Abstract:
A method and apparatus of preserving and protecting decorative tassels after they have become unsightly from wearing of an item, or to prevent their becoming so, particularly on shoes to which they are attached. Typically, one or more tassels are made up of strands of leather or synthetic leather extending integrally side-by-side from a stem base attached to the shoe. The method and apparatus comprises of arranging or rearranging and encasing the strands in a clamshell having an upper portion and a lower portion and snap lock mechanism with integrally molded hinge, thereby pressing the strands between the locked clamp and reviving them to or maintaining them in their original aesthetic appearance economically and conveniently.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the method and apparatus of a preserving and protecting tassels. More particularly, the present invention relates to a shoe tassel retainer for shoes having at least one tassel, such as overlying an arch of the shoe. The invention is concerned with an apparatus to maintain the aesthetic appearance of the shoes or other items by placing and holding the component strands of decorative tassels into their original conditions after displacement by use of the shoes or other items to which the tassels are attached. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It has long been fashionable for both men and women to wear shoes equipped with tassels, which are normally made up of rectilinear strands of leather arranged side-by-side in substantially cylindrical formation. When such shoes are new and boxed or are otherwise placed in stores for display, the strands of such tassels are straight and neatly punched together. However, normal use of the shoes carrying the tassels usually disarranges the component strands in an unsightly manner. Prolonged and improper storage may also render the tassels deshaped. Heretofore, there is no effective way for the wearer to maintain the appearance of the tassels. 
     Various boots have been made to overlie shoes in inclement weather to protect the shoes. Shoe accessory clips having a pair of overlapped, toothed jaws normally held together by spring action (Spring Clip design) and operable by the user for receiving a tassel between the spring pressed jaws. It is also proposed that merely clipping the device onto an unruly tassel and leaving the receiving jaws of the clip under spring pressure overnight will “tame” the unsightly tassel. Another traditional way of straightening the tassels is by winding a rubber band over the rearranged tassels. Such a method is patently weak and ineffective. 
     One prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 3,812,603 issued to Goodman describes a detachable spiked shoe protective cover that increases footing on hard surfaces and prevents injury to other surfaces for wearers of spiked shoes such as golf shoes or track shoes. 
     Another prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 690,003 issued to Altman describes a detachable shoelace protector having a shield overlying the shoelaces of a shoe and held in place by a strap that passes through the shoe instep and connects to the other end of the strap by an eyelet/tab connector. Hooks are affixed to the upper inside end of the shield and engage the upper edge of the shoe or the laces. The Altman protector serves to completely overlie and protect the shoelaces and prevent them form becoming untied. If used with buttoned shoes, it serves solely as ornamentation. 
     A further prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 4,766,682 issued to Malloy teaches a removable lace cover strap placed about the instep of laced footwear, usually athletic shoes, to prevent the laces from becoming untied. This device also serves for decorative purposes. A strap is provided with a width about equal to the instep and a length just sufficient to allow overlapping of the strap&#39;s opposite ends. A hook type fastener, such as a Velcro fastener, may be used to fasten the strap&#39;s opposite ends together during the athletic performance of the wearer. 
     A further prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 6,055,714 issued to Sproul discloses a method of renewing decorative tassels after they have become unsightly from wearing of an item to which they are attached. The method comprises encasing the tassel, as straightened and rearranged, in a tube length of heat-shrink material; applying moisture to the strands of the tassel; heating the heat-shrink tube along its length to shrink it tightly against the tassel as straightened and rearranged, so as to press it into renewed conditions; and removing the shrunken tube from the renewed tassel substantially without disturbing the straightened and rearranged strands thereof 
     One prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 875,560 issued to Vaughan discloses a shoe protector designed to protect a shoe against abrasion and cuts at the shank and instep when worn by miners, laborers on railways and other places where shovels or spades are used. 
     A further prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 1,164,810 issued to Hammond describes a toe brake for use by coasters (or sled riders) that is easily attachable to a shoe and which allows the coaster to guide and brake the sled without damaging the coaster&#39;s shoe. The toe brake is positioned and retained on the centerline of the without presenting a fastening strap in a position to be stepped on or readily become worn out. The braking means consists of and upwardly inclined, pointed member in line with the shank at the toe end. 
     The prior art does not teach a device to maintain tassels at or near their original positions to restore and maintain the attractive appearance of the shoes. Thus, it would be advantageous to have a separate portion to overly the tassels allowing a separate of the tassels. 
     Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, from the claims and from the accompanying drawings. 
     ADVANTAGES AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a tassel preserver specifically designed to retain or reform the tassels to their original, desired positions. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a shoe tassel device to allow exertion of just adequate pressure against the tassels to reform, but not deform, them. 
     In making the present invention, it is a principal object to provide an apparatus and method whereby the repair shop or the user himself, or herself, can renew or maintain shoe tassels quickly and economically. 
     It is the advantage of the present invention that it helps preserve not only shoe-trimming tassels but also tassels attached to other articles of use for ornamental purposes. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is the safe storage of the tassels so that they are not depressed or entangled over the course of time. 
     In the achievement of this objective the present invention makes the use of the clamshell concept, which eliminates the paddles (spring clip design) in favor of a hinged top cover upper portion, which is secured by using a snap fit feature. Release is accomplished by incorporating a flexible finger that deflects under a slight finger pressure. A molded living hinge is incorporated into the device eliminating need for post molding assembly and providing resistance that aids in the snap fit action. The clamshell design minimizes the use of plastic material over the spring clip design, thus reducing material cost. It will be less complex to mold the integral hinge. This design also eliminates the necessity to use an additional spring to provide compression during closure as the snap fit provides this function. A customer specific logo may be molded in-situ using an exchangeable mold insert. 
    
    
     Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, from the claims and from the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 represents a pictorial view of a usual casual or sport shoe equipped with a pair of typical, shoe-trimming tassels, the view looking toward the vamp portion of the shoe after the shoe has been worn and the component strands of the respective tassels have been disarranged in an unsightly manner. 
     FIG. 2 is a representative perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the tassel device in an open position. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tassel device of FIG. 2 showing a logo. 
     FIG. 3A is a representative cross-section view of the tassel device of FIG. 3 in a closed position. 
     FIG. 3B is a representative cross-section view of the tassel device of FIG. 3 in an open position. 
     FIG. 4A is an enlarged fragmentary view of one of the pair of tassels of the shoe of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4B shows the disarranged strands of the tassel of FIG. 4A bunched, rearranged and tucked into an appropriate length and diameter of the tassel preserving device for pressing of the encased tassels. 
     FIG. 4C is a perspective view of pressed and reformed tassel of FIG. 4A after having undergone the method and/or after use of the device of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a representative view of another preferred embodiment of the tassel device. 
     FIG. 5A is a representative view of the tassel device  500  of FIG. 5 in an open position showing the built in mold to receive the tassels. 
     FIG. 6 is a representative perspective view of a preferred embodiment the tassel device showing an alternative clamp. 
     FIG. 6A is a representative perspective view of the clamp of FIG. 6 having an overlying clamping portion projecting out in the middle of the device. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     It will be understood that while numerous preferred embodiments of the present invention are presented herein, numerous of the individual elements and functional aspects of the embodiments are similar. Therefore, it will be understood that structural elements of the numerous apparatus disclosed herein having similar or identical function may have like reference numerals associated therewith. 
     FIG. 1 of the drawing shows typical, paired tassels  100 , on a shoe  110 , each tassel being cut from leather or a leather substitute into strands  101  extending integrally from a base stem portion  102  to which they are attached in various ways with or without additional tassel structure (not shown) depending upon the particular make of the shoe and the tassels thereof. As shown, the strands  101  have become disarranged and bent out of their original, side-by-side, cylindrical tassel shape resulting from use of the shoe  110  to which they are attached as decorative trim. It should be noted that the shoe  110  and the tassels  100 , with its strands  101  extending from its base stem  102 , are structurally part of the prior art and that the present invention proposes a device to preserve the tassels in their original shape. 
     FIG. 2 is the representative view of the tassel preserving device  200  in an open position. The device  200  is an open-ended tubular portion, hereto referred as clamshell  205 , hollow from inside, and designed in variable sizes to receive the tassel  100 . The clamshell  205  comprises of an upper portion  201 , and a lower portion  203 . A flexible hinge  202  connects the upper portion  201  with the lower portion  203 . In a preferred embodiment of the clamshell  205 , the hinge  202  may be integrally molded with the upper portion  201  and the lower portion  203 , to join the upper portion  201  and the lower base portion  203  of the clamshell  205 . However, the hinge  202  may be separately constructed to serve the same purpose. A clamp  204  locks the tassel strands  101  in the clamshell  205  along the length of the clamshell  205 . A snap fit feature secures the locking and presses the tassel strands  101 . A release finger  206  is provided to unlock the tassel strands  101  that are encased in the clamshell  205  for pressing. The clamshell  205  is made up of any of a number of conventional materials such as plastic, rubber, metal, fiberglass or other composite materials. 
     FIG. 3 is a representative perspective view of the device  200  of FIG. 2 showing a logo  301  for promotional purposes. A customer specific logo  301  may be molded in-situ using an exchangeable mold insert. In the alternative, a logo  301  may be embossed on the clamshell  205  of the device  200 . 
     FIG. 3A is the representative cross-section  3   x — 3   x  of the device  200  of FIG.  2 . in a closed position. The snap fit mechanism secures the lock. The molded living hinge  202  provides the resistance that aids in the snap fit action. The clamp  204  on the upper portion  201  locks in well with a groove  208  in the lower portion  203  of the clamshell  205 . Release is accomplished by incorporating a flexible release finger  206  that deflects under slight finger pressure. 
     FIG. 3B is the representative cross-section view of the tassel protecting device of FIG.  2 . in an open position. The hinge  202  allows the upper portion  201  to remain open. While in open position, the clamshell  205  permits the tassel to be inserted into it. After the tassel  100  is housed in the clamshell  205 , the upper portion is pressed down and by virtue of the snap fit action caused by the hinge  202 , the clamp  204  locks in the protrusion  208  of the lower portion  203  and applies pressure on the inserted tassel  100 . The clamp  204  has a single, double or a triple click lock. 
     FIG. 4A is an enlarged fragmentary view of one of the pair of tassels  100  of the shoe  110  of FIG.  1 . The tassel  100 , as shown, has its strands  101  in an unruly and disarranged state caused by an extended use. The device  200  of FIG. 2 is designed to avoid such a condition of the tassels. The tassel  100  is encased by the device  200  before sale, during storage, and after the shoe has been used. The tassel  100  gets pressed and straightened, and its aesthetic appearance maintained. The tassel  100  is ready and in shape for the next use. 
     FIG. 4B shows the method by which the tassel  100  is inserted into the device  200 . The unruly tassel strands  101  are first arranged and disentangled into a bunch of linear strands and then carefully tucked into the clamshell  205  by opening the upper portion  201 . The upper portion  201  is then snapped to allow the strands  101  of the tassel  100  to get pressed and straightened under pressure. 
     FIG. 4C illustrates a straightened and aesthetically attractive tassel  100  after having been pressed by the device  200 . 
     FIG. 5 is a representative view of a preferred embodiment of the tassel device  500 . The device with an inbuilt flexible collar mold  501  constructed to receive the tassels  100 . The flexible mold  501  operates in conjunction with the snap fit mechanism, clamping the tassels  100  housed in it and applying pressure when closed. Because of its conical shape, the flexible mold  501  provides a better fit and greater pressure to straighten the tassel strands  101 . 
     FIG. 5A is the tassel device  500  shown in FIG. 5A in an open position showing the fingers, tines or prongs  502  of the built-in conical mold  501 . The conical mold  501  is shaped as an open ended cone with tines  502  projecting along the length of the tassel device. The conical mold  501  is built-in at one end  503   a  of the tassel device  500  while the conical end  503   b  is free. When the device  500  is opened the conical mold  501  splits into two parts  501   a  and  501   b . The prongs  502  of the mold  501  are resilient and are designed to accommodate tassels of a variety of sizes and thickness. The tassel  100  is housed in the conical mold  501  and the clamps are snapped to apply pressure. The conical shape of the mold provides greater pressure to straighten and keep straight the tassels. 
     FIG. 6 is an alternative embodiment of a clamp  604  such as shown in FIG.  2 . The clamp  604  in the tassel preserving device  600  is constructed in the middle of the clamshell  205 . The clamp  604  locks the tassel strands  101  in the clamshell  205 . A snap fit feature secures the locking and presses the tassel strands  101 . A release finger  603  is provided to unlock the device  600  tassel strands  101  that are encased in the clamshell  205  for pressing. The clamshell  205  is made up of a number of conventional materials such as plastic, metal, fiberglass or other composite materials. 
     FIG. 6A is the perspective view of the device  600  in an open position showing the clamp  600  projecting from the clamshell  205  in the middle. The clamp operates under the snap-fit action caused by the flexible hinge  202 , overlaps the slot  602  and snaps into it when the clamshell  205  is closed. 
     Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the preferred methods and materials are now described. All publications and patent documents referenced in this application are incorporated herein by reference. 
     While the principles of the invention have been made clear in illustrative embodiments, there will be immediately obvious to those skilled in the art many modifications of structure, arrangement, proportions, the elements, materials, and components used in the practice of the invention, and otherwise, which are particularly adapted to specific environments and operative requirements without departing from those principles. The appended claims are intended to cover and embrace any and all such modifications, with the limits only of the true purview, spirit and scope of the invention.