GB1526409A - Footwear - Google Patents

Abstract

1526409 Detachable soles, heels W A R BULLEN 29 Oct 1976 [18 Nov 1975] 47492/75 Heading A3B [Also in Division E2] An article of footwear has a sole, proper, heel or throughsole element inter-locatable with the remainder of the article and detachably connectable thereto by securing means 4 extending around the periphery of the element. The article may be formed with a permanent inner sole 5 secured to the margin of an upper 2 with an outer sole 9 detachably mounted thereon by means of a zip or slide fastener 4. As an alternative to the securing means arrangement shown, the fastener may extend obliquely between bevelled edges of the inner and outer sole, may extend vertically between co-extensive edges thereof, or may be arranged between contiguous faces of the sole units with upturned wall portion 10 of the outer sole being resiliently deformable to provide access to the fastener (see Figs. 5-12 not shown). The inter-locating means between permanent and removable sole elements may comprise a wall portion 10 of the outer sole, formed with an inward portion 17 which snaps over a step formation defined between first and second permanent sole layers 13, 14. Alternatively or in addition (see Figs. 5, 6 not shown) the outer sole may be formed with bead projections which are adapted to snap into corresponding cavities formed in the inner sole. In a further alternative interlocating arrangement suitable for a detachable heel unit, a fixed and a detachable heel part are interlocking via corresponding dove-tail formations. As a further modification to the slide fastening arrangements described, the fastening may be arranged to extend from the mid heel region to completely embrace the upper margin and terminate at the upper end of the spine of the heel region of the upper which region is covered by a flap portion securable by a press stud (see Figs. 15, 16 not shown). As a further modification (Fig. 18 not shown), the slide fastener may be housed in a peripheral cavity of the removable sole proper which opens towards the ground contact face and receives a sealing strip to completely enclose the fastener. Finally the connecting means may be further supplemented by introducing magnetic attraction between the removable sole and remainder of the footwear article.