U.S. patent application number 12/366207 was filed with the patent office on 2009-08-13 for system and method for securing ornamentation to athletic shoes.
Invention is credited to Candice Jean Franklin, Gregory Franklin.
Application Number | 20090199436 12/366207 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40937661 |
Filed Date | 2009-08-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090199436 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Franklin; Gregory ; et
al. |
August 13, 2009 |
System and Method for Securing Ornamentation to Athletic Shoes
Abstract
An athletic shoe and a method of attaching ornamental pieces
thereto by covering a shoe upper with hook or loop material and a
reverse side of the ornamental piece with mateable hook or loop
material.
Inventors: |
Franklin; Gregory; (Detroit,
MI) ; Franklin; Candice Jean; (Detroit, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JOHN R. BENEFIEL
525 Lewis Street
BIRMINGHAM
MI
48009
US
|
Family ID: |
40937661 |
Appl. No.: |
12/366207 |
Filed: |
February 5, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61065028 |
Feb 7, 2008 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
36/114 ;
36/136 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 3/0078 20130101;
A43B 23/24 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/114 ;
36/136 |
International
Class: |
A43B 5/00 20060101
A43B005/00; A43B 23/00 20060101 A43B023/00 |
Claims
1. An athletic shoe having an upper constructed of a flexible
material surfaced with one of a hook or loop material, and one or
more ornamental pieces having a backing covered at least partially
with the hook or loop material mateable with said hook or loop
material covering said upper, whereby said ornamental pieces can be
readily detached and reattached in other locations on said shoe
upper, replaced with other ornamental pieces or additional
ornamental pieces attached thereto.
2. The athletic shoe according to claim 1 wherein hook material
substantially covers said shoe upper and each of said one or more
ornamental pieces has a mating loop material on a backing
thereof.
3. A method of ornamenting an athletic shoe comprising overlaying a
shoe upper with a hook or loop material and attaching one or more
ornamental pieces to said shoe upper with a backing of mating hook
or loop material whereby an athletic shoe having an upper
constructed of a flexible material surfaced with one of a hook or
loop material, and one or more ornamental pieces having a backing
covered at least partially with a hook or loop material mating with
said hook or loop material covering said upper, whereby said
ornamental pieces can be readily detached and reattached in other
locations on said shoe upper, replaced with other ornamental pieces
or additional ornamental pieces attached thereto.
4. The method according to claim 3 wherein said shoe upper is
substantially covered with hook material and a loop material is
applied to the reverse side of said one or more ornamental pieces
to be attachable to said shoe upper.
5. An ornamental piece comprising: a fabric piece configured in an
ornamental shape with hook or loop material affixed to the backside
thereof thereby able to be attachable to a surface having mating
hook or loop material thereon.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional
application No. 61/065,028 filed on Feb. 7, 2008.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention concerns shoes and more particularly
ornamentation applied to the uppers of athletic shoes. Such
ornaments have become popular particularly among young people. As
described in U.S. 2008/006110, currently ornaments are attached
using special fittings which are received in an array of holes
formed in the shoe uppers.
[0003] Such an attachment system is complex and requires the
formation of an array of visible holes in the shoe upper. The
location of the ornaments are constrained by the hole positions. It
is an object of the present invention to provide a simple
ornamentation attachment system and method which allows attachment
at any location within an area on the shoe uppers and does not
require holes to be formed therein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The above object and other objects which will be understood
by those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following
specification and claims are achieved by constructing an athletic
shoe upper with an outer layer of a hook or loop material,
preferably of hook material, with ornamental pieces having a
backing of a mating hook or loop material. The hook material in
particular presents an attractive appearance and is durable such as
to provide a serviceable and aesthetic exposed surface on the shoe
upper. The ornaments can be quickly attached and removed and placed
at any location on the shoe upper where the hook and loop material
layer is extends.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0005] FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of an athletic shoe having an
ornament attachment system according to the invention on its
upper.
[0006] FIG. 2 is an enlarged reverse view of an ornamental piece
showing loop material mounting patches thereon.
[0007] FIG. 3 is a reverse view of another ornamental piece in
which the entire back surface is covered with loop material.
[0008] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary pictorial view from a reverse angle
showing an ornamental piece being peeled away from the shoe
upper.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0009] In the following detailed description, certain specific
terminology will be employed for the sake of clarity and a
particular embodiment described in accordance with the requirements
of 35 USC 112, but it is to be understood that the same is not
intended to be limiting and should not be so construed inasmuch as
the invention is capable of taking many forms and variations within
the scope of the appended claims.
[0010] FIG. 1 shows a sneaker style athletic shoe 10, having a
upper 12 of a fabric material. The outer surface 14 of the upper 12
is covered by a plastic hook material comprised of one part of a
hook and loop fastening and is more attractive in appearance. The
loop material is preferred as it is less likely to pick up debris,
etc.
[0011] Such hook material is durable and presents an attractive
appearance such that the shoe 10 remains attractive despite
presence of the hook material covering.
[0012] A number of ornamental pieces 16A-16I are shown (see also
FIG. 4) adhered to the upper 12 at various locations.
[0013] FIG. 2 shows the reverse side of an ornamental piece 16B
which is constructed of embroidered fabric with the reverse side
having patches 18 of loop material designed to be detachably mated
with the exposed hook material surface 14 at any location thereon.
The patches 18 can be secured to the ornament 16B back with an
adhesive or other means.
[0014] FIG. 3 shows the reverse side of ornamental piece 16, with
the entire reverse side completely covered with loop material
20.
[0015] Thus, various ornamental pieces can be readily attached or
detached at any location on the shoe upper 12. No holes are needed
to be formed in the shoe upper and it presents an attractive
appearance which is also durable.
[0016] While the hook covering on the shoe upper 12 is preferable,
it is possible to cover the shoe upper 12 with loop material and
the hook material fixed on the backside of the ornamental
pieces.
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