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 envelope the tongue and 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, said footwear having a sole, at least a partial vamp provided upon said sole, and a shoe tongue integrated into the shoe vamp, said shoe tongue extending behind said vamp and having an upper edge opposite said vamp, said shoe tongue having a front surface generally opposite said sole and an underside generally opposite said front surface; at least one overlay being 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, 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 for full disclosure upon 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 overlay is affixed at least to the upper edge of the shoe tongue. 
     
     
         3 . The footwear with changeable overlays of  claim 2  wherein said overlay is affixed to the sides and upper edge of the shoe tongue. 
     
     
         4 . The footwear with changeable overlays of  claim 1  and wherein 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 partial vamp, and 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, to display a change in coloration, design, and versatile for the shoe tongue. 
     
     
         5 . The footwear with changeable overlays of  claim 4  and further comprising:
 at least two overlays; 
 each of said overlays being connected to the sides and upper edge of the shoe tongue; and, 
 one of said overlays flipping over said tongue during usage to reveal a second of said overlays displayed upon the front surface of said shoe tongue, while the first said overlay will rest contiguously against the underside of the shoe tongue during non usage. 
 
     
     
         6 . The footwear with changeable overlays of  claim 1  and 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 against the underside of said shoe tongue to reveal another of said overlays outwardly upon the front surface of said shoe tongue for display. 
 
     
     
         7 . The footwear with changeable overlays of  claim 6  wherein there are at least three such overlays applied to the shoe tongue during usage. 
     
     
         8 . The footwear capable of varying in appearance when worn, said footwear having the components of a shoe sole, at least a partial vamp, and a tongue extending behind said vamp, comprising:
 said tongue having an upper edge above said partial vamp and a front surface generally opposite said sole;   at least one overlay affixed to said upper edge of said tongue, 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   wherein the wearer of the footwear can vary the coloration, indicia, or design of the footwear by folding over said overlay with respect to its affixed tongue.   
     
     
         9 . The footwear of  claim 8  and capable of varying an appearance when worn, wherein there are a series of overlays applied to the shoe tongue, and said overlays being affixed to the shoe tongue through stitching. 
     
     
         10 . The footwear of  claim 9  and capable of varying in appearance said footwear tongue, wherein said series of overlays are formed of a stretchable fabric.