Abstract:
The present invention is directed toward a device, kit, and related method for an adhesive film for application to the sole of a shoe. More specifically, the film is easily attached to the shoe sole so that a user may decorate their shoe soles and continuously change the appearance of the soles of a single pair of shoes instead of purchasing multiple shoes of a variety of styles. It also serves as a shoe sole protector, as it covers the original sole protecting it from wear and abrasion. A cutting device to trim the film to size without trimming the shoe material is also contemplated.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/525,079 filed on Aug. 18, 2011 entitled “Interchangeable Sole Ornamentation. Kit and Method,” the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of shoe accessories and, more particularly, to shoe sole ornamentation apparatuses, kits, and related methods. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Shoes, and particularly women&#39;s shoes, are more than foot protection, and are typically regarded as fashion accessories. When consumers buy shoes, especially high-heeled varieties, women are typically concerned not only with comfort and durability, but also with shoe aesthetics, how the shoes comport with fashion trends, and clothing compatibility. Because the shoe is regarded as a particularly important fashion accessory, consumers often buy numerous pairs of shoes to match a variety of outfits. 
     Like other forms of fashionable apparel, trendy shoes can be extremely expensive, and particularly so if made by a famous designer. Because such shoes are typically designed with style and fashion in mind—and not necessarily comfort or longevity—it is not uncommon for the sole of a woman&#39;s shoes to show wear after a relatively short period of time. Women&#39;s shoes may wear particularly badly from repeated exposure to rough surfaces such as asphalt or pavement. The combination of the desire for new, fashionable shoes and the fact that such shoes may wear somewhat quickly results in a huge market for women&#39;s shoes. In 2007, for example, the U.S. consumed over 950 million pairs of women&#39;s shoes (non-rubber). Meanwhile, the U.S. only consumed approximately 240 million pairs of men&#39;s shoes in the same time frame. 
     There is a need in the art of women&#39;s shoes for a means to allow easy attachment and removal of ornamentation to the sole of any woman&#39;s shoe, which is particularly difficult for high heels with severe and complex curvatures. 
     SUMMARY 
     In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus, related and related methods to allow easy attachment and removal of ornamentation to the sole of a shoe. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus, related and related methods which allows easy attachment and removal of ornamentation the sole of a high-heel shoe having severe and complex curvatures. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide these apparatus, related kit, and related methods without the need for screws or other alterations to the sole. Further, such designs should be flexible to accommodate the spectrum of sole contours present across the various styles of women&#39;s shoes. Further, such an invention should provide protection to increase the longevity of the shoe sole. 
     This and other objects, features, and advantages in accordance with the present invention are provided by a shoe sole film applicator kit comprising a piece of adhesive film for application to a shoe sole. An applicator is provided for applying the adhesive film to the shoe sole. In one embodiment, the applicator is a flexible squeegee. 
     Additionally, a cutting device is used to cu the adhesive film into a shape and dimension that is substantially coextensive with the shoe sole. 
     The cutting device is a razor blade or a device comprising a V-shaped notch, the notch having a beveled cutting edge. 
     In one embodiment, the adhesive film is a vinyl film, and preferably polyvinyl chloride, and is about 1.5 to about 12 mils thick. The adhesive film also comprises an acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive. In a related embodiment, the adhesive film comprises a clear overlaminate that is about 3 to about 20 mils. 
     The invention also contemplates a method of applying film to a shoe sole comprising the steps of: providing an adhesive film for the application to a shoe sole; providing an applicator designed for applying the adhesive film to the shoe sole; and providing a cutting device designed for cutting the adhesive film applied to the shoe sole. Related embodiments of the method include at least one of the steps of: applying an adhesive film to a sole of a shoe; cutting the adhesive film into a shape that is substantially coextensive with the sole of the shoe; using an edge of the sole as a guide to cut the adhesive film; and heating the adhesive film. 
     The cutting device contemplated for cutting adhesive film using an edge as a guide comprises a handle having a size and dimension to be held between a user&#39;s thumb and index finger. It comprises a curved surface extending from the handle, the curved surface defining a v-shaped notch and a doubly beveled knife edge along the edge of the notch. The notch is between about 3 mm and about 20 mm in depth, and the bevel is asymmetric in one embodiment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating various embodiments of the present invention, in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of an adhesive film; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a cross section of the adhesive film of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an embodiment of an applicator; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an embodiment of a cutting device; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a close-up view of the V-notch of the cutting device in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an adhesive film being applied to the sole of a shoe; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates an adhesive film being applied to the sole of a shoe with an applicator; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates an adhesive, film being trimmed to sole substantially coextensive with the sole of a shoe; and 
         FIG. 9  illustrates an adhesive film applied to the sole of a shoe after the film, is trimmed to size. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In the Summary of Invention above and in the Detailed Description of the invention and in the accompanying drawings, reference is made to particular features (including method steps) of the invention. It is to be understood that the disclosure of the invention in this specification includes all possible combinations of such particular features. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or embodiment of the invention, that feature can also be used, to the extent possible, in combination with and/or in the context of other particular aspects and embodiments of the invention, and in the invention generally. 
     The term “comprises” is used herein to mean that other ingredients, elements, steps, etc. are optionally present. When reference is made herein to a method comprising two or more defined steps, the steps can be carried in any order or simultaneously (except where the context excludes that possibility), and the method can include one or more steps which are carried out before any of the defined steps, between two of the defined steps, or after all of the defined steps (except where the context excludes that possibility). 
     In this section, the present invention will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
     The Kit 
       FIGS. 1-5  illustrate the contents of a kit for applying an adhesive film to the bottom a shoe. The kit contains adhesive film  10 , an applicator  30 , and a cutting device  40 . 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a sheet of adhesive film  10 . The adhesive film  10  comprises a polymer layer  12 . The polymer layer is a vinyl polymer, though polyethylene, polypropylene, and any other polymeric film is contemplated. In a preferred embodiment, the polymer layer  12  is composed of monomeric polyvinyl chloride. The polymer layer  12  is about 1.5 mils to 18 mils in thickness, with a preferred thickness of about 3 mils. The adhesive film  10  comprises a layer of adhesive  14 . The adhesive  14  is a double-sided tape, liquid adhesive, or any other adhesive known in the art. In a preferred embodiment, the layer of adhesive  14  is an acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive. The acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive is between about 0.4 mils to 1.8 mils, and preferably between about 0.8 mils to 1.1 mils. 
     In one embodiment, a clear overlaminate  16  is attached to the surface of the adhesive film  10 . The overlaminate  16  is a clear polymeric film. In a preferred embodiment, the overlaminate  16  is a clear flexible polyvinyl chloride. The overlaminate  16  is about 3 mils to 20 mils in thickness, with a preferred thickness of about 12 mils. The clear overlaminate  16  is attached to the adhesive film with a layer of adhesive  18 . 
     A liner  20  provides a substrate for the adhesive film  10  to attach to for transport and storage. Before the adhesive film  10  is attached to a shoe  50  ( FIG. 5 ), the film  10  is first removed from the liner  20 . In one embodiment, the liner is a polyethylene-coated release paper. In a preferred embodiment, the liner  20  is 90# Sta-Flat liner. 
     The adhesive film  10  is preferably colored. In other embodiments, the adhesive film  10  contains patterns, logos, photographs, and/or images. For example, a sports teams color with associated logo and graphics may adorn the adhesive film  10 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an applicator  30 . In a preferred embodiment the applicator is a plastic, rubber, or polymer squeegee-type applicator. However, the squeegee can be metal, wood, silicone, composite, plastic, rubber, polymer, felt, and combinations thereof. The applicator  30  comprises an edge  32  that is used to apply even and concentrated pressure to the adhesive film  10  upon application to a shoe  62 . The applicator  30  comprises straight and/or curved edges. In one embodiment of the invention, low friction sleeve is placed over the applicator  30  to facilitate application of the adhesive film  10  upon application to a shoe  62 . 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate an embodiment of the cutting device  40 . The cutting device  40  is used to trim adhesive film  10  after application to a shoe  62 . A razor blade is contemplated by the invention, but a preferred embodiment is a device comprising a curved surface  42  that defines a beveled. V-notch  44 . The V-notch  44  is between about 3 mm and 20 mm in depth. In one embodiment, the notch comprises a double bevel  46 . The double bevel  46  forms a sharp cutting edge  48  to slice adhesive film  10 . The double bevel  46  also acts to offset the cutting edge  48  away from the bottom surface  50  of the cutting device  40  to reduce the chance of cutting material from the shoe itself when trimming adhesive film  10 . The cutting device  40 , in one embodiment, comprises a handle  52 . The radius of the curved surface is between about 0.375 inches and 0.625 inches, with a preferred radius of about 0.5 inches. 
     A kit comprising adhesive film  10 , an applicator  30 , and a cutting device  40  is contemplated by the invention. The kit provides adhesive film  10  for application to the sole of a shoe  62 . This allows a user of the kit to change the appearance of the sole of a shoe  62  based upon the appearance of the adhesive film  10 . To facilitate application of the adhesive film  10 , an applicator is provided. The applicator is used to reduce/eliminate air bubbles from forming between the adhesive film  10  and the shoe  62 . Once the film  10  is applied, the cutting device  40  is used to cut the film  10  so that the film  10  follows the contour of the sole of the shoe  62 . 
     Method of Applying Film to a Shoe Sole 
     Turning initially to  FIG. 6 , the invention contemplates a method for applying an adhesive film  10  to the sole  60  of a shoe  62 . The film  10  applied for ornamentation and/or protective purposes. The adhesive film  10  is removed from the liner  20 , and placed on sole  60  of a shoe  62 . Preferably, the sole  60  of a shoe  62  is cleaned and dried before the film  10  is applied. The adhesive  14  attaches the film&#39;s  10  polymer layer  12  to the sole  60  of a shoe  62 . 
     To promote adhesion, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , an applicator  30  is used to smooth and press the film  10  to the sole  60 . This aids in adhesion, removal of air bubbles/pockets that may form between the film  10  and the sole  60 , as well as to promote contact between the film  10  and the sole  60  in difficult-to-reach areas of the shoe  62  such as the transition area  64  where the sole  60  transitions into the heel  66 . Misting the film  10  with water reduces friction and the likelihood of scratching the film  10  with the applicator  30 . Additionally, applying heat, as from a conventional hairdryer, makes the film  10  more pliable, and will aid in application of the film  10  to the sole  60 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates the step of cutting the film  10  into a shape that is substantially coextensive with the sole  60 . The cutting device  40  is used by engaging the film  10  with the cutting edge  48  to slice the film  10 . The edge  68  of the sole is used as a guide whereupon the bottom surface  58  of the cutting device  40  rests. The cutting device  40  is used by following the edge  68  around the entire sole  60  until the film  10  is cut to be substantially coextensive with the sole  60 .  FIG. 9  illustrates the film  10  after it has been but by the cutting device  30 . 
     Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to the mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications and embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.