Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BACKGROUND
[003] Purchasing many pairs of shoes can be costly and requires large storage
and/or displaying
space. Previous shoe systems allow a user to change the look and style of a
single shoe.
However, the previous systems can be cumbersome and offer little utility.
SUMMARY
[004] The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic
understanding of
some aspects of various invention embodiments. The summary is not an extensive
ov.erview of
the invention. It is neither intended to identify key or critical elements of
the invention nor to
delineate the scope of the invention. The following summary merely presents
some concepts of
the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed
description below.
[005] One exemplary embodiment provides a shoe system having a attachable
ornamental
accessory, comprising a shoe formed to include a sole sized and configured to
support a wearer's
foot, a toe portion associated with the sole, and a heel portion associated
with the sole, the toe
portion including a toe-hold area and at least one attachment device
associated with the toe-hold
area, and the heel portion including a heel-hold area and at least one
attachment device
associated with the heel-hold area. Further included in such a shoe system is
an attachable
accessory configured to extend along at least a portion of the top of a
wearer's foot from
generally the toe area toward a wearer's ankle area. The accessory has a first
end including at
least one attachment device adapted to attach to the toe-hold area at least
one attachment device
and a second end including a strap comprising a first strap portion having at
least one attachment
device and a second strap portion having at least one attachment device, the
first and second
strap portions being adapted to wrap around a wearer's ankle, the first and
second strap portion
attachment devices being adapted to attach to each other and at least one of
the first and second
strap portion attachment devices being adapted to connect to the heel-hold
area at least one
attachment device.
[006] In exemplary embodiments, the toe-hold area at least one attachment
device comprises at
least one first fastener and the attachable accessory first end at least one
attachment devices
comprises at least one second fastener, whereby the first fastener and second
fastener are
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detachably attachable. In exemplary embodiments, the at least one first
fastener comprises either
a magnet or a magnetically attractive material and the at least one second
fastener comprises
either a magnet or a magnetically attractive material, the first and second
fasteners being
magnetically attachable to each other.
[007] In another exemplary embodiment, a shoe system is provided having an
attachable
ornamental accessory, comprising a shoe formed to include a sole sized and
configured to
support a wearer's foot, a toe portion associated with the sole, and a heel
portion associated with
the sole, the toe portion including a toe-hold area and at least one
attachment device associated
with the toe-hold area, and the heel portion having a strap associated
therewith, the strap being
adapted to wrap around a wearer's ankle, the strap comprising a first portion
having a first end
and a second portion having a second end, the first and second ends being
detachably associated
with each other. Such a shoe system further includes an attachable accessory
configured to
extend along at least a portion of the top of a wearer's foot from generally
the toe area toward a
wearer's ankle area, the accessory having a first end including at least one
attachment device
adapted to attach to the toe-hold area at least one attachment device and a
second end including
at least one loop adapted to removably receive a portion of the strap.
In still another exemplary embodiment, an attachable ornamental accessory for
a shoe is
provided. In such embodiment a shoe may comprise a sole sized and configured
to support a
wearer's foot, a toe portion associated with the sole, and a heel portion
associated with the sole,
the toe portion including a toe-hold area and at least one attachment device
associated with the
toe-hold area, and the heel portion including a heel-hold area and at least
one attachment device
associated with the heel-hold area. In such embodiment the accessory comprises
a body
configured to extend along at least a portion of the top of a wearer's foot
from generally the toe
area toward a wearer's ankle area, the accessory having a first end including
at least one
attachment device adapted to attach to a toe-hold area at least one attachment
device and a
second end including a strap comprising a first strap portion having at least
one attachment
device and a second strap portion having at least one attachment device, the
first and second
strap portions being adapted to wrap around a wearer's ankle, the first and
second strap portion
attachment devices being adapted to attach to each other and at least one of
the first and second
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strap portion attachment devices being adapted to connect to the heel-hold
area at least one
attachment device
[008] Other features will become apparent upon reading the following detailed
description of
certain exemplary embodiments, when taken in conjunction with the appended
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[009] The drawings disclose exemplary embodiments in which like reference
characters
designate the. same or similar parts throughout the figures of which: .. ,
[0010] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of a shoe
system of the
present disclosure.
[0011] Fig. 2 is a front elevation view of the shoe system of Fig. 1.
[0012] Fig. 3 is a rear elevation view of the shoe system of Fig. 1.
[0013] Fig. 4 is a plan view of one exemplary embodiment of an attachment
accessory of the
present disclosure.
[0014] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a shoe
system of the
present disclosure.
[0015] Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the shoe system of Fig. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] The following examples are set forth for purposes of illustration only.
Parts and
percentages appearing in such examples are by weight unless otherwise
stipulated.
[0017] According to one illustrative embodiment, a shoe system 10 generally
includes a shoe
102, for example a stiletto style shoe, and an accessory attachment 104, as
shown in Fig. I. The
particular style of shoe can be any of a wide variety, including, but not
limited to, flat, platform,
wedge, sandal, boot, or the like. The shoe 102 generally includes a sole 110,
a toe portion 112,
and a heel portion 114. For purposes of the following description, the term
"sole" is used to refer
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generally to the part of the shoe 102 on which a wearer stands (including, for
example, any
insole, arch support, or similar item the foot touches). The toe portion 112
is coupled to the sole
110 and configured to overly a portion of the front of a wearer's foot. The
heel portion 114 is
coupled to the sole 110 and configured to surround at least a portion of a
wearer's heel. In
combination, the toe portion 112 and heel portion 114 generally maintain a
wearer's foot within
a perimeter of the sole 110. In the illustrative embodiment, the shoe 102 also
includes a heel
stern 116 coupled to an underside of the sole 110 to support the heel of a
wearer's foot in an
elevated position compared to the wearer's toes.
[0018] In exemplary embodiments, the toe portion 112 includes a toe-hold layer
122 and one or
more toe magnets 124 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The term "magnets" is used to
refer to
magnetically charged material or material which is attracted to magnetically
charged material.
However, whenever one magnet magnetically couples with another magnet, as
described herein,
at least one of the magnets is a magnetically charged material. In one
illustrative embodiment,
the toe-hold layer 122 is a toe-hold strap 122, and the one or more toe
magnets 124 includes
three toe magnets 124. However, it should be understood that other toe
covering styles may be
used such as, for example, closed or peep toe. It should also be understood
that more or less
magnets may be used in the toe portion 112, such as a single magnet, and the
magnets may be
provided in various shapes and sizes such as, for example, a curved,
rectangular, circular or
square cross-section, or the like.
[0019] The toe magnets 124 may be embedded within or otherwise associated with
the toe-hold
strap 122 and, in exemplary embodiments, may be configured in close proximity
to simulate a
continuous single magnet while allowing the toe-hold strap 122 to flex with
the top of a wearer's
foot during walking. The magnets 124 may be configured in a symmetrical
pattern along the
strap toe-hold 122 with respect to a centerline C of the shoe 102 extending
between the toe
portion 112 and heel portion 114. In the illustrative embodiment, three toe
magnets 124 are
configured where a first magnet 124F is positioned on the centerline C of the
shoe 102 and the
second and third magnets 124S, 124T are positioned symmetrically across the
centerline C on
either side of the first magnet 124F. Where a single toe magnet is used, the
center of the toe
magnet is generally positioned on the centerline C of the shoe 102. The
magnets may abut each
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Other or may be spaced apart, or a combination of abutting and spaced apart
(such as where three
magnets are used).
[0020] In exemplary embodiments, the heel portion 114 may include a heel-hold
layer 126 and
one or more heel magnets 128 as shown in Fig. 3. In one illustrative
embodiment, the heel-hold
layer 126 is a closed heel-hold 126, and a single heel magnet 128 is embedded
within or
otherwise associated with the closed heel-hold 126. However, it should be
understood that the
heel-hold layer 126 may be an open heel-hold with enough material to couple to
the sole 110 and
support at least the one or more heel magnets 128. It should also be
understood that more
magnets may be used in the heel portion 114, such as two magnets, and the
magnets may come
in various shapes and sizes such as, for example, rectangular or square cross-
section, or circular
cross-section, to name a few.
[0021] The accessory attachment 104 generally includes a decorative body 130
and an ankle-
retention system 140 coupled to the body 130 as shown in Figs. 1-3. The
accessory attachment
104 may be constructed from any number of different types of materials, such
as, but not limited
to leather, suede, plastic, hemp, rope, metal, natural or synthetic fibers (or
combinations of
natural and synthetic fibers, or textiles/fabrics. The body 130 may include
surface treatments,
appliques, or attachments or, such as, but not limited to, embroidering,
beading, tiles, stitching,
piping, combinations of the foregoing, or the like. The body 130 is configured
to extend
generally along at least a portion of the top of a wearer's foot between the
toes and the ankle and
includes an attachment portion 132 and a cover portion 134. The body 130 may
wrap partially
around the side of the foot and/or ankle. The attachment portion 132 includes
one or more
attachment magnets 136 sized and configured to magnetically couple with the
one or more toe
magnets 124 included in the shoe 102 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In the
illustrative embodiment,
a single attachment magnet 136 is used to attach to the first magnet 124F.
However, it should be
understood that more magnets may be used in the attachment portion 132, such
as three magnets,
and the magnets may be as described hereinabove. In one embodiment, the number
of attachment
magnets 136 is the same as the number of toe magnets 124 and the attachment
magnets 136 are
configured in the same symmetrical pattern as the toe magnets 124 such that
the attachment
portion 132 of the body 130 is oriented with respect to the toe portion 112 of
the shoe 102. The
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magnets may abut each other or may be spaced apart, or a combination of
abutting and spaced
apart (such as where three magnets are used).
[0022] In exemplary embodiments, the ankle-retention system 140 generally
includes a first
ankle-retention strap 142 and a second ankle-retention strap 144. The first
ankle-retention strap
142 includes a first end 141 coupled to the cover portion 134 of the body 130
and a second end
143 coupled to a first retention magnet 146. The second ankle-retention strap
144 includes a first
end 145 coupled to the cover portion 134 of the body 130 and a second end 147
coupled to a
second retention magnet 148. The first and second ankle-retention straps 142,
144 are configured
(
.
to extend around a wearer's ankle. The first and second retention magnets 146,
148 are sized and
configured to magnetically couple with the one or more heel magnets 128.
[0023] In one illustrative embodiment, the first retention magnet 146 is
magnetically coupled to
the heel magnet 128, and the second retention magnet 148 is magnetically
coupled to the first
retention magnet 146 such that the first retention magnet 146 is positioned
between the heel
magnet 128 and the second retention magnet 148. Alternatively, the second
retention magnet 148
may be magnetically coupled to the heel magnet 128, and the first retention
magnet 146 is
magnetically coupled to the second retention magnet 148 such that the second
retention magnet
148 is positioned between the heel magnet 128 and the first retention magnet
146. In another
embodiment, the heel portion 114 includes two heel magnets, and the first
retention magnet 146
magnetically couples to one of the heel magnets while the second retention
magnet 148
magnetically couples to the other heel magnet.
[0024] The accessory attachment 104 magnetically attaches to the shoe 102 to
form the shoe
system 10 and retain a wearer's foot on the shoe 102. The accessory attachment
104 is sized to
extend at least partially over a wearer's foot between the toe and ankle
region and
simultaneously allow magnetic attachment between the one or more attachment
magnets 136 and
one or more toe magnets 124 and magnetic attachment between the first and
second retention
magnets 146, 148 and the one or more heel magnets 128. By allowing the
accessory attachment
104 to be removable, a number of different accessory attachments may be
magnetically attached
to the shoe 102 to change the look and styling of the show system 10.
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[0025] According to another illustrative embodiment, a shoe system 20
generally includes the
shoe 102 from Figs. 1-3, an ankle-retention strap 250, and an accessory
attachment 204 as shown
in Figs. 5-6. The shoe 102 may retain the heel magnet 128 even though it is
not utilized by the
accessory attachment 204, as describe herein, because one advantage of the
present invention is
the ability to use a single base shoe with multiple accessory attachments.
Thus, the accessory
attachment 104 of Fig. 1 and accessory attachment 204 of Fig. 5 may operate
with the same shoe
102.
[0026] In one illustrative embodiment, the heel portion 114 of the shoe 102 is
formed to include
=
a channel or loop 129 or other opening or openings sized and configured to
receive at least a
portion of the ankle-retention strap 250. In combination, the toe portion 112,
heel portion 114,
and ankle-retention strap 250 retain a wearer's foot on the shoe 102. It
should be understood that
the heel-hold layer 114 may be an open heel-hold with enough material to
couple to the sole 110
and form the channel 129.
[0027] In exemplary embodiments, the accessory attachment 204 may generally
include a
decorative body 230 and an ankle strap loop 240 coupled to the body 230, as
shown in Figs. 5-6.
The accessory attachment 204 may be constructed from, a material similar to
the accessory
attachment 104. The body 230 is configured to extend along the top of a
wearer's foot and
includes an attachment portion 232 and a cover portion 234.
[0028] The attachment portion 232 may include one or more attachment magnets
236 sized and
configured to magnetically couple with the one or more toe magnets 124
included in the shoe
102. In the illustrative embodiment, the number of attachment magnets 236 is
the same as the
number of toe magnets 124, and the attachment magnets 236 are configured in
the same
symmetrical pattern as the toe magnets 124 such that the attachment portion
232 of the body 230
is oriented with respect to the toe portion 112 of the shoe 102. However, it
should be understood
that more or less magnets may be used in the attachment portion 232, such as a
single magnet,
and the magnets may be constructed and configured as described hereinabove.
[0029] The ankle strap loop 240 is coupled to the cover portion 234 of the
body 230, and is sized
and configured to receive at least a portion of the ankle-retention strap 250.
In one illustrative
embodiment, the ankle-retention strap 250 is a strap or length of material
having a free end 252
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which couples with a buckle 254 to form a loop of material as shown in Figs. 5
and 6. However,
it should be understood that other configurations are possible, such as for
example, a band of
hook and loop material designed to mate with itself to form a loop, or the
like. The ankle-
retention strap 250 is generally slidable within the loop 129 of the heel
portion 114 and the ankle
strap loop 240 of the accessory attachment 204. Thus, the ankle-retention
strap 250 is removable
allowing the removal of the accessory attachment 204 and reattachment of
another accessory
attachment.
[0030] The accessory attachment 204 magnetically and physically attaches to
the shoe 102 to
form the shoe system 20 and retain a wearer's foot on the shoe 102. The
accessory attachment
204 is sized to extend over a wearer's foot and simultaneously allow magnetic
attachment
between the one or more attachment magnets 236 and one or more toe magnets
124, physical
attachment between the ankle-retention strap 250 and ankle strap loop 240, and
physical
attachment between the ankle-retention strap 250 and heel loop 129. By
allowing the accessory
attachment 204 to be removable, a number of different accessory attachments
may be
magnetically attached to the shoe 102 to change the look and styling of the
show system 20.
[0031] It should be understood that the shoe 102 is not required to include
both the heel magnet
128 and loop 129. For example, the shoe 102 may only include the heel magnet
128 allowing
attachment accessories similar to attachment accessory 104 to be
interchangeably attached
thereto. Alternatively, the shoe 102 may only include the loop 129 allowing
attachment
accessories similar to attachment accessory 204 to be interchangeably attached
thereto.
[0032] In other exemplary embodiments, rather than using magnets to attach the
attachment 104
or 204 to the shoe, at each attachment point one or more fasteners or fastener
systems, such as,
but not limited to, a clasp, snap, button, eye, hook, adhesive material, tab,
and slot can be formed
in, attached to, or otherwise associated with the toe-hold area 122 and a
mating fastener can be
formed in, attached to, or otherwise associated the attachment 104 or 204 for
each attachment
point. Alternatively, a hook and loop material system can be used where either
the hook material
or the loop material may be associated with the toe-strap 122 or the heel-hold
area 126 and the
mating loop or hook material, respectively, associated with the attachment 130
or straps 142 or
144.
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[0033] Although only a number of exemplary embodiments have been described in
detail above,
those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are
possible in the
exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings
and advantages.
Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the
scope of this
disclosure as defined in the following claims. As used in the specification
and the appended
claims, the singular forms "a," "an" and "the" include plural referents unless
the context clearly
dictates otherwise.
[0034] Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the word
"comprise" and
variations of the word, such as "comprising" and "comprises," means "including
but not limited
to," and is not intended to exclude, for example, other additives, components,
integers or steps.
"Exemplary" means "an example of" and is not intended to convey an indication
of a preferred
or ideal embodiment. "Such as" is not used in a restrictive sense, but for
explanatory purposes.
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