SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND DEVICES FOR MODULAR SHOES

Abstract

Exemplary devices and methods are disclosed that facilitate a modular shoe system, the system. The modular shoe system can include a sole having a ground contact side and an attachment side, a shoe body having an outer surface, where an attachment surface is formed on at least a portion of the outer surface of the shoe body, and where the attachment surface of the shoe body is configured to attachably and releasably connect to the attachment side of the sole. The modular shoe system may further include a shoe component including a shoe component attachment side, where the shoe body further includes a second attachment surface formed on a second portion of the outer surface of the shoe body, and wherein the shoe component attachment side is configured to attachably and releasably connect to the second attachment surface.

Description

BACKGROUND

A shoe is an item of footwear intended to protect and comfort the human foot. Shoes can be worn for a variety of different activities including sports, fitness, work, and/or simply walking around. Different activities can require shoes with different attributes. Additionally, different individuals may desire shoes with different sizes, shapes, weights, colors and other characteristics. Shows can be statements of fashion.

As footwear, shoes are subjected to a high degree of mechanical forces and stresses. Careful attention is applied in the design and manufacturing of shoes for performance, aesthetics, and life. The earliest known shoes have been dated as far as back as the beginning of human civilization. Sneakers are shoes primarily designed for sports or other forms of physical exercise but are now also widely used for everyday casual wear. Sneakers were introduced in the mid-20th century. Contemporary sneakers are largely made from synthetic materials, and the materials and manufacturing artifacts often end up in landfills at the end of the shoe's life.

There is a benefit to having additional designs for shoes that can meet different needs and extend their life.

SUMMARY

An exemplary system, method, and device are disclosed that facilitate a modular shoe having magnetic attaching components, e.g., heel, shoe body, and accessories that can be interchanged. The magnetic attaching components may include planar magnets, disc or shaped magnets, or magnetic woven into mesh fabrics that can attract to corresponding magnetic attaching components of the modular shoe.

The modular shoe can be configured to include a shoe body and attachment surfaces on the shoe body for different shoe components. Different shoe components can be attached to and removed from the attachment surfaces to configure the shoe to have different attributes, visual appeal, or aesthetics, thereby extending its usable life. Indeed, the modular shoes disclosed herein can include interchangeable foot pads, soles, and heel guards. This can allow a wearer of the shoes to quickly reconfigure the shoes for different purposes, repair damage to the shoes, and/or customize the appearance of the shoes.

In an aspect, the present disclosure relates to a modular shoe system, which, in one embodiment, includes: a sole having a ground contact side and an attachment side; a shoe body having an outer surface, where an attachment surface is formed on at least a portion of the outer surface of the shoe body, and where the attachment surface of the shoe body is configured to attachably and releasably connect to the attachment side of the sole.

In one embodiment, the attachment side of the sole includes a sole magnet (e.g., flexible and planar magnet or button magnet) in which the attachment surface of the shoe body includes a shoe body magnet (e.g., flexible and planar magnet or button magnet), where the sole magnet and shoe body magnet are configured to (i) attract each other when the attachment side of the sole is adjacent to the attachment surface of the shoe body or (ii) attract to an intermediate body having a first side and a second side, where the first side and the second side each has magnets.

In one embodiment, the attachment side of the sole includes a first button-shaped magnet, and the attachment surface of the shoe body includes a second button-shaped magnet in which the first button-shaped magnet is configured to attachably and releasably connect to the second button-shaped magnet.

In one embodiment, the system includes a shoe component, the shoe component including a shoe component attachment side, where the shoe body further includes a second attachment surface formed on a second portion of the outer surface of the shoe body, and where the shoe component attachment side is configured to attachably and releasably connect to the second attachment surface.

In one embodiment, the shoe body includes a magnetic mesh and a hook and a plurality of eyelets, where the shoe component includes a bean bag, the bean bag including a plurality of hook and loop straps configured to attach to the plurality of eyelets and a plurality of magnetic pellets configured to attract the magnetic mesh when the shoe body is adjacent to the bean bag.

In one embodiment, the shoe component attachment side and the second attachment surface each include magnets configured to attachably and releasably connect the shoe component to the shoe body.

In one embodiment, the shoe component is a heel guard.

In one embodiment, the system further includes a foot pad, the foot pad including a shoe side including a first attachment surface, and a sole side including a second attachment surface, where the first attachment surface of the foot pad is configured to attach to at least a portion of the shoe body and where the second attachment surface of the foot pad is configured to attach to at least a portion of the sole.

In one embodiment, the first attachment surface and the second attachment surface of the foot pad include magnets configured to attachably and releasably connect the shoe body, foot pad, and sole together.

In one embodiment, at least a portion of the ground contact side of the sole includes a ground contact attachment surface.

In one embodiment, the system further includes a tread, where the ground contact attachment surface is configured to attachably and releasably connect to a tread attachment surface formed on at least a portion of the tread.

In one embodiment, the tread includes at least one of a waffle pattern or a grid pattern.

In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a modular shoe including: a shoe body including an outer surface; an attachment surface formed on at least a portion of the outer surface of the shoe body, where the attachment surface of the shoe body is configured to attachably and releasably connect to an attachment surface of a shoe sole.

In one embodiment, the shoe body further includes a second attachment surface formed on a second portion of the outer surface of the shoe body, where the second attachment surface is configured to attachably and releasably connect to a foot pad. In one embodiment, the shoe body further includes a plurality of attachment surfaces formed on the outer surface of the shoe body, where the plurality of attachment surfaces are configured to attachably and releasably connect to a plurality of shoe components.

In one embodiment, the plurality of attachment surfaces and a plurality of shoe components each include magnets.

In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method of operating a modular shoe, which, in some embodiments, includes: providing a shoe body, a first shoe component, and a second shoe components in which the shoe body includes a shoe body attachment surface, the first shoe component includes a first shoe component attachment surface, and the second shoe component includes a second shoe component attachment surface; attaching the first shoe component to the shoe body using the first shoe component attachment surface and the shoe body attachment surface; removing the first shoe component from the shoe body; and attaching the second shoe component to the shoe body using the second shoe component attachment surface and the shoe body attachment surface.

In one embodiment, attaching the first shoe component to the shoe body includes aligning a magnet in the first shoe component attachment surface with the shoe body attachment surface.

In one embodiment, attaching the first shoe component to the shoe body includes attaching the first shoe component attachment surface to a second button magnet of the shoe body attachment surface.

In one embodiment, the method further includes providing a third shoe component including a third shoe component attachment surface and attaching the third shoe component to the shoe body using the shoe body attachment surface.

In one embodiment, the second shoe component is a sole, and the third shoe component is a foot pad.

In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a modular shoe, which, in some embodiments, includes: a shoe body including an outer surface; an eyelet formed on the outer surface of the shoe body; and a wearable weight including a weight component and a strap, where the strap is configured to attach to the eyelet formed on the outer surface of the shoe body.

In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a modular shoe, which, in some embodiments, includes: a shoe body including an inner surface; and a mesh sleeve configured to be attached to the inner surface of the shoe body, where the mesh sleeve includes magnetic materials.

Other aspects and features, according to the example embodiments of the disclosed technology, will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, upon reviewing the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the devices and methods.

FIG. 1A is a diagram showing an exploded view of an example modular shoe in accordance with an illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 1B is a diagram showing attachment surfaces for the modular shoe illustrated in FIG. 1A in accordance with an illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 1C is a diagram showing the example modular shoe illustrated in FIG. 1A in an assembled view in accordance with an illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 1D illustrates an example modular shoe that includes protrusions, cavities, and adhesive layers, in accordance with an illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 1E illustrates an example modular shoe that includes protrusions, in accordance with an illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 2A is a diagram showing an exploded view of another example modular shoe in accordance with another illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 2B is a diagram showing additional examples of attachment surfaces for the modular shoe illustrated in FIG. 2A in accordance with another illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 2C is a diagram showing the example modular shoe illustrated in FIG. 2A in an assembled view in accordance with an illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 3A is a diagram showing an exploded view of yet another modular shoe in accordance with another illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 3B is a diagram showing additional examples of attachment surfaces for the modular shoe illustrated in FIG. 2A in accordance with another illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 3C is a diagram showing the example modular shoe illustrated in FIG. 3A in an assembled view in accordance with an illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of a modular shoe in accordance with an illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows a method of operating a modular shoe, in accordance with an illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 6A illustrates a side view of an example magnetic strip attached to a surface.

FIG. 6B illustrates a front view of an example magnetic strip attached to a surface.

FIG. 7 illustrates an exploded view of a modular shoe in accordance with an illustrative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Although example embodiments of the disclosed technology are explained in detail herein, it is to be understood that other embodiments are contemplated. Accordingly, it is not intended that the disclosed technology be limited in its scope to the details of construction and arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The disclosed technology is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways.

As discussed above, an exemplary system, method, and device are disclosed that facilitate a modular shoe having modular components, e.g., heel, shoe body, and accessories that can be interchanged. The modular shoe can be configured to include a shoe body and attachment surfaces on the shoe body for different shoe components. Different shoe components can be attached to and removed from the attachment surfaces to configure the shoe to have different attributes, visual appeal or aesthetic. The modularity employed large surface magnetics on both sides of the attachment surfaces for light weight fabrication that allows different attachments to be releasably attached to one another in a modular manner that can provide additional use and aesthetic appeal for the shoe, e.g., for different occasions or use.

The modular shoes disclosed herein can include, for example, interchangeable foot pads, soles, and heel guards. This can allow a wearer of the shoes to (i) quickly reconfigure the shoes for different uses, and purposes, (ii) repair damage to the shoes, and/or (iii) customize the appearance of the shoes.

In the following description, references are made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof and that show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments or examples. In referring to the drawings, like numerals represent like elements throughout the several figures.

Example System #1

FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C show various views and configurations of an exemplary modular shoe 100, in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. FIG. 1A is a diagram showing an exploded view of the example modular shoe 100. FIG. 1B is a diagram showing attachment surfaces for the modular shoe illustrated in FIG. 1A. FIG. 1C is a diagram showing the example modular shoe illustrated in FIG. 1A in an assembled view.

In the example shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, the modular shoe 100 includes a shoe body 102 is configured to releasably connect to any number of different components to form a modular shoe with different characteristics or configurations. The shoe body 102 is preferably formed of one or more resilient layers of materials (e.g., mesh, fabrics) that can encapsulate the foot of a person. The bottom of the shoe body 102 are stitched, or attached, e.g., via adhesives, a planar magnet that forms a unitary structure with the shoe body 102. This planar magnet can couple, during assembled configuration, with another plan

As used herein, the term “shoe component” or “component” refers to a shoe body and any components that are directly or indirectly attached to the shoe body, including a shoe sole, sole guard or support, heel guard, heel pad, or shoe guard. The “shoe component” or “component” includes planar magnets that are stitched or attached, e.g., adhesives to a substrate that can be connected to another “shoe component” or “component.”

In the example shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, an example component that can be connected to the shoe body is a gel disk 104. The gel disk 104 can be configured to dampen impacts to the shoe body 102, or to provide support to a user's foot, for example, by changing the spacing between the shoe body 102 and another component of the modular shoe 100.

In the example shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, the modular shoe 100 can include a heel guard 106. The heel guard 106 can be configured to protect the heel of a user or to protect the shoe from damage.

Still with reference to FIG. 1A, the modular shoe 100 can include a tab 108 and a foot pad 110. Tab 108 can be used to join the foot pad 110 to a sole ridge 112. In turn, the sole ridge 112 can be connected to arch support 114. A waffle sole 116 and a grid sole 118 can be connected to any or all of the foot pad 110, arch support 114, and sole ridge 112. The foot pad 110 can be connected to the shoe body 102.

The components illustrated in FIG. 1A can be joined together using any type of attachment mechanism or device. With reference to FIG. 1B, an example embodiment includes attachment surfaces 150 formed on the gel disk 104, heel guard 106, tab 108, foot pad 110, sole ridge 112, arch support 114, waffle sole 116, and grid sole 118. In the example embodiment shown in FIG. 1B, the attachment surfaces 150 can be formed using planar magnets attached to the surfaces of the gel disk 104, heel guard 106, tab 108, foot pad 110, sole ridge 112, arch support 114, waffle sole 116, grid sole 118.

FIG. 1C illustrates the modular shoe 100 when the shoe body 102, gel disk 104, heel guard 106, tab 108, foot pad 110, sole ridge 112, arch support 114, waffle sole 116, and grid sole 118 are joined together.

Example System #2

To improve the diagonal and parallel holding strengths of a magnetic connection, embodiments of the present disclosure can include features formed on one or both attachment surfaces to provide a retaining structure or increase the friction between the attachment surfaces, or otherwise prevent the attachment surfaces from sliding relative to one another. Non-limiting examples of features formed on one or both attachment surfaces to prevent sliding can include ridges, grooves, bumps, patterns, and any other shape.

In some embodiments, two adjacent attachment surfaces can include features that are matched or mirror images of one another such that when the attachment surfaces are attached together by the magnetic adhesive force, the features formed on the attachment surfaces connect together, e.g., to allow the attachment surfaces to pull apart in only one direction, to prevent the adjacent attachment surfaces from sliding side-to-side relative to one another to prevent the attachment surfaces from pulling away from each other in other directions. FIGS. 1D and 1E illustrate systems for keeping different components of a modular shoe from moving relative to one another.

FIG. 1D shows an example embodiment of a modular shoe 160 configured with retaining structures 162, 164 (shown as “protrusions” 162 and cavities “164”). The modular shoe 160 includes a shoe body 102, a foot pad 110, a tab 108, a sole ridge 112, a waffle sole 116, an arch support 114, and a grid sole 118, which can be assembled as described with reference to FIG. 1A-1C. Similar features can be implemented in the shoe configurations of FIGS. 2A-2C, 3A-3C, and 4.

In the modular shoe 160 shown in FIG. 1D, the foot pad 110 includes protrusions 162 formed on the foot pad 110. The protrusions 162 can be sized so that they fit within cavities 164 formed in the shoe body 102. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1D, the shoe body 102 and the foot pad 110 are attracted together by a magnet 166 in or on the foot pad 110. The shoe body can include another magnet or a ferrous material (not shown) configured to attract the magnet 166.

Still with reference to FIG. 1D, embodiments of the present disclosure can also include adhesive layers as an alternative to, or in addition to, the protrusions 162 and magnets 166 shown in FIG. 1D. As shown in FIG. 1D, adhesive layers 168 can be used to join the foot pad 110 to the sole ridge 112 and to join the sole ridge 112 to the arch support 114. Likewise, the sole ridge 112 and grid sole 118 can be joined by an adhesive layer 168, and grid sole 118 can be joined to the foot pad 110 with an adhesive layer 168.

Referring to FIG. 1E, a side view of an example modular shoe 180 is shown. The modular shoe 180 can include the shoe body 102, foot pad 110, sole ridge 112, arch support 114, waffle sole 116, and grid sole 118, described with reference to FIGS. 1A-1D. The protrusions 162 formed on the foot pad 110 are also shown. In the example embodiment of the modular shoe 180 shown in FIG. 1E, the shoe body 102, foot pad 110, sole ridge 112, arch support 114, waffle sole 116, and grid sole 118 can be joined by any combination of magnets, adhesives, and protrusions 162.

In the examples shown in FIGS. 1D and 1E, the arrangements of protrusions 162, cavities 164, adhesive layers 168, and magnets 166 are only non-limiting examples. For example, in other embodiments, the shoe body 102 and foot pad 110 can be held together by any combination of protrusions 162, cavities 164, adhesive layers 168, and magnets 166, or by only one of the protrusions 162, cavities 164, adhesive layers 168, or magnets 166. As yet another example, any of the adhesive layers 168 in FIG. 1D can be replaced by magnets 166 and/or cavities 164 and protrusions 162.

Again, as described in the present disclosure, the magnets used in different embodiments of the present disclosure can include any type of magnets, and non-limiting examples of magnets that can be used include planar magnets, shaped magnets, magnetic meshes, magnets embedded in meshes, and various combinations of magnets and magnetic materials.

Example System #3

With reference to FIG. 2A, embodiments of the present disclosure can include additional types and combinations of components to form different types of modular shoes. An example embodiment of a modular shoe 200 is shown. The modular shoe 200 includes a shoe body 201, and a sole support 202 configured to connect to the shoe body. The modular shoe 200 further includes a heel pad 204, a foot pad 206, and an arch support 208 that can be configured to connect to the sole support 202. A sole pad 210 can be configured to connect to any or all of the heel pad 204, foot pad 206, and/or arch support 208.

With reference to FIG. 2B, the components illustrated in FIG. 2A can include attachment surfaces 150 on some or all of the components. So, as shown in FIG. 2B, the sole support 202, heel pad 204, foot pad 206, arch support 208, and sole pad 210 can each include attachment surfaces. Optionally, the shoe body 102 can also include an attachment surface (not shown).

With reference to FIG. 2C, a perspective view of the shoe illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B is shown when the shoe body 201, sole support 202, heel pad 204, foot pad 206, arch support 208, and sole pad 210 are attached together.

FIG. 3A illustrates another modular shoe 300 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. The modular shoe 300 includes a shoe body 302, a shoe support 304, a shoe cushion 306, a shoe guard 308, a gel heel grid 310, and a shoe sole support 312.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the components illustrated in FIG. 3A can include attachment surfaces 150 on some or all of the components. As shown in FIG. 3B, the shoe support 304, shoe cushion 306, shoe guard 308, gel heel grid 310, and shoe sole support 312 can include attachment surfaces 150.

FIG. 3C illustrates a perspective view of modular shoe 300 illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B when the shoe body 302, shoe support 304, shoe cushion 306, shoe guard 308, gel heel grid 310, and shoe sole support 312 are connected together.

It should be understood that the components illustrated in FIG. 1A-3C can be interchangeable, so that any shoe component shown with respect to any one of the embodiments can be interchangeable with any component from another embodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates the bottom surface 402 of a modular shoe 400. Optionally, the modular shoe can be any of the modular shoes 100, 200, 300, illustrated and described with reference to FIGS. 1A-3C. The bottom surface 402 can include one or more attachment surfaces 150 that can be configured to attach to any of the components illustrated in FIGS. 1A-3C.

Example Attachment Surfaces

As described with reference to FIGS. 1A-4, the attachment surfaces of the modular shoes can include magnets. In some embodiments, some of the attachment surfaces include magnets and other attachment surfaces include ferromagnetic materials that can be attracted by magnets in the other attachment surfaces. Additionally, in some embodiments, a component of the modular shoe can include two attachment surfaces, where a magnet is on one attachment surface, and a ferromagnetic material is on the other attachment surface. Additionally, in some embodiments, the attachment surfaces can include mechanical fasteners, including straps, buckles, buttons, clips, hook-and-loop, and bolts or screws. The mechanical fasteners can be used as an alternative to magnets and ferromagnetic materials, or the mechanical fasteners can be in addition to the magnets and ferromagnetic materials.

Magnets can be characterized as having a “pull strength” where the pull strength of the magnet is the highest possible holding power of the magnet. The pull strength can be measured in kilograms or any other units of mass. Another property of magnets is the magnetic pull force, where the pull force can be represented as F=m*a. Pull force can be tested by testing the holding force of a magnet that is in contact with a flat steel plate.

The strength of a magnet can be affected by the size and shape of the magnet, as well as temperature, environmental conditions, the material being attracted. Non-limiting examples of material properties that can affect the magnet's strength include size, quality, shape, and permeability.

Another property of the magnets that can be used in embodiments of the present disclosure is the maximum energy product of the magnets. A higher maximum energy product value can correspond to a greater magnetic field in a particular application.

Another property that can be used to characterize the magnets described herein is the pull-gap curve. The pull-gap curve represents the pull force or pull strength at different air gap distances, where the air gap distance represents the space between two surfaces that are magnetically attracted to one another.

As a non-limiting example, a pair of S-15-08-N disc magnets with a 15 mm diameter, 8 mm height was considered. The magnetization for each magnet was N42, and the magnets were considered to be 0 mm apart (i.e., in contact with one another). The adhesive force of the two magnets was approximately 6.2 kilograms.

In embodiments including a magnetic tape or magnetic sheets, the adhesive force and holding strength of the magnetic tape or sheet can be measured. The adhesive force and holding strength can be given in grams per square centimeter (g/cm²). As used herein, magnetic adhesive force of a magnetic tape or magnetic sheet can represent the needed strength for separating the magnetic tape from a steel plate. FIG. 6A illustrates a steel plate 602 and magnetic tape 604, where the direction of the separation during the measurement of the magnetic adhesive force is shown with an arrow 606.

Holding strength diagonal can be measured as the strain that happens when the magnetic tape is used to hang an object from the vertical surface of a steel plate 602. As shown in FIG. 6B, the holding strength diagonal is represented by the force 608 pulling the magnetic tape 604 down. Holding strength parallel can be measured as the force required to slide the piece of magnetic tape 604 is slid along the metal plate 602. The force of holding strength parallel is represented by arrow 610 in FIG. 6B.

As some non-limiting examples, a pair of neodymium magnetic adhesive tapes joined together can have a magnetic adhesive force of 675 g/cm², a holding strength diagonal of 360 g/cm², and a holding strength parallel of 180 g/cm². A neodymium magnetic adhesive tape on an iron surface can have a magnetic adhesive force of 450 g/cm², a holding strength diagonal of 112 g/cm², and a holding strength parallel of 112 g/cm².

It should be understood that the magnets described herein can be any magnet and are not limited to the sizes and types of magnets described herein.

Example Method

In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to methods of operating a modular shoe (e.g., the modular shoes 100, 200, 300 shown in FIGS. 1A-3C). FIG. 5 illustrates an example method 500 of operating a modular shoe. At step 502, a modular shoe is provided with one or more shoe components (e.g., one, two, or three). The shoe components each include a shoe component attachment surface. In some embodiments, the shoe component attachment surface includes one or more magnets (e.g., one or more-button-shaped magnets, one or more planar magnets, magnetic mesh, magnets formed in a fabric mesh, etc.). The magnets on the shoe component and/or the shoe body can be attached and released by aligning the magnets in the shoe component attachment surface with the shoe body attachment surface, and positioning the shoe component attachment surface and shoe body attachment surface close enough to each other so that the shoe body and shoe component are attracted to each other.

At step 504, the first shoe component can be attached at to the shoe body using the shoe component attachment surface of the first shoe component.

At step 506, the method can further include removing the first shoe component from the shoe body.

At step 508, the second shoe component can be attached to the shoe body using the shoe component attachment surface of the second shoe component.

In some embodiments, the shoe component attachment surfaces are configured to allow attaching and releasing the shoe components any number of times. So, the method of FIG. 11 can be repeated with any number of shoe components and in any order. For example, a third shoe component can be attached after the second shoe component, and then removed and replaced with the first shoe component and/or second shoe component. Likewise, a fourth shoe component can be attached, and removed, and replaced with any of the first, second, and third shoe components. The processes of attaching, removing, and replacing shoe components can be completed with any number of shoe components.

Example Embodiment: Mesh Layers

FIG. 7 illustrates a modular shoe 700 according to another example embodiment of the present disclosure. The modular shoe 700 can include a mesh layer 702 that can be attached to one or more components of the modular shoe 700. As a non-limiting example, the mesh layer 702 can be stitched into the shoe body 701. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the mesh layer 702 can be stitched into a shoe body 701. The shoe body 701 can optionally be a shoe body with eyelets 708, or, alternatively, the shoe body 102 illustrated in FIGS. 1A-3C.

The mesh layer 702 can be woven from magnetic fibers (e.g., fibers containing magnetized iron). Alternatively or additionally, the mesh layer 702 can include one or more magnets (e.g., bar or disk-shaped magnets) woven into the fabric that can be part of the mesh layer 702. The magnets or magnetic fibers can be arranged around the mesh layer 702 so that fields of the mesh layer deliver a therapeutic magnetic field to the user wearing the modular shoe.

Example Embodiment: Weight Attachments

Still with reference to FIG. 7, the modular shoe 700 can include a wearable weight 704 that can be attached to the shoe body 701. The wearable weight 704 can be configured to be reversibly attached/released from the shoe body 701. In the example embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the wearable weight 704 includes straps 706 configured to attach to eyelets 708 formed on the shoe body 701. The straps 706 can optionally include hook and loop fasteners. Additionally, the eyelets 708 can, in some embodiments, include hook and loop fasteners.

In some embodiments, the wearable weight 704 is structured as a “bean bag,” including a hollow pocket (not shown) that can be filled with different materials to add weight to the wearable weight 704. In some embodiments, the bean bag is filled with magnetic pellets that can be configured to attract magnets in the shoe body or any other component of a modular shoe.

It should be understood that the modular shoe 700 shown in FIG. 7 can include the mesh layer 702, and/or the wearable weight 704, and not all of the embodiments shown in FIG. 700 include both the mesh layer 702 and wearable weight 704. In embodiments of the present disclosure, including both a wearable weight 704 and a mesh layer 702, the wearable weight 704 can be filled with magnetic pellets configured to attract the mesh layer 702.

While the present invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments, many modifications, variations, alterations, substitutions, and equivalents will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The present invention is not to be limited in scope by the specific embodiment described herein. Indeed, various modifications of the present invention, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art from the foregoing description and accompanying drawings. Accordingly, the invention is to be considered limited only by the spirit and scope of the disclosure (and claims), including all modifications and equivalents.

Still other embodiments will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from reading the above-recited detailed description and drawings of certain exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that numerous variations, modifications, and additional embodiments are possible, and accordingly, all such variations, modifications, and embodiments are to be regarded as being within the spirit and scope of this application. For example, regardless of the content of any portion (e.g., title, field, background, summary, abstract, drawing figure, etc.) of this application, unless clearly specified to the contrary, there is no requirement for the inclusion in any claim herein or of any application claiming priority hereto of any particular described or illustrated activity or element, any particular sequence of such activities, or any particular interrelationship of such elements. Moreover, any activity can be repeated, any activity can be performed by multiple entities, and/or any element can be duplicated. Further, any activity or element can be excluded, the sequence of activities can vary, and/or the interrelationship of elements can vary. Unless clearly specified to the contrary, there is no requirement for any particular described or illustrated activity or element, any particular sequence or such activities, any particular size, speed, material, dimension or frequency, or any particularly interrelationship of such elements. Accordingly, the descriptions and drawings are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.

It should be appreciated that various sizes, dimensions, contours, rigidity, shapes, flexibility and materials of any of the components or portions of components in the various embodiments discussed throughout may be varied and utilized as desired or required.

It should be appreciated that while some dimensions are provided on the aforementioned figures, the device may constitute various sizes, dimensions, contours, rigidity, shapes, flexibility and materials as it pertains to the components or portions of components of the device, and therefore may be varied and utilized as desired or required.

Although example embodiments of the present disclosure are explained in detail herein, it is to be understood that other embodiments are contemplated. Accordingly, it is not intended that the present disclosure be limited in its scope to the details of construction and arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The present disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways.

In summary, while the present invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments, many modifications, variations, alterations, substitutions, and equivalents will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The present invention is not to be limited in scope by the specific embodiment described herein. Indeed, various modifications of the present invention, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art from the foregoing description and accompanying drawings. Accordingly, the invention is to be considered as limited only by the spirit and scope of the disclosure, including all modifications and equivalents.

Still other embodiments will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from reading the above-recited detailed description and drawings of certain exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that numerous variations, modifications, and additional embodiments are possible, and accordingly, all such variations, modifications, and embodiments are to be regarded as being within the spirit and scope of this application. For example, regardless of the content of any portion (e.g., title, field, background, summary, abstract, drawing figure, etc.) of this application, unless clearly specified to the contrary, there is no requirement for the inclusion in any claim herein or of any application claiming priority hereto of any particular described or illustrated activity or element, any particular sequence of such activities, or any particular interrelationship of such elements. Moreover, any activity can be repeated, any activity can be performed by multiple entities, and/or any element can be duplicated. Further, any activity or element can be excluded, the sequence of activities can vary, and/or the interrelationship of elements can vary. Unless clearly specified to the contrary, there is no requirement for any particular described or illustrated activity or element, any particular sequence or such activities, any particular size, speed, material, dimension or frequency, or any particularly interrelationship of such elements. Accordingly, the descriptions and drawings are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive. Moreover, when any number or range is described herein, unless clearly stated otherwise, that number or range is approximate. When any range is described herein, unless clearly stated otherwise, that range includes all values therein and all sub ranges therein. Any information in any material (e.g., a United States/foreign patent, United States/foreign patent application, book, article, etc.) that has been incorporated by reference herein, is only incorporated by reference to the extent that no conflict exists between such information and the other statements and drawings set forth herein. In the event of such conflict, including a conflict that would render invalid any claim herein or seeking priority hereto, then any such conflicting information in such incorporated by reference material is specifically not incorporated by reference herein.

It must also be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” or “approximately” one particular value and/or to “about” or “approximately” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, other exemplary embodiments include from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value.

By “comprising” or “containing” or “including” is meant that at least the named compound, element, particle, or method step is present in the composition or article or method, but does not exclude the presence of other compounds, materials, particles, method steps, even if the other such compounds, material, particles, method steps have the same function as what is named.

In describing example embodiments, terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. It is intended that each term contemplates its broadest meaning as understood by those skilled in the art and includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. It is also to be understood that the mention of one or more steps of a method does not preclude the presence of additional method steps or intervening method steps between those steps expressly identified. Steps of a method may be performed in a different order than those described herein without departing from the scope of the disclosed technology. Similarly, it is also to be understood that the mention of one or more components in a device or system does not preclude the presence of additional components or intervening components between those components expressly identified.

Claims

1. A modular shoe system, the system comprising: a sole having a ground contact side and an attachment side;a shoe body having an outer surface, wherein an attachment surface is formed on at least a portion of the outer surface of the shoe body, and wherein the attachment surface of the shoe body is configured to attachably and releasably connect to the attachment side of the sole.

2. The modular shoe system of claim 1, wherein the attachment side of the sole comprises a sole magnet (e.g., flexible and planar magnet or button magnet), wherein the attachment surface of the shoe body comprises a shoe body magnet (e.g., flexible and planar magnet or button magnet), wherein the sole magnet and shoe body magnet are configured to (i) attract each other when the attachment side of the sole is adjacent to the attachment surface of the shoe body or (ii) attract to an intermediate body having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side and the second side each has magnets.

3. The modular shoe system of claim 1, wherein the attachment side of the sole comprises a first button-shaped magnet, and the attachment surface of the shoe body comprises a second button-shaped magnet, and wherein the first button-shaped magnet is configured to attachably and releasably connect to the second button-shaped magnet.

4. The modular shoe system of claim 1, further comprising a shoe component, the shoe component comprising a shoe component attachment side, wherein the shoe body further comprises a second attachment surface formed on a second portion of the outer surface of the shoe body, and wherein the shoe component attachment side is configured to attachably and releasably connect to the second attachment surface.

5. The modular shoe system of claim 4, wherein the shoe body comprises a magnetic mesh and a plurality of eyelets, and wherein the shoe component comprises a bean bag, the bean bag comprising a plurality of hook and loop straps configured to attach to the plurality of eyelets and a plurality of magnetic pellets configured to attract the magnetic mesh when the shoe body is adjacent to the bean bag.

6. The modular shoe system of claim 4, wherein the shoe component attachment side and the second attachment surface each comprise magnets configured to attachably and releasably connect the shoe component to the shoe body.

7. The modular shoe system of claim 4, wherein the shoe component is a heel guard.

8. The modular shoe system of claim 1, further comprising a foot pad, the foot pad comprising a shoe side comprising a first attachment surface and a sole side comprising a second attachment surface, wherein the first attachment surface of the foot pad is configured to attach to at least a portion of the shoe body and wherein the second attachment surface of the foot pad is configured to attach to at least a portion of the sole.

9. The modular shoe system of claim 8, wherein the first attachment surface and the second attachment surface of the foot pad comprise magnets configured to attachably and releasably connect the shoe body, foot pad, and sole together.

10. The modular shoe system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the ground contact side of the sole comprises a ground contact attachment surface.

11. The modular shoe system of claim 10, further comprising a tread, wherein the ground contact attachment surface is configured to attachably and releasably connect to a tread attachment surface formed on at least a portion of the tread.

12. The modular shoe system of claim 11, wherein the tread comprises at least one of a waffle pattern or a grid pattern.

13. A modular shoe comprising: a shoe body comprising an outer surface;an attachment surface formed on at least a portion of the outer surface of the shoe body, wherein the attachment surface of the shoe body is configured to attachably and releasably connect to an attachment surface of a shoe sole.

14. The modular shoe of claim 13, wherein the shoe body further comprises a second attachment surface formed on a second portion of the outer surface of the shoe body, wherein the second attachment surface is configured to attachably and releasably connect to a foot pad.

15. The modular shoe system of claim 13, wherein the shoe body further comprises a plurality of attachment surfaces formed on the outer surface of the shoe body, wherein the plurality of attachment surfaces are configured to attachably and releasably connect to a plurality of shoe components.

16. The modular shoe system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of attachment surfaces and plurality of shoe components each comprise magnets.

17. A method of operating a modular shoe system, the method comprising: providing a shoe body, a first shoe component and a second shoe components, wherein the shoe body comprises a shoe body attachment surface, the first shoe component comprises a first shoe component attachment surface, and the second shoe component comprises a second shoe component attachment surface;attaching the first shoe component to the shoe body using the first shoe component attachment surface and the shoe body attachment surface;removing the first shoe component from the shoe body; andattaching the second shoe component to the shoe body using the second shoe component attachment surface and the shoe body attachment surface.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein attaching the first shoe component to the shoe body comprises aligning a magnet in the first shoe component attachment surface with the shoe body attachment surface.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein attaching the first shoe component to the shoe body comprises attaching the first shoe component attachment surface to a second button magnet of the shoe body attachment surface.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises providing a third shoe component comprising a third shoe component attachment surface, and attaching the third shoe component to the shoe body using the shoe body attachment surface.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the second shoe component is a sole and the third shoe component is a foot pad.

22. (canceled)

23. (canceled)