METHOD AND ARTICLES FOR ADORNMENT OF FOOTWEAR
An adornment for application to an article of footwear includes a decorative element sized and shaped for conforming application about the quarter of a shoe and two or more fasteners operably affixed to the decorative element and adapted to removably affix the decorative element directly to the quarter of the shoe. The decorative element may be formed as a decorative panel, a decorative construct, a decorative strip or the like. In the case of a panel or construct, clips or clasps are used for engaging the cuff about the throat of the shoe. In the case of a decorative strip, a novel use of magnetic fasteners is disclosed.
The present invention relates to footwear. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and articles for selective adornment of a shoe whereby a single shoe may take on virtually unlimited outward appearances.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONAs particularly shown in
Because a shoe of any reasonable quality represents a substantial financial investment, the selection of any one shoe appropriate for multiple uses or occasions is often a frustrating task that more often than not ends in the purchase of multiple styles. In addition to being costly, however, this course of action also presents a storage problem, shoes being generally bulky and cumbersome to organize. As a result of these shortcomings, the use of spats has gained some popularity with those looking to add some variety to their wardrobe or attempting to economically follow a trend. Unfortunately, the manner of application of spats—in particular the use of ankle straps and/or straps extending under the outsole—generally presents an undesirable appearance counteracting any styling added by the spats.
It is therefore an overriding object of the present invention to improve over the prior art by the presentation of a method and articles for selective adornment of a shoe whereby a single shoe may take on virtually unlimited outward appearances, the method and articles being usable without indication that the shoe is not of unitary construction. Additionally, it is an object of the present invention to present such a method and articles that are comfortable to the wearer, simple to use and inexpensive to employ.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with the foregoing objects, the present invention—an adornment for application to an article of footwear—generally comprises a decorative element sized and shaped for conforming application about the quarter of a shoe and a plurality of fasteners operably affixed to the decorative element and adapted to removably affix the decorative element directly to the quarter of the shoe. The decorative element may comprise a decorative panel, a decorative construct, a decorative strip or the like. In the case of a panel or construct, the present invention generally contemplates the use of clips or clasps for engaging the cuff about the throat of the shoe. In the case of a decorative strip, however, it is found that a novel use of magnetic fasteners is simple, efficient and effective.
Finally, many other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant arts, especially in light of the foregoing discussions and the following drawings, exemplary detailed description and appended claims.
Although the scope of the present invention is much broader than any particular embodiment, a detailed description of the preferred embodiment follows together with illustrative figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like components, and wherein:
Although those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize many alternative embodiments, especially in light of the illustrations provided herein, this detailed description is exemplary of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the scope of which is limited only by the claims appended hereto.
Referring now to
In a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, as particular shown in
In other preferred embodiments of the present invention, as particularly shown in
In a variation of the previously described decorative construct 38, a decorative construct 38 may be formed as shown in
Turning now then to
In a departure from the previously described embodiments, the fasteners 59 for the now described embodiments each comprise a magnetic fastener 73. To this end, each embodiment of the flexible strip 53 is provided with a plurality of ferromagnetic elements 76 such as, for example, plates 77 or like structures comprising ferromagnetic material such as iron, nickel, cobalt, an alloy of neodymium or other rare earth (lanthanide) metal or the like. In the first described specific embodiment, as particularly shown in
Finally, in implementing the first specific embodiment of the flexible strips 53 (
While the foregoing description is exemplary of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, those of ordinary skill in the relevant arts will recognize the many variations, alterations, modifications, substitutions and the like as are readily possible, especially in light of this description, the accompanying drawings and claims drawn thereto. For example, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that in implementing the second specific embodiment of the flexible strips 53 (
Claims
1. An adornment for application to an article of footwear, said adornment comprising:
- a decorative element, said decorative element being sized and shaped for conforming application about the quarter of a shoe;
- a plurality of fasteners operably affixed to said decorative element, each said fastener being adapted to removably affix said decorative element directly to said quarter of said shoe.
2. The adornment as recited in claim 1, wherein said fasteners comprise a clip adapted to engage a cuff about the throat of said shoe.
3. The adornment as recited in claim 1, wherein said fasteners comprise a clasp adapted to engage a cuff about the throat of said shoe.
4. The adornment as recited in claim 1, wherein said decorative element comprises a panel sized and shaped to substantially overlay the nose of the quarter of said shoe.
5. The adornment as recited in claim 4, wherein said panel comprises decorative outer face.
6. The adornment as recited in claim 5, wherein said fasteners comprise clips, said clips being affixed to a back face of said panel.
7. The adornment as recited in claim 5, wherein said fasteners comprise clasps, said clasps being affixed to a back face of said panel.
8. The adornment as recited in claim 1, wherein said decorative element comprises a decorative construct.
9. The adornment as recited in claim 8, wherein said decorative construct is sized and shaped to substantially overlay the nose of each quarter and the vamp of said shoe.
10. The adornment as recited in claim 9, wherein said fasteners comprise clips, said clips being affixed to a bottom side of said decorative construct.
11. The adornment as recited in claim 9, wherein said fasteners comprise clasps, said clasps being affixed to a bottom side of said decorative construct.
12. The adornment as recited in claim 8, wherein said decorative construct comprises a plurality of individual ornaments, said ornaments being interconnected by a flexible element.
13. The adornment as recited in claim 12, wherein said flexible element comprises a chain.
14. The adornment as recited in claim 12, wherein said fasteners comprise clips, said clips being affixed one each to a back side of said individual ornaments.
15. The adornment as recited in claim 12, wherein said fasteners comprise clasps, said clasps being affixed one each to a back side of said individual ornaments.
16. A shoe for use with an article of adornment, said shoe comprising:
- an upper having a substantially open throat bounded by a vamp and a quarter extending from a first side of said vamp about the back of said upper and to a second side of said vamp;
- an interior liner extending generally about the area defined by said quarter; and
- a plurality of ferromagnetic elements, each said ferromagnetic element being disposed between said quarter and said liner.
17. The shoe for use with an article of adornment as recited in claim 16, wherein each said ferromagnetic element is magnetized.
18. A selectively adorned shoe, said selectively adorned shoe comprising:
- an upper having a substantially open throat bounded by a vamp and a quarter extending from a first side of said vamp about the back of said upper and to a second side of said vamp;
- an interior liner extending generally about the area defined by said quarter;
- a first set of ferromagnetic elements, each said ferromagnetic element of said first set being disposed between said quarter and said liner;
- a decorative strip, said decorative strip being sized and shaped to substantially overlay said quarter;
- a second set of ferromagnetic elements, each said ferromagnetic element of said second affixed to said flexible strip; and
- wherein: each ferromagnetic element of said second set is positioned for pairwise mating alignment with one ferromagnetic element of said first set; and one of each pairwise positioned ferromagnetic elements is magnetized.
19. The selectively adorned shoe as recited in claim 18, wherein each ferromagnetic element of said first set is magnetized.
20. The selectively adorned shoe as recited in claim 19, wherein:
- said decorative strip comprises a laminate having a first layer and a second layer; and
- each ferromagnetic element of said second set is disposed within said decorative strip between said first layer and said second layer.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 25, 2011
Publication Date: Jan 31, 2013
Inventors: Rene Euresti (San Antonio, TX), Susana Euresti (San Antonio, TX)
Application Number: 13/189,617
International Classification: A43B 23/24 (20060101);