Convertible shoe and sandal with reversible top

Abstract

A convertible article of footwear has an upper outer component with a reversible exterior shell, an inner sandal base and means for repeatedly connecting and disconnecting these two main components to one another with either outer shell exposed. When connected by a zipper or other joinder, the parts form a whole outer shoe for sports, casual or other uses. When kept apart, or separated into main component elements, the user can wear the underlying sandal as a stand-alone footwear item.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A convertible article of footwear comprising:
 a primary upper component that includes a shell resembling a first shoe model and that reverses to reveal a shell resembling a second shoe model;   an inner sandal component that can also be worn separately, and   means for joining the inner sandal to the primary upper component in a manner that allows for subsequent separation and rejoinder.   
     
     
         2 . The convertible footwear article of  claim 1  which, when joined together forms at least one sports or athletic shoe model. 
     
     
         3 . The convertible footwear article of  claim 2  which forms a sports or athletic shoe of a first color, and then a sports or athletic shoe of a second color when reversed. 
     
     
         4 . The convertible footwear article of  claim 1  which, when joined together forms at least one casual shoe model. 
     
     
         5 . The convertible footwear article of  claim 1  wherein said sandal component includes a secondary means for fastening to said primary upper component. 
     
     
         6 . The convertible footwear article of  claim 1  wherein said joining means includes a zipper that extends about a majority of an outer perimeter of the sandal component. 
     
     
         7 . The convertible footwear article of  claim 6  wherein said zipper extends about the entire sandal outer perimeter. 
     
     
         8 . The convertible footwear article of  claim 1  wherein said sandal is adapted for receiving multiple upper outer component colors or designs. 
     
     
         9 . The convertible footwear article of  claim 1  wherein said sandal is adapted for receiving multiple upper outer component shapes and end uses. 
     
     
         10 . A sandal for removable insertion in and connection to a primary upper component that can be reversed to form multiple, convertible shoe varieties, said sandal comprising:
 a base;   a bridge extending over the base towards a toe end of a user/wearer, said bridge connecting at or near opposite sides of the base; and   means for repeatedly connecting the base to its primary upper component in one of two exterior directions.   
     
     
         11 . The removable sandal of  claim 10  which further includes a secondary means for connecting to an interior of the primary upper component. 
     
     
         12 . The removable sandal of  claim 10  wherein said connecting means includes a zipper element. 
     
     
         13 . The removable sandal of  claim 12  wherein said zipper element extends about a majority of an outer perimeter of the sandal base. 
     
     
         14 . The removable sandal of  claim 13  wherein said zipper element extends about the entire perimeter of the sandal base. 
     
     
         15 . A reversible upper shoe component for repeatedly connecting to and over an independently wearable sandal component, said upper shoe component including:
 a shell resembling a first shoe model that, when reversed, resembles a second shoe model; and   means for connecting to the sandal component.   
     
     
         16 . The upper shoe component of  claim 15  wherein the first shoe model is a sports or athletic shoe in a first print or color. 
     
     
         17 . The upper shoe component of  claim 16  wherein the second shoe model is a sports or athletic shoe in a second print or color. 
     
     
         18 . The upper shoe component of  claim 16  wherein the second shoe model is a casual shoe. 
     
     
         19 . The upper shoe component of  claim 15  wherein said connecting means includes a zipper element. 
     
     
         20 . The upper shoe component of  claim 15 , which further includes secondary means for connecting to a top bridge of the sandal component.