Patent Publication Number: US-2022218092-A1

Title: Apparatus and method for carrying and storing footwear

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/135,728 filed on Jan. 10, 2021 entitled Apparatus and method for footwear carrying and storing, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Disclosed Subject Matter 
     The disclosed subject matter relates to a, convenient, and effective apparatus and method for carrying and storing footwear. Particularly, the present disclosed subject matter is directed to a device for carrying and storing various items including shoes. 
     Description of Related Art 
     Often times, women bring an extra pair of flats to change while in heels, and vice versa, during commute. Occasions include but not limited to wedding events, clubbing, conferences, or going to work. However, the process of carrying is bothersome. We may run out of space to carry them, it can get cumbersome, we may lose them, or the plastic bags we use to carry the shoes are unpresentable. On the other hand, it was found that men also have their hectic issues in carrying dress shoes during travelling or communing. 
     There thus remains a need for, convenient, and effective apparatus and method for carrying and storing footwear, in particular a device for carrying and storing various items including shoes. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The purpose and advantages of the disclosed subject matter will be set forth in the description below. Additional advantages of the disclosed subject matter will be realized by the specific embodiments disclosed in the written description, claims and included drawings. 
     To achieve these advantages as well as others relating to the purpose of the disclosed subject matter as embodied and described, the disclosed subject matter includes convenient, and effective apparatus and method for carrying and storing footwear, in particular a device for carrying and storing various items including shoes. 
     The invention is a gadget that can hold shoes. This invention works by strapping around the shoes, through a strip of material or an opening within the materials. The grasp location can be at mid sole region, the heels or a number of supporting points along the shoes. 
     Another embodiment of this invention is that it is conjunct and can be attached to bags, wrist band and shoulder band. The method to attach can be but not limited to magnet, hook, button, velcro, zippers, clips or carabiner. This makes the carrying process accessible and alleviates space constraint inside the bag. 
     Another embodiment of this invention is that the gadget can enhance, polish up or build on the outfit of an individual through its material, color and ergonomic design. It is a fashion item that makes the carrying process gorgeous and interesting. 
     Another embodiment of this invention is that it can carry flats, sneakers or the like that the users wear to walk out after they switch to their heels or dress shoes at the occasion. Users can clasp the sneakers securely onto a hook, carabiner or the like and can store or cover them. This embodiment makes the changing process from comfort shoes to heels seamless. 
     Another embodiment of this invention is when the gadget is not in use, it is small or in a flat form and can be easily stored into bags or other containers without taking up much spaces. It is portable enough to facilitate daily use. 
     Another embodiment of this invention is that the gadget&#39;s attachment can hang the shoes onto any mediums that provide supports, such as hooks or sticks. The goal is to facilitate storage at home or at office. 
     Another embodiment of this invention is that it minimizes dress shoe damages through encouraging users only wear the dress shoes at the occasion venue as when carrying them is made easier. 
     It is to be understood that the general description and detailed description are exemplary and not intended to be limiting but instead for further explanation of the disclosed subject matter. 
     The included drawings, which constitute part of this specification, are provided to illustrate and help further the understanding of the product of the disclosed subject matter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A detailed description of various aspects, features, and embodiments of the subject matter described herein is provided with reference to the accompanying drawings, briefly described below. The drawings illustrate various aspects and features of the present subject matter and may illustrate one or more embodiment(s) or example(s) of the present subject matter in whole or part. The drawings are intended to be illustrative, not limiting in nature, are not necessarily drawn to scale, and may exaggerate components to provide clarity. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic representation indicating the location(s) at which the strapping occurs along the shoe. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic representation of an embodiment in which the continuous strip of material forming a pair of loops. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic representation of an embodiment with a spiral pattern basic structure. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic representation of an embodiment with a belt and a plurality of ring bands. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic representation of an embodiment with an opening formed by elastic materials. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic representation of an embodiment with an opening formed by a piece or pieces of cloths. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic representation of the various mechanisms for carrying the object. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic representation of various adaptions based on the object being carried. 
     
    
    
     Like or identical reference numbers are used to identify common or similar elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, this embodiment is illustrated in the provided drawings. 
     Holding Locations 
     The embodiment in  FIG. 1  shows where the shoe is held in the embodiments from  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 6 . The grasp can occur at mid-sole region  1 , at any points along the heel  2 , or evenly along the shoe body with multiple touch points  3 . 
     Holding Via a Strip of Materials 
     The embodiment in  FIG. 2  functions through holding the shoe with a continuous strip of material  4  that might be made of metal, fabric, leather, plastic or the like. The wiring of the strip forms two loops  5 , one loop holds one shoe. The loops can be formed by either winding the strip around itself or using a rig to hold the strip of material in a particular wiring order. While the figure shows five different wiring orders, it is not intended to limit the scope of how the wiring shall be constructed, as long as it can form a pair of loops. The dotted line  6  represents the knot, or the rig, where the length adjustment of the loops shall take place. The rig can be of any sizes, shapes or materials. The friction created from the knot, or the rig, together with the weight of the strapped shoe, makes the grip secured  7 . The strapping occurs at either mid-sole region of the shoes, or the heels. 
     The embodiment in  FIG. 3  functions through holding the shoe with a strip of pliable material. The material can be paper, plastic, wood, metal or the like as long as it is pliable enough to stretch and wrap around the shoes. The length of strand is directly proportional to the size of shoes. The strapping occurs at various points along the shoes to hold the shoe stably. The gadget when not in use is a flat sheet in spiral pattern, with a hole in the middle  8 . Upon inserting shoe tips into the hole, the gadget&#39;s conformation changes to a 3D structure  9 . The pair of structures are held together by velcro or hooks at  10 ,  11  and  12 . 
     The embodiment in  FIG. 4  functions through holding a shoe with a ring band  13 . The band can be made of fabric, plastic, wood, metal or the like as long as it is malleable enough to coil around the target object. The ring can be formed by fastening the ends with button, velcro, magnet or the like  14 . A belt  15  holds the pair of bands in place by passing through them. 
     Holding Through an Opening Formed by Materials 
     The embodiment in  FIG. 5  functions through holding the shoes  16  at either mid-sole region or the heels with frames  17 , each frame holds one shoe  16 . The frame  17  can be in any shapes and sizes, with elastic bands or other stretchy materials wrapping around it  18 . The elastic bands or materials wrap the frame in such a way that it provides an opening at the center of the frame for shoe insertion  19 . The stretchiness of elastic materials allow the gadget to accommodate different sizes of objects. 
     The embodiment in  FIG. 6  functions through holding the mid-sole region of the shoes with an opening in fabric. Through sewing two pieces of fabrics together, an opening  20  and a pouch  21  are formed which the heels can be inserted into. The pouch can also serve to store flats or other comfort shoes. The dashed lines represent the sewing lines. The size of opening can be adjusted through either zipper, buttons, velcro, string or the like  22 . Alternatively, the opening can be a cut in the middle of fabric  23 . 
     Attachment to Body and Carrying Style 
     The embodiment in  FIG. 7  shows the various ways on how the shoes can be carried, it can be connected to bag/luggages  24 , hand held  25 , wrist held  26 , cross body  27 , hung from the shoulder  28  or the like. The embodiments from  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 6  can be removably fastened to bag, hand strap, wrist strap, shoulder strap or the like through a fastener with magnets, hook, buttons, velcro, zippers, clips or the like. 
     Adapting Other Accessories 
       FIG. 8  demonstrates that the invention is modular and can adapt other add-on accessories. For example, there can be a carabiner, strand, hook, clips or the like to carry comfort shoes for changing, such as sneakers, flats or slippers. The holding can occur, but not limited to, at, shoelaces, shoe collar or mid-sole region. There can also be a folded pouch or piece of fabric that can be expanded to store or cover up the comfort shoes. The accessories can be attached to anywhere along the strand. 
     Having thus described several illustrative embodiments, it is to be appreciated that various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to form a part of this disclosure, and are intended to be within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. While some examples presented herein involve specific combinations of functions or structural elements, it should be understood that those functions and elements may be combined in other ways according to the present disclosure to accomplish the same or different objectives. In particular, acts, elements, and features discussed in connection with one embodiment are not intended to be excluded from similar or other roles in other embodiments. Additionally, elements and components described herein may be further divided into additional components or joined together to form fewer components for performing the same functions. 
     Accordingly, the foregoing description and attached drawings are by way of example only, and are not intended to be limiting.