REMOVABLE ACCESSORIES FOR FOOTWEAR AND FOOTWEAR WITH REMOVABLE ACCESSORIES
Footwear having an upper section for extending over a wearer's foot, the surface having an opening, and an accessory having a projection received in the opening, and an accessory for footwear.
This application is based upon and claims priority on U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/898,173, filed on Oct. 31, 2013, the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUNDFootwear, as for example flip-flops and sandals come with uppers having a a predefined design and color. If different colors or designs on the footwear are desired, a new pair of footwear is required. A system that would allow one to change at least some of the color and/or design in footwear as well as to add accessories to the footwear is desirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn an example embodiment footwear is provided having an upper section for extending over a wearer's foot, the upper section having an opening, and an accessory having a projection received in the opening. In another example embodiment, the protrusion includes an L-shape in cross-section and the opening includes an L-shape in cross-section. In a further example embodiment, the protrusion includes a first portion extending transversely from a surface of the accessory and a second portion extending transversely from the first portion. The opening includes a first portion extending through an entire thickness of the upper section and a second portion extending from the opening first portion and extending partially through the thickness of the upper section, and the protrusion second portion is received into the opening second portion. In yet another example embodiment, the upper section includes an upper surface opposite a lower surface, and the opening second section extends from the lower surface and does not extend to the upper surface and the protrusion second section is generally flush with the lower surface. In a further example embodiment, the protrusion includes a bulbous shape and the opening includes a bulbous shape. In yet a further example embodiment, the footwear further includes a connector connecting the upper section to a sole, and the connector includes an opening for receiving a projection from another accessory. In another example embodiment, the another accessory projection includes a bulbous shape in cross-section. In one example embodiment, the another accessory projection includes a neck portion including a first width and a larger portion extending from the neck portion including a second width greater than the first width, and the connector opening includes a neck portion having a third width and a larger portion extending from the connector opening neck portion having a fourth width greater than the third width, such that the neck portion of the projection is received in the neck portion of the connector opening and the larger portion of the projection is received in the larger portion of the connector opening, and the fourth width is greater than the first width. In an example embodiment, the upper section is a strap. In another example embodiment, the footwear is a flip-flop.
In a further example embodiment a flip-flop is provided including a strap, a connector connecting the strap to a sole, and an accessory having a projection received in the opening. In one example embodiment, the accessory projection includes a neck portion including a first width and a larger portion extending from the neck portion including a second width greater than the first width, and the connector opening includes a neck portion having a third width and a larger portion extending from the connector opening neck portion having a fourth width greater than the third width, such that the neck portion of the projection is received in the neck portion of the connector opening and the larger portion of the projection is received in the larger portion of the connector opening, and the fourth width is greater than the first width.
In another example embodiment, an accessory for footwear including at least a projection is provided. The projection is L-shaped in cross-section and includes a first portion extending transversely from a surface of the accessory and a second portion extending transversely from the first portion.
In yet another example embodiment, an accessory for footwear is provided including at least a projection which is bulbous.
Footwear such as flip-flops 10 include a sole 12 and an upper section such as a strap 14 attached to the sole, as for example shown in
In an example embodiment, the strap 14 includes perforations or openings 30 to accommodate projections 32, extending from each flap 24, as for example shown in
The projections of the flaps may be inserted into their corresponding openings in any order. Applicant has discovered that inserting the projections in series beginning with the most forward projection works well.
In another example embodiment, instead of L-shape openings, the strap 14 is provided with bulbous openings or depressions 48 which receive bulbous projections 50 extending from the flap 24 as for example shown in
A central accessory or center piece, such as accessory 26 in one example embodiment as shown in
Other shaped projections and depressions may be used in alternate embodiments to allow for the releasable connection of an accessory to a strap, or connector such as the connector of a flip-flop.
As can be seen with the example embodiments, a single pair of footwear such as flip-flops may be accessorized with different flaps having different designs, colors, etc., and/or different center pieces, and/or other accessories that can be easily connected to and easily removed from the flip-flop and which stay connected to the footwear when they are being worn and used.
While the example embodiments have been described in relation to flip-flops, it should be understood that the disclosed accessories may be used with other footwear as well for accessorizing the same. For example the accessories may be used with sandals. Moreover, the accessories may have other shapes. For example the flap may be rectangular and may include a plurality of projections arranged to cover an area. For example, the projections may form rows and columns.
While the present disclosure has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments can be devised which do not depart from the scope of the invention as disclosed herein. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the attached claims.
Claims
1. A footwear comprising:
- an upper section for extending over a wearer's foot, said upper section having an opening; and
- an accessory having a projection received in the opening.
2. The footwear of claim 1, wherein the protrusion comprises an L-shape in cross-section and wherein the opening comprises an L-shape in cross-section.
3. The footwear of claim 2, the protrusion comprises a first portion extending transversely from a surface of the accessory and a second portion extending transversely from the first portion, wherein the opening comprises a first portion extending through an entire thickness of the upper section and a second portion extending from the opening first portion and extending partially through said thickness of said upper section, wherein said protrusion second portion is received into said opening second portion.
4. The footwear of claim 3, wherein said upper section comprises an upper surface opposite a lower surface, wherein said opening second section extends from said lower surface and does not extend to said upper surface and wherein said protrusion second section is generally flush with said lower surface.
5. The footwear of claim 1, wherein the protrusion comprises a bulbous shape and wherein the opening comprises a bulbous shape.
6. The footwear of claim 1, further comprising a connector connecting the upper section to a sole, wherein the connector comprises an opening for receiving a projection from another accessory.
7. The footwear of claim 6, wherein said another accessory projection comprises a bulbous shape in cross-section.
8. The footwear of claim 7, wherein said another accessory projection comprises a neck portion comprising a first width and a larger portion extending from the neck portion comprising a second width greater than the first width, and wherein the connector opening comprises a neck portion having a third width and a larger portion extending from the connector opening neck portion having a fourth width greater than the third width, wherein the neck portion of the projection is received in the neck portion of the connector opening and the larger portion of the projection is received in the larger portion of the connector opening, wherein the fourth width is greater than the first width.
9. The footwear of claim 1, wherein the upper section is a strap.
10. The footwear of claim 8, wherein the footwear is a flip-flop.
11. A flip-flop comprising:
- a strap;
- a connector connecting the strap to a sole; and
- an accessory having a projection received in the opening.
12. The flip-flop of claim 11, wherein the projection is bulbous comprising a neck portion comprising a first width and a larger portion extending from the neck portion comprising a second width greater than the first width, and wherein the opening comprises a neck portion having a third width and a larger portion extending from the opening neck portion having a fourth width greater than the third width, wherein the neck portion of the projection is received in the neck portion of the opening and the larger portion of the projection is received in the larger portion of the opening, wherein the fourth width is greater than the first width.
13. An accessory for footwear comprising at least a projection wherein said at least a projection is L-shaped in cross-section and comprising a first portion extending transversely from a surface of said accessory and a second portion extending transversely from the first portion.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 22, 2013
Publication Date: Apr 30, 2015
Applicant: BACK BEAT, INC. (Austin, TX)
Inventor: MARY BONCUTTER (AUSTIN, TX)
Application Number: 14/088,249
International Classification: A43B 23/24 (20060101); A43B 3/12 (20060101);