Abstract:
A footwear accessory holder including a mount attachable to the footwear for receiving at least one display item and a display item retainer movably disposed on the mount. The mount being movable between an open position to allow the display item to be received in the mount and a closed position to prevent the display item from being removed from the mount.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/937,694 filed on Jun. 29, 2007, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention broadly concerns items of footwear. More particularly, the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein concern devices for removable attachment to footwear which can hold decorative and utility items to be worn on shoes, boots, sandals and the like. These embodiments illustrate that the footwear attachment can be mounted on footwear in various ways and configured to interchangeably hold tiles and items of various shapes and sizes, all with various utilitarian functions, designs and logos. The footwear attachment can also provide an attachment point for wings or flaps and other decorative and/or useful additions. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Footwear has evolved far beyond simply being a means for protecting the feet and facilitating locomotion. Footwear is available for a wide variety of purposes, e.g. walking, playing golf, lounging, or driving. Footwear has also become a significant dress item for making a fashion statement and uniqueness and individuality in footwear are sought after by many customers. Children especially like to have footwear that sport their own flair and that stand apart from their peers. In other cases, companies use promotional items, such as footwear (e.g. shoes) with their logo attached, as advertisement for their business. 
         [0004]    The custom footwear business is small compared to automated manufacturing, where each pair of footwear (e.g. shoes) is identical to the next, and custom footwear is expensive to make due to their implicit low volume. A means for an individual to customize their footwear would address the need for adding uniqueness to their fashion. In addition, the ability to transfer the chosen customization among footwear would also be desirable. 
         [0005]    Previous art that attempts to address somewhat similar needs to those mentioned here are U.S. Pat. No. 5,673,499 issued Oct. 7, 1997 to Attilieni which teaches a removable portion of a shoe tongue that may include a light source and U.S. Pat. No. 5,496,612 issued Mar. 5, 1996 to Ransbottom which teaches a strap to fit around the front portion of a shoe and which can hold decorative items mounted on to it. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, there is a need for a simple means of personalizing and adorning footwear by attaching decorative tiles, placards, logos, and the like. In addition, there is a need for a means to removably attach other items such as wings, flaps, tabs and the like. There is a still further need to have the ability to transfer such additions from one pair of footwear to the next. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    In accordance with these objectives, devices and methods are contemplated for decorating footwear. To this end, the footwear can have a variety of styles and configurations even though the preferred embodiments described herein relate to footwear having laces. In addition, while many of the exemplary embodiments relate to the decoration of laced footwear, the teachings herein more broadly contemplate accessorizing any of a variety of footwear configurations with decorative items, promotional items, or the like so that the terms “decorating” or “accessorizing” are not intended to be construed as in any way limiting various ways in which the footwear can be adorned. 
         [0008]    Various exemplary embodiments described herein relate to a footwear accessory holder which broadly comprises a mount attachable to the footwear for receiving at least one display item, and a display item retainer. The retainer is movably disposed on the mount between open and closed positions. When in the open position, the retainer serves to allow the display item to be received in the mount. When in the closed position, the retainer inhibits removal of the display item. One or more display items may be provided which can, themselves, constitute part of the footwear accessory holder. The display items, themselves, may be decorative and comprise decorative elements. Alternatively, each display item may be constructed to allow a decorative element to be attached to it. 
         [0009]    In preferred embodiments, the mount is adapted to threadedly engage the footwear and is pivotally disposed on the mount. Also in the preferred embodiments, the display item is slidably received in the mount. To this end, the mount may be rectangular in configuration and comprise a frame which includes an upper deck surface and a slotted channel projecting below the deck surface. The slotted channel threadedly receives laces associated with the footwear so the mount can be situated thereon. The mount&#39;s frame may also include a pair of laterally spaced apart rails projecting above the deck to form an elongate slideway for receiving the display item. Also in the preferred embodiments, the retainer is pivotally disposed on the mount and constructed so that it may be locked into the closed position to capture the display item and hinder removal of it from the mount. To this end, the retainer may be formed to include a pair of laterally projecting wings, each having a tab which is adapted to mate with an associated aperture formed through the frame so that the retainer may lockingly engage the mount. Together, the mount, the display item and the retainer comprise an adornment for laced footwear. 
         [0010]    Also described is a method for adorning laced footwear with a display item. According to this method, a mount is provided and laces of the footwear threadedly engage the mount to situate it on the footwear. The retainer is movably disposed on the mount as described above. The retainer is placed in the open position so that the display item may be disposed on the mount such as through slidably inserting it into the mount. The retainer is then placed in the closed position, and preferably locked in the closed position, to hinder removal of the display item from the mount. 
         [0011]    These and other objects of the present invention will become more readily appreciated and understood from a consideration of the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments when taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of the footwear adornment according to a first exemplary embodiment illustrating its attachment to a shoe; 
           [0013]      FIG. 1B  is an exploded plan view illustrating how the footwear adornment is mounted on footwear employing laces, the footwear attachment being viewed from the bottom and the footwear being viewed from the top; 
           [0014]      FIG. 1C  is a perspective view of the footwear adornment showing the retainer in a disengaged state illustrating the insertion of a decorative panel piece; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2A  is a top perspective view of the mount shown in  FIGS. 1A-1C ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2B  is a bottom perspective view of the mount shown in  FIG. 2A ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2C  is a top view of the mount shown in  FIG. 2A ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2D  is a bottom view of the mount shown in  FIG. 2A ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2E  is a right side view of the mount shown in  FIG. 2A ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2F  is a left side view of the mount shown in  FIG. 2A ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3A  is a top perspective view of the panel piece shown in  FIGS. 1A-1C ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3B  is a top plan view of the panel piece shown in  FIG. 3A ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 3C  is an end view in elevation of the tile piece shown in  FIG. 3A  inserted into the mount; 
           [0024]      FIG. 4A  is a bottom perspective view of the retainer shown in  FIGS. 1A-1C ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4B  is a top perspective view of the retainer shown in  FIG. 4A ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4C  is a top plan view of the retainer shown in  FIG. 4A ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4D  is an end view in elevation of the retainer shown in  FIG. 4A ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 4E  is a left side view in elevation of the retainer shown in  FIG. 4A ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 5A  is a side view in elevation of the mount shown in  FIGS. 2A-2F  affixed to a shoe; 
           [0030]      FIG. 5B  is a side view in elevation illustrating an alternative construction of the mount shown in  FIG. 5A ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 5C  is a side view in elevation illustrating the mount according to a second exemplary embodiment; 
           [0032]      FIG. 5D  is a side view in elevation illustrating the mount according to a third exemplary embodiment; 
           [0033]      FIG. 5E  is a side view in elevation illustrating an alternative construction of the mount shown in  FIG. 5D ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 5F  is a side view in elevation illustrating another alternative construction of the mount shown in  FIG. 5D ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 5G  is a side view in elevation illustrating the mount according to a fourth exemplary embodiment; 
           [0036]      FIG. 6A  is an end view in elevation illustrating the panel piece and mount according to a fifth exemplary embodiment showing the panel piece inserted into the mount; 
           [0037]      FIG. 6B  is an end view in elevation illustrating the panel piece and mount according to a sixth exemplary embodiment showing the panel piece inserted onto the mount; 
           [0038]      FIG. 7A  is perspective view illustrating two panel pieces with representative designs; 
           [0039]      FIG. 7B  is a side view in elevation illustrating three panel pieces; 
           [0040]      FIG. 7C  is a perspective view illustrating three panel pieces in various arrangements; 
           [0041]      FIG. 7D  is perspective view of five panel pieces of different sizes illustrating representative designs; and 
           [0042]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating three representative ornamental designs that may be used on the retainer. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0043]    According to the present disclosure a footwear adornment is provided which is adapted to be affixed to footwear and may attach or display various useful and ornamental items. In its broad form, this footwear adornment has a mount that may be attached to various types and items of footwear and is adapted to support or display one or more useful or ornamental items. 
         [0044]      FIG. 1A  illustrates the footwear adornment  10  according to a first exemplary embodiment that is attached to a shoe  2 , which has shoe laces  3 . While the various exemplary embodiments are described with reference to laced footwear, the footwear adornment may also be used with footwear having other means of securing to ones foot, such as Velcro or straps. Footwear adornment  10  includes mount  100 , retainer  300 , and decorative item  200 . As is perhaps best shown in  FIG. 1B , mount  100  is secured to shoe  2  by threading laces  3  through openings  126  and  128  (see  FIGS. 2A-2F ) that are formed through the mount.  FIG. 1B  shows a top view of footwear  2  and a separate bottom view of footwear adornment  10 . Though shown separately, footwear  2  and footwear adornment  10  are intended to be considered as joined at the intersection of lace  3  elements A-H, respectively, with footwear adornment  10  residing on top of footwear  2 . For example, the lace  3  on footwear  2  join the lace  3  drawn on the bottom view of the footwear adornment  10  in the following manner: A-A, B-B, C-C, D-D, and so on.  FIG. 5A  is a side view also illustrating mount  100  laced to the shoe. Although lace  3  is shown passing through mount  100  four times to provide a means for securing mount  100  to the footwear  2 , it should be understood that this number may vary and may be as few as one. 
         [0045]      FIG. 1C  illustrates the ability of footwear adornment  10  to allow easy interchange of decorative items  200 , here in the form of panel or tile pieces. Retainer  300  is hinged to mount  100  at hinge  110 . As such, retainer  300  may be unlatched and rotated clear of mount  100  in order to allow decorative panel pieces  200  to be removed and/or installed. One can readily appreciate that this offers a convenient means for customizing the footwear adornment for particular moods and occasions without the need to unlace and lace the shoe each time the decoration is to be changed. 
         [0046]      FIGS. 2A-2F  illustrate mount  100  in detail. On the lower portion of the mount is a bridge or slotted channel formed, in this case, from element  108  and support elements  116  and  118 . Support elements  116  and  118  raise element  108  away from the mount deck  106 . Between the bridge element  108  and the deck  106  are openings  126  and  128 . Openings  126  and  128  provide the means for securing mount  100  to the footwear. More particularly, shoe laces may be threaded through these openings. 
         [0047]    Above deck  106  is a central recess bounded by spaced apart rails or sidewalls  112  and  114  that extend longitudinally along mount  100 . This central recess or slideway is sized and adapted to slidably receive panel pieces  200 . At one end of mount  100  the central recess is bounded by hinge barrel  110  which extends laterally. Hinge barrel  110  is in the form of a partial cylinder or barrel that receives cross member pin  310  of retainer  300 , as is described more fully below. Opposite hinge barrel  110  is an open end at the back of mount  100  that permits the insertion of mount pieces, e.g. tiles  200 , into the central recess of mount  100 . On top of sidewall  112  is overhang or ledge  104 . Similarly, on top of sidewall  114  is overhang  102 . Overhangs  102  and  104  extend inward towards the central recess thus creating grooves  132  and  130 . Referring briefly to  FIG. 3C  it can be seen that grooves  132  and  130  may have a dovetail configuration that provides a means for compensating for variation in panel thickness and to provide a means for retaining panel pieces  200  in grooves  132  and  130  in the event that retainer  300  is not used. Mount  100  also includes latch receptacles or apertures  122  and  124  that are configured to receive latches  318  and  316  respectively of retainer  300 , described more fully below. Latch receptacles  122  and  124  may be, as is shown in  FIG. 2A  for example, in the form of a slot. The mount may be made out of a wide variety of materials including but not limited to plastics, metals, and the like. 
         [0048]    Turning to  FIGS. 3A-3C  it can be seen that panel pieces  200  have appropriately sized tongues  212  and  214  to engage the interior of the grooves,  130  and  132 , thus causing the tile to be retained within the central recess of mount  100 . It can be appreciated that in order to for tiles  200  to fit within and be retained in mount  100 , the tile tongues  212  and  214  and vertical depth must be adapted to fit within the grooves  130  and  132  and central recess of mount  100 . The overall longitudinal length of tile  200  may vary. Indeed, the length may approximate the longitudinal length of grooves  130  and  132  such that only one panel piece is accommodated on mount  100 . Alternatively, the length may be some fraction of the overall mount length such that two or more tiles may be accommodated on mount  100 . It should be appreciated that the panel pieces may vary widely in length such that a myriad of combinations of decorations or accessories may be supported by the mount. The panel pieces may be made out of a wide variety of materials including but not limited to plastics, metals, rubber, and the like. Each panel piece  200  has an upper surface  210  that may support decorative elements and accessories. For example, surface  210  may be embossed, printed, or raised with indicia or decorative design. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that panel piece  200  may support accessories such as gems, bells, lights, and electronics to name just a few. 
         [0049]      FIGS. 4A-4E  illustrate the construction of retainer  300 . The retainer may be made out of a wide variety of materials including but not limited to plastics, metals, and the like. In this embodiment the retainer includes a pair of wing like side pieces  330  and  332  with cross members  310  and  312  extending therebetween to form an opening  314  for receiving mount  100 . Side piece projections  330  and  332  are preferably of an ornamental design such as shown in  FIGS. 4A-4E  and  FIG. 8  as examples. Cross member  310  is in the form of a cylindrical bar or pin. Cross member pin  310  is snapped into opening  120  formed by hinge barrel  110  of mount  100 . Thus, retainer  300  is pivotally attached to mount  100 . 
         [0050]    When the retainer  300  is closed cross member  312  is received by cutout  140  formed in mount  100  thereby hindering removal of display items  200  from the mount deck. In addition, latches  318  and  316  engage latch receptacles  122  and  124  to latch or lock the retainer to the mount. In this embodiment latches  316  and  318  are in the form of wedge like tabs or protrusions that have one or more ramped surfaces. 
         [0051]    Having described the first embodiment of the footwear adornment with some detail, various other embodiments and alternate constructions are described below. While various embodiments are described herein, others may exist such as those disclosed in my earlier U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/937,694 filed on Jun. 29, 2007, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
         [0052]      FIG. 5B  is a side view illustrating an alternative construction  510  of the mount shown in  FIG. 5A . In this case, mount  510  includes two slotted channels  511  and  512  for receiving shoe laces  3 .  FIG. 5C  is a side view illustrating the mount according to a second exemplary embodiment. In this embodiment the mount is comprised of two pieces, a mount base  520  that attaches to shoe  2  via lace  3  and a bracket  530  that attaches to mount base  520 .  FIG. 5D  illustrates the mount according to a third exemplary embodiment. In this embodiment, mount  540  includes a clip  542  that is slid under lace  3 , e.g. via path AA, thus attaching mount  540  to shoe  2 . This embodiment is particularly suited to footwear with Velcro straps or fixed straps.  FIG. 5E  is a side view illustrating an alternative construction of the mount shown in  FIG. 5D . In this case mount  550  includes a clip  552  that has a hook  554  that is engaged with a loop  556  disposed on mount  550 .  FIG. 5F  shows another alternative construction of the mount shown in  FIG. 5D  where mount  560  again includes a clip  562 . In this case clip  562  and mount  560  include cooperative snaps  566  and  564 .  FIG. 5G  is a side view illustrating the mount according to a fourth exemplary embodiment where mount  570  utilizes mount hooks  572  that attach to eyelets  506  to secure mount  570  to footwear  2 . 
         [0053]      FIG. 6A  is an end view illustrating the panel piece and mount according to a fifth exemplary embodiment showing the panel piece  602  inserted into the mount  601  utilizing a key and channel arrangement.  FIG. 6B  is an end view illustrating the panel piece and mount according to a sixth exemplary embodiment showing the panel piece  612  inserted onto the mount  611 . 
         [0054]      FIG. 7A  is perspective view illustrating two panel pieces with representative designs. Decorative items  811  and  813  have ornamental features of various shapes and sizes.  FIG. 7B  is a side view in elevation illustrating three panel pieces. Panel pieces  821 ,  823  and  825  have ornamental features that vary in height.  FIG. 7C  is a perspective view illustrating three panel pieces in various arrangements.  FIG. 7D  is a perspective view of five panel pieces of different sizes illustrating representative designs. 
         [0055]    With the foregoing in mind, a method is also contemplated for adorning laced footwear with a display item. Broadly, a mount is provided and laces of the footwear threadedly engage the mount to situate it on the footwear. The retainer is movably disposed on the mount as described above. The retainer is placed in the open position so that the display item may be disposed on the mount such as through slidably inserting it into the mount. The retainer is then placed in the closed position, and preferably locked in the closed position, to hinder removal of the display item from the mount. 
         [0056]    Accordingly, the present invention has been described with some degree of particularity directed to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. It should be recognized, however, that the present invention is defined by the following claims construed in light of the prior art so that modifications or changes may be made to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention without departing from the inventive concepts contained herein.