U.S. patent application number 09/978322 was filed with the patent office on 2002-04-25 for changeable color inserts for shoes.
Invention is credited to Snyder, David.
Application Number | 20020046476 09/978322 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26934428 |
Filed Date | 2002-04-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020046476 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Snyder, David |
April 25, 2002 |
Changeable color inserts for shoes
Abstract
An athletic shoe comprising a sole, a top, a tongue and laces
overlying the tongue for securing the shoe to the foot, said tongue
being elongated and defining an upper portion projecting beyond the
upper lacing point and connected to the main portion of the tongue
by a hinge, pocket means defined in the tongue for providing means
for inserting a replaceable indicia bearing card or the like.
Inventors: |
Snyder, David;
(Phoenixville, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Eugene E. Renz, Jr., P.C.
205 North Monroe Street
Post Office Box 2056
Media
PA
19063-9056
US
|
Family ID: |
26934428 |
Appl. No.: |
09/978322 |
Filed: |
October 16, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60241602 |
Oct 19, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
36/136 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43C 7/02 20130101; A43B
3/0031 20130101; A43B 23/26 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/136 |
International
Class: |
A43B 023/00 |
Claims
What is claimed:
1. An athletic shoe comprising: a sole; a top; a tongue and laces
overlying the tongue for securing the shoe to the foot; said tongue
being elongated and defining an upper portion projecting beyond the
upper lacing point and connected to the main portion of the tongue
by a hinge; pocket means defined in the tongue for providing means
for inserting a replaceable indicia bearing card or the like.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/241,602 filed Oct. 19, 2001.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to improvements in athletic
shoes, and more specifically, to a unique tongue configuration
allowing for changeable inserts for logos and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The manufactures of athletic shoes for sports have, in
recent times, produced very colorful and stylized designs including
the manufacturer's logo on various portions of the shoe, such as
the sole or the perhaps the heel portion of the shoe.
[0004] The present invention is aimed at providing the purchaser of
shoes the ability to customize the shoe by labeling colored insert
cards that can slide into the tongue flap of the shoe. The logo can
take many forms and in some instances when the shoes are customized
for a team, the logo of the team can be inserted in the tongue
flap. Other inserts are used for simply adding color contrast or
matching an outfit.
[0005] The invention provides a number of possibilities for team
sports. The insert can be used for example to display the name of
the person wearing the shoe and in this way coaches are provided
with another indicia for identify their players. Teams can have the
entire same look with color selection logos.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The drawings described below show details of the changeable
indicia inserts for athletic shoes in accordance with the present
invention.
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an athletic shoe
incorporating the subject of this invention for identification
indicia tab;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of FIG. 1;
[0009] FIGS. 3 and 4 are views shown in broken lines in FIG. 2,
showing the identification indicia being inserted into the tab;
[0010] FIG. 5 is an enlarged top plan view showing the indicia in a
partially assembled position;
[0011] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of
footwear having changeable indicia in accordance with the present
invention;
[0012] FIG. 7 is a top plan view thereof;
[0013] FIGS. 8 and 9 are enlarged fragmentary views of the portion
shown in broken lines in FIG. 7;
[0014] FIG. 10 is an enlarged top plan view showing the indicia
being assembled; and
[0015] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another embodiment of
athletic show incorporating the indicia feature of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0016] Referring now the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1-9,
thereof, there is shown a first embodiment of athletic footwear
incorporating indicia design in accordance with the present
invention which is generally designated by the numeral 10. The
shoe, as illustrated, is a convention athletic shoe having a sole
12 and a top 14. Lacing 16 is provided for securing the shoe to the
foot. The shoe also has a tongue 20, which in the present instance
is elongated to define an upper portion 22 overlying the laces 16
which is pivoted in a downward position to show the inside of the
tongue facing upwardly as shown in FIG. 1. The tongue 20 can also
be pivoted upwardly to lie flat against the leg of the wearer for a
purpose to be described hereafter. In the present instance, the
upper portion 22 of the tongue has a pocket 26 defined by a
transparent panel 28 which, in the present instance, is secured
about its periphery to the tongue 20 and has an open inner end 30
through which an indicia bearing card 32 can be inserted which as
illustrated may represent the logo 52 of a team. An indicia may be
in other forms including identification of the owner or other
information. Even though the tongue has been shown as having a
transparent face on the overlapping inner side, it may likewise be
provided with a transparent panel defining a pocket on the bottom
face when the tongue is worn in an upwardly pivoted position.
[0017] There is shown in FIGS. 6-10, inclusive, another embodiment
of footwear having indicia means in accordance with the present
invention. In the present instance, the footwear is in the nature
of a slipper having a sole 40 and a pair of support panels 42 and
44 projecting upwardly from opposing side edges of the sole and
having Velcro.RTM. means 46 for securing them in an attached
position over the instep of the upper arch of the user.
[0018] In the present instance, one of the panels as illustrated in
FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 has a pocket opening 50 for insertion of some form
of indicia or logo. In the present instance, the upper face of the
panel has a stylized "Z" logo 52 formed by transparent panels. An
indicia card 54, when inserted in the pocket 50, adds color or
other highlights to the indicia form of the logo 52 presented on
the panel 44.
[0019] This shoe is generally similar to the principal embodiments
and accordingly like reference numerals are applied to various
elements of the shoe such as the sole 12a and top 14a and lacing
16a. The tongue 20a of this embodiment of the invention is
generally similar to that described in connection with FIGS. 1-9
embodiment in that it has a transparent panel on its outer face
(not shown). In the present instance, the opaque interface 29a of
the tongue has a transverse slot 31a therein adjacent the separate
portion need the hinge 17a. Indicia of the type illustrated in
FIGS. 1-9 embodiment can be inserted through this slot and when the
tongue is pivoted downwardly to overlie the lacing, the logo is
displayed through the transparent upper panel. In the present
instance, the interface of the tongue mounts a velcro strip 33a
which secures to a complementary velcro strip 35a on the tongue so
that the tongue can be secured in a overlapping position similar to
that shown in FIG. 1.
[0020] Even though particular embodiments of the present invention
have been illustrated and described herein, it is not intended to
limit the invention and changes and modifications may be made
therein within the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *