Shoe with interchangeable strap system

Abstract

The present invention provides a shoe with a sole member having an upper surface for receiving a user's foot and a lower surface for contacting a support surface. The sole member has a first sidewall and a second sidewall that are spaced apart and extend between the upper and lower surfaces. The sole member also has a slot defined therethrough, with the slot extending between the first and second sidewalls. A strap has a pair of opposed ends and a midportion therebetween. The midportion is designed to be received in and retained by the slot. The slot also has a closure member for joining the opposed ends. When the midportion of the strap is received in the slot and the closure member joins the opposed ends, the strap and the sole cooperate to form a shoe upper for receiving the foot.

1 . A shoe comprising: 
 a sole member having an upper surface configured to receive a user's foot and a lower surface configured to contact a support surface, the sole member further having a first side wall and a second side wall spaced from the first side wall, the side walls extending between the upper and lower surfaces;    the sole member having a slot defined therethrough, the slot extending between the first and second side walls and being spaced from the upper and lower surface of the sole member, the slot having an upper and a lower limit, the sole member having a width below the slot;    a strap having a pair of opposed ends and a midportion extending therebetween, the midportion being configured to be received in and retained by the slot, the strap further comprising a closure member for joining the opposed ends; and    the side walls of the sole member having a transition region defined between the upper limit of the slot and the upper surface of sole member, the width of sole member where the transition region meets the upper surface being narrower than the width of the sole member below the slot;    wherein when the midportion is received in the slot and the closure member joins the opposed ends, the strap and the sole member cooperate to form a shoe upper for receiving the foot.    
     
     
         2 . The shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein the side walls in the transition region slope inwardly where the transition region meets the upper surface.  
     
     
         3 . The shoe according to  claim 3 , wherein the side walls in the transition region slope inwardly where the transition meets the upper limit of the slot.  
     
     
         4 . The shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein the side walls in the transition region are curved in a vertical plane.  
     
     
         5 . The shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein the width of the sole member at a widest point in the transition regions is generally the same as the width of the sole member below the slot.  
     
     
         6 . The shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein the width of the sole member at a widest point in the transition regions is less than the width of the sole member below the slot.  
     
     
         7 . The shoe according to  claim 6 , wherein the side walls in the transition region are generally perpendicular to the upper surface of the sole member.  
     
     
         8 . The shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein the midportion includes an elastic section that allows the distance between the opposed ends to be increased by stretching the elastic section, the elastic section being at least partially hidden in the slot when the midportion of the strap is received in the slot.  
     
     
         9 . The shoe according to  claim 8 , wherein the elastic section comprises a portion of elastic material and the remainder of the strap comprises a generally non-elastic material.  
     
     
         10 . The shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein the strap has an inner surface, an outer surface, and a front and rear edge, the inner surface having indicia thereon indicating which edge should be directed toward the front of the sole member and which edge should be directed toward the rear of the sole member when the strap is disposed in the slot.  
     
     
         11 . The shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein the sole member further comprises a reinforcing member in the sole member adjacent the upper limit of the slot to reinforce the slot.  
     
     
         12 . The shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein the ends and the midportion of the strap each having front and rear edges with a central axis being defined midway between the edges and running lengthwise along the strap, the closure member joining the opposed ends to form a loop having a forward and a rearward opening, the strap being configured such that when the midportion is received in the slot and the closure member joins the opposed ends such that the central axes of the opposed ends are parallel, the strap forms a tapered loop with the rearward opening being larger than the forward opening.  
     
     
         13 . A shoe comprising: 
 a sole member having an upper surface configured to receive a user's foot and a lower surface configured to contact a support surface, the sole member further having a first side wall and a second side wall spaced from the first side wall, the side walls extending between the upper and lower surfaces;    the sole member having a slot defined therethrough, the slot extending between the first and second side walls and being spaced from the upper and lower surface of the sole member, the slot having an upper and a lower limit;    a strap having a pair of opposed ends and a midportion extending therebetween, the midportion being configured to be received in and retained by the slot, the strap further comprising a closure member for joining the opposed ends;    the side walls of the sole member having a transition region defined between the upper limit of the slot and the upper surface of sole member, the transition region being beveled or radiused with respect to the slot;    wherein when the midportion is received in the slot and the closure member joins the opposed ends, the strap and the sole member cooperate to form a shoe upper for receiving the foot.    
     
     
         14 . A shoe comprising: 
 a sole member having an upper surface configured to receive a user's foot and a lower surface configured to contact a support surface, the sole member further having a first side wall and a second side wall spaced from the first side wall, the side walls extending between the upper and lower surfaces;    the sole member having a slot defined therethrough, the slot extending between the first and second side walls and being spaced from the upper and lower surface of the sole member, the slot having an upper and a lower limit, the sole member having a width below the slot;    a strap having a pair of opposed ends and a midportion extending therebetween, the midportion being configured to be received in and retained by the slot, the strap further comprising a closure member for joining the opposed ends; and    the side walls of the sole member having a transition region defined between the upper limit of the slot and the upper surface of sole member, the width of sole member in the transition region being narrower than the width of the sole member immediately adjacent the transition region    wherein when the midportion is received in the slot and the closure member joins the opposed ends, the strap and the sole member cooperate to form a shoe upper for receiving the foot.