US20140305007A1

US20140305007A1 - Modular Footwear System

Info

Publication number: US20140305007A1
Application number: US13/862,396
Authority: US
Inventors: Linda Skaggs; William Robledo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-04-13
Filing date: 2013-04-13
Publication date: 2014-10-16

Abstract

The present invention relates to a footwear system allowing a wearer to change styles of a sandal by detaching and attaching distinct insoles patterned with a variety of decorative designs.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a footwear system offering multiple style choices associated with one pair of sandals.

BACKGROUND

Sandals are type of footwear typically worn in warmer climates, as the wearer's foot is substantially exposed, particularly the upper part of the foot and the toes. The most generic type of sandal consists of a sole that is held in place by a strap or straps that pass over the top of a wearer's foot and, sometimes, around the ankle While there are many different styles, fits, and colors of sandals, wearers are limited to wearing one sandal fashion at a time. The present modular footwear system remedies this limitation by providing a variety of style choices all in one sandal.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The instant disclosure generally relates to a modular footwear system that includes at least one removably attachable insole. As will be explained in greater detail below, by providing a modular footwear system that includes at least one removably attachable insole, the system described herein may enable a wearer of such a system to exchange and/or interchange insoles of differing designs, patterns, colors, and/or materials. As such, wearers may enjoy differing footwear looks and/or functionality simply by purchasing additional removably attachable insoles, as opposed to having to purchase entirely new footwear.
Features from any of the embodiments described herein may be used in combination with one another in accordance with the general principles described herein. These and other embodiments, features, and advantages will be more fully understood upon reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view an exemplary modular footwear system.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a number of exemplary embodiments and are a part of the specification. Together with the following description, these drawings demonstrate and explain various principles of the instant disclosure.
Throughout the drawings, identical reference characters and descriptions indicate similar, but not necessarily identical, elements. While the exemplary embodiments described herein are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, the exemplary embodiments described herein are not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the instant disclosure covers all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view an exemplary modular footwear system 100. As illustrated in this FIGURE, modular footwear system 100 may comprise an outsole 110, at least one strap 130 anchored to outsole 110, and at least one removably attachable insole 120. Modular footwear system 100 may represent any type or form of footwear, including, without limitation, a sandal, such as an open-toed sandal or “flip-flop.” In addition, the various components of modular footwear system 100 may be formed of any of a variety of naturally occurring and/or man-made materials, including, without limitation, fabric, rubber, leather, plastic, and/or any other suitable material.
Strap 130 generally represents any type or form of mechanism for removably securing modular footwear system 100 to a wearer's foot. Examples of strap 130 include, without limitation, a strap system (comprising a single or a plurality of straps) configured to surround at least a portion of a wearer's foot, a Y-shaped strap configured to be positioned between two digits of a wearer's foot, and/or any other mechanism capable of removably securing modular footwear system 100 to a wearer's foot.
In some embodiments, strap 130 may be anchored to outsole 110 by at least one anchor, such as anchor 132 in FIG. 1. Anchor 132 may be attached to outsole 110 in a variety of ways and on a variety of portions of outsole 110.
In at least one embodiment, removably attachable insole 120 may comprise at least one attachment mechanism configured to removably attach or secure removably attachable insole 120 to outsole 110. In one example, this attachment mechanism may comprise at least one opening 125 dimensioned to receive at least one anchor (such as anchor 132) of strap 130. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, opening 125 may comprise a first portion 126 that is narrower than the width of anchor 132 and a second portion 127 that is wider than the width of anchor 132. As such, a wearer of modular footwear system 100 may at least partially attach or secure removably attachable insole 120 to outsole 110 by inserting anchor 132 through both first portion 126 and second portion 127 of opening 125. In this example, the narrower width of first portion 126 may at least partially attach or secure removably attachable insole 120 to outsole 110.
Additionally or alternatively, the attachment mechanism of removably attachable insole 120 may comprise a hook-and-loop fastener (such as, e.g., the VELCRO brand hook-and-loop fastener) positioned on a bottom surface 122 of removably attachable insole 120. In this example, the hook-and-loop fastener positioned on bottom surface 122 of removably attachable insole 120 may be configured to be removably attached to a corresponding hook-and-loop fastener positioned on a top surface 112 of outsole 110. As such, a wearer of modular footwear system 100 may at least partially attach or secure removably attachable insole 120 to outsole 110 by attaching the hook-and-loop fastener positioned on bottom surface 122 of removably attachable insole 120 to the corresponding hook-and-loop fastener positioned on top surface 112 of outsole 110.
In some examples, removably attachable insole 120 may comprise at least one decorative feature. For example, removably attachable insole 120 may be formed of a specific material, formed in a specific pattern, colored using one or more colors, decorated with one or more decorative items (such as, e.g., rhinestones, jewels, or the like), or otherwise formed or decorated using any other cosmetic or functional decorating technique. In some examples, removably attachable insole 120 may complete both the functionality and “look” of modular footwear system 100.
As detailed above, by providing a modular footwear system that includes at least one removably attachable insole, the system described herein may enable a wearer of such a system to exchange and/or interchange insoles of differing designs, patterns, colors, and/or materials. As such, wearers may enjoy differing footwear looks and/or functionality simply by purchasing additional removably attachable insoles, as opposed to having to purchase entirely new footwear.
The preceding description has been provided to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize various aspects of the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein. This exemplary description is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to any precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the instant disclosure. The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive. Reference should be made to the appended claims and their equivalents in determining the scope of the instant disclosure.
Unless otherwise noted, the terms “a” or “an,” as used in the specification and claims, are to be construed as meaning “at least one of.” In addition, for ease of use, the words “including” and “having,” as used in the specification and claims, are interchangeable with and have the same meaning as the word “comprising.”

Claims

1. A modular footwear system comprising:

an outsole;

at least one strap anchored to the outsole; and

at least one removably attachable insole comprising at least one attachment mechanism configured to removably attach the removably attachable insole to the outsole.

2. The modular footwear system of claim 1, wherein the strap comprises at least one of:

a strap system configured to surround at least a portion of a wearer's foot;

a Y-shaped strap configured to be positioned between two digits of a wearer's foot.

3. The modular footwear system of claim 1, wherein the strap comprises at least one anchor and the removably attachable insole's attachment mechanism comprises at least one opening dimensioned to receive the strap's anchor.

4. The modular footwear system of claim 3, wherein the opening dimensioned to receive the strap's anchor comprises:

a first portion that is narrower than the width of the strap's anchor; and

a second portion that is wider than the width of the strap's anchor.

5. The modular footwear system of claim 1, wherein the removably attachable insole's attachment mechanism comprises a hook-and-loop fastener positioned on a bottom surface of the insole, the hook-and-loop fastener being configured to be removably attached to a corresponding hook-and-loop fastener positioned on a top surface of the outsole.

6. The modular footwear system of claim 1, wherein the modular footwear system comprises a sandal.

7. The modular footwear system of claim 6, wherein the sandal comprises an open-toed sandal.

8. The modular footwear system of claim 6, wherein the open-toed sandal comprises a flip-flop.

9. The modular footwear system of claim 1, wherein the removably attachable insole comprises at least one decorative feature.