Cross-Reference to Related Applications

This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Provisional Application No. 62/015,525, filed June 23, 2014, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of footwear, more particularly to footwear decoration.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Footwear, particularly shoes, is worn not only for protection against the environment but is also considered as a fashion accessory. Wearers of shoes in general and sports shoes in particular, decorate their shoes in various ways.

In some cases, the shoes require a special treatment during manufacture in order to enable their decoration by their users. For example, United States Patent No. 7,987,619 discloses a shoe provided with a writing surface; United States Patents No. 4,611,416 and 5,359,790 disclose shoes with window areas in which indicia or a display card may be inserted and visible; and United States Patent No. 4,697,362 discloses a shoe having a recess on the shoe sole to which indicia or labels are fastened by the user.

In other cases, the footwear decoration is removable. For example, United States Patent No. 5,566,477 discloses an interchangeable fashion panel for covering the shoelace of a gim shoe; and United States Patent No. 5,673,499 discloses a decorative element removably attached to a body of a footwear, when the decorative element may include a light emissive element; United States Patent No. 7,891,120 discloses a shoe cover that is removably attached to a shoe tongue, and may display advertisements or other fashionable designs.

None of the aforementioned publications discloses a footwear decoration as described herein. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following is intended to be a brief summary of the invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a footwear decoration, comprising a substrate sheet including a first side having either a decorative pattern or solid color appearance, and an opposite second side positioned adjacent to a surface of a footwear, wherein the opposite second side of the substrate sheet is marked with a panel comprising at least one cutting line for adapting the footwear decoration to various footwear shapes and sizes.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the footwear decoration is shaped to cover a portion of a tongue of a footwear.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the opposite second side of the substrate sheet of the footwear decoration is adapted to adhere to a surface of a footwear.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the opposite second side of the substrate sheet of the footwear decoration is adapted to removably adhere to a surface of a footwear.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of manufacturing footwear decorations comprising: (a) preparing substrate sheets including a first side having either a decorative pattern or solid color appearance, and an opposite second side positioned adjacent to a surface of a footwear, and (b) marking on the opposite second side of the substrate sheets a panel comprising at least one cutting line for adapting the footwear decorations to various footwear shapes and sizes.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the method of manufacturing footwear decorations further comprises between steps (a) and (b) a step of applying on the opposite second side of the substrate sheets an adhesive means adapted to adhere to a surface of a footwear.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the adhesive means that is applied on the opposite second side of the substrate sheets is adapted to removably adhere to a surface of the footwear.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a footwear decoration kit, comprising at least one footwear decoration, that comprises a substrate sheet including a first side having either a decorative pattern or solid color appearance, and an opposite second side positioned adjacent to a surface of a footwear, wherein the opposite second side of the substrate sheet is marked with a panel comprising at least one cutting line for adapting the footwear decoration to various footwear shapes and sizes.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the footwear decoration kit further comprises decoration supplies.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the footwear decoration kit further comprises instructions for use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a footwear decoration. Fig. 2 is a bottom view of an exemplary embodiment of a footwear decoration.

Fig. 3 is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a footwear decoration after adjustment of the footwear decoration to an area of a footwear surface by cutting along cutting lines.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a footwear decorated with an exemplary embodiment of a shoe decoration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are described below. In the interest of clarity, not all features/components of an actual implementation are necessarily described.

Embodiments of the invention relate to footwear decorations, methods of making and using such decorations and kits for shoe decoration.

One aim of the present invention is to provide a footwear decoration for changing the appearance of a footwear without the need to alter the footwear.

Another aim of the present invention is to provide a footwear decoration for changing the appearance of a footwear without the need to alter the footwear, or add any accessory to the footwear, during the manufacture of the footwear.

Yet another aim of the present invention is to provide a footwear decoration that is adjustable by the consumer of the footwear decoration to the various shapes and sizes of footwear.

A further aim of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing footwear decorations according to embodiments of the present invention.

Yet a further aim of the present invention is to provide a footwear decoration kit comprising at least one footwear decoration according to embodiments of the present invention.

The term "footwear" as used herein, refers to garments worn on the feet. Articles of footwear include, but not limited to, shoes, sports shoes, athletic shoes, sneakers, loafers, sandals, flip-flops and boots.

The term "upper" as used herein, refers to the upper part of a footwear that helps hold the footwear onto the foot. In open footwear, for example sandals or flip-flops, the upper comprises a few straps for holding the sole in place. Other types of footwear, for example closed shoes, sports shoes, athletic shoes, sneakers, loafers and boots, comprise a closed upper that covers the toes, the top of foot, the sides of the foot and the back of the heel. The upper is often decorated, or is made in a certain style to look attractive. Uppers may have a mechanism, such as straps with buckles, zippers, elastic hook and loop (commonly known as Velcro ^® ) fasteners, buttons, snaps or laces, for tightening the upper on the foot. Uppers with laces may have eyelets or hooks to make it easier to tighten and loosen the laces. The term "toe cap" as used herein, refers to a part of the upper that covers the toes.

The term "tongue" as used herein, refers to a strip that runs up the top center of the footwear and sits on the top part of the foot. A tongue is normally present in footwear having a mechanism for tightening the upper on the foot.

The terms "comprise", "include" and "have" and their conjugates as used herein refer to

"including but not necessarily limited to".

One aspect of the present invention relates to a footwear decoration adapted to be attached to a surface of a footwear. The footwear decoration comprises a substrate sheet, which may be made of any material known in the art such as leather, suede, textiles, cloth, gabardine, woven wool, rubber, plastic or the like.

Fig. 1 is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a footwear decoration 1, showing a first side 10 of the substrate sheet, which may have either a solid color appearance (not shown) or a decorative pattern 15, made by any method known in the art such as painting, embroidering, silkscreened or the like.

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of an exemplary embodiment of a footwear decoration 1, showing a second side 20 of the substrate sheet, which is opposite to the first side 10 of the substrate sheet.

The opposite second side 20 of the substrate sheet is adapted to be attached to a surface of a footwear. In one embodiment the footwear decoration 1 may be in any desired size and shape, and may be attached to any part of the surface of a footwear. In another embodiment, the footwear decoration 1 may be in a shape that corresponds to any part of the surface of a sports shoe, for example, but not limited to, Converse All Star® shoe. In another embodiment, the footwear decoration 1 may be in a shape that corresponds to a specific part of the surface of a footwear. In yet another embodiment the footwear decoration 1 may be in a shape that corresponds to a specific part of the surface of a sports shoe, for example, but not limited to, Converse All Star® shoe. In a preferred embodiment, the footwear decoration 1 may be in a shape that corresponds to a portion of the tongue between the toe cap and the pair of lacing eyelets proximal to the toe cap of a sports shoe, for example, but not limited to, Converse All Star® shoe.

Footwear is manufactured in various shapes and sizes. One aim of the present invention is to enable consumers of the footwear decoration 1 to adjust the footwear decoration 1 to the various shapes and sizes of footwear. Thus, in one embodiment, shown in Fig. 2, the opposite second side 20 of the substrate sheet of the footwear decoration 1, is marked with a panel 25 comprising at least one cutting line 27 for adapting the footwear decoration 1 to various footwear shapes and sizes. Before attaching the footwear decoration 1 to a surface of a footwear, the consumer may cut the footwear decoration 1 along the cutting lines 27 that correspond to the shape and size of the part of the footwear surface on which the consumer wishes to attach the footwear decoration 1. In another embodiment, the opposite second side 20 of the substrate sheet of the footwear decoration I, is marked with a panel 25 comprising at least one cutting line 27 in a shape that corresponds to a specific part of the surface of a sports shoe, for example, but not limited to, Converse All Star® shoe. The at least one cutting line 27 corresponds to a least one size of the shape. In a preferred embodiment, the panel 25 comprises at least one cutting line 27 in a shape that corresponds to a portion of the tongue between the toe cap and the pair of lacing eyelets proximal to the toe cap of a sports shoe.

Fig. 3 is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a footwear decoration 1 after adjustment of the footwear decoration 1 to an area of a footwear surface by cutting along cutting lines 27.

In one embodiment the footwear decoration 1 of the present invention is adapted to be attached to the surface of the footwear by any adhesive means known in the art, such as craft glue, cyanoacrylate adhesive, hot glue, pressure sensitive adhesive, contact adhesive, spray adhesive, fabric adhesive, epoxy, polyurethane adhesive, glue stick, or the like.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a footwear 4 decorated with an exemplary embodiment of a shoe decoration 1. After adjustment of the footwear decoration 1 to a specific shape and size of a part of the footwear surface 40, by cutting along the appropriate cutting lines 27, shown in Fig. 2, the footwear decoration 1 is attached to the surface 40 of the footwear 4, by any adhesive means known in the art.

In one embodiment, the consumer may apply an adhesive means to the opposite second side 20 of the substrate sheet of the footwear decoration 1, after cutting the footwear decoration 1 along the desired cutting lines 27, and then attach the footwear decoration 1 to the surface 40 of the footwear 4.

In another embodiment, an adhesive means may be applied to the opposite second side 20 of the substrate sheet of the footwear decoration 1 during manufacturing. Any adhesive means known in the art may be applied to the opposite second side 20 of the substrate sheet of the footwear decoration 1 during manufacturing, such as double coated tapes, or the like.

In a preferred embodiment, the adhesive means applied to the opposite second side 20 of the substrate sheet of the footwear decoration 1 during manufacturing is adapted to removably adhere to the surface of the footwear. This enables the consumer to remove a footwear decoration 1 attached to a footwear 4 and replace it with another footwear decoration 1 according to his desire. Examples of removable adhesive means to be applied to the opposite second side 20 of the substrate sheet of the footwear decoration 1 include but not limited to hook and loop fastener and removable double coated tapes. When using a hook and loop fastener, a first side of the hook and loop fastener, for example the hooks side, is attached to an opposite second side 20 of the substrate sheet of the footwear decoration 1, and a second side of the hook and loop fastener, for example the loops side, is attached to a desired area on the surface 40 of the footwear 4,. The consumer may then attach the footwear decoration 1 to the footwear 4 by attaching the first side of the hook and loop fastener, that is attached to a footwear decoration 1, to the second side of the hook and loop fastener, that is attached to a surface 40 of a footwear 4.

In another embodiment, a removable double coated tape is attached to the opposite second side 20 of the substrate sheet of the footwear decoration 1. Any removable double coated tape known in the art may be used, such as 3M™ Double Coated Tape with Adhesive 420, Catalog No. 94220, or the like. In this embodiment, the panel 25 of the at least one cutting line 27 may be marked directly on the coating sheet of the double coated tape that is exposed. Alternatively, a sheet, for example in the form of a sticker, on which the panel 25 of the at least one cutting line 27 is marked, may be attached to the coating sheet of the double coated tape that is exposed.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing footwear decorations 1, comprising the following steps:

(a) preparing substrate sheets including a first side 10 having either a decorative pattern or solid color appearance, and a second side 20, which is opposite to the first side 10 of the substrate sheets, and

(b) marking on the opposite second side 20 of the substrate sheets a panel 25 comprising at least one cutting line 27 for adapting the footwear decorations 1 to various footwear shapes and sizes.

In one embodiment, the footwear decorations 1 are shaped to cover a portion of a tongue of a footwear.

In another embodiment, the method of manufacturing footwear decorations 1 further comprises between step (a) and (b) a step of applying on the second side 20 of the substrate sheets an adhesive layer, adapted to adhere to a surface of a footwear. Any adhesive means known in the art may be applied to the opposite second side 20 of the substrate sheet of the footwear decoration 1, such as double coated tapes, or the like.

In another embodiment, the adhesive means applied to the opposite second side 20 of the substrate sheets of the footwear decorations 1 is adapted to removably adhere to the surface of the footwear. Examples of removable adhesive means to be applied to the opposite second side 20 of the substrate sheets of the footwear decorations 1 include but not limited to hook and loop fasteners and removable double coated tapes. When hook and loop fasteners are applied to the opposite second side 20 of the substrate sheets of the footwear decorations 1, a first side of the hook and loop fasteners, for example the hooks side, is attached to an opposite second side 20 of the substrate sheets of the footwear decorations 1, and a second side of the hook and loop fasteners, for example the loops side, that is to be attached to a desired area of a surface 40 of a footwear 4, is provided to the consumers together with the footwear decorations 1.

When removable double coated tapes are applied to the opposite second side 20 of the substrate sheets of the footwear decorations 1, any removable double coated tape known in the art may be used, such as 3M™ Double Coated Tape with Adhesive 420, Catalog No. 94220, or the like. In this embodiment, the panel 25 of the at least one cutting line 27 may be marked directly on the coating sheet of the double coated tape that is exposed. Alternatively, a sheet, for example in the form of a sticker, on which the panel 25 of the at least one cutting line 27 is marked, may be attached to the coating sheet of the double coated tape that is exposed.

Yet another aspect of the present invention relates to a footwear decoration kit, comprising at least one footwear decoration 1, that comprises a substrate sheet including a first side 10 having either a decorative pattern 15 or solid color appearance, and an opposite second side 20 positioned adjacent to a surface of a footwear, wherein the opposite second side 20 of the substrate sheet is marked with a panel 25 comprising at least one cutting line 27 for adapting the footwear decoration 1 to various footwear sizes.

In one embodiment, the footwear decoration kit comprises at least one footwear decoration

1 that is shaped to cover a portion of a tongue of a footwear 1.

In another embodiment, the footwear decoration kit comprises at least one footwear decoration 1, wherein the opposite second side 20 of the substrate sheet of the footwear decoration 1 is adapted to adhere to a surface of a footwear essentially as disclosed here.

In yet another embodiment, the footwear decoration kit comprises at least one footwear decoration 1, wherein the opposite second side 20 of the substrate sheet of the footwear decoration 1 is adapted to removably adhere to a surface of a footwear essentially as disclosed here.

In a further embodiment, the footwear decoration kit comprises decoration supplies, for example, but not limited to, paints, markers, threads, embroidery threads and sequins.

In yet a further embodiment, the footwear decoration kit comprises instructions for use, for example, but not limited to, instructions for adjusting the footwear decoration 1 to a specific part of a surface of a footwear by cutting along the appropriate cutting lines 27, and instructions for attaching the footwear decoration to a surface of a footwear.