APPARATUS FOR RELEASABLY SECURING FOOTWEAR

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for releasably securing footwear and, more specifically, to fasteners secured to lateral portions of a pair of shoes that releasably secures the first and second shoes together upon removal from an individual. Advantageously the invention ensures that the shoes are not separated or lost upon removal in, for example, public areas such as indoor playgrounds.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIORITY APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/350,960, filed Jun. 3, 2010, in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. This application incorporates the earlier provisional application by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an apparatus for releasably securing footwear and, more specifically, to multiple fasteners secured to lateral portions of a pair of shoes that releasably secures the first and second shoes together upon removal from an individual. Advantageously the invention ensures that the shoes are not separated or lost upon removal in, for example, public areas such as indoor playgrounds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The apparatus comprises in one embodiment a first fastener secured to a first shoe of a pair, and a second fastener secured to a second shoe of the pair such that the first and second fasteners releasably secure the first and second shoes together upon removal from an individual. The invention prevents shoes from becoming misplaced at indoor playgrounds (e.g., at fast food restaurants), outdoor playgrounds, closets, or at the entrance to a home or office.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention and the manner in which the same are accomplished will become clearer based on the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the apparatus of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

As used herein, it will be appreciated that the terms “fixed” and “secured” may include sewn, made integral with, adhered with adhesive, or bonded with heat. It will be also understood that the terms “section” and “portion” refer to various areas of the shoes. It will be further understood that the term “lateral” refers to the side of the shoe that is adjacent to the lateral portion of a foot upon wear. In contrast, the term “medial” refers to the side of the shoe that is adjacent to the medial portion of a foot upon wear. It further will be understood that the terms “interior surface” and “exterior surface” may be referred to as “inside surface” and “outside surface.” Stated differently, as used herein the term interior surface implies the side of the shoe closest to the foot of the wearer. Thus, it will be understood that the term exterior surface implies the side of the shoe opposite the interior surface (i.e., the side farthest from the foot of the wearer).

An overall view of an embodiment of an apparatus of the present invention is set forth at 10 in the perspective view of FIG. 1. The apparatus comprises a first fastener 11 secured to a first shoe 12 of a pair 13, and a second fastener 14 secured to a second shoe 15 of the pair, wherein the first and second fasteners 11, 14 releasably secure the first and second shoes together upon removal from an individual.

As depicted in FIGS. 1-3, the first and second fasteners 11, 14 may be secured to a lateral portion 16 of the first and second shoes 12, 15. The first and second fasteners 11, 14 are secured to the lateral portion 16 as opposed to medial portion of the shoes to prevent any potential tripping if the individual were very young and the shoes were placed close together during wear or walking.

The first and second fasteners 11, 14 may be sewn into any part of the fabric forming the lateral portion of the shoes 12, 15. In one embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the first and second fasteners 11, 14 may be secured to an upper lateral portion 16 of the first and second shoes 12, 15. In another embodiment depicted in FIG. 3, the first and second fasteners 11, 14 may secured to a lower lateral portion 16 of the first and second shoes 12, 15. More specifically, the first and second fasteners 11, 14 may be secured to a lateral portion 16 of the soles of the first and second shoes 12, 15 (i.e., heel 17 of the shoes).

In one embodiment, the first and second fasteners 11, 14 are magnets having opposite polarities such that the magnets are attracted to one another upon removal when lateral portions 16 of the shoes 13 are placed close to each other, thereby drawing the pair of shoes 13 together. The magnets may be formed from alloys of rare earth elements. Advantageously, the rare earth magnets are the strongest type of permanent magnets and typically have a magnetic field in excess of 1.4 teslas.

In another embodiment, the first and second fasteners 11, 14 may be formed of corresponding hook-and-loop fasteners.

The invention may also include decorative devices 18 that are releasably secured against the first and second fasteners 11, 14 of the shoes. The devices 18 include a fastener 19 that that releasably secures the device to the first and second fasteners 11, 14. In one embodiment, the fastener 19 of the decorative devices 18 is a magnet having an opposite polarity than the first and second fasteners 11, 14. In another embodiment, the fastener 19 may be formed of hooks or loops that correspondingly engage the hook-and-loop fasteners of one embodiment of the first and second fasteners 11, 14.

The decorative devices 18 may be in any number of shapes such as butterflies, flowers, and the like. Accordingly, the devices 18 provide the option of enhancing the appearance of the shoes at the discretion of the wearer. The devices 18 may be releasably secured to the shoes during wear, and then removed prior to releasably securing the shoes together when taken off. Upon removal, the devices 18 may be placed in a pocket or purse or any suitable container to avoid loss.

In use, an individual (e.g., a child) wearing the invention 10 would remove her shoes 13 prior to entry into, for example, an indoor playground at a fast-food restaurant. Thereafter, she would place the shoes 13 on the floor surface adjacent to one another such that the lateral portions 16 of the shoes bearing the first and second fasteners 11, 14 face one another. In one embodiment, the magnets forming the first and second fasteners 11, 14 would attract one another and draw the shoes 13 together. Alternatively, these steps may be taken while holding the shoes prior to placement on the floor surface.

In another embodiment, the user would remove her shoes 13 and releasably secure the corresponding hook-and-loop fasteners on the lateral portions of the shoes to one another.

Upon return to the shoes 13, the user would separate the shoes 13, position them on the floor, and place the shoes on her feet. Advantageously, the shoes 13 would not become separated due to contact with other individuals who are similarly removing their shoes or playing the local area. Moreover, the invention would prevent the misplacing of shoes 13 placed in closets or storage areas. Still further, the invention would prevent shoes 13 from becoming misplaced at entrances to houses or buildings and facilitate a neat and orderly arrangement thereof.

In another embodiment, the invention includes a pair of shoes 13 that are releasably secured to one another. The pair of shoes incorporates an apparatus 10 for releasably securing the pair of shoes. The apparatus includes a first fastener 11 secured to a first shoe 12 of the pair 13, and a second fastener 14 secured to a second shoe 15 of the pair. This embodiment also includes at least one decorative device 18 that is releasably securable to the first and second fasteners 11, 14. The first and second fasteners 11, 14 are secured to a lateral portion of the first and second shoes, and the first and second fasteners releasably secure the first and second shoes together upon removal from an individual.

In one embodiment, the first and second fasteners 11, 14 are secured to an upper lateral portion 16 of the first and second shoes 12, 15. In another embodiment the first and second fasteners 11, 14 are secured to a lower lateral portion 16 of the first and second shoes.

The first and second fasteners may include magnets having opposite polarities, or corresponding hook-and-loop fasteners.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed typical embodiments on the invention and, although specific terms have been employed, they have been used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus for releasably securing footwear, said apparatus comprising:

a first fastener secured to a first shoe of a pair; and

a second fastener secured to a second shoe of said pair;

wherein said first and second fasteners releasably secure the first and second shoes together upon removal from an individual.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first and second fasteners are secured to a lateral portion of the first and second shoes.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first and second fasteners are secured to an upper lateral portion of the first and second shoes.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first and second fasteners are secured to a lower lateral portion of the first and second shoes.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first and second fasteners are secured to a lateral portion of the soles of the first and second shoes.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first and second fasteners are magnets having opposite polarities.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first and second fasteners are corresponding hook-and-loop fasteners.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising at least one decorative device that is releasably securable to said first and second fasteners.

9. An apparatus for releasably securing footwear, said apparatus comprising:

a first fastener secured to a first shoe of a pair; and

a second fastener secured to a second shoe of said pair;

wherein said first and second fasteners are secured to a lateral portion of the first and second shoes; and

wherein said first and second fasteners releasably secure the first and second shoes together upon removal from an individual.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said first and second fasteners are secured to an upper lateral portion of the first and second shoes.

11. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said first and second fasteners are secured to a lower lateral portion of the first and second shoes.

12. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said first and second fasteners are secured to a lateral portion of the soles of the first and second shoes.

13. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said first and second fasteners are magnets having opposite polarities.

14. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said first and second fasteners are corresponding hook-and-loop fasteners.

15. An apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising at least one decorative device that is releasably securable to said first and second fasteners.

16. A pair of shoes that are releasably secured to one another, said pair comprising:

an apparatus for releasably securing said pair of shoes, said apparatus having a first fastener secured to a first shoe of said pair, and a second fastener secured to a second shoe of said pair; and

at least one decorative device that is releasably securable to said first and second fasteners;

wherein said first and second fasteners are secured to a lateral portion of said first and second shoes; and

wherein said first and second fasteners releasably secure the first and second shoes together upon removal from an individual.

17. A pair of shoes according to claim 16 further comprising at least one decorative device that is releasably securable to said first and second fasteners.

18. A pair of shoes according to claim 16 wherein said first and second fasteners are secured to an upper lateral portion of said first and second shoes.

19. A pair of shoes according to claim 16 wherein said first and second fasteners are secured to a lower lateral portion of said first and second shoes.

20. A pair of shoes according to claim 16 wherein said first and second fasteners are magnets having opposite polarities.

21. A pair of shoes according to claim 16 wherein said first and second fasteners are corresponding hook-and-loop fasteners.