CHARM INSERTER

Abstract

A charm inserter includes a first restraining end spaced apart from a second restraining end and a charm end. The charm end connects on a first side to the first restraining end and on a second side to the second restraining end. The first side is non-parallel and non-perpendicular with the second side, and the charm end includes a first portion, second portion, third portion, fourth portion, and fifth portion.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to charms. More specifically, the invention relates to inserting charms into a hole.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Rubber shoes have become popular footwear, especially as popularized by Crocs® brand shoes. A salient feature of Crocs, as well as other footwear, is holes in the shoes. Popularly, these holes can be used to support or hold a charm to personalize the shoe, such as with Jibbitz® brand charms.

However, insertion of these charms can be difficult, especially for children, and improper insertion of the charms can unduly and undesirably stress or strain both the charm, and the shoe. These stresses and strains can lead to rips or tears in the shoe and/or broken charms.

It is therefore a challenge to insert charms in a fashion that overcomes these, and other, disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A charm inserter includes a first restraining end spaced apart from a second restraining end and a charm end. The charm end connects on a first side to the first restraining end and on a second side to the second restraining end. The first side is non-parallel and non-perpendicular with the second side, and the charm end includes a first portion, second portion, third portion, fourth portion, and fifth portion. The first portion and fourth portion, and the second portion and fifth portion are substantially parallel with each other. A first bent portion connects the first side and first portion and the first portion and second portion are connected with a second bent portion. A third bent portion connects the second portion and third portion and a fourth bent portion connects the third portion and fourth portion. The fourth portion and fifth portion are connected with a fifth bent portion and the fifth portion and second side are connected with a sixth bent portion. The first side and second side translate angularly about the third portion.

Yet another aspect of the invention provides a method inserting a charm into a shoe. The method includes inserting a charm inserter into a shoe chamber, placing a charm end of the charm inserter through a hole in an upper portion of the shoe, receiving a charm in a charm reception space of the charm inserter, and grasping the received charm in the charm reception space. The method further includes pulling the grasped charm through the hole and releasing the charm after pulling the grasped charm through the hole.

Yet another aspect of the invention provides an inserter that includes a first restraining end and a charm end. The charm end is connected on a first side to the first restraining end. The charm end includes a first portion, second portion, and a third portion. The first portion, second portion, and third portion substantially define a triangle such that the first portion connects to the second portion with a first bent portion, and the second portion connects to the third portion with a second bent portion. First portion is defined by one part of the first side.

The foregoing embodiment and other embodiments, objects, and aspects as well as features and advantages of the present invention will become further apparent from the following detailed description of various embodiments of the present invention. The detailed description and drawings are merely illustrative of the present invention, rather than limiting the scope of the present invention being defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a charm inserter in accordance with one aspect of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a method for inserting charms in accordance with another aspect of the invention; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a charm inserter in accordance with one aspect of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a charm inserter 100 in accordance with one aspect of the invention. Charm inserter 100 includes a first restraining end 105 and a second restraining end 108 spaced apart from the first restraining end 105. Charm inserter 100 further includes a charm end 110. Charm end 110 connects on a first side 115 to the first restraining end 105 and the charm end 110 connects on a second side 120 to the second restraining end 108. The first side 115 defines a non-parallel and non-perpendicular angle with the second side 120. Charm end 110 includes a first portion 121, second portion 122, third portion 123, fourth portion 124, and fifth portion 125. The first portion 121 is substantially parallel with the fourth portion 124 and the second portion 122 is substantially parallel with the fifth portion 125. The first side 115 and first portion 121 are connected with a first bent portion 131, the first portion 121 and second portion 122 are connected with a second bent portion 132, the second portion 122 and third portion 123 are connected with a third bent portion 133, the third portion 123 and fourth portion 124 are connected with a fourth bent portion 134, the fourth portion 124 and fifth portion 125 are connected with a fifth bent portion 135, and the fifth portion 125 and second side 120 are connected with a sixth bent portion 136. The first side 115 and second side 120 translate angularly about the third portion 123 responsive to a physical force applied to at least one of the first side 115 and second side 120.

In one embodiment, the charm end defines a charm reception space 140 sized to accept a charm. In one embodiment, a first distance 150 between the first bent portion 131 and sixth bent portion 136 is less than a second distance 160 between the second bent portion 132 and the fifth bent portion 135. In one embodiment, the angle 165 defined by the second portion and fourth portion is between 10 degrees and 80 degrees. In one embodiment, the angle defined by the second portion and fourth portion is approximately 45 degrees.

In one embodiment, the first bent portion 131 defines a non-parallel and non-perpendicular angle. In one embodiment, the second bent portion 132 defines a non-parallel and non-perpendicular angle. In one embodiment, the third bent portion 133 defines a non-parallel and non-perpendicular angle. In one embodiment, the fourth bent portion 134 defines a non-parallel and non-perpendicular angle. In one embodiment, the fifth bent portion 135 defines a non-parallel and non-perpendicular angle. In one embodiment, the sixth bent portion 136 defines a non-parallel and non-perpendicular angle. In one such embodiment, the angle defined by the first bent portion 131 is substantially equal to the angle defined by the sixth bent portion 136. In one embodiment, the angle defined by the second bent portion 132 is substantially equal to the angle defined by the fifth bent portion 135. In one embodiment, the angle defined by the third bent portion 133 is substantially equal to the angle defined by the fourth bent portion 134.

In one embodiment, the third bent portion 133 includes a center point 139. Center point 139 divides the charm inserter 100 into a first half and a second half, and wherein the first half of the charm inserter is substantially symmetric with the second half. In one embodiment, the first side 115 is substantially parallel with the second portion 122. In one embodiment, the second side 120 is substantially parallel with the fourth portion 124.

In one embodiment, the charm inserter is manufactured with a relatively rigid material that is able to deform about a point to grasp a charm, and then release it. In one embodiment, the charm inserter is made from a unitary piece of material. In another embodiment, the third portion includes a hinge so that the first side and second side can rotate about the hinge. Any appropriate hinge device can be used.

The first restraining end 105 and second restraining end 108 can include a number of shapes. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the restraining ends 105, 108 can include finger loops. In another example, the restraining ends 105, 108 include a radiused portion. In other examples, the restraining ends 105, 108 include a non-radiused portion extending at a defined angle from the first and second sides 115, 120.

FIG. 2 illustrates a flow chart illustrating a method 200 of inserting a charm into a shoe, in accordance with one aspect of the invention. Method 200 begins at step 210 by inserting a charm inserter into a shoe chamber. In one embodiment, the charm inserter is implemented as charm inserter 100. The shoe chamber is an area defined by a sole and the upper of a shoe on the bottom and top, and by the sides of the shoe to either side. The shoe upper includes at least one hole. At step 220, method 200 continues by placing a charm end of the charm inserter through a hole in an upper portion of the shoe. A charm is received in a charm reception space of the charm inserter at step 230, and at step 240, the received charm is grasped in the charm reception space. In one embodiment, grasping the charm comprises translating a first side of the charm inserter, such as first side 115, relative to a second side of the charm inserter, such as second side 120, to reduce an area defined by charm reception space. At step 250, the grasped charm is pulled through the hole, and at step 260, the charm is released, after the grasped charm has been pulled through the hole.

As can be seen, the method here includes placing a charm inserter through the hole to be occupied with the charm, grasping the charm, and then pulling the grasped charm back through the hole.

In one embodiment, the charm to be inserted includes an upper portion and a lower portion connected by a shaft. The upper portion has a bigger area than the lower portion, and both the upper portion and lower portion extend laterally beyond the diameter of the shaft. The lower portion is sized to be bigger than the holes in the shoe, but still able to fit through the hole. When the charm is pulled through the hole, preferably, only the lower portion and a part of the shaft are pulled through the hole, so that after release, the hole surrounds the shaft, with the lower portion within the space defined by the interior of the shoe, and the upper portion is outside of the space defined by the interior of the shoe such that the charm is held in position. In one embodiment, the shaft is substantially cylindrical, although other geometric shapes are foreseen.

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of a charm inserter 300, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. Inserter 300 includes a first restraining end 305 and a charm end 310. The charm end 310 is connected on a first side 320 to the first restraining end 305. The charm end 310 includes a first portion 330, second portion 340, and a third portion 350. The first portion 330, second portion 340, and third portion 350 substantially define a triangle such that the first portion 330 connects to the second portion 340 with a first bent portion 360, and the second portion 340 connects to the third portion 350 with a second bent portion 370. First portion 330 is defined by one part of the first side 320. In one embodiment, charm end 310 defines a charm reception space 375 sized to accept a charm.

While the embodiments of the present invention disclosed herein are presently considered to be preferred embodiments, various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The scope of the invention is indicated in the appended claims, and all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalents are intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

1. A charm inserter comprising:

a first restraining end;

a second restraining end spaced apart from the first restraining end; and

a charm end, the charm end connected on a first side to the first restraining end, the charm end connected on a second side to the second restraining end, wherein the first side defines a non-parallel and non-perpendicular angle with the second side, and wherein the charm end includes a first portion, second portion, third portion, fourth portion, and fifth portion, the first portion substantially parallel with the fourth portion, the second portion substantially parallel with the fifth portion, the first side and first portion connected with a first bent portion, the first portion and second portion connected with a second bent portion, the second portion and third portion connected with a third bent portion, the third portion and fourth portion connected with a fourth bent portion, the fourth portion and fifth portion connected with a fifth bent portion, the fifth portion and second side connected with a sixth bent portion, and wherein the first side and second side translate angularly about the third portion responsive to a physical force applied to at least one of the first side and second side.

2. The charm inserter of claim 1 wherein the charm end defines a charm reception space, the charm reception space sized to accept a charm.

3. The charm inserter of claim 1 wherein a first distance between the first bent portion and sixth bent portion is less than a second distance between the second bent portion and the fifth bent portion.

4. The charm inserter of claim 3 wherein the angle defined by the second portion and fourth portion is between 10 degrees and 80 degrees.

5. The charm inserter of claim 4 wherein the angle defined by the second portion and fourth portion is approximately 45 degrees.

6. The charm inserter of claim 1 wherein the first bent portion defines a non-parallel and non-perpendicular angle, and wherein the second bent portion defines a non-parallel and non-perpendicular angle, and wherein the third bent portion defines a non-parallel and non-perpendicular angle, and wherein the fourth bent portion defines a non-parallel and non-perpendicular angle, and wherein the fifth bent portion defines a non-parallel and non-perpendicular angle, and wherein the sixth bent portion defines a non-parallel and non-perpendicular angle.

7. The charm inserter of claim 6 wherein the angle defined by the first bent portion is substantially equal to the angle defined by the sixth bent portion, and wherein the angle defined by the second bent portion is substantially equal to the angle defined by the fifth bent portion, and wherein the angle defined by the third bent portion is substantially equal to the angle defined by the fourth bent portion.

8. The charm inserter of claim 1 wherein the third bent portion includes a center point, the center point dividing the charm inserter into a first half and a second half, and wherein the first half of the charm inserter is substantially symmetric with the second half.

9. The charm inserter of claim 1 wherein the first side is substantially parallel with the second portion.

10. The charm inserter of claim 1 wherein the second side is substantially parallel with the fourth portion.

11. A method of inserting a charm into a shoe, the method comprising:

inserting a charm inserter into a shoe chamber;

placing a charm end of the charm inserter through a hole in an upper portion of the shoe;

receiving a charm in a charm reception space of the charm inserter;

grasping the received charm in the charm reception space;

pulling the grasped charm through the hole; and

releasing the charm after pulling the grasped charm through the hole.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein grasping the received charm comprises:

translating a first side of the charm inserter relative to a second side of the charm inserter to reduce an area defined by the charm reception space.

13. A charm inserter comprising:

a first restraining end; and

a charm end, the charm end connected on a first side to the first restraining end, wherein the charm end includes a first portion, second portion, and third portion, wherein the first portion, second portion, and third portion substantially define a triangle such that the first portion connects to the second portion with a first bent portion, and the second portion connects to the third portion with a second bent portion.

14. The charm inserter of claim 13 wherein the charm end defines a charm reception space, the charm reception space sized to accept a charm.