Elastomeric fastener

• US 8,590,121 B1
• Filed: 09/07/2006
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brian Benjamin Witlin
• Original Assignee: Jibbitz LLC (Crocs Incorporated)
• Inventors: Patt, Douglas Charles Jr., Witlin, Brian Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): SANDY, ROBERT JOHN
• Application Number:
  US11/530,005
• Time in Patent Office: 2,637 Days
• Field of Search: 247/131, 24D/IG.37, 36/51
• US Class Current: 24/713.1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0078 provided with logos, letters, signatures or the like decoration A43B23/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/105 characterised by the shape or layout of the toestrap
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/126 characterised by the shape or layout of the straps
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/22 Fastening devices with elastic tightening parts between pairs of eyelets, e.g. clamps, springs, bands
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/24 Ornamental buckles or other ornaments for shoes, with fastening function buckles in general A44B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3729 and forming lacing tips

Abstract

An elastomeric fastener is configured for securing various articles. The elastomeric fasteners include one or more locking mechanisms. In various embodiments, the elastomeric fasteners are configured to secure an article of clothing, such as a shoe. The elastomeric fasteners may be used in combination to form an image.

Claims

1. An elastomeric fastener system comprising:

a body including an elastomeric material configured to stretch so as to secure an article of footwear to a foot;

a first locking mechanism disposed at a first end of the body and configured to attach to the article of footwear, the body including a curved portion in contact with the first locking mechanism at an angle greater than ten degrees; and

a second locking mechanism disposed at a second end of the body and configured to be attached and detached from the article of footwear by a user by passing the second locking mechanism through an opening in the footwear, wherein the second locking mechanism locks into place because it expands once it has passed fully through the opening.

2. The elastomeric fastener system of claim 1, wherein the second locking mechanism includes a hook or slot configured to receive a hook.

3. The elastomeric fastener system of claim 1, further including the article of footwear.

4. The elastomeric fastener system of claim 3, wherein the article of footwear includes a boot.

5. The elastomeric fastener system of claim 3, wherein the article of footwear includes a sandal.

6. The elastomeric fastener system of claim 1, wherein the first locking mechanism is permanently attached to the article of footwear.

7. The elastomeric fastener system of claim 1, wherein the second locking mechanism and the body are of the same material.

8. The elastomeric fastener system of claim 1, wherein the body includes an image or text disposed to be visible when the second locking mechanism is attached to the article of footwear.

9. The elastomeric fastener system of claim 1, further including a third locking mechanism attached to the body and configured to be attached and detached from the article of footwear by a user.

10. The elastomeric fastener system of claim 1, wherein the first locking mechanism includes a first surface, a second surface and a plurality of edge surfaces, the curved portion being in greater contact with the first surface relative to any of the plurality of edge surfaces.

11. The elastomeric fastener of claim 1, wherein the curved portion is in contact with the first locking mechanism.

12. The elastomeric fastener system of claim 1, wherein the first locking mechanism includes a triangular arrow configured to pass through the opening in the footwear.

13. The elastomeric fastener system of claim 1, wherein the first locking mechanism extends past the curved portion towards a location of the attachment of the first locking mechanism to the article of footwear.

14. The elastomeric fastener system of claim 1, wherein the curved portion includes a curve down transition point from the first end of the body to the body itself.

15. The elastomeric fastener system of claim 1, wherein the curved portion is in contact with the first locking mechanism at an angle greater than thirty-five degrees.

16. The elastomeric fastener system of claim 1, wherein the body includes a light.

17. The elastomeric fastener system of claim 1, wherein the body includes a light.

18. The elastomeric fastener system of claim 1, wherein the body includes a writable surface.

19. An elastomeric fastener system for securing an article of clothing having a first coupling point and a second coupling point, the system comprising:

a body including an elastomeric material, the body having a first end and a second end that are offset from the body;

a first locking mechanism associated with the first end of the body; and

a second locking mechanism associated with the second end of the body, the first and second locking mechanisms being disposed below an upper surface of the body;

wherein the first locking mechanism is capable of being passed through the first coupling point and the second locking mechanism is capable of being passed through the second coupling point, the body is capable of being positioned entirely above an outer surface of the article of clothing and is capable of exerting a tensile force on the first coupling point and the second coupling point to secure the article of clothing.

20. The elastomeric fastener system of claim 19, wherein the first locking mechanism is a deformable elastomeric member which is configured to be attached and detached from the article of clothing by a user deforming the first locking mechanism before passing the same through the first coupling point, and wherein the second locking mechanism is a deformable elastomeric member.

21. The elastomeric fastener system of claim 19, wherein the article of clothing is a shoe, and wherein the body is configured to lay flat across when extending across an upper of the shoe between the first coupling point and the second coupling point.

22. An elastomeric fastener system comprising:

a first elastomeric fastener comprising

a first body including an elastomeric material configured to stretch so as to secure an article of footwear to a foot,

a first locking mechanism attached to the first body and configured to attach to the article of footwear, and

a second locking mechanism attached to the first body and configured to be attached and detached from the article of footwear by a user, the second locking mechanism including an arrow, the first and second locking mechanisms being disposed below an upper surface of the first body; and

a second elastomeric fastener comprising

a second body including an elastomeric material configured to stretch so as to secure the article of footwear to a foot,

a third locking mechanism attached to the second body and configured to attach to the article of footwear, and

a fourth locking mechanism attached to the second body and configured to be attached and detached from the article of footwear by the user by passing the second locking mechanism through an opening in the footwear, the third and fourth locking mechanisms being disposed below an upper surface of the second body.

23. The elastomeric fastener system of claim 22, further including an image configured to be displayed using the first body and the second body.

24. The elastomeric fastener system of claim 22, wherein the first body includes a first pattern and the second body includes a second pattern, the first pattern and the second pattern configured to form an image in combination.

25. The elastomeric fastener system of claim 22, wherein the first body includes an edge configured to conform with an edge of the second body.

26. The elastomeric fastener system of claim 25, wherein the edge of the first body has a different shape than the edge of the second body.

27. An elastomeric fastener system comprising:

a first elastomeric fastener comprising

a first body including an elastomeric material configured to stretch so as to secure an article of footwear to a foot, and including a first part of an image, the first body having rounded edges;

a first locking mechanism including a hook-and-loop fastening system, the hook-and-loop fastening system attached to the first body and attached to an outer surface of a first side of an upper of the article of footwear, and

a second locking mechanism including a hook-and-loop fastening system, the hook-and-loop fastening system attached to the first body and attached to an outer surface of a second side of the upper of the article of footwear; and

a second elastomeric fastener comprising

a second body including an elastomeric material configured to stretch so as to secure the article of footwear to the foot, and including a second different part of the image, the second body having rounded edges,

a third locking mechanism attached to the second body and configured to attach to the article of footwear,

and a fourth locking mechanism attached to the second body and configured to be attached and detached from the article of footwear by the user by passing the fourth locking mechanism through an opening in the footwear.

28. An elastomeric fastener system for securing together a first section and a second section of a footwear, the system comprising:

an elastomeric body having a first resilient locking member disposed on a first end and attachable to a first section of the footwear and a second resilient locking member disposed on a second end, the first and second resilient locking members being disposed below an upper surface of the elastomeric body; and

wherein when the first resilient locking member is passed through a first opening formed in the first section of the footwear and when the second resilient locking member is passed through a second opening formed in the second section of the footwear, the first resilient locking member engages with the first opening and the second resilient locking member engages with the second opening to create tensile forces in the elastomeric body that urge the first and second sections of the footwear towards one another to secure the footwear around at least a portion of a foot of an individual.

29. The elastomeric fastener system of claim 28, wherein the first and second resilient locking members are positioned below and offset from the elastomeric body, and the elastomeric body is flat.

30. The elastomeric fastener system of claim 28, wherein the first and second resilient locking members are substantially non-parallel and non-coplanar relative to the elastomeric body.

31. The elastomeric fastener system of claim 28, wherein the first resilient locking member is fixedly attached to the first section of the footwear.

32. The elastomeric fastener system of claim 28, wherein an upper surface of the second resilient locking member contacts a lower surface of the second section of the footwear.

33. The elastomeric fastener system of claim 28, wherein the elastomeric body includes an image or text disposed to be visible when the second resilient locking member is attached to the second section of the footwear.

34. The elastomeric fastener system of claim 28, further including a third locking member attached to the elastomeric body and releasably associable with an additional section of the footwear.

35. The elastomeric fastener system of claim 28, further including the footwear.

36. An elastomeric fastener, comprising:

a first elastomeric locking mechanism;

a second elastomeric locking mechanism; and

a body extending between the first and second elastomeric locking mechanisms, the body having a length such that the body extends only between laterally adjacent eyelets of an article of footwear and urges the laterally adjacent eyelets towards one another, wherein the first and second elastomeric locking mechanisms are disposed below an upper surface of the body.

37. An elastomeric fastener, comprising:

an elastomeric body having opposing terminal ends; and

two identical elastomeric locking mechanisms that are each resiliently biased at an upward angle relative to the elastomeric body, each of the two identical elastomeric locking mechanisms extending past one of the opposing terminal ends of the elastomeric body, wherein the two identical elastomeric locking mechanisms are disposed below an upper surface of the body.

38. An elastomeric fastener for an article of footwear, the article of footwear comprising at least four eyelets, a first and third eyelet disposed along a first longitudinal axis, and a second and fourth eyelet disposed along a second longitudinal axis, the first and second longitudinal axes being disposed substantially parallel to one another, the fastener comprising:

a first elastomeric locking mechanism that passes through the first eyelet;

a second elastomeric locking mechanism that passes through the second eyelet; and

an elastomeric body that exerts tensional forces on the first and second elastomeric locking mechanisms, which, in turn, exert tensional forces on the first and second eyelets, wherein the first and second elastomeric locking mechanisms are disposed below an upper surface of the elastomeric body.