System and method for securing accessories to clothing

• US 8,782,814 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2010
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• 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:
  US12/718,863
• Publication Number:
  US 20100162591A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,600 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 2/170
• 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 wearable item, the system comprising:

a wearable item, wherein the wearable item comprises a molded portion and an expandable hole formed in the molded portion, the expandable hole extending between an innermost surface of the wearable item and an outermost surface of the wearable item and the innermost surface located opposite the outermost surface;

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 in the wearable item and configured to engage the innermost surface of the wearable item;

a second shoulder secured to the second end of the shaft, the second shoulder being configured to engage the wearable item; 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 partially defined by a surface opposite the first end of the shaft.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second shoulder is configured to engage the outermost surface of the wearable item.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the third shoulder is configured to engage the outermost surface of the wearable item 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 the outermost surface of the wearable item.

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 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.

8. 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.

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

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the molded portion includes a single layer of molded material extending between the innermost surface and the outermost surface, and wherein the expandable hole is formed in the single layer of molded material.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the first shoulder is configured to engage a portion of the innermost surface of the wearable item that is not countersunk or counterbored.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the first shoulder includes a surface configured to engage the innermost surface of the wearable item, wherein the surface is substantially parallel to the innermost surface of the wearable item.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the innermost surface and the outermost surface of the wearable item are separated by a first distance at the expandable hole, and wherein the innermost surface and the outermost surface of the wearable item are separated by a second distance that is substantially equal to or less than the first distance at a location near the expandable hole.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the location near the expandable hole is closer to a midpoint of the expandable hole than a side of the first shoulder is to a midpoint of the first shoulder.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein a width of the first shoulder is substantially greater than or equal to a width of the second shoulder.

16. A system for securing a decorative accessory, the system comprising:

an article of clothing having an exterior surface, an interior surface and at least one expandable hole formed in a molded portion of the article of clothing, the expandable hole extending between and through the exterior surface and the interior surface of the article of clothing;

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 the interior surface of the article of clothing, the first shoulder being larger in diameter than the expandable hole through which it is inserted when the 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 the exterior surface of the article of clothing, the second shoulder comprising the decorative accessory.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein at least the first shoulder and the shaft are integrally formed as a single piece of flexible material.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the second shoulder is the decorative accessory.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the article of clothing consists of one of the following:

a belt, a hat, and a scarf.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the expandable hole extends between the exterior surface and the interior surface of the article of clothing through a single layer of molded material.