Abstract:
A decorative footwear adornment providing a removable and reusable ornamentation for use upon existing footwear includes an attachable base plate being embellished with a decorative element or indicia. The base plate includes extending malleable attachment arms, each encased within a flexible polymer material, which are wrapped around and secured to straps or other portions of the footwear. The flexible nature of the attachment arms enables a user to repeatedly interchange and reuse the adornments with various footwear.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/909,104, filed Nov. 26, 2013, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a decorative footwear ornament or adornment for use upon existing footwear. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Modern fashion trends dictate an ever evolving and changing of popularity wherein the clothing, shoes, and fashion accessories that are considered cutting edge today are considered passé tomorrow. In keeping with these trends, society has a strong desire to be different, and is willing to be judged by the fashions that one wears. Thus, the fashion industry is in a constant search for new and innovative styles and solutions that will help to define the next fashion trend. Not limited strictly to clothing, this need for innovation extends to all areas of fashion, including that of accessories, such as shoes and sandals. Accordingly, there is a constant need for new and innovative ideas that not only create new fashion styles, but also innovates the fashion industry. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention in providing a decorative footwear adornment having an attachable base plate with a plurality of attachment arms, each extending outwardly from a perimeter edge of the base plate. A decorative element is affixed to a first side of the base plate with the second side juxtaposed to an outer surface of an individual item of footwear so that the decorative element is viewable to an observer. The plurality of attachment arms allows a wearer to removably attach the adornment to the item of footwear. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a decorative footwear adornment  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an environmental view of the decorative footwear adornment  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a close-up perspective view of a base plate portion  20  of the decorative footwear adornment  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a section view of the decorative footwear adornment  10  being mounted to a footwear  100  taken along section line A-A (see  FIG. 2 ), according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5   a  is a perspective view of the decorative footwear adornment  10  depicting a third decorative member  30   c  affixed thereto; 
         FIG. 5   b  is another perspective view of the decorative footwear adornment  10  depicting a fourth decorative member  30   d  affixed thereto; and, 
         FIG. 5   c  is yet another perspective view of the decorative footwear adornment  10  depicting a fifth decorative member  30   e  affixed thereto. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  decorative footwear adornment 
               20  base plate 
               21  cover 
               22  base plate upper surface 
               24   a  first attachment arm 
               24   b  second attachment arm 
               26  bend 
               30   a  first decorative element 
               30   b  second decorative element 
               30   c  third decorative element 
               30   d  fourth decorative element 
               30   e  fifth decorative element 
               40  adhesive layer 
               100  footwear 
               105  strap 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 4 , and in terms of alternate embodiments herein depicted within  FIGS. 5   a ,  5   b , and  5   c . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes a decorative footwear adornment (herein described as the “adornment”)  10 , which provides various decorative and ornamental novelty attachments for use upon footwear  100 , preferably open style shoes such as sandals, flip-flops, and the like. Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , top perspective and environmental views of the adornment  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. Embodiments of the adornment  10  are shown in  FIG. 1  including of a first decorative element  30   a , and in  FIG. 2 , including of an attached second decorative element  30   b . Other embodiments of the adornment  10  are envisioned providing a series of decorative elements  30   b ,  30   c ,  30   d ,  30   e , such as flowers, medallions, pom-poms, costume jewels, feathers, buttons, printed logos, or the like. The adornment  10  includes a base plate  20  onto which the first decorative element  30   a  is affixed. Furthermore, the base plate  20  includes a plurality of attachment means which extend outwardly from a perimeter edge of the base plate  20 . In the preferred embodiment, the plurality of attachment means are envisioned as a pair of attachment arms  24   a ,  24   b  that are, in use, bent downwardly, then wrapped back under and around a portion of the item of footwear  100  to secure the adornment  10 . Typically, the footwear  100  is of a style that includes strap portions  105 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , such that the attachment arms  24   a ,  24   b  are bent under the strap portions  105  to secure the adornment  10 . It should be appreciated however, that the attachment arms  24   a ,  24   b  are capable of repeated bending and reuse upon multiple items of footwear  100 , providing for a quick change of the adornment  10  between different styles of footwear  100  such as sandals, flip-flops, and may even be attached to shoelace areas of shoes and boots. Furthermore, it is envisioned that the adornment  10  may be attached with similar ease and effect to other suitable appendages upon one&#39;s person such as, but not limited to: clothing straps, waist belts, handbags, and the like, to provide a decorative accent, and as such should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the adornment  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a perspective view of a base plate portion  20  of the adornment  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The base plate  20  provides a unitary member coated or encased within a flexible polymer cover  21  made of a material such as vinyl or silicone. A particular embodiment of the base plate  20  is illustrated here having a circular first side or upper surface  22 , a first attachment arm  24   a , and a second attachment arm  24   b . The attachment arms  24   a ,  24   b  are shown here in close proximity to each other along a perimeter edge of the base plate upper surface  22 , and protruding outwardly in a diverging manner; however, as previously mentioned the base plate  20  may include a plurality attachment arms  24   a ,  24   b  which may be arranged at various locations around the base plate upper surface  22  at various extending angles without deviating from the teachings of the adornment  10 , and as such should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the invention. Additionally, the attachment arms  24   a ,  24   b  may not be integral to the base plate  20  and may be formed individually and then affixed to the bottom or second side of the base plate. The base plate  20  is envisioned being made using a flexible metal material such as a copper alloy, a lead alloy, or equivalent, allowing the attachment arms portions  24   a ,  24   b  to withstand repeated bending  26 , attachment, and reuse upon multiple footwear  100  without failure. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a section view of the adornment  10  being mounted to a footwear  100 , taken along section line A-A (see  FIG. 2 ), according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The adornment  10  is illustrated here being applied to an open-toe style of footwear  100 . The adornment  10  is retained in position along a top surface portion of the straps  105  by manipulating the arms and applying a downward bend  26  of approximately one-hundred eighty)(180° degrees to each attachment arms  24   a ,  24   b  with the attachment arms  24   a ,  24   b  being wrapped through and/or around the straps  105 . 
     A second decorative element  30   b  is shown here being adhesively bonded to the base plate upper surface  22  preferably using a common adhesive such as hot-melt glue, epoxy, or the like. It is further envisioned that the decorative elements  30   a ,  30   b ,  30   c ,  30   d ,  30   e  may utilize other methods of attachment to the base plate upper surface  22  such as rivets, snaps, soldering, or the like, and as such should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the adornment  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5   a ,  5   b , and  5   c , perspective views of the adornment  10  depicting various configurations including a third decorative element  30   c , a fourth decorative element  30   d , and a fifth decorative element  30   e , respectively, are disclosed. Various decorative elements  30   a ,  30   b ,  30   c ,  30   d ,  30   e  may be incorporated into the adornment  10  to provide a visual representation of various items such as flowers, medallions, pom-poms, costume jewels, feathers, buttons, or the like. These decorative elements may be comprised of, and are not limited to, textile, metal, plastics, or other natural components. Additionally, rather than a decorative element, the base plate upper surface  22  may simply have indicia printed or otherwise applied to it. This embodiment would include printed logos, slogans, advertising, pictures, other writings, or some combination thereof. It is envisioned that the adornment  10  may be introduced for sale in individual units or in sets having various quantities and designs of decorative elements  30   a ,  30   b ,  30   c ,  30   d ,  30   e  based upon a user&#39;s preferences. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the adornment  10 , it would be installed as indicated in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . The method of installing and utilizing the adornment  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: procuring the adornment  10  in a form of a single unit or as a set of units having decorative elements  30   a ,  30   b ,  30   c ,  30   d ,  30   e  which include desired designs, colors, and the like; selecting an existing footwear  100  onto which to apply the adornment  10 , preferably being an open-toe style footwear  100 ; placing the base plate upper surface  22  of the base plate  20  upon a top surface of the straps  105  of the footwear  100 ; forming a bend  26  in the first attachment arm  24   a  in a downward direction and through or around at least one (1) strap  105  of the footwear  100 ; repeating the bending  26  and wrapping steps for the remaining second attachment arm  24   b  in like manner; repeating the previous installation steps for a remaining footwear portion  100 ; donning, wearing, and walking using the footwear  100  equipped with the decorative adornment  10 ; removing the adornment  10  from the footwear  100  for use upon different footwear  100 , or to install another unit of the adornment  10  thereupon by partially or completely straightening the bend  26  in the attachment means  24   a ,  24   b ; lifting and removing the adornment  10  from the footwear  100 ; straightening the attachment arms  24   a ,  24   b  in a coplanar manner for compact storage in a drawer, purse, or the like, until needed again; and, benefiting from an attractive, versatile, portable, and quickly installed means to decorate one&#39;s footwear  100  afforded a user of the present invention  10 . 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.