Modular, customizable footwear system with interchangeable components

Abstract

A modular, customizable shoe assembly comprises a shoe shell including a shell attachment mechanism on a lower portion of the shoe shell and a pair of engagement members on an upper medial region of the shoe shell. The shoe assembly includes at least two different types of shoe soles which can be releasably connected alternatively to the shoe shell. Each of the shoe soles have a sole attachment mechanism adapted for releasable connection to the shell attachment mechanism. At least two different types of securement assemblies which can be releasably connected alternately to the shoe shell are provided and each of the securement assemblies are adapted for releasable connection to the pair of engagement members. The securement assemblies are arranged and designed to aid in securing the shoe to a wearer's foot. The shoe shell may also include a back heel mechanism on the rear of the shoe shell. A detachable loop piece having an upper loop is arranged and designed to detachably connect to the back heel mechanism.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A modular, customizable shoe assembly comprising:
 a shoe shell having a shell attachment mechanism;   at least two shoe soles of different types and which can be releasably connected alternatively to the shoe shell, each of the shoe soles having a sole attachment mechanism adapted for releasable connection to the shell attachment mechanism.   
     
     
         2 . The modular, customizable shoe assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the shoe soles comprises an upper surface and a raised peripheral lip extending substantially around a periphery of the shoe sole defining a recess in which the shoe shell is received. 
     
     
         3 . The modular, customizable shoe assembly of  claim 2 , wherein
 the peripheral lip includes a sole seal; and   the shoe shell includes a shell seal, the shell seal arranged and designed to engage the sole seal as the shoe shell is joined to the shoe sole.   
     
     
         4 . The modular, customizable shoe assembly of  claim 3 , wherein one of the shell seal and sole seal is an elongate recess and the other of the shell seal and the sole seal is an elongate protrusion shaped to be received within the elongate recess. 
     
     
         5 . The modular, customizable shoe assembly of  claim 1 , wherein
 the shell attachment mechanism comprises a clip extending from a lower surface of the shoe shell, the clip comprising a stem extending generally perpendicularly from the lower surface and a transverse member transverse to the stem;   each of the shoe soles has an upper surface and a bottom surface, and the sole attachment mechanism comprises a slot recessed in the upper surface and opening into an enlarged cavity formed between the upper and bottom surfaces,   wherein the transverse member is arranged and designed to extend through the slot and into the enlarged cavity and is partially rotatable within the enlarged cavity to secure the shell attachment mechanism to the sole attachment mechanism.   
     
     
         6 . The modular, customizable shoe assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the shell attachment mechanism comprises a disk attached to the shoe shell and the stem is at least partially rotatably connected to the disk. 
     
     
         7 . The modular, customizable shoe assembly of  claim 5 , wherein
 the shell attachment mechanism further comprises a cantilevered panel extending from the lower surface of the shoe shell; and   the sole attachment mechanism further comprises a panel cavity in the shoe sole having a slotted opening in the upper surface, wherein the slotted opening and the panel cavity are arranged and designed to receive the cantilevered panel.   
     
     
         8 . The modular, customizable shoe assembly of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a power source connected to an actuation device, the power source and actuation device mounted in the shoe shell, the power source arranged and designed to power the actuation device to partially rotate the clip.   
     
     
         9 . The modular, customizable shoe assembly of  claim 1 , wherein
 the shell attachment mechanism comprises a structure attached to a lower surface of the shoe shell, the structure comprising a housing having first and second openings; and   the sole attachment mechanism of each of the at least two shoe soles comprises a sole recess in the shoe sole arranged and designed to receive the housing, the sole recess having first and second openings in a periphery of the shoe sole, and first and second sliding blocks,   wherein with the housing received within the sole recess, the housing first opening is aligned with the sole first opening and the housing second opening is aligned with the sole second opening, and   the shoe shell is secured to the shoe sole by positioning the first sliding block in the aligned sole and housing first openings and positioning the second sliding block in the aligned sole and housing second openings.   
     
     
         10 . The modular, customizable shoe assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the first sliding block has a slot extending generally transversely through the first sliding block, and the generally transverse slot is arranged and designed to receive a portion of the second sliding block,
 wherein the shoe shell is secured to the shoe sole by additionally positioning a portion of the second sliding block in the generally transverse slot.   
     
     
         11 . The modular, customizable shoe assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the shoe shell comprising a pair of engagement members on an upper medial region of the shoe shell; and   at least two securement assemblies of different types and which can be releasably connected alternately to the shoe shell, each of the securement assemblies adapted for releasable connection to the pair of engagement members.   
     
     
         12 . The modular, customizable shoe assembly of  claim 11 , wherein
 the shoe shell comprises a tongue having first and second sides and the pair of engagement members flank the first and second sides of the tongue; and   at least one securement assembly comprises a pair of securement members for slidably engaging the pair of engagement members and securing the securement assembly to the shoe shell.   
     
     
         13 . The modular, customizable shoe assembly of  claim 12 , wherein each of the securement members have a plurality of openings arranged and designed to receive a shoelace for lacing up the shoe. 
     
     
         14 . The modular, customizable shoe assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the pair of securement members have at least one piece of stretchable material attached between them to aid in securing the shoe to a wearer's foot. 
     
     
         15 . The modular, customizable shoe assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising a zipper attached to the at least one piece of stretchable material, wherein the zipper can be partially unzipped to loosen the fit of the shoe on the wearer's foot. 
     
     
         16 . The modular, customizable shoe assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a back heel mechanism on a rear of the shoe shell; and   a detachable loop piece having an upper loop and arranged and designed to detachably connect to the back heel mechanism.   
     
     
         17 . The modular, customizable shoe assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a back heel mechanism on a rear of the shoe shell; and   a heel strap or elongate body arranged and designed to detachably connect to the back heel mechanism.   
     
     
         18 . The modular, customizable shoe assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the heel strap or elongate body includes a reflective color or material for high visibility. 
     
     
         19 . The modular, customizable shoe assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pair of strap attachments attached to left and right side portions of the shoe shell; and   a strap having end connectors for releasably connecting to the pair of strap attachments.   
     
     
         20 . The modular, customizable shoe assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the pair of strap attachments are attached to left and right side rear portions of the shoe shell, and
 wherein when the strap is connected to the pair of strap attachments the strap is stretched across an upper portion of a tongue of the shoe shell.   
     
     
         21 . A modular, customizable shoe assembly comprising:
 a shoe shell comprising
 a shell attachment mechanism; and 
 a pair of engagement members on an upper medial region of the shoe shell; 
   at least two shoe soles of different types and which can be releasably connected alternatively to the shoe shell, each of the shoe soles having a sole attachment mechanism adapted for releasable connection to the shell attachment mechanism; and   at least two securement assemblies of different types and which can be releasably connected alternately to the shoe shell, each of the securement assemblies adapted for releasable connection to the pair of engagement members, each of the securement assemblies arranged and designed to aid in securing the shoe to a wearer's foot.   
     
     
         22 . The modular, customizable shoe assembly of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a back heel mechanism on a rear of the shoe shell; and   a detachable loop piece having an upper loop and arranged and designed to detachably connect to the back heel mechanism.