GB2178940A

GB2178940A - Article of footwear

Info

Publication number: GB2178940A
Application number: GB08520499A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Robert Peate
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-08-15
Filing date: 1985-08-15
Publication date: 1987-02-25
Also published as: GB8520499D0; GB2178940B

Abstract

An article of footwear (10) comprises an upper (11) and a sole (12), the sole (12) being secured to the upper (11) solely by releasable fastening means, such as interengagable hook and loop materials. The hook or loop material are preferably arranged over the whole of the lower surface (18) of the footwear upper and correspondingly on the whole upper surface of the sole. An extension (21) of the sole may overlap the toe region of the upper and also be attached by hook or loop material. A tag (20) facilitates removal of the sole. In the embodiment of Figure 2, the peripheral rib (R) of the sole has overlapping edge parts (17), the upper surface of lip (16) also being provided with hook or loop material. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION This invention relates to an article of footwear.

According to the invention I provide an article of footwear comprising an upper and a sole, the sole being secured to the upper solely by releasable fastening means.

The fastening means may comprise a series of hooks on the upper or sole which engage with flexible hoops on the sole or upper respectively. For example, corresponding interengaging strips or sheets of Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) material may be adhered or otherwise permanently secured to the upper and to the sole respectively so as to engage when the upper and sole are brought together.

The sole may include edge parts which overlap with the upper to provide a water and a dirt resistant join between the two. The sole may, for example, have an upwardly extending formation which overlaps with a toe portion of the upper.

Preferably the Velcro material covers the entire area contact between the sole and the upper, including the edge parts of the sole which overlap with the upper, where these are provided.

Preferably the sole is flexible and the edge parts are provided by wrapping the edge of the sole over at least a lower portion of the upper. To aid this, the upper may be provided with a lip which has the correspond ing Velcro material permanently attached thereto.

A tag may project from the sole for example adjacent a heel portion of the upper, to facilitate removal of the sole from the upper when required.

The invention may be applied to a sports shoe to facilitate changing of the sole for different sports surface conditions, or to a boot, ordinary shoe, or sandal as required.

The invention will now be described with the aid of the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of an article of footwear in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic section through the article of footwear of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, an article of footwear 10 comprises an upper 11, and a sole 12, the upper being of conventional construction in the form of a sports shoe having a toe portion 13, a heel portion 14, and side portions 15.

The upper 11 has a lower region providing a lip 16, the purpose of which will become apparent hereinafter, and a lower surface 18.

The sole is larger in area than the lower surface of the upper 11 and is made of a flexible material. The sole 12 has a peripheral rib R which may be wrapped around the lower region of the upper as seen in Figure 2, to provide edge portions 17.

Extending over substantially the entire lower surface 18 of the upper, are a series of small hooks comprising one part of a sheet of Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) material. Further, on the upper surface of the lip 16, a strip of Velcro material comprising hooks, is provided and over a part of the toe portion 13 of the shoe.

Extending over substantially the entire upper surface of the sole 12 is a sheet of corresponding Velcro material comprising a plurality of flexible loops with which the hooks of the Velcro material on the lower surface 18 of the upper and upper surface of the lip 16 can engage, as shown in Figure 2, to secure the sole 12 to the upper 11.

The sole also has an upwardly extending formation 21 which is use overlaps with the toe portion 13 of the upper 11. Again the upwardly extending formation 21 and overlapped part of the toe portion 13 have corresponding strips of Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) material to facilitate connection between the two.

It will be appreciated that because the sole 12 is secured to the upper 11 by Velcro material, that the fastening provided is thereby releasable. To facilitate removing the sole 12 from the upper 11 when engaged, the sole 12 has a tag 20 which in use lies adjacent the heel portion 14 of the upper When the sole 12 is secured to the upper as shown in Figure 2, it can be seen that the overlapping edge parts 17 engage with the upper 11 to provide a substantially water and dirt resistant seal.

It will be appreciated that using such a construction, the sole 12 on an item of footwear can be easily exchanged when for example, the sole 12 wears out, or to enable different soles to be provided on the shoe 10 to suit different surface conditions.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or compositions, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

1. An article of footwear comprising an upper and a sole, the sole bing secured to the upper solely by releasable fastening means.

2. An article according to Claim 1 wherein the fastening means comprise a series of hooks on the upper or sole which engage with flexible hoops on the sole or upper respectively.

3. An article according to Claim 2 wherein the fastening means comprises corresponding interengaging strips or sheets of Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) material secured to the upper and to the sole respectively so as to engage when the upper and the sole are brought together.

4. An article according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the sole inciudes edge parts which overlap with the upper to provide a water and a dirt resistant join between the two.

5. An article according to Claim 4 wherein the sole has an upwardly extending formation which overlaps with a toe portion of the upper.

6. An article according to any one of Claims 3 to 5 where appendent to Claim 3 wherein the Velcro material covers the entire area of contact between the sole and the upper, including the edge parts of the sole which overlap with the upper, where these are provided.

7. An article according to any one of Claims 4 to 6

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION This invention relates to an article of footwear. According to the invention I provide an article of footwear comprising an upper and a sole, the sole being secured to the upper solely by releasable fastening means. The fastening means may comprise a series of hooks on the upper or sole which engage with flexible hoops on the sole or upper respectively. For example, corresponding interengaging strips or sheets of Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) material may be adhered or otherwise permanently secured to the upper and to the sole respectively so as to engage when the upper and sole are brought together. The sole may include edge parts which overlap with the upper to provide a water and a dirt resistant join between the two. The sole may, for example, have an upwardly extending formation which overlaps with a toe portion of the upper. Preferably the Velcro material covers the entire area contact between the sole and the upper, including the edge parts of the sole which overlap with the upper, where these are provided. Preferably the sole is flexible and the edge parts are provided by wrapping the edge of the sole over at least a lower portion of the upper. To aid this, the upper may be provided with a lip which has the correspond ing Velcro material permanently attached thereto. A tag may project from the sole for example adjacent a heel portion of the upper, to facilitate removal of the sole from the upper when required. The invention may be applied to a sports shoe to facilitate changing of the sole for different sports surface conditions, or to a boot, ordinary shoe, or sandal as required. The invention will now be described with the aid of the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of an article of footwear in accordance with the invention. Figure 2 is a diagrammatic section through the article of footwear of Figure 1. Referring to the drawing, an article of footwear 10 comprises an upper 11, and a sole 12, the upper being of conventional construction in the form of a sports shoe having a toe portion 13, a heel portion 14, and side portions 15. The upper 11 has a lower region providing a lip 16, the purpose of which will become apparent hereinafter, and a lower surface 18. The sole is larger in area than the lower surface of the upper 11 and is made of a flexible material. The sole 12 has a peripheral rib R which may be wrapped around the lower region of the upper as seen in Figure 2, to provide edge portions 17. Extending over substantially the entire lower surface 18 of the upper, are a series of small hooks comprising one part of a sheet of Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) material. Further, on the upper surface of the lip 16, a strip of Velcro material comprising hooks, is provided and over a part of the toe portion 13 of the shoe. Extending over substantially the entire upper surface of the sole 12 is a sheet of corresponding Velcro material comprising a plurality of flexible loops with which the hooks of the Velcro material on the lower surface 18 of the upper and upper surface of the lip 16 can engage, as shown in Figure 2, to secure the sole 12 to the upper 11. The sole also has an upwardly extending formation 21 which is use overlaps with the toe portion 13 of the upper 11. Again the upwardly extending formation 21 and overlapped part of the toe portion 13 have corresponding strips of Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) material to facilitate connection between the two. It will be appreciated that because the sole 12 is secured to the upper 11 by Velcro material, that the fastening provided is thereby releasable. To facilitate removing the sole 12 from the upper 11 when engaged, the sole 12 has a tag 20 which in use lies adjacent the heel portion 14 of the upper When the sole 12 is secured to the upper as shown in Figure 2, it can be seen that the overlapping edge parts 17 engage with the upper 11 to provide a substantially water and dirt resistant seal. It will be appreciated that using such a construction, the sole 12 on an item of footwear can be easily exchanged when for example, the sole 12 wears out, or to enable different soles to be provided on the shoe 10 to suit different surface conditions. The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or compositions, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof. CLAIMS

7. An article according to any one of Claims 4 to 6 where appendent to Claim 4 wherein the sole is flexible and the edge parts are provided by wrapping the edge of the sole at least a lower portion or the upper.

8. An article according to Claim 7 where appendent to Claim 3 wherein the upper is provided with a lip which has the corresponding Velcro material permanently attached thereto.

9. An article according to any one of the preceding claims wnerein a tag projects from the sole adjacent a heel portion of the upper, to facilitate removal of the sole from the upper when required.

10. An article according to any one of the preceding ciaims wherein the article is a sports shoe or a boot.

11. An article of footwear substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

12. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein and/or as shown in the accompanying drawing.