Interchangeable athletic shoe cover pad

Abstract

An athletic shoe system includes an athletic shoe having an upper, one or more insert pads attached to a region of the upper, and one or more cover pads having substantially the same dimensions as at least one of the insert pads. Each of the one or more insert pads includes a first part of a releasable attachment system. Further, each of the one or more cover pads includes a second part of the releasable attachment system on a lower surface and an ornamental decoration on an upper surface. The cover pads are arranged to be releasably attached to the one or more insert pads using the releasable attachment system. Accordingly, an ornamentation of the athletic shoe is customized by interchanging the cover pad(s) releasably attached to the athletic shoe.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 485,819 filed on Jul. 9, 2003.BACKGROUND OF INVENTION [0002] 1. Technical Field [0003] The invention relates generally to shoes having ornamental, or decorative, uppers in which all or part of the ornamentation is interchangeable. [0004] 2. Background Art [0005] Over the years, athletic shoes have grown in popularity such that they currently form a multi-billion dollar industry. In many cases, consumers purchase athletic shoes not for their athletic use, but, rather, as a matter of personal style and fashion. Accordingly, athletic shoes are available in a wide variety of styles, colors, and designs, thereby allowing a consumer to purchase shoes that match or accent a particular outfit. [0006] In a wardrobe, a consumer typically possesses many outfits, each having a different style, color, and / or design. Thus, in order to ensure that one's shoes match or accent all o...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The patent describes an athletic shoe system that includes an upper and at least one insert pad that is attached to the upper using a releasable attachment system. The system also includes at least one cover pad that is releasably attached to the insert pad using the same attachment system. The cover pad can have the same dimensions as the insert pad and can be easily attached and detached. The system also allows for the attachment of multiple cover pads to the same insert pad. The method for attaching the cover pad to the insert pad involves interlockingly and adhesively attaching the cover pad to the insert pad. The technical effects of this invention include improved comfort, durability, and customization options for athletic shoes."

Problems solved by technology

Consequently, because a single pair of athletic shoes is typically expensive, purchasing enough pairs of shoes to complement one's wardrobe can become very costly for the consumer.

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