Patent Publication Number: US-2011047842-A1

Title: Shoe Tag

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to tags and emblems for applying to shoes. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Shoes come in a variety of forms such as loafers, sandals, zippered, clog like shoes and laced shoes. All of these shoes have a mechanism for securing the shoes to the wearer&#39;s feet. Laced shoes are an ancient design which incorporates one or more shoelaces for securing the shoes to the wearer&#39;s feet. Laced shoes generally have a pair of opposing retainer portions which can be drawn together by means of a shoelace threaded between shoelace apertures formed there on. The shoelace apertures are generally formed as a row on each of the opposing retainer portions with the shoelace apertures oriented to form opposing pairs of shoelace openings. The opposing pairs of shoelace openings permit the shoelace to be threaded through the shoelace openings so as to join the opposing pairs of shoelace openings in a variety of different ways, such as with a chris-crossing or parallel pattern of shoelace weave. To permit the opposing retainer portions to cooperate with the shoelace without causing discomfort to the user, a tongue is usually formed on the shoe to separate the shoelaces from the interior of the shoe. This type of laced shoe is quite commonly used for sneakers, running shoes and most other forms of athletic shoes. 
     Shoes may be embellished with logos, designs, embellishments or other insignia for the purpose of improving the appearance of the shoe or for displaying information such as a gym membership number. In many cases, the insignia is often formed on a piece of flexible or rigid material which forms part of the body of the shoe. Alternatively, the insignia or embellishment may be formed on a separate member and attached to the shoe by means of sewing, adhesives or even rivets. In some cases, the insignia or embellishment forms a tag which is attached to the side or back of the shoe by either adhesives or by sewing. While these forms of tags are often attractive, they generally require the manufacturer to attach the tag because the tag has to be secured by sewing or adhesive. These types of tags are not suitable for retrofitting onto shoes because of the complex sewing or adhesive setting required to secure the tag. In some cases, the tag may be provided with an aperture which permits the tag to be attached to the shoe by passing the shoelace through the aperture of the tag and then tying off the shoelace. This type of tag can be quickly attached to a shoe; however, these types of tags often become dislodged as a result of the normal flexing the shoe experiences during use. An improved tag for quick and easy attachment to a shoe which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art is therefore required. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tag for attachment to a shoe. The shoe the tag is to be used with is a standard laced shoe having a pair of opposing retainers which are configured to be secured together by a shoelace threaded through a plurality of lace passages formed on the opposing retainers. The tag includes a web having an upper and lower edge and a plurality of lace retainers configured to receive the shoelace there through. At least one lace retainers is formed on the web adjacent each of the upper and lower edges of the web. The web is dimensioned to permit the tag to be attached between the opposing retainers by threading the shoelace through the lace retainers. The web is further dimensioned to fit between the lace passages of the opposing retainers. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an improved shoe tag for attachment to a laced shoe of the type described above. The tag includes a flexible web having corners with a grommet formed on each of said corners. Each grommet is dimensioned to receive the shoelace there through. The flexible web is dimensioned to permit the tag to be attached between the opposing retainers by threading the shoelace through the grommets. 
     With the foregoing in view, and other advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, the invention is herein described by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, which includes a description of the preferred typical embodiment of the principles of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of a stylized shoe with a shoe tag made in accordance with the present invention mounted thereto. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of a shoe tag made in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross section taken along line A-A of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring firstly to  FIG. 1 , a shoe tag made in accordance with the present invention is shown generally as item  10  and consists of web  12  mounted to shoe  14  via shoelace  16 . Web  12  is substantially rectangular and has corners  18 ,  20 ,  22  and  24  with lace retainers  26 ,  28 ,  30  and  32  formed thereon. Lace retainers  26 ,  28 ,  30  and  32  are preferably grommets. Grommets  26 ,  28 ,  30  and  32  are dimensioned to permit shoelace  16  to be threaded there through. Shoe  14  has opposite retainer portions  34  and  36  with shoelace passages  38  and  40  formed thereon. Shoelace passages  38  and  40  are arranged on retainer portions  34  and  36  such that the shoelace passages are oriented relative to each other as opposing rows to permit shoelace  16  to be threaded between passages  38  and  40  in either a crisscrossing arrangement as shown or a parallel arrangement. Tongue  42  is provided on shoe  14  to separate the shoe interior  44  from shoelace  16 . 
     Shoelace passages  38  and  40  may be any type of structure configured to attach to a shoelace. In the shoe illustrated in  FIG. 1 , shoelace passages  38  and  40  take the form of grommets; however, it will be appreciated that several other forms of shoe lace retainers can be used in place of grommets. For example, shoelace passages  38  and  40  may consist of hooks, loops, or any other type of structure which has an opening or passage configured to permit a shoelace to pass there through. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , web  12  is preferably made of a flexible web like material, preferably from a textile product such as nylon canvas or denim. Grommets  26 ,  28 ,  30  and  32  are preferably made of a strong and rigid material such as brass, aluminum, steel or plastic. Commercially available grommets suitable for use in the present invention are easily found in the marketplace. Flexible web  12  has a length (X T ) defined as the distance between grommets  26 - 30  and between grommets  28 - 32 . Flexible web  12  has a width (Y T ) which is defined as the distance between grommets  26 - 28  and between grommets  30  and  32 . Flexible web  12  is dimensioned such that when attached to shoe  14  by threading shoelace  16  through grommets  26  to  30  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the flexible web extends substantially flat across shoe  14 . In particular, the length of flexible web  12  is no greater than distance between shoelace passages  34  and  36  on opposite retainer portions  34  and  36 , respectively, which is shown as distance X S  in  FIG. 1 . Also, the width of flexible web  12  is no greater than the distance between adjacent shoelace passages  38  and  40  on retainer portions  34  and  36 , respectively, which is shown as distance Y S  in  FIG. 1 . Preferably, the length of web  12  is less than X S  and the width of web  12  is less than Y S , which ensures that tag  10  will fit between the shoe lace retainers and also rest flat across the surface of the shoe. Flexible web  12  is further dimensioned to permit shoelace  16  to pass beneath tag  10  as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . This permits shoelace  16  to pass between tag  10  and tongue  42  and ensure that the shoelace does not obstruct display surface  15  of tag  10  which has insignia  44  displayed thereon. 
     By providing a grommet at each corner of the tag and by correctly dimensioning the length and width of flexible web as specified above, shoe tag  10  can be easily attached to a shoe by passing the shoelace below the tag. The tag is preferably mounted between the lowest adjacent pair of opposing shoelace passages, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . By attaching the tag at the lowest point on retainer portions  34  and  36  (i.e. between the lowest opposing pairs of shoelace retainers), tag  10  will remain secure regardless of the amount of flexing the shoe encounters. The dimensions of flexible web  12  are important to keep the web flat when mounted to the shoe as illustrated. If the length of the flexible web is too great, then the tag will crumple and may interfere with the lacing of the shoe. If the tag is crumpled, it will distort the appearance of the insignia appearing on the tag. If the tag is made of a rigid inflexible material, then crumpling of the tag may be avoided, particularly if the tag is too large; however, a rigid inflexible tag, particularly one which is too large, will make lacing the shoe more difficult, may decrease the flexibility of the shoe and may increase the amount of wear suffered by the shoe and shoelace. 
     A specific embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed; however, several variations of the disclosed embodiment could be envisioned as within the scope of this invention. It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.