An article of wear

Abstract

An article of wear ( 1 ) comprises leggings ( 4 ), leg portions ( 8 ) of which terminate in foot engageable elements ( 10 ), and shoe elements ( 5 ) are releasably engageable with the foot engageable elements ( 10 ). An inner sole ( 22 ) of each shoe element ( 5 ) is located within each foot engageable element ( 10 ) and is secured to an outer sole ( 13 ) of the corresponding shoe element ( 5 ) by T-shaped elements ( 29 ) which extend from the outer sole ( 13 ) and engage L-shaped elements ( 30 ) in first recesses ( 39 ) in the inner sole ( 22 ) with sole portion ( 25 ) of the corresponding foot engageable element ( 10 ) tightly clamped between the outer and inner soles ( 13,22 ). First pads ( 53 ) of hooks ( 54 ) on the outer soles ( 13 ) are engageable with second pads ( 55 ) of eyes ( 56 ) in second recesses ( 58 ) of the inner soles ( 22 ) adjacent toe portions ( 50 ) thereof for retaining the toe portions ( 50 ) of the outer and inner soles ( 13,22 ) tightly together.

1 .- 75 . (canceled) 
     
     
         76 . An article of wear comprising a garment comprising a foot engageable element and a leg engageable element extending from the foot engageable element, a shoe element comprising a ground engaging outer sole, and a coupling means for releasably coupling the shoe element to the foot engageable element of the garment. 
     
     
         77 . An article of wear as claimed in  claim 76  in which the coupling means is configured for coupling the shoe element to the foot engageable element with a sole portion of the foot engageable element abutting the outer sole. 
     
     
         78 . An article of wear as claimed in  claim 76  in which the outer sole defines a ground engaging outer surface, and an opposite inner surface. 
     
     
         79 . An article of wear as claimed in  claim 76  in which the shoe engageable element comprises an inner sole configured for locating in the foot engageable element, and the coupling means is configured for coupling the inner sole to the outer sole with the sole portion of the foot engageable element trapped between the inner sole and the outer sole, and preferably, the coupling means is configured to tightly couple the inner sole to the outer sole with the sole portion of the foot engageable element tightly clamped between the inner sole and the outer sole, and advantageously, the inner sole defines an inner surface and an outer surface, and the coupling means is configured to couple the inner sole to the outer sole with the sole portion of the foot engageable element located between the outer surface of the inner sole and the inner surface of the outer sole, and preferably, the coupling means comprises at least one pair of interengageable complementary formations, and advantageously, one of the formations of the at least one pair of the interengageable complementary formations is formed on the outer sole, and the other one of the formations of the at least one pair of the interengageable complementary formations is formed on the inner sole, and preferably, two spaced apart pairs of the interengageable complementary formations are provided, and advantageously, one of the pairs of the interengageable complementary formations is located adjacent a heel portion of the respective soles, and the other one of the pairs of the interengageable complementary formations are located forwardly on the respective soles spaced apart from the pair of the interengageable complementary formations located adjacent the heel portion of the soles, and preferably, the interengageable complementary formations of each pair thereof are releasable interengageable complementary formations. 
     
     
         80 . An article of wear as claimed in  claim 79  in which one of the interengageable complementary formations of each pair thereof comprises a retaining member connected to and spaced apart from one of the inner sole and the outer sole, and the other one of the interengageable complementary formations of each pair thereof comprises an engagement member connected to and spaced apart from the other one of the inner sole and the outer sole, the engagement member being configured for engaging between the retaining member of the corresponding one of the pairs of the interengageable complementary formations and the one of the inner sole and the outer sole to which the retaining member is connected, and preferably, the engagement member of each pair of the interengageable complementary formations comprises a cross-member of a T-shaped element, and a central member of the T-shaped element extends from the corresponding one of the inner sole and the outer sole to the cross-member for connecting the cross-member to and spacing the cross-member apart from the corresponding one of the inner sole and the outer sole, and advantageously, the retaining member of each pair of the interengageable complementary formations comprises a first limb of an L-shaped element, and a second limb of the L-shaped element extends from the corresponding one of the inner sole and the outer sole to the first limb for connecting the first limb to and spacing the first limb apart from the corresponding one of the inner sole and the outer sole, the first limb being configured for engaging between the cross-member of the T-shaped element of the corresponding one of the pairs of the interengageable complementary formations and the one of the inner sole and the outer sole to which the first limb is connected, and preferably, the L-shaped member of each pair of the interengageable complementary formations comprises a pair of spaced apart first limbs, and one second limb connecting the pair of the first limbs to the corresponding one of the inner sole and the outer sole, the first limbs defining an elongated slot therebetween for accommodating the central member of the T-shaped element of the corresponding one of the pairs of the interengageable complementary formations with the first limbs located on respective opposite sides of the central member of the T-shaped element and located between the cross-member of the T-shaped element and the corresponding one of the inner sole and the outer sole to which the first limbs are connected by the second limb. 
     
     
         81 . An article of wear as claimed in  claim 80  in which the cross-member of the T-shaped element of each one of the pairs of the interengageable complementary formations is configured to be tightly engageable between the first limbs of the L-shaped element of the corresponding one of the pairs of the interengageable complementary formations and the corresponding one of the inner sole and the outer sole to which the first limbs are connected when the interengageable complementary formations of that pair of the interengageable complementary formations are interengaged with each other, and preferably, the first limbs of the L-shaped element of each one of the pairs of the interengageable complementary formations is configured to be tightly engageable between the cross-member of the T-shaped element of the corresponding one of the pairs of the interengageable complementary formations and the corresponding one of the inner sole and the outer sole to which the cross-member is connected when the interengageable complementary formations of that pair of the interengageable complementary formations are interengaged with each other. 
     
     
         82 . An article of wear as claimed in  claim 80  in which the engagement member of each of the pairs of the interengageable complementary formations extends substantially parallel to the one of the inner sole and the outer sole to which the engagement member is connected, and preferably, the engagement member of each of the pairs of the interengageable complementary formations extends substantially transversely of the one of the inner sole and the outer sole to which the engagement member is connected, and advantageously, the T-shaped element of each pair of the interengageable complementary formations extends from the inner surface of the outer sole of the corresponding shoe element, and preferably, the retaining member of each of the pairs of the interengageable complementary formations extends substantially parallel to the one of the inner sole and the outer sole to which the retaining member is connected, and advantageously, the retaining member of each of the pairs of the interengageable complementary formations extends substantially longitudinally of the one of the inner sole and the outer sole to which the retaining member is connected, and preferably, the retaining member of each pair of the interengageable complementary formations extends from the outer surface of the inner sole of the corresponding shoe element. 
     
     
         83 . An article of wear as claimed in  claim 79  in which one of the interengageable complementary formations of each pair thereof is recessed into a first recess formed in the corresponding one of the inner sole and the outer sole to which that interengageable complementary formation is connected, and preferably, the interengageable complementary formation of each of the pairs of the interengageable complementary formations which is recessed into the first recess lies flush with the surface of the corresponding one of the inner sole and the outer sole into which the first recess is formed, and advantageously, the interengageable complementary formation comprising the retaining member of each of the pairs of the interengageable complementary formations is recessed into the first recess of the corresponding one of the inner sole and the outer sole, and preferably, a first opening is provided in the sole portion of the foot engageable element for accommodating a corresponding one of the interengageable complementary formation of each pair of the interengageable complementary formations. 
     
     
         84 . An article of wear as claimed in  claim 79  in which a first pad of one of hooks and eyes is located on the outer sole, and a second pad of the other ones of the hooks and eyes is located on the inner sole of the shoe element, the first and second pads being located so that the hooks on one of the first and second pads are interengageable with the eyes of the other one of the first and second pads for retaining the inner and outer soles together, and preferably, a second opening is provided in the sole portion of the foot engageable element for accommodating one of the hooks and the eyes of the respective first and second pads to engage with each other one of the hooks and the eyes, and advantageously, the first pad comprises the hooks, and preferably, the first and second pads are located adjacent the toe ends of the inner sole and the outer sole, and advantageously, one of the first and second pads comprising the one of the hooks and the eyes is recessed into a second recess formed in the corresponding one of the inner and outer soles, and preferably, the second pad is recessed into the second recess in the inner sole. 
     
     
         85 . An article of wear as claimed in  claim 79  in which the inner sole is secured to the sole portion of the foot engageable element, and preferably, the inner sole is secured to the sole portion of the foot engageable element by a suitable bonding material, and advantageously, the inner sole is releaseably secured to the sole portion of the foot engageable element. 
     
     
         86 . An article of wear as claimed in clam  76  in which the coupling means comprises a pair of interengageable complementary formations, one of which interengageable complementary formations is located on the outer sole, and the other one of which interengageable complementary formations is located on the foot engageable element, and preferably, one of the interengageable complementary formations is located externally on the foot engageable element, and advantageously, one of the interengageable formations comprises a first elongated male member, and the other one of the interengageable complementary formations comprises a second female member engageable with the first member, and preferably, the first member of the pair of the interengageable complementary formations is mounted on the inner surface of the outer sole, and advantageously, the first member of the pair of the interengageable complementary formations is secured to the outer sole intermediate a toe end and a heel end thereof, and extends in a general direction towards the heel end of the outer sole, and preferably, the first member extends longitudinally along the outer sole from the location at which it is secured thereto to a location adjacent the heel end of the outer sole, and advantageously, the first member of the pair of the interengageable complementary formations comprises a resilient member, and is secured to the outer sole to be resiliently urged away from the inner surface of the outer sole, and preferably, the first member of the pair of the interengageable complementary formations is spaced apart from the inner surface of the outer sole from a location intermediate the location at which the first member is secured to the outer sole to the end of the first member towards the heel end thereof. 
     
     
         87 . An article of wear as claimed in  claim 86  in which the heel end of the first member of the pair of the interengageable complementary formations is spaced apart from the heel end of the outer sole a distance in the range of 5 mm to 20 mm in its relaxed state, and preferably, the heel end of the first member of the pair of the interengageable complementary formations is spaced apart from the heel end of the outer sole a distance in the range of 10 mm to 15 mm in its relaxed state, and advantageously, the heel end of the first member of the pair of interengageable complementary formations is spaced apart from the heel end of the outer sole a distance of approximately 12 mm in its relaxed state. 
     
     
         88 . An article of wear as claimed in  claim 86  in which the resilience of the first member is such that in use the weight of a person standing in the shoe is sufficient to urge the first member into abutting engagement with the inner surface of the outer sole, and preferably, the first member of the pair of the interengageable complementary formations is secured to the outer sole adjacent a bridge portion of the outer sole, and advantageously, the first member of the pair of the interengageable complementary formations is secured to the outer sole at a location substantially midway between the toe end and the heel end of the outer sole, and preferably, the first member of the pair of the interengageable complementary formations extends along the outer sole from the location to which it is secured to the outer sole to a location adjacent the toe end of the outer sole, and is secured to the outer sole adjacent the toe end thereof. 
     
     
         89 . An article of wear as claimed in  claim 86  in which the first member of the pair of the interengageable complementary formations comprises a plate member, and preferably, the plate member is of a metal material. 
     
     
         90 . An article of wear as claimed in  claim 86  in which the first member of the pair of the interengageable complementary formations comprises a spring steel member, and preferably, the first member of the pair of the interengageable complementary formations is of width substantially similar to the width of the outer sole, and advantageously, the interengageable complementary formation of the pair of interengageable complementary formations which is secured to the foot engageable element is secured to the foot engageable element adjacent a sole portion thereof. 
     
     
         91 . An article of wear as claimed in  claim 86  in which the second member of the pair of the interengageable complementary formations defines an engagement bore for engaging the first member of the pair of the interengageable complementary formations, and preferably, the second member of the pair of the interengageable complementary formations is located on the foot engageable element at a location intermediate a heel end of the foot engageable element and a location on the foot engageable element corresponding to a location at which the first member of the pair of the interengageable complementary formations is secured to the outer sole, and advantageously, the second member of the pair of the interengageable complementary formations comprises an elongated sleeve defining the engagement bore for engaging the first member, and preferably, the engagement bore of the second member of the pair of the interengageable complementary formations comprises an elongated bore extending substantially the length of the sleeve, and advantageously, the second member of the pair of the interengageable complementary formations extends longitudinally along the sole portion of the foot engageable element from a location adjacent the heel end thereof towards the toe end thereof, and preferably, the second member of the pair of the interengageable complementary formations extends from the heel end of the sole portion of the foot engageable element to a location of the sole portion of the foot engageable element corresponding to the location at which the male member of the pair of interengageable complementary formations is secured to the outer sole. 
     
     
         92 . An article of wear as claimed in  claim 76  in which a heel is provided extending from the outer surface of the outer sole, and preferably, the heel is an elongated heel, and preferably, the heel is of length not exceeding 130 mm, and advantageously, the heel is of length not exceeding 125 mm, and preferably, the heel is of length not exceeding 120 mm, and advantageously, the inner and outer soles are shaped to accommodate the heel. 
     
     
         93 . An article of wear as claimed in  claim 76  in which the leg engageable element extends to a length to terminate in use adjacent the knee of a wearer, and preferably, the leg engageable element extends to a length to terminate in use at a location adjacent an upper portion of the thigh of the wearer, and advantageously, the leg engageable element extends from the foot engageable element and terminates in a leg opening of a pants. 
     
     
         94 . An article of wear as claimed in  claim 76  in which the garment comprises a pants portion having a pair of leg openings, a pair of the leg engageable elements extending from the pants portion adjacent the leg openings thereof, and a pair of the foot engageable elements extending from the respective leg engageable elements, and a pair of the shoe elements secured to the respective foot engageable elements, and preferably, the garment comprises one of leggings, jeans, slacks and trousers, the one of the leggings, jeans, slacks and trousers forming the pants portion and a pair of leg portions extending from the pants portion forming the respective leg engageable elements, the foot engageable elements extending from and secured to the respective leg engageable elements, and advantageously, the garment comprises a pair of tights, the tights forming the pants portion forming the pants portion, the pair of the leg engageable elements and the foot engageable elements. 
     
     
         95 . A shoe element for the article of wear as claimed in  claim 76 .