Shoe assembly, detachable shoe cover and base, and assembling method

Abstract

A shoe assembly comprising a base portion including a sole and a first engaging portion, an upper cover portion separately formed from the base portion and including a shoe upper and a second engaging portion configured to engage with the first engaging portion to releasably couple the upper cover portion to the base portion, and a fastening assembly configured to further secure the releasable coupling between the upper cover portion and the base portion, wherein a force applied by the fastening assembly to the releasable coupling is adjustable.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A shoe assembly comprising:
 a base portion including a sole and a first engaging portion;   an upper cover portion separately formed from the base portion and including a shoe upper and a second engaging portion configured to engage with the first engaging portion to releasably couple the upper cover portion to the base portion; and   a fastening assembly configured to further secure the releasable coupling between the upper cover portion and the base portion, wherein a force applied by the fastening assembly to the releasable coupling is adjustable.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first engaging portion extends around at least a portion of a midsole of the base portion, and the second engaging portion extends around at least a portion of a lower periphery of the shoe upper. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first engaging portion comprises at least one first recess formed on an outer surface of the base portion, and wherein the second engaging portion comprises at least one projection formed on an inner surface of the upper cover portion and at least one second recess formed on an outer surface of the upper cover portion corresponding in position to the at least one projection, and   the at least one projection on the inner surface of the upper cover portion is configured to engage with the at least one first recess formed on the outer surface of the base portion.   
     
     
         4 . The shoe assembly in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the at least one second recess is configured to receive the fastening assembly and the fastening assembly is configured to secure the releasable coupling by applying a compressive force to the at least one second recess. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe assembly in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the base portion further comprises an anchor for anchoring the fastening assembly to the base portion. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe assembly in accordance with  claim 5  wherein the anchor is formed on an outsole portion of the sole. 
     
     
         7 . The shoe assembly in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the fastening assembly comprises at least one cable configured to pass through the at least one second recess so as to apply the compressive force to the at least one second recess and further configured to engage with the anchor. 
     
     
         8 . The shoe assembly in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the fastening assembly further comprises at least one retaining member for retaining the at least one cable within the at least one second recess. 
     
     
         9 . The shoe assembly in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein the at least one retaining member comprises at least one tube configured to fit securely within at least one second recess, and having an elongated opening for passing the at least one cable therethrough. 
     
     
         10 . The shoe assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising an anchor for anchoring the fastening assembly to the base portion. 
     
     
         11 . The shoe assembly in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the anchor is removably attached to an outsole of the base portion. 
     
     
         12 . The shoe assembly in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the anchor protrudes from a waist portion of an outsole of the base portion. 
     
     
         13 . The shoe assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first engaging portion comprises at least one first recess formed on an outer surface of the base portion and at least one projection formed on an inner surface of the base portion corresponding in position to the at least one first recess, and the second engaging portion comprises at least one second recess formed on an outer surface of the upper cover portion, wherein the at least one projection on the base portion is configured to engage with the at least one second recess formed on the outer surface of the upper cover portion. 
     
     
         14 . A shoe assembly comprising:
 a base portion including a sole and an engaging portion;   an upper cover portion separately formed from the base portion and including a shoe upper and at least one lower extension extending from a lower edge of the shoe upper; and   a fastening assembly provided on the lower extension of the upper cover portion and configured to releasably couple with the engaging portion of the base portion.   
     
     
         15 . The shoe assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the engaging portion comprises at least one elongated recess formed around at least a portion of a midsole of the base portion and the fastening assembly is provided on an inner surface of the upper cover portion. 
     
     
         16 . The shoe assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the lower extension of the upper cover portion overlaps with at least a portion of the midsole of the base portion when the fastening assembly is releasably coupled with the at least one elongated recess. 
     
     
         17 . The shoe assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the fastening assembly comprises at least one elongated tube configured to securely fit within the at least one elongated recess of the base portion. 
     
     
         18 . The shoe assembly according to  claim 14 , further comprising an anchor formed on the base unit,
 wherein the fastening assembly is further configured to secure the releasable coupling between the fastening assembly and the engaging portion to the anchor.   
     
     
         19 . The shoe assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the fastening assembly is further configured to apply a compressive force to the releasable coupling between the fastening assembly and the engaging portion. 
     
     
         20 . The shoe assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the at least one lower extension includes a rear lower extension extending from a lower edge of a heel portion of the shoe upper and a front lower extension extending from a lower edge of a toe portion of the shoe upper. 
     
     
         21 . The shoe assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the at least one lower extension extends around the entire lower edge of the shoe upper. 
     
     
         22 . The shoe assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the fastening assembly is further configured to seal an interface between the lower extension and the base portion. 
     
     
         23 . A shoe upper for use in a shoe assembly and configured to releasably engage with a base portion of the shoe assembly, the shoe upper comprising:
 an upper cover portion separately formed from the base portion and including an upper and an engaging portion configured to engage with the base portion to releasably couple the upper cover portion to the base portion,   wherein the engaging portion extends around at least a portion of a lower periphery of the upper.   
     
     
         24 . The shoe upper in accordance with  claim 23 , wherein:
 the engaging portion comprises at least one projection formed on an inner surface of the shoe upper and at least one recess formed on an outer surface of the shoe upper corresponding in position to the at least one projection, and   the at least one projection on the inner surface of the shoe upper is configured to engage with at least one recess formed on an outer surface of the base portion.