INTERCHANGEABLE AND REMOVABLE PERSONAL ADORNMENT ACCESSORIES

Abstract

A removably attachable adornment device includes an adornment body having a front surface and a rear surface; a first portion of hook and loop fastener material attached to the rear surface; and one or more attachment members extending from the rear surface. Each attachment member includes a first end attached to the adornment body and a second end having a complementary portion of hook and loop fastener material to removably attach to the first portion of hook and loop fastener.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application 62/501,642, filed May 4, 2017, and titled “Removable Accessories for Flip-Flop or Sandal Type Footwear.”

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This application relates to personal accessories and, more specifically, to interchangeable and removable personal adornments attachable to a variety of items, such as a shoe or a handbag.

BACKGROUND

Fashion accessories provide an opportunity to create unique and individualized fashion for a desired look. For example, flip-flop and strap-style sandals are increasingly popular for many daily activities. When made of water-resistant materials such as rubber, sandals are worn at the beach, swimming pool, or other water-related activities. Many manufacturers do not embellish these types of sandals, as a water-resistant embellishment such as one made out of rubber could be unattractive and a non-rubber embellishment could easily be damaged by water or sand. When an embellished shoe is desired, the user would typically have to buy footwear that has embellishments that are permanently attached.

While there is prior art showing fastening systems for apparel embellishments, they are limited by the need to place a permanent or temporary fastener (such as adhesive, hook and loop surfaces, and magnets) directly on the item of apparel as well as on the fashion accessory, creating a time-consuming and difficult way for the fashionable pieces to attach or remove from the item of apparel and leaving an unsightly and unfashionable fastener visible on the item of apparel when the fashion accessory is detached. Moreover, integrating an adornment into an item, such as by permanently affixing the adornment directly onto the item or by sewing or bonding the adornment, limits the user to a single style.

SUMMARY

Described below is a removably attachable adornment device includes an adornment body having a front surface and a rear surface; a first portion of hook and loop fastener material attached to the rear surface; and one or more attachment members extending from the rear surface. Each attachment member includes a first end attached to the adornment body and a second end having a complementary portion of hook and loop fastener material to removably attach to the first portion of hook and loop fastener.

In some embodiments, each of the attachment members is made of a stretchable material. For some of these embodiments, each attachment members is positioned to wrap around a strap portion of an item of apparel, and each second end is positioned to attach to the first portion of hook and loop fastener material. For some embodiments, the complementary portion of hook and loop fastener material is either a hook type or a loop type fastening material and the first portion of hook and loop fastener material is a hook or loop type fastening material of opposite polarity. In certain embodiments the adornment body includes (a) a storage compartment constructed to receive and contain a personal item and (b) a closure element configured to allow access to the storage compartment for placement of the personal item into and removal of the personal item from the storage compartment.

Also described is a removably attachable adornment device include a fastener having multiple attachment members (sometimes made of a stretchable material), where each attachment member has a first end attached to a central body and a second end comprising hook and loop fastener material. The adornment device also includes an adornment having a hook and loop type fastening material for removably attaching to a complementary hook and loop typed fastener material on the central body.

In some of these embodiments the attachment members have a hook type fastening material for attaching to the adornment with a loop type fastening material. In others the adornment is affixed to the central body along a mounting surface. In still others, the adornment has a decorative side that is outwardly directed when the adornment is connected to the central body. In other embodiment the adornment is interchangeable as an accessory or is interchangeable with another adornment design.

Also described is a removably attachable adornment device having a body comprising a hook and loop type fastener material positioned to allow removable attachment to an item of apparel; an adornment element disposed on the body; a light source (such as a light-emitting diode) mounted within the body and positioned to illuminate the adornment; and a power source mounted within the body to provide power to the light source. In some embodiments the adornment device includes a hole positioned to receive the light source.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate various exemplary embodiments for carrying out the invention claimed at the end.

FIG. 1A illustrates an exemplary top view (or front view) of a removable adornment accessory for an item of apparel, such as sandal-type footwear or a handbag;

FIG. 1B illustrates an exemplary back view (or rear view) of the removable adornment accessory of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1C illustrates an exemplary back view of the removable adornment accessory when affixed to an item of apparel, such as sandal-type footwear;

FIG. 1D shows an exemplary top view of the removable adornment accessory when affixed to a sandal;

FIG. 2A illustrates an alternative embodiment for attachment of a removable adornment accessory to an item of apparel such as a sandal, in which a fastener for the removable adornment accessory releasably attaches to the item of apparel;

FIG. 2B illustrates a view of the fastener as it releasably attaches to the sandal;

FIG. 2C illustrates the adornment accessory (in the form of a flower) detached from the surface of the fastener of FIGS. 2A and 2B;

FIG. 2D illustrates the adornment accessory while affixed to the fastener, which in turn is affixed to the item of apparel;

FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D illustrate another alternative embodiment of a removable adornment accessory that includes both an encasement housing with a light and a decorative adornment (in the form of a flower), shown detached from and attached to a flip-flop sandal;

FIG. 4A shows the attachment of two removable adornment accessories at two different locations on sandal-type footwear;

FIG. 4B shows the undersides of the two adornment accessories of FIG. 4A as affixed on the sandal;

FIG. 4C is a top view of the sandal with the two adornment accessories affixed to it, one on a side strap and one on a center strap;

FIG. 4D is a top view of a flip-flop sandal having two adornment accessories like those of FIG. 4A attached to it, one on a side strap and one atop the sandal “post”;

FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C illustrate an alternative embodiment of a removable adornment accessory designed for attachment across two straps of a flip-flop type sandal;

FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D illustrate alternative embodiments of removable adornment accessories attached to various items of apparel, including a head band, an ankle strap on a high-heeled shoe, a purse strap, and a clothing strap (e.g., the shoulder strap of a woman's blouse or dress);

FIG. 7A illustrates an alternative embodiment of a removable adornment accessory having a base portion with a storage compartment and a lid portion having a decorative feature; and

FIG. 7B illustrates yet another embodiment of a removable adornment accessory having a zippered storage compartment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is directed to a multitude of sample embodiments for carrying out the invention covered by the claims that follow and equivalents thereof. In this description, reference is made to the drawings wherein like parts are designated with like reference numerals throughout. It is an object of the invention to allow quick and easy attachment and detachment of an interchangeable and removable adornment accessory to a personal item of apparel, such as a shoe or hand bag, for the purpose of personalizing the apparel item in a manner that has no lasting effect on the appearance, style, design, or functionality of the apparel item.

FIG. 1A shows a top/front view of one embodiment of a removable adornment accessory 10 designed for releasable attachment to an item of apparel, such as a shoe or a handbag. The adornment accessory 10 includes a decorative element 12 (a faux flower in the example shown here) that allows the wearer of the apparel item to express individual style when and as desired by adding, interchanging, and removing such adornment accessories at will, all without permanently altering or defacing the original design and structure of the apparel item. As shown in FIG. 1A the adornment accessory 10 includes one or more fastening elements 14 designed to loop around some portion of the apparel item (e.g., a strap on a shoe, a handbag, or a blouse or dress) and one or more releasable attachment elements 16 designed to hold the fastening elements 14 (and thus the adornment accessory 10) in place on the apparel item until the wearer chooses to release them.

The fastening elements 14 are typically formed from a flexible fabric or cloth-like material, such as spandex or neoprene, but a wide variety of materials (including natural materials like leather and synthetic materials like vinyl or plastic) are suitable for use as desired by the designer of the adornment accessory 10. Elastic materials are particularly useful for accessories designed for attachment to multiple types of apparel items of varying thickness. The attachment elements 16 can also be formed from a various materials having a variety of structures, but, as described below with reference to FIG. 1B, hook and loop fastener material (such as that sold under the Velcro® brand) is particularly well suited for use in constructing a removable adornment accessory 10 of the various types described here. Hook and loop fastener material has two mating portions with opposite “polarities”: The “hook” portion and the “loop” portion. When the hook and loop portions are placed in contact with each other, the two portions “bond” or “adhere” to each other in a manner that is difficult to defeat apart from strong pulling forces, which are typically provided by a human hand. The decorative element 12 can also be made of a variety of materials; virtually any material selected by its designer will suffice.

FIG. 1B is a back/rear view of the adornment accessory 10 of FIG. 1A. In the example shown here, the attachment elements 16 comprise both the rear surface of the decorative element 12 and the free ends of the fastening elements 14. While various types of fastening systems might be suitable for use across various accessory designs, the attachment elements 16 of the adornment accessory 10 shown here comprise a hook and loop type material that allows secure but easily releasable attachment of the accessory to the apparel item. For this embodiment, the “loop” portion of the hook and loop fastener is placed, for example, on the rear surface of the decorative element 12, and the “hook” portion is placed on the free ends of the fastening elements 14. In operation, the fastening elements 14 are wrapped snugly around a portion of the apparel item to which the decorative accessory is to be attached, and then the “hook” portions of the attachment elements 16 are secured to the “loop” portions, thereby holding the adornment accessory 10 securely in place against the item of apparel.

FIG. 1C shows the adornment accessory 10 attached to the straps 24 of a flip-flop type sandal 20, with the fastening elements 14 (two of them in this example) secured on either side of the sandal “post” 26 that slips between the sandal wearer's first two toes. The fastening elements 14 wrap snugly around the straps 24 on each side of the sandal post 26 and are secured when the wearer mates the hook and loop portions of the attachment elements 16. FIGS. 1C and 1D together show the adornment accessory 10 secured to a traditional and simple flip-flop sandal 20 having three basic components: A sole 22 that sits under the wearer's foot; an upper section formed by straps 24 that embrace the upper surfaces of the wearer's foot and attach directly to the sole at one end of the straps; and a post 26 that extends from the sole 22 to connect the other end of the straps 24 to the sole, positioned so that the post 26 fits between the wearer's first two toes. The post 26 has a post base 28 embedded in the sole 22 to anchor the post to the sole 22. The post 26 may be integrally formed with the straps 24 (such as in a “wishbone” style design), or the straps 24 may be separate elements attached and fixed to the post 26, as desired by the sandal's designer.

In general, the design of an item of apparel such as a sandal 20 is fixed by the designer and manufacturer and is not changeable once purchased by the wearer without defacing the item. This limits the usefulness and fashionability of the sandal 20 for the wearer, who is able to match it for wear only with outfits of a certain fashionable aesthetic. An adornment accessory 10 like those described here, however, allows the wearer to change the appearance of the sandal 20 at will, making the sandal 20 suitable for wear with a much wider selection of outfits or allowing the wearer to give a new look to a single outfit. The adornment accessory 10 may make the casual and inexpensive sandal seem more decorative, fancy, and expensive. In addition, the adornment accessory 10 may be used to color-coordinate the sandal with other elements of the wardrobe, such that a single pair of sandals may be coordinated with many different outfits or worn on many different occasions by changing the decorative accessory attached to it.

It is understood, of course, that sandals are only one type of apparel item for which removable adornment accessories such as these are useful; most apparel items in general can benefit from these accessories, including dressy shoes, pants, shirts, coats, hats, bags or purses, and hair accessories. In fact, the potential uses for the accessories described here are limited only by the imaginations of designers and users of the accessories. Other uses include on items such as zippers, steering wheels, ski poles, and personal electronics.

FIG. 2A-2D are cut-away views showing attachment of a removable adornment accessory to an article of footwear, such as a sandal 220, using a separate removable fastener 200 that itself releasably attaches to the sandal 220 and to the adornment accessory. FIG. 2A shows placement of the fastener 200 in relation to the sandal 220, the sandal strap 250, and the sandal post 240. The fastener 200 includes a layer of fabric 215 with an exposed outer surface 205 comprising either the hook portion or loop portion of a hook and loop fastener material. Extending from the fastener 200 are two fastening elements 230 (similar to those shown in FIGS. 1A-1C) that each includes at its free end 210 the portion of the hook and loop material opposite that found on the outer surface 205 of the fastener 200.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the fastening elements 230 stretch around the sandal strap 250 in the general direction indicated by arrows 235, securing the fastener 200 to the sandal 220 when the loop or hook material at the ends of the fastening elements 230 mate with the opposite-polarity hook or loop material on the outer surface 205 of the fastener 200. As shown in FIG. 2C, the fastener 200 releasably attaches to a sandal 220, and an adornment accessory 260 in turn separately attaches to the fastener 200. The adornment accessory 260 comprises a decorative element 270 having a bottom surface 280 that includes a hook and loop material. The portion of hook and loop material included on the bottom surface 280 of the adornment accessory 260 is opposite that included on the outer surface 205 of the fastener 200, so that the adornment accessory 260 removably attaches to the fastener by mating the two opposing hook and loop portions.

FIG. 2D shows the adornment accessory 260 with its decorative element 270 secured in place to the fastener 200. In operation, the fastener 200 is attached to the sandal 220 by centering the fastener 200 over the sandal post 240 with the outer surface 205 facing upwards, wrapping the fastening elements 230 around the sandal straps 250 on each side of the sandal post 240, and mating the hook and loop material at the free ends 210 of the fastening elements 230 with the hook and loop material on the outer surface 205 of the fastener 200. The adornment accessory 260 is then secured to the fastener 200 by mating the hook and look material on its bottom surface 280 to the opposing material on the outer surface 205 the fastener 200.

FIG. 3A shows in exploded view an adornment accessory 300 with additional decorative features. The adornment accessory 300 shown here includes a decorative accessory 305 having a decorative element 310 (a flower in this example) with a hole 311 in its center to receive a light-generating element, such as a light-emitting diode 380 that resides within an encasement. The encasement includes a top encasement 350 portion having a hole 351 through which the light-emitting diode 380 protrudes. A bottom encasement 365 portion includes both a battery compartment 375 (which houses a battery and includes a cover and cover-opening lever 376) and an on/off switch 370. Together the top encasement 350 and bottom encasement 365 encase and power the light-emitting diode 380. Attached to the bottom encasement 365 are two fastening elements 385 (much like those described above) having hook and loop material at their free ends 390. Hook and loop surfaces 395 are also affixed onto the underside of the bottom encasement 365 to allow mating with the free ends 390 of the fastening elements 385.

FIG. 3B is a side view of the fully assembled adornment accessory 300 of FIG. 3A. The light-emitting diode 380 protrudes through the decorative element 310 and illuminates the decorative element 310 when power is switched on by the wearer. The fastening elements 385 in this view dangle from the bottom of the adornment accessory 300, with the hook and loop material exposed at the free ends 390. The encasement 350 also has its hook and loop surfaces 395 exposed on its underside.

FIG. 3C show the underside of the adornment accessory 300 secured in place to the sandal 320. The adornment accessory 300 is centered over the sandal post 340, and the two fastening elements 385 are wrapped around the sandal straps 330 on each side of the sandal post 340. The hook and loop material at the free ends 390 of the fastening elements 385 mate with the opposing hook and loop surfaces 395 on the underside of the encasement to attach the adornment accessory 300 securely to the sandal 320. FIG. 3D shows the adornment accessory 300 secured in place to the sandal 320.

FIG. 4A shows a sandal 460 having two adornment accessories 400 attached in different places. Each adornment accessory 400 includes a decorative element 420 having hook and loop material on its bottom surface 435 and one or more fastening elements 440 each having hook and loop material on its free end 430. In this example, one of the adornment accessories 400 is affixed to an upper strap 450 of the sandal, and the other is affixed to a toe strap 455. Though both adornment accessories 400 are depicted as having similar design (a flower in each case), each can take whatever form the wearer desires.

FIG. 4B shows the undersides of the two adornment accessories 400 secured in place to the sandal 460, one on the toe strap 455 and one on the upper strap 450. FIG. 4C shows the sandal 460 with the adornment accessories 400 affixed to the side strap 450 and the toe strap 455. FIG. 4D shows a flip-flop style sandal 410 with the two adornment accessories 400 attached to a side strap 480 and atop the post 470 of the sandal 410.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C together show an adornment accessory 500 designed to span the width of the wearer's foot and attach to the straps 555 of a sandal 560 on either side of the foot. FIG. 5A shows a bottom view of the adornment accessory 500 on which two hook and loop surfaces 535 reside at distal ends of the bottom surface of the accessory 500. Fastening elements 540 extend from each of the hook and loop surfaces 535 and themselves include hook and loop material at their free ends 530. In FIG. 5A the fastening elements are shown in open position, with arrows 545 showing the directions in which the fastening elements 540 wrap around the sandal 560 to fasten them to the sandal 560.

FIG. 5B shows the adornment accessory 500 as it is being fastened to the sandal 560, with each of the fastening elements 540 wrapping around one of the sandal straps 555. FIG. 5C shows the sandal 560 with the adornment accessory 500 secured in place, attached to the straps 555 on either side of the wearer's foot.

FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D show an adornment accessory 600 attached to various articles of clothing. FIG. 6A shows the accessory 600 attached to a hair accessory, such as a headband. FIG. 6B shows the accessory 600 interchangeably worn on the ankle strap of a high-heeled shoe. FIG. 6C shows the accessory 600 attached to a clutch, purse, or handbag. FIG. 6D shows the accessory 600 interchangeably worn on an article of clothing such as the shoulder strap of a woman's blouse or dress.

FIG. 7A shows yet another type of adornment accessory 700, one that includes a storage compartment 725 hidden beneath a lid 720 with a decorative element 710 on top. The storage compartment 725 has a cavity to provide for storage of personal items such as jewelry, money, or medication. The storage compartment 725 includes a hook and loop material on its bottom surface 735. Two fastening members 740 extend from the bottom surface 735, each having a hook and loop material at its free end 730, which serve to secure the accessory to an item of apparel in the manner described with reference to other embodiments above.

FIG. 7B shows an adornment accessory 700 having a storage compartment 725 sealed by a zipper closure 750 (or other similar means), which is especially convenient when the wearer wishes to carry valuables, medication, money, or other personal articles out of sight. The design of the adornment accessory 700 allows the wearer to easily dismount the accessory 700 from one item of apparel and remount it to another without removing the contents of the compartment 725. In each case, the valuables and other personal items are hidden out of sight for owner safety and security, and the user is allowed the convenience of going out without a bulky purse or a wallet when the occasion arises.

Claims

1. A removably attachable adornment device comprising:

an adornment body having a front surface and a rear surface;

a first portion of hook and loop fastener material attached to the rear surface;

one or more attachment members extending from the rear surface, each attachment member having: a first end attached to the adornment body; and a second end having a complementary portion of hook and loop fastener material to removably attach to the first portion of hook and loop fastener.

2. The removably attachable adornment device of claim 1, where each of the attachment members comprises a stretchable material.

3. The removably attachable adornment device of claim 1, where the complementary portion of hook and loop fastener material comprises either a hook type or a loop type fastening material, and where the first portion of hook and loop fastener material comprises hook or loop type fastening material of opposite polarity.

4. The removably attachable adornment device of claim 1, wherein each of the attachment members is positioned to wrap around a strap portion of an item of apparel and each second end is positioned to attach to the first portion of hook and loop fastener material.

5. The removably attachable adornment device of claim 1, where the adornment body comprises:

a storage compartment constructed to receive and contain a personal item; and

a closure element configured to allow access to the storage compartment for placement of the personal item into and removal of the personal item from the storage compartment.

6. A removably attachable adornment device, comprising:

a fastener having a plurality of attachment members, wherein each attachment member has: a first end attached to a central body; and a second end comprising hook and loop fastener material; and

an adornment having a hook and loop type fastening material for removably attaching to a complementary hook and loop typed fastener material on the central body.

7. The removably attachable adornment device of claim 6, wherein the plurality of attachment members each comprise a stretchable material.

8. The removably attachable adornment device of claim 6, wherein the plurality of attachment members have a hook type fastening material for attaching to the adornment with a loop type fastening material.

9. The removably attachable adornment device of claim 6, wherein the adornment is affixed to the central body along a mounting surface.

10. The removably attachable adornment device of claim 6, where the adornment has a decorative side that is outwardly directed when the adornment is connected to the central body.

11. The removably attachable adornment device of claim 6, wherein the adornment is interchangeable as an accessory.

12. The removably attachable adornment device of claim 6, wherein the adornment is interchangeable with another adornment design.

13. A removably attachable adornment device compromising:

a body comprising a hook and loop type fastener material positioned to allow removable attachment to an item of apparel;

an adornment element disposed on the body;

a light source mounted within the body and positioned to illuminate the adornment; and

a power source mounted within the body to provide power to the light source.

14. The removably attachable adornment device of claim 13, where the adornment device includes a hole positioned to receive the light source.

15. The removably attachable adornment device of claim 13, wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode.