Uni-sex multi-sport footwear accessory
The uni-sex multi-sport footwear is an accessory is a flexible accessory. The footwear accessory may have one or a number of fasteners located on various areas of the accessory, or the fastener(s) may be omitted altogether. The footwear accessory may be configured as an ankle band or a, sock.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/289,372 filed on Nov. 30, 2005, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/845,543, filed on May 14, 2004.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to footwear accessories, and particularly to a footwear accessory that ornamentally displays indicia.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Decorative displays on shirts, shoes, and other such products that may be worn by consumers have become a prosperous facet of the clothing industry. Once plain shirts now often feature elaborate designs of famous artists, and virtually every sport-related item of clothing now displays a professional team's or sporting company's logo. There are few additional avenues left for visual displays that may be worn on items of clothing, sportswear or the like. While some clothing items that do not immediately lend themselves to displaying ornamental designs have incorporated such designs on the item of clothing, new clothing items do not abound.
In addition, although there are various items of clothing such as ankle braces, shoes, etc. that may be placed on feet or around ankles, these items are used for therapeutic purposes, generally to support the feet and ankles. They are designed to restrict movement of the ankle and foot, thus to prevent injuries. However, there are no footwear accessories, the sole purpose of which is ornamental display of indicia. Accordingly, there is a need for a footwear accessory used to display indicia.
Although the related art addresses socks, braces and other items of clothing on which indicia is shown, what is needed is a comfortable, flexible accessory item that provides for display of various marks and indicia. What is further needed is a footwear accessory that serves to display items and does not limit the user's ankle or foot movement. Such an accessory should fit with ease within a shoe and serve merely as a clothing item providing for ornamental display of team logos, names, etc.
None of the inventions and patents, cited and identified in the accompanying IDS, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus a uni-sex multi-sport accessory solving the aforementioned problems is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe uni-sex multi-sport footwear accessory is a flexible accessory shaped as an ankle band for use as an indicia-displaying device. In one embodiment, the multi-sport accessory includes an upper band adapted to encircle a wearer's lower leg, side straps depending from the upper band, a middle section adapted to encircle a wearer's ankle and a lower band dimensioned to extend beneath a wearer's foot. The middle section and lower band define several openings with which to situate a user's foot. The upper band may have several display strips with which to display indicia such as logos, team names and the like. When the footwear accessory is pulled onto the foot and a shoe is put on over the accessory, the upper band of the footwear accessory is visible over the shoe and provides a clear display of the indicia. The side straps, middle section and lower band may alternatively be omitted, such that only the upper band is positioned about the user's lower leg.
In another embodiment, the accessory comprises a socks having provision for a removable logo to be mounted thereon. The socks can also be provided with a fastener device located in one or more areas.
Advantageously, the uni-sex multi-sport footwear accessory is a lightweight, flexible accessory designed to fit comfortably within a user's shoe. It is not bulky nor does it require an elaborate, sturdy construction as it is not intended for use as a therapeutic device. The footwear accessory does not limit movement of the ankle in order to protect the ankle against injury-causing twisting movements. It is intended only as an accessory item that allows for the display of a team logo or similar indicia. The footwear accessory is a unique clothing item that may be used to compliment team uniforms or identify individual athletic players.
It is an aspect of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.
These and other aspects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention is an indicia displaying footwear accessory, designated generally as 10 in the drawings. The footwear accessory 10 is made up of a flexible body 12 of unitary construction. One type of material for the body 12 may be an elastomeric fabric, for example, neoprene. The footwear accessory 10 is designed to fit around a user's ankle and foot. An upper band 14 is adapted to encircle a user's lower leg above the ankle, and display indicia thereon as shown in
Referring first to
Turning now to
Additionally, the flexible body 12 may be reversible, with indicia displayed on display strips 30 situated on either side of the flexible body 12 (not shown). The display strips 30 may be detachable from the flexible body 12, using hook and loop fastening material to attach it onto the flexible body.
Alternatively, the zipper 78 or other fastener system may be omitted, and the first 74 and second 76 ends may be integrated into one another, so that the flexible body 12 is shaped as a one-piece annular band. The user then slides the accessory 80 onto the user's leg by placing the user's foot through the foot aperture 86 and pulling the band 72 over the ankle.
Indicia display strips 30 are strips of detachable material that are releasably attached to the band 72. The band 72 has a plurality of first strips of hook and loop fastening material 82 to which the display strips 30 are attached. Each display strip 30 has an exterior surface 84 and an interior surface 86 (shown more clearly in
Display strips 30 are affixed to the upper band 72. The first end 74 of the upper band 72 has an interior-facing strip of hook and loop fastening material 104 and the second end 76 of the upper band 72 has an exterior-facing strip of hook and loop fastening material 106. When the invention 100 is placed about a user's lower leg, the interior-facing strip of hook and loop fastening material 104 of the first end 74 releasably attaches to the exterior-facing strip of hook and loop fastening material 106 of the second end 76.
The first end 74 of the upper band 72 also has a second exterior-facing strip of hook and loop fastening material 108 that faces outward when the first 74 and second 76 ends of the upper band 72 are affixed to one another. The lower band strip of hook and loop fastening material 110 is adapted to fasten to the second exterior-facing strip of hook and loop fastening material 108 on the first end 74. Thus, when the upper band 72 is placed about a user's lower leg, the lower band 102 is placed under the user's foot and attaches to the second exterior-facing strip of hook and loop fastening material 108.
While various fastening methods are used to illustrate the manner in which the user is to affix the footwear accessory to the user's leg, it is to be understood that any of a number of fasteners may be used to maintain the footwear accessory about the user's leg.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A footwear accessory, comprising:
- a sock, said sock having a foot portion and an ankle enclosing portion
- a circumferential portion forming the top of said ankle enclosing portion;
- at least one first fastener member attached to an outward-facing surface of said circumferential portion;
- at least one indicia display member, said indicia display member having a rear surface; and
- a mating second fastener disposed on said rear surface of said indicia display member, whereby said mating second fastener is releasably attached to said first fastener.
2. The footwear accessory according to claim 1, wherein said first fastener comprises hook and loop fastening material and said mating second fastener comprises hook and loop fastening material.
3. The footwear accessory according to claim 1, wherein there are plural first fastener members and plural indicia display members.
4. The footwear accessory according to claim 1, further comprising a zipper, said zipper having mating portions for closing said circumferential portion.
5. A footwear accessory, comprising:
- a sock, said sock having a foot portion and an ankle enclosing portion a circumferential portion forming the top of said ankle enclosing portion;
- at least one first fastener member attached to an outward-facing surface of said circumferential portion;
- at least one first indicia display member, said indicia display member having a rear surface;
- a mating second fastener disposed on said rear surface of said first indicia display member, whereby said mating second fastener is releasably attached to said first fastener; and
- at least one second indicia display member, said second indicia display member attached directly to said outward facing surface of said circumferential portion.
6. The footwear accessory according to claim 5, wherein said first fastener comprises hook and loop fastening material and said mating second fastener comprises hook and loop fastening material.
7. The footwear accessory according to claim 5, wherein there are plural first fastener members and plural indicia display members.
8. The footwear accessory according to claim 5, further comprising a zipper, said zipper having mating portions for closing said circumferential portion.
9. A footwear accessory, comprising:
- a sock, said sock having a foot portion and an ankle enclosing portion
- a circumferential portion forming the top of said ankle enclosing portion;
- at least one first hook and loop fastener member attached to an outward-facing surface of said circumferential portion;
- at least one first indicia display member, said indicia display member having a rear surface;
- a mating second hook and loop fastener disposed on said rear surface of said first indicia display member, whereby said mating second fastener is releasably attached to said first fastener;
- at least one second indicia display member, said second indicia display member attached directly to said outward facing surface of said circumferential portion; and
- a zipper, said zipper having mating portions for closing said circumferential portion.
Type: Application
Filed: May 16, 2006
Publication Date: Sep 14, 2006
Inventor: Makray Ramsey (Bolling Afb, DC)
Application Number: 11/434,256
International Classification: A43B 7/20 (20060101);