Footwear design persoalizing

Abstract

An article of footwear and a method making it. The footwear is configured for personalized design changes with the article of footwear comprising a base anchoring element with a first plurality of fastening elements. The base anchoring element is formed separately from existing footwear and then permanently attached to at least a portion of an outer surface of the existing footwear. The article of footwear further comprises at least two decorative elements each with a second plurality of fastening elements configured to individually releasably matingly engage with the first plurality of fastening elements. The first and second plurality of fastening elements are formed on the respective base anchoring element and each of the decorative elements, in mating registration with each other.

1 .- 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . An article of footwear configured for personalized design changes, the article of footwear comprising a base anchoring element with a first plurality of fastening elements, the base anchoring element being formed separately from existing footwear and then permanently attached to at least a portion of an outer surface of the existing footwear; the article of footwear further comprising at least two decorative elements each with a second plurality of fastening elements configured to individually releasably matingly engage with the first plurality of fastening elements, with the first and second plurality of fastening elements being formed on the respective base anchoring element and each of the decorative elements, in mating registration with each other. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 14 , wherein the at least two decorative elements are designed or selected by the user of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 14 , wherein the base anchoring element is positioned on a rear half of the footwear. 
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 14 , wherein the base anchoring element is positioned on a side of a sole of the footwear. 
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 14 , wherein the first and second plurality of fastening elements comprise snap fasteners integrally formed with the respective base anchoring element and decorative elements respectively. 
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 14 , wherein the base anchoring element and decorative elements further comprise respective mating alignment elements. 
     
     
         21 . The article of footwear of  claim 20 , wherein the mating alignment elements comprise a monorail and channel element. 
     
     
         22 . The article of footwear of  claim 14 , wherein one of the first and second plurality of fastening elements comprises magnetic elements and the other of the first and second plurality of fastening elements comprises a metal sheet. 
     
     
         22 . The article of footwear of  claim 22 , wherein the metal sheet is flexible and the decorative elements wrap around a rear heel section of the footwear with the magnetic elements and metal sheet being configured to hold the decorative elements in place without gapping or misalignment on the footwear. 
     
     
         23 . The article of footwear of  claim 14 , wherein the base anchoring element is permanently attached to an outer area of the footwear, having a relative dynamic stress area of 5 or more, when measured on a scale of 1 to 10, for outer areas of the footwear. 
     
     
         24 . The article of footwear of  claim 14 , wherein the footwear is a sneaker.