Customizable shoe

Abstract

A shoe system includes a sole and a shoe upper connected with the sole. A gap is disposed between a first upper portion and a second upper portion. The shoe system also includes a first permanent connector permanently connected to the first upper portion; a second permanent connector permanently connected to the second upper portion, and a removable and printable connector strap connectable with the shoe upper. First and second releasable connector portions of the removable and printable connector strap are releasably connectable with the first and second permanent connectors, respectively.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shoe system, comprising:
 a sole;   a shoe upper connected with the sole, the shoe upper including a first upper portion and a second upper portion, wherein a gap is disposed between the first upper portion and the second upper portion;   a tongue below the shoe upper and at least partially spanning the gap between the first upper portion and the second upper portion;   a first permanent connector positioned on the first upper portion, the first permanent connector being permanently connected to the first upper portion;   a second permanent connector positioned on the second upper portion, the second permanent connector being permanently connected to the second upper portion;   a removable and printable connector strap connectable with the shoe upper, the removable and printable connector strap comprising a first releasable connector portion and a second releasable connector portion,   the first releasable connector portion being releasably connectable with the first permanent connector, and   the second releasable connector portion being releasably connectable with the second permanent connector,   wherein at least one of the first releasable connector portion and the second releasable connector portion of the removable and printable connector strap is configured to be selectively adjustably connectable with the corresponding first permanent connector and/or second permanent connector of the shoe upper so as to span the gap between the first upper portion and the second upper portion and allow adjustment of the shoe upper around a wearer's foot.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe system of  claim 1 , wherein the first releasable connector portion and the second releasable connector portion comprise spaced regions on a continuous hook or loop strip of material disposed on the removable and printable connector strap. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe system of  claim 1 , wherein the first releasable connector portion and the second releasable connector portion comprise spaced, discrete first and second portions of hook or loop strip material disposed on the removable and printable connector strap. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe system of  claim 1 , wherein the first permanent connector comprises a portion of hook or loop material permanently connected to the first upper portion and the second permanent connector comprises a portion of hook or loop material permanently connected to the second upper portion, and wherein the first releasable connector portion comprises a hook or loop material releasably connectable with the hook or loop material of the first permanent connector, and the second releasable connector portion comprises a hook or loop material releasably connectable with the hook or loop material of the second permanent connector. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe system of  claim 1 , wherein the first permanent connector comprises a portion of hook or loop material permanently connected to the first upper portion and the second permanent connector comprises a ring through which the removable and printable connector strap passes. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe system of  claim 5 , wherein a first portion of the removable and printable connector strap comprises a hook or loop material forming the first releasable connector portion, and wherein a second portion of the removable and printable connector strap comprises a hook or loop material forming the second releasable connector portion, and wherein the second portion is constructed and arranged to pass through the ring and folded back over itself to capture the ring therebetween such that the ring is releasably connected to the second portion. 
     
     
         7 . The shoe system of  claim 6 , wherein the second portion is constructed and arranged to pass through the ring and folded back over itself such that at least a portion of the second portion is releasably connected to at least a portion of the first portion so as to secure the second portion in its folded back configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The shoe system of  claim 1 , wherein the removable and printable connector strap has a width in the leg to toe direction of at least ⅞ inch. 
     
     
         9 . The shoe system of  claim 8 , wherein the removable and printable connector strap has a width in the leg to toe direction of at least 1⅛ inches. 
     
     
         10 . The shoe system of  claim 1 , wherein the removable and printable connector strap has a width in the leg to toe direction between ⅞ and 2½ inches. 
     
     
         11 . The shoe system of  claim 8 , wherein an outwardly facing surface of the removable and printable connector strap has a width of at least 1 inch that is devoid of stitching. 
     
     
         12 . The shoe system of  claim 8 , wherein the removable and printable connector strap is devoid of any holes therethrough from a first side thereof to a second side thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The shoe system of  claim 8 , wherein the shoe system is devoid of laces, and wherein the removable and printable connector strap is adjustably connected to the first permanent connector to adjust the gap between the first upper portion and the second upper portion and hence the tightness of the shoe system on a wearers foot. 
     
     
         14 . The shoe system of  claim 8 , wherein the removable and printable connector strap has a length in the side to side shoe direction of at least 4.5 inches. 
     
     
         15 . The shoe system of  claim 8 , wherein the removable and printable connector strap has a thickness between ⅛ and 5/32 inches. 
     
     
         16 . The shoe system of  claim 15 , wherein the removable and printable connector strap is devoid of openings or gaps therethrough. 
     
     
         17 . The shoe system of  claim 8 , wherein the removable and printable connector strap includes padding material positioned between the first and second sides of the removable and printable connector strap. 
     
     
         18 . The shoe system of  claim 1 , wherein indicia are printed on an outwardly facing surface of the removable and printable connector strap. 
     
     
         19 . The shoe system of  claim 18 , wherein the indicia are printed using a screen printing procedure, a dye sublimation printing procedure or a heat or thermal transfer printing procedure. 
     
     
         20 . The shoe system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second permanent connectors are sewn to the first and second upper portions, respectively. 
     
     
         21 . The shoe system of  claim 1 , wherein the first upper portion and the second upper portion of the shoe upper have edge portions, wherein at least a portion of the first permanent connector of the first upper portion is positioned at a predetermined distance from the edge portion of the first upper portion, and wherein at least a portion of the second permanent connector of the second upper portion is positioned at a predetermined distance from the edge portion of the second upper portion. 
     
     
         22 . The shoe system of  claim 21 , where the predetermined distance is at least 1.0 inch. 
     
     
         23 . The shoe system of  claim 1 , wherein the removable and printable connector strap includes no folds therein when the removable and printable connector strap is removed from being attached from the shoe system. 
     
     
         24 . The shoe system of  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of a length of the removable and printable connector strap in a side to side shoe direction to a length of the shoe system in a leg to toe direction generally ranges between 0.58 and 1.22. 
     
     
         25 . The shoe system of  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of a width of the removable and printable connector strap in a leg to toe direction to a length of the shoe system in the leg to toe direction generally ranges between 0.144 and 0.28.