GB2325142A

GB2325142A - Activity shoe and attachable footwear

Info

Publication number: GB2325142A
Application number: GB9709597A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Cheryl Ann Powell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-05-13
Filing date: 1997-05-13
Publication date: 1998-11-18
Also published as: GB9709597D0

Abstract

A reinforced activity shoe and attachable footgear which includes a reinforced soft activity shoe with reinforced indented groove along the front seam above the base and a lengthways indented groove along the base of the sole, both which correspond to the outward groove along the front lip and lengthways along the upper inside base of each attachable footgear to enable the wearer to either use the reinforced activity shoe separately for casual wear, or to perform the corresponding sporting activity through easy assembly and use of the separate footgear. Both the activity shoe and the attachable footgear comprise of a rear fastening to increase stability and secure attachment. The shortened ski, increased number of paired wheels, and increased number of blades on the ice-skating footgears are all intended to provide greater manoeuvrability, balance, and therefore provide for wider use of both the activity shoe and the various attachable footgear.

Description

ACTIVITY SHOE AND ATTACHABLE FOOTGEAR This invention relates to a specialised shoe with attachable activity footgear.

Everyone wears shoes, and there are countless varieties of these available to service different functions and venues. Also, skis and skates are not exactly unknown. However, these have never been combined to be secured onto a reinforced soft (not hard shell) activity shoe that is made specifically for attachable parts that will provide performance in the activity area of the attachment.

Separate, and non attachable (single unit) equipment which pertains to the above functions is usually designed to demand a greater skill factor for use, and is relatively expensive.

According to the present invention, the activity shoe provides a reinforced soft casual shoe, comprising of a reinforced indented groove along the seam at the front of the shoe above the base to accommodate and secure the outer groove at the front of the attachable footgear that runs along the top of the front lip. The activity shoe and attachable footgear comprise also of a similar outer reinforced groove to run lengthways along the inside of the upper base of the attachable footgear to match the indented reinforced groove that runs lengthways along the base of the bottom of the sole of the reinforced activity shoe to secure the attachment and provide alignment between the two assembled parts. Finally, the activity shoe and attachable footgear comprise a rear latchlhook at the back of the activity shoe above the base which accommodates a connecting latch/hook located at the back of the attachable footgear for easy and secure attachment at the rear of the assembly. These features are also designed to provide stability through reinforcement at these essential points.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings on page 3 and page 4 in which: Figure 1 (page 3) shows the activity shoe in alignment with the attachable footgear for securing onto the bottom of the activity shoe, with arrows indicating the direction for attachment and position when slid together. Each section of the separate and attachable footgear is shown separately and detached from the activity shoe.

Figure 2 (page 4) shows the bottom/base of the sole of the activity shoe to show the indented lengthways reinforced groove (2) into which the outer reinforced groove of the attachable footgear slide. To add stability, it is intended that the lengthways groove be of a harder substance than the remainder of the sole.

Figure 3 (page 4) shows the top inside base of the attachable footgear (which is the same for all three attachable footgear) in position to be slid onto the activity shoe, aligning the lengthways reinforced outer groove along the inside base of the attachable footgear (1) to slide along the indented reinforced lengthways groove along the sole of the activity shoe, with the attachable footgear and the activity shoe each being slid in the direction of their corresponding arrow. The outward groove along the upper lip of the attachable footgear (5) is pushed against the activity shoe to connect into the corresponding indented groove along the seam at the front of the activity shoe above the base (6). Both of these sections (5 and'6) are. indicated by hatched lines.

Figure 4 (page 3) shows the attachable ski footgear.

Figure 5 (page 3) shows the four paired (making a total of eight) wheeled attachable footgear.

Figure 6 (page 3) shows the double skate attachable footgear.

Referring to these drawings, the toe of the activity shoe is slid into the front of the separate attachable footgear (one of figures 46 on page 3), aligning the lengthways reinforced outer groove of the attachable footgear (page 4, Figure 3, item 1) and the indented lengthways reinforced groove of the activity shoe (page 4, figure 2, item 2) so that the reinforced indented groove along the seam at the front of the activity shoe above the base (page 3, figure 1, item 3 also indicated on page 4, figure 3, item 6) and the outer reinforced groove along the upper lip of the attachable footgear (page 4, figure 3, item 5) are in alignment and push together to secure the outward reinforced groove at the top lip of the attachable footgear into the indented reinforced groove along the front of the activity shoe. The heel of the activity shoe is then slid into the rear of the attachment as the lips (page 3, figure 4, item 4) of the attachable footgear are folded over the side of the activity shoe to cover the base of the shoe and the rear hook is snapped into place at the back of the activity shoe (page 3, figure 1, item 5). Please note that this is the same for all attachable footgear (page 3 figures 46).

In order to remove the attachable footgear, and referring to figure 1 on page 3 of this application, the hook (5) is pushed at the back of the activity shoe to release the heel, which is then lifted away from the lips (4) of the attachable footgear and the activity shoe is slid forward along the reinforced lengthways outward and inner grooves of both the attachable footgear and the activity shoe, respectively, until the front grooves which connect the front of the assembly (the groove along the seam at the front of the activity shoe above the base and the corresponding groove along the upper lip of the attachable footgear) are released and the attachable footgear is removed At this point, the activity shoe may be worn separately for casual use.

To reassemble, or attach another of the three attachable footgear (page 3 figures 46), the above steps are carried out in the reverse sequence.

Claims

1. A reinforced soft activity shoe and attachable footgear provides a means of releasably attaching component sporting footgear onto the reinforced base of the activity shoe, both the shoe and the footgear being adapted to be secured together so that the wearer can use the shoe either separately for casual/fashion, or utilise the various attachable footgear to provide performance in the corresponding area of a skilled sporting activity.

2. A reinforced soft activity shoe and attachable footgear as claimed in claim 1 where the activity shoe comprises also of a reinforced indented groove along the seam at the front of the shoe above the base to accommodate and secure to the corresponding outer groove at the front of the attachable footgear (that runs along the top of the front lip), and an indented reinforced groove that runs lengthways along the base of the sole of the reinforced soft activity shoe to accommodate, provide alignment, and secure said shoe to the upper inside base of each attachable footgear.

3. A reinforced soft activity shoe and attachable footgear as claimed in claims 1 and 2 where the attachable footgear comprise of an outer groove at the front of the attachable footgear that runs along the top of the front lip to accommodate and secure to the indented groove along the seam at the front of the reinforced soft activity shoe, and an outer reinforced groove to run lengthways along the inside of the upper base of the attachable footgear to match the indented reinforced lengthways groove along the base of the activity shoe to accommodate, provide alignment, and secure said attachable footgear to the base of the reinforced soft activity shoe.

4. A reinforced soft activity shoe and attachable footgear as claimed in claims 1,2, and 3 where the attachable footgear and activity shoe each comprise of a fastening to secure the activity shoe at the back heel above the base of the sole to the inside back of the attachable footgear.

5. A reinforced soft activity shoe and attachable footgear as claimed in claims 1,2,3, and 4 where the attachable footgear in figure 4 (of drawings submitted with original application, patents form 1/77) enable the wearer to ski on the ski base that is significantly shortened so that the wearer is able to use the attachable footgear for both skiing, and walking in snow or flattened piste conditions, also enabling the wearer to simply and easily remove the attachable ski footgear so that the reinforced soft activity shoe might be used off-piste when leaving the actual snow area.

6. A reinforced soft activity shoe and attachable footgear as claimed in claims 1,2,3, and 4 where the attachable footgear in figure 5 (of drawings submitted with original application, patents form 1177) enable the wearer to roller-skate on eight wheels (4 pairs), or any number of paired wheels greater than 4 wheels (two pairs) to increase balance, comfort, speed, and manoeuvrability.

7. A reinforced soft activity shoe and attachable footgear as claimed in claims 1, 2, 3, and 4 where the attachable footgear in figure 6 (of drawings submitted with original application, patents form 1U7) enable the wearer to ice-skate on a pair (two blades designed in parallel fashion) of blades, or any number of blades greater than one along base of figure 6 attachable footgear, to provide greater balance, comfort, manoeuvrability, and therefore enable both the expert and the less experienced ice-skater to perform this sporting activity.

8. A reinforced soft activity shoe and attachable footgear as described herein with reference to Figures 1-6 of the accompanying drawings (submitted with original application, patents form 1/77).