US2583826A - Shoe with interchangeable panel inserts - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 29, 1952 M. A. FISCHER 2,583,826

SHOE WITH INTERCHANGEABLE PANEL INSERTS Filed July 25, 1949 Fig. 3

IN V EN TOR.

Marq Ann Fischzr Patented Jan. 29, 1952 UNITED STATESa PATENT OFFICE SHOE WITH INTERCHANGEABLE PANEL msnn'rs Mary Ann Fischeri Miami Beach, Fla.

Application July 25, 1949, Serial No. 106,553

6 Claims. (Cl. 36-115) This invention relates to panel inserts for footwear uppers and, more especially, to interchangeable panels of various colors and textures insertable in the apertured portions of the upper shoe structure of conventional footwear for reten- 2 be readily and conveniently applied thereto and detached therefrom.

Another object is to provide interchangeable inserts of the character and for the purposes herein described which may be readily and economically manufactured.

Other advantages of the invention will be discernible from the detailed description thereof hereinafter set forth.

According to the invention, the article of footwear has an upper structure comprising a plurality of spaced apart straps defining apertured i3 portions therebetween.

Arranged within these apertures is a corresponding plurality of panel inserts of color and/ or fabric difiering from the surrounding upper structure whereby to provide a contrasting color pattern designed to impart a pleasing and unique appearance to the footwear harmonizing with the costume worn by the user. These inserts conform in marginal outline to the aperture by which they are received, being detachably secured therein to prevent their inadvertent displacement, and thus the inserts are interchangeable to produce varying color combinations in the upper structure of the footwear.

The invention is exemplified by footwear shown in the accompanying drawing in which the views are as follows:

14 from which is directeda plurality of lateral straps 5. The straps define therebetween a plurality: of apertures 6A, in which are received a corresponding plurality of panels or inserts. 6, shown in relatively heavy dotted lines outlining the peripheral edges of the inserts.

The shoe illustrated in Fig. 2, likewise embodies the sole I, heel 2, ankle fastening ;3, and the upper structure comprising a longitudinal strap i and lateral straps extending therefrom, 5.

These straps define apertures B in which are receivedthe inserts 6, as will be understood.

A form of insert retaining means is shown by the enlarged detail, Fig. 5, wherein the central strap 4 has fastened thereunder a flap-:providing means in the form of channels 1 arranged back to back. These channels! provide mount- .ing flaps la and panel-retaining flaps, lb and are designed to receive therein the peripheral edge of the insert 6, forming a stop member therefor. The flap-providing channels 1 may be fabricated from any suitable material having semi-rigid characteristics to retain the inserts therein against inadvertent displacement and are sewed or otherwise fastened to any portion of the shoe upper structure receiving a marginal edge of an insert. Although the flap-providing means I illustrated in Fig. 5 is channel-form, such particular form of flap-providing means is non-essential.

A modification of the insert retention means is shown in Fig. 3, which embodies a border or peripheral tape 8, carried along the under side of the peripheral edges of the insert. The upper face of this tape is treated with an adhesive of suitable sticking characteristics permitting the re-use thereof to fasten the insert against the under side of the apertures marginal edges by pressing the insert thereagainst.

Footwear of the type shown in Fig. 1 may have a bottom sole strip 9 formed therealong to receive the bottom edge of the insert 6.

In practice, footwear to which the invention is applied is marketable with an accompanying assortment of panel inserts in sets of different colors and/or surface textures, as well as marginal conformations to fit the several apertures formed in the shoe upper structure. The inserts may befabricated from plastic material, leather, textile, or any suitable substances of natural or synthetic origin affording characteristics which are appropriate to the purposes herein described. Thus, the wearer may select a color pattern harmonizing with the apparel with which the footwear is to be worn and the invention is thus seen to provideaunique and pleasing article of V 7 plastic material or of natural or synthetic flexistifi material, will preserve the shape of the upper when the strap portions 4', 5 are made of very light material.

It will be understood that a single panel insert may be extended across two or more apertures, the insert retention means being in such cases omitted from the construction. Likewise, an aperture may, in some constructions, be formed intermediate two adjacent straps or a strap along one marginof the aperture and the main portion of the upper structure along another margin thereof, or the aperture may be formed in the upper structure proper without a strap bounding any margin thereof. In the latter construction, the insert retention means will, of course, be fastened under the marginal edges of the aperture against the upper shoe structure, as for example, the toe portion thereof.

Of course, the invention is susceptible of a varietyof changes and modifications in design and arrangement without departing from' the above the plane of the top edges of the latter,

longitudinally spaced laterally arranged strap portions connecting each side edge of said top strip portion with longitudinally spaced portions of the adjacent side strip whereby to provide the upper with an interspace formation atop- -posite sides of said top strip and between the same and said side strips; the combination of separate flexi-stiif flap-providing means secured to the innersurface of each, of said side and said top strips and concealed by the latter, the flaps of said flap-providing means having free'edges extending toward the adjacent part of said interspace formation, separate removable and decorative closure panels of fleXi-stiff material occupying the interspace formation, and said panels being of a width greater than the distance between opposite free edges of said flaps, whereby the side edges of said panels partially underlie said stripsand also at least partially overlie the flaps of the adjacent flap-providing means whereby said panels are removably. reftained in place.

2 In a finished ready-to-wear shoe having an upper comprising upwardly projecting longitudinallyextending strips at each side of and at- 'ta'ched to the shoe sole, a longitudinally extending top strip portion located in laterally spaced relation between said sidestrips. and disposed abovethe plane of the top edges of the latter,

4 strip portion with longitudinally spaced portions of the adjacent side strip whereby to provide the upper with an interspace formation at opposite sides of said top strip and between the same and said side strips; the combination of separate flap-providing means secured to the inner surface of each of said side strips and said top strips and concealed by the latter, the flaps of said nap-providing means having free edges extending toward the adjacent part of said interspace formation, separate removable and decorative closure panels of flexi-stiff material occupying the interspace formation, said panels being exposed to the wearers foot at the site of said interspace formations, said panels also being of a width greater than the distance between opposite free edges of saidflaps, whereby the side edges of said panels partially underlie said strips and also atleast partially overlie the flaps of the adjacent flap-providing means whereby said panels are removably retained in place, and stop means associated with said flaps for engaging the proximate edge of the related panel to sustain the same whereby to assist in preserving the shape of said upper, and said flapoverlapped edges of the panels being freev to move slightly away from said stop means under pressure from the wearers foot to match any similarly produced yield in the lateral strap-like portions of said upper thus tending to promote wearer comfort.

3. In a finished ready-to-wear shoe having an upper comprising upwardly projecting longitudinally extending strips at each side of and attached to the shoe sole, a longitudinally extend- 7 ing top strip portion located in laterally spaced relation between said side strips and disposed above the plane of the top edges of the latter, longitudinally spaced laterally arranged strap portions connecting each side edge of said top strip portion with longitudinally spaced portions of the adjacent side strip whereby to provide the upper with an interspace formation atopposite sides of said top strip and between the same and said, side strips; the combination of separate flap-providing means secured to the in ner surface of each of said side strips and said top strip and concealed bythe latter, the flaps of said flap-providing means having free edges extending toward the adjacent part of said in terspace formation, separate removable and decorative closure panels of flexi-stiif material occupying the interspace formation, said panels being exposed to the wearers foot at the site 'of said interspace formations, said panels also being of a width greater than the distance between opposite free edges of said flaps, whereby the side edges of said panels partially underlie said strips and also at least partially overlie the flaps of the adjacent flap-providing means whereby said panels are removably retained in place, and the opposite flap-overlapped edges of said panels being free to move slightly in the direction of the related interspace formation under pressure from the wearers foot to match any similarly produced yield in the lateral strap-like portions of the upper thus tending to promote wearer comfort.

'4. The combinations set forth in claim 1, and panel-underlying and engaging flaps secured to the under surface of at least certain of said longitudinally spaced laterally arranged strap portions of the upper and concealed thereby.

5. The combination set forth in claim 2, and panel-underlying and engaging flaps secured to 5 e the under surface of at least certain of said UNITED STATES PA'IENTS longitudinally spaced laterally arranged strap Number Name Date portions of the upper and concealed thereby. D 96 620 Moran Aug. 20 1935 6. The combination set forth in claim 3, and 5 Bostock May 1926 panel-underlying and engaging flaps secured to 5 1'795769 Frohmm; E 1931 the under surface of at least certain of said 2139377 Mun Dec 1938 longitudinally spaced laterally arranged strap 2226110 Bass 1940 portions of the upper and concealed thereby.

MARY ANN FISCHER, FOREIGN PATENTS 10 Number Country Date REFERENCES CITED 459,897 Great Britain Jan. 18,1937

The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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