CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63/196,621 , filed on June 3, 2021 , the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to straps, and more specifically to removable straps with connectors configured for insertion through expandable holes.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Straps attached to footwear or clothing or wearable items or other items are often fixedly attached, which may not permit replacement and/or customization.

SUMMARY

[0004] Embodiments of the present disclosure include an adjustable strap with connectors having push-through attachment features.

[0005] While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.

[0006] One or more embodiments may include a removable shoe strap configured to connect to an expandable hole in an upper portion of a shoe, the removable shoe strap comprising: a connector having an inside surface configured to contact at least a portion of an outside surface of the shoe surrounding the expandable hole; and a coupler extending from the inside surface of the connector, the coupler comprising: a first shoulder configured for insertion through the expandable hole, such that the first shoulder expands the expandable hole during insertion and the expandable hole returns to an unexpanded state after insertion, and a neck extending between the inside surface of the connector and the first shoulder, the neck having a first outer diameter adjacent the inside surface of the first connector and a second outer diameter adjacent the first shoulder, wherein the first outer diameter is larger than the second outer diameter; and a strap coupled to the connector, the connector and the coupler configured to impart a friction fit among the removable shoe strap and the outside surface of the shoe when secured through the expandable hole.

[0007] In one or more embodiments, the connector is a first connector, the coupler is a first coupler, the at least the portion of the outside surface of the shoe is at least a first portion of the outside surface of the shoe, the expandable hole is a first expandable hole, the neck is a first neck, the removable shoe strap further comprising: a first end comprising the first connector; a second end comprising: a second connector having an inside surface configured to contact at least a second portion of the outside surface of the shoe surrounding a second expandable hole in the upper portion of the shoe, and a second coupler extending from the inside surface of the second connector, the second coupler comprising: a second shoulder configured for insertion through the second expandable hole, and a second neck extending between the inside surface of the second connector and the second shoulder, the second neck having a third outer diameter adjacent the inside surface of the second connector and a fourth outer diameter adjacent the second shoulder, wherein the third outer diameter is larger than the fourth outer diameter; and wherein the strap is coupled to the second connector, the second connector and the second coupler are configured to impart a friction fit among the removable shoe strap and the outside surface of the shoe when secured through the second expandable hole.

[0008] In one or more embodiments, the shoe has a foot opening, and wherein the first expandable hole is located on a medial side of the foot opening and the second expandable hole is located on a lateral side of the foot opening. [0009] In one or more embodiments, an outer diameter of the neck of the coupler decreases in an axial direction from the first outer diameter toward the second outer diameter over at least a portion of the neck.

[0010] In one or more embodiments, the coupler is integrally formed with the connector. [0011] In one or more embodiments, the coupler is removably coupled to the connector.

[0012] In one or more embodiments, the connector comprises a hole, and wherein the coupler is configured to pass through the hole of the connecter. [0013] In one or more embodiments, the coupler further comprises a second shoulder opposite the first shoulder.

[0014] In one or more embodiments, the second shoulder is configured to contact an outer surface of the connector.

[0015] In one or more embodiments, the strap is removably coupled to the coupler.

[0016] In one or more embodiments, a first end of the removable shoe strap can be detached from the shoe to facilitate removal of the shoe from a foot. [0017] In one or more embodiments, a first end of the removable shoe strap can be detached from the shoe to facilitate replacement of the removable shoe strap with a different removable shoe strap.

[0018] In one or more embodiments, the shoe is a molded shoe, and wherein the expandable hole is formed by a stretchable material.

[0019] In one or more embodiments, an outer diameter of the first neck of the first coupler decreases in a first axial direction from the first outer diameter toward the second outer diameter over at least a portion of the neck, and wherein an outer diameter of the second neck of the second coupler decreases in a second axial direction from the third outer diameter toward the fourth outer diameter over at least a portion of the second neck.

[0020] In one or more embodiments, the first coupler is integrally formed with the first connector and the second coupler is integrally formed with the second connector.

[0021] In one or more embodiments, the first coupler is removably coupled to the first connector and the second coupler is removably coupled to the second connector.

[0022] In one or more embodiments, the first connector comprises a first hole and the second connecter comprises a second hole, and wherein the first coupler is configured to pass through the first hole of the first connecter and the second coupler is configured to pass through the second hole of the second connecter. [0023] In one or more embodiments, the first coupler further comprises a third shoulder opposite the first shoulder and the second coupler further comprises a fourth shoulder opposite the second shoulder.

[0024] In one or more embodiments, the third shoulder is configured to contact a first outer surface of the first connector and the fourth shoulder is configured to contact a second outer surface of the second connector.

[0025] In one or more embodiments, the strap is removably coupled to the first coupler and the second coupler.

[0026] In one or more embodiments, the first and second ends of the removable shoe strap can be detached from the shoe to facilitate removal of the shoe from a foot.

[0027] In one or more embodiments, a first end of the removable shoe strap can be detached from the shoe to facilitate replacement of the removable shoe strap with a different removable shoe strap.

[0028] In one or more embodiments, the shoe is a molded shoe, and wherein the first and second expandable holes are formed by a stretchable material. [0029] One or more embodiments may include a set of removable and interchangeable shoe straps, each of the removable and interchangeable shoe straps being the removable shoe strap described above.

[0030] One or more embodiments may include a system for attaching a strap system to an article having an expandable hole, the system comprising: a connector couplable to the strap system and having an inside surface configured to contact at least a portion of an outside surface of the article surrounding the expandable hole, and a coupler extending from the inside surface of the connector, the coupler comprising: a first shoulder configured for insertion through the expandable hole, such that the first shoulder expands the expandable hole during insertion and the expandable hole returns to an unexpanded state after insertion, and a neck extending between the inside surface of the connector and the first shoulder, the neck having a first outer diameter adjacent the inside surface of the connector and a second outer diameter adjacent the first shoulder, wherein the first outer diameter is larger than the second outer diameter; and wherein the connector and the coupler are configured to impart a friction fit among the system and the outside surface of the article when secured through the expandable hole.

[0031] In one or more embodiments, the connector is a first connector, the coupler is a first coupler, the at least the portion of the outside surface of the shoe is at least a first portion of the outside surface of the shoe, the expandable hole is a first expandable hole, the neck is a first neck, the system further comprising: a second connector couplable to the strap system and having an inside surface configured to contact at least a second portion of the outside surface of the article surrounding a second expandable hole in the article, and a second coupler extending from the inside surface of the second connector, the second coupler comprising: a second shoulder configured for insertion through the second hole, and a second neck extending between the inside surface of the second connector and the second shoulder, the second neck having a third outer diameter adjacent the inside surface of the second connector and a fourth outer diameter adjacent the second shoulder, wherein the third outer diameter is larger than the fourth outer diameter; and wherein the second connector and the second coupler are configured to impart a friction fit among the system and the outside surface of the article when secured through the second expandable hole.

[0032] In one or more embodiments, the outer diameter of the neck of the coupler decreases in an axial direction from the first outer diameter toward the second outer diameter over at least a portion of the neck.

[0033] In one or more embodiments, the coupler is integrally formed with the connector.

[0034] In one or more embodiments, the coupler is removably coupled to the connector.

[0035] In one or more embodiments, the connector comprises a hole, and wherein each of coupler is configured to pass through the hole of the connecter. [0036] In one or more embodiments, the coupler further comprises a second shoulder opposite the first shoulder.

[0037] In one or more embodiments, the second shoulder is configured to contact an outer surface of the connector.

[0038] In one or more embodiments, the strap is removably coupled to the coupler. [0039] In one or more embodiments, the article is a molded article, and wherein the expandable hole is formed by a stretchable material.

[0040] One or more embodiments may include a shoe comprising: an upper comprising an expandable hole; a removable shoe strap configured to connect to the upper of the shoe via expandable hole, the removable shoe strap comprising: a connector having an inside surface in contact with at least a portion of an outside surface of the upper surrounding the expandable hole, and a coupler extending from the inside surface of the first connector, the coupler comprising: a first shoulder passing through the expandable hole, and a neck extending between the inside surface of the connector and the first shoulder, the neck having a first outer diameter adjacent the inside surface of the connector and a second outer diameter adjacent the first shoulder, wherein the first outer diameter is larger than the second outer diameter; and a strap coupled to the connector, the connector and the coupler configured to impart a friction fit among the removable shoe strap and the outside surface of the shoe when secured through the expandable hole. [0041] In one or more embodiments, the connector is a first connector, the coupler is a first coupler, the at least the portion of the outside surface of the shoe is at least a first portion of the outside surface of the shoe, the expandable hole is a first expandable hole, the neck is a first neck, the removable shoe strap further comprising: a first end comprising the first connector; a second end comprising: a second connector having an inside surface configured to contact at least a second portion of the outside surface of the upper surrounding a second expandable hole in the upper of the shoe, and a second coupler extending from the inside surface of the second connector, the second coupler comprising: a second shoulder configured for insertion through the second expandable hole in the upper, and a second neck extending between the inside surface of the second connector and the second shoulder, the second neck having a third outer diameter adjacent the inside surface of the second connector and a fourth outer diameter adjacent the second shoulder, wherein the third outer diameter is larger than the fourth outer diameter; and wherein the strap is coupled to the second connector, the second connector and the second coupler are configured to impart a friction fit among the removable shoe strap and the outside surface of the upper when secured through the second expandable hole [0042] In one or more embodiments, the shoe may further comprise a foot opening, wherein the first expandable hole is located on a medial side of the foot opening and the second expandable hole is located on a lateral side of the foot opening.

[0043] In one or more embodiments, the outer diameter of the neck decreases in an axial direction from the first outer diameter toward the second outer diameter over at least a portion of the neck.

[0044] In one or more embodiments, the coupler is integrally formed with the connector.

[0045] In one or more embodiments, the coupler is removably coupled to the connector.

[0046] In one or more embodiments, the connector comprises a hole, and wherein the coupler passes through the hole of the connecter.

[0047] In one or more embodiments, the first coupler further comprises a second shoulder opposite the first shoulder.

[0048] In one or more embodiments, the second shoulder is configured to contact an outer surface of the connector.

[0049] In one or more embodiments, the strap is removably coupled to the coupler.

[0050] In one or more embodiments, a first end of the removable shoe strap can be detached from the upper to facilitate removal of the shoe from a foot. [0051] In one or more embodiments, a first end of the removable shoe strap can be detached from the upper to facilitate replacement of the removable shoe strap with a different removable shoe strap.

[0052] In one or more embodiments, the shoe is a molded shoe, and wherein the expandable hole is formed by a stretchable material.

[0053] One or more embodiments may include a set of removable and interchangeable shoe straps packaged with a shoe, each of the removable and interchangeable shoe straps being the removable shoe strap described above and the shoe being the shoe described above.

[0054]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0055] FIG. 1 illustrates a side perspective view of a shoe with a fixed heel strap.

[0056] FIG. 2 illustrates a strap system according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0057] FIG. 3 illustrates a shoe with strap connection holes configured to accept the strap system of FIG. 2, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0058] FIG. 4 illustrates a top plan view of the strap system of FIG. 2, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0059] FIG. 5 illustrates a cutaway partial cross sectional view of an end of the strap system of FIGS. 2 and 4 attached to the shoe of FIG. 3, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0060] While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are described in detail below. The intention, however, is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the invention and of the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0061] FIG. 1 illustrates a side perspective view of a shoe with an adjustable strap 20 in the form of a Classic All Terrain Clog sold by Crocs, Inc. of Broomfield, Colorado. Shoe 101 is a molded shoe with expandable holes 105. Holes 105 may also be flexible and/or stretchable holes, for example because they are formed via a foam molding process. While strap 20 may pivot or rotate about shoe 101 in the directions indicated by arrows 21 , 22, strap 20 is fixedly (e.g. permanently) attached to the shoe 101. It cannot be, or cannot easily be, removed from shoe 101 .

[0062] FIG. 2 illustrates a side perspective view of a strap system 200 according to embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 illustrates an example item with which strap system 200 may be employed, in the form of a shoe 101. Shoe 101 includes one or more holes 105 on the shoe upper 110. Shoe 101 may further include one or more holes 117 (which may be of a size and/or shape similar to or the same as holes 105, for example) formed in the upper 110 and configured to accept strap system 200. Shoe 101 may include one hole 117 on the lateral side as shown, and may also include a corresponding hole 117 on the medial side, and each hole 117 may, for example, accept one end of strap system 200 for removable attachment, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Hole 117 may extend into and/or through the upper 110, for example between outer surface 123 and inner surface 125 of upper 110. While shown as a circular hole 117, hole 117 may be formed in other regular, symmetrical, irregular, and asymmetrical shapes, for example an oval, a rectangle, a square, a diamond, a heart, a triangle, a star, a slit, and/or a cross, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0063] FIG. 4 illustrates a top plan view of strap system 200, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Strap system 200 includes a central member 113 which may be formed of a lofted foam (e.g. foam molded) material, and a connector 107 on each end. System 200 further includes adjustment mechanisms 109 interactable with the connectors 107 and the central member 113 to adjust the position of the system 200 relative to the user’s foot. The adjustment mechanism 109 may include a strip of material, for example a material different from the central member 113, that is connected to the central member 113 so as to have a pair of free ends that extend from the central member 113. These free ends of the adjustment mechanism 109 may pass through apertures 111 in the connectors 107 and fold back on themselves as shown in FIG. 4, for example at locations 115, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Once folded back on themselves, the attachment mechanism 109 may secure a position of the central member 113 with respect to connector 107 (or a length of the strap system between connector 107 and central member 113) for example with a hook-and-loop connection or some other fastening or securing connection. This releasable attachment of the adjustment mechanism 109 to itself after passing through aperture 111 may be used to adjust a length of one or both ends of the strap system 200, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, system 200 may include some or all of the structures and features discussed in U.S. Patent No. 7,146,751 , issued on December 12, 2006, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for all purposes.

[0064] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the strap system 200 is a traditional strap on one side (which may not be adjustable in length and/or may not be removably attached to the shoe 101 ) and is an adjustable and/or removable strap on the other side. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the strap system 200 is removable and replaceable, but not adjustable in length as described herein, and/or adjustable in length on only one side as described herein.

[0065] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the strap system 200 when attached to shoe 101 (e.g. the shoe 101 of FIG. 3) can rotate or pivot about the shoe 101 , for example as illustrated by arrows 21 , 22 with respect to the shoe 101 of FIG. 1 .

[0066] FIGS. 3-5 illustrate an example of how strap system 200 may be removably or detachably coupled with an item, for example shoe 101. One or both ends of strap system 200 includes a connector 107. Connector 107 may include one or more apertures, for example aperture 111 through which adjustment mechanism 109 passes. Connector 107 may also include a push- through coupler 100. Coupler 100 may include a first shoulder 102, a second shoulder 104, and a neck 106, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Flole 117 is expandable, flexible, and/or stretchable, for example by virtue of being formed in a molded material, for example a foam molded material. At least one dimension of hole 117, and in some cases all dimensions of hole 117, are smaller than an outer dimension or diameter of first shoulder 102, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. As such, to attach one end of strap system 200 to shoe 101 , the first shoulder 102 is inserted into hole 117 in the direction of arrow 140 of FIG. 5, such that the rigid or semi-rigid or relatively more rigid shoulder 102 and/or coupler 100 expands, stretches, and/or flexes the hole 117 so as to accommodate the passage therethrough of first shoulder 102 and all or part of neck 106. Once first shoulder 121 has been pushed through or past the inside edge of hole 117, the coupler 100 is secured to the upper 110 by virtue of the inside surface 121 contacting an inside surface 125 of upper 110 and/or by virtue of the inside surface 119 of connector 107 contacting an outside surface coupling of the coupler 100 to upper 110 compresses the upper 110 between first shoulder 102 and inside surface 119 of connector 107 to create a snug and/or friction fit coupling between connector 107 and/or coupler 100 on one hand and upper 110 on the other hand. The coupler 100 (and thus the strap end) may be removed from hole 117 by following a reverse process, for example by pulling the coupler 100 out of the hole 117 in a direction opposite to direction 140, thereby stretching, flexing, and/or deforming the hole 117 sufficiently to permit release of coupler 100 from hole 117. When the second end of the strap system 200 includes a similar connector 107 and/or coupler 100, it may be removably and detachably and reversibly coupled to and from the other hole 117 in a similar manner.

[0067] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the coupler 100 is fixed to the connector 107 such that the connector 107 neither rotates nor translates nor otherwise moves with respect to the coupler 100. In some cases, the coupler 100 and connector 107 are formed as one piece, for example formed integrally in the same molding step and/or adhered, welded, or fixedly attached together. According to other embodiments of the present disclosure, the coupler 100 interfaces with the connector 107 in a manner that permits rotation and/or translation of the coupler 100 with respect to the connector 107.

[0068] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the coupler 100 removably or detachably or reversibly couples to upper 110 in a manner that is similar to or the same as those structures and/or features described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0067641 , published on March 21 , 2013, and/or in U.S. Patent No. 7,698,836, issued on April 20, 2010, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties for all purposes.

[0069] Although strap system 200 may be removably and/or reversibly and/or detachably coupled with upper 110 of shoe 101 as described herein, strap system 200 may alternatively be removably and/or reversibly and/or detachably coupled with other items, including other wearable items, such as other straps, backpacks, bags, purses, wallets, clothing, consumer goods, and any other items that can benefit functionally and/or aesthetically from a strap. Such attachment may be accomplished by forming one or more holes in the item, for example one or more holes 117 in a stretchable, deformable, and/or flexible material portion of the item or article so as to permit the reversible acceptance of coupler 100, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0070] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a kit, combination, or system includes two or more strap systems 200, each with a unique color or color combination and/or material type, and optionally one or more articles such as a shoe to which the strap systems 200 may be removably coupled as described herein.

[0071] Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, while the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. For example, while the embodiments described above refer to particular steps, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of steps and embodiments that do not include all of the described steps. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.