ORNAMENTAL ATTACHMENT FOR FOOTWEAR

Abstract

The present invention relates to an ornamental attachment configured to be connected to a shoelace of a shoe, the ornamental attachment comprising a body and one or more brackets mounted to said body, the one or more brackets being configured such that in use a plurality of shoelace sections extend between eyelets of the shoe and the one or more brackets, wherein the one or more brackets are arranged such that in use the shoelace sections extend outwardly away from the body and outwardly away from one another. The present invention further relates to a combination of footwear and the ornamental attachment and to the use of an ornamental attachment for providing an ornament on a piece of footwear.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the National Stage of International Application No. PCT/NL2008/000174, filed Jul. 10, 2008, the contents of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an ornamental attachment for footwear such as a shoe. The present invention relates in particular to an ornamental attachment connected to the shoe via the shoelace and configured to display an emblem, a text, or a figure or the like.

Ornamental attachments are known in the prior art. Emblems are popular items in merchandising or for children.

2. Prior Art

U.S. Pat. No. 4,597,198 discloses a shoe decoration which is configured to be attached to a shoe via the shoelace. The shoe decoration comprises a front plate which can display a visual image such as a text or figure. Behind the front plate, a plate 42 is provided which defines a passage 52 through which the shoelace may extend, see FIG. 3 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,597,198. The shoelace section which extends through the passage 452 extends from an eyelet on a left side of the shoe to an eyelet on a right side of the shoe. The shoelace sections thus cross a space between the rows of eyelets.

The shoe decoration of U.S. Pat. No. 4,597,198 has a drawback in that visually, it is not very attractive.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide an ornamental attachment for footwear which provides an alternative to known ornamental attachments.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a simple and cost effective ornamental attachment for footwear.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an ornamental attachment for footwear which is visually attractive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to achieve at least one of the objects, the invention provides an ornamental attachment configured to be connected to a shoe via the shoelace thereof, the ornamental attachment comprising a body and one or more brackets mounted to said body, the one or more brackets being configured such that in use a plurality of shoelace sections extend between eyelets of the shoe and the one or more brackets, wherein the one or more brackets are arranged such that in use a plurality of shoelace sections extend outwardly away from the body and diverge from one another.

Thus, the shoelace sections form an attractive visual pattern attracting attention and focusing the attention of a viewer on the body of the ornamental attachment.

The shoelace sections form a visual pattern of lines. The shoelace sections can be likened to rays which diverge from the center which is formed by the body. The lines extend outwardly away from a center which is formed by the ornamental attachment. The shoelace will generally be under some tension, and thus the lines will generally be straight, adding to the visual effect.

Generally, a shoe is provided with two rows of eyelets or apertures. The two rows of eyelets are spaced apart and define a space between the two rows. In a normal shoe or other footwear, the laces are laced through the eyelets such that the shoe may be tied. The present invention requires that the shoelaces are laced differently and in such a way that the ornamental attachment is connected to the shoe via the shoelace. The shoelace can continue to perform its normal function

In use, the shoelace extends from an eyelet on the left row through the at least one aperture on the ornamental attachment. From there, the shoelace extends back to a next eyelet on the left row of eyelets on the shoe. From said next eyelet, the shoelace extends back to the aperture or to a next aperture of the ornamental attachment and again back to a next eyelet in the same row.

In a suitable embodiment, the one or more brackets are arranged such that in use the shoelace sections form a widening pattern. The widening pattern creates an attractive visual effect.

In a suitable embodiment, the one or more brackets are configured and arranged to accommodate more than two shoelace sections. This allows a real widening pattern to be created.

In a suitable embodiment, the one or more brackets are configured to support a plurality of shoelace sections extending between eyelets on a left side of the shoe and the one or more brackets, and to support a plurality of shoelace sections extending between eyelets on a right side of the shoe and the one or more brackets. Thus, sections of the shoelace on the left side and sections of the shoelace on the right side may be formed. Both the left and the right shoelace sections diverge.

In a suitable embodiment, the one or more brackets are arranged such that in use a distance between each shoelace section increases in a direction away from the body. In particular, when the ornamental attachment is positioned between a left row of eyelets and a right row of eyelets of a shoe and laced to the shoe with a shoelace, shoelace sections are defined which extend between the eyelets and the one or more brackets, and a distance between each shoelace section increases in a direction away from the body. In this way, the widening pattern is provided. Because the distance between each shoelace section increases, the shoelace sections diverge from one another.

In another embodiment, the one or more brackets are arranged such that the shoelace sections extend radially. A radial pattern is a simple and attractive visual pattern.

Generally, the one or more brackets are constructed such that a shoelace can extend from one eyelet of the shoe to another eyelet of the shoe via the one or more brackets.

It is possible that the one or more brackets define one or more apertures through which the shoelace can extend. This embodiment allows sturdy fixing of the ornamental attachment to the shoe.

In another embodiment of the invention, at least one bracket is configured to accommodate multiple shoelace sections, such that multiple shoelace sections extend from the same bracket to different eyelets of the shoe. The sharing of shoelace sections by brackets reduces the total number of brackets and allows a more simple design of the ornamental attachment.

The ornamental attachment may be flat, thereby allowing a simple construction and cost-effective manufacturing.

In an embodiment, the one or more brackets extend substantially around an outer circumference of the body. The one or more brackets may extend at a uniform distance from an outer ridge of the body.

This arrangement causes the shoelace sections to end near the outer ridge of the body. This arrangement further allows a flat configuration of the ornamental attachment.

In an embodiment, the ornamental attachment comprises a front plate and a ring mounted to the front plate. A ring can be a simple version of the bracket.

In another embodiment, the one or more brackets are provided behind the body, such that in use the one or more brackets are substantially concealed from a viewer. This embodiment conceals the windings of the shoelace around the one or more brackets from the viewer, such that only the straight portions of the shoelace sections are visible. This adds to the visual effect.

In a suitable embodiment, in use a ring-like bracket is mounted behind the body. It is also possible that other kinds of brackets are mounted behind the body, such as ring sections or hook-like brackets or other kinds of brackets.

In a suitable embodiment, the one or more brackets is/are provided as a ring or as a series of subsections of a ring, the ring or subsections of a ring being connected to the body via one bridging member or via a plurality of bridging members.

In another embodiment, the body comprises a face member which is substantially circular. A circular form provides a simple surface for a graphic image or a text message.

In another embodiment, the ornamental attachment comprises a left bracket and a right bracket, the left bracket being configured to support shoelace sections extending to eyelets on a left side of the shoe, the right bracket being configured to support shoelace sections extending to a right side of the shoe. This embodiment provides an efficient connection with the shoelace and the shoe. The lacing of the shoelace through the aperture defined by the left and right brackets by the wearer of the shoe is relatively simple.

In a suitable embodiment, the body has an ornamental form, chosen from a group comprising: a form of an animal, a form of a text, a form of a known object and a fantasy form. These kinds of forms add to the visual effect of the ornamental attachment.

In another embodiment, the body comprises a flat forward surface, wherein a text, an image, or another visual item is displayed on said surface.

In another embodiment, the ornamental attachment comprises a plurality of brackets which are hook-like members. Hook-like members are simple and also allow easy connection to the shoe via the shoelace.

Generally, the one or more brackets are configured to allow the shoelace to extend around each bracket and extend from one eyelet on a left side of the footwear to another eyelet on a left side of the shoe via the bracket and from one eyelet on a right side of the footwear to another eyelet on a right side of the shoe via the bracket.

The preset invention further relates to a combination of footwear and the ornamental attachment, the ornamental attachment being provided on the footwear in such a way that the shoelace sections form a pattern of lines which extend outwardly away from one another, wherein the ornamental attachment is a center of said visual pattern.

The present invention further relates to a combination of a shoelace and an ornamental attachment. The shoelace may be specifically designed to match with the ornamental design. For instance, the colors of the shoelace may match the colors of the ornamental shoelace. Other tuning of the shoelace to the ornamental attachment is also possible.

The present invention further relates to the use of an ornamental attachment for providing an ornament on a piece of footwear.

The claims and advantages will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description and considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference symbols designate like parts, or parts with the same or similar function.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be further clarified by the following figures:

FIG. 1A shows a view of a shoe comprising the ornamental attachment according to the invention;

FIG. 1B shows a section of a shoe having the ornamental attachment of the invention;

FIG. 2a shows an isometric view of the ornamental attachment according to the invention;

FIG. 2b shows a side view of the ornamental attachment according to the invention;

FIGS. 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g, 3h and 3i show front views of other embodiments of the ornamental attachment according to the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a front view of another embodiment of the ornamental attachment according to the invention;

FIG. 5a shows an isometric view of the back of the embodiment of FIG. 4;

FIG. 5b shows a rear view of the embodiment of FIG. 4;

FIG. 5c shows a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 4;

FIG. 5d shows another side view of the embodiment of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 6a, 6b, 6c and 6d show front views of a shoe comprising further embodiments of the ornamental attachment according to the invention;

FIG. 7 shows a front view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8a shows a rear view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8b shows an isometric view of the embodiment of FIG. 8a; and

FIG. 8c shows a side view of the embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning to FIGS. 1A and 1B, a shoe 20 is shown with an ornamental attachment 10 according to the invention. The ornamental attachment 10 is connected to the shoe 20 via a shoelace 30. The shoe 20 comprises eyelets 12 for the shoelace 30. The eyelets 12 are arranged in two rows 14, 16 and provided in a left flap 13A and a right flap 13 B of the shoe 20. Right row 14 is provided on the right side of the shoe (as viewed in the direction of walking), and left row 16 is provided on the left side of the shoe. Each row 14, 16 of eyelets comprises 6 eyelets 12.

A part of the shoelace extends between each eyelet 12 and the ornamental attachment 10. This part is further referred to as a shoelace section 27. The shoelace sections 27 form a visual pattern. The body 32 forms a center of said visual pattern. The pattern may be a radial pattern. The shoelace sections 27 extend outwardly and away such that a distance 45 between the shoelace sections 27 increases with an increasing distance from the body 32. Parts of the shoelace 30 are concealed from a viewer, because these parts extend behind a part of the ornamental attachment 10.

FIG. 1B shows how shoelace sections 27A extend over the upper side of the bracket 22A, 22b and over the upper side of the flaps 13A, 13B to the respective eyelets 12. Other shoelace sections 27b extend from underneath the bracket 22A, 22B and underneath the flaps 13A, 13B to the eyelets 12. The shoelace sections 27A may be referred to as upper shoelace sections 27A. The shoelace sections 27B may be referred to as lower shoelace sections 27B. The lower shoelace sections are partly concealed by the brackets 22A, 22B, the upper shoelace sections 27A and the flaps 13. When the shoelace 30 is wide, the lower shoelace sections 27B may be completely or almost completely invisible from a viewer, because they are concealed by the upper shoelace sections 27A. It is also possible that due to the lower position of the lower shoelace sections 27B, the lower shoelace sections 27B are less visible or not visible.

Turning to FIGS. 2a and 2b, the ornamental attachment 10 comprises a body 32. The body 32 has a front side 18 which in use is a facing side on which a text, a figure, a portrait or another kind of visual image is shown. The body 32 is circular. Other forms of the body 32 are also possible as will be discussed below.

The ornamental attachment 10 has two brackets 22a, 22b which define two apertures 28. The brackets 22a, 22b are connected to the body 32 via bridging members 24. The brackets 22a, 22b extend around the circumference 33 of the body 32. The brackets 22a, 22b form an annular form or a substantially annular form.

The apertures 28 are configured to allow shoelace sections 27 to be laced through the apertures 28 and extend from an eyelet to the ornamental attachment and back to another eyelet of the shoe 20.

Returning to FIGS. 1A and 1B, at the ornamental attachment, each shoelace section 27 goes over in a next shoelace section 27 via a loop section 29 of the shoelace. The loop sections 29 extend around the bracket 22a, 22b and through the aperture 28. The loop sections 29 are curved. The brackets 22a, 22B are configured to accommodate multiple loop sections 29 on the left side and multiple loop sections on the right side. The loop sections 29 define a transition between an upper shoelace section 27A and a lower shoelace section 27B.

In FIG. 2b, it is shown that the ornamental attachment 10 has a front side 18, a rear side 19 and a flank 26. The ornamental attachment 10 has a thickness 36.

Turning to FIGS. 3a-3i, several variants of the invention are shown. FIG. 3a shows an embodiment with the shape of FIGS. 2a and 2b and with a text displayed on the front side 18 of the body 32.

FIG. 3b shows a variant with a graphic image displayed on the front side 18 of the body 32.

FIG. 3c shows an embodiment wherein the brackets 22a, 22b are circular, but wherein the body 32 has a diamond shape. Other shapes of the body 32 are also possible. It is also possible that the brackets 22a, 22b have a different shape.

FIG. 3d shows an embodiment having six bridging members 24.

FIG. 3e shows an embodiment of the ornamental attachment 10 having a rectangular form. The brackets 22a, 22b are straight and extend along a left side and a right side of the body 32.

FIG. 3f shows an embodiment wherein a square form is provided. The brackets 22a, 22b are substantially straight and extend along a left side 38a and a right side 38b of the body 32.

FIG. 3g shows a star like form of the ornamental attachment 10 of the invention. Both the body 32 and the brackets 22a, 22b define a substantially star-like form.

FIG. 3h shows an embodiment having a substantially hexagonal form.

FIG. 3i shows a heart-like form, wherein both the body 32 and the bracket 22a, 22b have a heart-like form.

Turning to FIGS. 4, 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d another embodiment is shown, wherein the body 32 is provided in front of the brackets 22a, 22b. This provides an increased visual effect, because the shoelace sections 27 appear to be protruding from out of the body 32, when viewed from above.

FIG. 5a shows that the brackets 22a, 22b are connected to the body 32 via bridging members 24 which extend from a back side 19 of the body 32. The brackets 22a, 22b extend coplanar to the body 32 at a distance 40 to the body 32. The brackets 22a, 22b are formed as semi-circles, but other forms are also possible.

FIG. 5b shows that the brackets 22a, 22b extend at a distance 42 from the outer ridge 38 of the body 32. In one embodiment, this distance allows a bend in the shoelace 30 around the bracket to be concealed by the body 32 from the viewer. Further, a short section of shoelace may also be concealed from the viewer. The shoelace sections 27 which are visible to the viewer may be straight. The visible shoelace sections may be spaced apart near the outer ridge 38 of the body, and diverge further from one another as the distance between the shoelace sections from the outer ridge 38 increases.

FIGS. 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d show other embodiments of the ornamental attachment 10 of the invention having brackets provided behind the body 32, wherein FIG. 6a shows a star-like body 32. FIG. 6b shows a body 32 having a form of a flower. FIG. 6c shows a body 32 having a substantially circular form. FIG. 6d shows a body 32 having a combination of a circular form and a text-form. Other forms are also possible.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment having multiple brackets 22a-22f arranged substantially about the body 32.

FIGS. 8a-8c show an embodiment having brackets of a different form. The brackets 22 are hook-like members protruding from the back side 19 of the body 32. It is also possible that the hook-like brackets extend outwardly from the outer ridge 38 of the body 32. It is also possible that each bracket defines an eyelet through which the shoelace is to be laced.

Other forms of the brackets 22 are also possible in order to create the same visual pattern.

It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that numerous other changes in the details and the arrangement of the parts may be varied over considerable range without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An ornamental attachment configured to be connected to a shoe via a shoelace, the ornamental attachment comprising a body and one or more brackets mounted to said body, the one or more brackets being configured such that in use a plurality of shoelace sections extend between eyelets of the shoe and the one or more brackets, wherein the one or more brackets are arranged such that in use a plurality of shoelace sections extend outwardly away from the body and diverge from one another.

2. The ornamental attachment according to claim 1, wherein the one or more brackets are arranged such that in use a plurality of shoelace sections form a widening pattern.

3. The ornamental attachment according to claim 1, wherein the one or more brackets are configured and arranged to accommodate more than two shoelace sections.

4. The ornamental attachment according to claim 1, wherein the one or more brackets are configured to support a plurality of shoelace sections extending between eyelets on a left side of the shoe and the one or more brackets, and to support a plurality of shoelace sections extending between eyelets on a right side of the shoe and the one or more brackets.

5. The ornamental attachment according to claim 1, wherein the one or more brackets are arranged such that when the ornamental attachment is positioned between a left row of eyelets and a right row of eyelets of a shoe and laced to the shoe with a shoelace, shoelace sections are defined which extend between the eyelets and the one or more brackets, and wherein a distance between each shoelace section increases in a direction away from the body.

6. The ornamental attachment according to claim 1, wherein the one or more brackets are arranged such that in use a plurality of the shoelace sections extend radially.

7. The ornamental attachment according to claim 1, wherein the one or more brackets are constructed such that a shoelace can extend from one eyelet of the shoe to another eyelet of the shoe via the one or more brackets.

8. The ornamental attachment according to claim 1, wherein the one or more brackets define one or more apertures through which the shoelace can extend.

9. The ornamental attachment according to claim 1, wherein at least one bracket is configured to accommodate multiple shoelace sections, such that multiple shoelace sections extend from the same bracket to different eyelets of the shoe.

10. The ornamental attachment according to claim 1, wherein the one or more brackets extend substantially around an outer circumference of the body.

11. The ornamental attachment according to claim 1, wherein the ornamental attachment comprises a front plate and a ring mounted to the front plate.

12. The ornamental attachment according to claim 1, wherein the one or more brackets are provided behind the body, such that in use the one or more brackets are substantially concealed from a viewer.

13. (canceled)

14. The ornamental attachment according to claim 1, wherein the one or more brackets is/are provided as a ring or as a series of subsections of a ring, the ring or subsections of a ring being connected to the body via one bridging member or via a plurality of bridging members.

15. The ornamental attachment according to claim 1, wherein the body comprises a face member which is substantially circular.

16. The ornamental attachment according to claim 1, wherein the one or more brackets extend at a substantially uniform distance from an outer ridge of the body.

17. The ornamental attachment according to claim 1, comprising a left bracket and a right bracket, the left bracket being configured to support a plurality of shoelace sections extending between eyelets on a left side of the shoe and the left bracket, the right bracket being configured to support a plurality of shoelace sections extending between eyelets on a right side of the shoe and the right bracket.

18. The ornamental attachment according to claim 1, wherein the body has an ornamental form, chosen from a group comprising: a form of an animal, a form of a text, a form of a known object and a fantasy form.

19. The ornamental attachment according to claim 1, wherein the body comprises a flat forward surface, wherein a text, an image, or another visual item is displayed on said surface.

20. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

22. A combination of footwear and the ornamental attachment of claim 1, the ornamental attachment being provided on the footwear in such a way that the shoelace sections form a pattern of lines which extend outwardly away from one another, wherein the ornamental attachment is a center of said visual pattern.

23. A combination of a shoelace and an ornamental attachment according to claim 1.

24. (canceled)