Shoe with an interchangeable external tongue

Abstract

A shoe with interchangeable external tongues. The external tongues can be manufactured in a range of designs, colors, and shapes. The external tongue can interchangeably couple to a vamp portion of the shoe and can be further secured by the laces. The external tongue and the vamp portion of the shoe have hook and loop fasteners for securing the external tongue to the vamp portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for modifying an appearance of a shoe, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a shoe, the shoe has a cutout in an upper of the shoe and a lace fastening two opposite sides of the cutout, the shoe further comprises:
 a shoe part of an upper fastening member coupled to an outer surface of a vamp of the shoe, and 
 a shoe part of a lower fastening member coupled to an inner surface of the vamp just below the shoe part of the upper fastening member, such that a portion of the vamp is sandwiched between the shoe part of the upper fastening member and the shoe part of the lower fastening member; and 
   providing an external tongue, the external tongue has a proximal end and distal end, a tongue part of the upper fastening member is coupled to the proximal end of the external tongue, a tongue part of the lower fastening member is coupled to the proximal end of the external tongue, such that a portion of the external tongue is sandwiched between the tongue part of the upper fastening member and the tongue part of the lower fastening member, a portion of the tongue part of the upper fastening member and a portion of the tongue part of the lower fastening member extend away from the proximal end of the external tongue forming a jaw shape.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises the steps of:
 inserting the proximal end of the external tongue into the shoe below the lace;   coupling the tongue part of the upper fastening member to the shoe part of the upper fastening member; and   coupling the tongue part of the lower fastening member to the shoe part of the lower fastening member, to secure the external tongue to the shoe.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the method further comprises the steps of:
 wearing the shoe; and   tightening the lace.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper fastening member and the lower fastening member are hook and loop fasteners. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the method further comprises the steps of:
 removing the external tongue from the shoe;   providing a second external tongue; and   securing the second external tongue to the shoe.   
     
     
         6 . A shoe comprising:
 a lace fastening two opposite sides of a cutout in an upper of the shoe;   a shoe part of an upper fastening member coupled to an outer surface of a vamp of the shoe;   a shoe part of a lower fastening member coupled to an inner surface of the vamp just below the shoe part of the upper fastening member, such that a vamp portion is sandwiched between the shoe part of the upper fastening member and the shoe part of the lower fastening member; and   an external tongue, the external tongue has a proximal end and distal end, a tongue part of the upper fastening member is coupled to the proximal end of the external tongue, a tongue part of the lower fastening member is coupled to the proximal end of the external tongue, such that a portion of the external tongue is sandwiched between the tongue part of the upper fastening member and the tongue part of the lower fastening member, a portion of the tongue part of the upper fastening member and a portion of the tongue part of the lower fastening member extend away from the proximal end of the external tongue forming a jaw shape,   wherein the tongue part of the upper fastening member is configured to couple with the shoe part of the upper fastening member and the tongue part of the lower fastening member is configured to couple with the shoe part of the lower fastening member for securing the external tongue to the vamp portion.