Patent Abstract:
The present application relates to a footwear accessory apparatus including a main portion, and an arm portion. The main portion includes a control device. The arm portion includes a pivoting end coupled with the main portion and a free end detachably coupled to the main portion. The control device is used to detach the free end of the arm portion from the main port on.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This disclosure relates to the field of footwear, more particularly, relates to a footwear accessory apparatus. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Nowadays, shoe laces are usually used to fasten the shoe by tying a bow. However, the inconvenience of lacing and unlacing the bowie forces the user to worn out their shoes quickly. For example, when putting on the shoes, a user may force her feet into the shoes without unlacing the bowtie. On the other hand, the user may remove one shoe by stepping one foot on the shoe to push it down while lifting up the other foot inside the shoe. Such putting on and off manners may cause the inner walls of the shoe expand and stretch. At the same time, the heel part may be damaged. As a result, the lifetime of the shoe is shortened. Moreover, the shoes may quickly get dirty. 
         [0003]    Currently, one alternative for the shoe lace available in the market is Xpand. The Xpand product relates to expandable lace that allows the user to slip on and slip off their shoes without using a bowtie. Though the Xpand product eliminates the bow tie, it does not solve the problem of the damaging and stretching of the shoe. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    In order to solve the above problems in the prior art, the present applicant provides a footwear accessory apparatus that facilitate the taking on and off of the shoe for the user. To put on the shoe, the user only needs to snap the footwear accessory apparatus. It is easy and convenient. To remove the shoe, with a simple kick on the button using the heel of another foot, the snap detaches. When the snap is detached, the user can slip out her foot without any difficulty. As such, the problem of stretching and expanding of the shoe caused by removing the shoe forcibly is solved. Also, likely to dirty the shoe when removing it. 
         [0005]    Another benefit of the invention is that the user does not need to bend down to take off the shoe. Consumers such as athletes and elders with arthritis or back problems will benefit from that. 
         [0006]    Yet another advantage of the invention lie in that since the lifetime of the shoe is saved, there are less amount of shoes end up in a land filling. Thus, on a global scale, the invention is beneficial towards the environment. 
         [0007]    In one embodiment, a footwear accessory apparatus may include a main portion, and an arm portion. The main portion may include a control device. The arm portion may include a pivoting end coupled with the main portion and a free end detachably coupled to the main portion. The control device may be used to detach the free end of the arm portion from the main portion. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, a footwear may include a front portion, a bottom portion, a first side, a second side, and a footwear accessory apparatus. The main proportion may be coupled with the first side, and the arm portion may be coupled with the second side. The footwear accessory apparatus may include a main portion and an arm portion. The main portion may include a control device. The arm portion may include a pivoting end coupled with the main portion and a free end detachably coupled to the main portion. The control device may be used to detach the free end of the arm portion from the main portion. 
         [0009]    In yet another embodiment, a footwear may include a front portion, a bottom portion, a first side, and a second side. The first side may include a main portion. The main portion may include a control device. The second side may include an arm portion. The arm portion may include a pivoting end coupled with the main portion and a free end detachably coupled to the main portion. The control device may be used to detach the free end of the arm portion from the main portion. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The invention will be further explained with reference to the accompanying drawings and the following description. Wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of the footwear accessory apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention where the arm portion is detached from the main portion. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of the footwear accessory apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention Where the arm portion is snapped on the main portion. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1C  is a perspective view of the footwear accessory apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention where the arm portion is detached from the main portion. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1D  is a perspective view of the footwear accessory apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention here the arm portion is detached from the main portion. 
           [0015]      FIG. 1E  is a perspective view of the footwear accessory apparatus in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 1F  is a perspective view of the footwear accessory apparatus in accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 1G  is a side view of the footwear accessory apparatus in accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is an explosive view of the footwear accessory apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of a footwear incorporated with the footwear accessory apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3B  is a partial view of a footwear incorporated with the foots Tear accessory apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of a lace holder. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of a lace holder, illustrating that the lace is held in place by the lace holder. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5A  is a perspective of a footwear in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, where the arm portion is snapped on the main portion. 
           [0024]      FIG. 5B  is a perspective of a footwear in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, where the arm portion is detached from the main portion. 
           [0025]      FIG. 6A  is a perspective view illustrating that the user has put on the footwear. 
           [0026]      FIG. 6B  is a perspective view illustrating that the user is kicking on the button on the footwear accessory apparatus. 
           [0027]      FIG. 5C  is a perspective view illustrating that the arm portion is unlocked from the main portion of the footwear accessory apparatus. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of the footwear accessory apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention when the arm portion is detached from the main portion.  FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of the footwear accessory apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention when the arm portion is snapped on the main portion. 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  footwear accessory apparatus  10  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention may include main portion  102  and arm portion  104 . main portion  102  may include button  106  and a series of holes  108  that allow lace to pass through. arm portion  104  may include a series of holes  110  that allow the lace to pass through, pivoting end  112 , and free end  114 . arm portion  104  is coupled with main portion  102  at pivoting end  112 . arm portion  104  can move pivotally with respect to pivoting end  112 . As shown in  FIG. 1A , free end  114  of arm portion  104  may snap on main portion  102 . As shown in  FIG. 1B , free end  114  of arm portion  104  may detach main portion  102 . button  16  can detach free end  114  of arm portion  104  from main portion  12 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 1C  is a perspective view of the footwear accessory apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention where the arm portion is detached from the main portion.  FIG. 1D  is a perspective view of the footwear accessory apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention where the arm portion is detached from the main portion. 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIGS. 1C and 1D , the structure of the footwear accessory apparatus in this embodiment is similar to that of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , except that main portion  102  and arm portion  104  may be without holes. 
         [0032]      FIG. 1E  is a perspective view of the footwear accessory apparatus in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present. 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 1E , one of the holes  108  on the main portion  1024  may be used to lock the lace in place. Hole  108  has L-shaped groove  118 . When the user inserts the lace into hole  108  and pulls it down, the lace may be locked inside L-shaped groove  118  due to friction. 
         [0034]    In some embodiments, more than one holes are provided on the main portion  102  to lock the lace in place. 
         [0035]    In some embodiments, more than one holes are provided on the arm portion  104  to lock the lace in place. 
         [0036]      FIG. 1F  is a perspective view of the footwear accessory apparatus in accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 1G  is a side view of the footwear accessory apparatus in accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0037]    As shown in  FIGS. 1F and 1G , the main portion  102  may include a series of notches  120  on its side, and the arm portion  104  may include a series of notches  122  of its side. 
         [0038]      FIG. 2  is an explosive view of the footwear accessory apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0039]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , footwear accessory apparatus  20  in accordance with one embodiment of present invention may include main portion  202 , an arm portion  204 , button  206 , an elastic assembly  208 , back portion  210 , and hinge  212 , button  206  may include locking portion  214  which can lock arm portion  204  in place when arm portion  204  snaps on main portion  202 . 
         [0040]    In some embodiments, pivoting end  112  of arm portion  104  may be coupled with main portion  102  by a living hinge. 
         [0041]    In some embodiments, the button may be a pivoting point, or alternatively, a living hinge. 
         [0042]    In some embodiments, arm portion  204  can snap on main portion  202  with use of magnets (not shown). 
         [0043]    In some embodiments, arm portion  204  may be released by pressing button, or alternatively, by misting button  206 . In some embodiments, instead of button, it could be slider. In Some embodiments, button  206  can be remotely controlled. In some embodiments, button  206  is round, alternatively, any other shapes, such as rectangular, square, triangular, and etc. 
         [0044]      FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of a footwear incorporated with the footwear accessory apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 3B  is a partial view of a footwear incorporated with the footwear accessory apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0045]    As shown in  FIG. 3A , footwear  30  may include front portion  302 , bottom portion  304 , first side  308 , and second side (not shown). A series of holes  314  may extend along first side  308 . Another series of holes (not shown) may extend along second side (not shown). When attaching footwear accessory apparatus  10  to footwear  30 , one end of lace  318  passes through holes  314  on first side  308  and holes  108  on main portion  102 . other end of lace  318  passes through holes (not shown) second side (not shown) and holes  110  of arm portion  104 . As shown in  FIG. 3B , excess part of lace  318  can be hold by lace holder  320 . footwear accessory apparatus  10  can be secured on footwear  30  by fastening lace  318 . 
         [0046]    In some embodiments, holes  108  on main portion  102  may be in different shapes, such as round, rectangular, square, triangular, and etc. In some embodiments, holes  110  on arm portion  104  may be in different shapes, such as round, rectangular, square, triangular, and etc. 
         [0047]    In some embodiments, footwear accessory apparatus  10  may be used in athletic shoes, business shoes, dance shoes, or any other types of footwear. 
         [0048]      FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of a lace holder.  FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of a lace holder, illustrating that the lace is held in place by the lace holder. 
         [0049]    As shown in  FIG. 4A , lace holder  320  may include three holes  402 ,  404 , and  406 . As shown in  FIG. 4B , lace  318  may pass through one hole  402  and then another hole  404 , such that lace  318  may be held in place. 
         [0050]    In some embodiments, lace holder  320  may be of different shapes, such as rectangular, square, triangular, round, oval, any combination thereof, or any other shapes. 
         [0051]      FIG. 5A  is a perspective of a footwear in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, where the arm portion is snapped on the main portion.  FIG. 5B  is a perspective of a footwear in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, where the arm portion is detached from the main portion. 
         [0052]    As shown in  FIG. 5A , footwear  50  according to another embodiment of present invention may include front portion  502 , bottom portion (not shown), first side  506 , and second side  508 . first side  506  may have main portion  510 . second side  508  may have arm portion  512 . main portion  510  may include button  514 . arm portion  512  may include pivoting end  514  and free end  516 . As shown in  FIG. 5A , free end  516  may snap on main portion  510 . As shown in  FIG. 5B , button  514  can detach free end  516  of arm portion  512  from main portion  510 . 
         [0053]      FIG. 6A  is a perspective view illustrating that the user has put on the footwear.  FIG. 6B  is a perspective view illustrating that the user is kicking on the button on the footwear accessory apparatus.  FIG. 6C  is a perspective view illustrating that the arm portion is unlocked from the main portion of the footwear accessory apparatus. 
         [0054]    As shown in  FIG. 6A , after putting on footwear  60  incorporated with footwear accessory apparatus  10 , the user can snap arum portion  104  on main portion  102 . As shown in  FIG. 6B , when removing footwear  60 , the user can slightly kick button  106  on footwear accessory apparatus  10  using bottom portion  304  of other footwear. As shown in  FIG. 6C , after kicking button  106 , arm portion  104  is released from main portion  102  of footwear accessory apparatus. Then, the user can take off footwear  60  with ease. As such, putting on and taking off footwear can be easy, fast, and clean. 
         [0055]    In some embodiments, the footwear accessory apparatus can store electronic data. 
         [0056]    In some embodiments, the footwear accessory apparatus may be made of plastic, fabric, metal, any combination thereof or any other materials. 
         [0057]    Advantages of the footwear accessory apparatus lie in different aspects. For example, the bow tie is not necessary. To put on the shoe, the user only needs to snap the footwear accessory apparatus. It is easy and convenient. To remove the shoe, with a simple click on the button, the snap detaches. When the snap is detached, the shoe is in a state as if completely unlaced, and that is the reason why it requires no force for the user to remove her foot out of the shoe. As such, the problem of stretching and expanding of the shoe caused by removing the shoe forcibly is solved. Further, it is less likely to dirty the shoe when removing it. 
         [0058]    Another benefit of the invention is that the user does not need to bend down to take off the shoe. Consumers such as athletes and elders with arthritis or back problems will benefit from that. 
         [0059]    Another advantage of the invention lie in that since the lifetime of the shoe is saved, there are less amount of shoes end up in a land filling. Thus, on a global scale, the invention is beneficial towards the environment. 
         [0060]    Having thus described the disclosure of the present application in detail and by reference to implementations thereof, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the disclosure defined in the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0