Identification holder for mounting on shoes

An identification member adapted to be secured to shoes having laces or straps includes an integrally formed carrier of synthetic resin having a base and a cover which are hingedly connected along one side margin thereof. The base provides a cavity in which is seated an identification element, and the cover and base have interfitting side walls which engage in the closed position. Depending from the bottom wall of the base is a U-shaped engagement loop through which a shoelace or strap passes to secure the carrier to the top of the shoe.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to identification members for mounting upon 
shoes and like footwear and, more particularly, to such a member having an 
integrally formed carrier for an identification card of the like and which 
may be readily mounted on shoes employing laces and straps. 
As is well known, it is desirable to carry identification upon the person 
at all times and this is particularly true for those persons who have 
medical conditions which should be disclosed to any treating agency in the 
event that the person is incapacitated and unable to communicate. 
In some instances, carriers have been integrally formed with the shoe to 
carry money for emergency purposes as exemplified by Gamm U.S. Pat. No. 
4,547,982. In still other instances, it has been proposed to mount 
decorative emblems upon the shoes such as, for example, shown in 
Schweitzer U.S. Pat. No. 4,597,198. Exemplary of the devices utilized to 
carry identification and emergency items are Harrell U.S. Pat. No. 
4,536,975; Brettell U.S. Pat. No. 3,631,613; Oliver U.S. Pat. No. 
4,327,512; and Haskell U.S. Pat. No. 4,254,566. 
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel identification 
member which may be readily mounted upon conventional footwear employing 
laces or straps to secure the flaps and tighten the shoe about the foot. 
It is also an object to provide such an identification member which may be 
readily fabricated and which is highly durable. 
Another object is to provide such an identification member in which the 
carrier for the identification card or the like is reasonably sealed to 
minimize the penetration of dirt and the like into the carrier and which 
also may be readily opened and closed. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It has now been found that the foregoing and related objects and advantages 
may be readily attained in an identification member adapted to be secured 
to a shoe or the like having lacing or like elements extending 
transversely the flaps. It includes an integrally formed carrier of 
synthetic resin having a base and cover hingedly connected along one side 
margin thereof, and the base has a bottom wall and a sidewall extending 
about the periphery thereof to define an upwardly opening cavity. The base 
also has an elongated, generally U-shaped engagement loop depending from 
the bottom wall and providing a passage through which shoe laces or the 
like may be passed to secure the carrier to the top of the associated 
shoe. The cover has a top wall and a depending sidewall extending about at 
least the major portion of its periphery. The sidewalls of the base and 
cover are dimensioned and configured to interfit, and the cover is 
releasably engaged with the base to close the cavity. Removably seated 
within the carrier is an identification element. 
In the preferred embodiment, the sidewall of the base has outwardly 
extending flanges at its upper end along the one side margin and along the 
side margin opposite thereto. The cover has an inwardly projecting boss on 
the lower end of its sidewall opposite the one side margin and the boss 
snap fits under the flange on the base. The hinged connection is provided 
along the outer edge of the flange on the base. The sidewall on the cover 
extends along the margin opposite that providing the hinged connection and 
along the adjacent side margins to provide a generally U-shaped side wall 
receiving the sidewalls of the base therebetween. 
Most usually, the carrier is rectangular and elongated in the axis parallel 
to the hinged connection, and the engagement loop extends transversely of 
the elongated dimension. Preferably, the carrier is fabricated from a 
polyolefin polymer. 
In use, the identification member is used with a shoe or like footwear 
having a pair of opposed flaps and at least one tightening element 
extending transversely between the flaps. This tightening element is 
usually a shoelace and extends through the passage of the U-shaped loop on 
the base to secure the carrier to the top of the shoe. The identification 
element is imprinted with desired information and is removably seated 
within the carrier. To open and close the carrier, the cover is snapped 
from the base.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION 
In FIG. 1, therein illustrated is a conventional is shoe generally 
designated by the numeral 10 upon which is mounted an identification 
member embodying the present invention and generally designated by the 
numeral 12. 
The shoes 10 upon which the present invention may be mounted generally have 
a pair of flaps 14, 16 which are secured in a tightened relationship by a 
tightening member 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the shoe flaps 14, 16 
have eyelets 20 between which the shoelace 18 extends generally 
transversely. 
The identification member 12 includes an integrally formed carrier 
generally designated by the numeral 24 and having an elongated rectangular 
configuration. 
The carrier 24 includes a base 26 with a bottom wall 28 and a upstanding 
peripheral sidewall 30 defining a cavity therewithin. Hingedly connected 
to the base 26 by the self-hinging flap 22 along the elongated side margin 
is the cover 32 which has a top wall 34 and a depending sidewall 36 which 
extends along the opposite elongated side margin and the adjacent side 
margins. 
The base 26 has outwardly extending flanges 38 extending along the upper 
end of the sidewall 30 at the hinged side margin and at the opposite side 
margin. The hinged connection or hinge flap 22 is at the outer edge of the 
flange 38. The cover 32 has an inwardly extending boss 40 on its sidewall 
36 along the side margin opposite the hinged connection, and this snap 
fits under the flange 38 when the cover 32 is closed. In the closed 
position, the sidewall 36 fits over the sidewall 30 and front flange 38 to 
provide partial sealing of the cavity. Depending from the bottom wall 28 
is a generally U-shaped loop 42 providing a passage through which the 
shoelace 18 extends at least twice. 
Inside the cavity of the carrier 24 is an identification card 44 which 
bears various indicia thereon. 
As seen in FIG. 6, the identification card 44 is conveniently folded to 
provide more space for recording information. Multiple identification 
elements can be stored within the relatively deep cavity, and ideally the 
elements themselves are of a waterproof finish for maximum durability. In 
addition, keys and money may also be placed therein. 
The carrier may be readily opened by springing the cover upwardly with 
sufficient force to cam the boss 40 over the flange 38, and thereby to 
pivot the cover upwardly into the position seen in FIG. 7. 
In FIG. 8, the identification member is shown as mounted on a shoe 10a in 
which the flaps 14a,16a are held tightly together by elongated straps 46 
which are secured by cooperating hook and loop fiber elements 48,50. 
Although various materials may be utilized for molding the carrier, 
polyolefins such as high density polyethylene and polyproplene are 
particular useful since they exhibit self-hinging properties, are 
relatively low cost and are highly durable over a wide temperature range. 
Although the carrier has been shown as elongated and of generally 
rectangular configuration, other configurations may also be employed, and 
the carrier may be reduced in size, particularly for children's shoes. In 
the illustrated embodiment, the sidewall 36 terminates a substantial 
distance from the point of hinged connection between the cover and the 
base. It may be extended to a point closely adjacent the hinged connection 
to improve the sealing characteristics of the cover when it interfits over 
the base. 
Thus, it can be seen that the identification member of the present 
invention may be fabricated readily with the carrier being integrally 
formed by molding from synthetic resin to provide an attractive and 
durable member which can withstand athletic activities and the like. The 
member is one which may be mounted securely and easily upon a shoe, 
sneaker or the like, and access to the identification information upon the 
card and other items placed therewithin may be readily obtained.