Footwear Having Removable Attachment-Point Strip

Abstract

Provided are, among other things, an item of footwear that includes a sole and an upper attached to the sole, with the upper including a left strip and a right strip, each having a plurality of attachment points for use in tightening the upper, and with the entire left strip and the entire right strip capable of being quickly and easily detached from and reattached to the upper.

1 . An item of footwear, comprising:
 a sole; and   an upper attached to the sole,   wherein the upper includes a left strip and a right strip, each having at least one attachment point for use in tightening the upper, and   wherein the entire left strip and the entire right strip can be quickly and easily detached from and reattached to the upper.   
     
     
         2 . An item of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the left strip and the right strip is attached to the upper with a zipper. 
     
     
         3 . An item of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the left strip and the right strip is attached to the upper using high-density hook-and-loop fastening elements. 
     
     
         4 . An item of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the left strip and the right strip includes at least three attachment points. 
     
     
         5 . An item of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the attachment points comprise eyelets through which a shoe lace is threaded. 
     
     
         6 . An item of footwear according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second left strip that has a different design than, but is interchangeable with, the left strip; and   a second right strip that has a different design than, but is interchangeable with, the right strip.   
     
     
         7 . An item of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the attachment points comprise hooks. 
     
     
         8 . An item of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the attachment points comprise slots through which an attachment strap is threaded. 
     
     
         9 . An item of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the left strip and the right strip are attached together in a unitary piece. 
     
     
         10 . An item of footwear, comprising:
 a sole; and   an upper attached to the sole,   wherein the upper includes a left strip and a right strip, each having at least one attachment point for use in tightening the upper and also includes attachment means for quickly and easily detaching the entire left strip and right strip from, and reattaching the entire left strip and right strip to, the upper.   
     
     
         11 . An item of footwear according to  claim 10 , wherein the attachment means comprises a zipper. 
     
     
         12 . An item of footwear according to  claim 10 , wherein the attachment means comprises high-density hook-and-loop fastening elements. 
     
     
         13 . An item of footwear according to  claim 10 , wherein each of the left strip and the right strip includes at least three attachment points. 
     
     
         14 . An item of footwear according to  claim 10 , wherein the attachment points comprise eyelets through which a shoe lace is threaded. 
     
     
         15 . An item of footwear according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a second left strip that has a different design than, but is interchangeable with, the left strip; and   a second right strip that has a different design than, but is interchangeable with, the right strip.   
     
     
         16 . An item of footwear according to  claim 10 , wherein the attachment points comprise at least one of (i) hooks and (ii) slots through which an attachment strap is threaded. 
     
     
         17 . An item of footwear, comprising:
 a sole; and   an upper attached to the sole,   wherein the upper includes a strip having a plurality of attachment points for lacing the upper,   wherein the entire strip can be quickly and easily detached from and reattached to the upper, and   wherein the strip is attached to the upper using at least one of a zipper and high-density hook-and-loop fastening elements.   
     
     
         18 . An item of footwear according to  claim 17 , wherein the strip is attached to the upper using a zipper. 
     
     
         19 . An item of footwear according to  claim 17 , further comprising a second strip that has a different design than, but is interchangeable with, the strip. 
     
     
         20 . An item of footwear according to  claim 17 , wherein the strip includes left-side and right-side strips, each having at least one attachment point.