System and Method for Securing Ornamentation to Athletic Shoes

Abstract

An athletic shoe and a method of attaching ornamental pieces thereto by covering a shoe upper with hook or loop material and a reverse side of the ornamental piece with mateable hook or loop material.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 61/065,028 filed on Feb. 7, 2008.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention concerns shoes and more particularly ornamentation applied to the uppers of athletic shoes. Such ornaments have become popular particularly among young people. As described in U.S. 2008/006110, currently ornaments are attached using special fittings which are received in an array of holes formed in the shoe uppers.

Such an attachment system is complex and requires the formation of an array of visible holes in the shoe upper. The location of the ornaments are constrained by the hole positions. It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple ornamentation attachment system and method which allows attachment at any location within an area on the shoe uppers and does not require holes to be formed therein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above object and other objects which will be understood by those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following specification and claims are achieved by constructing an athletic shoe upper with an outer layer of a hook or loop material, preferably of hook material, with ornamental pieces having a backing of a mating hook or loop material. The hook material in particular presents an attractive appearance and is durable such as to provide a serviceable and aesthetic exposed surface on the shoe upper. The ornaments can be quickly attached and removed and placed at any location on the shoe upper where the hook and loop material layer is extends.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of an athletic shoe having an ornament attachment system according to the invention on its upper.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged reverse view of an ornamental piece showing loop material mounting patches thereon.

FIG. 3 is a reverse view of another ornamental piece in which the entire back surface is covered with loop material.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary pictorial view from a reverse angle showing an ornamental piece being peeled away from the shoe upper.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, certain specific terminology will be employed for the sake of clarity and a particular embodiment described in accordance with the requirements of 35 USC 112, but it is to be understood that the same is not intended to be limiting and should not be so construed inasmuch as the invention is capable of taking many forms and variations within the scope of the appended claims.

FIG. 1 shows a sneaker style athletic shoe 10, having a upper 12 of a fabric material. The outer surface 14 of the upper 12 is covered by a plastic hook material comprised of one part of a hook and loop fastening and is more attractive in appearance. The loop material is preferred as it is less likely to pick up debris, etc.

Such hook material is durable and presents an attractive appearance such that the shoe 10 remains attractive despite presence of the hook material covering.

A number of ornamental pieces 16A-16I are shown (see also FIG. 4) adhered to the upper 12 at various locations.

FIG. 2 shows the reverse side of an ornamental piece 16B which is constructed of embroidered fabric with the reverse side having patches 18 of loop material designed to be detachably mated with the exposed hook material surface 14 at any location thereon. The patches 18 can be secured to the ornament 16B back with an adhesive or other means.

FIG. 3 shows the reverse side of ornamental piece 16, with the entire reverse side completely covered with loop material 20.

Thus, various ornamental pieces can be readily attached or detached at any location on the shoe upper 12. No holes are needed to be formed in the shoe upper and it presents an attractive appearance which is also durable.

While the hook covering on the shoe upper 12 is preferable, it is possible to cover the shoe upper 12 with loop material and the hook material fixed on the backside of the ornamental pieces.

Claims

1. An athletic shoe having an upper constructed of a flexible material surfaced with one of a hook or loop material, and one or more ornamental pieces having a backing covered at least partially with the hook or loop material mateable with said hook or loop material covering said upper, whereby said ornamental pieces can be readily detached and reattached in other locations on said shoe upper, replaced with other ornamental pieces or additional ornamental pieces attached thereto.

2. The athletic shoe according to claim 1 wherein hook material substantially covers said shoe upper and each of said one or more ornamental pieces has a mating loop material on a backing thereof.

3. A method of ornamenting an athletic shoe comprising overlaying a shoe upper with a hook or loop material and attaching one or more ornamental pieces to said shoe upper with a backing of mating hook or loop material whereby an athletic shoe having an upper constructed of a flexible material surfaced with one of a hook or loop material, and one or more ornamental pieces having a backing covered at least partially with a hook or loop material mating with said hook or loop material covering said upper, whereby said ornamental pieces can be readily detached and reattached in other locations on said shoe upper, replaced with other ornamental pieces or additional ornamental pieces attached thereto.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein said shoe upper is substantially covered with hook material and a loop material is applied to the reverse side of said one or more ornamental pieces to be attachable to said shoe upper.

5. An ornamental piece comprising:

a fabric piece configured in an ornamental shape with hook or loop material affixed to the backside thereof thereby able to be attachable to a surface having mating hook or loop material thereon.