Interchangeable strap closure system for footwear

• US 10,021,935 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Plae, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Plae, Inc.
• Inventors: Ringholz, Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): COLLIER, JAMESON D
• Application Number:
  US13/836,655
• Publication Number:
  US 20130318827A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,950 Days
• Field of Search: 36 97, 36 99, 36 501, 36 51, 36 585, 247136, 24 68 SK, 24 71 SK, 2457815
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/24 Collapsible or convertible
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/008 Combined fastenings, e.g. to accelerate undoing or fastening
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/1493 Strap fastenings having hook and loop-type fastening elements
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/22 Fastening devices with elastic tightening parts between pairs of eyelets, e.g. clamps, springs, bands
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/24 Ornamental buckles or other ornaments for shoes, with fastening function buckles in general A44B11/00

Abstract

Footwear is provided with a closure system that is easily replaceable by the user. The closure system includes a strap that is preferably secured to the shoe through a hook and loop fastener. The strap is interchangeable and can include a variety of colors, designs, logos. The footwear can include multiple straps.

Claims

1. An item of footwear comprising:

an outsole;

an upper mounted on the outsole, said upper having two flaps with a first flap of said two flaps included on a first side of said upper and a second flap of said two flaps included on a second side of said upper, the first flap having an outer surface and the second flap having an outer surface;

at least one ring mounted on said outer surface of said first flap of said upper so that said at least one ring and an opening in said at least one ring extend above said outer surface of said first flap of said upper, said opening extending from said outer surface of said first flap in a direction away from said outer surface of said first flap;

a strap that is completely removable from said upper and is insertable in said at least one ring so that all of said strap is positioned above the outer surfaces of said two flaps of said upper when said strap is inserted in said at least one ring, said strap including a strip of one mating portion of a hook and loop fastener, said strap being inserted in said at least one ring and when said item of footwear is in a tightened state, a first end of said strap abuts said at least one ring and is secured against said at least one ring, said first end of said strap having dimensions that prevent said first end of said strap from passing through said at least one ring and a second end of said strap is secured to a strip of a second mating portion of said hook and loop fastener mounted directly on said outer surface of said second flap of said upper, said first end of said strap secured against said at least one ring on a side of said at least one ring furthest from said second mating portion of said hook and loop fastener.

2. The item of footwear of claim 1 wherein said strap is constructed of a static material.

3. The item of footwear of claim 1 wherein said strap is constructed of a dynamic material.

4. The item of footwear of claim 1 further comprising a strap anchor positioned between two layers of a material of said strap created by folding a portion of said strap over another portion of said strap, said strap anchor having a dumbbell shape with a knob positioned on each of two ends of said strap anchor, each of said knobs having a diameter larger than said opening to prevent said strap anchor from passing completely through said at least one ring.

5. The item of footwear of claim 1 further comprising a second removable strap and said at least one ring includes a second ring.

6. A footwear closure system comprising:

at least one ring mounted on an outer surface of a first flap of a first side of an upper of an item of footwear so that said at least one ring and an opening in said at least one ring extend above said outer surface of said first flap of said upper, said opening extending from said outer surface of said first flap in a direction away from said outer surface of said first flap;

a second flap having an outer surface;

a strap that is completely removable from said upper and is insertable in each of said at least one ring so that all of said strap is positioned above the outer surface of said first flap and above the outer surface of said second flap when said strap is inserted in said at least one ring, said strap including a strip of one mating portion of a hook and loop fastener, said strap being inserted in said at least one ring in said item of footwear and when said item of footwear is in a tightened state, a first end of said strap abuts said at least one ring and is secured against said at least one ring, said first end of said strap having dimensions that prevent said first end of said strap from passing through said at least one ring and a second end of said strap is secured to a strip of a second mating portion of said hook and loop fastener mounted directly on said outer surface of said second flap on a second side of said upper, said first end of said strap secured against said at least one ring on a side of said at least one ring furthest from said second mating portion of said hook and loop fastener.

7. The footwear closure system of claim 6 wherein said strap is constructed of a static material.

8. The footwear closure system of claim 6 wherein said strap is constructed of a dynamic material.

9. The footwear closure system of claim 6 further comprising a strap anchor positioned between two layers of a material of said strap created by folding a portion of said strap over another portion of said strap, said strap anchor having a dumbbell shape with a knob positioned on each end of two ends of said strap anchor, each of said knobs having a diameter larger than said opening to prevent said strap anchor from passing completely through said at least one ring.

10. The footwear closure system of claim 6 further comprising a second removable strap and said at least one ring includes a second ring.

11. A footwear closure system comprising:

at least one ring mounted on an outer surface of a first flap of a first side of an upper of an item of footwear so that said at least one ring and an opening in said at least one ring extend above said outer surface of said first flap of said upper, said opening extending from said outer surface of said first flap in a direction away from said outer surface of said first flap;

a dumbbell shaped strap anchor with two ends, the strap anchor having a knob on each of the two ends of said strap anchor;

a strap that is completely removable from said upper and is insertable in each of said at least one ring so that all of said strap is positioned above an outer surface of said upper when said strap is inserted in said at least one ring, a first end of said strap being positioned around said strap anchor with a portion of said strap folded over another portion of said strap, said strap being positioned between said knobs, said strap being inserted in said at least one ring in said item of footwear and when said item of footwear is in a tightened position, said first end of said strap abuts said at least one ring and a second end of said strap includes a first fastener component that is directly securable to a second fastener component directly mounted on an outer surface of a second flap on a second side of said upper, said first end of said strap secured against said at least one ring on a side of said at least one ring furthest from said second flap.

12. The footwear closure system of claim 11 wherein said strap is constructed of a static material.

13. The footwear closure system of claim 11 wherein said strap is constructed of a dynamic material.

14. The footwear closure system of claim 11 further comprising a second removable strap and said at least one ring includes a second ring.