TO IMPLEMENT SUCH A METHOD

DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure generally relates to the field of accessories for clothing and more in particular of footwear.

It is usually known that users having particular problems of conformation of the feet need "made-to-measure" shoes, which are cut and sewn to fit, as much as possible, to the shape of the foot so as to allow a proper fit.

In order to satisfy this need, a user having particular problems of conformation of the feet is forced to buy personalized shoes, one for every use, for example for sporting practice or for elegant use, or even different shoes for different seasons. However, the creation of "made-to-measure" shoes is very costly, and it is often prohibitive for a user.

Starting from this drawback, at the basis of the present disclosure, there is a recognition by the inventor of the present disclosure that it is possible to use one single footwear, for example a "made-to-measure" footwear, and to change or to transform the appearance of the footwear, as desired, according to necessity, or for pleasure, by means of an accessory which is arranged on the footwear, and which is able to transform the appearance and/or the function of the footwear, in order to confer to the footwear new or different characteristics in terms of appearance and/or of function with respect to the original characteristics of the footwear.

Based on this recognition, the above-mentioned drawback is solved by a method according to claim 1 , by an accessory for footwear, as defined in independent claim 2 and by a shoe including an accessory as defined in claim 13. Secondary characteristics of the object of the present disclosure are defined in the corresponding dependent claims.

At the basis of this disclosure there is the idea of transforming the aspect of a footwear, which can be a "made-to-measure" footwear, without high costs, by applying a moldable panel that can be molded and shaped on the footwear, in a harmonious way without, or at least low, formation of folds, ruffles or similar imperfections which would prevent the panel from adhering on the footwear. Furthermore, at the basis of the present disclosure, there is the idea to revolutionize a traditional concept of footwear, understood as article of clothing designed a priori for a specific and targeted purpose of use, such as sporting use, elegant use, protective use from cold, etc. .., and further there is the idea of providing the option of changing the functionality and appearance of the shoe by way of an accessory having a controlled preforming. In particular, the method according to the present disclosure provides controlling a preforming of the panel, so that, when it is placed on a shoe, the accessory appears to have a natural adherence on the footwear.

Consequently a user, who, for example, already possesses a shoe, can then buy one or more accessories, wherein each of these accessories can adhere to the footwear to follow, without alteration, the shape/outline of footwear, such that the accessory appears to be like an item originally designed and developed specifically for that footwear of the user.

In particular, the inventor of the present disclosure has found that the presence of cuts provided in appropriate locations on the edge of the panel allows to obtain an effective control on the preforming of the panel, and then to obtain the aforementioned effect of natural adherence on the footwear. More in particular, the preforming can be controlled by the provision of at least two cuts.

With the expression "control of the preforming" or the expression "controlled preforming" it is meant, in the context of the present disclosure, the possibility to control the curvature of the panel when the panel is fitted on the footwear, and the possibility, as said, to eliminate, or greatly reduce, any formation of pleats, ruffles or similar imperfections which would prevent the panel from adhering on the footwear.

It follows that the accessory according to the present disclosure allows to transform a shoe in a aesthetically appreciable manner, for example a "made-to-measure" footwear, in order to substantially obtain another shoe. In fact, for example, a shoe as a woman's shoe decollete can be equipped with an accessory in a material suitable for the protection from cold, for example made of sheepskin or fur, which allows to transform said woman's shoe in women's winter decollete and/or boots. In another example, the woman's shoe decollete, which is normally a linear shoe devoid of ornament, suitable, for example, for use in a work environment, can be transformed, by means of another accessory according to the present disclosure, in a embellished fine shoe.

In a further embodiment, the footwear can be transformed by means of an accessory according to the present disclosure, in a boot, or in shoe having the aspect of a men's shoe.

Further, by means of an accessory according of the present disclosure, still a sandal can be personalized and transformed, into a sandal of different appearance or functionality. A user can be provided with an assortment of accessories of various styles and appearance, and select any accessory to be used.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the control of the preforming can be increased by means of additional expedients, such as for example the proviso of a reinforcing frame, which is also formable and moldable, and which is located at least in part along the perimeter of the panel, and/or the preparation of appropriate curvilinear profiles that correspond to the shape/curvature of a shoe with which the accessory according to the present disclosure is adapted to be associated. Additionally, to improve adherence, a range of accessories of different sizes can be provided, wherein the differences between these sizes are based on the following parameters: height of the heel, instep height, width and height of the leg of the calf. Other advantages, characteristics and methods of use of the object of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description of some of its preferred embodiments, given by way of example and not of limitation. However, it is evident how each embodiment can exhibit one or more of the advantages listed above, but in any case is not however required that each embodiment provides simultaneously all the advantages listed.

Reference will be made to the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figures 1 -12 and 13C-13D show respective embodiments of an accessory according to the present disclosure to implement a method according to the present disclosure;

- Figure 13 shows a view of an accessory for a shoe according to the present disclosure in a relaxed state;

- Figures 1A, 13A-13B show respective views of an appendix element able to be associated to a panel of the accessory according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

- Figure 14 shows a sectional view along the line ll-ll of Figure 13;

- Figure 15 shows a sectional view along the line Ill-Ill of Figure 13; - Figure 16 shows a side view of a shoe according to the present disclosure;

- Figure 17 shows a rear view of a shoe according to the present disclosure;

- Figure 18 shows a view of an accessory for a shoe according to the present disclosure in a relaxed state;

- Figure 19 shows a side view of a shoe according to the present disclosure; and - Figure 20 shows a rear view of a shoe according to the present disclosure.

With reference to the attached figures, it is described a method for transforming the appearance of a shoe 3. The method involves a) providing a panel 2, 102 made of moldable material and suitable for covering a shoe,

b) locating a front portion 4, 104 of the panel 2, 102 facing toward a frontal zone 5 of the shoe 3,

c) connecting, or put into contact, a right-hand side portion 7, 107 and a left-hand side portion 8, 108 of the panel 2, 102, respectively located on the right and left sides of said front portion 4, 104 to define, with said front portion 4, 104, a closed structure that can embrace or encircle the shoe;

d) joining or engaging, below the shoe 3, a right-hand strap element 10, 1 10 protruding from the panel 2, 102 between said front portion 4, 104 and said right- hand side portion 7, 107 and a left-hand strap element 1 1 , 1 1 1 protruding from the panel 2, 102 between said front portion 4, 104 and said left-hand side portion 8, 108,

e) wherein, for making the panel 2, 102 adherent on the footwear 3, a preforming of the panel 2, 102 is controlled by way of a first cut 15a, 1 15a interposed between the left-hand strap element 1 1 , 1 1 1 and the front portion 4, 104, and by way of a second cut 16a 1 16a interposed between the right-hand strap element 10, 1 10 and the front portion 4, 104.

In the illustrated example, by way of example, the accessory 1 , 101 comprises at least one third cut 15c, 1 15c located in the left-hand side portion 8, 108 adjacent to, or at the basis, of said left-hand strap element 1 1 , 1 1 1 and a fourth cut 16c, 1 16c located in the right-hand side portion 7, 107 adjacent to, or at the basis of said right-hand strap element 10, 1 10.

The method thus obtained can allow to transform the shoe 3, without altering the shape or outline of the shoe.

In Figures 1 -12 a plurality of accessories mounted on the shoes are shown, in order to highlight the multiplicity and richness of aesthetic effects that can be obtained through the method according to the present disclosure. It may be understood in particular that countless accessories can be made according to the present disclosure, wherein all of the accessories can be placed on the same shoe transforming its appearance. The appearance is to be construed both as the aesthetic and decorative effect/aspect of the shoe, and as the model or function of the shoe (men's shoe, boot, brogues model).

For example, in Figures 13C-13D it is shown an accessory which is substantially band-shaped and used to decorate or adorn the shoe 3. Additionally, the accessories shown in the figures may be ennobled and customized with additional decorative elements.

For example, in an illustrative and non-limiting example, in the illustrated embodiments, to further customize the accessory shoe 1 , 101 , the accessory shoe 1 , 101 can also include appendix elements 4a, 4b provided with fringes, visible in Figures 1A, 13A-13B, which may be optionally joined to the panel 2, 102 in the frontal zone 4, 104, in order to vary the overall length of the accessory 1 , 101 .

The method described above can be implemented, by way of example, by means of an accessory, which can be the one illustrated below with reference to Figures 13-20.

In particular, from a constructive point of view, in Figures 13-20, reference number 1 , 101 indicates an accessory for a shoe according to the present disclosure comprising a moldable panel 2, 102, for example in soft and flexible material, which can be, for example, a fabric, a suitably fine soft leather, a jeans suitably worked or similar material for footwear, or combinations thereof. Panel 2, 102 partially covers the shoe 3, and more particularly it covers an upper of the shoe 3.

In the following description, the accessory 1 , 101 is described with particular reference to a condition worn as that visible in the figures. For ease of exposition, any spatial reference or indication in the present description and in the subsequent claims, such as for example "right", "left", "front", "rear" and similar indications, should be understood by way of example with reference to this worn condition, and cannot be construed in a limiting manner.

In particular, the embodiments of shoe accessory 1 and shoe accessory 101 include common basic features and are distinguished by the number of pieces that define the panel, as it will be described below.

The common features are the following.

The panel 2, 102 comprises at least a front portion 4, 104, which is facing a corresponding front portion 5 of the shoe 3.

The panel 2, 102 also includes a right-hand side portion 7, 107 and a left-hand side portion 8, 108.

The right-hand side portion 7, 107 and the left-hand side portion 8, 108 are respectively located on the right-hand side and left-hand side of the front portion 4, 104 and are put in contact with each other to define, with said front portion 4, 104, a substantially tubular and laterally closed structure.

In particular, in the embodiments illustrated in the drawings the right-hand side portion 7, 107 and the left-hand side portion 8, 108 are connected in the rear region 18, 1 18 of the shoe and define, with the front portion 4, 104, a substantially tubular closed structure that encircles the shoe 3.

Even more particularly, for illustration purposes only, in the embodiment, the accessory 1 , 101 is suitable for transforming the shoe in a boot, and includes an upper portion 19, 1 19 or leg portion, connected in one piece to the panel 2, 102, and provided with a zip closure 29, 129.

Without the upper portion 19, 1 19, the accessory 1 , 101 can be used to obtain an ankle boot as shown, for example, in Figures 5 and 10, or for a shoe similar to a men's shoe. The upper portion 19, 1 19 can be provided with horizontally arranged zip closures to vary the height of the upper portion.

The accessory 1 , 101 further comprises a right-hand strap element 10, 1 10 interposed between the front portion 4, 104 and the right-hand side portion 7, 107 and a left-hand strap element 1 1 , 1 1 1 interposed between the front portion 4 , 104 and said left-hand side portion 8, 108.

The right-hand strap element 10, 1 10 and the left-hand strap element 1 1 , 1 1 1 protrude laterally from the panel 1 , 101 and are adapted to be connected to each other, in particular below the shoe 3, in a zone 6 in front of the heel. The connection between the right-hand strap element 10, 1 10 and the left-hand strap element 1 1 , 1 1 1 is obtained for example by means of a magnet.

It should be noted that two strap elements can be located on each side, so as to obtain two engagements.

The use of the magnet may be advantageous to obtain a quick and comfortable coupling below the shoe, even when the shoe is worn. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the accessory shoe 1 , 101 comprises at least a first cut 15a, 1 15a made in an edge of the panel 2, 102 interposed between said front portion 4, 104 and the left-hand strap element 1 1 , 1 1 1 and at least a second cut 16a, 1 16a made in an edge of the panel 2, 102 between said front portion 4, 104 and said right-hand strap element 10, 1 10. The first cut 15a, 1 15a and second cuts 16a, 1 16th allow, when the strap elements 10, 1 10, 1 1 , 1 1 1 are coupled together, to adjust the height of the panel 2, 102 in the aforesaid closed tubular structure, adapting it to the height of the instep, and maintain the front portion 4, 104 stable on the footwear 3. By way of illustration and example, in some models, the accessory shoe 1 , 101 further comprises at least one third cut 15c, 1 15c located in the left-hand side portion 8, 108 adjacent to, or at the basis, of said left-hand strap element 1 1 , 1 1 1 and a fourth cut 16c, 1 16c located in the right-hand side portion 7, 107 adjacent to, or at the basis of said right-hand strap element 10, 1 10. The third cut 15c, 1 15c and the fourth cut 16c, 1 16c allow to coordinate rotational movements of the panel in accordance with movements of the foot wearing the shoe 3.

The accessory shoe 1 , 101 further comprises at least one fifth cut 15b, 1 15b located adjacent to, or at the basis, of said left-hand strap element 1 1 , 1 1 1 , between the left-hand strap element 1 1 , 1 1 1 and the front portion 4, 104 and a sixth cut 16b, 1 16b located adjacent to, or at the basis of said right-hand strap element 10, 1 10 between the right-hand strap element 10, 1 10 and the front portion 4, 104. The fifth cut 15b, 1 15b and the sixth cut 16b, 1 16b further allow, when the strap elements 10, 1 10, 1 1 , 1 1 1 are coupled together, to adjust the height of the panel 2, 102 in the aforesaid closed tubular structure and to hold the panel fitting on the footwear.

Moreover, by way of non-limiting example, in the illustrated embodiments, to further control the preforming of the accessory for shoe 1 , 101 on the footwear 3, the shoe accessory 1 , 101 comprises at least a seventh cut 20, 120 formed on an edge of the left-hand side portion 8, 108 in said rear area 18, 1 18 and an eighth cut 21 , 121 placed on an edge of the right-hand side portion 7, 107, in said rear area 18, 1 18.

Preferably in the embodiments illustrated, each cut 15a, 1 15a, 15b, 1 15b, 15c, 1 15c, 16a, 1 16a, 16b, 1 16b, 16c, 1 16c, 20, 120, 21 , 121 is made elastic, for example by means of a respective elastic insert.

Additionally, it is noteworthy that a differentiation can be provided between an accessory 1 , 101 for the right-hand shoe and an accessory 1 , 101 for the left-hand shoe. This differentiation can be based on the aperture of the cuts 15a, 1 15a, 15b, 1 15b, 15c, 1 15c, 16a, 1 16a, 16b, 1 16b, 16c, 1 16c, 20, 120, 21 , 121 . The cuts of the inner side of the accessory, that, in these examples, is the left-hand side, are wider, or loose, than the cuts of outer side, that is to say, in the present examples, the right-hand zone.

Moreover, by way of non-limiting example, in the illustrated embodiments, to further control the preforming of the accessory for shoe 1 , 101 on the footwear 3, the shoe accessory 1 , 101 comprises at least one reinforcing frame comprising a band element 12, 1 12 moldable and deformable, placed along at least a portion of the perimeter of said panel 1 , 101 . The band element 12, 1 12 is adapted to be shaped in a stable manner to take the external shape of the shoe 3, or more precisely of the upper of the shoe 3 and confer to the panel 2, 102 a shape corresponding to the shape of the shoe 3.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the band element 12, 1 12 is placed along the front portion 4, 104, the right-hand side portion 7, 107 and the left-hand side portion 8, 108, until a respective junction or contact area in the rear area 18, 1 18. The band element 12, 1 12 can be made of any material that is, at the same time, reinforcing and deformable and moldable, such as for example copper, PVC or similar material, which can be modeled by hand by a user and that maintain a stable condition in a molded or shaped state.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the band element 12, 1 12 is slidingly inserted in a channel 13, 1 13 through appropriate lapels and seams in the respective peripheral zones of the panel 2, 102. The channel can be completely closed to completely hide the band element, or it can present openings to allow viewing of the element band. Additionally, the band element can be inserted inside a liner, between the latter and an outer surface of the panel 2, 102.

The sliding arrangement of the element to band 12, 1 12 facilitates shaping and adaptation of the element to band 12, 1 12 on the footwear 3, and does not hinder the movement of the foot during use of the shoe 3.

Moreover, by way of non-limiting example, in the illustrated embodiments, to further control the preforming of the accessory for shoe 1 , 101 on the footwear 3, the shoe accessory 1 , 101 is shaped so as to comprise two curvilinear profiles, in particular, a first curvilinear profile P1 , P1 ' in the front zone of the shoe at the foot instep, and a second curvilinear profile P2, P2' in a rear area 18, 1 18, corresponding to the zone of connection between the heel and the calf.

To obtain these curvilinear profiles, in a first embodiment illustrated in Figures 13- 17, the panel 2 includes three pieces 30, 31 , 32, suitably shaped and connected along the respective edges, wherein a first piece 30 is arranged at the center of the panel 2 and includes the front portion 4, and wherein the remaining two pieces 31 , 32 are located at the left-hand and right-hand sides of the first piece 30, and respectively include the the right-hand side portion 7 and the left-hand side portion 8.

It is noted that the use of three pieces allows to give room to creativity, through the use, for example, of at least two colors, wherein one color is used on the first piece and another color is used on the other two pieces.

In a second embodiment illustrated in Figures 18-20, the panel 101 includes two pieces 130, 131 suitably shaped and connected along the respective edges. In particular, the two pieces 130, 131 are joined by a seam or central area of union 133, in which a right-hand piece 130 includes the right-hand side portion 107 and part of the front portion 104, and a left-hand piece 131 includes the left-hand side portion 108 and a remaining part of said front portion 104.

The object of the present disclosure has been here described with reference to preferred embodiments. It is to be understood that there may be other embodiments afferent to the same inventive concept, all falling within the protective scope of the claims hereinafter appended.