U.S. patent application number 14/157835 was filed with the patent office on 2015-07-23 for tassel apparatus for penny loafers.
The applicant listed for this patent is Cole Haan LLC. Invention is credited to David Maddocks.
Application Number | 20150201708 14/157835 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53543701 |
Filed Date | 2015-07-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150201708 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Maddocks; David |
July 23, 2015 |
Tassel Apparatus For Penny Loafers
Abstract
A tassel apparatus adapted to be used with a penny loafer to
transform the penny loafer into a tassel loafer. The tassel
apparatus comprises a base member and at least one tassel secured
to the base member. The base member is sized and configured to be
readily inserted into and readily removed from a penny-receiving
slot of the penny loafer such that the penny loafer is readily
transformable between a penny loafer configuration and a tassel
loafer configuration.
Inventors: |
Maddocks; David; (Portland,
OR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Cole Haan LLC |
New York |
NY |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
53543701 |
Appl. No.: |
14/157835 |
Filed: |
January 17, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/136 ; 12/142R;
2/245 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 23/24 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A43B 23/24 20060101
A43B023/24 |
Claims
1. A tassel apparatus adapted to be used with a penny loafer to
transform the penny loafer into a tassel loafer, the penny loafer
having a sole and an upper, the upper including a penny-receiving
slot sized to receive a penny, the tassel apparatus comprising: a
base member; at least one tassel secured to the base member; the
base member being sized and configured to be readily inserted into
and readily removed from the penny-receiving slot of the penny
loafer such that the penny loafer may be readily transformed
between a penny loafer configuration and a tassel loafer
configuration.
2. A tassel apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the base
member comprises a generally disk-shaped portion.
3. A tassel apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein the shape of
the base member is approximately the same as a penny.
4. A tassel apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein the size of
the base member is approximately the same as a penny.
5. A tassel apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the base
member comprises a penny.
6. A tassel apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the at least
one tassel comprises first and second tassels.
7. A tassel apparatus as set forth in claim 6 further comprising a
cord secured to the first tassel and secured to the second
tassel.
8. A tassel apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein the first and
second tassels are secured to the base member via the cord.
9. A tassel apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein the cord is
threaded through at least one hole in the base member.
10. A kit comprising the tassel apparatus of claim 1, the kit
further comprising a packaging or a removable tag, the packaging or
removable tag including indicia, the indicia including the name or
logo of a school, athletic team, fraternity or sorority, at least a
portion of the tassel of the tassel apparatus being of a first
color, the first color being a color of said school, athletic team,
fraternity or sorority.
11. A kit as set forth in claim 10 wherein the tassel apparatus
constitutes a first tassel apparatus, the kit further comprising a
second tassel apparatus, the second tassel apparatus comprising a
second base member and at least one second tassel secured to the
second base member, the second base member being sized and
configured to be readily inserted into and readily removed from a
penny-receiving slot of a penny loafer, at least a portion of the
second tassel being of a second color different from the first
color, the second color being a color of said school, athletic
team, fraternity or sorority.
12. A shoe apparatus comprising: a penny loafer having a sole and
an upper secured to the sole, the upper including a penny-receiving
slot sized to receive a penny; an ornament apparatus comprising a
base member and at least one ornament, the at least one ornament
being secured to the base member, the base member being sized and
configured to be readily inserted into and readily removed from the
penny-receiving slot of the penny loafer such that the penny loafer
is readily transformable between an ornament loafer configuration
and a penny loafer configuration.
13. A shoe apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein the base
member of the ornament apparatus comprises a generally disk-shaped
portion of a size to fit within the penny-receiving slot, the upper
being of a shape to retain the disk-shaped portion within the
penny-receiving slot.
14. A shoe apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein the at least
one ornament comprises first and second ornaments.
15. A shoe apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein the first
ornament is of a first color and wherein the second ornament is of
a second color different from the first color.
16. A shoe apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein at least a
portion of the first ornament is of a first color and wherein at
least a portion of the second ornament is of a second color
different from the first color.
17. A shoe apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein the first and
second ornaments are secured to the base member via at least one
cord.
18. A shoe apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein the at least
one cord comprises a cord having a first end region, a second end
region, and an intermediate region, the first ornament being
secured to the first end region of the cord, the second ornament
being secured to the second end region of the cord, the
intermediate region of the cord being threaded through a hole in
the base member.
19. A shoe apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein the first
ornament comprises a first tassel and wherein the second ornament
comprises a second tassel.
20. A method of transforming a penny loafer into an ornament
loafer, the penny loafer having a sole and an upper, the upper
being secured to the sole, the upper including a penny-receiving
slot sized to receive a penny, the method comprising: releasably
attaching an ornament apparatus to the penny loafer adjacent the
penny-receiving slot, the ornament apparatus comprising a base
member and at least one ornament, the at least one ornament being
secured to the base member, the attaching of the ornament apparatus
to the penny loafer being accomplished by inserting the base of the
ornament apparatus into the penny-receiving slot.
21. A method as set forth in claim 20 wherein the at least one
ornament comprises first and second tassels, wherein the first and
second tassels are secured to the base member via a cord, and
wherein the attaching of the tassel apparatus to the penny loafer
is accomplished such that the first and second tassels are on a top
surface of the upper and dangle from the base member.
22. An ornament apparatus adapted to be used with a penny loafer to
transform the penny loafer into an ornament loafer, the penny
loafer having a sole and an upper, the upper including a
penny-receiving slot sized to receive a penny, the ornament
apparatus comprising: a base member; at least one ornament secured
to the base member; the base member being sized and configured to
be readily inserted into and readily removed from the
penny-receiving slot of the penny loafer such that the penny loafer
may be readily transformed between a penny loafer configuration and
an ornament loafer configuration.
23. A kit comprising the ornament apparatus of claim 22, the kit
further comprising a packaging or a removable tag, the packaging or
removable tag including indicia, the indicia including the name or
logo of a school, athletic team, fraternity or sorority, at least a
portion of the ornament of the ornament apparatus being of a first
color, the first color being a color of said school, athletic team,
fraternity or sorority.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not Applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable.
APPENDIX
[0003] Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0004] This invention pertains to shoes having multiple sole
members.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] One aspect of the invention is a tassel apparatus adapted to
be used with a shoe of the type known as a penny loafer to
transform the penny loafer into a tassel loafer. The penny loafer
has a sole and an upper. The upper includes a penny-receiving slot
sized to receive a penny. The tassel apparatus comprises a base
member and at least one tassel secured to the base member. The base
member is sized and configured to be readily inserted into and
readily removed from the penny-receiving slot of the penny loafer
such that the penny loafer is readily transformable between a penny
loafer configuration and a tassel loafer configuration.
[0006] Another aspect of the invention is a kit comprising an
ornament apparatus, and a packaging or a removable tag. The
ornament apparatus is adapted to be used with a penny loafer to
transform the penny loafer into an ornament loafer. The penny
loafer has a sole and an upper, and the upper includes a
penny-receiving slot sized to receive a penny. The ornament
apparatus comprises a base member and at least one ornament secured
to the base member. The base member is sized and configured to be
readily inserted into and readily removed from the penny-receiving
slot of the penny loafer such that the penny loafer is readily
transformable between a penny loafer configuration and an ornament
loafer configuration. The packaging or removable tag includes
indicia. The indicia includes the name or logo of a school,
athletic team, fraternity or sorority. At least a portion of the
tassel of the tassel apparatus is of a first color, the first color
being a color of said school, athletic team, fraternity or
sorority.
[0007] Another aspect of the invention is a shoe apparatus
comprising a penny loafer and an ornament apparatus. The penny
loafer has a sole and an upper secured to the sole. The upper
includes a penny-receiving slot sized to receive a penny. The
ornament apparatus comprises a base member and at least one
ornament. The at least one ornament is secured to the base member.
The base member is sized and configured to be readily inserted into
and readily removed from the penny-receiving slot of the penny
loafer such that the penny loafer is readily transformable between
an ornament loafer configuration and a penny loafer
configuration.
[0008] Another aspect of the invention is a method of transforming
a penny loafer into an ornament loafer. The penny loafer has a sole
and an upper. The upper is secured to the sole. The upper includes
a penny-receiving slot sized to receive a penny. The method
comprises releasably attaching an ornament apparatus to the penny
loafer adjacent the penny-receiving slot. The ornament apparatus
comprises a base member and at least one ornament. The at least one
ornament is secured to the base member. The attaching of the
ornament apparatus to the penny loafer is accomplished by inserting
the base of the ornament apparatus into the penny-receiving
slot.
[0009] Another aspect of the present invention is an ornament
apparatus adapted to be used with a penny loafer to transform the
penny loafer into an ornament loafer. The penny loafer has a sole
and an upper. The upper includes a penny-receiving slot sized to
receive a penny. The ornament apparatus comprises a base member,
and at least one ornament secured to the base member. The base
member is sized and configured to be readily inserted into and
readily removed from the penny-receiving slot of the penny loafer
such that the penny loafer may be readily transformed between a
penny loafer configuration and an ornament loafer
configuration.
[0010] Further features and advantages of the present invention, as
well as the operation of the invention, are described in detail
below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of a tassel
apparatus in accordance with the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the tassel apparatus of FIG.
1;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of an embodiment of a shoe
apparatus in accordance with the present invention, the shoe
apparatus including a penny loafer and a tassel apparatus;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a kit in
accordance with the present invention, the kit comprising a first
ornament apparatus, a second ornament apparatus, and packaging;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of another embodiment of a kit in
accordance with the present invention, the kit comprising a first
ornament apparatus, a second ornament apparatus, and a tag.
[0016] Reference numerals in the written specification and in the
drawing figures indicate corresponding items.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] An embodiment of an ornament apparatus in accordance with
the present invention comprises a tassel apparatus indicated by
reference numeral 20 in FIG. 1. The tassel apparatus 20 comprises a
base member 22, a first tassel 24, a second tassel 26, and a cord
28. The first and second tassels 24, 26 are secured to the base
member 22 via the cord 28. The cord 28 has a first end region
secured to the first tassel 24, a second end region secured to the
second tassel 26, and an intermediate region threaded through a
pair of holes 30 in the base member 22. The tassel apparatus 20
preferably, but not necessarily, also includes a retaining clip 32
secured to the intermediate portion of the cord 28. Alternatively,
the tassels may be secured to the base member via a knot (not
shown) without departing from the scope of this invention.
[0018] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the tassel apparatus 20 is adapted
to be releasably connected to a penny loafer 40, to transform the
penny loafer into a tassel loafer. The penny loafer 40 includes a
sole 42 and an upper 44. The upper 44 includes a penny-receiving
slot 46 sized and configured to receive a United States penny. The
base member 22 of the tassel apparatus 20 is sized and configured
to be readily inserted into and readily removed from the
penny-receiving slot 46 of the penny loafer 40 such that the penny
loafer is readily transformable between a tassel loafer
configuration (shown in FIG. 3) and a penny loafer configuration
(i.e., a configuration in which the tassel apparatus is not
attached to the penny loafer). The base member 22 is preferably a
disk-shaped portion, although the base member could be of other
shapes without departing from the scope of this invention. The
upper 44 is of a shape and configuration for releasably retaining
the disk-shaped portion in the penny-receiving slot 46. The base
member 22 may be of approximately the same shape and size as that
of a penny, and may comprise a penny.
[0019] Although the ornament apparatus of this embodiment is a
tassel apparatus, it is to be understood that ornaments other than
tassels may be employed without departing from the scope of the
present invention. For example, instead of the tassels, ornaments
such as puffs, pompoms, bows, bells, figurines, parts including
logos, etc., could be secured to the base member so that the
ornament can releasably attached to the penny receiving slot of the
penny loafer to adorn the penny loafer.
[0020] An embodiment of a kit of the present invention is indicated
by reference numeral 110 in FIG. 4. The kit 110 comprises a first
ornament apparatus 112, a second ornament apparatus 114, and
packaging 116 (e.g., a box or bag). The first and second ornament
apparatus 112, 114 may be partially or completely within the
packaging 116. Each of the first and second ornament apparatus 112,
114, may have the same or similar components as that of the
ornament apparatus described above, and the description above is
equally applicable to each of the first and second ornament
apparatus 112, 114. For convenience, the ornaments on each of the
first and second ornament apparatus 112, 114 are represented as
tassels in FIG. 4, but it is to be understood that the first and
second ornament apparatus 112, 114 are schematic representations of
any ornament apparatus having a base member and one or more
ornaments secured to the base member via a cord or by other
suitable means. In other words, the ornaments of the first and
second ornament apparatus 112, 114 may be any suitable ornament
such as one or more tassels, puffs, pompoms, bows, bells,
figurines, parts including logos, etc. The packaging 116 includes
indicia 118. The indicia 118 may include the name or logo of a
school, athletic team, fraternity or sorority. At least a portion
of one of the tassels or ornaments of the first ornament apparatus
112 is of a first color, and at least a portion of one of the
tassels or ornaments of the second ornament apparatus 114 is of a
second color, the second color being different from the first
color. The first and second colors are colors of such school,
athletic team, fraternity or sorority. For example, the indicia
could comprise the name or a logo of a university (e.g., the
University of Florida, or University of Notre Dame), with the first
and second colors being colors associated with such university
(e.g., orange and blue for the University of Florida, or gold and
blue for the University of Notre Dame). To the extent the ornaments
are tassels, both tassels of the first ornament apparatus 112 could
be of the first color and both tassels of the second ornament
apparatus 114 could be of the second color. Alternatively, each of
the first ornament apparatus 112 and second tassel apparatus could
include a tassel of the first color and a tassel of the second
color. In yet another alternative, each tassel could include a
portion of the first color and a portion of the second color. It is
also to be understood that the ornament may be a depiction of an
object associated with a school, athletic team, fraternity or
sorority, such as a gator (associated with the University of
Florida) or a clover leaf (associated with the University of Notre
Dame).
[0021] Another embodiment of a kit of the present invention is
indicated by reference numeral 210 in FIG. 5. The kit 210 comprises
a first ornament apparatus 212, a second ornament apparatus 214,
and a removable tag 216. The kit 210 is the same as the kit 110,
except the kit 210 includes the removable tag 216 instead of the
packaging 116. The removable tag 216 includes indicia 218. The
indicia 218 is of the same type as the indicia 118 described above
with respect to FIG. 4. Thus, the description given above with
respect to the indicia 118 is equally applicable to the indicia
218.
[0022] Referring again to FIGS. 1-3, to transform the penny loafer
40 from a penny loafer configuration to a tassel loafer
configuration, a user merely inserts the base 22 of the tassel
apparatus 20 into the penny-receiving slot 46 of the penny loafer
40, such that the first and second tassels 24, 26 are on a top
surface of the upper and dangle from the base member.
[0023] In view of the foregoing, it should be appreciated that the
invention has several advantages over the prior art.
[0024] As various modifications could be made in the constructions
and methods herein described and illustrated without departing from
the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter
contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying
drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting.
Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be
limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but
should be defined only in accordance with the following claims
appended hereto and their equivalents.
[0025] It should also be understood that when introducing elements
of the present invention in the claims or in the above description
of exemplary embodiments of the invention, the terms "comprising,"
"including," and "having" are intended to be open-ended and mean
that there may be additional elements other than the listed
elements. Additionally, the term "portion" should be construed as
meaning some or all of the item or element that it qualifies.
Moreover, use of identifiers such as first, second, and third
should not be construed in a manner imposing any relative position
or time sequence between limitations.
* * * * *