System and method for securing accessories to clothing

• US 7,698,836 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2006
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jibbitz LLC (Crocs Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Jibbitz LLC (Crocs Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schmelzer, Richard, Schmelzer, Sheri
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavinder; Jack W.
• Application Number:
  US11/408,130
• Publication Number:
  US 20070006502A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,461 Days
• Field of Search: 24/901, 241/01.B, 241/01.R, 241/02, 241/13.R, 241/149, 247/131, 247135-7145, 36/1, 36 501- 52, 36136-139, 63/11.1, 63/11.8, 63/33, 63/40
• US Class Current: 36/136
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/24 Ornamental buckles; Other ornaments for shoes without fastening function
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0078 provided with logos, letters, signatures or the like decoration A43B23/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/24 Ornamental buckles or other ornaments for shoes, with fastening function buckles in general A44B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 1/14 with replaceable or protective coverings removable fabric coverings A44B1/123; sleeve-links concealing a sewed-on button A44B5/007
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 1/32 Shank inserted into counterpiece and locked by sliding or rotating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/18 Cuff holder
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3632 Link
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3647 Integral piece
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3694 Ornamental type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3696 for cuff or collar

Abstract

A system and method for securing accessories to shoes and other articles of clothing is described. One illustrative embodiment is a system for attaching a decorative accessory to a shoe, the system comprising a shaft having first and second ends; a first shoulder secured to the first end of the shaft, the first shoulder being configured for insertion through an expandable hole in an upper portion of the shoe and configured to engage an inner surface of the upper portion of the shoe; a second shoulder secured to the second end of the shaft, the second shoulder being configured to engage the shoe; and a third shoulder adjacent to the second shoulder, the third shoulder comprising the decorative accessory. Another illustrative embodiment is a system for securing a decorative accessory to a shoe, the system comprising a shoe having an upper portion, the upper portion having an inner surface, an outer surface, and at least one stretchable hole; a shaft having first and second ends; a first shoulder secured to the first end of the shaft, the first shoulder being configured for insertion through the at least one stretchable hole in the upper portion of the shoe and to engage the inner surface of the upper portion of the shoe; a second shoulder secured to the second end of the shaft, the second shoulder being configured to engage the shoe; and a third shoulder adjacent to the second shoulder, the third shoulder comprising the decorative accessory.

Claims

1. A system for attaching a decorative accessory to a shoe, the system comprising:

a shoe, wherein the shoe is a molded shoe made from a stretchable material;

a shaft having first and second ends;

a first shoulder secured to the first end of the shaft, the first shoulder being configured for insertion through an expandable hole in an upper portion of the shoe and configured to engage an inner surface of the upper portion of the shoe;

a second shoulder secured to the second end of the shaft, the second shoulder being configured to engage the shoe; and

a third shoulder adjacent to the second shoulder, the third shoulder comprising the decorative accessory.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first shoulder comprises a low-profile shoulder.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second shoulder is configured to engage an outer surface of the upper portion of the shoe.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the third shoulder is configured to engage an outer surface of the upper portion of the shoe and the second shoulder is configured to fit within the expandable hole in its unexpanded state, the second shoulder providing lateral stability.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the decorative accessory is configured to engage an outer surface of the upper portion of the shoe.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the third shoulder is flush mounted to the second shoulder.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the third shoulder is molded around a fourth shoulder that extends from a top surface of the second shoulder.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the third shoulder is molded around a head portion of a pin, the head portion of the pin extending from a top surface of the second shoulder, the second shoulder being molded around a needle portion of the pin.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the shaft and at least one of the first, second, and third shoulders are integrally formed as a single piece.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the shaft and the first, second, and third shoulders are integrally formed as a single piece.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the first shoulder is removably secured to the shaft.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first shoulder comprises a bayonet-fastener receiver.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the shaft includes a bayonet-fastener for engaging the bayonet-fastener receiver.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the first shoulder comprises a snap receiver.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the shaft includes a nipple for engaging the snap receiver.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the first shoulder comprises a first portion of a barrel nut.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the shaft comprises a second portion of a barrel nut configured to engage the first portion of the barrel nut, the first and second portions of the barrel nut being opposite in gender.

18. A system for securing a decorative accessory to a shoe, the system comprising;

a shoe having an upper portion, the upper portion having an inner surface, an outer surface, and at least one stretchable hole;

a shaft having first and second ends;

a first shoulder secured to the first end of the shaft, the first shoulder being configured for insertion into the at least one stretchable hole in the upper portion of the shoe and to engage the inner surface of the upper portion of the shoe;

a second shoulder secured to the second end of the shaft, the second shoulder being configured to engage the shoe; and

a third shoulder adjacent to the second shoulder, the third shoulder comprising the decorative accessory.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the second shoulder is configured to engage the outer surface of the upper portion of the shoe.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the third shoulder is configured to engage the outer surface of the upper portion of the shoe and the second shoulder is configured to fit within the at least one stretchable hole in its relaxed state, the second shoulder providing lateral stability.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the decorative accessory is configured to engage the outer surface of the upper portion of the shoe.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the shaft and at least one of the first, second, and third shoulders are integrally formed as a single piece.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the shaft and the first, second, and third shoulders are integrally formed as a single piece.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein the first shoulder is removably secured to the shaft.

25. The system of claim 18, wherein the shoe is a molded shoe made from a stretchable material.

26. A system for securing a decorative accessory, the system comprising;

a shoe having at least one expandable hole in an upper portion of the shoe;

a shaft having first and second ends;

a first shoulder secured to the first end of the shaft, the first shoulder being configured for insertion through one of the at least one expandable hole and configured to engage an inner surface of the upper portion of the shoe, the first shoulder being larger in diameter than the expandable hole through which it is inserted when that expandable hole is in its unexpanded state; and

a second shoulder secured to the second end of the shaft, the second shoulder being configured to engage an outer surface of the upper portion of the shoe, the second shoulder comprising the decorative accessory.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein at least the first shoulder and the shaft are integrally formed as a single piece of flexible material.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the second shoulder is the decorative accessory.

29. A system for ornamenting a shoe, the system comprising;

a molded shoe having an expandable circular hole in an upper portion of the molded shoe;

a shaft having first and second ends;

a first shoulder secured to the first end of the shaft, the first shoulder configured for insertion through the expandable circular hole and configured to engage an inner surface of the upper portion of the molded shoe, the first shoulder being circular and larger in diameter than the expandable circular hole through which the first shoulder is inserted when that expandable circular hole is in its unexpanded state; and

a second shoulder secured to the second end of the shaft, the second shoulder configured to engage an outer surface of the upper portion of the molded shoe while the first shoulder engages the inner surface of the upper portion of the molded shoe, the second shoulder comprising a decorative accessory.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the upper portion of the molded shoe between the inner surface and the outer surface is a single layer.

31. A system for ornamenting a shoe, the system comprising;

a shoe;

a stretchable hole formed in the shoe;

a shaft having first and second ends;

a first shoulder secured to the first end of the shaft, the first shoulder configured for insertion through the stretchable hole, the first shoulder further configured to engage an inner surface of the shoe, the first shoulder being larger than the stretchable hole through which the first shoulder is inserted when that stretchable hole is in its unstretched state, such that the stretchable hole stretches upon insertion of the first shoulder for any orientation of the first shoulder with respect to the stretchable hole; and

a second shoulder secured to the second end of the shaft, the second shoulder configured to engage an outer surface of the shoe while the first shoulder engages the inner surface of the shoe, the second shoulder comprising a decorative accessory.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein at least the first shoulder and the shaft are integrally formed as a single piece of flexible material.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the second shoulder is the decorative accessory.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein the shaft and at least one of the first and second shoulders are integrally formed as a single piece.

35. The system of claim 31, wherein the shaft and the first and second shoulders are integrally formed as a single piece.

36. A system for attaching a decorative accessory, the system comprising;

a shoe having an expandable hole;

a shaft having first and second ends;

a first shoulder secured to the first end of the shaft, the first shoulder being configured for insertion through the expandable hole and configured to engage an inner surface of the shoe;

a second shoulder secured to the second end of the shaft, the second shoulder being configured to engage the shoe; and

a third shoulder adjacent to the second shoulder, the third shoulder comprising the decorative accessory.