system comprises a hook and loop type attachment system.    
     
     
         17 . A shoe system according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 the upper surfaces of said shoe uppers are substantially covered by said attachment system.    
     
     
         18 . A kit according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 said attachment system is a two part hook and loop system, with a first part attached to the upper surfaces of said shoe uppers and a second part attached to the lower surfaces of said covers.    
     
     
         19 . A kit according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 said shoes comprise flip-flop type shoes each having a sole and two straps, said two straps each having a first end joined together and attached to the sole at a toe end of the sole, and each strap having a second end attached to the sides of said sole between said toe end and a heel end of said sole.    
     
     
         20 . A kit according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 said shoes comprise sandal type shoes each having a sole and one strap, said strap having two ends attached to the sides of said sole at an instep portion of said sole.    
     
     
         21 . A shoe system comprising: 
 a shoe upper having an upper surface comprising, at least partially, one part of a releasable attachment system, and    a upper cover comprising a plurality of decorative segments which, when assembled, have about the same dimensions of said shoe upper, said cover segments each having a lower surface comprising, at least partially, a second part of a releasable attachment system.    
     
     
         22 . A shoe system comprising: 
 a shoe upper having an upper surface comprising, at least partially, one part of a releasable attachment system, and    a upper cover comprising a plurality of decorative segments each having a lower surface comprising a second part of a releasable attachment system, said upper cover segments sized and shaped so that, when attached to said shoe upper, said segments define the visual appearance of said shoe upper.