Footwear With One or More Removable and Interchangeable Panels

Abstract

A shoe comprising an upper, a midsole coupled to the upper and comprising a recess proximal to a junction between the upper and the midsole, a midsole insert comprising a channel, the midsole insert configured to seat within the recess, and a shoe panel configured to detachably couple to the upper of the shoe, the shoe panel comprising a first end configured to seat within the channel of the midsole insert. The shoe panel may be a midfoot or heel panel and may be detachably coupled to the upper by a hook and loop closure. The shoe may be a slip on shoe comprising a tongue side extension that is tucked under a quarter extension to allow a midfoot panel to smoothly couple to the upper over the tongue.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shoe comprising:
 an upper;   a midsole coupled to the upper and comprising a recess proximal to a junction between the upper and the midsole;   a midsole insert comprising a channel, the midsole insert configured to seat within the recess; and   a shoe panel configured to detachably couple to the upper of the shoe, the shoe panel comprising a first end configured to seat within the channel of the midsole insert.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the shoe panel is a midfoot panel comprising a second end configured to seat within a second channel on an opposite side of the shoe. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe of  claim 2 , further comprising a midfoot hook and loop closure panel on the upper that is configured to mate with a midfoot panel hook and loop closure panel located on an underside of the midfoot panel. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe of  claim 2 , further comprising a vamp hook and loop closure panel on the upper that is configured to mate with a midfoot panel hook and loop closure panel located on an underside of the midfoot panel. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe of  claim 2 , wherein the midfoot panel comprises one or more reinforcement elements on at least one of the first and second ends of the midfoot panel. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe of  claim 2 , wherein the upper further comprises:
 a tongue extending upward from a vamp of the shoe, the tongue comprising a tongue side extension on at least one side of the tongue; and   a quarter comprising a quarter extension on each of a first and a second side of the tongue, the quarter extensions configured to overlap onto an upper surface of the tongue.   
     
     
         7 . The shoe of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the quarter extensions comprises a magnet and the midfoot panel comprises a magnet configured to mate with the magnet of the at least one of the quarter extensions. 
     
     
         8 . The shoe of  claim 2 , wherein the midfoot panel comprises a plurality of eyelets comprising a lace running therethrough. 
     
     
         9 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the shoe panel is a heel panel configured to detachably couple to the shoe upper at the heel of the shoe. 
     
     
         10 . The shoe of  claim 9 , further comprising a heel hook and loop closure panel on the upper that is configured to mate with a heel panel hook and loop closure panel located on an underside of the heel panel. 
     
     
         11 . The shoe of  claim 1 , further comprising an embellishment recess configured to house a decorative element. 
     
     
         12 . The shoe of  claim 11 , wherein the embellishment recess further comprises a magnet configured to mate with a magnet located on the decorative element. 
     
     
         14 . The shoe of  claim 11 , wherein the embellishment recess is located on the shoe panel. 
     
     
         15 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the channel is substantially L-shaped. 
     
     
         16 . A shoe comprising:
 an upper;   a midsole coupled to the upper and comprising a channel proximal to a junction between the upper and the midsole; and   a shoe panel configured to detachably couple to the upper of the shoe, the shoe panel comprising a first end configured to seat within the channel of the midsole.   
     
     
         17 . The shoe of  claim 16 , wherein the shoe panel is a midfoot panel comprising a second end configured to seat within a second channel on an opposite side of the shoe. 
     
     
         18 . The shoe of  claim 17 , further comprising at least one of:
 a midfoot hook and loop closure panel on the upper that is configured to mate with a midfoot panel hook and loop closure panel located on an underside of the midfoot panel; and   a vamp hook and loop closure panel on the upper that is configured to mate with a midfoot panel hook and loop closure panel located on an underside of the midfoot panel.   
     
     
         19 . The shoe of  claim 17 , wherein the midfoot panel comprises one or more reinforcement elements on at least one of the first and second ends of the midfoot panel. 
     
     
         20 . The shoe of  claim 17 , wherein the upper further comprises:
 a tongue extending upward from a vamp of the shoe, the tongue comprising a tongue side extension on at least one side of the tongue; and   a quarter comprising a quarter extension on each of a first and a second side of the tongue, the quarter extensions configured to overlap onto an upper surface of the tongue, at least one of the quarter extensions comprising a magnet and wherein the midfoot panel comprises a magnet configured to mate with the magnet of the at least one of the quarter extensions.