Shoe with interchangeable and detachable upper

Abstract

A shoe assembly includes a main portion, a sole, and a detachable upper. The main portion includes an opening for a foot and a top portion having a first engagement feature thereon. The sole is coupled to bottom edges of the top portion. The detachable upper has a top side and an underside, at least a portion of the underside of the detachable upper having a second engagement feature thereon, the second engagement feature being configured to engage with the first engagement feature. The detachable upper covers substantially all of the top portion of the main portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shoe assembly, comprising:
 a main portion, the main portion including an opening for a foot and a top portion having a first engagement feature thereon;   a sole coupled to bottom edges of the top portion; and   a detachable upper having a top side and an underside, at least a portion of the underside of the detachable upper having a second engagement feature thereon, the second engagement feature being configured to engage with the first engagement feature, wherein the detachable upper covers substantially all of the top portion of the main portion.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the sole portion is a non-slip sole. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the baby shoe is a soft-sole shoe. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the main portion and the detachable upper is constructed of leather, suede, fabric, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first engagement feature and the second engagement feature include hook-and-loop-type fasteners. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the first engagement element and the second engagement elements are magnets, snaps, zippers, or wherein the first engagement element and the second engagement element engage via a button-in-hole arrangement, hook-and-loop arrangement, lacing arrangement, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The shoe of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more appliques having a third engagement feature thereon, the third engagement feature being configured to engage with a fourth engagement feature positioned on the top side of the detachable upper. 
     
     
         8 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the detachable upper is configured to wrap around a wearer's ankle, the first engagement feature being positioned around at least a portion of the opening. 
     
     
         9 . The shoe of  claim 8 , wherein the detachable upper further includes first and second ends and third and fourth ends bridging the first and second ends, the first and second ends including elements for engaging one another, the third end having the second engagement feature thereon. 
     
     
         10 . The shoe assembly of  claim 9 , wherein engaging the main portion with the detachable portion converts the shoe assembly from being a low-top shoe to a high-top shoe. 
     
     
         11 . A children's shoe, comprising:
 a main portion including an opening for a foot, the main portion further including a top section extending from the opening to a front of the main portion and a back section proximate the opening; and   a detachable upper, the detachable upper being configured to removably engage with the main body via a hook and loop fastener including at least one engagement element, wherein the detachable upper is configured to cover at least a portion of the top section, an underside of the detachable upper including the at least one engagement element for removably engaging with at least a portion of the top section of the main portion.   
     
     
         12 . The children's shoe of  claim 11 , wherein the detachable upper side includes an ornamental design thereon. 
     
     
         13 . The shoe of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one engagement element includes a plurality of hooks, the top section of the main portion including a plurality of loops configured to be engaged by the plurality of hooks. 
     
     
         14 . The shoe of  claim 11 , wherein the detachable upper covers substantially all of the top section of the main portion. 
     
     
         15 . The show of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one detachable upper includes a plurality of detachable portions. 
     
     
         16 . The shoe of  claim 11 , wherein an underside of the detachable upper includes a plurality of first engagement elements. 
     
     
         17 . The shoe of  claim 16 , wherein a top of the main body includes a plurality of second engagement elements. 
     
     
         18 . The shoe of  claim 11 , wherein the first engagement element and the second engagement elements are a pair of magnets or snaps or wherein the first engagement element and the second engagement element engage via a button-in-hole arrangement, hook-and-eye arrangement, lacing arrangement, zipper, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . A soft sole shoe assembly, comprising:
 a main portion, the main portion including an opening for a foot and a top portion having a first engagement feature thereon;   a soft sole coupled to bottom edges of the top portion; and   a detachable upper having a top side and an underside, at least a portion of the underside of the detachable upper having a second engagement feature thereon, the second engagement feature being configured to engage with the first engagement feature, wherein the detachable upper covers substantially all of the top portion of the main portion, wherein the first engagement feature and the second engagement feature engage via a hook and loop arrangement.   
     
     
         20 . The soft sole shoe assembly of  claim 19 , wherein engaging the first engagement feature and the second engagement feature converts the soft sole shoe assembly from being a low-top main portion to a high-top soft sole shoe assembly.