Shoe with a Replaceable Upper

Abstract

The present invention includes methods of removably attaching a flexible upper ( 14 ) to a rigid sole ( 12 ) to form an open toe shoe ( 10 ). The upper ( 14 ) is attached to the sole ( 12 ) by a set of interference fit studs ( 74 ) pushed into bores ( 76 ) in the sole ( 12 ). The stud ( 74 ) compresses radially as it is pushed into the bore ( 76 ) so that it pushes against the bore surface ( 92 ) to secure the stud ( 74 ) in the bore ( 76 ), but can be removed by hand. The bore ( 38, 76 ) is a hole formed directly in the sole ( 12 ) or the bore ( 38, 76 ) is within a hard insert ( 48, 94 ) secured in the sole ( 12 ). For an upper ( 14 ) with a thong ( 52 ), the thong ( 52 ) attaches to the foot bed ( 22 ) using a threaded rod ( 56, 58 ) turned into a threaded bore ( 54, 60 ).

1 . A shoe comprising:
 (a) a sole composed of a rigid material and having a back, toe, sides extending between the back and toe, and a foot bed;   (b) an upper composed of a flexible material that arches over the front portion of the sole and having edges that overlap the sides of the sole at the front portion;   (c) a plurality of holes along each side edge of the upper, the holes having a hole diameter;   (d) a plurality of bores in the sides of the sole, the bores having an interior surface and a bore diameter, and each of the holes having a bore aligned therewith;   (e) a plurality of studs having a body and a head, the body having a diameter larger than the bore diameter, the head having a diameter larger than the hole diameter, each stud body extending through each hole into the aligned bore until the stud head holds the upper against the side of the sole, the stud being removably retained within the bore by an interference fit and being manually removable.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein the stud body is radially compressible. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein the stud body has a longitudinal slot forming two parallel legs whereby, when the stud body is in the bore, the legs are bent inwardly causing the legs to press outwardly against the interior surface of the bore. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein the stud body is formed of a compressible material. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein the bore is within an insert mounted in an aperture in the sole, the insert being composed of a hard material. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein the upper further comprises a thong and wherein the thong removably attaches to the foot bed by a threaded attachment. 
     
     
         7 . A shoe comprising:
 (a) a sole composed of a rigid material and having a back, toe, sides extending between the back and toe, and a foot bed;   (b) an upper composed of a flexible material that arches over the front portion of the sole and having edges that overlap the sides of the sole at the front portion;   (c) a plurality of holes along each side edge of the upper, the holes having a hole diameter;   (d) a plurality of bores in the sides of the sole, the bores having an interior surface and a bore diameter, where the bore diameter is constant or where the bore diameter at the center is slightly larger than at the ends, and each of the holes having a bore aligned therewith;   (e) a plurality of studs having a body and a head, the body having a diameter larger than the bore diameter and being radially compressible, the head having a diameter larger than the hole diameter, each stud body extending through each hole into the aligned bore until the stud head holds the upper against the side of the sole, the stud being removably retained within the bore by an interference fit and being manually removable, the interference fit being caused by the stud body pushing radially against the bore interior surface.   
     
     
         8 . The shoe of  claim 7  wherein the stud body has a longitudinal slot forming two parallel legs whereby, when the stud body is in the bore, the legs are bent inwardly causing the legs to press outwardly against the interior surface of the bore. 
     
     
         9 . The shoe of  claim 7  wherein the stud body has plurality of annular ribs with a diameter greater than the bore diameter, a longitudinal slit forming two parallel legs whereby, when the stud body is in the bore, the legs bend inwardly causing the legs to press outwardly against the interior surface of the bore. 
     
     
         10 . The shoe of  claim 7  wherein the stud body is formed of a compressible material. 
     
     
         11 . The shoe of  claim 7  wherein the stud body is formed of a hard material covered by a sleeve of compressible material. 
     
     
         12 . The shoe of  claim 7  wherein the bore is within an insert mounted in an aperture in the sole, the insert being composed of a hard material. 
     
     
         13 . The shoe of  claim 7  wherein the upper further comprises a thong and wherein the thong removably attaches to the foot bed by a threaded attachment.