AU2002100204B8

AU2002100204B8 - Interchangeable footwear

Info

Publication number: AU2002100204B8
Application number: AU2002100204A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Darren Bruce; Mark Livingstone
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-03-14
Filing date: 2002-03-14
Publication date: 2002-04-11
Also published as: AU2002100204B4; AU2002100204A4

Description

;ENT BY: WALLINGTON-DUMMER; 6,296384793; 2B-AUG-02 16:58; PAGE 4 P/00/009 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 INNOVATION PATENT APPLICATION Invention Title: INTERCHANGEABLE

FOOTWEAR

The invention is described in the following statement: Our Ref: 026002 ;D T RY: 'LAALLTnTU%-D DA![M-ER; ^0129638479n; 28-AUG-02 16:58; PAGE INTERCHANGEABLE FOOTWEAR From the first invention of footwear, the basic concept has remained much unchanged, excepting the variety of design. This invention breaks tradition by having inLerchangeable covers that simply Snap-On over the base shoe, thus giving unlimited design prospects on the same pair of base shoes.

The present invention allows the wearer to. quickly and easily change the cover on his or her base shoe to meet specific needs. The present shoe allows the person the ability to own a number of covers, thereby eliminating the need to purchase multiple numbers of different design shoes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION Accordingly, in one broad form of the invention there is provided a system of interchangeable footwear wherein a base shoe is adapted to accept a plurality of interchangeable covers conforming in shape to, and overlaying substantially and only, the entire upper of said base shoe, said interchangeable covers provided with the first part of a moulded snap together connecting element of said covers, said snap together connecting element adapted to mate with the second part of a moulded snap together ;ENT BY: WALLINGTON-DUMMER; 6206G84793; 28-AUG-02 18:58; FAGE 8 3 element extending substantially along the periphery of the sole of said base shoe.

Preferably, said first part of a moulded snap together connecting element is of a cross sectional form substantially in the shape of a wedge, the sides of said wedge provided with grooves adapted to receive matching projections when said first part of integrally formed snap together connecting element is inserted into said second part of said integrally formed snap together element, and where the outward facing side of said wedge is further provided with a downwardly projecting lip, said lip adapted to overlap said second part of said integrally formed snap together element so as to form a seal.

Preferably, said second part of said integrally formed snap together element is of a cross sectional form substantially in the shape of a the sides of said 'v' being provided with projections adapted to mate with said grooves.

Preferably, said covers are provided with a tab portion attached to the heel portion of said covers, said covers adapted to assist in the uncoupling of said first and second integrally formed snap together elements.

;FN7 BY: VALINGN-oUMmin, 81296384793; 28-AUG-02 18:59; PAGE 7 4 Preferably, said interchangeable covers are formed of flexible material, said material including those conventionally used in the manufacture of shoes..

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows a view of the interchangeable cover, which is available in all sizes and a variety of colours and designs. The covers can be made from traditional footwear material such as canvas or leather in the form of different types of shoes.

Figure 2 shows a view of the shoe base, which is available in all sizes to accommodate the attachment of interchangeable covers figure 1. The base shoe:can also be made from traditional footwear material such as leather and canvas. The sole that is attached to the vase shoe can also be made from traditional footwear material such as rubber or leather.

Figure 3 shows a cross-section of the male and female attachment mould. The male insert mould is attached to the entire surround of the cover. The female receptacle mould is attached to the entire surround of the base shoe, which snaps tightly together to secure the cover firmly onto the base. The moulded attachment also allows for waterproofing by an overlap on the male insert over the edge of the ,ENT BY: WALLINGTON-DUMMER; 61296384793; 28-AUG-02 18:59; PAGE 9 female receptacle mould. The laces being inserted through the cover and base eyelets further secure the cover.

it is also noted that the detachment of the cover is made easier by the pull-tab shown in figure 1.

While the preferred method of attaching the base and cover is shown in figure 3, other types of attaching such as zippers or hook and loop fasteners could also be utilized.

The preferred embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, dimensional variations, and rearrangement can be readily envisioned to achieve an equivalent result, all of which are intended to be embraced within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A system of interchangeable footwear wherein a base shoe is adapted to accept a plurality of interchangeable covers conforming in shape to, and overlaying substantially and only, the entire upper of said base shoe, said interchangeable covers provided with the first part of a moulded snap together connecting element of said covers, said snap together connecting element adapted to mate with the second part of a moulded snap together element extending substantially along the periphery of the sole of said base shoe.

2. The system of interchangeable footwear of claim 1 wherein, said first part of a moulded snap together connecting element is of a cross sectional form substantially in the shape of a wedge, the sides of said wedge provided with grooves adapted to receive matching projections when said first part of integrally formed snap together connecting element is inserted into said second part of said integrally formed snap together element, and where the outward facing side of said wedge is further provided with a downwardly projecting lip, said lip adapted to ,ENT WAL.LINGTO -DJMMER; 81296384793; 28-AUG-02 PAGE 7 overlap said second part of said integrally formed snap together element so as to form a seal.

3. The system of interchangeable footwear of claim 2 wherein, said second part of said integrally formed snap together element is of a cross sectional form substantially in the shape of a the sides of said being provided with projections adapted to mate with said grooves.

4. The system of interchangeable footwear, of claim 3 wherein, said covers are provided with a tab portion attached to the heel portion of said covers, said covers adapted to assist in the uncoupling of said first and second integrally formed snap together elements.

5. The system of interchangeable footwear of claim 3 wherein, said interchangeable covers are formed of flexible material, said material including those conventionally used in the manufacture of shoes. ENT BY: WLICOLUMR C l 2P638479n;

28-40J-02 17:00; PACE 1 Dateds 27 August 2002 12 P Bruce M 12 Livings tone By its Patent Attorney Wallington-Duuner