Shoe with sole removably attached to upper

Abstract

A shoe including an upper, a sole including slots formed in a bottom of the sole, and retention overlay. The sole is removably attached to the shoe upper via the retention overlay, which is provided within the slots formed in the bottom of the sole.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shoe, comprising:
 an upper,   a sole including slots formed in a bottom of the sole, and a retention overlay,   wherein the sole is removably attached to the shoe upper via the retention overlay , which is provided within the slots formed in the bottom of the sole;   wherein the retention overlay is secured or tightened at a rear of the shoe.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe of  claim 1 , further comprising slots formed in lateral sides of the sole, wherein the retention overlay is provided within the slots formed in the lateral sides of the sole. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe of  claim 2 , further comprising slots formed in a rear side of the sole, wherein the retention overlay is provided within the slots formed in the rear sides of the sole. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe of  claim 3 , wherein the retention overlay extends to an upper surface of the upper. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the retention overlay comprises a fingers and a cord, the fingers extending from the upper to a bottom of the sole, the cord is attached to the fingers, and the cord and fingers are provided within the slots formed in the bottom of the sole. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe of  claim 5 , wherein each of the fingers includes a lace loop, and the cord is attached to the fingers via the lace loops. 
     
     
         7 . The shoe of  claim 5 , wherein the cord is tied at the rear of the shoe. 
     
     
         8 . The shoe of  claim 5 , further comprising a lace lock mechanism that tightens the cord at the rear of the shoe. 
     
     
         9 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the retention overlay comprises a snap fit member at the rear of the shoe that secures the retention overlay. 
     
     
         10 . The shoe of  claim 9 , wherein snap fit member comprises a plurality of first snap fit portions that are snap fitted to a plurality of second snap fit portions. 
     
     
         11 . The shoe of  claim 9 , wherein the retention overlay comprises loop portions that extend from the shoe upper to the bottom of the sole, the loop portions are secured to the slot portions at the bottom of the sole. 
     
     
         12 . The shoe of  claim 11 , wherein the recesses are provided at sides of the slots formed in the bottom of the sole, the recesses act as key locks preventing the loop portions from slipping. 
     
     
         13 . The shoe of  claim 9 , further comprising lace connecting one side of the retention overlay to another side of the retention overlay. 
     
     
         14 . The shoe of  claim 14 , wherein the retention overlay is formed of a molded plastic resin. 
     
     
         15 . A method of making a shoe, comprising:
 providing an upper and a sole within a retention overlay, the sole including slots formed in a bottom of the sole, and   providing the retention overlay within the slots formed in the bottom of the sole; and   tightening or securing the retention overlay at a rear of the shoe.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising providing the retention overlay within slots formed in the lateral sides of the sole. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising providing the retention overlay within slots formed in the rear sides of the sole. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the retention overlay extends to an upper surface of the upper. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the retention overlay comprises a fingers and a cord, the fingers extending from the upper to a bottom of the sole, the cord is attached to the fingers, and the cord and fingers are provided within the slots formed in the bottom of the sole.