Abstract:
Footwear, incorporating a reversible a tongue, wherein one side or the other of the tongue may be adhered for pivot to the upper central vamp portion of the shoe, to display that side during wearing of the shoe, or turned, to provide a variation in the styling of the shoe. The tongue may further contain a pouch or pocket, secured by any type of fastening device such as Velcro that allows ready access into the tongue, for deposit or removal of personal items. One or more of the surfaces of the formed pocket, in the tongue, may be formed of a transparent or clear material, to allow any personal item deposited therein to be readily viewed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This provisional patent application is a divisional application upon the regular letters patent application having Ser. No. 10/122,995 filed on Apr. 11, 2002. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates generally to footwear, and more specifically pertains to a running shoe wherein the tongue or gusset is reversible, and may contain an integral pocket, to provide a shoe which furnishes differing styles, and utilitarian usage, to the benefit of its wearer.  
           [0003]    Obviously, numerous styles of footwear, constructed of various components, for achieving a multitude of purposes, have long been considered in the prior art. Most of these types of innovations have been in the area of running or athletic shoes, which has been substantially in vogue for the past three decades, wherein various styles of modifications to the soles, to make them more resilient, or add to the efficiency of the runner, and various types of modifications to the structure of the shoe itself, such as even adding pockets to the side or within the tongue or gusset of the shoe, have been considered in the prior art. For example, see the patent to Adamik, U.S. Pat. No. 4,372,060, relating to this type of technology, and their modifications.  
           [0004]    The current invention seeks further modifications to the structure of footwear, in order to add to the variations on usage of the shoe, enhance it&#39;s styling, and enhance the attractiveness of the footwear, by providing alternative uses and applications to various components of the footwear itself.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    This invention contemplates the formation of footwear, preferably of the running or athletic shoe type, but the concepts of this invention may be embodied within any type of shoe, as will be readily determined upon reviewing this invention. The footwear includes the usual style of shoe having a sole, vamp, quarter portions, counter, and a tongue or gusset secured therein. In the preferred embodiment, the gusset will be of a reversible type, where the tongue can be turned to expose one surface, which may have a stylized and attractive surface provided thereon, or the tongue may be reversed, to furnish an entirely different appearance to the shoe, when worn. Means are provided to accommodate the reversing of the tongue, and to hold it to the upper vamp portion of the shoe, but which can be readily turned, simply upon opening of its fastening feature, or clasp, which normally holds the tongue in position, while the shoe is being worn. In addition, the tongue or gusset may include an internal pocket, that may be readily available for opening, preferably along the upper edge of the tongue, and into which personal items, such as a key or coin may be inserted. The tongue will contain closure means, to provide for its secure retention when closed, so as to prevent the loss of such personal items, and assure their safety. The tongue may further be fabricated, on one surface, with a transparent covering, at least approximate its upper edge, and overlying the formed pocket, so that even the contents of the pouch or pocket may be observable, if this is the desire of the wearer.  
           [0006]    The concept of this invention is to provide a link between the shoe gusset or tongue, and the upper vamp portion of the shoe, so that the wearer may reverse the tongue, as desired, for revealing other coloration, indicia, or design. It provides versatility to the usage of the shoe. Such a linkage means could comprise a short link of cord, it may be an elastic cord, or perhaps could comprise a swivel clasp, or any type of other form of clasp, having some degree of flexibility, and which may be twisted or turned. In addition, it may include a clasp, formed of two parts, that may swivel, and be interconnected between the upper vamp, and the bottom of the shoe gusset, to accommodate such turning motion. Furthermore, the clasp may be separable, through the exertion of some amount of force, so that the gusset may be removed, and another one relocated, to add further dexterity and versatility to the usage of this invention. In order to prevent the unauthorized removal, or the displacement of the gussets, for the shoes, as for example, when displayed for sale, the pulling force required to separate the clasp may be excessive, up to seventy to eighty pounds of pressure, or it may only require a slight amount of force, to separate the clasp, at the desire of the manufacturer, the retailer, and even the user, once the shoes are placed in usage.  
           [0007]    It is, therefore, a primary object of this invention to provide a reversible tongue for footwear.  
           [0008]    Another object of this invention is to provide a reversible tongue that may have different styles of appearance upon either of its surfaces, so that the tongue can be reversed, and completely change the appearance and attractiveness of the shoe, to the interest of the footwear owner.  
           [0009]    Another object of this invention is to provide a pocket for the gusset of footwear so that personal items may be safely stored therein.  
           [0010]    Still another object of this invention is to provide means for securing personal items of the wearer of the shoe, so that safety can be assured even while using the shoe for athletic events, or for running, but prevent the untimely loss of contained items, such as a key or coin, while participating in strenuous activities.  
           [0011]    Yet another object of this invention is to provide a transparent covering for a pocketed tongue, for footwear, so that the contained items may be observed therein, while the shoe is worn.  
           [0012]    Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel clasp that can be used for applying the reversible tongue to the upper central portion of the shoe vamp, to stably hold the tongue in place, while the shoe is being worn.  
           [0013]    These and other objects may become more apparent to those skilled in the art upon reviewing the summary of this invention and upon undertaking a study of the description of its preferred embodiment, in view of the drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a side view of a shoe, such as a running shoe, containing the reversible tongue of this invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a top view of the partial shoe, showing the upper vamp, reversible tongue, clasp holding the tongue to the footwear, and cooperating with lacing to secure the shoe upon the foot of it&#39;s wearer;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the reversible tongue of this invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the opposite surface of the reversible tongue;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 is a view of the opened clasp;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 shows the clasp in the process of being snapped into closure; and  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 7 shows the reversible tongue containing a pocket in its upper half, and which may be secured by Velcro, or the like, into closure;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 8 is a side view of a modified more casual shoe having a different style of means for connecting the reversible tongue to the shoe vamp;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 9 shows an elastic type of clasp, which is in the form of an elastic band, that can insert through the top of the vamp, and either temporarily or permanently connect with the reversible tongue;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 10 shows how the elastic band may be reversed, into a figure eight configuration, for reversing its permanently held gusset or tongue in place;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 11 is a top view of a partial shoe, showing the upper vamp, reversible tongue, ball and socket attachment holding the tongue to the footwear, and cooperating with lacing to secure the shoe upon the foot of its wearer;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the ball and socket attachment according to the preferred embodiment;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 13 is a side partially sectional view of the ball and socket attachment according to the preferred embodiment;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 14 is a front view of a ball portion according to the preferred embodiment;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 15 is a bottom view of a ball portion according to the preferred embodiment;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 16 is a right side view of socket ball portion according to the preferred embodiment; and  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 17 is a top view of the partial shoe, showing the upper vamp, reversible tongue, and a link holding the tongue or gusset to the footwear, for providing the reversible feature. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0031]    In referring to the drawings, in particular FIG. 1, a shoe  1  is shown incorporating the usual components including the sole  2 , its vamp  3 , the quarter portions  4 , and a counter  5 . Also, as can be noted, the reversible tongue  6  is also disclosed. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the reversible tongue  6  is applied by means of a clasp  7  to the upper central portion of vamp  3 , and cooperates to hold the tongue  6  in place, whichever side of the reversible tongue is desired to be exposed upwardly, when the footwear is worn. In addition, the clasp, when holding the tongue in place, cooperates to embrace the lower strand  8  of the shoe string, which further then extends through the various eyelets  9 , for lacing the shoe in place upon the foot, as is well known. Obviously, it is not absolutely necessary in this invention to have the string  8  go through the clasp  7 , and it need not necessarily do so, for the reversible tongue to be held in position upon the upper edge of the shown vamp.  
         [0032]    The tongue is reversible, and may contain some indicia, coloration, or a trademark, upon its top surface, as can been seen at  10 , as noted in FIG. 3. The snap  11  that cooperates with the clasp, for holding the reversible tongue in position, is shown at the lower segment of the reversible tongue  6 . In addition, the opposite side of the reversible tongue  6  can be seen in FIG. 4, and it may contain other indicia, or styling, along its surface, as may be desired by the footwear designer, or the shoe owner, as may be of interest. This can be applied to the upper portion  12  of the reversible tongue, or along its entire upper surface, as noted.  
         [0033]    Obviously, while the preferred embodiment shows means for clasping through snaps the reversible tongue to the upper center portion of the shoe vamp, as noted in FIG. 2, it is just as likely that instead of using a clasp  7 , the reversible tongue may snap directly to the upper edge of the vamp, having a snap upon both lower surfaces of the reversible tongue, so that it can be snapped directly to the vamp, regardless which surface of the reversible tongue is desired to be arranged upwardly, simply through the efforts of the footwear owner, by releasing the tongue, reversing it, and snapping it back into a fixed position, relative to the shoe vamp. Or, the tongue might be held by other means of connection, such as through the use of a tie means, the Velcro strip, or any other means for securement, for firmly holding the tongue in place, for use in displaying whatever surface of the tongue is desired to be shown.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIGS. 5 and 6 show one example of a type of clasp  7  that may be employed. The clasp comprises a length of flexible material, and may even be resilient, and inserts through a slot  13  provided in the upper central portion of the vamp  3 , as noted. The clasp may then be folded over, and connect with the male part of the snap, that is secured approximate to the lower edges, on both sides, of the tongue  6 , as can be seen at  11 , and which snap into the female components of the snaps, as shown at  14 , as can be seen.  
         [0035]    Another feature of this invention is to furnish the reversible tongue  6  with a pocket or pouch. This can be seen in FIG. 7. The upper segment, or the entire pocket, may be formed of a pair of liners of material, such as can be seen at  15  and  16 , have a spacing there between, stitched around the edges up to the proximate point of the pocket&#39;s opening, as at  17 . Then, means for securing the upper peripheral edges of the pocket may be provided, such as through the use of the hook and pile fastener means  18 , or Velcro, that is affixed to the upper interior edges of both of the liners  15  and  16 , to furnish closure to the formed pocket.  
         [0036]    As previously reviewed, one upper surface of the tongue  6  may include some indicia, or styling, as noted at  10 , may include the display of the trademark, or other stylization, as can be noted. The opposite side, or lower side  12  of the pocket, may also be somewhat reinforced, as seen, but it may be fabricated to a different style or it may be formed, at that region, of a transparent or clear material, so that the contents of the pocket are readily observed when the tongue may be fastened to the footwear with the layer  12  comprising the upper surface of the reversible tongue, reversed in a manner as previously described. This may add to the enhanced attractiveness of the footwear, having a reversible tongue with a transparent pocket provided therein, for use for holding personal items, or the wearer may decide to put a photograph under the transparent liner, so as to allow it to be readily observable, while the shoes are worn, by the owner.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIGS. 8 through 10 disclose another method for holding the reversible tongue in place, in this particular instance, upon a more casual type of footwear. As noted, the footwear  19  in FIG. 8, at its upper vamp portion, has an aperture  20  located therethrough. Through this aperture  20  there is located a type of clasping means, in this particular instance, a band, which may be made of a more elastomeric, resilient, or elastic material, as noted at  21 . Preferably, the band, as shown in FIG. 10, may be continuous, as noted. Thus, where it has some resiliency, or is elastic in texture, it may easily be reversed, by twisting, as noted, so that the tongue or gusset can be easily reversed, as previously described in this application, to attain the attributes of the reversing feature of this invention. Furthermore, the tongue will be permanently adhered to the vamp, so that the tongues cannot be shoplifted, or inadvertently removed, as for example, when displayed in the store, which might be done with the snap type of connection, as previously explained. Hence, this method of attachment adds more permanency to the structure of the reversible tongue when used in combination with the shown shoe. Furthermore, the upper part of the vamp, as at  22 , may be slightly elevated, to extend off of the instep of a foot, so that whatever bulk is generated through the reversing of the band, in holding the tongue in place, will not bind against the foot, and add discomfort thereat. These are examples as to how the reversible tongue may be used in combination with footwear, of any style, to provide the attributes as explained herein. Where the aperture  20  is provided there may be a grommet furnished, to prevent any tearing of the vamp at that location, and to provide longevity of usage of the shoe, and its reversible tongue, by the owner.  
         [0038]    As can be seen in FIG. 11, the reversible tongue  23 , is attached to the vamp  24  applied by means of the ball and socket attachment  25 .  
         [0039]    In referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, the ball and socket attachment  25  comprises a ball portion  26 , and a socket portion  27  attached to the vamp  24 , as previously shown. The ball portion  26  is preferably both movable between a position shown by said ball portion, and a position shown by the ball portion  26 ′ in phantom, and rotatable within the socket portion  27 , as can be understood. As a result, the tongue  23  is fully rotatable about an axis A, as noted, and restricted rotation or pivot about the axis B perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 13, as through an angle C, and therefore orients the gusset generally in its upright position, but frees it sufficiently forwardly, to pivot or rotate, as desired by the user. The axis B can be described as roughly perpendicular to the axis A. The ball portion  26  is preferably made from a resilient polymeric material. In addition, as previously explained, it may be desired to provide a basis for separation of the ball portion, from within the socket, when the user desires to change gussets, and that force can be either minimal, or perhaps even at a high strength, so that during shipment, storage, or display upon the market, the gussets cannot be too easily removed, by unauthorized persons, until such time as the pair of shoes are sold.  
         [0040]    In referring to FIG. 14, the ball portion  26  comprises the ball  27 , as shown, a flat attachment portion  28  and a rounded attachment portion  29 , as noted. The rounded attachment portion  29  is attached to the ball  27  by a generally cylindrical neck portion  30 . The tongue  23  may be either a singular or laminar piece of material, made from a fabric, a polymer, or leather, or the like. The flat attachment portion  28  is attached to the tongue by an adhesive, by sewing, or otherwise attaching the flat attachment portion  28  to the tongue  23 , by any means known in the art. If the tongue  23  is a laminar piece, that flat attachment portion  28  of the ball portion  26  is preferably attached to the tongue between the laminar layers to minimize visibility. The preferred method of attachment differs depending upon the material of the tongue  23 .  
         [0041]    Referring back to FIGS. 12 and 13, the socket portion  27  preferably comprises a socket  31 . The top portion of the socket is defined by a cavity  32  at the bottom of the slot  33  for accepting the ball  27 , as can be noted. The bottom portion  27 , of the socket, includes flat attachment extensions  34  that are used to attach the top and bottom portions, of the entire clasp, or swivel, to the vamp  24  of the shoe. Similar to the tongue or gusset  23 , the vamp may be either a singular or laminar piece of material made from a fabric, a polymer, or leather, or the like. The portions  34  and  28  may be attached to the vamp  24  in a similar manner as the ball portion  26  is attached to the tongue or gusset  23 , as explained. The upper portion  31  of the socket, in defining its bore  32 , has some element of flexibility, that allows the ball portion  26 , and more specifically its ball  27 , to be moved into or out of the socket, as can be understood. In addition, since the upper portion  31  of the socket portion has that angular opened relationship, as shown by the angle C, the ball portion  26  can be moved into the various positions, forwardly of the shoe, to allow the reversible tongue to be pivoted slightly forwardly, to facilitate is reversal when manipulated in the manner as described herein. In addition, the diameter of the bore may be selected such that the ball  27  may be forcibly removed from its socket  27 , by resiliently deflecting the top part  31  or  35  of the socket, as can be noted. Alternatively, it can be provided that the ball  27  is not removable from the bore  32 . In this instance, it can be seen that the socket  27  may be formed of two halves, one comprising the top part  35 , and the back part  36 , which may be adhesively or otherwise secured together, to form a permanent socket  27 , as noted. Thus, to provide for a permanent mount of the ball  27  within the socket bore  32 , the ball  27  must be placed within the socket  32  before the top and bottom parts  35  and  36  are attached to one another. Or, as previously explained, there may be some slight resiliency in the upper part  35 , to allow the ball  27  to be forcibly removed from the socket, when it is desired to separate the tongue or gusset from the shoe, as noted. In either instance, it is preferred that the ball  27 , and hence the tongue  23 , have sufficient clearance to allow for the tongue to be rotatable by means of its ball  27  within the socket bore  32 , in order to expose a second side of the tongue  23 , as can be understood. In this manner, the tongue  23  may have first and second sides, of differing color, material, designs, and/or displaying indicia, and may be alternatively displayed by the user by mere rotation of the tongue  12 , in the spirit of this invention.  
         [0042]    The concept of this invention may be generally paraphrased by reviewing FIG. 17. Essentially, the essence of the invention is to provide some linking means, as at  37 , that holds the tongue  38  to the upper portion  39  of the shoe vamp  40 . Hence, that linking means may be any one of the swivels, and elastic cord, a flexible rubber or polymer, clasp, or an elastic means, that allows the tongue to be reversed in its setting. And, as previously explained, the concept of the invention is to also provide, when a swivel is used, one that may possibly be separable, so that the tongue can actually be removed, and replaced with a substitute gusset, for adding further design and coloration to the footwear, when worn.  
         [0043]    Obviously, the reversible tongue can be formed of a variety of materials, whether it be a fabric, polymer, leather, transparent acrylic or polyethylene, any as such materials which add to the attractiveness of the shoe, but at the same time, provide reasonable strength and sturdiness to withstand the constant and repeat usage.  
         [0044]    Variations or modifications to the subject matter of this invention may occur to those skilled in the art upon reviewing the disclosure as provided herein. For example, while it has been described that the tongue may be both removable and rotatable, it would be within the present invention if only one of these functions were provided. Such variations are believed to be within the spirit of this invention, and are intended to be encompassed within the scope of any claims to invention as provided herein. The description of the preferred embodiment as set forth herein is done so for illustrative purposes only.