ACCESSORY FOR DECORATING DIVERSE ARTICLES OF MANUFACTURE

Abstract

An accessory decorates diverse articles of manufacture, by being mounted on a flexible, elongated, support element, e.g., a wire of a headphone assembly, or a string of a bracelet assembly; or by being mounted on support surfaces of clothing, such as hats, shoes, pants and shirts, or other items, such as protective cases for mobile electronic devices, or sleeves supported by eyeglass frames. Multiple such decorative accessories are collected in a kit, and are mounted on any of such articles and interchanged, one with another.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/670,272, filed Jul. 11, 2012.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to a decorative accessory for decorating diverse articles of manufacture, by being mounted on a flexible, elongated, support element, e.g., a wire of a headphone assembly, or a string of a bracelet assembly; or by being mounted on support surfaces of clothing, such as hats, shoes, pants and shirts, or other items, such as protective cases for mobile electronic devices, or sleeves supported by eyeglass frames; and, more particularly, to a kit of such decorative accessories, each of which may be mounted on any of such articles and interchanged, one with another.

BACKGROUND

Headphone assemblies are articles of manufacture that include a pair of small loudspeakers which are designed to be held in place close to a user's ears, and typically include a pair of wires which allow the loudspeakers to be connected via an input plug into a jack of an audio signal source, such as an audio amplifier, a radio, a CD/DVD player, a portable media player, a computer, a tablet, a smartphone, a video game console, and like audio sources. In-ear versions are commonly known as earphones or earbuds. If a microphone is added, the resulting combination is commonly known as a headset. Headphone assemblies are generally used to prevent other people from hearing the sounds broadcast by the loudspeakers, either for privacy or to prevent disturbance to others, as in listening in a public library. Headphone assemblies can also provide a level of sound fidelity greater than room loudspeakers of similar cost.

As advantageous as such headphone assemblies are, many users desire to uniquely express themselves through, and/or individualize, their audio equipment. For example, protective cases for portable music players/smartphones have long been available in different colors and/or overlain by decals and/or imprinted with various words, designs, corporate logos, and like indicia, such as licensed images relating to a user's favorite sports team or music group. As another example, headphone assemblies may be sold with designs on the exterior of the earbuds. However, these earbud designs are typically too small to be noticed or effective.

Accordingly, there is a need to easily and inexpensively decorate headphone assemblies and like articles that include at least one flexible, elongated, support element, such as a wire, string, cord, filament, or thread, etc., so that a user can uniquely and visibly express himself or herself by customizing the headphone assemblies with one or more decorative accessories mounted anywhere on the support element, and to readily exchange one such accessory with another accessory from a kit or collection of such accessories.

There is also a need to easily and inexpensively decorate other articles of manufacture, other than such headphone assemblies. For example, a user may wish to uniquely and visibly express himself or herself by customizing the aforementioned protective cases by mounting one or more decorative accessories on support surfaces of such cases. A user may also wish to customize his or her clothing, including hats, shoes, pants and shirts by mounting one or more decorative accessories on support surfaces of such clothing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated in and form part of the specification, and serve to further illustrate embodiments of concepts that include the claimed invention, and explain various principles and advantages of those embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a partially broken-away, perspective view of a pair of accessories mounted on a pair of wires of a headphone assembly in accordance with one embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, exploded view showing one type of interconnection between a pair of parts of one of the accessories of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, broken-away, sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, broken-away, sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a plurality of accessories mounted on strings of a bracelet assembly in accordance with another embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, broken-away, sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, broken-away, sectional view taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a view analogous to FIG. 3, but showing a different type of interconnection for an accessory.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an accessory whose parts are interconnected by the interconnection of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a protective case partly decorated with parts of accessories, one of which is shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged, broken-away, sectional view taken on line 12-12 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged, broken-away, sectional view taken on line 13-13 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged, broken-away, sectional view taken on line 14-14 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 is a perspective, exploded view of a hat partly decorated with parts of accessories, one of which is shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 16 is a top plan view of a shoe decorated with accessories in one orientation.

FIG. 17 is a top plan view of the shoe of FIG. 16 decorated with accessories in an opposite orientation.

FIG. 18 is an exploded, perspective view of a pair of two-part accessories for mounting on a pair of wires of a headphone assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention.

Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.

The structural components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In accordance with one feature of this invention, an accessory is provided for decorating various articles of manufacture. For example, one such article has a flexible, elongated, support element, such as a wire of a headphone assembly, or a string of a bracelet assembly, or for that matter, any cord, filament, or thread that is part of any assembly to be decorated by the accessory. The accessory includes a first part having a first outer decorative surface and a first inner surface, and a second part having a second outer surface, either plain or decorated, and a second inner surface. Advantageously, the first and second parts are respectively configured as a front and a back of a three-dimensional figurine, and the first and second outer decorative surfaces are respectively configured to bear a front and a rear of a head of the figurine. The first and second parts may be different in appearance, or they can be identical. Preferably, the first and second parts are molded of a synthetic plastic material, such as a lightweight foam.

The accessory further includes a pair of complementary fasteners at the first and second inner surfaces, for interconnecting the first and second parts in a closed state in which the outer decorative surfaces is visible. Preferably, the complementary fasteners are male and female snaps mounted at the first and second inner surfaces, for interconnecting the first and second parts with a snap action in the closed state. Fasteners, other than snaps, such as hook-and-loop fasteners, or other connectors that interconnect, for example, by a friction-fit, or by adhesion, can also be used. Advantageously, the first and second inner surfaces are in surface area contact in the closed state.

The first and second parts in the closed state extend along a longitudinal direction lengthwise of the support element, and along a transverse direction that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The accessory yet further includes a groove formed in, and extending linearly along the longitudinal or the transverse direction along, the first or the second inner surface, for at least partially receiving and capturing the support element between the first and second parts in the closed state. Preferably, the groove is formed in, and extends linearly along, both the first and second inner surfaces, to entirely capture the support element between the first and second parts in the closed state. Advantageously, two grooves are formed in at least one of the first and second inner surfaces. One groove may extend linearly along the longitudinal direction, and the other groove may extend linearly along the transverse direction. Thus, the accessory may be mounted on the support element that is received in either of the mutually perpendicular grooves.

As another example, the article may have a support surface on which the accessory is mounted. The support surface may be on virtually any item, such as clothing, including hats, shoes, pants and shirts, or other items, such as protective cases for mobile electronic devices, or sleeves supported by eyeglass frames. In this example, the accessory includes a decorative part having an outer surface and an inner surface; and a pair of hermaphrodite fasteners, each having both male and female connectors, at the inner surface of the decorative part and the support surface of the article, for connecting the decorative part to the article in a mounted state in which the outer surface of the decorative part is visible.

Advantageously, the fastener on the decorative part extends away from the inner surface along a first axis. A pair of the male connectors on the decorative part is spaced apart and is angularly offset in one circumferential direction away from the first axis. A pair of the female connectors on the decorative part is spaced apart and is angularly offset in an opposite circumferential direction away from the first axis. The fastener on the article extends away from the support surface along a second axis. A pair of the female connectors on the article is spaced apart and is angularly offset in one circumferential direction away from the second axis. A pair of the male connectors on the article is spaced apart and is angularly offset in an opposite circumferential direction away from the second axis.

Multiple such accessories are collected in a kit, and any one or more accessories, or parts thereof, may be selected by a user from the kit for mounting anywhere on one or more support elements and/or one or more support surfaces. Any one or more of such mounted accessories, or parts thereof, may be detached and removed from the support elements and/or support surfaces and replaced by other accessories, or parts thereof, from the kit.

Turning now to the drawings, reference numeral 10 in FIG. 1 generally identifies an exemplary accessory for mounting on a flexible, elongated, support element 30, such as a wire of a headphone assembly 50 (see FIGS. 1-5), or a string of a bracelet assembly 60 (see FIGS. 6-8), or, for that matter, any cord, filament, or thread that is part of any assembly to be decorated by one or more accessories 10. The support element 30 is illustrated with a circular cross-section, but could be configured with cross-sections of different shapes. Each accessory 10 includes a first part 12 having a first outer decorative surface 14 and a first inner surface 16, and a second part 18 having a second outer decorative surface 20 and a second inner surface 22. The first and second parts 12, 18 are illustrated as being different in appearance, but they can be identical. Advantageously, the first and second parts 12, 18 are respectively configured as a front and a back of a three-dimensional figurine, and the first and second outer decorative surfaces 14, 20 are respectively configured to bear a front and a rear of a head of the figurine.

Preferably, the first and second parts 12, 18 are molded of a synthetic plastic material, such as a lightweight foam. Other materials could be employed. The first and second parts 12, 18 can be separate, discrete members, or they can be interconnected by a living hinge in a one-piece construction, or can be hinged together by a pivot pin. The first and second outer decorative surfaces 14, 20 need not be configured to form a figurine as illustrated, but could be configured to form any ornamental item, e.g., a sports item, a musical item, a cartoon character, a toy item, a flower, etc., whether or not three-dimensional, and may bear indicia. It is even contemplated that the first and second parts 12, 18 need not necessarily be configured as purely an ornamental item, but could even be configured as a utilitarian item, such as a house or car key.

Each accessory 10 further includes a pair of complementary fasteners 24, 26 (see FIG. 3) at the first and second inner surfaces 16, 22, for interconnecting the first and second parts 12, 18 in a closed state in which at least one of the first and second outer decorative surfaces 14, 20 is visible. Preferably, the complementary fasteners 24, 26 are male and female snaps mounted at the first and second inner surfaces 16, 22, for interconnecting the first and second parts 12, 18 with a snap action in the closed state. Fasteners, other than snaps, such as hook-and-loop fasteners, or other connectors that interconnect, for example, by a friction-fit, or by adhesion, can also be used. Advantageously, the first and second inner surfaces 16, 22 are in surface area contact in the closed state. Also, the first and second parts 12, 18 in the closed state extend along a longitudinal direction, e.g., the height of the figurine, lengthwise of the support element 30, and along a transverse direction, e.g., the width of the figurine, that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

Each accessory 10 yet further includes a generally U-shaped groove 28A formed in, and extending linearly along the longitudinal direction along, the first inner surface 16, for at least partially receiving and capturing the support element 30 between the first and second parts 12, 18 in the closed state. Preferably, another generally U-shaped groove 28B is formed in, and extends linearly along the longitudinal direction along, the second inner surface 22, for at least partially receiving and capturing the support element 30 between the first and second parts 12, 18 in the closed state. The two U-shaped grooves 28A, 28B are aligned and juxtaposed with each other to form a composite, generally circular groove that entirely circumferentially captures the support element 30 between the first and second parts 12, 18, in the closed state. The two U-shaped grooves 28A, 28B extend through and past the fasteners 24, 26 along the entire height of the accessory 10.

Each accessory 10 yet further includes an additional generally U-shaped groove 32A formed in, and extending linearly along the transverse direction along, the first inner surface 16, for at least partially receiving and capturing the support element 30 between the first and second parts 12, 18 in the closed state. Preferably, another additional generally U-shaped groove 32B is formed in, and extends linearly along the transverse direction along, the second inner surface 22, for at least partially receiving and capturing the support element 30 between the first and second parts 12, 18 in the closed state. The two U-shaped grooves 32A, 32B are aligned and juxtaposed with each other to form another composite, generally circular groove that entirely circumferentially captures the support element 30 between the first and second parts 12, 18 in the closed state. The two U-shaped grooves 32A, 32B extend through and past the fasteners 24, 26 along the entire width of the accessory 10.

In the headphone assembly 50 of FIGS. 1-5, each support element 30 is preferably received in the grooves 28A, 28B since the wires generally hang vertically during wear. In the bracelet assembly 60 of FIGS. 1-5, each support element 30 is shown received in the grooves 32A, 32B since the strings generally extend horizontally across a wrist 40 during wear, although each support element 30 could also be received in the grooves 28A, 28B. Thus, each accessory 10 may be mounted anywhere on, and along, the support element 30 that is received in either the grooves 28A, 28B, or the grooves 32A, 32B.

Advantageously, each accessory 10 is clamped on the support element 30 so that the accessory does not unintentionally slide along the support element. Multiple such accessories 10 are preferably collected in, and sold as, a kit, and any one or more accessories 10 therefrom, or parts thereof, may be selected by a user for mounting anywhere on one or more support elements 30. Any one or more of such mounted accessories 10 may be detached and removed from the support elements 30 and replaced by other accessories 10 from the kit. When separate front and back parts are employed, multiple front parts can be selectively connected to a single back part. The outer decorative surfaces 14, 20 are clearly visible in use, i.e., when the headphone assembly 50 or the bracelet assembly 60 are worn by the user.

Turning now to FIGS. 9-17, one or more accessories 110 are provided for decorating other articles of manufacture having respective support surfaces. By way of non-limiting example, as shown in FIG. 11, a support surface 130 may be provided on a protective case 100 for a mobile electronic device, such as a cellular phone, or, as shown in FIG. 15, a support surface 130 may be provided on a hat 200, or on any other clothing including shoes 300 (see FIGS. 16-17), pants and shirts. Virtually any item, such as sleeves supported by eyeglass frames, can also be so decorated. The support surface 130 may be constituted of virtually any hard/soft/resilient material, such as a hard/resilient plastic in the case of the case 100, or a soft, flexible fabric in the case of the hat 200, or a resilient rubber/plastic in the case of the shoe 300.

The accessory 110 includes a decorative part 112 having an outer surface 114 and an inner surface 116, and a pair of hermaphrodite (genderless) fasteners 124, 126. Fastener 124 has two male connectors 124A and two female connectors 124B at the inner surface 116 of the decorative part 112. Fastener 126 has two male connectors 126A and two female connectors 126B at the support surface 130 of the article 100, 200, 300. The fasteners 124, 126 connect the decorative part 112 to the article 100, 200, 300 in a mounted state in which the outer surface 114 of the decorative part 112 is visible.

The fastener 124 on the decorative part 112 extends away from the inner surface 116 along a first axis 142. The male connectors 124A on the decorative part 112 are spaced apart and are angularly offset, e.g., 45 degrees, in one circumferential direction away from the first axis 142. The female connectors 124B on the decorative part 112 are spaced apart and are angularly offset, e.g., 45 degrees, in an opposite circumferential direction away from the first axis 142. Similarly, the fastener 126 on the article 100, 200, 300 extends away from the support surface 130 along a second axis 144. The male connectors 126A on the article 100, 200, 300 are spaced apart and are angularly offset, e.g., 45 degrees, in one circumferential direction away from the second axis 144. The female connectors 126B on the article 100, 200, 300 are spaced apart and are angularly offset, e.g., 45 degrees, in an opposite circumferential direction away from the second axis 144. In the mounted state, the male connectors 124A mate with the female connectors 126B, and the male connectors 126A mate with the female connectors 124B, and the axes 142, 144 are collinear. Fasteners, other than hermaphrodite fasteners, such as hook-and-loop fasteners, or other connectors that interconnect, for example, by a friction-fit, or by adhesion, can also be used. Advantageously, the inner surface 116 and the support surface 130 are in surface area contact in the mounted state.

Each decorative part 112, just like the above-described first part 12, is preferably molded of a synthetic plastic material, such as a lightweight foam, and is preferably different in appearance. Advantageously, the decorative part 112 is configured as a front of a three-dimensional figurine, although other configurations are contemplated. FIG. 12 depicts a variation, as described in detail below, in which two identical decorative parts 112 and 140 are connected in back-to-back relation. The decorative part 112 has the fastener 124 as described above, and the decorative part 140 has the fastener 126 as described above.

As shown in FIGS. 16-17, where the accessories 110 are shown in simplified fashion, each accessory can be mounted on the article 300 so that they face away from the wearer (FIG. 16), or in an opposite orientation in which they face toward the wearer (FIG. 17).

As described so far, each decorative part 112 (or 140) can be interchangeably mounted on each support surface 130. The decorative parts 112 and 140 can also be interchangeably mounted on the above-described support element 30, by providing each decorative part 112 with a generally U-shaped groove 128A formed in, and extending linearly along the longitudinal direction along, the inner surface 116, for at least partially receiving and capturing the support element 30 between the decorative parts 112, 140 in the mounted state. Preferably, another generally U-shaped groove 128B is formed in, and extends linearly along the longitudinal direction along, an inner surface of the decorative part 140, for at least partially receiving and capturing the support element 30 between the first and second parts 112, 140 in the mounted state. The two U-shaped grooves 128A, 128B are aligned and juxtaposed with each other to form a composite, generally circular groove that entirely circumferentially captures the support element 30 between the first and second parts 112, 140 in the mounted state. The two U-shaped grooves 128A, 128B extend through and past the fasteners 124, 126 along the entire height of the decorative parts 112, 140.

Each decorative part 112 yet further includes an additional generally U-shaped groove 132A formed in, and extending linearly along the transverse direction along, the inner surface 116, for at least partially receiving and capturing the support element 30 between the first and second parts 112, 140 in the mounted state. Preferably, another additional generally U-shaped groove 132B is formed in, and extends linearly along the transverse direction along, an inner surface of the decorative part 140, for at least partially receiving and capturing the support element 30 between the first and second parts 112, 140 in the mounted state. The two U-shaped grooves 132A, 132B are aligned and juxtaposed with each other to form another composite, generally circular groove that entirely circumferentially captures the support element 30 between the first and second parts 112, 140 in the mounted state. The two U-shaped grooves 132A, 132B extend through and past the fasteners 124, 126 along the entire width of the decorative parts 112, 140.

A preferred embodiment of the accessory is depicted in FIG. 18, in which the aforementioned first part and the aforementioned second part are each comprised of a pair of sections, and in which the aforementioned fasteners are each integral with one of the sections. Thus, the accessory 400 of FIG. 18 is mounted on the aforementioned support element 30, and comprises a first part 402 and a second part 404. The first part 402 has an exterior section or front charm 406 with an outer decorative surface 408, and an interior section 410 having a pair of male connectors 412A and a pair of female connectors 412B extending away from a base 414 and circumferentially arranged, as described above for the hermaphrodite (genderless) fasteners of FIG. 9. The second part 404 has an exterior section or rear charm 416 with an outer surface 418, and an interior section 420 having a pair of male connectors 422A and a pair of female connectors 422B extending away from a base 424 and circumferentially arranged, as described above for the hermaphrodite (genderless) fasteners of FIG. 9. The base 424 is received and fixed in a cylindrical bore 426 in the rear charm 416, and similarly, the base 414 is received and fixed in a cylindrical bore in the front charm 406. The male connectors 412A are received in, and connected to, the female connectors 422B, while the male connectors 422A are received in, and connected to, the female connectors 412B, thereby connecting the parts 402, 404 together. Longitudinal grooves 426 extend through each section of each part, and transverse grooves 428 extend through each section of each part in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal grooves 426.

In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present teachings. For example, although the parts 12, 18 of the figurine are illustrated as being divided along an upright, frontal plane, they could also be divided along a transverse plane where the parts 12, 18 would be configured as upper and lower halves of the figurine.

The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued.

Moreover in this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “has,” “having,” “includes,” “including,” “contains,” “containing,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, or contains a list of elements does not include only those elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises . . . a,” “has . . . a,” “includes . . . a,” or “contains . . . a,” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, or contains the element. The terms “a” and “an” are defined as one or more unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. The terms “substantially,” “essentially,” “approximately,” “about,” or any other version thereof, are defined as being close to as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and in one non-limiting embodiment the term is defined to be within 10%, in another embodiment within 5%, in another embodiment within 1%, and in another embodiment within 0.5%. The term “coupled” as used herein is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly and not necessarily mechanically. A device or structure that is “configured” in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.

Claims

1. An accessory for decorating an article of manufacture having a flexible, elongated, support element, comprising:

a first part having an outer decorative surface and a first inner surface;

a second part having a second outer surface and a second inner surface;

a pair of complementary fasteners at the first and second inner surfaces, for interconnecting the first and second parts in a closed state in which the outer decorative surface is visible; and

a groove formed in, and extending linearly along, at least one of the first and second inner surfaces, for at least partially receiving and capturing the support element between the first and second parts in the closed state.

2. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the second outer surface is decorative;

wherein the first and second parts are respectively configured as a front and a back of a three-dimensional figurine; and wherein the first and second outer decorative surfaces are respectively configured to bear a front and a rear of a head of the figurine.

3. The accessory of claim 2, wherein the first and second outer decorative surfaces are identical.

4. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the first and second parts in the closed state extend along a longitudinal direction, and wherein the first and second parts are configured as a pair of sections of a three-dimensional figurine cut in a plane along the longitudinal direction.

5. The accessory of claim 1, wherein each part includes a pair of sections, and wherein each fastener is integral with a respective one of the sections.

6. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the complementary fasteners include male and female snaps mounted at the first and second inner surfaces, for interconnecting the first and second parts with a snap action in the closed state.

7. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the complementary fasteners include hermaphrodite snap fasteners mounted at the first and second inner surfaces, for interconnecting the first and second parts with a snap action in the closed state.

8. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the first and second parts in the closed state extend along mutually perpendicular directions, and wherein the groove extends along one of the directions.

9. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the groove extends linearly along another of the first and second inner surfaces.

10. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the first and second parts in the closed state extend along a longitudinal direction lengthwise of the support element, and a transverse direction that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and wherein the groove extends along the longitudinal direction; and further comprising another groove formed in at least one of the first and second inner surfaces, and extending linearly along the transverse direction.

11. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the groove is configured to receive one of a flexible, elongated wire of a headphone assembly and a flexible, elongated string of a bracelet assembly.

12. An accessory for decorating an article of manufacture having a support surface, comprising:

a decorative part having an outer surface and an inner surface;

a pair of hermaphrodite fasteners, each having both male and female connectors, at the inner surface of the decorative part and the support surface of the article, for connecting the decorative part to the article in a mounted state in which the outer surface of the decorative part is visible.

13. The accessory of claim 12, wherein the fastener on the decorative part extends away from the inner surface along a first axis, wherein a pair of the male connectors on the decorative part are spaced apart and are angularly offset in one circumferential direction away from the first axis, and wherein a pair of the female connectors on the decorative part are spaced apart and are angularly offset in an opposite circumferential direction away from the first axis.

14. The accessory of claim 13, wherein the fastener on the article extends away from the support surface along a second axis, wherein a pair of the female connectors on the article are spaced apart and are angularly offset in one circumferential direction away from the second axis, and wherein a pair of the male connectors on the article are spaced apart and are angularly offset in an opposite circumferential direction away from the second axis.

15. The accessory of claim 12, and further comprising another decorative part having an outer surface, and an inner surface; and further comprising a groove formed in, and extending linearly along, at least one of the inner surfaces, for at least partially receiving and capturing a flexible, elongated, support element between the decorative parts in the mounted state.

16. A kit for decorating articles of manufacture, comprising:

a plurality of accessories for interchangeable mounting on support surfaces of the articles, each accessory including a decorative part having an outer surface and an inner surface; and a pair of complementary fasteners at the inner surface of the decorative part and a respective support surface of a respective article, for interconnecting the decorative part to the article in a mounted state in which the outer surface of the decorative part is visible.

17. The kit of claim 16, wherein the fasteners include a pair of hermaphrodite fasteners, each having both male and female connectors, at the inner surface of the decorative part and at the support surface of the article,

18. The kit of claim 16, wherein each accessory has another decorative part having an outer surface, and an inner surface; and further comprising a groove formed in, and extending linearly along, at least one of the inner surfaces, for at least partially receiving and capturing a flexible, elongated, support element between the decorative parts in the mounted state.