FOOTWEAR ADORNMENT, FOOTWEAR ACCESSORY HOLDER, AND METHODS THEREFOR

Abstract

A footwear accessory holder including a mount attachable to the footwear for receiving at least one display item and a display item retainer movably disposed on the mount. The mount being movable between an open position to allow the display item to be received in the mount and a closed position to prevent the display item from being removed from the mount.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/937,694 filed on Jun. 29, 2007, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention broadly concerns items of footwear. More particularly, the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein concern devices for removable attachment to footwear which can hold decorative and utility items to be worn on shoes, boots, sandals and the like. These embodiments illustrate that the footwear attachment can be mounted on footwear in various ways and configured to interchangeably hold tiles and items of various shapes and sizes, all with various utilitarian functions, designs and logos. The footwear attachment can also provide an attachment point for wings or flaps and other decorative and/or useful additions.

BACKGROUND

Footwear has evolved far beyond simply being a means for protecting the feet and facilitating locomotion. Footwear is available for a wide variety of purposes, e.g. walking, playing golf, lounging, or driving. Footwear has also become a significant dress item for making a fashion statement and uniqueness and individuality in footwear are sought after by many customers. Children especially like to have footwear that sport their own flair and that stand apart from their peers. In other cases, companies use promotional items, such as footwear (e.g. shoes) with their logo attached, as advertisement for their business.

The custom footwear business is small compared to automated manufacturing, where each pair of footwear (e.g. shoes) is identical to the next, and custom footwear is expensive to make due to their implicit low volume. A means for an individual to customize their footwear would address the need for adding uniqueness to their fashion. In addition, the ability to transfer the chosen customization among footwear would also be desirable.

Previous art that attempts to address somewhat similar needs to those mentioned here are U.S. Pat. No. 5,673,499 issued Oct. 7, 1997 to Attilieni which teaches a removable portion of a shoe tongue that may include a light source and U.S. Pat. No. 5,496,612 issued Mar. 5, 1996 to Ransbottom which teaches a strap to fit around the front portion of a shoe and which can hold decorative items mounted on to it.

Accordingly, there is a need for a simple means of personalizing and adorning footwear by attaching decorative tiles, placards, logos, and the like. In addition, there is a need for a means to removably attach other items such as wings, flaps, tabs and the like. There is a still further need to have the ability to transfer such additions from one pair of footwear to the next.

SUMMARY

In accordance with these objectives, devices and methods are contemplated for decorating footwear. To this end, the footwear can have a variety of styles and configurations even though the preferred embodiments described herein relate to footwear having laces. In addition, while many of the exemplary embodiments relate to the decoration of laced footwear, the teachings herein more broadly contemplate accessorizing any of a variety of footwear configurations with decorative items, promotional items, or the like so that the terms “decorating” or “accessorizing” are not intended to be construed as in any way limiting various ways in which the footwear can be adorned.

Various exemplary embodiments described herein relate to a footwear accessory holder which broadly comprises a mount attachable to the footwear for receiving at least one display item, and a display item retainer. The retainer is movably disposed on the mount between open and closed positions. When in the open position, the retainer serves to allow the display item to be received in the mount. When in the closed position, the retainer inhibits removal of the display item. One or more display items may be provided which can, themselves, constitute part of the footwear accessory holder. The display items, themselves, may be decorative and comprise decorative elements. Alternatively, each display item may be constructed to allow a decorative element to be attached to it.

In preferred embodiments, the mount is adapted to threadedly engage the footwear and is pivotally disposed on the mount. Also in the preferred embodiments, the display item is slidably received in the mount. To this end, the mount may be rectangular in configuration and comprise a frame which includes an upper deck surface and a slotted channel projecting below the deck surface. The slotted channel threadedly receives laces associated with the footwear so the mount can be situated thereon. The mount's frame may also include a pair of laterally spaced apart rails projecting above the deck to form an elongate slideway for receiving the display item. Also in the preferred embodiments, the retainer is pivotally disposed on the mount and constructed so that it may be locked into the closed position to capture the display item and hinder removal of it from the mount. To this end, the retainer may be formed to include a pair of laterally projecting wings, each having a tab which is adapted to mate with an associated aperture formed through the frame so that the retainer may lockingly engage the mount. Together, the mount, the display item and the retainer comprise an adornment for laced footwear.

Also described is a method for adorning laced footwear with a display item. According to this method, a mount is provided and laces of the footwear threadedly engage the mount to situate it on the footwear. The retainer is movably disposed on the mount as described above. The retainer is placed in the open position so that the display item may be disposed on the mount such as through slidably inserting it into the mount. The retainer is then placed in the closed position, and preferably locked in the closed position, to hinder removal of the display item from the mount.

These and other objects of the present invention will become more readily appreciated and understood from a consideration of the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments when taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the footwear adornment according to a first exemplary embodiment illustrating its attachment to a shoe;

FIG. 1B is an exploded plan view illustrating how the footwear adornment is mounted on footwear employing laces, the footwear attachment being viewed from the bottom and the footwear being viewed from the top;

FIG. 1C is a perspective view of the footwear adornment showing the retainer in a disengaged state illustrating the insertion of a decorative panel piece;

FIG. 2A is a top perspective view of the mount shown in FIGS. 1A-1C;

FIG. 2B is a bottom perspective view of the mount shown in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2C is a top view of the mount shown in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2D is a bottom view of the mount shown in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2E is a right side view of the mount shown in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2F is a left side view of the mount shown in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3A is a top perspective view of the panel piece shown in FIGS. 1A-1C;

FIG. 3B is a top plan view of the panel piece shown in FIG. 3A;

FIG. 3C is an end view in elevation of the tile piece shown in FIG. 3A inserted into the mount;

FIG. 4A is a bottom perspective view of the retainer shown in FIGS. 1A-1C;

FIG. 4B is a top perspective view of the retainer shown in FIG. 4A;

FIG. 4C is a top plan view of the retainer shown in FIG. 4A;

FIG. 4D is an end view in elevation of the retainer shown in FIG. 4A;

FIG. 4E is a left side view in elevation of the retainer shown in FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5A is a side view in elevation of the mount shown in FIGS. 2A-2F affixed to a shoe;

FIG. 5B is a side view in elevation illustrating an alternative construction of the mount shown in FIG. 5A;

FIG. 5C is a side view in elevation illustrating the mount according to a second exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 5D is a side view in elevation illustrating the mount according to a third exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 5E is a side view in elevation illustrating an alternative construction of the mount shown in FIG. 5D;

FIG. 5F is a side view in elevation illustrating another alternative construction of the mount shown in FIG. 5D;

FIG. 5G is a side view in elevation illustrating the mount according to a fourth exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 6A is an end view in elevation illustrating the panel piece and mount according to a fifth exemplary embodiment showing the panel piece inserted into the mount;

FIG. 6B is an end view in elevation illustrating the panel piece and mount according to a sixth exemplary embodiment showing the panel piece inserted onto the mount;

FIG. 7A is perspective view illustrating two panel pieces with representative designs;

FIG. 7B is a side view in elevation illustrating three panel pieces;

FIG. 7C is a perspective view illustrating three panel pieces in various arrangements;

FIG. 7D is perspective view of five panel pieces of different sizes illustrating representative designs; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating three representative ornamental designs that may be used on the retainer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the present disclosure a footwear adornment is provided which is adapted to be affixed to footwear and may attach or display various useful and ornamental items. In its broad form, this footwear adornment has a mount that may be attached to various types and items of footwear and is adapted to support or display one or more useful or ornamental items.

FIG. 1A illustrates the footwear adornment 10 according to a first exemplary embodiment that is attached to a shoe 2, which has shoe laces 3. While the various exemplary embodiments are described with reference to laced footwear, the footwear adornment may also be used with footwear having other means of securing to ones foot, such as Velcro or straps. Footwear adornment 10 includes mount 100, retainer 300, and decorative item 200. As is perhaps best shown in FIG. 1B, mount 100 is secured to shoe 2 by threading laces 3 through openings 126 and 128 (see FIGS. 2A-2F) that are formed through the mount. FIG. 1B shows a top view of footwear 2 and a separate bottom view of footwear adornment 10. Though shown separately, footwear 2 and footwear adornment 10 are intended to be considered as joined at the intersection of lace 3 elements A-H, respectively, with footwear adornment 10 residing on top of footwear 2. For example, the lace 3 on footwear 2 join the lace 3 drawn on the bottom view of the footwear adornment 10 in the following manner: A-A, B-B, C-C, D-D, and so on. FIG. 5A is a side view also illustrating mount 100 laced to the shoe. Although lace 3 is shown passing through mount 100 four times to provide a means for securing mount 100 to the footwear 2, it should be understood that this number may vary and may be as few as one.

FIG. 1C illustrates the ability of footwear adornment 10 to allow easy interchange of decorative items 200, here in the form of panel or tile pieces. Retainer 300 is hinged to mount 100 at hinge 110. As such, retainer 300 may be unlatched and rotated clear of mount 100 in order to allow decorative panel pieces 200 to be removed and/or installed. One can readily appreciate that this offers a convenient means for customizing the footwear adornment for particular moods and occasions without the need to unlace and lace the shoe each time the decoration is to be changed.

FIGS. 2A-2F illustrate mount 100 in detail. On the lower portion of the mount is a bridge or slotted channel formed, in this case, from element 108 and support elements 116 and 118. Support elements 116 and 118 raise element 108 away from the mount deck 106. Between the bridge element 108 and the deck 106 are openings 126 and 128. Openings 126 and 128 provide the means for securing mount 100 to the footwear. More particularly, shoe laces may be threaded through these openings.

Above deck 106 is a central recess bounded by spaced apart rails or sidewalls 112 and 114 that extend longitudinally along mount 100. This central recess or slideway is sized and adapted to slidably receive panel pieces 200. At one end of mount 100 the central recess is bounded by hinge barrel 110 which extends laterally. Hinge barrel 110 is in the form of a partial cylinder or barrel that receives cross member pin 310 of retainer 300, as is described more fully below. Opposite hinge barrel 110 is an open end at the back of mount 100 that permits the insertion of mount pieces, e.g. tiles 200, into the central recess of mount 100. On top of sidewall 112 is overhang or ledge 104. Similarly, on top of sidewall 114 is overhang 102. Overhangs 102 and 104 extend inward towards the central recess thus creating grooves 132 and 130. Referring briefly to FIG. 3C it can be seen that grooves 132 and 130 may have a dovetail configuration that provides a means for compensating for variation in panel thickness and to provide a means for retaining panel pieces 200 in grooves 132 and 130 in the event that retainer 300 is not used. Mount 100 also includes latch receptacles or apertures 122 and 124 that are configured to receive latches 318 and 316 respectively of retainer 300, described more fully below. Latch receptacles 122 and 124 may be, as is shown in FIG. 2A for example, in the form of a slot. The mount may be made out of a wide variety of materials including but not limited to plastics, metals, and the like.

Turning to FIGS. 3A-3C it can be seen that panel pieces 200 have appropriately sized tongues 212 and 214 to engage the interior of the grooves, 130 and 132, thus causing the tile to be retained within the central recess of mount 100. It can be appreciated that in order to for tiles 200 to fit within and be retained in mount 100, the tile tongues 212 and 214 and vertical depth must be adapted to fit within the grooves 130 and 132 and central recess of mount 100. The overall longitudinal length of tile 200 may vary. Indeed, the length may approximate the longitudinal length of grooves 130 and 132 such that only one panel piece is accommodated on mount 100. Alternatively, the length may be some fraction of the overall mount length such that two or more tiles may be accommodated on mount 100. It should be appreciated that the panel pieces may vary widely in length such that a myriad of combinations of decorations or accessories may be supported by the mount. The panel pieces may be made out of a wide variety of materials including but not limited to plastics, metals, rubber, and the like. Each panel piece 200 has an upper surface 210 that may support decorative elements and accessories. For example, surface 210 may be embossed, printed, or raised with indicia or decorative design. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that panel piece 200 may support accessories such as gems, bells, lights, and electronics to name just a few.

FIGS. 4A-4E illustrate the construction of retainer 300. The retainer may be made out of a wide variety of materials including but not limited to plastics, metals, and the like. In this embodiment the retainer includes a pair of wing like side pieces 330 and 332 with cross members 310 and 312 extending therebetween to form an opening 314 for receiving mount 100. Side piece projections 330 and 332 are preferably of an ornamental design such as shown in FIGS. 4A-4E and FIG. 8 as examples. Cross member 310 is in the form of a cylindrical bar or pin. Cross member pin 310 is snapped into opening 120 formed by hinge barrel 110 of mount 100. Thus, retainer 300 is pivotally attached to mount 100.

When the retainer 300 is closed cross member 312 is received by cutout 140 formed in mount 100 thereby hindering removal of display items 200 from the mount deck. In addition, latches 318 and 316 engage latch receptacles 122 and 124 to latch or lock the retainer to the mount. In this embodiment latches 316 and 318 are in the form of wedge like tabs or protrusions that have one or more ramped surfaces.

Having described the first embodiment of the footwear adornment with some detail, various other embodiments and alternate constructions are described below. While various embodiments are described herein, others may exist such as those disclosed in my earlier U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/937,694 filed on Jun. 29, 2007, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIG. 5B is a side view illustrating an alternative construction 510 of the mount shown in FIG. 5A. In this case, mount 510 includes two slotted channels 511 and 512 for receiving shoe laces 3. FIG. 5C is a side view illustrating the mount according to a second exemplary embodiment. In this embodiment the mount is comprised of two pieces, a mount base 520 that attaches to shoe 2 via lace 3 and a bracket 530 that attaches to mount base 520. FIG. 5D illustrates the mount according to a third exemplary embodiment. In this embodiment, mount 540 includes a clip 542 that is slid under lace 3, e.g. via path AA, thus attaching mount 540 to shoe 2. This embodiment is particularly suited to footwear with Velcro straps or fixed straps. FIG. 5E is a side view illustrating an alternative construction of the mount shown in FIG. 5D. In this case mount 550 includes a clip 552 that has a hook 554 that is engaged with a loop 556 disposed on mount 550. FIG. 5F shows another alternative construction of the mount shown in FIG. 5D where mount 560 again includes a clip 562. In this case clip 562 and mount 560 include cooperative snaps 566 and 564. FIG. 5G is a side view illustrating the mount according to a fourth exemplary embodiment where mount 570 utilizes mount hooks 572 that attach to eyelets 506 to secure mount 570 to footwear 2.

FIG. 6A is an end view illustrating the panel piece and mount according to a fifth exemplary embodiment showing the panel piece 602 inserted into the mount 601 utilizing a key and channel arrangement. FIG. 6B is an end view illustrating the panel piece and mount according to a sixth exemplary embodiment showing the panel piece 612 inserted onto the mount 611.

FIG. 7A is perspective view illustrating two panel pieces with representative designs. Decorative items 811 and 813 have ornamental features of various shapes and sizes. FIG. 7B is a side view in elevation illustrating three panel pieces. Panel pieces 821, 823 and 825 have ornamental features that vary in height. FIG. 7C is a perspective view illustrating three panel pieces in various arrangements. FIG. 7D is a perspective view of five panel pieces of different sizes illustrating representative designs.

With the foregoing in mind, a method is also contemplated for adorning laced footwear with a display item. Broadly, a mount is provided and laces of the footwear threadedly engage the mount to situate it on the footwear. The retainer is movably disposed on the mount as described above. The retainer is placed in the open position so that the display item may be disposed on the mount such as through slidably inserting it into the mount. The retainer is then placed in the closed position, and preferably locked in the closed position, to hinder removal of the display item from the mount.

Accordingly, the present invention has been described with some degree of particularity directed to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. It should be recognized, however, that the present invention is defined by the following claims construed in light of the prior art so that modifications or changes may be made to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention without departing from the inventive concepts contained herein.

Claims

1. A footwear accessory holder, comprising:

a. a mount attachable to the footwear for receiving at least one display item; and

b. a display item retainer movably disposed on said mount between an open position to allow said at least one display item to be received in said mount, and a closed position to prevent said at least one display item from being removed from said mount.

2. A footwear accessory holder according to claim 1 further comprising at least one display item removably received in said mount.

3. A footwear accessory holder according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of display items removably received in said mount.

4. A footwear accessory holder according to claim 2 wherein said at least one display item is slidably received in said mount.

5. A footwear accessory holder according to claim 2 wherein said at least one display item comprises a decorative element.

6. A footwear accessory holder according to claim 1 wherein said mount is adapted to threadedly engage the footwear.

7. A footwear accessory holder according to claim 1 wherein said display item retainer is pivotally disposed on said mount.

8. A footwear accessory holder according to claim 1 wherein said display item retainer includes a pair of wing projections.

9. A footwear accessory holder according to claim 1 wherein said mount and said retainer each comprise a plastic construction.

10. An adornment for laced footwear, comprising:

a. a rectangular mount comprising a frame which includes an upper deck surface and a slotted channel projecting below said deck surface, said slotted channel for threadedly receiving laces associated with the footwear so that said mount may be situated thereon;

b. at least one display item slidably received on said deck; and

c. a retainer pivotally disposed on said mount between an open position to allow said display item to be removably received by the mount, and a closed position to capture said display item and hinder removal of the display item from said mount.

11. An adornment according to claim 10 wherein said mount's frame includes a pair of laterally spaced apart rails projecting above said deck to form an elongate slideway for receiving said display item.

12. An adornment according to claim 11 wherein said display item includes a pair of laterally spaced apart ledges adapted for insertion into said slideway.

13. An adornment according to claim 12 wherein said display item is a rectangular piece that includes a decorative element.

14. An adornment according to claim 10 including a plurality of display items received on said deck.

15. An adornment according to claim 14 wherein said display items are interchangeable.

16. An adornment according to claim 10 wherein said retainer is hingedly disposed on said mount.

17. An adornment according to claim 10 wherein said retainer lockingly engages said mount when in the closed position.

18. An adornment according to claim 17 wherein said retainer includes a pair of tabs each adapted to mate with an associated aperture formed through said frame so that said retainer may lockingly engage said mount.

19. An adornment according to claim 10 wherein said retainer includes a pair of laterally projecting wings, each adapted to lockingly engage said mount when in the closed position.

20. An adornment according to claim 19 wherein each wing includes a tab adapted to mate with an associated aperture formed through said frame so that said retainer may lockingly engage said mount.

21. An adornment according to claim 19 wherein each wing has a contour which follows a shape of the footwear when said retainer is in the closed position, thereby to present a low profile adornment for the footwear.

22. A method of adorning laced footwear with a display item, comprising:

a. providing a mount

b. threadedly engaging said mount with laces of the footwear to situate said mount thereon;

c. movably disposing a retainer on said mount so that said retainer is movable between an open position and a closed position;

d. placing said retainer in the open position;

e. disposing at least one display item on said mount; and

f. placing said retainer in the closed position to hinder removal of said display item from said mount.

23. A method according to claim 22 further comprising locking said retainer to the mount when in the closed position.

24. A method according to claim 22 comprising slidably inserting said display item into said mount.

25. A method according to claim 22 comprising hingedly attaching said retainer to said mount.