Patent Application
20140165426
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to footwear. More particularly, exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to footwear having a sole capable of conversion between several different configurations through the use of securing means and ties.
Initially, shoes developed to serve a utilitarian function: that of protecting the human foot. The oldest shoes that have been recovered to date are sandals found at Paleoindian sites in the American southwest dating from approximately 8,000 to 7,000 BC. The world's oldest leather shoe, was found in a cave in Armenia in 2008 and is believed to date to 3,500 BC. A glimpse at these and other examples of ancient footwear quickly shows that there was little, if any, cosmetic purpose served by the act of wearing shoes.
In today's world, a shoe, while maintaining a utilitarian function, is first and foremost a fashion accessory. It is not uncommon for an individual to purchase numerous shoes each season in order to obtain a variety of looks through their manner of dress. For example, a woman may purchase pumps, sandals, clogs, flats, loafers, mules, peep-toes, platforms, sneakers, boots, etc. Further, within each category of shoe, it may be necessary to purchase a variety of styles. This is also true of men's shoes although the categories of shoes available may be somewhat more limited. Obtaining a sufficient selection of shoe styles can be extremely costly and time consuming as trips to numerous stores must often be made in acquiring the shoes. From Imelda Marcos, who notoriously owned 1,200 pairs of shoes to the character of Carrie Bradshaw in the HBO series Sex and the City who proclaimed to have spent $40,000 on her shoe wardrobe, society is full of indicators as to how expensive it can be to be properly shod. Further, the NPD group, a retail and consumer information company based in Port Washington, N.Y. reports that American women spent nearly $17 billion on fashion footwear between October 2004 and October 2005.
There is a need in the market for a shoe which permits its owner to alter the look that can be obtained when the shoe is worn. Specifically, by purchasing a single shoe, the owner may be able to transform its style depending on the manner in which components of the shoe are arranged. For example, a single shoe could be worn casually, dressy, etc. by selectively choosing one of a variety of configurations offered by the shoe. In an exemplary embodiment, convertible footwear comprises a sole having a plurality of securing means where each securing means is adapted to receive a portion of a tie such that the user may select a first grouping of securing means for receiving the tie to obtain a first look and may select a second grouping of securing means for receiving the tie to obtain a second look. In some exemplary embodiments, a convertible shoe may come with more than one tie where each tie has a different appearance providing the shoe owner with additional style options.
A better understanding of the disclosed embodiments will be obtained from a reading of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings wherein identical reference characters refer to identical parts and in which:
As illustrated in
The exemplary convertible shoe of
As illustrated in
In some exemplary embodiments of the convertible shoe, such as that shown in
In another exemplary embodiment, as shown in
When a convertible shoe 100 defines at least one opening 500 for selectively receiving a receiving means 600, the receiving means 600 can be inserted into and received by the at least one opening 500 when it is desired that there be a receiving means 600 in the location of the opening 500 for receiving at least one tie 300. A convertible shoe 100 may define a plurality of openings 500 where each opening 500 is adapted to receive a receiving means 600. In exemplary embodiments where a convertible shoe defines a plurality of openings 500 where each opening 500 is adapted to receive a receiving means 600, the receiving means 600 may be selectively received by a first grouping of openings 500 when it is desired that there be receiving means 600 located at the first grouping positions. The shoe may comprise more than one grouping of openings 500 where each grouping corresponds to a different shoe style when receiving means have been inserted into the openings and utilized to receive a portion of at least one tie 300. For example, when a user wants to wear an exemplary convertible shoe 100 in a first style, he or she may insert receiving means 600 into every opening 500 in a first grouping of openings 500 defined by the sole 110 and then appropriately utilize at least one tie 300 in conjunction with the receiving means. If the user wants to utilize the convertible shoe 100 in a second style, he or she may be able to remove the at least one tie 300 from the receiving means 600 and remove the receiving means from the first grouping of openings 500, insert the receiving means 600 into a second grouping of openings 500 then lace the receiving means creating the second shoe style. In some exemplary embodiments, at least one opening 500 is part of a first grouping and a second grouping meaning that the receiving means receives a part of at least one tie 300 in that location to create a first and a second shoe style.
Being able to remove the receiving means 600 from the convertible shoe 100 when the receiving means 600 are not being used to receive a portion of at least one tie 300 may create a more attractive shoe and may also increase comfort. In other exemplary embodiments, a blank or plug may be inserted into the opening 500 to provide cushioning when a receiving means 600 is not used in the opening 500. In some exemplary embodiments, a receiving means may be removed from the sole of a convertible shoe even when the sole does not define an opening for receiving the receiving means 600. For example, the sole of a convertible shoe 100 may comprise an attachment mechanism for selectively attaching a receiving means to the first side 120 of the sole 110. An attachment mechanism may comprise a snap, clamp, etc. Sometimes, there is a corresponding attachment mechanism on the receiving means 600. For example, a sole may comprise the female portion of a snap and the receiving means may comprise the male portion such that when the male portion of the snap is inserted into the corresponding female portion, the receiving means 600 is selectively held in position on the first side 120 of the sole 110.
In some exemplary embodiments, a convertible shoe may use more than one tie 300. As shown in
In some exemplary embodiments, a tie 300, 310 is literally tied (such as into a knot or bow) once it has been received by a grouping of receiving means 200, 600 such that a wearable shoe style has been created. In other exemplary embodiments however, the tie 300, 310 comprises a securing means which prevents the tie 300, 310 from being pulled from a grouping of receiving means 200, 600 when the shoe is being worn. In one exemplary embodiment a tie 300, 310 comprise Velcro which may be fastened to prevent the tie 300, 310 from being pulled from a grouping of receiving means 200, 600 when the shoe is being worn. In another exemplary embodiment, a tie 300, 310 comprises a first end and a second end where the first end comprises a clamp into which the second end of the tie 300, 310 can be selectively inserted and secured to prevent the tie 300, 310 from being pulled from a grouping of receiving means 200, 600 when the shoe is being worn. In yet another exemplary embodiment, a tie 300, 310 comprises a first and second end where the first end comprises a buckle and the second end defines at least one opening to be used in conjunction with the buckle for securing the tie 300, 310 in place when the shoe is being worn. Upon the reading of this disclosure it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that these examples are illustrative and there are other manners in which a tie may be selectively secured in a desired configuration so that the shoe may be worn.
In some exemplary embodiments, a convertible shoe comprises a first type of receiving means 200, 600 and a second type of receiving means 200, 600 where the first and second types of receiving means are both adapted to receive a portion of at least one tie 300, 310, but where the first and second types of receiving means 200, 600 are different in appearance. They may be different in color, size, texture, reflective qualities, etc. Additionally, the manner in which they receive a portion of at least one tie 300, 310 may be different. In such an exemplary embodiment a user of the shoe may replace the first type of receiving means 200, 600 with the second type to obtain an alternative shoe style. The user may also be able to use the first and second type of receiving means 200, 600 at the same time to create yet another alternative style.
In some exemplary embodiments, a convertible shoe 100 may be utilized in conjunction with a shoe jewelry system such as that described in co-pending application which is being filed concurrently with the present application. In such exemplary embodiments, a receiving means 200, 600 may be attached to a piece of jewelry which receives part of at least one tie 300, 310 used to hold the shoe on a foot during wear and which is connected (permanently or temporarily) to the sole of the shoe 100. A receiving means 200, 600 may comprise a jewelry connecting means which may be utilized to connect one piece of jewelry to the receiving means 200, 600 when the convertible shoe is used in conjunction with a shoe jewelry system. A jewelry connecting means may be a magnetic force which holds a metal piece of jewelry to the receiving means 200, 600. In some exemplary embodiments, a jewelry connecting means comprises threading on the receiving means 200, 600 such that a piece of jewelry having corresponding threading may be twisted in relationship to the receiving means 200, 600 until it is securely connected to the receiving means 200, 600. Other types of jewelry connecting means may also be used.
In some exemplary embodiments, the sole of a convertible shoe 100 is connected to a heel. In such an exemplary embodiment, the sole 100 may have a first side 120 for receiving a foot, and a second side 130 for coming into contact with a heel. The sole of a convertible shoe 100 may be connected to a high heel, a low heel, a platform, etc. In some exemplary embodiments, the sole of a convertible shoe 100 may be selectively connected to and disconnected from more than one type of heel. In exemplary embodiments where a convertible heel may be selectively connected to a disconnected from different types of heels, the sole 110 may further comprise more than one grouping of receiving means 200, 600 for receiving at least one tie 300, 310 in a specific style. Thus, the style of the convertible shoe may be altered not only by changing the configuration of the at least one tie 300, 310 in relationship to the receiving means 200, 600, but also by changing the type of heel to which the sole is connected.
In some exemplary embodiments of a convertible shoe 100 that may be connected to a heel, the convertible shoe 100 is connected to the heel via at least one tie 300, 310 that is utilized to create a wearable shoe style by being received by a grouping of receiving means 200, 600. In such an exemplary embodiment, at least one tie 300, 310 may be received by a grouping of receiving means 200, 600 connected to the first side 120 of the sole 110 of a convertible shoe 100 as well as a receiving means 200, 600 connected to the heel. The receiving means 200, 600 may be the same type of receiving means 200, 600 as that which is utilized on the first side 120 of the shoe sole 110 but may also be a different type.
The sole 110 of a convertible shoe 100 may be made from a variety of materials. In preferred exemplary embodiments, the sole 110 is made from a material which may provide sufficient traction if the sole 110 is to come into contract with the ground. For example, polymeric materials may be used. Leather may also be a material from which at least part of a convertible shoe's sole 110 is manufactured. In some exemplary embodiments, the sole 110 of a convertible shoe 100 is made from a first material and a second material where the second material is utilized to form a portion of the sole that defines an opening 500 and the first material is utilized for the remainder of the sole. Additionally, the sole 110 of a convertible shoe 100 may have one of a variety of shapes. In some exemplary embodiments, the first side 120 of the sole 110 which is adapted to receive a foot, is shaped such that it substantially conforms in shape to the received foot. Such a sole 110 may be therapeutic to wear. In other exemplary embodiments, the sole 110 is substantially flat. In still other exemplary embodiments, the sole 110 may be adapted for insertion into another shoe. In this embodiment, a user may be able to change the configuration of an existing shoe.
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/739,526 filed on Dec. 19, 2012 and incorporates the application by reference as if fully rewritten herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61739526 | Dec 2012 | US |
