U.S. patent application number 11/931794 was filed with the patent office on 2008-05-08 for stenciled footwear.
This patent application is currently assigned to Collective Licensing International, LLC. Invention is credited to Eric Dreyer.
Application Number | 20080104863 11/931794 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39155515 |
Filed Date | 2008-05-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080104863 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dreyer; Eric |
May 8, 2008 |
STENCILED FOOTWEAR
Abstract
Footwear is provided, including an upper portion and at least
one design applied to the upper portion. The design includes at
least one border. The border at least partially defines at least
one region that is configured for selectively receiving at least
one pigment.
Inventors: |
Dreyer; Eric; (Englewood,
CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
RADER, FISHMAN & GRAUER PLLC
39533 WOODWARD AVENUE, SUITE 140
BLOOMFIELD HILLS
MI
48304-0610
US
|
Assignee: |
Collective Licensing International,
LLC
|
Family ID: |
39155515 |
Appl. No.: |
11/931794 |
Filed: |
October 31, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60856599 |
Nov 3, 2006 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/45 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43D 999/00 20130101;
A43B 1/0027 20130101; A43B 3/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/45 |
International
Class: |
A43B 23/02 20060101
A43B023/02 |
Claims
1. Footwear comprising: an upper portion; and at least one design
applied to the upper portion, the design including at least one
border; wherein the border at least partially defines at least one
region configured for selectively receiving at least one
pigment.
2. The footwear as recited in claim 1, wherein the region is
completely enclosed.
3. The footwear as recited in claim 1, wherein the region is
defined by a portion of the border and a portion of the
footwear.
4. The footwear as recited in claim 1, wherein the footwear
includes a sole, the region being defined by a portion of the
border and a portion of the sole.
5. The footwear as recited in claim 1, wherein the upper portion of
the footwear includes an upper edge, the region is defined by a
portion of the border and a portion of the upper edge.
6. The footwear as recited in claim 1, wherein the region is
defined entirely by the border.
7. The footwear as recited in claim 1, wherein the design includes
a sub-region, the sub-region located within the region, the
sub-region defined at least in part by a sub-region border.
8. The footwear as recited in claim 7, wherein the border of the
region includes a first thickness, and the sub-region border
includes a second thickness, the first thickness being greater than
the second thickness.
9. The footwear as recited in claim 1, wherein the pigment is
pre-applied to the footwear.
10. The footwear as recited in claim 1, including a plurality of
pigments.
11. The footwear as recited in claim 1, including a plurality of
designs.
12. The footwear as recited in claim 1, wherein the footwear
comprises a first shoe and a second shoe, the design of the first
shoe being different than the design on the second shoe.
13. A kit for customizing footwear, comprising: footwear including
an upper portion, the upper portion including at least one design
applied to the upper portion, the design including at least one
border; and at least one pigment that is configured for selectively
being applied to the upper portion of the footwear; wherein the
border at least partially defines at least one enclosed region
configured for selectively receiving at least one pigment.
14. The kit as recited in claim 13, wherein the pigment is one of a
crayon, marker, paint and ink.
15. The kit as recited in claim 13, further comprising at least one
tool configured for applying the pigment to the upper portion.
16. The kit as recited in claim 13, further comprising a clear
coating for applying to the upper portion after the pigment has
been applied, the clear coating configured for protecting the
pigment on the upper portion.
17. A method of customizing footwear, comprising: providing
footwear including an upper portion and at least one design applied
to the upper portion, the design including at least one border, the
border at least partially defining at least one region configured
for selectively receiving at least one pigment; and applying the
pigment to at least a portion of the region defined by the
border.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of applying
pigment to at least one non-region specific area of the upper
portion.
19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of applying
pigment to at least a portion of a sub-region of the upper portion,
wherein the sub-region is located within the region and is defined
at least in part by a sub-region border.
20. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of applying
a clear coating to the upper portion after the pigment has been
applied.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority to provisional
application Ser. No. 60/856,599, the contents of which are
incorporated herein in their entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to footwear, and in
particular to footwear including an upper portion with at least one
design.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Consumers personalize their footwear by drawing pictures or
designs along the upper portion of their shoes. The designs are
applied to the shoes using a variety of ways. For example, markers,
spray paint, or any type of colored pigment can be applied to the
shoes.
[0004] Some footwear manufacturers provide consumers with a set
that includes a pair of blank shoes, colored pigment and a set of
guidelines with ideas for how to customize shoes. However, some
consumers are not confident enough in their own artistic abilities
to successfully customize their shoes. These consumers sometimes
struggle when confronted with drawing their own picture or design,
especially without a guide or a pre-drawn pattern. In particular,
consumers may be especially hesitant to decorate their shoes when
they must start with a blank surface to create a design.
[0005] Thus, there exists a need to provide footwear that has an
outline, or sketch of a design already applied to the shoe. A
consumer can then complete or customize the footwear by adding
color or other treatments to the regions defined by the design
outline.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a pair of shoes including a
design applied to an upper portion of the shoes;
[0007] FIG. 1A is an elevational view of the shoes in FIG. 1, after
a consumer has applied pigment to the upper portion;
[0008] FIG. 2 is an elevational view of an alternative illustration
of the shoes in FIG. 1;
[0009] FIG. 2A is an elevational view of the shoes in FIG. 2, after
a consumer has applied pigment to the upper portion;
[0010] FIG. 3 is an elevational view of an alternative illustration
of the shoes in FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 3A is an elevational view of the shoes in FIG. 3, after
a consumer has applied pigment to the upper portion;
[0012] FIG. 4 is an elevational view of an alternative illustration
of the shoes in FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 4A is an elevational view of the shoes in FIG. 4, after
a consumer has applied pigment to the upper portion; and
[0014] FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a kit used to color the
shoes as seen in FIG. 4A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] Referring now to the discussion that follows and also to the
drawings, illustrative approaches to the disclosed systems and
methods are shown in detail. Although the drawings represent some
possible approaches, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and
certain features may be exaggerated, removed, or partially
sectioned to better illustrate and explain the present invention.
Further, the descriptions set forth herein are not intended to be
exhaustive or otherwise limit or restrict the claims to the precise
forms and configurations shown in the drawings and disclosed in the
following detailed description.
[0016] According to various exemplary illustrations described
herein, footwear including an upper portion, a sole and at least
one design applied to the upper portion is provided. The design
includes at least one border, the border defining at least in part
an enclosed region. The upper portion of the footwear is configured
for selectively receiving at least one pigment. In particular, the
region is configured for selectively receiving at least one
pigment.
[0017] Turning now to the illustrations, FIG. 1 illustrates
footwear 20 in the form of a pair of shoes 22. FIG. 1 illustrates
the shoes 22 before being customized by the consumer, and FIG. 1A
illustrates the shoes 22 after being customized. The shoes 22 each
include an upper portion 24 and a sole 26. In the illustration as
shown, the upper portion 24 is constructed from a base cloth
material, such as, but not limited to a white or other
light-colored canvas.
[0018] It should be noted that while FIGS. 1-1A illustrate the
upper portion 24 constructed from a light-colored canvas, any
material capable of forming the upper portion 24 and that is
configured for selectively receiving and retaining at least one
pigment may be used as well. However, a white or light-colored
background is may be more desirable in some uses, because it is
easier to see pigments on a lighter color. Moreover, a material
that allows for paint, crayon or other forms of consumer-based
pigments to be received is also is expected to be more common.
[0019] A design 40 is applied to the upper portions 24 of the shoes
22. FIGS. 1-1A illustrate the design 40 as a plurality of skulls
50. The design 40 may be different between the two shoes 22.
Indeed, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-1A, while the largest skull 52 is
similarly positioned on the two shoes 22, the smaller skulls 64 are
positioned differently about the largest skull 52. The designs 40
help to facilitate application of colored pigment to provide a
pleasing and coherent representation to the shoes 22, which would
be lacking if the upper portion 24 were blank.
[0020] The design 40 includes at least one border 80. The border 80
defines at least in part an enclosed region 82. The region 82 is
configured for selectively receiving at least one pigment. Although
FIGS. 1-1A illustrate the design 40 as a plurality of skulls 50,
the design 40 could be anything. For example, the design 40 could
be cartoon characters (i.e., Garfield), iconic designs (i.e.,
hearts), artwork from well-known artists (i.e., "Red Hot Chili
Peppers") or even collegiate designs (e.g., licensed images from
universities). In one exemplary illustration, the design 40 is
screen printed on the upper portion 24 by a stencil, however, the
design 40 may be applied to the upper portion 24 in a variety of
ways, such as, but not limited to embossing or embroidering.
[0021] In the illustration, as shown, the design 40 may include the
region 82 being defined by a portion of the border 80 as well as a
portion of the shoe 22. More specifically, as seen in FIG. 1, one
of the smaller skulls 64 is designated by an A. The border 80
defines a portion of the outline 94 of the smaller skull 64. The
outline 94 also defines a portion of the region 82. Additionally, a
portion of the sole 26 encloses the region 82. Indeed the region 82
is closed, but it is a combination of the border 80 and the outer
boundary of upper portion 24 meeting the sole 26 that defines the
region 82. The region 82 can also be enclosed by an upper edge 72
of the shoe as well.
[0022] Alternatively, the region 82 can also be defined entirely by
the border 80. FIG. 1 illustrates the largest skull 52 designated
by a B. The border 80 defines the entire the region 82 of the
largest skull 52. Moreover, both of the smaller skulls 64 and the
larger skull 52 include a sub-region 84. The sub-region 84 is
located within the region 82 and is defined in part by a sub-region
border 86. In the embodiment as illustrated, the sub-regions 84
define the eyes and nose of the skulls 50, and pigment may or may
not be applied to the sub-regions 84 depending on what the consumer
desires.
[0023] Consumers could use the design 40 to aid them in customizing
the shoes 22 to fit their own needs and tastes. For example, a
consumer could color the design 40 as shown in FIG. 1A, using a
pigment in a particular color that is desired. Moreover, a consumer
could also only partially color in the design 40 to achieve a
particular effect, which is discussed in greater detail below.
[0024] A plurality of different colored pigments may be used to
color the design 40. For example, as seen in FIG. 1A, a first color
54 is used to color a background 56 of the upper portion 24. In
addition to the first color 54, a second color 58 is illustrated,
which fills in the design 40. Additionally, a third color 60 is
used to color the design 40 as well, in one of the smaller skulls
64. No color is applied to one of the smaller skulls 64 of the
right and left shoes 22. 100251 Moreover, the placement of pigment
is not limited to the specific regions defined by the design 40.
For example, a series of splotches 62 of non-region specific
pigment are applied to the shoes 22 along the upper portion 24.
Thus, the consumer is able to customize the shoes 22 using the
design 40 as a guide, but is still be able to add their own
features as desired.
[0025] When a consumer customizes the footwear 20, pigment is
applied to at least a portion of one of the regions 82 of the
design 40. If desired, the consumer applies pigment to at least a
portion of one sub-region 84 as well. In the illustration as shown
in FIGS. 1-1A, the consumer also applies pigment to at least one
non-region specific area of the upper portion, such as the
splotches 62. As discussed in greater detail below, once the
consumer has achieved the final, desired application of pigment to
the footwear 20, a clear coating can be applied to the upper
portion 24.
[0026] FIGS. 2-2A illustrate the usage of the first color 154,
which is used to color the background 156, and is also the same
color as a border 180 of the design 140. That is, as best seen in
FIG. 2A, the first color 154 is adjacent to and is the same color
as the border 180. FIG. 2 illustrates the shoes 122 before being
customized by the consumer, and FIG. 2A illustrates the shoes 122
after being customized.
[0027] As seen in FIG. 2A, the design 140 is a plurality of stars
150. The stars 150 include the first color 154 and the second color
158. A portion of the stars 150 are colored in the first color 154
while a portion of the stars 150 are colored in the second color
158. Moreover, similar to FIGS. 1-1A, the placement of the stars
150 is different between the two shoes 122. It should be noted that
while FIGS. 2-2A illustrate the border 180 including the same color
as the background 156, the border 180 may be of different colors as
well.
[0028] FIGS. 3-3A represent the design 240 where a pre-applied
pigment 288 is included. More specifically, FIG. 3 illustrates the
shoes 222 before being customized by the consumer, and includes the
pre-applied pigment 288. FIG. 3A illustrates the shoes 222 after
being customized, including the first color 254 applied to the
regions 282.
[0029] FIGS. 4-4A illustrate the design 340 that is the same on
both the left and right shoes 322. Similar to the illustrations in
FIGS. 1-3, FIG. 4 illustrates the shoes 322 before being customized
by the consumer, and FIG. 4A illustrates the shoes 322 after being
customized. In the illustrations as shown, the selective
application of colored pigment to the regions 382 is the same for
each shoe 322. The first color 354 is used for the background 356
as well as the sub-region 384. Moreover, as noted above, there is
no requirement that colored pigment be applied to all of the
regions 382 defined by the design 340.
[0030] The design 340 includes the borders 380 which are
represented by lines of varying thickness. That is, the border 380
of the region 382 includes a first thickness T1, and the sub-region
border 386 includes a second thickness T2. The first thickness T1
is greater than the second thickness T2. More specifically, FIG. 4
illustrates the outermost border 380 of the design 340, which is
the outer periphery of the turtle 350, being thicker than the
sub-region border 386 defining the underside of the turtle shell.
Because the border 380 of the region 382 includes the first
thickness T1 that is greater than the second thickness T2, greater
emphasis is on the outline of the turtle 350, and less emphasis is
on the other features of the turtle 350, such as the underside of
the turtle shell.
[0031] Additionally, the pre-applied pigment 388 can also define
the non-border regions 396 of the design 340 as well. For example,
FIG. 4 illustrates the nose and eyes of the turtle defined by the
non-border regions 396.
[0032] In one approach as illustrated by FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the
designs 40, 140 and 340 each include at least one region 82, 182
and 382 that are entirely enclosed by the borders 80, 180 and 380
alone. That is, as seen in FIG. 1, the largest skull 52 includes
the region 82 that is completely enclosed by the border 80. FIGS. 1
and 4 also illustrate the sub-regions 84 and 384 that are
completely enclosed by the sub-region borders 86 and 386.
[0033] In one illustrative embodiment, a color kit 400 can be
provided with the footwear 320. FIG. 5 illustrates a plurality of
pigments 402 included with the kit 400. However, it should be noted
that only one pigment 402 may be included in the kit 400 as well.
The pigment 402 is configured for selectively being applied to the
upper portion 324 of the footwear 320. In the illustration as
shown, the kit 400 includes the pigments that are used in the
post-colored representation (FIG. 4A) of the shoes 322. Although
FIG. 5 illustrates the pigments 402 as paint, the pigments could be
of any form, such as, but not limited to, crayons, markers, ink or
spray paint.
[0034] The kit 400 can include a set of tools 404 to color the
footwear 320 as well. Although FIG. 5 illustrates the tools 404 as
paint brushes, any instrument that can apply the pigments 402 to
the shoes 322, such as, but not limited to, a paint pen or a
squeeze bottle can be used as well. A clear coating 406 used to
protect the pigment 402 may be included in the kit 400 as well. The
clear coating 406 is applied to the upper portion 324 after the
pigment 402 has been applied.
[0035] In each of the examples the design provides a guide to
facilitate the application of colored pigment. In the illustrations
pigment is applied such that it is at least adjacent the outline of
a defined design although as noted in FIG. 1 some colored pigment
is illustrated that is not limited to the specific regions although
as illustrated, it is applied after the initial colored pigment is
applied that is generally adjacent the outline of a defined
design.
[0036] The present invention has been particularly shown and
described with reference to the foregoing embodiments, which are
merely illustrative of the best modes for carrying out the
invention. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that
various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention described
herein may be employed in practicing the invention without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in
the following claims. It is intended that the following claims
define the scope of the invention and that the method and apparatus
within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be covered
thereby. This description of the invention should be understood to
include all novel and non-obvious combinations of elements
described herein, and claims may be presented in this or a later
application to any novel and non-obvious combination of these
elements. Moreover, the foregoing embodiments are illustrative, and
no single feature or element is essential to all possible
combinations that may be claimed in this or a later
application.
* * * * *