BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a new and improved fashionable shoe accessory device developed to help children reach an important developmental milestone achieved by successfully learning how to tie their own shoelaces, by themselves, into a tied bow formation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF INVENTION
It is well known that most children are very literal in their understanding of the world, often up through approximately age 12. The “bunny ears” method of shoe tying shoelaces, and the narrative of making bunny ears when tying shoelaces, was developed many years ago and has since been proposed by many world over when teaching children to tie their shoelaces. U.S. Pat. No. 5,110,296 to Cohen, U.S. Pat. No. 9,254,019 to Sloan, and US Patent Application No. US2014/0308641A to Tebben et al, and other Patent Publications and technical publications, disclose various prior art bunny ears methods which are intended to help children learn how to tie their shoelaces.
However, it is believed that because conventional methods of tying shoelaces using the bunny ear method have been quite abstract and not engaging, especially for young children and children with special learning needs, the task of learning to tie shoelaces by themselves has been a tricky and frustrating exercise for many children using prior art devices and methods.
Also, in recent years, occupational therapists have noted that forming pinched loops and holding the loops in place while further manipulating those loops into a bow formation, is an especially challenging task for children having special needs. Conventional shoelace tying aids have not addressed such issues in the human population.
Therefore, there is a great unfulfilled need for new and improved devices that will enable children of all ages to quickly learn how to tie their shoelaces and become more autonomous and confident by developing such valuable life skills, and reaching an important developmental milestone, while simultaneously expressing one's personal style and identity, and avoiding the shortcoming and drawbacks of prior art methods and apparatus.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and improved fashionable shoe accessory device that helps children quickly reach an important developmental milestone achieved by successfully learning how to tie their own shoelaces, by themselves, into a tied bow formation, while avoiding the shortcomings and drawbacks of conventional procedures and apparatus.
Another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved fashionable shoe accessory device that attaches directly to the top of a child's shoe through lacing and weaving, and wherein the device assists the child by acting as a loop holder, keeping the shoelace loops pinched in place, so the child can focus on the mechanics of how to manipulate the shoelace loops into a bow formation, while the device allows the child to build skills and autonomy, while reducing frustration, which enables the child to become more independent and self-reliant.
Another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved fashionable shoe accessory device that takes an abstract narrative of disembodied “bunny ears” and puts a literal face to the ears, and by transforming the narrative of tying shoelaces more concrete, the child is more engaged and motivated to learn the tricky task of shoelace tying by themselves.
Another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved fashionable shoe accessory device, and method of using the same, for the purpose of teaching children how to tie their shoelaces using a bunny ear method is more concrete by virtue of the fact that the method involves constructing the entire bunny face (i.e. ears, nose etc.), which is more engaging especially for young children and children with special learning needs, who otherwise might find the task of learning to tie shoelaces by themselves, as a very tricky and frustrating exercise.
Another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved fashionable shoe accessory device, and method of using the same, for the purpose of teaching children how to tie their shoelaces using a bunny ear method is easier for children of all ages to quickly learn how to practice, and become more autonomous and confident by developing valuable life skills, reaching an important developmental milestone, while simultaneously expressing one's personal style and identity.
Another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved fashionable shoe accessory device comprising a kit that includes a pair of flexible patterned piece of material (FPPM) made from leather, cotton, synthetic, and/or other materials and a pair of standard shoelaces, or a set of starter shoelaces designed to help children to learn to tie laces broken up into two differing patterns, wherein a pair of color patterns is provided for indicating the “ears”, and a second solid color block is provided for indicating facial features such as the “nose” and/or “eyes”, to further illustrate the mechanics of bow tying while learning to tie one's own shoelaces.
Another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved fashionable shoe accessory device which, when assembled with a pair of shoelaces and supported on a child's pair of shoes as a fashionable shoe accessory, resembles and represents a pair of animal characters mounted on top of the child's shoes.
Another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved fashionable shoe accessory device, for use with a novel method of tying shoelaces on a pair of children's shoes, comprising the steps involving the child user weaving a shoelace through the flexible planar piece of patterned material, then through the shoe's eyelets, and thereafter, the user weaves the shoelace through the patterned piece of material so as to create one or more of the facial features of a predetermined character, namely the “ears” and sometimes the “nose” and/or “eyes”, as well as other features depending on the specific design of the individual character, that delightfully brings the character to life.
Another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved fashionable shoe accessory device, for use with a novel method of tying shoelaces on a pair of children's shoes, wherein the “ears” on the character represented by the shoe accessory device serve as loop holders, which typically take a great deal of coordination for a child to hold in place and further manipulate into a bow, and wherein the child takes the pinched, looped “ears” of the character and crosses the “ears” in an X-formation, wrapping around and pushing one of the “ears” through, and then pulling both “ears” firmly to create the bow, and completing the bow formation, continuing by weaving the shoelace through preformed holes in the patterned piece of planar material to realize or construct the “nose” portion of the character, and possibly other facial features of the character as may be enabled by the character design.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved fashionable footwear accessory device for use with a shoelace passed through the eyelets of an article of footwear, in such a manner that when mounted to the article of footwear, wherein the fashionable footwear accessory device resembles an animated character, fictional or real in nature, that is mounted on top of the article of footwear, said fashionable footwear accessory device comprises a flexible patterned material piece having two spaced-apart pairs of pre-formed holes for forming an aminated character's ears, and wherein the face of the animated character is completed when the shoelace is weaved through the holes of the flexible patterned material piece and tied together to form an appearance of the animated character's ears.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved fashionable footwear accessory device for use with a shoelace passed through the eyelets of an article of footwear, in such a manner that when mounted to the article of footwear, wherein the fashionable footwear accessory device resembles an animated character, fictional or real in nature, that is mounted on top of the article of footwear, said fashionable footwear accessory device comprises a flexible patterned material piece having two spaced-apart pairs of pre-formed holes for forming an aminated character's ears, and a pair of pre-formed slit-apertures for forming the animated character's nose, and wherein the face of the animated character is completed when the shoelace is weaved through the holes and apertures of the flexible patterned material piece and tied together to form an appearance of the animated character's ears and nose.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved fashionable footwear accessory device for use with a shoelace passed through the eyelets of an article of footwear, in such a manner that when mounted to said article of footwear, wherein the fashionable footwear accessory device resembles an animated character, fictional or real in nature, that is mounted on top of the article of footwear, the fashionable footwear accessory device comprises a flexible patterned material piece having two spaced-apart pairs of pre-formed holes for forming an animated character's ears, and a pair of preformed slit-apertures for forming the animated character's mouth, and wherein the face of the animated character is completed when the shoelace is weaved through the holes and said apertures of the flexible patterned material piece and tied together to form an appearance of the animated character's ears and mouth.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved fashionable footwear accessory device for use with a shoelace passed through the eyelets of an article of footwear, in such a manner that when mounted to said article of footwear, wherein the fashionable footwear accessory device resembles an animated character, fictional or real in nature, that is mounted on top of the article of footwear, the fashionable footwear accessory device comprises a flexible patterned material piece having two spaced-apart pairs of pre-formed holes for forming an animated character's ears, two spaced-apart pairs of slit-apertures for forming the animated character's eyes, a pair of slit-apertures for forming the animated character's nose, and a pair of preformed slit-apertures for forming the animated character's mouth, and wherein the face of the animated character is completed when the shoelace is weaved through said holes and the apertures of the flexible patterned material piece and tied together to form an appearance of the animated character's ears, eyes, nose and mouth.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent hereafter and in the Claims to Invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The above Objects of the Present Invention will be more fully understood when taken in conjunction with the following Figure Drawings, wherein like elements are indicated by like reference numbers, wherein:
FIG. 1A is an elevated plan view of the front surface of the flexible patterned material piece having a pair of spaced-apart pre-punched holes for forming a bunny-like character's ears and a pair of slit-apertures for forming the bunny-like character's nose, functioning as the first component in the first illustrative embodiment of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the present invention, and completing the face of the bunny-like character when a shoelace is weaved through the holes and apertures of the flexible patterned material piece and tied together to form the bunny-like character's ears when practicing the method of shoelace tying in accordance with the principles of the present invention;
FIG. 1B is an elevated plan view of the rear surface of the flexible patterned material piece having a printed pattern corresponding to shoelace eyelets, through which a shoelace will be laced, according to sequential numbering indicated by printed or embossed indicia, and passing through a pair of spaced-apart pre-punched holes for forming a pair of bunny-like looped character's ears, and a pair of slit-apertures for forming the bunny-like character's nose functioning as the first component in the first illustrative embodiment of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the present invention, and completing the face of the bunny-like character, when a shoelace is weaved through the holes and apertures of the flexible patterned material piece and tied together to form the character's ears when practicing the method of shoelace tying in accordance with the principles of the present invention;
FIG. 1C is a vertical side view of the flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device, shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B;
FIG. 1D is a horizontal side view of the flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device, shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, wherein the eyes, cheeks and mouth of the bunny-like character are printed on the front face of the flexible patterned material piece;
FIG. 1E is a perspective front view of the flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device, shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D, wherein the eyes, cheeks and mouth of the bunny-like character are printed on the front face of the flexible patterned material piece;
FIG. 2A is a plan view of an article of footwear (e.g. shoe or sneaker), a shoelace, and the front surface of a flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the first illustrative embodiment, shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D and 1E, during the practice of the first step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device of the present invention;
FIG. 2B is a plan view of the article of footwear, the shoelace, and the rear surface of the flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the first illustrative embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D and 1E, wherein the rear surface of the flexible patterned material piece is shown to bear a printed pattern corresponding to shoelace eyelets, through which a shoelace will be laced, according to sequential numbering indicated by printed or embossed indicia (e.g. 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a, 5b, 6a, 7a, 8b, 9b, 10a, 11b, 12b, 13a, 14a);
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the article of footwear, the shoelace, and the flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the first illustrative embodiment, during the practice of the second step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device of the present invention, wherein a first free end of the shoelace is fed through the lowest eyelet of the article of footwear;
FIG. 4A is a plan view of the article of footwear, the shoelace, and the flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the first illustrative embodiment, during the practice of the third step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device of the present invention, wherein the first free end of the shoelace is fed through the first lowest eyelet of the shoe and then fed through one “nose” slit-aperture;
FIG. 4B is a plan view of the article of footwear, the shoelace, and the flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the first illustrative embodiment, during the practice of the fourth step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device of the present invention, wherein the first free end of the shoelace is pulled through the slit-aperture until the patterned material piece is slid up against the shoe and its shoe eyelets;
FIG. 5 is a plan view of the article of footwear, the shoelace, and the flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the first illustrative embodiment, during the practice of the fifth step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device of the present invention, wherein the first free end of the shoelace is fed through the second nose slit-aperture, towards the rear of the patterned material piece;
FIG. 6 is a plan view of the article of footwear, the shoelace, and the flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the first illustrative embodiment, during the practice of the sixth step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device of the present invention, wherein the first free end of the shoelace is pulled completely through the nose slit-apertures and so that the patterned material piece is disposed up against the shoe;
FIG. 7 is a plan view of the article of footwear, the shoelace, and the flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the first illustrative embodiment, during the practice of the seventh step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device of the present invention, wherein the first free end of the shoelace are fed through the second lowest eyelet of the shoe in the first eyelet row, while the second free end is shown fed through the first lowest eyelet of the shoe, with free end of the shoe laces ready for lacing through the remaining eyelets in a conventional manner as shown in FIG. 8;
FIG. 8 is a plan view of the article of footwear, the shoelace, and the flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the first illustrative embodiment, during the practice of the eighth step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device of the present invention, wherein after the first and second free ends of the shoelace have been fed through the first row of eyelets of the shoe in a conventional manner so that the lace passes through all eyelets in a crisscross (X) manner as shown, and the wherein patterned material piece, fastened through the first and second nose slit-apertures, is then folded down to reveal the rear-sided of the piece and show its two sets of ear hole-apertures ready for threading as shown;
FIG. 9 is a plan view of the article of footwear, the shoelace, and the flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the first illustrative embodiment, during the practice of the ninth step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device of the present invention, wherein the free end of the left-side end of the shoelace is pushed through a first one of the pair of hole-apertures, from the rear-side of the patterned material piece as shown;
FIG. 10 is a plan view of the article of footwear, the shoelace, and the flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the first illustrative embodiment, during the practice of the tenth step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device of the present invention, wherein the first free-end of the shoelace is shown fed through a hole-aperture in the rear of the patterned material piece;
FIG. 11 is a plan view of an article of footwear, a shoelace, and the flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the first illustrative embodiment, during the practice of the eleventh step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device of the present invention, wherein the first free-end of the shoelace is fed through the second hole-aperture from the front side of the patterned material piece, so as to form a first loop formation;
FIG. 12 is a plan view of the article of footwear, the shoelace, and the flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the first illustrative embodiment, during the practice of the twelfth step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device of the present invention, wherein the first loop formation is formed and extends from the first pair of hole-apertures formed in the patterned material piece;
FIG. 13 is a plan view of the article of footwear, the shoelace, and the flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the first illustrative embodiment, during the practice of the thirteenth step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device of the present invention, wherein the second free end of the shoelace is then fed through the first one of the first set of hole-apertures from the rear side of the patterned material piece;
FIG. 14 is a plan view of the article of footwear, the shoelace, and the flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the first illustrative embodiment, during the practice of the fourteenth step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device of the present invention, wherein the second free end of the shoelace is passed through the second one of the first set of hole-apertures from the rear side of the patterned material piece;
FIG. 15 is a plan view of the article of footwear, the shoelace, and the flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the first illustrative embodiment, during the practice of the fifteenth step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device of the present invention, wherein the second free end of the shoelace is shown passed through the second one of the second set of hole-apertures from the front side of the patterned material piece so as to form the second loop formation;
FIG. 16 is a plan view of the article of footwear, the shoelace, and the flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the first illustrative embodiment, during the practice of the sixteenth step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device of the present invention, wherein the first and second loop formations are shown formed and extending from the front side of the patterned material piece;
FIG. 17 is a plan view of the article of footwear, the shoelace, and the flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the first illustrative embodiment, during the practice of the seventeenth step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device, wherein the top portion of the flexible patterned material piece is folded back to reveal the free ends of the shoelace retained in the pair of hole-apertures formed in the top of the patterned material piece;
FIG. 18 is a plan view of the article of footwear, the shoelace, and the flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the first illustrative embodiment, during the practice of the eighteenth step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device of the present invention, wherein the first and second loops are crossed as shown;
FIG. 19 is a plan view of the article of footwear, the shoelace, and the flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the first illustrative embodiment, during the practice of the nineteenth step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device of the present invention, wherein a first one of the loops is passed beneath the crossed portions of first and second loop, and then pulled outwardly, as shown;
FIG. 20 is a plan view of the article of footwear, the shoelace, and the flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the first illustrative embodiment, during the practice of the twentieth step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device of the present invention, wherein the free end of the loop passed beneath the crossed portions of the loop formations is pulled outwarded so as to form a pair of ear-like loops extending from the pair of hole-apertures formed at the top portion of the flexible patterned material piece;
FIG. 21 is a plan view of the article of footwear, the shoelace, and the flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the first illustrative embodiment, during the practice of the twenty-first step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device of the present invention, wherein a pair of ear-like loop formations are shown freely extending from the pair of hole-apertures formed at the top portion of the flexible patterned material piece;
FIG. 22 is a plan view of a shoelace and the front surface of the flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the second illustrative embodiment, shown during the practice of the first step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device of the present invention, wherein the shoelace is manufactured to have a three color pattern along its length, where the middle color section is provided for the nose portion of the animated character displayed by the device when assembled, the first and second color patterned end portions provide coloring for the pair of ear loops formed by the device when lace tying operations are completed during the final step of the method, as shown in FIG. 24;
FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the second illustrative embodiment shown in FIG. 22 mounted to the article of footwear, as described above in the first illustrative embodiment, where the middle solid-color portion of the shoelace threaded through the lowest set of eyelets in the footwear article forms the nose portion of the character's face, whereas the first and second end patterned portions of the shoe lace are shown partially threaded through the patterned material piece to form a first looped ear portion of the animated character, and partially formed second looped ear portion;
FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the shoelace and the flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device shown in FIG. 23, wherein the middle solid-color portion of the shoelace forms the nose portion of the character's face, while the first and second end patterned portions of the shoe lace form both of the first and second looped ear portions of the animated character for the enjoyment of the wearer, and local observers of the same;
FIG. 25A is a plan view of a shoelace and the front surface of flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the third illustrative embodiment, shown during the practice of the first step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device of the present invention, wherein the shoelace is patterned in three color patterned along its length, where the middle color section is provided for the eye portions of the animated character displayed by the device when assembled, while the color patterned end portions provide coloring for the pair of ear loops formed by the device when the shoelace tying operations are completed as shown in FIG. 35;
FIG. 25B is a plan view of a shoelace and the rear surface of the flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the third illustrative embodiment, shown during the practice of the first step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device of the present invention, wherein the shoelace is patterned in three color patterned along its length, where the middle color section is provided for the eye portions of the animated character displayed by the device when assembled, the color patterned end portions provide coloring for the pair of ear loops formed by the device when the shoelace tying operations are completed as shown in FIG. 35, wherein the rear surface of the flexible patterned material piece bears a printed pattern corresponding to shoelace eyelets through which a shoelace will be laced, according to sequential numbering indicated by printed or embossed indicia;
FIG. 26 is a plan view showing an article of footwear and the color-patterned shoelace of the third illustrative embodiment shown being threaded through the first set of eyelets in the article of footwear and then through the pair of slit-apertures in the flexible patterned material piece so as to form the nose portion of the animated character;
FIG. 27 is a plan view showing the article of footwear and the shoelace of third illustrative embodiment shown being threaded through the first row of eyelets in the article of footwear and passing through the patterned material piece and forming the nose portion of the animated character, and the free ends of shoelaces ready for threading through the remaining rows of shoe eyelets, and thereafter, through hole-apertures as shown in FIG. 28 to form looped from the patterned material piece as shown in FIG. 35;
FIG. 28 is a plan view showing the article of footwear and the shoelace of third illustrative embodiment shown being threaded through the first one of the pair of hole-apertures forming the first eye portion of the animated character in the patterned material piece;
FIG. 29 is a plan view showing the article of footwear and the shoelace of third illustrative embodiment shown being completely threaded through the second one of the pair of hole-apertures, thereby completing the formation of the first eye portion of the animated character in the patterned material piece;
FIG. 30 is a plan view showing the article of footwear and the shoelace of third illustrative embodiment showing the first eye portion of the animated character formed in the patterned material piece, and the second free end of the shoelaces ready for threading through the second set of spaced-apart pairs of slit-apertures provided in the patterned material piece for forming the second eye of the animation characters;
FIG. 31 is a plan view showing the article of footwear and the shoelace of third illustrative embodiment showing a free end of the shoelace being threaded through the first one of the pair of hole-apertures forming a portion of the second eye portion of the animated character in the patterned material piece;
FIG. 32 is a plan view showing the article of footwear and the shoelace of third illustrative embodiment showing a free end of the shoelace being threaded through the second one of the pair of hole-apertures, completing the formation of the second eye portion of the animated character in the patterned material piece;
FIG. 32 is a plan view showing the article of footwear and the shoelace of third illustrative embodiment showing the first and second eye portions of the animated character completely formed in the patterned material piece by the threading of the shoelace therethrough as described;
FIG. 33 is a plan view showing the article of footwear and the shoelace of third illustrative embodiment showing the first and second eye portions of the animated character completely formed in the patterned material piece by the threading of the shoelace therethrough as described, and the free ends of the shoelaces being threaded through another row or two of eyelets to thread through the top row of eyelets and then be threaded through the first pair of hole-aperture provided for forming the first ear portions of the animated character, as shown in FIG. 34;
FIG. 34 is a plan view showing the article of footwear and the shoelace of third illustrative embodiment showing the shoelace being threaded through the first and second pairs of hole-apertures in the patterned material piece so as to form a pair of loops which are tied onto a bowlike formation which appears as, or resembles, a pair of ears of the animated character being created by the patterned material piece and the shoelace of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 35;
FIG. 35 is a plan view showing the article of footwear and the shoelace of third illustrative embodiment showing the shoelace being threaded through the first and second pairs of hole-apertures in the patterned material piece, during the final step of the shoelace lying method, whereby two pairs of bowlike formations appear, and resemble the pair of ears of an animated character being created by the patterned material piece and the shoelace of the present invention;
FIG. 36 is a plan view of a shoelace and the flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the fourth illustrative embodiment, shown during the practice of the first step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device of the present invention, wherein the shoelace will be threaded through a first pair of slit-apertures to form the mouth portion of the animated character displayed by the device when assembled, and then threaded through a set of spaced apart hole-apertures to form the ear loops formed by the device when lace tying operations are completed;
FIG. 37 is a plan view of an article of footwear, a shoelace, and the flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the fourth illustrative embodiment, shown in FIG. 35, showing the first free end of the shoelace threaded through the first slit-aperture in the patterned material piece so as to form a first part of the mouth portion of the animated character;
FIG. 38 is a plan view of the article of footwear, a shoelace, and the flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the fourth illustrative embodiment, shown in FIG. 35, showing the first free end of the shoelace threaded through the second slit-aperture in the patterned material piece so as to complete the formation of the mouth portion of the animated character;
FIG. 39 is a plan view of the article of footwear, the shoelace, and the flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the fourth illustrative embodiment, shown in FIG. 35, showing the later steps of the method of shoelace tying, wherein the shoelace is threaded through the rows of the shoe, and then then first and second free ends of the shoelace are threaded through the respective set of hole-apertures in the patterned material piece so as to complete the formation of the first and second looped ear portions of the animated character;
FIG. 40 is a plan view of a three-color patterned shoelace, the flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the fifth illustrative embodiment, a first article of high-top footwear (e.g. sneakers) without shoe lacing, and a second article of footwear with the mounted device and lacing, wherein the patterned material piece is mounted on the sneaker starting at the third row of shoelace eyelets, passing through the solid-colored “mouth” portion of the fashionable footwear accessory, then passing through the solid-colored “eye” portions of the fashionable footwear accessory, and finally forming the “looped ear” portions of the animated character by the two-color patterned shoelaces end portions being passed through the top upper row of shoe eyelets, and cross over and tied together, as described in other illustrative embodiments;
FIG. 41 is a plan view of the article of high-top footwear (e.g. sneakers), a single-color patterned shoelace, and the flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the sixth illustrative embodiment, shown during the beginning and final stage of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device of the present invention, wherein the patterned material piece is mounted on the sneaker starting at the third row of shoelace eyelets, passing through the solid-colored mouth portion of the fashionable footwear accessory, while the looped ear portions of the animated character are formed by the solid-color patterned shoelaces end portions are passed through the top upper row of shoe eyelets, as described in other illustrative embodiments;
FIG. 42 is a plan view of a shoelace and the flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the seventh illustrative embodiment, shown during the practice of the first step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device of the present invention, wherein the nose and ear portions of the animated character are formed by threading the shoelace through apertures formed in the flexible patterned piece;
FIG. 43 is a plan view of a shoelace and the flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the eighth illustrative embodiment, shown during the practice of the first step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device of the present invention, wherein the nose and ear portions of the animated character are formed by threading the shoelace through corresponding apertures formed in the flexible patterned piece;
FIG. 44 is a plan view of a shoelace and the flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the ninth illustrative embodiment, shown during the practice of the first step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device of the present invention, wherein the nose and ear portions of the animated character are formed by threading the shoelace through corresponding apertures formed in the flexible patterned piece;
FIG. 45 is a plan view of a shoelace and the flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the tenth illustrative embodiment, shown during the practice of the first step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device of the present invention, wherein the nose and ear portions of the animated character are formed by threading the shoelace through apertures formed in the flexible patterned piece; and
FIG. 46 is a plan view of a shoelace and the flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the eleventh illustrative embodiment, shown during the practice of the first step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device of the present invention, wherein the nose and ear portions of the animated character are formed by threading the shoelace through apertures formed in the flexible patterned piece.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT
Referring to the figures in the accompanying Drawings, the various illustrative embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail, wherein like elements will be indicated using like reference numerals.
FIGS. 1 through 46 show eleven (11) different illustrative embodiments of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the present invention 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F, 1G, 1H, 1I, 1J, and footwear lace (e.g. shoelace) designs 40, 50 and 60. Typically, two fashionable shoe accessory devices, provided with shoelaces, are packaged in a kit along with packaging instructions on use of the device for the purpose at hand. As shown and described in great technical detail hereinafter each flexible patterned piece 2 is provided with sets of apertures (e.g. slide-type and hole-type apertures) formed in the flexible patterned material piece 2, through which the shoelace 40, 50 and 60 is threaded in a specific manner and sequential ordering. In the illustrative embodiments, each flexible patterned piece 2 has an outline shape that resembles an animated character with a facial expression. However, in alternative embodiments, it is understood that the character resembled by the outline may have an expression that may not be conventional in terms of facial expressions, but signifying an intended emotion, notwithstanding.
The fashionable shoe accessory device of the present invention is designed to helps children reach an important developmental milestone, namely, successfully learning to tie their own shoes by themselves. As will be described in great technical detail, each footwear accessory device attaches directly to the top of a child's shoe through lacing and weaving. The device assists the child by acting as a shoelace loop holder, keeping the loops pinched in place, so the child can focus on the mechanics of how to manipulate the loops into a bow formation. The device allows the child to build skills and autonomy, while reducing frustration, which enables the child to become more independent and self-reliant.
Also, the present invention seeks to reinforce the principle that each child learns best by doing creative things, and in this case, this means learning to tie a pair of shoelaces while forming a pair of animal character ears by forming shoelace loops, and making the other facial parts of an animated character, such as eyes, nose and mouth portions, while learning to tie the child's shoelaces on his or her footwear (e.g. shoes, sneakers, etc.)
In general, the fashionable footwear accessory device of the first illustrative embodiment 1A is designed for use with a shoelace 40, 50 and 60 passed through the eyelets 30C1-30F2 of an article of footwear, having an upper portion 30A and tongue ports 30B. When mounted to the article of footwear as shown in FIG. 21, the fashionable footwear accessory device resembles an animated character, fictional or real in nature, mounted on top of the article of footwear.
As shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 21, the fashionable footwear accessory device comprises: a flexible patterned material piece 2 having a pair of spaced-apart pre-punched holes 6A, 6A2, and 6B1, 6B2 for forming an aminated character's ears, and a pair of slit-apertures 4A, 4B for forming the animated character's nose, functioning; wherein the face of the animated character is completed when the shoelace 40 is weaved through the holes and apertures of the flexible patterned material piece 2 and tied together to form the animated character's ears, and the animated character's nose. In general, the flexible patterned material piece 2 can be made from a patterned piece of material selected from the group consisting of leather, plastic, cardboard, and/or metal.
In the illustrative embodiments, each footwear accessory device 1A-1J represents and resembles an animated or in-animated character, fictional or real in nature, which may be found in the wild, at a local zoo, or one's world of imagination. When installed, a pair of footwear accessory devices of the present invention are mounted on top of a child's pair of shoes or sneakers (i.e. footwear) 30. As will be explained below, as the child user weaves his or her shoelace 40 through a footwear accessory device of the present invention, and through the shoe's rows of eyelets, and creates one or more of the facial features of the animated character (e.g. the “ears”, the “nose”, the “mouth” and/or “eyes”, as well as other features, depending on the specific design of the individual character), that delightfully brings the character to life.
The laced “nose”, “mouth”, “eyes” and/or “ears” may serve as a way for the fashion accessory device to remain firmly in place on top of an article of footwear (e.g. shoe, sneaker or boot) 30, preventing it from flapping around while being worn. The hole-apertures formed in the “ears” portion of the device serve as shoelace loop holders, which facilitate the holding of the shoelace in place and enables further manipulation of the shoelace into a bow formation during shoelace tying operations. This is achieved by the child taking the pinched, looped “ears” of the animated character under development, crossing the “ears” in an x-formation, wrapping one loop around and pushing it through and beneath the x-formation of loops, and then pulling both formed “ears” firmly to create the bow formation that resembles the ears of the animated character (e.g. bunny). Alternative ways of tying one's shoelaces can be practiced with a footwear accessory device of the present invention, as the child becomes more advanced with their shoelace tying skills.
As shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D and 1E, the flexible patterned material piece 2 has a pair of spaced-apart pre-punched holes 6A1 and 6A2, and 6B1 and 6B2, for forming a bunny-like character's ears 40E1 and 40E2, and a pair of slit-apertures 4A, 4B for forming the bunny-like character's “nose.” The flexible patterned material piece 2 functions as the first component in the fashionable footwear accessory device of the present invention. The face of the bunny-like character is completed when a shoelace 40 is weaved through the hole-apertures 6A1, 6A2 and slit-apertures preformed 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, 5A-5D, in the flexible patterned material piece 2, and then tied together to form the character's ears 40E1 and 40E2 when practicing the method of shoelace tying in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
FIG. 2A shows an article of footwear (e.g. shoe or sneaker) 30, a shoelace 40 having a length to pass through and lace up the shoe eyelets 30C1-30F2 in the front opening of the shoe about its tongue portion 30B, and the front surface of a flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the first illustrative embodiment. FIG. 2B show the article of footwear (e.g. shoe or sneaker) 30, the shoelace 40, and the front surface of a flexible patterned material piece 2 of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the first illustrative embodiment 1A, as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D and 1E, during the practice of the first step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device of the present invention. As shown, the rear surface of the printed piece of material 2 bears a pattern of numbers in a sequence 7 that corresponds with (i) the sequence of shoelace threading operations through the row of shoe eyelets in the shoe, and (ii) the slit apertures 3A-5D and hole apertures 6A1-6B2 formed in the flexible piece of patterned material 2. In the printed sequence pattern 7 on the rear surface of the flexible patterned material 2, the shoelace eyelets 30C1-30F2 are indicated as lightly patterned circles with sequence numbers (e.g. 5b, 6a, 7a) located in corresponding spatial positions on the shoe. As shown in FIG. 2B, the rear surface of the flexible patterned piece 2 has a printed pattern of numbers 7 corresponding to (i) virtual shoelace eyelets through which a shoelace will be laced, according to sequential numbering indicated by printed or embossed indicia (e.g. 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a, 5b, 6a, 7a, 8b, 9b, 10a, 11b, 12b, 13a, 14a), and (ii) slit-apertures 3A-5D and hole-apertures 6A1-6B2, through which the shoelace is passed through.
FIG. 3 shows the article of footwear 30, a shoelace 40 having a length sufficient to pass through and securely lace up the shoe eyelets 30C1-30F2 in the front opening of the shoe 30 in its upper portion 30B, about its tongue portion 1A, and the flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the first illustrative embodiment 1A. As shown, during the practice of the second step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device 1A, a first free end of the shoelace 40A is fed through the lowest eyelet of the article of footwear 30.
FIG. 4A illustrates the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device of the present invention 1A, wherein the first free end of the shoelace 40A is fed through the first lowest eyelet of the shoe 30 and then fed through a first one of “nose” slit-apertures 4A, 4B.
FIG. 4B illustrates the practice of the fourth step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device 1A, wherein the first free end of the shoelace 40A is pulled through the first “nose” slit-aperture 4A until the patterned material piece 2 is slid up against the shoe and its shoe eyelets 30C1-30F2 labeled in FIG. 2A.
FIG. 5 illustrates the practice of the fifth step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device 1A, wherein the first free end of the shoelace 40A is fed through the second nose slit-aperture 4B, towards the rear of the patterned material piece 2.
FIG. 6 illustrates the practice of the sixth step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device 1A, wherein the first free end of the shoelace is pulled completely through the nose slit-apertures 4A, 4B and so that the patterned material piece 2 is disposed up against the shoe 30 and its tongue portion.
FIG. 7 illustrates the practice of the seventh step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device of the present invention 1A. As shown, the first free ends of the shoelace 40A is fed through the second lowest eyelet of the shoe 30 in the first/lowest eyelet row, while the first free end 40A is shown fed through the first lowest eyelet of the shoe 30, with both free ends of the shoe laces 40A, 40B now ready for lacing through the remaining eyelets in a conventional manner as shown in FIG. 8.
FIG. 8 illustrates the practice of the eighth step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device of the present invention 1A. As shown, after the first and second free ends of the shoelace 40A, 40B have been fed through the first row of eyelets of the shoe in a conventional manner, the shoelace is then passed through all other rows of eyelets in a crisscross (X) manner, as shown. As shown in FIG. 8, the patterned material piece 2, while fastened through the first and second nose slit-apertures 4A and 4B, is folded down to reveal the rear-sided of the piece 2 and show its two sets of “ear-realizing” hole-apertures 6A1-6B2, through which the shoelace string 40 is ready for passage and threading.
FIG. 9 illustrates the practice of the ninth step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device 1A. As shown, the free end of the left-side end of the shoelace 40A is being pushed through a first one of the pair of hole-apertures, from the rear-side of the patterned material piece 2.
FIG. 10 illustrates the practice of the tenth step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device 1A. As shown, the free-end of the shoelace 40B is shown fed through a hole-aperture 6B2 in the rear of the patterned material piece 2.
FIG. 11 illustrates the practice of the eleventh step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device 1A. As shown, the free-end of the shoelace 40B is fed through the second hole-aperture 6B1, from the front side of the patterned material piece 2, so as to form a first loop formation 40E2.
FIG. 12 illustrates the practice of the twelfth step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device 1A. As shown, the loop formation 40E2 is formed and extends from the first pair of hole-apertures 6B1, 6B2 formed in the patterned material piece 2.
FIG. 13 illustrates the practice of the thirteenth step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device 1A. As shown, the free end of the shoelace 40A is then fed through the first one of the first set of hole-aperture 6A2 from the rear side of the patterned material piece 2.
FIG. 14 illustrates the practice of the fourteenth step of the method of tying a shoelace 40 using the fashionable footwear accessory device 1A. As shown, the free end of the shoelace 40A is ready to be passed through the second one of the first set of hole-apertures 6A1 from the rear side of the patterned material piece 2.
FIG. 15 illustrates the practice of the fifteenth step of the method of tying a shoelace 30 using the fashionable footwear accessory device 1A. As shown, the free end of the shoelace 40A is shown passed through the second one of the second set of hole-apertures 6B1, 6B2 from the front side of the patterned material piece so as to form the loop formation 40E1.
FIG. 16 illustrates the practice of the sixteenth step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device 1A. As shown, the loop formations 40E1 and 40E2 are shown formed and extending from the front side of the patterned material piece 2.
FIG. 17 illustrates the practice of the seventeenth step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device 1A. As shown, the top portion of the flexible patterned material piece 2 is folded back to reveal the free ends of the shoelace retained in the pair of hole-apertures formed in the top of the patterned material piece 2.
FIG. 18 illustrates the practice of the eighteenth step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device 1A. As shown, the loops 40E1 and 40E2 are crossed as shown.
FIG. 19 illustrates the practice of the nineteenth step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device 1A. As shown, a first one of the loops 40E1 is passed beneath the crossed portions of first and second loops, and then pulled outwardly as shown.
FIG. 20 illustrates the practice of the twentieth step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device 1A. As shown, the free end of the loop passed 40E1 beneath the crossed portions of the loop formations is pulled outwarded so as to form a knot, from which a pair of ear-like loops 40E1 and 40E2 extending from the pair of hole-apertures 6A1, 6A2 and 6B1, 6B2 formed at the top portion of the flexible patterned material piece 8.
FIG. 21 illustrates the practice of the twenty-first step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device 1A. As shown, a pair of ear-like loop formations 40E1 and 40E2 are shown freely extending from the pair of hole-apertures 6A1-6B2 formed at the top portion of the flexible patterned material piece 2.
FIG. 22 shows a three-color patterned shoelace 50 having a length to pass through and lace up the shoe eyelets 30C1-30F2 in the front opening of the shoe about its tongue portion 30B, and the front surface of the flexible patterned material piece 2 of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the second illustrative embodiment 1B.
As shown, FIG. 22 illustrates the practice of the first step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device of the present invention. As shown, the shoelace is manufactured to have a three color pattern along its length, where the middle color section 50C is provided for the nose portion of the animated character displayed by the device when assembled, while the first and second color patterned end portions 50A and 50B provide coloring for the pair of ear loops 40E1 and 40E2 formed by the device 1B when lace tying operations are completed during the final step of the method, as shown in FIG. 24.
FIG. 23 shows the fashionable footwear accessory device of the second illustrative embodiment shown in FIG. 22, mounted to an article of footwear 30, as described above in the first illustrative embodiment. As shown, the middle solid-color portion 50C of the shoelace 50 is threaded through the lowest set of eyelets in the footwear article 30 forms the nose portion (50C) of the character's face, whereas the first and second end patterned portions of the shoelace 50A and 50B are shown partially threaded through the patterned material piece 2 to form a looped ear portion of the animated character 50E2, and partially formed looped ear portion 50E1
FIG. 24 shows the shoelace 50 having a length to pass through and lace up the shoe eyelets 30C1-30F2 in the front opening of the shoe about its tongue portion 30B, and the flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device 1B shown in FIG. 23. As shown, the middle solid-color portion 50C of the shoelace forms the nose portion of the character's face, while the first and second end patterned portions of the shoe lace 50A and 50B form both of the looped ear portions of the animated character 50E1 and 50E2 for the enjoyment of the wearer, and others observing the same.
FIG. 25A shows the three-color patterned shoelace 50 and the front surface of flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the third illustrative embodiment 1C. As shown, FIG. 25A illustrates the practice of the first step of the method of tying a shoelace using the fashionable footwear accessory device of the present invention, wherein the shoelace is patterned in three color patterned along its length, where the middle color section is provided for the eye portions of the animated character displayed by the device when assembled, the color patterned end portions provide coloring for the pair of ear loops formed by the device when the shoelace 50 tying operations are completed as shown in FIG. 35.
FIG. 25B shows the shoelace 50 and the rear surface of the flexible patterned material piece 2 of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the third illustrative embodiment 1C. As shown, a printed sequence of alphanumeric characters 7 is printed or embossed on the rear surface of the flexible patterned material piece 2 indicating the logical sequence that the free ends of the shoelace 50A and 50B are threaded through (i) the shoelace eyelets in the shoe 30, and (ii) the slit apertures 3A-5D and hope apertures formed through the patterned material piece 2. As shown in FIG. 25B, the printed pattern 7 corresponds to shoelace eyelets 30C1-30F2 through which a shoelace 50 will be laced, according to logical sequential numbering indicated by printed or embossed indicia (e.g. 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a, 6a, 7b, 8b, 9b, 10a, 11a, 12b, 13a, 14a, 15b, 16b).
FIG. 26 illustrates the threading of the free end of the shoelace 50A through the first set of eyelets in the article of footwear (e.g. shoe) 30, and then through the pair of slit-apertures 4A and 4B in the flexible patterned material piece 2 so as to form the “nose” portion of the animated character.
FIG. 27 illustrates the threading of the free end of the shoelace 50A through the first row of eyelets in the article of footwear, and passing through the patterned material piece 2 and forming the nose portion of the animated character, and the free ends of shoelaces ready for threading through the remaining rows of shoe eyelets 30C1-30F2, and thereafter, through hole-apertures 6A1-6B2 in the patterned material piece 2 as shown in FIG. 28, to form loops from lacing the shoelace through the preformed holes as shown in FIG. 35.
FIG. 28 illustrates the threading of the free end of the shoelace 50A through the first one of the pair of hole-apertures 5A forming the first eye portion of the animated character in the patterned material piece 2.
FIG. 29 illustrates threading the free end of the shoelace through the second one of the pair of hole-apertures 5B, thereby completing the formation of the first eye portion of the animated character in the patterned material piece 2.
FIG. 30 illustrates the first eye portion of the animated character being fully formed in the patterned material piece, and the free end of the shoelaces 50B is ready for threading through the set of spaced-apart pairs of slit-apertures 5C and 5D provided in the patterned material piece 2 so as to form the second eye of the animated characters.
FIG. 31 illustrates the threading of the free end of the shoelace 50B through the first one of the pair of hole-apertures 5A and 5D forming a portion of the second eye portion of the animated character in the patterned material piece 2.
FIG. 32 illustrates the threading of the free end of the shoelace 50B through the second one of the pair of slit-apertures 5C and 5D, completing the formation of the second eye portion of the animated character in the patterned material piece 2.
FIG. 33 shows the first and second eye portions of the animated character completely formed in the patterned material piece 2 by (i) the threading of the shoelace 50 therethrough as described, (ii) threading the free ends of the shoelaces through another row or two of eyelets 30D1 and 30D2, then threaded through the top row of eyelets, and (iii) then threading the shoelace 50 through the first pair of hole-apertures 6A1 and 6A2 provided for forming the first ear portion of the animated character, as shown in FIG. 34.
FIG. 34 shows the shoelace 50 being threaded through the first and second pairs of hole-apertures 6A1, 6A2, 6B1, 6B2 in the patterned material piece 2 so as to form a pair of loops 50E1 and 50E2 which are tied into a bowlike formation, as illustrated hereinabove with reference to FIGS. 19 through 21. As shown, the bowlike formation 50E1 and 50E2 appears as, or resembles, a pair of ears of the animated character being created by the patterned material piece 8 and the shoelace of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 35.
FIG. 35 shows the shoelace being threaded through the first and second pairs of hole-apertures 6A1, 6A2 and 6B1, 6B2 in the patterned material piece 2 during the final step of the shoelace lying method, whereby two pairs of bowlike formations 50E1 and 50E2 appear, and resemble the pair of ears of an animated character being created by the patterned material piece 2 and the shoelace 50 of the present invention.
FIG. 36 shows a shoelace 40 and the flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device 1D of the fourth illustrative embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 37, the free end of the shoelace 40A threaded through the slit-aperture 3B in the patterned material piece 2 so as to form a first part of the “mouth” portion of the animated character.
FIG. 38 illustrates the free end of the shoelace 40A being threaded through the slit-aperture 3A in the patterned material piece 2 so as to complete the formation of the “mouth” portion of the animated character.
FIG. 39 illustrates the later steps of the method of shoe lacing and tying, wherein the shoelace 40 is threaded through all of the rows of the shoe 30, and then free ends of the shoelace 40A and 40B are threaded through the respective set of hole-apertures 36A1,6A2 and 6B1, 6B2 in the patterned material piece 2 so as to complete the formation of the first and second looped “ear” portions of the animated character 40E1 and 40E2.
FIG. 40 shows a three-color patterned shoelace 50, the flexible patterned material piece of the fashionable footwear accessory device of the fifth illustrative embodiment 1E, a first article of high-top footwear (e.g. sneakers) 30 without lacing, and a second article of footwear with the fashionable footwear device mounted to the second article using the shoelace and accessory device according to the method of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 40, the beginning and final stages of the method of tying a shoelace on the sneaker using the fashionable accessory 1E starts at the third row of shoelace eyelets of the sneaker 30. In this example, the fashionable footwear accessory is mounted to the high-top sneaker by lacing the sneaker in a conventional manner for the first and second lowermost rows of eyelets, and then following the lacing method of the present invention used to mount the footwear accessory device and realize the nose, eyes and ears of the animated character resembled by the final assembly of the device. In this embodiment, the mouth and cheeks are realized by printed or stamped graphical indicia onto the front surface of the patterned material 2.
FIG. 41 illustrates the beginning and final stages of the method of tying a shoelace 60 using the fashionable footwear accessory device according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention 1F. As shown, the patterned material piece 2 is mounted on the sneaker or boot starting to thread shoelace 60 at the third row of shoelace eyelets, passing the shoelace 60 through the solid-color “mouth” portion of the fashionable footwear accessory, while the loop portions of the animated character are ultimately formed by the solid-color shoelace end portions being passed through the top upper row of shoe eyelets of the shoe or boot, as described in other illustrative embodiments.
FIG. 42 shows the seventh illustrative embodiment of the flexible patterned piece according to the present invention 1G. As shown, the “nose” and “ear” portions of the animated character are formed by threading the shoelace 40, 50 or 60 through apertures formed in the flexible patterned piece 2.
FIG. 43 shows the eighth illustrative embodiment of the flexible patterned piece according to the present invention 1H. As shown, the “nose” and “ear” portions of the animated character are formed by threading the shoelace 40, 50 or 60 through apertures formed in the flexible patterned piece 2, as described above.
FIG. 44 shows the ninth embodiment of the flexible patterned piece according to the present invention 1I. As shown, the “nose” and “ear” portions of the animated character are formed by threading the shoelace 40, 50 or 60 through apertures formed in the flexible patterned piece 2, as described above.
FIG. 45 shows the tenth illustrative embodiment of the flexible patterned piece according to the present invention 1J. As shown, the “nose” and “ear” portions of the animated character are formed by threading the shoelace 40, 50 or 60 through apertures formed in the flexible patterned piece 2, as described above.
FIG. 46 shows the eleventh illustrative embodiment of the flexible patterned piece according to the present invention 1K. As shown, the “nose” and “ear” portions of the animated character are formed by threading the shoelace 40, 50 or 60 through apertures formed in the flexible patterned piece 2, as described above.
Modifications that Come to Mind
While seven different illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed in detail, it is understood that in other alternative embodiments, the shape of the flexible patterned material piece may resemble more abstract objects and things than animated characters, such an animated fruits and vegetable having andromorphic features (e.g. eyes, nose and ears) to which children can relate and enjoy viewing.
Several modifications to the illustrative embodiments have been described above. It is understood, however, that various other modifications to the illustrative embodiment of the present invention will readily occur to persons with ordinary skill in the art. All such modifications and variations are deemed to be within the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the accompanying Claims to Invention.
Patent Application
20240373987
