Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SHOE WITH INTERCHANGABLE VAMP
SCOPE OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to footwear and more
particularly to a shoe with removable, interchanger-
able vamps.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Known shoes have a sole and a permanently
affixed upper. To have shoes of different colours, it
is necessary to have a plurality of shoes. This has a
disadvantage that while a women may prefer one style or
configuration of shoe sole, she will re~uire a number
of pairs of shoes to have that shoe in different
colours.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To at least partially overcome this disad-
vantage of previously known shoes, the present inven-
tion provides a novel construction for a shoe with a
removable vamp so that sole members may be used with a
plurality of interchangable vamps.
An object of the present invention is to pro-
vide a shoe with removable, interchangable uppers, par-
ticularly vamps.
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Another object is to make shoes from .inter-
changable elements whether they be interchangable soles
S or interchangable vamps.
Another object is to provide an improved re-
teasable coupling between a vamp and a sote in a shoe
construction.
Another object is to provide an improved sole
member for a shoe.
Accordingly, in one its aspects the present
- invention provides an article of footwear comprising:
sole means having an underfoot surface to
underlie and support a user's foot and side surfaces
bordering the underfoot surface,
removable, flexible vamp means extending from
the side surface of the sole means on one side thereof
over the underfoot surface to side surface of the sole
means on the other side thereof, and
coupling means releasably coup~ing the vamp
means to the side surface of the sole means at said one
and other sides thereof.
In another aspect the present invention pro-
vides a shoe comprising:
a substantially rigid, sole member having an
underfoot surface to underlie and support a,user's foot
and side surfaces bordering the underfoot surface,
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portions of the side surface on both sides of
the sole member being recessed inwardly from the side
surface of the sole member adjacent thereto and pre-
senting substantially vertical engagement surfaces,
a removable, flexible vamp member extending
from one side of the sole member over a user's foot to
the other side of the sole member,
the vamp member having peripheral side edge
portions received in the recessed portions of the sole
member overlying the engagement surfaces with inwardly
directed surfaces of the vamp member under the peri-
pheral side edge portions in close abutting relation
with the engagement surfaces,
a plurality of hook members on the engagement
surfaces on each side of the sole member,
the hook members extending outwardly from the
engagement surface then downwardly,
apertures provided in the peripheral side-
edge portions of the vamp means at locations complimen-
tary to the locations of hook members so that each hook
member may engage an aperature to secure the vamp mem-
ber to the sole member,
touch fasteninghookcarrying tape on one of the
- eng~gement surfaces or the inwardly directed surfaces
~ the vamp member,
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touch fastening loop carrying tape on the other
of the engagement surfaces or the inwardly directed
surfaces of the vamp member,
the tape on the engagement surfaces
coup1ing with the tape on the inwardly
directed surfaces of the vamp member to couple the vamp
member to the engagement surface over substantially the
entirety of the engagement surface.
In accordance with this invention a sole
member is provided which has side surfaces bordering an
upwardly directed underfoot surface of the sole. The
side surfaces preferably have portions thereof which
are recessed inwardly and define substantially verti-
cally disposed engagement surfaces on either side of
the sole member. An upper is provided which extends
across the sole member from one side to the other over
a user's foot. Preferably peripheral side edge por-
tions of the upper are received within the recessed
portions to closely overlie and abut the engagement
surfaces therein. Suitable couplings are provided to
couple the side edge portions of the upper to the en-
gagement surfaces of the sole member. Preferred means
for coupling include hook means which extend outwardly
then downwardly from the engagement surfaces together
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with VELCRO-type hook and toop fasteners being provided
on opposed mating surfaces of the engagement surface
and the vamp member.
Entire uppers for shoes including if necess-
ary straps, zippers or tace fastening devices may be
removabty attached to sole members in accordance with
the present invention.
In regard to the coupting means to couple the
upper to the sote member, hook members are prelerred
for use in engagement with holes or apertures provided
in the peripheral edge portions of the upper. Many
other fastening means may be provided such as i--or
example snap fasteners. It is preferred if a positive
mechanical coupling such as hooks are used in combina-
tion with VELCRO-tape type couptings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further aspects and advantages of the present
invention wilt now appear from the following descrip-
tion taken together with the accompaning drawings in
which:
Figure l is prespective view of a shoe in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention,
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Figure 2 is an exploded, prospective view
showing a portion of the sole of the shoe of Figure l,
Figure 3 is an exploded, prospective view of
a similar portion of the sole shown in Figure 2 but
also showing a vamp,
Figure 4 is a partial, cross-sectional, front
end view of the shoe shown in Figure 1 cross-sectioned
vertically through the axis of one of its hook members,
and
Figure 5 is an exploded side elevation view
showing the sole of the shoe in Figure 1.
DETAILED DESC'RIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Reference is made first to Figure l which
shows a lady's shoe generally indicated 10 compris-
ing a sole 12, a vamp member 14 and an ankle strap
member l6.
Sole 12 prevents an upwardly directed under-
foot surface 18 to underlie and support a user's foot.
Sole 12 also has side surfaces generally indicated 20
bordering underfoot surface 18. Sole 12 preferrably
comprises a unitary member as, for example, molded in
one piece from relatively rigid plastic or cut from
wood.
3~
-- 7 --
Heel portion 22 is preferrably an integral
part of the sole but could be separatety attached.
As seen in Figure 5, advantageously a ground
engaging pad 24 and heel cap 26 may be provided as
separate elements which are more wear resistent and
provide improved friction. These parts may be made
from rubber or other plastic compositions.
A thin insole liner 28 may advantageously be
provided.
Side surfaces 20 include recessed portions 30
shown to be orientated substantially vertically. A
strip of VELCRO-type hook carrying tape 32 is secured
by staples 34 to recessed engagement surface portions
30. Three hook members 36 are secured in spaced holes
38 in recessed engagement surface portion 30.
Each hook member 36 comprises an "L-shaped"
member which extends laterally (horizontally) oùtwardly
from recessed portion 30 then downwardly. Each hook
member 36 preferrably presents a relatively flat out-
side surface 38 which lies substantially where the side
surfaces 20 of the sole member would lie if not cut
away as recessed portions 30.
Vamp member 14 preferrably comprises a re-
lavtively thin flexible sheet 44 of material such as
for example leather, vinyl, fabric or composites there-
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of and like materials which typically are used to make
footwear uppers. Vamp member 14 is provided on each of
its sides near its peripheral side edges (of which only
one side edge 40 is clearly shown) with three eyelets
42. Eyelets 42 are spaced and located complimentary to
hook members 36 so that each eyelet 42 can be en-gaged
over a corresponding hook member 36 and thereby secure
the vamp member to the sole member. Each eyelet 42 is
preferrably a metal annular ring camped onto sheet 44
about an aperture 46 in the sheet. Aperture 46 is ~
sized to closely receive the shank of a hook member.
A strip of VELCRO-type loop carrying tape 48
lS is secured to an inwardly directed surface of vamp
sheet 44 as by being sewn thereto.
Vamp member 14 is secured to sole 12 with
hook members 36 engaged through eyelets 42 and with the
hook carrying tape 32 in coupled engagement with loop
carrying tapé 48. With vamp member 14 secured to sole
member 12, inwardly directed surfaces S0 on the
peripheral side edge portions of vamp member 14 closely
overlie the side surfaces of the shoe within the re-
cessed engagement portion 30 as best seen in Figure 4.
Preferably hook members 36 extend laterally
(sideways) from recessed engagement portion 30 a dis-
tance about equal to the distance the recessed portion
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30 is recessed relative to side surfaces 20 of the sole
member adjacent thereto. This distance is best seen as
S represented by the width of shoulders 52 at each end of
recessed engagement portion 30. Hook members 36 pre-
ferably do not extend downwardly below the lower edge
of the recessed engagement portion 30. Preferably the
outer side surface 54 of vamp 14 may appear to be a
continuation of the side surface:; 20 of sole 14 adja-
cent recessed engagement portion 30. The recessed por-
tion should therefor be recessed at least a depth equal
to the thickness of the vamp sheet 14. Preferably the
vamp has a complimentary length o that of the recessed
portion 30 so that the front and rear edges of the vamp
lie closely adjacent shoulders 5:2 at each end of the
recessed portions.
In sole liner 28 preferrably has two inwardly
extending cut lines 58 defining a thin side flap 60 as
seen in Figures 1 and 4 to be bent up against the in-
wardly directed surface of the vamp to cover and assist
in sealing the junction between the vamp and the sole
member.
Figure 4 shows in dotted lines as 56 a cover
flap of flexible material similar to sheet 44 which can
be affixed at its top edge to vamp 14 and serve as a
cover to hide from view hook member 36 and eyelet 42 if
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desired. Functionally, hiding of the hook members
could be accomplished by providing hook members which
S only partially extend through the vamp member 14. In
substitution of the hook members, similar studs could
extend laterally outwardly from the sole member a
distance less than the thickness of the vamp member.
Snap fastening means could also be provided which may
not be seen from the side of the shoe.
Figure 1 shows shoe 10 with an ankle strap
member 16. Member 16 is preferably secured by a coupl-
ling mechanism substantially same as that with the
vamp. In this regard two hook members 64 may be pro-
vided in 1:he side surface 20 of the sole member about
the heel. Only one hook member 64 is shown. Hook
member 64 may pass through eyelette 66 on a vertically
upstanding member 68 to which flexible buckled strap 70
is coupled. Preferrably VELCRO-type tape will also be
provided on member 68 to mate with complimentary tape
on the side surfaces about the heel. In Figure l,
there is no recessed portion shown in the heel where
the ankle strap member is coupled. A similar recessed
portion to recessed portion 30 could be provided at the
heel if desired. While recessed portions 30 are shown
in the preferred embodiment, such recessed portions are
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not necessary and the vamp could merely attach to the
side surface of the sole as shown with ankle strap
member 16.
While Figure 1 shows a shoe with both vamp
member l4 and heel strap 16, a preferred embodiment of
the present invention provides only the vamp strap and
eliminates the heel strap and hook member 64 therefor.
In use, a shoe as shown in Figure I may be
provided in a kit with a number of different vamps
identical except as to their colour or materials of
construction. A person may change the vamps as de-
sired. Further, the kit could include a plurality of
sole members of different colours or of different heels
size and configurations to which all the vamps could be
used by suitable location of the hook members relative
to the sole members.
VELCR0 is a registered trade mark of Velcro
Industries B.V. of the Netherlands and indicate a product
known generically as a touch fastener. A preferred type of
such touch fastener comprises a touch fastening hook
carrying tape which is complimentary to a touch fastening
loop carrying tape.
While the invention has been described with
reference to preferred embodiments, the invention is
not so limited. Many variations and modifcations will
now occur to those skilled in the art. For a defini-
tion of the invention reference is made to the appended
claims.
