Attachments for an item of footwear
View Patent ↗An attachment for an item of footwear having an outsole, the attachment comprising a body having first and second body surfaces, the body being releasably co-operable with the outsole in a first position in which the first body surface is disposable away from the outsole and in a second position in which the second body surface is disposable away from the outsole; an attaching portion which is associated with the body and which includes an inter-engageable formation for releasably attaching the attachment in the first and second positions; and a detaching portion which is associated with the body, the detaching portion having an edge portion moveable with respect to the body to allow the body to be released from the item of footwear. The invention also includes an outsole and an item of footwear to which the attachment can be releasably attached.
1. An outsole for an item of footwear, the outsole including at least one protrusion extending from the outsole suitable for engagement with a corresponding at least one opening in an attachment, the outsole being releasably attachable to the attachment, the attachment comprising:
a body having first and second body surfaces, the body being releasably co-operable with the outsole in a first position in which the first body surface is disposable away from the outsole and in a second position in which the second body surface is disposable away from the outsole;
an attaching portion which is associated with the body and which includes the at least one opening for releasably attaching the attachment in the first and second positions; and
a detaching portion which is associated with the body, the detaching portion having an edge portion moveable with respect to the body to allow the attachment to be released from outsole.
2. An outsole as claimed in claim 1 , the outsole being shaped to allow the detaching portion of the attachment to be manipulatable by a user's hand to detach the attachment from the item of footwear.
3. An outsole as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one protrusion is at a toe-end, a heel-end, an arch region and/or at a side of the outsole.
4. An outsole as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one protrusion is resiliently deformable.
5. An outsole as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one protrusion is integral with a shaft member which is associated with the outsole and is more rigid than the outsole.
6. An outsole as claimed in claim 1 , including a recess shaped to receive at least a portion of the attachment.
7. An outsole as claimed in claim 6 , wherein at least a portion of an edge of the recess is shaped to allow a user to manipulate by hand the attachment when the attachment is in the first or second positions to detach the attachment from the item of footwear.
8. An outsole as claimed in claim 6 , wherein at least a portion of an edge of the recess is lipped to allow retention of the attachment in the recess.
9. An outsole as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the recess has a base from which extends a protrusion, the protrusion being shaped to engage with a corresponding opening in the attachment to releasably attach the attachment to the outsole.
10. An outsole as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the recess has a base, the base having at least one opening therein which is shaped to receive at least one corresponding protrusion of the attachment.
11. An outsole as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the recess has a side wall, the side wall having at least one opening for engagement with a corresponding protrusion of the attachment.
12. An item of footwear including an outsole according to claim 1 .
13. An outsole as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one protrusion is hook-shaped.
14. An outsole as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one protrusion is a tread of the outsole.
15. An outsole as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the outsole has a recess to receive at least a portion of the attachment and the at least one protrusion extends from a base of the recess.
16. An outsole as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising the attachment.
17. An outsole for an item of footwear, the outsole including first and second protrusions which are releasably attachable to an attachment, the first protrusion extending from a heel or a toe area of the outsole for engagement with a first opening in the attachment, the second protrusion extending from an arch area of the outsole for engagement with a second opening in the attachment, the attachment comprising:
a body having first and second body surfaces, the body being releasably co-operable with the outsole in a first position in which the first body surface is disposable away from the outsole and in a second position in which the second body surface is disposable away from the outsole;
an attaching portion which is associated with the body and which includes the first and second openings for releasably attaching the attachment in the first and second positions; and
a detaching portion which is associated with the body, the detaching portion having an edge portion moveable with respect to the body to allow the attachment to be released from the outsole.
18. An outsole as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the first and second protrusions are hook-shaped.
19. An outsole as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the outsole has a recess to receive at least a portion of the attachment and at least one of the first and second protrusions extend from a base of the recess.
20. An outsole as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the second protrusion is integral with a shaft member which extends along at least a portion of the outsole and is joined to the outsole.
21. An outsole as claimed in claim 17 , further comprising the attachment.