Abstract:
A fashion accessory is provided, wherein the accessory comprises a chenille or other fabric design of a sports team, fictional character, university logo, or other aesthetic design, a supportive backing, and a fastener for removably attaching the accessory to an article, such as a shoe, dog collar, bracelet, necklace, hat, belt buckle, ponytail, clothing, or other portable item. The accessory is inexpensive and reusable, such that it can be collected, traded, and shared between friends and can be reused without damaging the article to which it is attached or the accessory itself.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/190,829, filed on Jul. 10, 2015. The disclosure of the above-cited application is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to decorative accessories, especially for clothing, shoes, bags, hats, hair, or other articles. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Many adults and children enjoy promoting or advertising their favorite schools, fictional characters, sports teams, etc. by wearing T-shirts, hats, or jackets featuring well-known logos or icons. For example, sports fans often wear hats featuring the logos of their favorite teams or the jerseys of their favorite players. Children wear T-shirts or backpacks with images of their favorite cartoon characters printed on them. College students attend sporting events wearing the colors of their schools to display their affiliations. These types of promotions extend to every conceivable wearable or portable item from hats, watches, and shoes to backpacks, bracelets, and dog collars. 
         [0004]    But the more items an individual wants to accessorize, the higher the expense. Buying multiple items featuring a logo or character increases the expense of outfitting one&#39;s wardrobe. Additionally, these logos or other designs are typically not transferrable. If a parent has three children attending three different Universities, they will need three sets of hats, shirts, key rings, and bags—not to mention the additional items they may need for any children still in elementary or high school. 
         [0005]    Moreover, these accessories are typically non-versatile souvenirs. One cannot usually remove a school or sports team logo from a hat and place it on a backpack, for example. And most people do not purchase multiple sets of a particular type of item simply so they can promote their school, fictional character, NFL team, NBA team, and MLB team separately. 
         [0006]    An individual&#39;s choice of promotional item is also typically limited to what a retailer sells. For example, a store may have thirty varieties of backpacks for sale but only a single type featuring a recognizable logo or character—and even then, likely a limited selection. Customization may be available through iron-on or sew-on patches, but these permanently alter the clothing or item to which they are attached and cannot be reused without damaging the patches themselves. 
         [0007]    Thus, the need arises for simple, inexpensive, and reusable accessories that can be attached to multiple types of articles such as shoes, backpacks, dog collars, bracelets, necklaces, hats, belt buckles, hair, clothing, school gear, and other items. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    It is one objective of the present invention to provide an inexpensive decorative accessory for use with shoes, backpacks, clothing, hair, dog collars, bracelets, necklaces, hats, belt buckles, and other wearable items. 
         [0009]    It is a further objective of the present invention to provide an accessory that easily connects and disconnects to the item to which it is to be appended. 
         [0010]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide an accessory that can be appended to multiple types of wearable or portable items. 
         [0011]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide an accessory that can be used and reused without altering or damaging the item on which it is appended or the accessory itself. 
         [0012]    These objectives are illustrative in nature. Additional advantages and applications for the present invention will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art upon a review of the invention and the disclosures contained herein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The drawings referenced below are included so that the features and advantages of the presently disclosed invention may be better understood. It should be noted, however, that the attached drawings are meant only to be illustrative of particular embodiments of the invention and should not be considered limiting of its scope. The invention itself, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment when read in conjunction with the attached drawings, which are summarized below: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is an exemplary embodiment of the present invention featuring a snap-strap fastener as seen from the rear side with the snap-strap fastener in the open position. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is an exemplary embodiment of the present invention featuring a snap-strap fastener as seen from the rear side with the snap-strap fastener in the closed position. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  depicts two exemplary embodiments of the present invention, each featuring a snap-strap fastener and attached to an athletic shoe. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is an exemplary embodiment of the present invention featuring a band fastener as seen from the rear side. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  depicts two exemplary embodiments of the present invention, each featuring a band fastener and attached to a ponytail. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is an exemplary embodiment of the present invention featuring a hook and loop fastener as seen from the rear side. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  depicts an exemplary embodiment of the present invention featuring a hook and loop fastener and attached to a backpack. 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is an exemplary embodiment of the present invention featuring a buckle fastener as seen from the rear side. 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is an exemplary embodiment of the present invention featuring a clip fastener as seen from the rear side. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    Presently preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the above-identified figures and described in detail below. In describing the preferred embodiments, like or identical reference numerals are used to identify common or similar elements. The figures are not necessarily to scale, and certain features and certain views of the figures may be shown exaggerated in scale or in schematic in the interest of clarity and conciseness. 
         [0024]    The present invention relates to decorative accessories, particularly to fashion and hair accessories. The invention comprises three parts: (1) a small chenille or embroidery design; (2) a backing material onto which the design is affixed; and (3) a fastener for attaching the design to an article, such as a shoe, hat, bag, ponytail, or other item. Preferably, the accessory is between one-half inch and three inches in width and between one inch and four inches in height. The preferred size is optimal for providing an accessory with sufficiently rigid structure to allow repeated use with multiple items. 
       Design 
       [0025]    The design can depict a cartoon character, sports team logo, University logo, corporate design, or simply a decorative design (such as a flower, heart, peace sign, or skull and crossbones) or other design. Preferably, the design is made of chenille yarn and/or embroidery yarn sewn onto a backing (discussed below). The preferred material allows for an inexpensive product that may be collected, shared, and/or traded among friends and family members. Other materials such as wool, lace, or mesh may be used, as well. 
       Backing 
       [0026]    The design is sewn or otherwise affixed to a supportive backing. The backing may be soft, rigid, or semi-rigid, and is made of rubber, wool, vinyl, acrylic, cotton, polyester, or other supportive material. 
       Fastener 
       [0027]    The design and backing are affixed to a fastener for attaching to an article. The fastener is removable and reusable, such that the accessory may be used on or with multiple articles and can be collected, shared, or traded. Discussed herein are four separate embodiments of the fastener that can be used in the present invention. However, additional alternatives are possible and are intended to be within the scope of the present invention. 
       Snap-Strap Fastener 
       [0028]    Preferably, the present invention uses a snap-strap fastener.  FIGS. 1-3  depict examples of the present invention wherein a snap-strap fastener is utilized for attaching the accessory to an article. 
         [0029]      FIG. 1  is an exemplary embodiment of the present invention featuring a snap-strap fastener as seen from the rear side with the snap-strap fastener in the open position. The snap-strap fastener has a side  1  and button elements  2  and  3 , which include a male and female button element for engaging one another. The invention also features a backing  6  and a front side  7 , which features a design  8  (seen here from the rear side). 
         [0030]    The snap-strap fastener has a length  4  and a width  5  and is preferably between one-half and one inches wide and between one and four inches in height. The strap may be made of rubber, leather, wool, vinyl, acrylic, cotton, polyester, satin, or canvas material. The snap straps feature a metal and/or plastic ring and socket snap  2  on one end and a metal and/or plastic ring and stud snap  3  on the other end, integrally connected to the strap portion. The snap-strap fastener is preferably sewn onto the design and supportive backing using a straight stitch or zig-zag stitch  9 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 2  is an exemplary embodiment of the present invention featuring a snap-strap fastener as seen from the rear side with the snap-strap fastener in the closed position. The integral portion of socket snap  2  is shown on a second side  10  at element  11 . When the snap-strap is in the closed position, it fits securely around an article to support the backing  6  and design  8 , both discussed above. 
         [0032]      FIG. 3  depicts two exemplary embodiments of the present invention,  12  and  13 , each featuring a snap-strap fastener and attached to an article in the form of an athletic shoe,  14  and  15 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , a user may choose different designs to display on each article to which they attach the present invention. 
       Band Fastener 
       [0033]      FIG. 4  is an exemplary embodiment of the present invention featuring a band fastener  16  as seen from the rear side. The band fastener is a closed loop with a circumference preferably measuring between one inch and six inches. The invention features a backing  17  and a design (not shown in  FIG. 4 ), both discussed above. The band fastener may be made of spandex and/or rubber and is sewn directly to the design and backing portion of the accessory via a straight stitch or zig-zag stitch  18 . The band may then be used to tie the accessory to an article such as a ponytail or other object. 
         [0034]      FIG. 5  depicts two exemplary embodiments of the present invention,  19  and  20 , each featuring a band fastener and attached to an article in the form of ponytail,  21 . 
       Hook and Loop Fastener 
       [0035]      FIG. 6  is an exemplary embodiment of the present invention featuring a hook and loop fastener  22  as seen from the rear side. The hook and loop fastener  22  has a height  23  and a width  24  and is preferably between one-half and one inch wide and between one and four inches tall. The hook and loop fastener  22  is made of or is permanently fused to a hook and loop material such as Velcro®. The hook and loop material forms a male end  25  and a female end  26  of a strap that may be used to attach the accessory to an article. The hook and loop strap is sewn to the design and backing in a manner similar to that discussed above—i.e., preferably using a straight stitch or zig zag stitch When the hook and loop fastener  22  is in the closed position, it fits securely around an article to support the backing  27  and design  28 , both discussed above. 
         [0036]      FIG. 11  depicts an exemplary embodiment of the present invention  29  featuring a hook and loop fastener and attached to a backpack  30 . 
       Buckle Fastener 
       [0037]      FIG. 8  is an exemplary embodiment of the present invention featuring a buckle fastener  31  as seen from the rear side. The buckle fastener  31  has a height  32  and a width  33  and is preferably one-half inch wide and three-quarters to one inch tall. The strap portion of the buckle fastener  31  may be made of leather, wool, vinyl, acrylic, cotton, polyester, satin, or canvas material. The invention features a backing  34  and a design, both discussed above. The buckle fastener is preferably sewn directly, on either end, to the design and backing portion of the accessory using a straight stitch or zig-zag stitch to form a buckle loop  35  to attach to the accessory. When the buckle fastener  31  is in the closed position, it fits securely around an article to support the backing  34  and design, both discussed above. 
       Clip Fastener 
       [0038]      FIG. 9  is an exemplary embodiment of the present invention featuring a clip fastener  36  as seen from the rear side. The clip fastener  36  is preferably made of metal or plastic and is in the form of a standard hair clip or other hinged clip. The invention features a backing  37  and a design (not shown in  FIG. 9 ), both discussed above. The clip fastener is preferably affixed to the backing  37  via an adhesive—e.g., hot glue—and includes a hinge  38  and a clipping portion  39  for securing the clip fastener in a closed position. When the clip fastener  36  is in the closed position, it clips securely to an article to support the backing  37  and design, both discussed above. 
         [0039]    Although the invention has been described with reference to one or more particular embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments as well as alternative embodiments of the invention will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will cover any such modifications or embodiments that fall within the scope of the invention.