Shoe Accessory and Method of Using the Same

Abstract

A shoelace accessory and method of using the same is characterized by a shoelace accessory that provides for one or more portions of material containing one or more grommets that may be fastened to one or more eyelets in a shoe, the shoelace accessory thereby replacing shoelaces in the shoe. In some embodiments, one or more joining and unjoining element, such as a zipper, may be provided in the shoe accessory's middle portion that may allow the shoe accessory to separate and create a gap that may accommodate the entry of a user's foot into the shoe, and that may allow the shoe accessory to close the gap and tighten the shoe accessory to the user's foot, thereby securing the shoe to the user's foot. When in use, the present invention may provide that the user may put on or take off a shoe with ease and safety, or otherwise perform tasks in a desired way.

Claims

1. A shoe accessory comprising: (a) a piece of material having at least one side; (b) one or more grommets aligned along the at least one side; and (c) one or more fasteners configured to removably connect a grommet to an eyelet in a shoe.

2. The shoe accessory of claim 1, wherein the piece of material has a first side, a second side, and a third side, and wherein one or more grommets are aligned along the first side and one or more grommets are aligned along the second side.

3. The shoe accessory of claim 2, further comprising a divide in the third side, the divide creating a first divide side and a second divide side, and wherein a joining and unjoining element is fixedly attached to the first divide side and second divide side.

4. The shoe accessory of claim 1, wherein said piece of material possesses stretch properties.

5. The shoe accessory of claim 2, wherein said piece of material possesses stretch properties.

6. The shoe accessory of claim 1, wherein said piece of material has a cutout element.

7. The shoe accessory of claim 2, wherein said piece of material has a cutout element.

8. The shoe accessory of claim 1, wherein the piece of material has a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side, and wherein the one or more grommets are aligned along the first side and the second side.

9. The shoe accessory of claim 8, wherein the third side is longer the fourth side.

10. The shoe accessory of claim 8, further comprising a divide in the third side, the divide creating a first third divide side and a second third divide side, and wherein a joining and unjoining element is fixedly attached to the first third divide side and second third divide side.

11. The shoe accessory of claim 8, further comprising a divide in the fourth side, the divide creating a first fourth divide side and a second fourth divide side, and wherein a joining and unjoining element is fixedly attached to the first fourth divide side and second fourth divide side.

12. The shoe accessory of claim 8, wherein said piece of material possesses stretch properties.

13. The shoe accessory of claim 8, wherein said piece of material has a cutout element.

14. A shoe accessory comprising: (a) a first piece of material having a top side, a bottom side, an inside side, and an outside side; (b) a second piece of material also having a top side, a bottom side, an inside side, and an outside side; (b) one or more grommets aligned along the first piece of material's outside side; (c) one or more grommets aligned along the second piece of material's outside side; (d) a joining and unjoining element fixedly attached to the first piece of material's inside side and the second piece of material's inside side; and (e) one or more fasteners configured to removably connect a grommet to an eyelet in a shoe.

15. A method of using a shoe accessory, including the steps of: providing a shoe, the shoe having an opening, the opening bounded by a first shoe side and a second shoe side, the first shoe side having one or more eyelets and the second shoe side also having one or more eyelets; providing a shoe accessory, wherein said shoe accessory comprises: (a) a piece of material having at least one side; (b) one or more grommets aligned along the at least one side; and (c) one or more fasteners configured to removably connect a grommet to an eyelet; aligning one or more grommets with one or more eyelets, thereby creating a one or more grommet-eyelet pairs; and removably attaching a fastener through each grommet-eyelet pair.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the shoe accessory comprises: (a) a piece of material having a first side, a second side, and a third side; (b) one or more grommets aligned along the first side; (c) one or more grommets aligned along the second side; and (c) one or more fasteners configured to removably connect a grommet to an eyelet;

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the shoe accessory comprises: (a) a piece of material having: (i) a first side; (ii) a second side; (iii) a third side; (iv) a divide in the third side, the divide having a first divide side and a second divide side; (b) one or more grommets aligned along said first side; (c) one or more grommets aligned along said second side; (d) one or more fasteners configured to removably connect a grommet to an eyelet; and (e) a joining and unjoining element fixedly attached to the first divide side and the second divide side.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the shoe accessory comprises: (a) a first piece of material having a first end, a second end, a first side and a second side; (b) a second piece of material having a first end, a second end, a first side and a second side; (c) a joining and unjoining element fixedly attached to said first piece of material's first side and said second piece of material's second side; (d) one or more grommets aligned along said first piece of material's second side; (e) one or more grommets aligned along said second piece of material's second side; and (f) one or more fasteners configured to removably connect a grommet to an eyelet.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the shoe accessory comprises: (a) a piece of material having: (i) a first side; (ii) a second side; (iii) a third side; (iv) a divide in the third side, the divide having a first divide side and a second divide side; (b) one or more grommets aligned along said first side; (c) one or more grommets aligned along said second side; (d) one or more fasteners configured to removably connect a grommet to an eyelet; and (e) a joining and unjoining element fixedly attached to the first divide side and the second divide side.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising: providing a foot; inserting the foot through the opening; and wearing the shoe.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] FIG. 1 shows a top plan view of an embodiment of a shoe accessory in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

[0041] FIG. 2 shows a bottom plan view of an embodiment of a shoe accessory in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a shoe accessory in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a shoe accessory in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary method that may be used in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] FIG. 6 shows a top plan view of an embodiment of a shoe accessory in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

[0046] FIG. 7 shows a top plan view of an embodiment of a shoe accessory in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

[0047] FIG. 8 shows a front-top perspective view of an embodiment of a shoe accessory in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

[0048] FIG. 9 shows a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of a shoe accessory in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

[0049] FIG. 10 shows a top perspective view of an embodiment of a shoe accessory in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention

[0050] For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the drawing figures illustrate the general manner of construction, and descriptions and details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention. Additionally, elements in the drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention. The same reference numerals in different figures denote the same elements.

[0051] The terms first, second, third, fourth, and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments described herein are, for example, capable of operation in sequences other than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. Furthermore, the terms include, and have, and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, system, article, device, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to those elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, system, article, device, or apparatus.

[0052] The terms couple, coupled, couples, coupling, and the like should be broadly understood and refer to connecting two or more elements or signals, electrically, mechanically or otherwise. Two or more electrical elements may be electrically coupled, but not mechanically or otherwise coupled; two or more mechanical elements may be mechanically coupled, but not electrically or otherwise coupled; two or more electrical elements may be mechanically coupled, but not electrically or otherwise coupled. Coupling (whether mechanical, electrical, or otherwise) may be for any length of time, e.g., permanent or semi-permanent or only for an instant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0053] Having summarized various aspects of the present disclosure, reference will now be made in detail to that which is illustrated in the drawings. While the disclosure will be described in connection with these drawings, there is no intent to limit it to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed herein. Rather, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents included within the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

[0054] With reference to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the present invention may comprise a first piece of material 102 having an outside side 101 and an inside side 103, a second piece of material 106 having an inside side 105 and an outside side 107, and a joining and unjoining element 104 also having a first side 109 and a second side 110. FIG. 1 also discloses that in some embodiments, first piece of material 102 and second piece of material 106 may each provide for one or more grommets 108.

[0055] Continuing with FIG. 1, in the embodiment shown, it is contemplated that grommets 108 may be configured within the present invention in such a way as to align with a shoe's eyelets 401 (not shown). In some embodiments, such alignment may provide that the present invention may rest on a shoe 403 either above or below a shoe's eyelets 401. In such an alignment, after being secured to the shoe via a fastener 301, the present invention may replace the functionality and/or the presence of shoelaces. In various embodiments, the portion of the present invention surrounding to the grommets may be one, two, or more pieces of material or other similar element compatible with the present invention.

[0056] With reference to FIG. 2, an embodiment of the present invention may comprise a first piece of material 102 having an outside side 101 and an inside side 103, a second piece of material 106 having an inside side 105 and an outside side 107, a joining and unjoining element 104 also having a first side 109 and a second side 110. FIG. 1 also provides that first piece of material 102 and second piece of material 106 each provide for one or more grommets 108. FIG. 2 also shows first stitching element 201 that secures joining and unjoining element 104 to first piece of material 102 at inside side 103, and second stitching element 202 to second piece of material 106 at inside side 105.

[0057] Continuing with FIG. 2, it is contemplated that the present invention's functionality, in the provided embodiment and in some others, is provided by a series of transfers of force. Because stitching elements 201 and 202 fixedly connect joining and unjoining element 104 with inside sides 101 and 105, when the joining and unjoining element is moved in such a way as to disconnect its two sides 109 and 110, two pieces of material 102 and 106 also move further away from each other. Conversely, when joining and unjoining element 104 is moved in the opposite direction, two pieces of material 102 and 106 move closer together, tightening the two sides of shoe 403, thereby creating the force holding shoe 403 against foot 503.

[0058] With reference to FIG. 3, a front perspective view of an embodiment of a shoe accessory in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is depicted. In the embodiment shown, first half of two-piece fastening elements 301 are inserted through grommets 108. As can be seen in FIG. 3, it is contemplated that the two pieces of fastening element 301 may be connected in such a way that one piece of fastener 301 rests against a grommet 108 and the other piece of fastener 301 rests against an eyelet 401 (not shown).

[0059] With respect to FIG. 4, a front perspective view of an embodiment of a shoe accessory in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is depicted. In the embodiment shown, first half of two-piece fastening elements 301 are inserted through grommets 108 (not shown) which are aligned underneath eyelets 401, and second-half of fastener 301 is inserted through eyelet 401. Although not shown, it is contemplated that when joined, the two halves of fastener 301 create a removable fastening element. It is contemplated that in certain embodiments, each grommet 108 of the present invention (not shown) may align with an eyelet 401 in a shoe 403, thereby creating a grommet-eyelet pairing through which a fastening element 301 may pass and which alignment the fastening element 301 may secure.

[0060] With respect to FIG. 5, an exemplary method that may be used in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is provided. In the embodiment depicted, a user may manipulate joining and unjoining element 104 so as to separate its two sides 109 and 110, allowing a foot 503 to be inserted into shoe 403. After the foot 503 is inserted, a user may manipulate joining and unjoining element 104 so as to bring its sides 109 and 110 together, thereby also bring first piece of material 102 and second piece of material 106 together, thereby securing shoe 403 against foot 503. The present invention is secured to the shoe 403 via fastening element 301.

[0061] With reference to FIG. 6, an embodiment of the present invention may comprise a single piece of material 601 having grommets 108. It is contemplated that in certain embodiments, properties of single piece of material 601 may provide for the force necessary to secure shoe 403 against foot 503. By way of illustration and not of limitation, one such property of single piece of material 601 is a stretch property, wherein single piece of material 601 may stretch to accommodate the entrance of foot 503 into shoe 403, then contract and create enough force to secure shoe 403 against foot 503.

[0062] With reference to FIG. 7, a front-planar view of an embodiment of the present invention is shown. In the embodiment depicted, a piece of material with opening 701 has an opening element 702, and grommets 108. It is contemplated that in certain embodiments, properties of piece of material with opening 701 in combination with opening element 702 may provide for the force necessary to secure shoe 403 against foot 503. By way of illustration and not of limitation, it is contemplated that in certain embodiments opening element 702 may allow piece of material with opening 701 to adjust its shape in such a way as to accommodate the entrance of foot 503 into shoe 403, then return to its original shape and create enough force to secure shoe 403 against foot 503.

[0063] FIG. 8 shows a top planar view of an embodiment of a shoe accessory in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment depicted, string-shaped fastening element 802 secures single-piece of material 601 to shoe 403 by looping through grommets 108 (not shown) and eyelets 401. It is contemplated that in alternate embodiments, string-shaped fastening element 802 may comprise several individual string-shaped elements.

[0064] With reference to FIG. 9, a bottom-perspective view an embodiment of the present invention is shown. In the embodiment depicted, a first piece of longer material 901 folded over a second piece of shorter material 902, the first piece of material having two rows of grommets 108 that may also extend through second piece of material 902.

[0065] Continuing with FIG. 9, it is contemplated that first piece of longer material 901 may resemble the configurations of single piece of material 601, piece of material with opening 701, the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2 which generally disclose an embodiment providing for first piece of material 102 and second piece of material 106, or any other compatible configuration of one, two, or more pieces of material with properties or configurations capable of supporting the present invention's functionalities.

[0066] With reference to FIG. 10, a top-perspective view an embodiment of the present invention is shown. FIG. 10 discloses that, in the embodiment shown, fastening elements either 301 or 802 (neither shown in FIG. 10) are concealed by first piece of longer material 901. Again, it is contemplated that first piece of longer material 901 may resemble the configurations of single piece of material 601, piece of material with opening 701, the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2 which generally disclose an embodiment providing for first piece of material 102 and second piece of material 106, or any other compatible configuration of one, two, or more pieces of material with properties or configurations capable of supporting the present invention's functionalities.

[0067] It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments are merely examples of possible implementations. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the principles of the present disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.

[0068] Moreover, embodiments and limitations disclosed herein are not dedicated to the public under the doctrine of dedication if the embodiments and/or limitations: (1) are not expressly claimed in the claims; and (2) are or are potentially equivalents of express elements and/or limitations in the claims under the doctrine of equivalents.

CONCLUSIONS, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

[0069] While certain embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, various modifications are contemplated and can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention not be limited, except as by the appended claim(s).

[0070] The teachings disclosed herein may be applied to other systems, and may not necessarily be limited to any described herein. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. All of the above patents and applications and other references, including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions and concepts of the various references described above to provide yet further embodiments of the invention.

[0071] Particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being refined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the shoe accessory and method of using the same with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be constructed to limit the garment and method of using the same to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification unless the above description section explicitly define such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the disclosed shoe accessory and method of using the same. The above description of embodiments of the shoe accessory and method of using the same is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the precise form disclosed above or to a particular field of usage.

[0072] While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the shoe accessory and method of using the same are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible for which those skilled in the relevant art will recognize.

[0073] While certain aspects of the shoe accessory and method of using the same are presented below in particular claim forms, various aspects of the shoe accessory and method of using the same are contemplated in any number of claim forms. Thus, the inventor reserves the right to add additional claims after filing the application to pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects of the garment and method of using the same.