Shoes with replaceable uppers

Abstract

The present invention provides a shoe having a sole member, a detachable, replaceable upper member, and a fastening mechanism for coupling the upper member to the sole member, wherein the fastening mechanism comprises an interlocking rail body and locking body.

1 . A shoe having a sole member, a detachable, replaceable upper member, and a fastening mechanism for coupling the upper member to the sole member,
 wherein the fastening mechanism comprises an interlocking rail body and a corresponding locking body.   
     
     
         2 . A shoe of  claim 1 , wherein a single, elongate rail body is affixed to at least one portion of the edge of the upper member and a single, elongate locking body is affixed to a corresponding portion of the sole member. 
     
     
         3 . A shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the rail body has a rail head protruding therefrom that couples with an elongate channel in the locking body. 
     
     
         4 . A shoe of  claim 3 , wherein the rail head has a substantially spherical shape. 
     
     
         5 . A shoe of  claim 3 , wherein the channel of the locking body accommodates the shape of the rail head. 
     
     
         6 . A shoe of  claim 3 , wherein the locking body has an upper arm and a lower arm with flanged ends for grasping the rail head when the rail body is coupled to the locking body. 
     
     
         7 . A shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the fastening mechanism is reinforced with a magnet. 
     
     
         8 . A shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the upper member covers at least a portion of the forward part of the foot. 
     
     
         9 . A shoe of  claim 8 , wherein the upper member further covers at least one of a lateral side of the foot and the heel area of the foot. 
     
     
         10 . A shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the upper member is comprised of at least two pieces. 
     
     
         11 . A shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the locking body is affixed to the upper member and the corresponding rail body is affixed to the sole member. 
     
     
         12 . A shoe of  claim 1 , wherein an array of short locking bodies and corresponding rail bodies are positioned along the edges of the upper member and the sole member. 
     
     
         13 . A shoe having a sole member, a detachable, replaceable upper member, a membrane affixed to the lower edges of said upper member, and a fastening mechanism for coupling the upper member to the sole member, wherein
 the fastening mechanism comprises an array of boss parts disposed across the outer surface of the membrane, and a corresponding array of gib cavities disposed across the upper surface of the sole member, and   the engagement of the boss parts into the corresponding gib cavities enables detachably faying the upper member to the sole member.