Shoe With Interchangeable Sole Portion

Abstract

A shoe may include sole portions that are interchangeable with one another. That is, one of the sole portions may be removed from the shoe and replaced by another one of the sole portions. The interchangeable sole portions may include a common set of features (e.g., structure, design, color, etc.). Alternatively, each of the interchangeable sole portions may include a unique features, such that features of the shoe may be modified by exchanging sole portions.

1 . A shoe comprising,
 a cup outsole having an at least partially transparent side wall, which circumscribes a midsole housing formed in a central portion of the cup outsole;   a shoe upper attached to the cup outsole; and   a laser-sintered midsole that is removably insertable into the midsole housing of the cup outsole and that is viewable through the at least partially transparent side wall.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe of  claim 1  further comprising, a plurality of laser-sintered midsoles, each of which is interchangeably insertable into the midsole housing. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe of  claim 2 , wherein a first laser-sintered midsole of the plurality of laser-sintered midsoles includes a first characteristic that is distinguishing from a second characteristic of a second laser-sintered midsole. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe of  claim 3 , wherein the first laser-sintered midsole and the second laser-sintered midsole comprises laser-sintered powder. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the laser-sintered midsole comprises elements that are interlocked with one another and are freely movable. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the laser-sintered midsole comprises a three-dimensional (3D) grid of interconnected elements. 
     
     
         7 . A shoe comprising:
 a cup outsole having a wall that is at least partially transparent and that at least partially encloses a midsole housing;   a shoe upper attached to the cup outsole, the shoe upper comprising a foot-receiving cavity, which provides access to the midsole housing; and   a midsole coupled directly to an insole, wherein a combination of the midsole and the insole is positioned through the foot-receiving cavity and in the midsole housing and wherein the midsole is viewable through the wall that is at least partially transparent.   
     
     
         8 . The shoe of  claim 7  wherein the wall that is at least partially transparent is a side wall of the cup outsole that circumscribes the midsole housing. 
     
     
         9 . The shoe of  claim 7 , wherein the midsole and the insole are integrated as a single, integrated component. 
     
     
         10 . The shoe of  claim 7 , wherein the cup outsole comprises a bottom wall that is at least partially transparent and a side wall and wherein at least part of the side wall includes a transparent portion. 
     
     
         11 . The shoe of  claim 7  further comprising an opaque coating positioned between the at least partially transparent wall of the cup outsole and the shoe upper, the opaque coating masking a connection component coupling the cup outsole to the shoe upper. 
     
     
         12 . The shoe of  claim 7 , wherein the midsole comprises laser-sintered powder. 
     
     
         13 . The shoe of  claim 7  further comprising, a plurality of midsoles, each of which is interchangeably insertable into the midsole housing. 
     
     
         14 . The shoe of  claim 13 , wherein each midsole of the plurality of midsoles includes a respective characteristic that is distinguishing from other midsoles of the plurality of midsoles. 
     
     
         15 . The shoe of  claim 7 , wherein the midsole comprises elements that are interlocked with one another to form a chainmail pattern, and wherein each element of the elements is freely movable while being integrated in the chainmail pattern. 
     
     
         16 . A shoe comprising:
 a cup outsole having a wall that is at least partially transparent and that at least partially encloses a midsole housing;   a shoe upper attached to the cup outsole, the shoe upper comprising a foot-receiving cavity, wherein at least a portion of a stroble sock is detached from the shoe upper to provide access to the midsole housing; and   a midsole positioned through the foot-receiving cavity and in the midsole housing, wherein the midsole is viewable through the wall that is at least partially transparent.   
     
     
         17 . The shoe of  claim 16 , wherein midsole is constructed of a laser-sintered, three-dimensional (3D) grid of interconnected elements. 
     
     
         18 . The shoe of  claim 16  further comprising, a plurality of midsoles, each of which is interchangeably insertable into the midsole housing. 
     
     
         19 . The shoe of  claim 16  further comprising, an opaque coating positioned between the at least partially transparent wall of the cup outsole and the shoe upper, the opaque coating masking a connection component coupling the cup outsole to the shoe upper. 
     
     
         20 . The shoe of  claim 16 , wherein the wall that is at least partially transparent is a side wall of the cup outsole that circumscribes the midsole housing.