Abstract:
Fabric and other design panels are attached to wearing apparel such as shoes, boots and belts and in one embodiment, the design panels include various shaped panel configurations conforming to the shape of designated areas and surfaces on the wearing apparel. In another embodiment the panel configurations are placed under open shaped areas or surfaces. The design panels typically have a selected printed bandana design or indicia of selected color. In a preferred embodiment shaped bandana design panels are adhesively attached to selected areas and surfaces on walking and gym shoes and belts, as well as boots, wherein the various bandana design panels are configured to fit on or over the specific surface areas on the shoes and belts. Alternatively, the design surfaces are open to define a window and a backing panel having a bandana design is positioned under the open design surfaces.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of and incorporates by reference prior filed copending U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/628,889, Filed Nov. 18, 2004. 
     
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Articles of clothing such as footwear having customized displays such as logos, emblems and the like, particularly in the sporting field, are well known in the art. These displays are typically printed on the article or they may be stitched on the wearing apparel according to production techniques which are known to those skilled in the art.  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to fabric and alternative material design panels for adhesive application to articles of clothing and wearing apparel and in particular, to shaped printed bandana design panels for adhesive application to various surface panel segments, design surfaces or areas on shoes, boots, belts and the like. The design panels are configured to conform to the existing panel or surface areas on the wearing apparel or to the bottom perimeters of open panel or surface areas and are typically glued or stitched in place.  
         [0004]     The printed bandana design panels of this invention are provided in selected panel shapes which are applied to correspondingly-shaped surface areas of wearing apparel such as footwear and belts, in desired locations and in specific color and design configurations, to present wearing apparel having a pleasing appearance to the eye. In a preferred embodiment of the invention various shaped fabric or alternative material toe panels, side panels, inside and outside heel panels, sole panels and instep panels of selected material, character, color and design are adhesively applied to or stitched on footwear, and belt panels are glued or stitched on belts, in non-exclusive particular, at designated closed or open surface locations to enhance the appearance of the footwear and belt products. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]     The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein a first set of fabric or alternative material footwear design panels is stitched or adhesively applied in the form of shaped bandana designs having a specified color or colors, to various correspondingly-shaped surface locations on a typical walking or running shoe;  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is a perspective, partially exploded view of the shoe and toe panel illustrated in  FIG. 1 , more particularly illustrating application of the toe panel having a desired shape, character, design and color to the correspondingly-shaped toe surface area of the shoe;  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an alternative shoe design, more particularly illustrating application of a fabric or alternative inside and outside heel/instep panel design to correspondingly-shaped surfaces of the shoe;  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a belt having a belt panel characterized by a specific bandana color and design, typically adhesively applied or stitched to the outside surface of the belt.  
         [0010]      FIG. 5  is a bottom perspective view of the sole margin and bottom elements of a shoe, more particularly illustrating bandana designs on a selected material applied thereto;  
         [0011]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the invention, which includes a shoe having selected open design areas or surfaces superimposed on a backing panel having a selected design;  
         [0012]      FIG. 7  is a sectional view of a typical open area or surface and a backing panel glued or stitched to the bottom perimeter thereof, taken along line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a walking shoe having selected open areas or surfaces with bandana design backing panels underneath the open areas or surfaces;  
         [0014]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a woman&#39;s boot having selected design panels of this invention applied thereto; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a typical cowboy boot having selected design panels applied thereto according to this invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0016]     Referring initially to  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings, in a first preferred embodiment of the invention a typically fabric toe panel  1  is shaped to fit on the corresponding toe  32  and instep  37  ( FIG. 2 ) of a conventional running, gym or walking shoe  29 , having a sole  31 , a tongue  34  and laces  35 . The toe panel  1  is characterized by a toe panel design  2  of selected material, character and color or colors, typically including a bandana print, design or indicia such as the bandana designs known as the “European” and “Spain” designs, in non-exclusive particular. It will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art that the toe panel design  2  and other design features of the toe panel  1  and other fabric panel designs of this invention may be selected as desired by the designer, manufacturer and wearer of the shoe  29 .  
         [0017]     As further illustrated in  FIG. 2  of the drawings, the typically fabric toe panel  1  is cut, stamped or otherwise shaped to conform to the shape of the toe portion  32  and the instep  37 , located rearwardly of the toe margin  33  of the shoe  29  and may be secured in place by means of fabric cement or other glue or adhesive, according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art. Alternatively, the toe panel  1  can be secured in place by stitching  6 . Accordingly, the toe panel  1  is configured to define an instep curve  3  which follows the curve of the top portion of the instep  37 , as well as an opposite toe curve  4  that tracks the instep margin  38  of the instep  37  and toe portion  32 . Panel flaps  5  are also typically shaped in the upper portions of the toe panel  1  and extend downwardly toward the sole  31  of the shoe  29 , to further follow the contour of the instep margin  38  of the shoe  29  illustrated in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0018]     In another aspect of the preferred embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings, a pair of typically fabric side panels  7  are applied, either adhesively or by the stitching  6 , to correspondingly-shaped surface areas on both sides of the shoe  29 , respectively, including the illustrated arch side  39  and the opposite side (not illustrated) of the shoe  29  from the arch side  39 . The side panels  7  each include a selected fabric side panel print or design  8  having a desired color or colors. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the side panel design  8  and the color or colors of the side panels  7  may conform to that of the toe panel design  2  on the toe panel  1 , or the design and color or colors may be different, according to the desires of designers and users who are skilled in the art. Furthermore, the side panels  7  each typically extend from a side panel base  9  above the sole  31  to a side panel tip  10 , as further illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . It will be appreciated and understood that the shape and extent of the side panels  7  will be determined by, and matches, the underlying shape of the particular shoe surface panel areas provided on both sides of the shoe  29 .  
         [0019]     As further illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings, a typically fabric heel panel  12  may also be included in the design format for the shoe  29 , with or without the toe panel  1  and the side panels  7 . Furthermore, the heel panel  12  is characterized by a heel panel print or design  13  that may typically correspond in color and design or indicia configuration to both the toe panel design  2  and the side panel design  8 , or either of them, but may be different in one or both aspects, according to the desires of the designer. Accordingly, both the color or colors and the design indicia or print constituency of the heel panel design  13  may be the same as or different from the print layout and color of the toe panel design  2  and that of the side panel design  8 , as further dictated by the designer. The heel panel  12  is typically characterized by a heel panel base  14  that begins near the top of the shoe  9  at the ankle margin  36  and extends downwardly and forwardly on the shoe heel  30 , to a heel panel tip  15  on each side of the shoe  29 . As in the case of the toe panel  1  and the side panels  7 , the heel panel  12  typically conforms to an underlying, correspondingly-shaped application surface area of specified shape in the heel area of the shoe  29  and is typically characterized by a shaped bandana fabric portion that is applied to the heel area of the shoe  29  by means of a suitable adhesive. Alternatively, stitching  6  may be used to secure the heel panel  12  to the underlying heel surface area. The heel panel  12  is typically applied to the upper area of the shoe heel  30  below the ankle margin  36 , as further illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings.  
         [0020]     Referring now to  FIG. 3  of the drawings, in another preferred embodiment of the invention a walking, running or gym-type shoe  29  having a different surface area construction or configuration from that of the shoe illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , is illustrated. A typically fabric heel/instep panel  17  is characterized by a heel/instep panel print or design  18  of selected character indicia and color or colors and is applied by a suitable fabric glue or adhesive or the stitching  6  to the shoe  29 . The heel/instep panel  17  extends from the shoe heel  30  at a heel/instep base  19 , forwardly and upwardly to a heel instep panel midsection  20 . From the heel/instep panel midsection  20 , the heel/instep panel  17  projects forwardly and downwardly on both sides of the shoe  29 , along the laces  35  and terminates at the toe portion  32  of the shoe  29 , in a heel/instep tip  21 . A heel/instep panel top margin  22  typically parallels the side portions of the ankle margins  36  of the shoe  29  from the heel/instep panel base  19 , forwardly to the heel/instep midsection  20 , as further illustrated in  FIG. 3 . It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the heel/instep indicia or design  18  is preferably a bandana print or design and may be selected by the designer typically from the bandana designs known as the “European” and “Spain” designs, or other selected designs and prints having a desired character, design indicia and color or colors, according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art.  
         [0021]     Referring to  FIG. 4  of the drawings, a belt  26  is illustrated and includes a buckle  27 . A typically fabric belt panel  24  is typically glued or stitched on the belt  26  using a suitable adhesive or cement and typically extends from the buckle  27  to the terminal end of the belt  26 , as illustrated. As in the case of the toe panel design  2 , side panel design  8 , heel panel design  13  and the heel/instep panel design  18  for shoes illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3  of the drawings, the belt panel print or design  25  is typically characterized by a typically fabric bandana design such as the “European” and “Spain” designs, but may be characterized by other selected designs having selected design character, indicia and color, as desired. Further as in the case of the various panel prints or designs illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3  applied to the shoes  29 , the belt panel  24  is typically applied to the belt  26  by means of a suitable cement or fabric glue or adhesive or by stitching (not illustrated) selected by those skilled in the art.  
         [0022]     Referring now to  FIG. 5  of the drawings in another preferred embodiment of the invention, a sole margin design  41  is provided on the sole margin  31   a  of the sole  31  of a shoe  29 . Furthermore, a sole bottom design  42  may also be imprinted or otherwise provided on the sole bottom  31   b  of the sole  31  of the shoe  29  as further illustrated in  FIG. 5 . It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the sole margin design  41  and/or the sole bottom design  42  may be imprinted on a suitable material and applied by a suitable adhesive in the manner detailed above with respect to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4  of the drawings or by stitching (not illustrated), according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art.  
         [0023]     As illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7  of the drawings, a shoe  29  may be fitted with open areas  47  which conform to a specific design configuration and may be typically secured in place by the stitching  6 . Furthermore, various underlying correspondingly shaped design backing panels  49  may be provided underneath the corresponding open areas  47  to define an open area margin  48 , as further illustrated in  FIG. 7  of the drawings. Accordingly, the bottom or backing panels  49  may be each either glued to the corresponding underlying area of the shoe  29  or may be stitched in place beneath the corresponding open areas  47  using the stitching  6 , as desired. Furthermore, each of the open areas  47  and corresponding backing panels  49  may be applied to the variously shaped design areas, including but not limited to the toe panel  1 , side panel  7  and the heel panel  12 . Furthermore, the thickness of the respective open area margins  48  will depend upon the material chosen for the shoe  29 . Moreover, the corresponding toe panel design  2 , side panel design  8  and heel panel design  13  provided in the toe panel  1 , side panel  7  and the heel panel  12 , in non-exclusive particular, may be chosen from a particular bandana design chosen by the manufacturer or, the wearer in the case of custom design shoes.  
         [0024]     Referring again to  FIG. 8  of the drawings a hiking boot  44  is illustrated, having lace eyes  43  fitted with laces  35  and provided with side panels  7  having an open areas  47  superimposed on a backing panel  49  having a selected side panel design  8 . Each side panel design  8  is typically chosen from a fabric or alternative material bandana design and may be either glued to a designated underlying area in the hiking boot  44  or stitched therein by the stitching  6 . Accordingly, the side panel design  8  is presented within the confines of each corresponding open area  47  and an open area margin  48  is created to present “depth” to the underlying backing panels  49 .  
         [0025]     In still another preferred embodiment of the invention a woman&#39;s boot  50  is illustrated in  FIG. 9  and has an elevated woman&#39;s boot heel  51  and toe portion  32 , as well as a sole  31  and a sole margin  31   a . A boot band  52  is typically provided around the upper portion or ankle margin  36  of the woman&#39;s boot  50  and typically includes two or more band loops  53  for securing the boot band  52  in place. A band design  54  may be provided on the boot band  52  and is typically selected from one of several bandana designs. In a preferred embodiment the band loop  53  is sewn or otherwise attached to the ankle margin  36  and is constructed of fabric or an alternative material and the band design  54  may be printed thereon or otherwise applied, according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art. Furthermore, a heel panel design  13  may be provided on the heel panel  12  of the woman&#39;s boot  50  and a toe panel design  2  applied to the toe panel  1  at the toe portion  32  of the woman&#39;s boot  50 , as further illustrated in  FIG. 9 . As in the case of the embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 1-8  of the drawings and described above, the heel panel design  13  and the toe panel design  2  may be secured in position in the respective locations on the woman&#39;s boot  50  by means of a suitable adhesive or by stitching  6 .  
         [0026]     Referring now to  FIG. 10  of the drawings, in another preferred embodiment of the invention a cowboy boot  55  is illustrated, having an upper boot portion  56  fitted with grips  57  and a typically bandana fabric upper boot portion design  58  which may be adhesively applied to the upper boot portion  56  or attached thereto by means of stitching  6 , as desired. Furthermore, a typically bandana fabric heel panel design  13  is adhesively applied or stitched to the heel panel  12  at the cowboy boot heel  62  and above the cowboy boot sole  59 , while a companion toe panel design  2  is similarly applied to the toe panel  1  of the toe portion  32  of the cowboy boot  55 . A typically bandana design fabric lower side panel design  61  may be similarly applied to the cowboy boot lower side panel  60  above the cowboy boot sole  63 .  
         [0027]     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the various typically fabric panel designs, prints and indicia illustrated in  FIGS. 1-10  of the drawings are preferably shaped from bandana designs of selected shape, color or colors and may be applied to various types of shoes and articles other than the running, walking or gym shoe, ladies boot, cowboy boot and the belt wearing apparel illustrated in the drawings. For example, the various fabric design panels can be applied in various shapes, thicknesses, colors and design features and prints to corresponding areas of other apparel such as purses and the like, according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art.  
         [0028]     The various fabric design panels of this invention are typically cut from fabric or other material of selected character, thickness, color and design indicia or print, to shape for alignment with specific surface areas of the various wearing apparel as described above and are then typically glued in place using a suitable fabric cement or adhesive of selected character, or attached by the stitching  6 , depending upon the underlying material to which the panels are to be attached. For example, under circumstances where the panels are to be applied to a leather surface, the fabric cement or adhesive is selected for compatibility both with the leather and the material of the panels being applied.  
         [0029]     While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications may be made in the invention and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.