Patent Publication Number: US-7721470-B2

Title: Magnetic shoe attachment

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present non-provisional application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/756,248, entitled “MAGNETIC SHOE ATTACHMENT,” filed Jan. 4, 2006. The identified provisional application is incorporated herein by specific reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     Embodiments of the present invention relate to magnetic attachments for clothing apparel. More particularly, various embodiments of the invention provide a magnetic attachment having a first magnetic portion operable to be positioned on the inside of a clothing article and a second magnetic portion operable to be positioned on the outside of the clothing article and coupled therewith through magnetic force. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Individuals often desire to modify their clothing and footware with decorative or novelty pieces. For example, decorative and novelty pieces may be affixed to shoes and other apparel using adhesives, clamps, pins, staples, screws, and other permeant and removable fasteners. Unfortunately, such conventional fasteners are difficult to affix and remove from apparel, permanently damage or modify apparel, are bulky and uncomfortable, and/or are aesthetically unpleasing. Thus, known fasteners are limited in their ability to affix decorative or novelty pieces to clothing articles. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention solve the above-described problems and provide a distinct advance in the art of apparel attachments. More particularly, various embodiments of the invention provide a magnetic attachment having a first magnetic portion operable to be positioned on the inside of a clothing article and a second magnetic portion operable to be positioned on the outside of the clothing article and coupled therewith through magnetic force. Such a configuration allows clothing articles, such as shoes and purses, to be easily decorated without damaging the articles or interfering with their use. 
     Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawing figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a magnetic attachment configured in accordance with various preferred embodiments of the present invention, the magnetic attachment shown having a first magnetic portion and a second magnetic portion; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the second magnetic portion of the magnetic attachment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view showing the magnetic attachment of  FIGS. 1-2  coupled with a shoe, the first magnetic portion shown coupled with an interior portion of the shoe and the second magnetic portion shown coupled with an exterior portion of the shoe; 
         FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the second magnetic portion of  FIGS. 1-3  shown coupled with the exterior of the shoe; and 
         FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of a magnetic attachment configured in accordance with various other preferred embodiments of the present invention, the magnetic attachment shown having a first magnetic portion and a second magnetic portion. 
     
    
    
     The drawing figures do not limit the present invention to the specific embodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following detailed description of the invention references the accompanying drawings which illustrate specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. 
     The present invention generally provides a magnetic attachment  10  operable to couple with a clothing article. The magnetic attachment  10  may couple with any clothing article, including shoes, purses, handbags, hats, shirts, pants, dresses, blouses, skirts, jackets, coats, shorts, combinations thereof, and the like. As discussed below, in various embodiments the magnetic attachment  10  is operable to couple with a shoe S. 
     The attachment  10  preferably includes a first magnetic portion  12  and a second magnetic portion  14  operable to couple with the first magnetic portion  12  utilizing magnetic force. The first magnetic portion  12  is operable to be positioned inside of the clothing article, such as inside the shoe S, and the second magnetic portion  14  is operable to be positioned outside of the clothing article, such as on an exterior surface of the shoe S. Such a configuration enables the shoe S, or any other clothing article, to be easily modified without damaging or permanently altering the shoe S and without rendering the shoe S uncomfortable. 
     The first magnetic portion  12  preferably includes a first magnet  16  and a protective covering  18  enclosing the first magnet  16 . The first magnet  16  may comprise any magnetic device, but preferably comprises a permanent magnet, such as a rare Earth or neodymium magnet, a samarium-cobalt magnet, a ceramic magnet, a plastic magnet, a alnico magnet, a combination thereof, etc. In various embodiments, the first magnet  16  may comprise a NdFeB rare earth magnet. As is discussed below in more detail, the first magnetic portion  12  and the second magnetic portion  14  are operable to generate a sufficient amount of magnetic force to securely couple the attachment  10  with the shoe S or other potentially thick and dense clothing articles. Thus, the first magnet  16  is preferably sized and configured to provide a sufficient amount of magnetic force to couple the attachment  10  to the shoe S. In various embodiments, the first magnet  16  may comprise a ½ inch by ⅛ inch rare earth magnet or a ¾ inch by ⅛ inch rare earth magnet. As should be appreciated by those skilled in the art, various sized magnets may be utilized by embodiments of the present invention to provide the desired magnetic force. 
     The covering  18  protects the first magnet  16 , facilitates coupling of the first magnetic portion  12  with the shoe S, and facilitates comfortable wearing of the shoe S with the attachment  10 . As should be appreciated, various magnets, including those comprising the first magnet  16 , are often breakable or fragile due to their inherent characteristics. The covering  18  preferably envelops the first magnet  16  to prevent against breakage or damage during use, installation, or storage of the attachment  10 . Further, due to the substantial magnetic force provided by the first magnetic portion  12  and the second magnetic portion  14 , the covering  18  additionally protects against magnet damage or user injury caused by the first magnetic portion  12  and second magnetic portion  14  quickly joining. 
     Additionally, the covering  18  protects the interior of the shoe S from damage caused by potentially rough or sharp magnet edges. Specifically, the covering  18  preferably provides a soft or cushioning surface for coupling with the interior portion of the shoe S, thereby reducing or preventing any adverse affects caused by the coupling of the portions  12 ,  14  to the shoe S. Further, the covering  18  and its soft and cushioning surface prevents damage to stockings, socks, and other materials and appendages that may be inserted into the shoe S. 
     The covering  18  also enables the first portion  12  to be comfortably worn by a user while positioned in the interior of the shoe S. For instance, as will be appreciated, magnets, including the first magnet  16 , are generally hard and could present an uncomfortable surface should the user&#39;s foot come in contact with the first magnet  16 . The covering  18  envelops the first magnet  16  and provides a soft or cushioning surface, as described above, to enable the first magnetic portion  12  and the first magnet  16  to comfortably abut the user&#39;s foot. 
     In various embodiments, and as shown in  FIG. 5 , the covering  18  may present a decorative appearance to facilitate use of the attachment  10 . For example, in embodiments where the attachment  10  is placed such that the first magnetic portion  12  is viewable, such as where the attachment  10  is coupled with a purse, it may be desirable to employ a decorative covering to prevent the attachment  10  from negating the aesthetic appeal of the purse or other clothing article. 
     In embodiments where the clothing article comprises a purse, the covering  18  enables the first portion  12  to be positioned on the inside of the purse without damaging the contents of the purse or causing injury to the user should the user&#39;s hand come into contact with the first portion  12 . Similarly, in embodiments where the clothing article comprises a shirt or other apparel, the covering  18  prevents the first portion  12  and first magnet  16  from causing user discomfort. 
     The covering  18  may comprise any soft or cushioning element, including but not limited to, silk, suede, lace, cloth, nylon, rubber, sponges, formed foam materials, gels, etc. In some embodiments, the covering  18  comprises spongy cupboard/drawer liner, such as the “Mainstays Home” Non-Adhesive Non-Slip Liner distributed by WAL-MART. Utilization of spongy drawer liner enables the covering  18  and first magnet portion  12  to be easily formed by sewing and/or adhesive. For example, the first magnet  16  may be positioned on the covering  18  and the covering  18  may be folded over the first magnet  16  and affixed with glue to envelop the first magnet  16 . However, in other embodiments the covering  18  may comprise a soft pouch having a slit for receiving the first magnet  16 . 
     The second magnetic portion  14  is operable to be positioned on the exterior of the shoe S or other clothing article. The second magnetic portion  14  generally includes a decorative piece  20 , a second magnet  22 , and a protective layer  24 . The second magnet  22  is coupled with the decorative piece  20  and the protective layer  24  is coupled with the second magnet  22  to enable the second magnet  22  to magnetically couple with the first magnet  16  through the shoe S to safely and securely affix the decorative piece  20  to the shoe S. 
     The decorative piece  20  may include any decorative or novelty element, including stones, jewelry, logos, cloth, electronic devices, buttons, photos, etc. The decorative piece  20  preferably includes a front for facing away from the shoe S and a rear for coupling with the second magnet  22 . Preferably, the decorative piece  20  is sized and configured to aesthetically couple with the second magnet  22 , such that the decorative piece  20  is not substantially smaller than the second magnet  22 . Due to the strength of the magnetic coupling provided by the first and second portions  12 ,  14 , the decorative piece  20  may be substantially larger and heavier than the second magnet  22 . 
     The second magnet  22  is substantially similar or identical to the first magnet  16  discussed above. Thus, the second magnet  22  may comprise any magnetic device, but preferably comprises a permanent magnet, such as a rare Earth or neodymium magnet, a samarium-cobalt magnet, a ceramic magnet, a plastic magnet, a alnico magnet, a combination thereof, etc. The second magnet  22  may also be sized differently the first magnet  16  to facilitate coupling the second magnet  22  with the decorative piece  20 . 
     The second magnet  22  in combination with the first magnet  16  is operable to provide sufficient magnetic force to couple both magnets  16 ,  22  to the shoe S, or other clothing articles, though potentially thick materials, such as cloth, leather, rubber, etc. Thus, the first magnet  16  and second magnet  22  are preferably sized and configured to enable coupling through a predetermined distance, such as ½ inch or 1 inch, to ensure that the attachment  10  may couple with any shoe S or clothing article. 
     The second magnet  22  is preferably permanently coupled with the decorative piece  20  utilizing adhesives or other permeant fasteners to prevent the decorative piece  20  from disengaging from the attachment  10 . However, the second magnet  22  may be removably coupled with the decorative piece  20  to enable the user to easily swap or exchange decorative pieces without detaching the second magnet  22  from the shoe S. 
     The layer  24  is substantially similar to the covering  18  discussed above, and may be formed of similar or identical materials. However, the layer  24  preferably does not envelop the second magnet  22  to facilitate secure coupling of the second magnet  22  to the decorative piece  20  with adhesive. Thus, the layer  24  preferably comprises a single sheet of material coupled with the second magnet  22  via adhesive. 
     The layer  24  prevents damage to the shoe S when the second magnetic portion  14  is coupled thereto by providing a soft and cushioning surface for abutting the exterior of the shoe S. Thus, even in the presence of the strong magnetic force that couples the portions  12 ,  14  together through the shoe S, the second magnetic  22  is prevented from damaging the exterior of the shoe S by the layer  24 . Additionally, the layer  24  and the covering  18  prevent user injury and damage to the attachment  10  in the event the portions  12 ,  14  are rapidly combined, as the soft layer  24  and covering  18  prevent magnet breakage and damage to the user&#39;s fingers or other extremities caught between the portions  12 ,  14 . However, in some embodiments the attachment  10  does not include the layer  24 . 
     In use, the user inserts the first magnetic portion  12  into the shoe S at a desired location, such as along the tongue, heel, or front of the shoe S. Next, the user positions the second magnetic portion  14  on the exterior portion of the shoe S corresponding to the desired location. As the portions  12 ,  14  are positioned in proximity to each other through the shoe S, magnetic force is generated between the portions  12 ,  14  to cause the portions  12 ,  14  to securely come together, with the shoe S being positioned therebetween. The secure coupling of the portions  12 ,  14  couples the attachment  10  to the shoe S and enables the decorative piece  20  to be conveniently and easily coupled with the shoe S. Further, due to the covering  18 , the first magnetic portion  12  is operable to abut the user&#39;s foot and the interior portion of the shoe S, as shown in  FIG. 3 , without harming either the shoe S or the user&#39;s foot. 
     Similarly, the user may insert the first magnetic portion  12  on one side of any clothing article, such as a purse, and position the second magnetic portion  14  on the other side of the clothing article to couple the decorative element  20  thereto. 
     Although the invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment illustrated in the attached drawing figures, it is noted that equivalents may be employed and substitutions made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as recited in the claims. 
     Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following: