Abstract:
Lace-less footwear such as flip-flops, sandals, slippers or boots for displaying a team logo or name is provided.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     Sports fans have their favorite sports teams, whether at the professional, collegiate, high school or other levels. Fans like to show their support for their favorite teams by wearing sweatshirts, t-shirts, jackets or hats displaying the team logos and/or name of their favorite athletic teams. The team logos and/or team names are typically integrated into or are made a part of the clothing item itself by the manufacturer of the clothing item.  
         [0002]     It is also known to add decorative effects, including team logos, to athletic shoes such as sneakers. However, these decorative effects are not actually included by the manufacturer as an integral part of the athletic shoes, but are instead added by the owner of the athletic shoe by attaching the effect to the shoelaces. Such decorative effects are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,477,754.  
         [0003]     It is also known that athletic shoe manufacturers add their own trademarks or logos to the athletic shoes they manufacture. Thus, for example, Nike™ and Converse™ include their respective logs on the athletic footwear they each manufacture.  
         [0004]     It has occurred to the applicant of the present invention that sports fans often times do not wear athletic shoes (to sporting events or otherwise), and, in fact, oftentimes prefer to wear footwear that does not include shoe laces. For example, in the summer, sporting fans may prefer to wear flip-flops, sandals or some other form of open footwear. In contrast, in the winter, sporting fans may prefer to wear boots or other cold or foul weather footwear. These types of footwear usually do not include shoe laces, e.g., they are “lace-less.” Thus, decorative effects such as those disclosed in the above-referenced U.S. Pat. No. 6,477,754, which are designed for attachment to the shoe laces of an athletic shoe, cannot be used on lace-less footwear such as, for example, flip-flops, sandals, boots or other footwear that does not include shoe laces.  
         [0005]     Accordingly, there is a need in the art for the ability to display team logos on lace-less footwear, such as, for example, flip-flops, sandals, slippers and boots.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention is directed to lace-less footwear especially adapted for displaying team logos and/or names. The lace-less footwear is preferably flip-flops or slippers, although other types of lace-less footwear such as slippers, boots, slip-on shoes are contemplated. The team logos and team names preferably consist of the logos and/or names of professional sports teams, such as professional football, baseball and basketball teams. A particularly preferred logo and team name for display on the lace-less footwear of the present invention is the logo and team name for the Chicago Bears™ football club. However, the logos and team names of other sports teams, whether at the professional, collegiate, high school or other level are contemplated for display on the lace-less footwear of the present invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  is top view of a flip-flop according to one embodiment of the present invention displaying the logo and team name of the Chicago Bears M football club.  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a top view of a flip-flop according to another embodiment of the present invention displaying the logo and team name of the Chicago Bears™ football club.  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a top view of a slipper according to an embodiment of the present invention displaying the logo and team name of the Chicago Bears™ football club. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  illustrates a flip-flop  2  according to one embodiment of the present invention. The flip-flop has a sole  4  and a y-shaped strap  6  attached to the sole at toe section  8  and side sections,  10  and  12 , respectively. The name and logo of the Chicago Bears™ football club is displayed on the flip-flop  2 . Of course, it is contemplated that, instead of—or in addition to—the Chicago Bears™ name and logo, the name and/or logo of other teams, whether at the professional, collegiate, high school or other level, may be displayed on flip-flop  2 . The name and logo is preferably displayed in a manner such that when the flip-flop is not being worn the logo and team name is displayed in an uninterrupted manner when viewing the flip flop from above. That is, the logo and team name are displayed on the sole  4  and y-shaped strap  6  in a coordinated manner such that the combination of the sole and the strap yields a complete and uninterrupted display of the logo and name when viewing the flop-flop from above.  
         [0011]     The flip-flop may be made from any suitable material. Exemplary materials include but are not limited to rubber or rubber-like material.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  illustrates another embodiment of a flip-flop  20 . This flip-flop has a sole  22  and a y-shaped strap  24  attached at a toe section  26  and side sections,  28  and  30 , respectively. A bow  32  is attached to the y-shaped strap  24  at or near the toe section  26  of the sole  22 . The name and logo of the Chicago Bears™ football club is displayed on the flip-flop  20 . Again, it is contemplated that, instead of—or in addition to—the Chicago Bears™ name and logo, the name and/or logo of other teams, whether at the professional, collegiate, high school or other level, may be displayed.  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  illustrates another embodiment of the invention. A slipper  30  has a channel  32  for receiving a foot. A leading end of the slipper  34  contains material  36  on which the name and logo of the Chicago Bears™ football club is displayed. Again, it is contemplated that, instead of—or in addition to—the Chicago Bears™ name and logo, the name and/or logo of other teams, whether at the professional, collegiate, high school or other level, may be displayed.  
         [0014]     The slipper  30  may be constructed from any appropriate material. Exemplary materials include but are not limited to cotton or cotton blends.  
         [0015]     It will be understood that various modifications may be made to the embodiments disclosed herein. The above description should not be construed as limiting, but mere as an exemplification of preferred embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate other modifications within the scope and spirit of the claims appended hereto.