Interchangeable Footwear Component

Abstract

Embodiments provide for an easily interchangeable footwear component, such as an upper portion of an article of footwear. In one embodiment, an article of footwear can comprise a fixed upper portion of an article of footwear, a sole fixedly connected to the fixed upper portion, and an interchangeable upper portion. Both the sole and the interchangeable upper portion can include one or more releasable fasteners, which allow the interchangeable upper portion to be releasably fastened to the article of footwear.

1 . An interchangeable upper portion of an article of footwear comprising:
 one or more releasable fasteners for releasably fastening the interchangeable upper portion to an article of footwear; and   one or more alignment means for aligning the interchangeable upper portion on an article of footwear prior to releasably fastening the interchangeable upper portion to an article of footwear.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The interchangeable upper portion of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more alignment means are aligning the interchangeable upper portion on an article of footwear. 
     
     
         7 . The interchangeable upper portion of  claim 1 , wherein the interchangeable upper portion is releasably fastened to an article of footwear. 
     
     
         8 . The interchangeable upper portion of  claim 7 , wherein the article of footwear comprises:
 a fixed upper portion;   a sole fixedly connected to the fixed upper portion; and   one or more releasable fasteners for engaging the one or more releasable fasteners on the interchangeable upper portion and for releasably fastening the interchangeable upper portion to the article of footwear.   
     
     
         9 . The interchangeable upper portion of  claim 8 , wherein the fixed upper portion further comprises one or more alignment means for receiving the one or more alignment means of the interchangeable upper portion of an article of footwear. 
     
     
         10 . The interchangeable upper portion of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more alignment means of the interchangeable upper portion are engaging the one or more alignment means from the interchangeable upper portion. 
     
     
         11 . The interchangeable upper portion of  claim 8 , wherein the interchangeable upper portion substantially covers the fixed upper portion. 
     
     
         12 . An article of footwear comprising:
 an upper portion;   a sole fixedly connected to the upper portion; and   one or more releasable fasteners for releasably fastening an interchangeable upper portion to the article of footwear.   
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , further comprising one or more alignment means for receiving corresponding alignment means from an interchangeable upper portion of an article of footwear and aligning the interchangeable upper portion with the article of footwear prior to releasably fastening the interchangeable upper portion to the article of footwear. 
     
     
         14 . The interchangeable upper portion of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more alignment means include hood and loop fasteners. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , further comprising an interchangeable upper portion of an article of footwear, the interchangeable upper portion comprising:
 one or more releasable fasteners for releasably fastening the interchangeable upper portion to the article of footwear.   
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 15 , wherein the interchangeable upper portion further comprises one or more alignment means for aligning the interchangeable upper on the article of footwear prior to releasably fastening the interchangeable upper to an article of footwear. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more alignment means of the interchangeable upper portion are engaging the one or more alignment means from the interchangeable upper portion. 
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 14 , wherein the interchangeable upper portion is releasably fastened to the article of footwear. 
     
     
         21 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , further comprising an interchangeable upper portion releasably fastened to the article of footwear. 
     
     
         22 . The article of footwear of  claim 21 , wherein the interchangeable upper portion substantially covers the fixed upper portion. 
     
     
         23 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a fixed upper portion of an article of footwear;   a sole fixedly connected to the fixed upper portion; and   one or more releasable fasteners releasably fastening an interchangeable upper portion of an article of footwear to the article of footwear.   
     
     
         24 . The article of footwear of  claim 23 , wherein the fixed upper portion comprises one or more alignment means, and wherein the interchangeable upper portion further comprises one or more alignment means for receiving the one or more alignment means of the fixed upper portion. 
     
     
         25 . The article of footwear of  claim 24 , wherein the one or more alignment means of the fixed upper portion are engaging the one or more alignment means from the interchangeable upper portion. 
     
     
         26 . The article of footwear of  claim 23 , wherein the interchangeable upper portion substantially covers the fixed upper portion. 
     
     
         27 . (canceled)