Utility article attachable to footwear

• US 5,596,821 A
• Filed: 06/21/1995
• Issued: 01/28/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alan J. Solo
• Original Assignee: Alan J. Solo
• Inventors: Solo, Alan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kavanaugh, Ted
• Application Number:
  US08/493,320
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 36/136, 36/132, 36/137, 206/37.1, 206/37.4, 206/38.1, 206/459.1, 224/42.11, 224/429, 224/430
• US Class Current: 36/136
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0036 with fluorescent or phosphorescent parts
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/24 Ornamental buckles; Other ornaments for shoes without fastening function
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0031 provided with a pocket, e.g. for keys or a card
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0078 provided with logos, letters, signatures or the like decoration A43B23/24 takes precedence

Abstract

A utility article attachable to footwear, including, for example, shoes, sneakers, skates, and the like, includes a central, generally planar portion which can be removably secured to the item of footwear by a pair of holes or elongate slots through which the ends of shoe laces or attachment straps can pass and be connected in a conventional way. Securing the central portion to the item of footwear causes two lateral or side portions to press or abut against the item of footwear. An embodiment is disclosed in which the side portions include pockets or compartments for storing personal articles, such as a key, money or identification. When storage pockets are provided, flaps are used to selectively open or close the same. Opening of the flaps provides access to the compartments in the pockets and cup portions are preferably provided which provide a cavity or recess when the flaps are opened to facilitate the placement of a finger underneath the personal item and its removal from the pockets. The article, with or without the .side pockets, is preferably formed of a plastic material which includes a phosphorescent or luminescent additive which makes the article glow at night. Optional reflectors are preferably used for enhancing the safety of the user at night. The article, with or without the pockets, is also advantageously provided with one or more writing surfaces on which identifying information may be written.

Claims

1. Utility article in combination with footwear having an upper which has a central section and two side sections one on each side of said central section, the utility article comprising a generally planar central portion and two side portions one on each side of said central portion;

attachment means on said central portion for detachably attaching said central portion to the central section of the shoe upper, said two side portions being arranged in planes inclined at angles relative to the plane of said central portion to configure the utility article generally in a U-shaped to form a shoe-receiving space for receiving the shoe upper, said central portion being dimensioned and said side portions being inclined at angles selected to cause said side portions to abut against corresponding side sections of the shoe upper when said central portion is secured to the central section of the shoe upper to thereby securely attach the utility article to the shoe during normal use.

2. Utility article as defined in claim 1, wherein said central portion and side portions are integrally joined to each other.

3. Utility article as defined in claim 2, wherein the article is formed of a flexible material and said side portions are joined to said central portion along plastic hinges.

4. Utility article as defined in claim 3, Wherein the article is formed of a plastic material.

5. Utility article as defined in claim 4, wherein the article is formed of polypropylene.

6. Utility article as defined in claim 1, wherein each side portion includes a pocket suitable for storage of an item to be carried.

7. Utility article as defined in claim 6 in combination with a key, wherein said pocket defines a space suitable for receiving a key with little clearance.

8. Utility article as defined in claim 7, further comprising a pocket flap associated with each pocket for selectively providing access to said pocket.

9. Utility article as defined in claim 8, further comprising latch means for maintaining said flap in a closed condition.

10. Utility article as defined in claim 9, wherein said latch means comprises a hole in said flap, and generally a hook-shaped latch having a long leg attached to said pocket and a short leg forming a free end, said latch being positioned on a pocket to be received within said hole of an associated flap to be retained by said free end of said latch and be released when said legs are squeezed towards each other to cause said free end to clear said flap and pass through said hole.

11. Utility article as defined in claim 8, further comprising indentation means on at least one of said pocket flaps and said pocket to form a recess when said flap is opened to facilitate placement of fingers on both sides an item stored in a compartment.

12. Utility article as defined in claim 11, wherein said indentation means comprises spherical portions to form a generally hemi-spherical recess when said flap is open.

13. Utility article as defined in claim 1, wherein the footwear are shoes using laces to secure the shoes to the feet of the user, and said attachment means comprises a pair of holes formed in said central portion for receiving the ends of shoe laces.

14. Utility article as defined in claim 1, wherein the footwear are skates using flat straps to secure the skates to the feet of the user, and said attachment comprises a pair of elongate slots formed in said central portion for receiving the flat straps.

15. Utility article as defined in claim 1, wherein the article is formed of a phosphorescent material.

16. Utility article as defined in claim 1, further comprising hinge means for movably connecting each side portion to said central portion.

17. Utility article as defined in claim 16, wherein the article is formed of plastic and said hinge means comprise plastic hinges.

18. Utility article as defined in claim 1, wherein the upper has side sections which generally define predetermined angles with the central section of the upper, said side portions defining angles with said central portion which are less than said predetermined angles, whereby securing said central portion into abutment against the central section of the upper causes said angles between said central and side portions to increase to thereby straddle the upper with said side portions in pressure abutment against the side sections of the upper.

19. Utility article as defined in claim 1, wherein said central portion is provided with an inward cutout between said side portions to provide a clearance with the foot of the user during use.

20. Utility article as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for angularly raising that portion of the article closest to the ankle of the user in relation to that portion most remote from the ankle to cause at least one edge of the article to be forced against the upper, whereby the article is stabilized in relation to the upper when attached thereto.