Tongue for footwear with changeable overlays

Abstract

Footwear incorporating a shoe tongue, or gusset, and opposite rear tab, various overlays, one or more of structure, attached to the upper end of the tongue, and may be folded over, individually, so as to disclose different coloration, appearance, or designs, upon the upper surface of the shoe tongue, to add to its aesthetics. In addition, fasteners may be used for holding the overlays onto the upper surface of the tongue, and additional fasteners, such as a strap, or pouch, may be employed adjacent the underside of the tongue, to hold the unused overlays into storage, as when not in usage.

1 . Footwear incorporating changeable overlays in order to vary the coloration, design, and indicia of the shoe, when worn, including footwear, the footwear having a sole, a vamp upon said sole, one of a shoe tongue, gusset, and shield applied to its vamp, two quarter portions outwardly upon said sole, a counter opposite said vamp, and a rear tab upon said counter; said shoe tongue extending behind said vamp and having an upper edge opposite said vamp, a front surface generally opposite said sole and an underside generally opposite said front surface; at least one overlay affixed to the upper edge of the shoe tongue, such that when the overlay is not used, the overlay will rest contiguously against the underside of the shoe tongue, but that when the overlay is applied, to vary the coloration, indicia, or design of the shoe tongue, the overlay will fold over and lie upon the front surface of the shoe tongue; and, fastening means provided for holding the overlay to the front surface of the shoe tongue, in order to provide an appearance change to the coloration, design, and indicia for the shoe tongue while the footwear is being worn. 
     
     
         2 . The footwear with changeable overlays of  claim 1  wherein said fastening means includes one of stitching, rings, spiral band, hook and loop fasteners, and elastic cord. 
     
     
         3 . The footwear with changeable overlays of  claim 1  further comprising:
 said at least one overlay extending from said tongue opposite said vamp and, folding upon said front surface;   said tongue having at least two grommets therethrough and said at least one overlay having at least two grommets therethrough in registration with said grommets of said tongue; and,   said fastening means including at least one strap extending from one of said quarter portions, to said tongue, and through said grommets, said strap having two opposite ends, one end securing to the other end using one of one of snaps, hook and loop fasteners, bayonet locks, and cooperating loop and peg.   
     
     
         4 . The footwear with changeable overlays of  claim 1  further comprising:
 said at least one overlay extending from said tongue opposite said vamp and folding upon said front surface; and,   at least one pocket locating upon said tongue retaining said at least one overlay when not in usage.   
     
     
         5 . The footwear with changeable overlays of  claim 1  further comprising:
 said at least one overlay extending from said tongue opposite said vamp and folding upon said front surface; and,   at least one keeper locating upon said tongue proximate said vamp and retaining said at least one overlay.   
     
     
         6 . The footwear with changeable overlays of  claim 1  further comprising:
 said at least one overlay having a generally tubular shape including an interior surface, a fixed end and an opposite free end, said fixed end connecting to said tongue opposite said vamp, said free end receiving the perimeter of said tongue, and said at least one overlay rolling upon said front surface and said underside of said tongue towards said vamp.   
     
     
         7 . The footwear with changeable overlays of  claim 1  further comprising:
 said rear tab extending across said counter and upwardly from said counter towards said quarter portions; and,   said at least one overlay affixed to said rear tab, such that when said overlay is not used said at least one overlay rests contiguously against said rear tab outwardly of said counter, and said at least one overlay when applied during use folding over said rear tab and lying against the inside of said rear tab; and,   said fastening means provided for holding said overlay upon said rear tab to provide a change in appearance to said footwear.   
     
     
         8 . The footwear with changeable overlays of  claim 7  further comprising:
 at least two of said overlays;   one of said overlays being stitched partially along the perimeter of said rear tab except along said counter; and,   one of said overlays flipping over said rear tab during usage to reveal a second of said overlays upon said rear tab.   
     
     
         9 . The footwear with changeable overlays of  claim 8  further comprising:
 said fastening means including stitching, rings, spiral band, hook and loop fasteners, and elastic cord.   
     
     
         10 . The footwear with changeable overlays of  claim 7  further comprising:
 said overlay folding inwardly upon grasping by the wearer of said footwear upon the outer edges of said overlay and then flipping said overlay inside said rear tab to reveal another of said overlays outwardly upon said rear tab.   
     
     
         11 . The footwear with changeable overlays of  claim 7  further comprising:
 said overlay lifting from said rear tab upon grasping by the wearer of said footwear upon the center of said overlay and then flipping said overlay inside said rear tab to reveal another of said overlays outwardly upon said rear tab.   
     
     
         12 . Footwear capable of varying in appearance when worn, said footwear having the components of a sole, a vamp upon said sole, a tongue extending behind said vamp, a gusset, two quarter portions outwardly upon said sole, a counter opposite said vamp, and a rear tab upon said counter, comprising:
 said tongue having an upper edge opposite said vamp and a front surface generally opposite said sole;   at least one overlay affixed to said upper edge, said overlay when not in usage resting contiguously against the underside of said tongue, and said overlay when applied during usage folding over said tongue and lying upon the front surface of said tongue; and,   fastening means provided for holding said overlay upon said front surface to provide a change in appearance to said footwear;   wherein the wearer of said footwear can vary the coloration, indicia, or design of said footwear.   
     
     
         13 . The footwear varying in appearance of  claim 12  wherein said fastening means includes one of stitching, rings, spiral band, hook and loop fasteners, and elastic cord. 
     
     
         14 . The footwear varying in appearance of  claim 12  further comprising:
 at least one overlay extending from said tongue opposite said vamp;   said at least one overlay folding upon said front surface thus varying the appearance of said footwear;   said tongue having at least two grommets therethrough and said a at least one overlay having at least two grommets therethrough in registration with said grommets of said tongue; and,   said fastening means including at least one strap extending from said quarter portion, to said tongue, and through said grommets, said strap having two opposite ends, one end securing to the other end using one of one of snaps, hook and loop fasteners, bayonet locks, and cooperating loop and peg.   
     
     
         15 . The footwear varying in appearance of  claim 12  further comprising:
 a rear tab extending across said counter and upwardly from said counter and slightly forward of said counter to the upper edge of said quarter portions; and,   at least one overlay affixed to said rear tab, said overlay when not in usage resting contiguously against said rear tab outwardly of said counter, and said overlay when applied during usage folding over said rear tab and lying against the inside of said rear tab; and,   fastening means provided for holding said overlay upon said rear tab to provide a change in appearance to said footwear.   
     
     
         16 . The footwear varying in appearance of  claim 15  further comprising:
 said at least one overlay being stitched partially along the perimeter of said rear tab; and,   said at least one overlay flipping over said rear tab during usage to change the appearance of said rear tab.   
     
     
         17 . The footwear varying in appearance of  claim 16  further comprising:
 at least two overlays folding inwardly upon grasping by the wearer of said footwear upon the outer edges of said overlay and then flipping said overlay inside said rear tab to reveal another of said overlays outwardly upon said rear tab.   
     
     
         18 . The footwear varying in appearance of  claim 16  further comprising:
 at least two overlays lifting from said rear tab upon grasping by the wearer of said footwear upon the center of said overlay and then flipping said overlay inside said rear tab to reveal another of said overlays outwardly upon said rear tab.