# US 10,244,814 B2 · Modular shoe with interchangeable components and method of attachment

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- Number: US 10,244,814 B2
- Document ID: US10244814B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/430,789
- Filed: 2017-02-13
- Published: 2017-08-31
- Granted: 2019-04-02
- Earliest claimed: 2013-02-13
- Assignees: Flop Girl, LLC
- Applicants: Flop Girl, LLC
- Inventors: Kara McNamara-Schwartz
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10244814B2

## CPC

- A43B 3/242: {characterised by the upper}
- A43B 3/0078: {provided with logos, letters, signatures or the like decoration (A43B23/24 takes precedence)}
- A43B 3/02: Boots covering the lower leg
- A43B 3/122: {characterised by the attachment of the straps}
- A43B 3/126: {characterised by the shape or layout of the straps}
- A43B 3/246: {characterised by the sole}
- A43B 5/12: Dancing shoes
- A43B 21/42: Heels with replaceable or adjustable parts {, e.g. top lift}
- A43B 23/24: Ornamental buckles; Other ornaments for shoes without fastening function
- A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR

## Abstract

The modular shoe assembly described herein has a removable heel band. This allows a user to customize the shoe in limitless ways, as the heel bands can have any variety of colors, patterns, prints, embossments, or other ornamental decorations such as beads or pearls. The shoe assembly may be a sandal, ballet shoe, loafer, boot, or similar design.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A modular shoe assembly, comprising:
a sole comprising a front end, a heel end, a top surface, and a bottom surface; and
a heel connected to the bottom surface of the sole, at the heel end;
wherein the heel further comprises:
a base, the base having a heel upper surface connected to the bottom surface of the sole, a heel bottom surface on an opposite side of the base from the upper surface, a front, a back, and lateral sides, wherein the front side of the base has routed corners; and
a heel band removably connected to the base,
wherein the heel band has two ends, and a rib on an interior surface of the heel band at each end, so that each of the ribs sit in the routed corners at the front of the base.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The shoe assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the base and the heel band are made of plastic.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The shoe assembly of claim 1, wherein the heel band is horseshoe-shaped, and the base of the heel has a shape generally conforming to the heel band, at a point of connection between the two.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The shoe assembly of claim 1, wherein the heel band has a third rib projecting from an interior surface thereof, wherein the third rib is vertical and mates with a corresponding recess in the back of the base.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The shoe assembly of claim 1, wherein when the heel band is connected to the base, each of the ribs engage and wrap around the base at the front, and the ends of the heel band are flush with the front of the heel base.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The shoe assembly of claim 1, further comprising a tread covering the heel bottom surface.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The shoe assembly of claim 6, wherein the heel band is flush with the tread when connected to the base of the heel.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The shoe assembly of claim 1, wherein the heel band has a decoration on an exterior surface thereof.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The shoe assembly of claim 8, wherein the decoration is selected from the group consisting of an embossment, pattern, bead, stone, and any combination thereof.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The shoe assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the base and the heel band are injection molded.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The shoe assembly of claim 1, wherein the heel band engages the front of the base with a snap fit.