U.S. patent application number 13/785214 was filed with the patent office on 2014-09-11 for shoes with pressed flowers and methods for making thereof.
The applicant listed for this patent is Liqun Zheng. Invention is credited to Liqun Zheng.
Application Number | 20140250734 13/785214 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51486016 |
Filed Date | 2014-09-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140250734 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Zheng; Liqun |
September 11, 2014 |
SHOES WITH PRESSED FLOWERS AND METHODS FOR MAKING THEREOF
Abstract
The present invention relates to a shoe including pressed
flowers thereon. Methods for a making a shoe with pressed flowers
attached to the outer surface include the use of adhesive to bond
the flowers to the shoe. The pressed flowers may be arranged on the
shoe according to any desired or suitable ornamental pattern.
Inventors: |
Zheng; Liqun; (Sunnyvale,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Zheng; Liqun |
Sunnyvale |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
51486016 |
Appl. No.: |
13/785214 |
Filed: |
March 5, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/136 ;
12/142R |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 3/0078 20130101;
A43B 1/0072 20130101; A43B 1/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/136 ;
12/142.R |
International
Class: |
A43B 23/24 20060101
A43B023/24 |
Claims
1. A shoe comprising: a shoe element; a plurality of substantially
flat and dried flowers covering portions of the outer surface of
the shoe element; and a transparent layer disposed over and affixed
to the dried flowers and outer surface of the shoe element.
2. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the dried flowers affixes to the
shoe element via an adhesive.
3. The shoe of claim 2, wherein the transparent layer affixes to
the dried flowers and the shoe element via the adhesive.
4. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the transparent layer affixes to
the dried flowers and to the shoe element after heat is applied
when the dried flowers are in contact with the shoe element.
5. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the transparent layer is one of a
plastic film, PVC material.
6. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the adhesive is a dry glue attached
to the outer surface of the shoe element.
7. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the adhesive is a glue.
8. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the shoe element comprises a
non-woven fabric material.
9. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the shoe element is a shoe
upper.
10. The shoe of claim 1 comprising at least one of a pump,
slingback, closed back, sandal, flat, wedge, platform or boot.
11. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the dried flowers are at least one
of hydrengeas, cosmos, verbenas, delphiniums, pansy, gypsophilas,
lobelias, type flowers.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the dried flowers are made of
fabric.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the dried flowers are made of
plastic.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein the dried flowers are made of
hard paper.
15. A method for making a shoe with flowers disposed therewith
comprising: providing a shoe element comprising an outer surface
with an adhesive applied thereto; disposing a plurality of
substantially flat dried flowers on a backing according to an
ornamental arrangement, wherein the dried flowers are disposed
within a predefined area corresponding substantially to the shape
of shoe element; pressing the outer surface of the shoe element
against the backing with the disposed dried flowers; applying heat
to the shoe element overlaying the dried flowers; removing the
backing from the shoe element, with the dried flowers are affixed
to the shoe element; attaching a transparent layer to the shoe
element wherein the transparent layer covers the dried flowers
affixed to the shoe element; and lasting the shoe element to a shoe
sole.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the shoe element comprises a
non-woven fabric.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein the shoe element is a shoe
upper.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein the transparent layer is one of
a plastic film or PVC material.
19. The method of claim 15, wherein attaching the shoe element to
the sole forms at least one of a slingback pump, closed back,
sandal, flat, wedge, platform, or boot.
20. The method of claim 15, wherein the dried flowers are at least
one of hydrengeas, cosmos, verbenas, delphiniums, pansy,
gypsophilas, and lobelias.
21. The method of claim 15, wherein the dried flowers are
artificial.
Description
FIELD
[0001] The present invention generally relates to methods for
making shoes with pressed flowers thereon.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Conventional shoes including ornamental flowers designs are
produced by application of inks, paints, or other similar
substances onto the surface of a shoe to attempt to recreate the
look of a flower. It is an object of the present invention to
produce a shoe using actual flowers or flower-like materials
without the use of aforementioned substances.
SUMMARY
[0003] In exemplary embodiments, shoes may made and provided with
pressed flowers thereon. An exemplary method for making a shoe with
flowers disposed therewith comprises providing a shoe element
comprising an outer surface with an adhesive applied thereto;
disposing a plurality of substantially flat dried flowers on a
backing according to an ornamental arrangement, wherein the dried
flowers are disposed within a predefined area corresponding
substantially to the shape of shoe element; pressing the outer
surface of the shoe element against the backing with the disposed
dried flowers; applying heat to the shoe element overlaying the
dried flowers; removing the backing from the shoe element, with the
dried flowers are affixed to the shoe element; attaching a
transparent layer to the shoe element wherein the transparent layer
covers the dried flowers affixed to the shoe element; and lasting
the shoe element to a shoe sole.
[0004] In embodiments, the shoe element may be a non-woven fabric,
the transparent layer may be a plastic film or PVC material. The
shoe element may be a shoe upper. Further, attaching the shoe
element to the sole may form at least one of a pumps, slingbacks,
closed backs, sandals, flats, wedge, platforms, or boots.
[0005] In embodiments, the dried flowers may be at least one of
hydrengeas, cosmos, verbenas, delphiniums, pansy, gypsophilas, and
lobelias, or may be artificial.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The features and advantages of the disclosure will be more
fully understood with reference to the following description of the
invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures,
wherein:
[0007] FIG. 1 illustrates a shoe with pressed flowers according to
an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0008] FIG. 2 shows a flow diagram for manufacturing a shoe with
pressed flowers according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0009] FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate a process of manufacturing a shoe
with pressed flowers according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0010] FIGS. 4A-4B illustrate various shoe element shapes according
to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] The present invention generally relates to method of
manufacturing shoes with pressed flowers. The shoes generally can
be any type of footwear, for example such dress shoes, heels,
sneakers, pumps, slingbacks, closed backs, sandals, flats, wedges,
platforms, boots, and the like, to name a few. The flowers will be
arranged to be affixed to the shoes so as to provide a pleasing
ornamental look. The flowers will be any suitable dried flowers
that can be pressed against a surface with an adhesive.
[0012] The drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale and
certain figures may be shown in exaggerated or generalized form in
the interest of clarity and conciseness.
[0013] According to an exemplary embodiment, FIG. 1 shows a view of
a shoe 10 with pressed flowers 30. The flowers 30 are integrated
and help form a modified shoe element 20 of the shoe 10. The
modified element 20 is attached to a shoe sole 70 and a heel 80. In
the modified shoe element 20 the flowers 30 are covered by a clear
transparent layer (not visible).
[0014] According to exemplary embodiments, a method for
manufacturing a shoe with pressed flowers, is described in the flow
diagram of FIG. 2. FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate the process according
to an exemplary embodiment.
[0015] In order to manufacture a shoe or other footwear product
with pressed flowers, a backing 5 is provided with a shoe pattern
at step 210. The pattern may include an outline of a shoe or part
thereof when laid flat. For example, the backing may be patterned
as the upper of a shoe when laid flat. The backing 5 may be any
suitable substantially flat surface or material on which a shoe
pattern can be made or imprinted, including, for example,
cardboard, metal, plastic, laminated materials/surfaces, etc. The
backing 5 may be resistant to being bonded or permanently bonded to
an adhesive, such as glue and the like. Exemplary backings defining
various outlines for shoe parts, are illustrated in FIGS.
4A-4B.
[0016] At step 215, after providing the backing 5, flowers 30 are
disposed on the backing 5. The flowers are preferably dried and/or
treated flowers, and/or artificial flowers that are made of any
suitable fabric, woven material (e.g., silk), non-woven, paper,
plastic, polymer (e.g., polypropylene), tanned material,
metallic-based materials, and the like, to name a few. The flowers
30 are disposed within the shoe pattern outline. The flowers 30 are
be placed within the outline as defined by the backing 5 according
to any suitable ornamental pattern or arrangement.
[0017] The flowers 30 are preferably disposed upside down, or in
other words with the face of the flowers touching the backing The
flowers may be any type of flowers including, for example,
hydrangeas, cosmos, verbenas, delphiniums, pansy, gypsophilas,
lobelias, etc. The FIGS. 3A-3C, represent the flowers 30 as a
single continuous space for illustrative convenience. However area
labeled 30 merely represents the area where a plurality of dried
flowers may be generally located or positioned relative to other
components in accordance exemplary embodiments described
herein.
[0018] At step 220, and as seen in FIG. 3A, the shoe element 40 is
placed or pressed against the backing 5 having the dried flowers 30
already disposed thereon. In exemplary embodiments, the shoe
element 40 includes a shoe material 40a with an adhesive 40b
thereon. The shoe material 40a may be any suitable material
allowing an adhesive to bond thereto, for example, fabrics,
non-woven fabrics, leather, plastics, etc. The shoe material 40a
may be a shoe upper, or a portion thereof, before it is attached to
other shoe elements.
[0019] The shoe element 40 is placed against the backing 5 such
that the adhesive 40b comes into contact with at least the flowers
30. The adhesive 40b of the shoe element 40 may be a dry adhesive
attached to the shoe fabric layer 40a.
[0020] In some exemplary embodiments a suitable adhesive may be
applied to any of the flowers 30, and/or the shoe material 40a
before the shoe element 40 is pressed or placed against the backing
5 in step 220. In such embodiments the shoe element 40 may not need
and may not have an adhesive 40b on the shoe material 40a.
[0021] In exemplary embodiments, it is desirable to minimize or
avoid having any adhesive touch the backing 5 in any of the steps
described herein.
[0022] After the shoe element 40 is pressed against the backing 5,
then at step 230, heat is applied to the shoe element, as seen in
FIG. 3A. Heat is applied to the shoe material in order to help
strengthen the bond of the flowers 30 to the shoe element 40. Heat
may be applied from an iron, hair dryer, oven, flame, stream,
radiator, radiant heater, or any suitable source which can focus
heat onto the shoe element 40. For example, an iron may be directly
placed on the side of the shoe fabric layer 40a not in contact with
the flowers 30 and the backing 5. The shoe fabric layer 40a may be
ironed until the flowers are substantially bonded to the shoe
element 40 by activating the adhesive, by melting at least a
portion of a surface of the shoe element 40, or by any other
suitable mechanism.
[0023] After heat has been applied to the shoe element 40, the
backing 5 may be removed or separated from the flowers and/or the
shoe element 40 at step 235, leaving only the flowers 30 bonded to
the shoe element 40. This may be accomplished by peeling from the
shoe element 40 and flowers 30 away from the backing 5.
[0024] As seen in FIG. 3B, after removing the backing, a
transparent or translucent layer 50 may be attached or affixed to
the shoe element 40. The transparent layer 50 can be affixed so as
to cover the surface of the shoe element 40 with the flowers 30
disposed thereon. The transparent layer 50 can be affixed or
attached through any suitable means, such as an adhesive,
stitching, melting, etc. The transparent layer may be any suitable
plastic sheet, film, PVC material, etc.
[0025] The result is the modified shoe element 20, as seen in FIG.
3C. The modified shoe element has a transparent layer 50, flowers
30 bonded to a shoe material 40a. After the transparent layer is
affixed, the modified shoe element 20 can be attached to other shoe
elements. For example, if the shoe element 40 is a shoe upper, it
may be lasted to soles, heels, and one or more linings can also be
affixed.
[0026] Now that exemplary embodiments of the present invention have
been shown and described in detail, various modifications and
improvements thereon will become readily apparent to those skilled
in the art.
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