Patent Application
20250160484
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A portion of the disclosure of this patent document may contain material which is subject to copyright protection. This patent document may show and/or describe matter which is or may become trade dress of the owner. The copyright and trade dress owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by any one of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights and trade dress rights whatsoever.
The disclosed subject matter relates generally to a shoe indicator system and kit. More particularly, the disclosed subject matter relates to a system to indicate the proper alignment of left and right shoes for wear.
As young children become more independent, many try to put on their shoes by themselves. This can be frustrating for both the child, who is learning a new task, and the caregiver, who might be kept waiting.
While older children, teens, and adults usually know the difference between left and right shoes, some, especially younger children, may find it hard to tell them apart. On many shoes, the only clue is a slight curve towards the big toe. As such, proposals have been made to help distinguish left and right shoes from one another.
One proposal has been to mark the shoes clearly with a permanent marker, fabric paint, and the like. In order to do so, however, one first needs to know which shoe is which in order to accurately mark them. In addition, even permanent marker and fabric paint may wear out over time, rendering the proposal unusable. Another proposal is to always store the shoes in the same manner and order after taking them off. Yet, shoes can get mixed up or moved, making this difficult to enforce or rely on long term. A creative solution that some parents use is cutting a sticker in half and placing one piece each inside the shoes. When ordered correctly, left to right, any image on the sticker, or the shape of the complete sticker itself, appears complete. However, these stickers tend to wear out overtime, making them an impermanent solution, and they can cause discomfort or blisters due to friction and even adhesive exposure as they deteriorate.
Still another proposal appears in U.S. Pat. No. 7,895,774 to Pawsey, which teaches a shoe tag that is attached to shoelaces on the left and right shoes that, when properly aligned, create a continuous image. However, Pawsey requires that the shoes have laces, which a person of ordinary skill will recognize creates an additional developmental challenge. Further, for those who have trouble identifying left and right shoes on account of a developmental delay, the large external indicator tags may be considered by the wearer to be undesirable outward symbols of such delay.
Likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 5,586,888 to Webb, which teaches a pair of ornamental buckles positioned externally over the toe of each shoe with a continuous design. While this design may be suitable for younger children, as individuals age, the obvious design and its unsubtle positioning may, similar to Pawsey, may undesirably serve as an outward indicator that the individual is unable to differentiate between the shoes.
Still, another proposal appears in U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,606 to Clark, which teaches a directional picture story aid for shoe identification. In Clark's proposal, left-right shoe indicators comprise two distinct pictures that, when aligned, are supposed to reveal a story. However, marking the shoes to reveal a story requires the wearer to operate under the same logic as the shoemaker. Indeed, in the example given by Clark, an image of a dog marks the left shoe, and the right shoe is marked by an image of a dog house. Clark suggests that children would reason the dog is facing the dog house instead of facing away from the dog house. As with many two frame picture stories, there is a level of ambiguity in the story that may permit the images to be oriented in either direction. Given that the picture stories could be interpreted differently, especially by young children, Clark fails to provide a shoe identification system suitable for a general audience.
Thus, there remains a need for left-right shoe indicators that are integrated into the design of the shoe and may, in some embodiments, be obscured from view during wear to reduce social stigma associated with developmental delays or challenges.
The present disclosure is directed to a shoe indicator system configured to visually aid differentiation between a left and right shoe. The system may comprise a left shoe, a right shoe, a left shoe indicator, and a right shoe indicator. When the left and right shoe are properly oriented with respect to one another, the left shoe indicator and right shoe indicator may be aligned to portray a unified figure, visually confirming the correct placement of right and left shoes.
For purposes of summarizing, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features have been described. It is to be understood that not all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment. Thus, the disclosed subject matter may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages without achieving all advantages as may be taught or suggested.
In one embodiment, the left and right shoe may be configured to display or otherwise comprise a left and right shoe indicator, respectively. More particularly, the left and right shoe indicators may be formed or disposed on the left and right shoes such that when properly oriented, the left and right shoe indicators may reveal the unified figure. For instance, one embodiment, the left shoe and right shoe indicators may be disposed and positioned on a left and right insole, respectively, such that the indicators may be viewed through an opening defined by a collar defined by each shoe. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that such insoles may be permanently disposed within each shoe either by glue, staples, sewing, or any other means, or may be removable from and replaceable within each shoe as desired without departing from the invention. In any event, the left and right shoe indicators may be positioned on each insole, respectively, within the opening defined by the respective collar such that, when the left and right shoes are aligned, an inner edge of the left shoe indicator may align with an inner edge of the right shoe indicator to visually portray a unified figure defined by the left and right shoe indicators together.
In other embodiments, the left and right shoe indicators may be positioned on an external portion of each shoe. For example, the left and right shoe indicators may be positioned on respective left and right heels of the shoes, left and right toes of the shoes, or even on left and right soles of the shoes.
It will be recognized that in the event that the left and right shoe indicators are disposed on any interior portion of the left and right shoes, whether removable or not, or on the sole of such shoes, such indicators will be obscured from view when worn by a user.
It is contemplated that the placement of the left and right shoe indicators, when positioned on the sole of the shoe may be aligned when the shoes are viewed from the bottom. For example, the left and right indicators may be positioned along an inner edge of the shoes, such that when the shoes are viewed from the bottom, the shoe indicators align. The user may, after aligning the left and right shoe indicators may turn the shoes over together such that the left and right shoe indicators are obscured from view.
The left and right shoe indicators may be texturally or bodily integrated into the shoe. In other words, the left and right shoe indicators may be formed of the same material as any part of the shoe that such indicators are positioned on.
Further, the left and right shoe indicators may be in high contrast to any portion of the shoe the indicators are positioned on. For example, the left and right shoe indicators may comprise a color, or plurality of colors, that are distinct from the background or underlying color of the portion of the shoe.
Several advantages of the system and kit are that they:
Thus, it is an object of this invention to increase the independence of users by providing an indication of the proper orientation of shoes.
It is still a further object of this invention to provide high-contrast indicators that may be readily viewed by the user.
One or more of the above-disclosed embodiments, in addition to certain alternatives, are provided in further detail below with reference to the attached figures. The disclosed subject matter is not, however, limited to any particular embodiment disclosed.
The disclosed embodiments may be better understood by referring to the figures in the attached drawings, as provided below. The attached figures are provided as non-limiting examples for providing an enabling description of the method and system claimed. Attention is called to the fact, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered as limiting of its scope. One skilled in the art will understand that the invention may be practiced without some of the details included in order to provide a thorough enabling description of such embodiments. Well-known structures and functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments.
For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the drawing figures illustrate the general manner of construction, and descriptions and details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention. Additionally, elements in the drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention. The same reference numerals in different figures denote the same elements.
The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments described herein are, for example, capable of operation in sequences other than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. Furthermore, the terms “include,” and “have,” and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, system, article, device, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to those elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, system, article, device, or apparatus
The terms “couple,” “coupled,” “couples,” “coupling,” and the like should be broadly understood and refer to connecting two or more elements or signals, electrically, mechanically or otherwise. Two or more electrical elements may be electrically coupled, but not mechanically or otherwise coupled; two or more mechanical elements may be mechanically coupled, but not electrically or otherwise coupled; two or more electrical elements may be mechanically coupled, but not electrically or otherwise coupled. Coupling (whether mechanical, electrical, or otherwise) may be for any length of time, e.g., permanent or semi-permanent or only for an instant.
Having summarized various aspects of the present disclosure, reference will now be made in detail to that which is illustrated in the drawings. While the disclosure will be described in connection with these drawings, there is no intent to limit it to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed herein. Rather, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents included within the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
With reference to
In the exemplary embodiment of
The left and right shoe indicators 112, 122 may be texturally or otherwise bodily integrated into the shoe portion of the shoe to which it is applied. In other words, the left and right shoe indicators 112, 122 may be formed of the same material as any part of the shoe that such indicators are positioned on. In this exemplary embodiment, any fiber or material comprising insoles 114, 124 may be dyed to define the left and right shoe indicators 112, 122 in high visual contrast to any remaining portion of the insole 114, 124. For example, the left and right shoe indicators may comprise a color, or plurality of colors, that are visually distinct from the background or underlying color of the portion of the shoe to which the left and right shoe indicators are disposed. In some embodiments, the left and right shoe indicators may be embossed.
The same may be said for application of left and right indicators to an outer portion of respective left and right shoes, as will be discussed with reference to
Turning to
Of course, the united figure may take countless forms without departing from the invention. In general, the united figure may comprise any or a combination of letters, words, phrases, images, and symbols. These could further define animal drawings or pictures, logos or brand emblems, user names or nicknames, emoticons and emojis, faces, artistic drawings, photographs, pictures, drawings, or any other design visually distinguishable from the shoe surface to which they are applied. In the event that the united figure defines a word or phrase, it is contemplated that the invention may encourage reading development. However, the united figure may take any form or appearance as desired or needed, such as for aesthetic purposes; to reflect the wearer's interests, tastes, or sensibilities; to communicate or display a particular message; or for any other reason.
With reference to
It will be recognized that in the event that the left and right shoe indicators are disposed on any interior portion of the left and right shoes, such as in exemplary
While certain embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, various modifications are contemplated and can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the indicator system may be used in any item that a left and right indicator may be beneficial, including, without limitation, socks and gloves. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention not be limited, except as by the appended claim(s).
The teachings disclosed herein may be applied to other systems, and may not necessarily be limited to any described herein. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. All of the above patents and applications and other references, including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions and concepts of the various references described above to provide yet further embodiments of the invention.
Particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being refined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the shoe indicator system and kit with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be constructed to limit the shoe indicator system and kit to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification unless the above description section explicitly define such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the disclosed system, method and apparatus. The above description of embodiments of the shoe indicator system and kit is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the precise form disclosed above or to a particular field of usage.
While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the system and kit are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible for which those skilled in the relevant art will recognize.
While certain aspects of the method and system disclosed are presented below in particular claim forms, various aspects of the system and kit are contemplated in any number of claim forms. Thus, the inventor reserves the right to add additional claims after filing the application to pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects of the shoe indicator system and kit.
