Footwear with interchangeable member

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an item of footwear with removable modular sole member that allow customization of the footwear with respect to traction, cushioning, support, fit, performance and/or aesthetic functions and features. It is an object of the present invention to provide a footwear which can be customized to be utilized for varying conditions and/or occasions. Another object of the invention is to provide a footwear with relatively simple means for quickly and firmly securing an interchangeable sole with effective elements which do not adversely affect the appearance or comfort of the footwear.

1 . A shoe comprising:
 a main body with an upper portion and a base portion wherein, the base portion is provided with a set of Openings, and the upper portion imparts the required shape and space for accommodating the foot of the user such that the main body appears similar to a traditional shoe;   
       a sole member with a flat side and a side with a set of protrusions, wherein the set of protrusions are shaped and spaced to be complimentary to the size and space of the set of openings on the base portion the main body, and the sole member is sized to fit within and substantially fill the interior of the main body; and 
       a tongue member, wherein, the tongue member comprises:
 a base portion of the tongue member which is complimentary in shape to the protrusions of the sole member, and has a set of openings similar in shape and spacing to the set of openings in the base portion of the main body; and 
 a tongue portion of the tongue member which is flexibly coupled to the base portion of the tongue member and positioned such that the tongue portion runs along the instep to a position around the ankle line. 
 
     
     
         2 . The shoe of  claim 1 , further wherein, the tongue member further comprises: a set of eyelets with a connection to the base portion and/or the tongue portion of the tongue member. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein, the set of openings in the base portion of the main body is formed in a grid of shaped openings. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein, the sole member may be provided with a plurality of tongues extending outwardly from the flat surface of the sole member and arrayed along an outer edge of the flat surface, the tongue portions are adapted to be disposed inside complimentary groves defined in the main body. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe of  claim 1  further wherein, the tongue portion of the tongue member is provided with eyelets and positioned to protect the instep of the wearer from fastening means and/or the elements. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein, the flat side of the sole member is covered with an inner sole made of the generally soft or cushioning materials of an athletic shoe. 
     
     
         7 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein, the sole member is an interchangeable unit wherein, the unit can be removed from main body by the user and the sole member is provided with one or more features selected from:
 uniform thickness from end to end;   thickness which varies from end to end;   a recessed central portion; and   a heel, wherein: the heel is securely attached; or formed as part of the sole member.   
     
     
         8 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein, the sole member is provided with cushioning elements providing basic shock absorption, energy return, and/or protective underfoot structures or materials that are intended to react to the forces of foot strike, by providing force attenuation dissipation, dampening, or energy return. 
     
     
         9 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the main body further comprises a cover portion which is flexibly coupled to the upper portion on one side of the upper body folded over to the other side of the main body wherein, a fastener ( 114 ) is positioned to engage with a cooperating fastener ( 116 ) along the other side of the upper portion securing the upper portion to the cover at the fastener ( 114 ) and the cooperating fastener ( 116 ). 
     
     
         10 . The Shoe of  claim 9  wherein, the fastener ( 114 ) and the cooperating fastener ( 116 ) is selected from:
 Hook and loop strips; 
 Zippers; 
 Hook and eye fastener; 
 Snaps or poppers fasteners. 
 
     
     
         11 . The shoe of  claim 9  wherein, a second tongue portion arranged around the outer edge of the flat surface of the sole member of  122  has a fastener ( 114 ) that engages with the cooperating fastener ( 116 ) in the upper portion of the main body, and further wherein, a set of eyelets with the tongue member allow for laces to pass therethrough, such that the laces could be tied up. 
     
     
         12 . A shoe, comprising:
 a main body with an upper portion and a base portion wherein, the base portion is provided with a set of openings, and the upper portion imparts the required shape and space for accommodating the foot of the user such that the main body appears similar to a traditional shoe;   a sole member with a flat side and a side with a set of protrusions, wherein the set of protrusions are shaped and spaced to be complimentary to the size and space of the set of openings on the base portion of the main body, and the sole member is sized to fit within and substantially fill the interior of the main body; and   a tongue member in-between the base portion of the main body and the sole member, wherein the tongue member further comprises:
 a base portion of the tongue member which is complimentary in shape to the protrusions of the sole member, and has a set of openings similar in shape and spacing to the set of openings in the base portion of the main body; and 
 a tongue portion of the tongue member which is flexibly coupled to the base portion of the tongue member and positioned such that the tongue portion runs along the instep to a position around the ankle line. 
   
     
     
         13 . The shoe of  claim 12 , wherein the sole member comprises: a racing sole; training soles; and extra support soles. 
     
     
         14 . The shoe of  claim 12 , wherein the sole member comprises: a unitary structure;
 or it may be composed of two or more subcomponents combined together as a single unit.   
     
     
         15 . The shoe of  claim 12 , wherein the sole member is comprised of: rubber; leather; or plastic. 
     
     
         16 . The shoe of  claim 12 , wherein the sole member is a unit fabricated from one or more methods selected from: molding; injection molding; direct-injection molding; one-time molding; composite molding; insert molding; co-molding separate materials. 
     
     
         17 . A method of making a shoe, comprising:
 constructing a main body with an upper portion and a base portion wherein, the base portion is provided with a set of openings, and the upper portion imparts the required shape and space for accommodating the foot of the user such that the main body appears similar to a traditional shoe;   constructing a sole member with a flat side and a side with a set of protrusions, wherein the set of protrusions are shaped and spaced to be complimentary to the size and space of the set of openings on the base portion of the main body, and the sole member is sized to fit within and substantially fill the interior of the main body; and   inserting the sole member into the main body, such that a surface with a set of protrusions is facing the base portion of the main body, and the set of protrusions in the sole member extend out through the openings in the base portion of the main body;   constructing a tongue member comprising: a base portion with a set of openings; and a tongue portion ( 124 ) that is flexibly coupled to the base portion of the tongue member;   inserting the tongue member inside the upper portion of the main body before the sole member such that the base portion of the tongue member rests on the base portion of the main body; and   aligning the tongue member such that a set of openings in the base portion of the tongue member match up with the set of openings in the base portion of the main body.   
     
     
         18 . The method of making a shoe of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 removing the sole member with additional pulling forces are applied to the sole member, by pulling a strap of the sole member or the tongue portion of the tongue member to remove the sole member from the main body, for replacement thereof.   
     
     
         19 . The method of making a shoe of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 Attaching a cover portion to the upper portion of the main body, wherein, a fastener is positioned on the other side of the cover portion;   folding it over to cover the tongue portion of the tongue member, when the tongue member is inserted in the main body,   engaging the fastener ( 114 ) of the tongue member with a cooperating fastener ( 116 ) in the upper portion of the main body, such that the cover portion is secured in position to cover the tongue portion of the tongue member.   
     
     
         20 . The method of making a shoe of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 Taking a second tongue portion of the tongue member with eyelets and folding it along the outside of the shoe.