REMOVABLE ADORNMENT

Abstract

An article of adornment for wear by a user wearing a shoe. The article of adornment has a pliable strip of material sized to extend over and around the dorsum of the user and under the sole of the shoe near the heel of the shoe, the strip of material having a length to width ratio of at least 15:1. Fixedly attached to the strip is a first mating element located on one end of the strip and multiple second mating elements located on the other end of the strip. The first mating element is adapted to engage in a releasably mating relationship with the multiple second mating elements thereby permitting the pliable strip of material to be adjusted into different sized loops. Also attached to the strip are decorative elements such as rhinestones, beads/pearls, lace, glass/crystal extending along a majority of the strip.

Claims

1. An article of adornment, for wear by a user wearing a shoe having a sole and a heel, the article of adornment comprising: a pliable strip of material sized to extend over and around the dorsum of the user and under the sole of the user's shoe near the heel of the shoe, the strip of material having a length and a width with a length to width ratio of at least 15:1; a first mating element fixedly located on one end of the strip and multiple second mating elements fixedly located on the other end of the strip, said first mating element adapted to engage in a releasably mating relationship with the multiple second mating elements and permitting said pliable strip of material to be adjusted into different sized loops; and decorative elements fixedly attached to the band along a majority of the strip.

2. An article of adornment according to claim 1, wherein said pliable strip of material is formed from clear plastic.

3. An article of adornment according to claim 2, wherein said clear plastic is thermo-polyurethane.

4. An article of adornment according to claim 1, wherein said pliable strip is between 320 mm and 420 mm long, between 8 mm and 12 mm wide, and between 0.3 mm and 0.5 mm thick.

5. An article of adornment according to claim 1, wherein said first mating element is a male snap, and said multiple second mating elements are female snap receivers.

6. An article of adornment according to claim 1, wherein said decorative elements extend between 50% and 80% of the length of the pliable strip.

7. An article of adornment according to claim 1, wherein said decorative elements comprise at least one of rhinestones, lace, beads, pearls, glass, and crystals.

8. A method of adorning a shoe and foot of a user, comprising: obtaining a first adornment comprising (a) a pliable strip of material sized to extend over and around the dorsum of the foot of the user and under the sole of the shoe of the user near the heel of the shoe, the strip of material having a length and a width with a length to width ratio of at least 15:1; (b) a first mating element fixedly located on one end of the strip and multiple second mating elements fixedly located on the other end of the strip, said first mating element adapted to engage in a releasably mating relationship with the multiple second mating elements and permitting said pliable strip of material to be adjusted into different sized loops; and (c) decorative elements fixedly attached to the band along a majority of the strip; mating the first mating element to a second mating element such that the first adornment snugly and comfortably engages the foot of the user; and locating the first adornment over the dorsum of the foot of the user and under the sole of the shoe of the user such that decorative elements extend over the dorsum of the user.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising: obtaining a second adornment substantially identical to the first adornment, mating the first and second mating elements of the second adornment such that the second adornment snugly and comfortably engages a second shoe and second foot of the user, and locating the second adornment over a dorsum of the second foot of the user and under the sole of the second shoe of the user such that the decorative elements of the second adornment extend over the dorsum of the second foot of the user.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The subject disclosure is further described in the detailed description which follows, in reference to the noted plurality of drawings by way of non-limiting examples of the subject disclosure, in which like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the feet of a user (wearer) wearing formal sandals and a first embodiment of an adornment strap.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a view of one of the adornment straps of FIG. 1 in a laid-out, flat (unworn) position.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a view of the female snap end of the adornment strap of FIG. 1.

[0015] FIG. 4 is a view of another embodiment of an adornment strap in a flat position.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a view of the male snap end of the adornment strap of FIG. 4.

[0017] FIG. 6 is a view of a portion of the adornment of the adornment strap of FIG. 4

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0018] The particulars shown herein are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the examples of the subject disclosure only and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the subject disclosure. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details in more detail than is necessary, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the subject disclosure may be embodied in practice. Furthermore, like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements.

[0019] Turning to FIG. 1, essentially identical adornments 100a and 1006 are seen adorning the feet 10a, 10b and shoes 20a, 20b of a user. The shoes 20a, 20b are women's sandals such as might be worn for formal or semi-formal occasions and each sandal include a sole 25, straps 26, and a heel 27. The adornments 100a and 100b are each shown extending over and around the dorsum 32 of each of the user's feet and under the soles 25 of the user's shoe near the heel 27 of the shoe.

[0020] Details of the adornments 100a, 100b are seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 and are described with respect to adornment 100a only for purposes of brevity. Adornment 100a comprises a flexible or pliable strip 140, which in one embodiment is between 320 mm and 420 mm long (between about 12.6 inches and 15.3 inches), between 8 mm and 12 mm wide (between about 0.3 inches and 0.5 inches), and between 0.3 mm and 0.5 mm thick (between about 0.01 and 0.02 inches). In embodiments, the strip 140 can be formed for a flexible or pliable clear polymeric material, such as a transparent or translucent thermos polyurethane or TPU, A first end 141 of strip 140 includes a first mating element 143 embodied in the form of a male snap. The male snap may be made of clear plastic so that it is not easily viewable. A second end 151 of strip 140 includes a plurality of second mating elements 153 embodied in the form of a series of female snap receivers as seen most clearly in FIG. 3. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, three snap receivers 153 made of clear plastic are linearly spaced near the end of the strip 140. With the plurality of snap receivers so arranged, it will be appreciated that the male snap 143 may be inserted into any of the female receivers 153 (as shown in FIG. 3) thereby permitting size adjustment of the adornment 100a (i.e., into different size loops) to the foot 10a (and shoe 20a) of the user. Adornment 100a also includes decorative elements 160 which in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 take the form of rhinestones arranged in a floral-type pattern. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, the rhinestones extend along about 70% of the entire strip 140, As shown in FIG. 2, the rhinestone pattern extends over the male snap 143, thereby effectively hiding the male snap 143.

[0021] It will be appreciated that the mating elements 143, 153, and the decorative elements 160 are attached to the strip 140 in any desired fashion such as by gluing, heat welding, or otherwise. Decorative elements 160 may take the form of a rhinestone transfer or other arrangements which may be attached as a unit to the strip 140.

[0022] In embodiments, the decorative elements 160 may take the form of one or more of rhinestones, lace/fabric, beads/pearls and crystals/glass.

[0023] In embodiments, the decorative elements 160 extend along between 50% and 80% of the length of the pliable strip 140, although they may extend 100% along the length of the pliable strip 140.

[0024] Turning now to FIGS. 4-6 another embodiment of an adornment strap 200 is seen. The adornment strap 200 can be worn on the feet of a user similar to the arrangement shown in FIG. 1. Adornment strap 200 comprises a flexible or pliable strip 240. In embodiments, the strip 240 can be formed for a flexible or pliable clear polymeric material, such as a transparent or translucent thermos polyurethane or TPU. A first end 241 of strip 240 includes a first mating element 243 embodied in the form of a male snap (seen best in FIG. 5) made of clear plastic so that it is not easily viewable. A second end 251 of strip 240 includes a plurality of second mating elements 253 embodied in the form of a series of female snap receivers as seen most clearly in FIG. 4. The three snap receivers 253 are made of clear plastic and are linearly spaced near the end of the strip 240. Adornment 200 also includes decorative elements 260 which take the form of a combination of lace 260a, rhinestones 260b and pearl/beads 260c arranged in a decorative pattern. The decorative pattern takes the form of six connected ovals with the first and last (end) ovals being smaller in width and length then the other ovals. The first and last ovals are shown as being comprised of a lace pattern only, with the male connector 243 coupled to the underside of the last oval (see FIG. 5). In the embodiment of FIGS. 4-6, the decorative element 260 extends along about 60% of the entire strip 240.

[0025] In embodiments, for children the strip 240 is shorter than for adults, optionally slightly narrower, but typically of the same thickness.

[0026] In embodiments, the overall decorative pattern of the decorative elements 260 is wider than the strip 240 and effectively hides the strip 240. For example, in the embodiment of FIGS. 4-6, strip 240 may be approximately 10 mm wide, and the decorative elements 260 may extend to a width or approximately 15 mm.

[0027] It will be appreciated, that while not required, the adornments may be sold in matching sets of two.

[0028] In embodiments, the length to width ratio of the strips 140, 240 will be at least 15:1, and may be between 20:1 and 50:1.

[0029] The adornment straps of FIGS. 1-3 and 4-6 may be used as follows. The strap may be taken by a user/wearer and placed over a foot and shoe with the decorative elements extending over the dorsum of the foot and with the strip extending under the sole of the shoe and back to the decorative elements so that at least one the second mating elements is adjacent and facing the first mating element. With the strap snugly but comfortably engaging the foot (and shoe), the male mating element is snapped into an adjacent female element thereby forming a band of desirable and comfortable size, with decorative elements extending across the dorsum of the user. In short, the adornment may be considered an adjustable adorned strap adapted for use on and around the foot and shoe of a user. When removal of the adornment is desired, the male and female mating elements are pulled apart, and the adornment is released.

[0030] For purposes herein, it will be appreciated that the words “snug” and “snugly” are to be understood to mean that the strap engages the foot and shoe such that it will not readily slip off of the foot and shoe. Likewise, the word “comfortably” is to mean that the strap, when snugly engaged, will not stop circulation to the foot of the user.

[0031] It will also be appreciated that the decorative elements of the adornment need not necessarily be located towards one end of the strip such that the decorative elements extend over the male snap element. Rather, the decorative elements may be in the middle and during use, the snaps can be activated over the dorsum of the foot and with the strap snapped, the adornment may then be rotated to a desired position with the snaps located under the sole of the shoe and the decorative elements located over the dorsum.

[0032] There have been described and illustrated herein several embodiments of a shoe/foot adornment and methods of fabricating and using such article. While particular embodiments have been described, it is not intended that the invention be limited thereto, as it is intended that the invention be as broad in scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise. Thus, while particular materials for strips, engagement elements and decorative elements have been described, it will be appreciated that other materials could be used. For example, the strips need not be plastic (e.g., they could be formed foil or other thin metal) provided they are flexible. Similarly, the engagement elements need not be snaps, as a hook and loop (e.g., Velcro) system could be utilized. Further, the decorative element need not include rhinestones, lace or beads/pearls, as they may be formed from glass, crystal, fabric, etc., or even semi-precious or precious metals or stones. Further yet, while particular dimensions have been disclosed, it will be appreciated that adornments of different sizes are included. Thus, smaller adornments would be used for children. It will therefore be appreciated by those skilled in the art that yet other modifications could be made to the provided invention without deviating from its spirit and scope as claimed.