Claims
- 1. A clasp for detachably securing a first member to a second member, said clasp comprising:
- (a) a female element couplable to said first member and including
- (i) an open end,
- (ii) a closed end spaced from the open end,
- (iii) a pair of spaced apart edgewalls,
- (iv) a first sidewall having
- a first portion integral with said pair of edgewalls along a length thereof adjacent said open end, and
- a second portion integrally extending from said first portion toward said closed end and independent said pair of edgewalls, and
- (v) a second sidewall having
- a first portion integral with said pair of edgewalls along a length thereof adjacent said open end, and
- a second portion integrally extending from said first portion toward said closed end and independent said pair of edgewalls;
- (b) a male element including
- (i) a first end couplable to said second member, and
- (ii) a second end spaced from said first end and receivable through the open end of said female element; and
- (c) detent means for selectively and detachably retaining said male element within said female element, said detent means comprising an engagement pair including
- (i) first engagement means carried by said female element at a location closer to said closed end than to said open end, and
- (ii) second engagement means matingly engageable with said first engagement means and carried by said male element at a location closer to the second end thereof than to the first end thereof.
- 2. The clasp of claim 1, wherein said first engagement means comprises a pair of opposed engagement members carried on the sidewalls of said female element.
- 3. The clasp of claim 1, wherein
- (a) said male element comprises a pair of opposite sides, and
- (b) said second engagement means comprises a pair of complemental engagement members formed on said opposite sides of said male element.
- 4. The clasp of claim 1, wherein
- (a) one of said engagement means of said engagement pair comprises a pair of opposed indentations; and
- (b) the other of said engagement means of said engagement pair comprises a pair of protrusions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Cross Reference To Related Applications
This application is a Continuation-In-Part Application of application Ser. No. 105,715, filed 6 Oct. 1987, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,839,948, which was a Continuation-In-Part Application of application Ser. No. 866,777, filed 23 May 1986, now abandoned, which was a continuation of application Ser. No. 681,844, filed 14 Dec. 1984 now abandoned.
2. The Prior Art
The typical person usually owns numerous items of clothing in various styles and colors. The characteristic woman, for example, generally possesses an array of dresses, skirts, blouses, sweaters, jackets and other items which are alternately worn in "mix and match" fashion. To complement the clothing and complete the style image, requires judicious selection of footwear.
Footwear tends to be a relatively expensive item of dress. Accordingly, in the usual wardrobe, the selection of apparel exceeds the available footwear. To insure the availability of an appropriate choice, the typical dresser usually limits the wardrobe to comparatively few pairs of footwear in carefully chosen basic colors and styles.
In view of the foregoing synopsis of a generalized enigma, the desirability of footwear with convertible style is readily appreciated. In recognition of the long standing problem, the prior art has proposed numerous purported solutions. Attention is directed to U.S. Pat. No. 4,363,177, which sets forth a specific configuration. The reference also contains a more detailed treatment of the subject and includes citations to other prior art endeavors.
Of particular immediate interest are the replaceable uppers. The concept is well established. Briefly, a sole is provided with a plurality of interchangeable uppers. Preferably, the sole is in a basic or neutral color. The uppers are supplied in an array of colors and designs. Accordingly, the user, at a relatively reduced cost, can have a pair of shoes which compliment the chosen apparel.
The prior art has not, however, provided an entirely adequate solution. As clearly pointed out in the referenced patent ". . . serious questions are raised as to the robustness of the attachments and locking members for the removable elements". Additionally, the prior art has not satisfactorily accommodated the convenience of the user.
It would be highly advantageous, therefore, to remedy the foregoing and other deficiencies inherent in the prior art.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide improvements in convertible footwear.
Another object of the invention is the provision of improved engagement means for detachably securing the upper to the sole of the shoe.
And another object of the invention is to provide engagement means which are readily and conveniently usable.
Still another object of this invention is the provision of engagement means which will reliably and secureably affix an upper to a sole.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the holding ability of the engagement means will be reinforced in response to a foot being inserted into the shoe.
Yet still another object of the instant invention is the provision of unobtrusive engagement means whereby the attachment of an upper to a sole is obscured from view.
And a further object of the invention is to provide engagement means in the form of a separately manufacturable clasp which can be used in connection with otherwise conventional footwear.
Still a further object of the invention is the provision of a clasp which is usable for securing a first component to a second component, such as the ends of a belt.
And yet a further object of the invention is to provide a reversible clasp which enables two components to be secured to one another even when one or both of the components are inverted.
And still a further object of the invention is to provide an engagement means or clasp, of the above character, which is inexpensively yet durably constructed.
Briefly, to achieve the desired objects of improved convertible footwear in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a shoe including a sole having substantially opposed edges and an upper having projecting flaps. A male element of a male/female engagement pair is carried by each flap. Female elements of the male/female engagement pair are carried by the sole. Each female element, which preferably resides within a recess formed into the sole, includes an opening in the respective edge for receiving a respective male element.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, provided are detent means interacting between the elements of the engagement pair for selectively and detachably retaining the male element within the female element. The force exerted by the detent means for maintaining the engagement is reinforced in response to the pressure of a foot bearing upon the top surface of the sole.
In a more specific embodiment, the female element is in the form of a receptacle and the male element is in the form of a tab. The detent means includes an indentation carried by one of the elements and protrusion carried by the other of the elements. Both the indentation and the protrusion may be symmetrically configured to allow engagement when either of the components are inverted. The indentation and the protrusion are normally retained in a mating engagement by biasing means. The biasing means is movable to a release position in response to application of a force to withdraw the male element in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the engagement pair. It is also contemplated that a magnetic attraction may exist between the male element and the female element.
The engagement pair also has utility as a clasp for detachably securing a first component to a second component, such as the ends of a belt. Both elements are provided with attachment means for affixing respective ones of the components.
US Referenced Citations (9)
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
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681844 |
Dec 1984 |
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Continuation in Parts (2)
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Number |
Date |
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105715 |
Oct 1987 |
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| Parent |
866777 |
May 1986 |
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Patent Grant
4998329
