Flip Flop Style Sandals with Interchangeable Sole Members

Abstract

The present invention relates to an interchangeable footwear device. The device may include a flip-flop sandal design wherein the device may include interchangeable structural features to allow a user to change features as associated with a particular terrain. The interchangeable footwear device includes a gripping system to traverse a number of different terrains. The footwear may include a sole member having a thong member attached to a top of the sole and a heel strap selectively attached to the sole. The heel strap may be selectively attached to the sole with a fastener that may be manually adjusted in a secured or unsecured position to remove the heel strap from the sole. In particular, the interchangeable footwear device may include a gripping unit selectively attached to the sole member of the footwear. The gripping unit may include a toe grip pad and a heel grip pad.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A footwear comprising:
 a central body having an elongated shape with a top facing surface, a ground facing surface, and front and heel portions;   a heel gripping pad affixed to the central body on the ground facing surface proximate to the heel portion; and   a front gripping pad affixed to the central body on the ground facing surface and set apart from the heel gripping pad so that a portion of the central body remains exposed on the ground facing side.   
     
     
         2 . The footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the heel gripping pad and the front gripping pad include through-holes and further comprising at least one stud selectively positioned to pass at least partially through the through-hole. 
     
     
         3 . The footwear according to  claim 2 , wherein there are a plurality of studs and through holes. 
     
     
         4 . The footwear according to  claim 2 , wherein at least stud comprises a cylinder with a cross sectional shape selected from the group consisting of: an X-shape; a circle; an oval; a polygon; an ellipses; an arch; and a crescent. 
     
     
         5 . The footwear according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one stud has a hollowed out, annular shape. 
     
     
         6 . A footwear comprising:
 a central body having an elongated shape with a top facing surface, a ground facing surface and front and heel portions;   a heel gripping pad selectively attached to the central body on the ground facing surface proximate to the heel portion; and   a front gripping pad selectively attached to the central body on the ground facing surface and set apart from the heel gripping pad so that a portion of the central body remains exposed on the ground facing side.   
     
     
         7 . The footwear of  claim 6 , wherein the heel gripping pad and the front gripping pad comprise a ground engaging surface. 
     
     
         8 . The footwear of  claim 7 , wherein the ground engaging surface of the heel gripping pad comprises a first configuration. 
     
     
         9 . The footwear of  claim 8  further comprising a second heel gripping pad capable of selective attachment to the central body on the ground facing surface proximate to the heel strap upon removal of the heel gripping pad, wherein the second heel gripping pad comprises a second configuration different from the first configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The footwear of  claim 9 , wherein the ground engaging surface of the front gripping pad comprises a third configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the third configuration is identical to the first configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The footwear of  claim 10  further comprising a second front gripping pad capable of selective attachment to the central body on the ground facing surface upon removal of the front gripping pad, wherein the second front gripping pad comprises a fourth configuration different from the third configuration. 
     
     
         13 . The footwear of  claim 12 , wherein the second configuration and the fourth configuration are identical. 
     
     
         14 . The footwear of  claim 12 , wherein the first configuration comprises a plurality of cleats. 
     
     
         15 . The footwear of  claim 12 , wherein the second configuration comprises a felt gripping pad. 
     
     
         16 . A footwear comprising:
 a central body having an elongated shape with a top facing surface, a ground facing surface;   a thong assembly affixed to the central body on the top facing surface;   a detachable heel strap affixed to the central body;   a first heel gripping pad selectively attached to the central body on the ground facing surface proximate to the heel strap;   a first front gripping pad selectively attached to the central body on the ground facing surface and set apart from the heel gripping pad so that a portion of the central body remains exposed on the ground facing side;   a second heel gripping pad capable of selective attachment to the central body on the ground facing surface proximate to the heel strap upon removal of the first front gripping pad; and   a second front gripping pad capable of selective attachment to the central body on the ground facing surface upon removal of the first front gripping pad.   
     
     
         17 . The footwear of  claim 16 , wherein the first heel gripping pad and first front gripping pad have a first configuration and the second heel gripping pad and second front gripping pad have a second configuration different from the first configuration. 
     
     
         18 . The footwear of  claim 17 , wherein the first configuration comprises a plurality of cleats. 
     
     
         19 . The footwear of  claim 17 , wherein the second configuration comprises a felt gripping pad. 
     
     
         20 . The footwear of  claim 17  further comprising a third heel gripping pad capable of selective attachment to the central body on the ground facing surface proximate to the heel strap upon removal of the first and second front gripping pads; and a third front gripping pad capable of selective attachment to the central body on the ground facing surface upon removal of the first and second front gripping pads, wherein the third heel gripping pad and third front gripping pad have a third configuration, which is different than the first and second configurations.