AU2007203073A1 - Interchangeable Footwear System - Google Patents

Description

29.Jljn. 2007 17:54 Wallinston-Dummer Sydney No -07 15 P 3 P/00/009

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Invention Title: Interchangeable Footwear System The invention is described in the following statement together with the best method of performing it known to us: Our Ref: 032136 COMS ID No: SBMI-07972521 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:02 Date 2007-06-29 29.Jun, 2007 17:54 Wal ington-Dummer Sydney No.0715 P. 4 2 0 CI INTERCMHANGEABLE FOOTWEAR SYSTEM The present invention relates to shoes and more O particularly to shoes adapted to accept a range of interchangeable covers so as to alter appearance.

Cnr BACKGROUND 0 Footwear has long come to serve additional functions o to that of mere utility. The desirability for variations of style, colour and decoration, particularly in the areas of children' s, ladies' and sport related footwear requires the purchase of multiple pairs of shoes. Moreover, to change from one style or appearance of footwear to another while away from home, requires that additional bulky pairs of shoes are taken along.

It is an object of the present invention to address or ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION Accordingly, in one broad form of the invention there is provided an interchangeable footwear system comprising a shoe assembly including a base interchangeable covers COMS ID No: SBMI-07972521 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:02 Date 2007-06-29 29.Jun. 2007 17:54 Wallinston-Dummer Sydney No.0715 P. 3 0 C( in which any one of a plurality of said covers are Sadapted to allow fitting to said base forming an Sassembly so as to change the appearance and use ci environment of said shoe assembly.

M 5 Preferably said base comprises a sole portion and an upper portion.

C1 Preferably said sole portion is provided with an o upwardly extending perimeter rim portion.

Preferably said upwardly extending perimeter rim portion is provided with a first mating element.

Preferably said interchangeable covers are provided with a second mating element along the lower perimeter of said covers, Preferably said first mating element is female.

Preferably said first mating element is male.

Preferably said second mating element is male.

Preferably said second mating element is female..

Preferably said first and second mating elements are substantially v-shaped in section.

Preferably said V-shaped sections of said mating elements are provided with matching protrusions and recesses so as to provide a snap-fit when said cover is assembled to said base.

COMS ID No: SBMI-07972521 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:02 Date 2007-06-29 29.Jun. 2007 17:54 Wallington-Dummer Sydney No.0715 P. 6 4 0 C\ Preferably said base shoes are provided in a range of Sshapes, and sizes.

Preferably said covers are provided in a matching cx range of shapes and sizes adapted to fit said bases.

c 5 Preferably said covers are provided in a range of (C colours and patterns.

(C Preferably said base and said covers are made from any Sof a selection of materials, said selection including leather, canvas, rubber, plastic and other synthetic materials.

Preferably a one of said covers includes an indiciareceiving portion.

Preferably said indicia-receiving portion is adapted to display promotional indicia.

In a further broad form of the invention there is provided a method of altering the appearance of a shoe, said method comprising utilising the interchangeable footwear system of any preceding claim.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: COMS ID No: SBMI-07972521 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:02 Date 2007-06-29 29-Jijn 2007 17:54 Wallington-Dummer Sydney No. 0715 P. 7 0 0 Cl Figure 1 is a side elevation view of a base according to an embodiment of the present invention, 0 Figure 2 is a side elevation view of a shoe cover according a preferred embodiment of the invention, S 5 Figure 3 is a detail of a cross section of the mating 0 eC system between base and cover according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

0 DETAIIED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first preferred embodiment of a interchangeable footwear system according to the invention will now be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

A base 10 is provided with a sole 11 and upper portion 12. Sole 11 is further provided around its perimeter with an upwardly extending rim portion 13. Both sole 11 and upper portion 12 may be constructed from conventional shoe materials including leather, canvas, rubber, plastic and other synthetic materials.

Preferably rim portion 13 is formed from a moulded resilient material and forms a first mating element 14.

With reference to Figure 2, shoe cover 15 consists of a sheath open at its underside 16 and provided around its lower perimeter 17 with second mating element 18. Cover is adapted to slip over the upper portion 12 of base COMS ID No: SBMI-07972521 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:02 Date 2007-06-29 29-Jun. 2007 17:54 Wallinston-Duumer Sydney No.0715 P. 8 6 0 (C with first and second mating elements 14 and 18 engaging so Sas to retain cover 15 on base ON Figure 3 shows a preferred embodiment of mating cxl elements 14 and 18 where the perimeter rim portion 13 of base sole 11 is provided with female moulded engagement Ce means 19 and the lower perimeter 17 of cover 15 is provided 0 N with moulded male engagement means 0 In the embodiment of Figure 3, sole portion female engagement means 19 is provided with a substantially vshaped section 21 having projections 22 and recesses 23 along both inner surfaces of the V. Upper portion 15 male engagement means 20 has matching V-shaped section 24 with like projections 25 and recesses 26 such that the projections 22 and recesses 23 of sole portion female engagement means 19 provide a snap fit with recesses 26 and projections 25 of upper portion male engagement means.

Preferably lower perimeter 17 may be provided with waterproofing lip 27 so as to prevent ingress of water into the engagement means.

Preferably bases 10 may be provided with a plainly constructed upper portions 12 providing no more than a scaffold for the addition of covers. Alternatively, upper portions 12 of bases 10 may be adapted to a particular appearance or use environment.

COMS ID No: SBMI-07972521 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:02 Date 2007-06-29 29.Jun. 2007 17:55 Wall ington-Dummer Sydney No.0715 P. 9 7 0 C( In a further preferred embodiment, covers may be provided with logos or other proprietary indicia, or Sotherwise personalized to reflect an interest or taste of the wearer.

n 5 In use, covers are made available in a matching range c of sizes and shapes to suit bases. A wearer may purchase a c pair of bases with or without one or more covers. Further o covers may be purchased subsequently.

Although the above description refers to shoes it will be understood that the concept of the invention may be applied to other forms of footwear including boots and certain configurations of sandals.

The above describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

COMS ID No: SBMI-07972521 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:02 Date 2007-06-29

Claims (5)

1. 29.Jun. 2007 17:55 WalIington-Dummer Sydney No.0715 P. I"8 0 CLAIMS 1. An interchangeable footwear system comprising a shoe Sassembly including a base 5 interchangeable covers 0 eC in which any one of a plurality of said covers are 0 ^C adapted to allow fitting to said base thereby forming o an assembly so as to change the appearance and use ci environment of said shoe assembly. 2. The interchangeable footwear system of claim 1 wherein said base comprises at least a sole portion. 3. The interchangeable footwear system of claim 2 wherein said sole portion is provided with an upwardly extending perimeter rim portion. 4. The interchangeable footwear system of claim 4 wherein said upwardly extending perimeter rim portion is provided with a first mating element. The interchangeable footwear system of claim 4 wherein said interchangeable covers are provided with a second mating element along the lower perimeter of said covers, 6. The interchangeable footwear system of claim 5 wherein said first mating element is female. COMS ID No: SBMI-07972521 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:02 Date 2007-06-29 29-Jijn, 2007 17:55 Wa l ington-Dummer Sydney No.07 15 P- I I 7. The interchangeable footwear system of claim 6 wherein said first mating element is male. 8. The interchangeable footwear system of claim 7 wherein said second mating element is male. 9. The interchangeable footwear system of claim 8 wherein said second mating element is female. The interchangeable footwear system of claim 9 wherein said first and second mating elements are substantially V-shaped in section. 11. The interchangeable footwear system of claim wherein said V-shaped sections of said mating elements are provided with matching protrusions and recesses so as to provide a snap-fit when said cover is assembled to said base. 12. The interchangeable footwear system of claim 11 wherein said bases are provided in a range of shapes, and sizes. 13. The interchangeable footwear system of claim 12 wherein said covers are provided in a matching range of shapes and sizes adapted to fit said bases. 14. The interchangeable footwear system of claim 13 wherein said covers are provided in a range of colours and patterns. COMS ID No: SBMI-07972521 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:02 Date 2007-06-29 29.Jun. 2007 17:55 Wallington-Dummer Sydney No.0715 P. 12 0 The interchangeable footwear system of any preceding ;claim wherein said base and said covers are made from any of a selection of materials, said selection ci including leather, canvas, rubber, plastic and other 0 5 synthetic materials- en 16. The interchangeable footwear system of any preceding claim wherein a one of said covers includes an oindicia-receiving portion. ci 17. The interchangeable footwear system of Claim 16 wherein said indicia-receiving portion is adapted to display promotional indicia. 18. A method of altering the appearance of a shoe, said method comprising utilising the interchangeable footwear system of any preceding claim. 19. An interchangeable footwear system comprising a shoe assembly including base interchangeable covers in which any one of a plurality of said covers are adapted to allow fitting to said base forming an assembly so as to change the appearance and use environment of said shoe assembly. The interchangeable footwear system of claim 19 wherein said base comprises at least a sole portion. COMS ID No: SBMI-07972521 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:02 Date 2007-06-29 29.Jun. 2007 17:56 Wa li ngton-Dummer Sydney No.0715 P. 13 1 11 0 C 21. The interchangeable footwear system of claim ;Z wherein said sole portion is provided with an upwardly Sextending perimeter rim portion. 22. The interchangeable footwear system of claim 21 wherein said upwardly extending perimeter rim portion c 3 is provided with a sole portion mating element. 23. The interchangeable footwear system of any one of o claims 19 to 22 wherein said interchangeable covers are provided with a cover mating element along the lower perimeter of said covers. 24. The interchangeable footwear system of claim 22 wherein said sole portion mating element is female. The interchangeable footwear system of claim 22 wherein said sole portion mating element is male. 26. The interchangeable footwear system of claim 23 wherein said cover mating element is male. 27. The interchangeable footwear system of claim 23 wherein said cover mating element is female. 28. The interchangeable footwear system of any one of claims 23 to 27 wherein said sole portion mating element and said cover mating element are substantially V-shaped in section. 29. The interchangeable footwear system of claim 28 wherein said V-shaped sections of said sole portion COMS ID No: SBMI-07972521 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:02 Date 2007-06-29 29.Jun. 2007 17:56 Wallington-Dummer Sydney No.0715 P. 14 12 0 C( mating element and said cover mating element are Sprovided with matching protrusions and recesses so as Sto provide a snap-fit when said cover is assembled to said base. 5 30. The interchangeable footwear system of any one of M claims 19 to 29 wherein said bases are provided in a range of shapes, and sizes. o 31. The interchangeable footwear system of any one of ci claims 19 to 30 wherein said covers are provided in a matching range of shapes and sizes adapted to fit said bases.
2. 32. The interchangeable footwear system of any one of claims 19 to 31 wherein said covers are provided in a range of colours and patterns.
3. 33. The interchangeable footwear system of any one of claims 19 to 32 wherein said bases and said covers are made from any of a selection of materials, said selection including leather, canvas, rubber, plastic and other synthetic materials.
4. 34. The interchangeable footwear system of any one of claims 19 to 33 wherein a one of said covers includes an indicia-receiving portion. COMS ID No: SBMI-07972521 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:02 Date 2007-06-29 29.Jun. 2007 17:56 Wallington-Dummer Sydney No.0715 P. 13 0 0 NC 35. The interchangeable footwear system of Claim 34 wherein said indicia-receiving portion is adapted to display promotional indicia. Cl
5. 36. A method of altering the appearance of a shoe, said M 5 method comprising utilising the interchangeable 0 en footwear system of any one of claims 19 to 0 0 0 Cl COMS ID No: SBMI-07972521 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:02 Date 2007-06-29