SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ACCESSORY COUPLING

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/568,117, filed Mar. 21, 2024, entitled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ACCESSORY COUPLING” which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to accessory coupling, and more specifically to securely and releasably coupling personal items.

BACKGROUND

Customers often enjoy accessorizing personal articles, for example footwear. Children often enjoy carrying personal items on their person. Often such personal items can be dropped, misplaced, or stored in a manner that does not permit case of access by the child to the personal item, for example.

SUMMARY

A system for attaching a personal item to a shoe according to embodiments of the present disclosure includes: a shoe, wherein the shoe is a molded shoe made from a stretchable material, the shoe having a plurality of expandable holes 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 a first expandable hole of the plurality of expandable holes 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; a mounting patch coupled to the second shoulder, the mounting patch comprising a receiving surface that extends at least to a second expandable hole of the plurality of expandable holes, the second expandable hole is adjacent to the first expandable hole; a personal item comprising an attachment surface, the attachment surface configured to securely yet releasably couple to the receiving surface when the attachment surface is placed into contact with the receiving surface.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a system for attaching a personal item to a shoe includes: a shoe, wherein the shoe is a molded shoe made from a stretchable material, the shoe having a plurality of expandable holes 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 an expandable hole of the plurality of expandable holes 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; a mounting patch coupled to the second shoulder, the mounting patch comprising a receiving surface comprising at least one of the hooks and the loops of a hook and loop coupling system; and a personal item comprising an attachment surface, the attachment surface comprising at least another of the hooks and the loops of a hook and loop coupling system, the attachment surface configured to securely yet releasably couple to the receiving surface via the hook and loop coupling system when the attachment surface is placed into contact with the receiving surface, wherein a maximum dimension of the personal item is less than twice a width of the shoe.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a system for attaching a personal item to a shoe includes: a shoe, wherein the shoe is a molded shoe made from a stretchable material, the shoe having a plurality of expandable holes 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 a first expandable hole of the plurality of expandable holes 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; a mounting patch coupled to the second shoulder, the mounting patch comprising a receiving surface that extends at least to a second expandable hole of the plurality of expandable holes, the second expandable hole is adjacent to the first expandable hole, the receiving surface comprising the hooks of a hook and loop coupling system, and wherein the mounting patch has a maximum dimension larger than a maximum dimension of the second shoulder; a personal item comprising an attachment surface, the attachment surface comprising the loops of a hook and loop coupling system, the attachment surface configured to couple to the receiving surface via the hook and loop coupling system when the attachment surface is placed into contact with the receiving surface, wherein a maximum dimension of the personal item is less than twice a width of the shoe.

The system of any of paragraphs [0004] to [0006], wherein the personal item is a toy.

The system of any of paragraphs [0004] to [0007], wherein the personal item is made of plush material.

The system of any of paragraphs [0004] to [0008], wherein a maximum dimension of the personal item is less than twice a width of the shoe.

The system of any of paragraphs [0004] to [0009], wherein the personal item comprises the loops of a hook and loop coupling system.

The system of any of paragraphs [0004] to [0010], wherein the personal item has at least one separate pair of hooks and loops of a hook and loop coupling system.

The system of any of paragraphs [0004] to [0011], wherein the personal item has at least two separate pairs of hooks and loops of a hook and loop coupling system.

The system of any of paragraphs [0004] to [0012], wherein the personal item's outer surface is made entirely of textile material.

The system of any of paragraphs [0004] to [0013], wherein the mounting patch extends above the surface of the first expandable hole by no more than one inch.

The system of any of paragraphs [0004] to [0014], wherein the personal item is in the form of an animal.

The system of any of paragraphs [0004] to [0015], wherein the second shoulder is configured to engage an outer surface of the upper portion of the shoe.

The system of any of paragraphs to wherein the mounting patch and attachment surface are large enough to enable the personal item to be securely attached at any rotational orientation of the personal item to the mounting patch.

The system of any of paragraphs [0004] to [0017], wherein the mounting patch has a radial maximum dimension larger than a radial maximum dimension of the second shoulder.

The system of any of paragraphs [0004] to [0018], wherein the shoe and the mounting patch are coupled together only via the first shoulder, the shaft, and the second shoulder.

The system of any of paragraphs [0004] to [0019], wherein the personal item and the mounting patch are coupled together only via the receiving surface and the attachment surface.

The system of any of paragraphs [0004] to [0020], wherein the receiving surface has a maximum dimension larger than a maximum dimension of the second shoulder.

The system of any of paragraphs [0004] to [0021], wherein the personal item is a tool, a bag, a memento, a portable item, or a movable item.

While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments of the disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a medial side perspective view of a shoe.

FIG. 2 illustrates a personal item system, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side elevation view of an attachment charm system, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates a plush personal item, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates a top plan view of the shoe of FIGS. 1 and 2 and the attachment charm system of FIG. 3, according to embodiments of the present disclosures.

FIG. 6 illustrates a top plan view of the shoe and attachment charm system of FIG. 5, further including the plush personal item of FIG. 4 coupled to the attachment charm system according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 illustrates an exploded partial cross-sectional view of the shoe, attachment charm system, and plush personal item of FIGS. 5 and 6 taken along line 6-6 of FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 8 illustrates a top plan view of the shoe and attachment charm system of FIGS. 5 and 6 further including the plush personal item of FIGS. 4 and 6 in a different configuration with respect to the attachment charm system, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

While the disclosure is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are described in detail below. The intention, however, is not to limit the disclosure to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the disclosure is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure as described and as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a shoe 100 having a plurality of expandable holes. The shoe 100 has a first expandable hole 110 and a second expandable hole 120. The shoe 100 may also have a plurality of expandable holes 110, including more than two expandable holes. Hole 110 may be flexible and/or stretchable. In other embodiments, the shoe 100 can be replaced with a different article of clothing that has expandable holes.

FIG. 2 illustrates a system 200 for attaching a personal item 205 to a shoe 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, the personal item 205 can be, or serve as, a toy. In other embodiments, the personal item is another object that is small enough to be moved or carried, for example, a bag, article of clothing, tool, or other object. The personal item 205 has an attachment surface 235 configured to couple to a receiving surface 230. Receiving surface 230 is coupled to a mounting patch 225. In some embodiments the system 200 includes shoe 100. While personal item 205 described herein is a plush bear that can be, or serve as, a toy, a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, based on the present disclosure, that the structures and functions of the personal item 205 apply also to, and describe, other personal items 205.

In some instances, the attachment surface 235 is or is formed as an integral part of the personal item 205. In other instances, the attachment surface 235 is otherwise coupled to the personal item 205. According to some embodiments, the attachment surface 235 couples the personal item 205 to the receiving surface 230 of the mounting patch 225. In some embodiments, the attachment surface 235 and receiving surface 230 couple to one another via a pair of hook and loop couplers. According to some embodiments, the attachment surface 235 and receiving surface 230 include several pairs of hook and loop couplers, for example each of the attachment surface 235 and receiving surface 230 includes a hook portion and a loop portion of a hook and loop coupling system, and the surface at the other side can have a corresponding hook portion and loop portion.

In some embodiments, the attachment surface 235 includes only the loop portion of a hook and loop coupling system. Such a configuration can promote softness and/or gentleness of the personal item 205. Configuring the hook and loop coupling system in this manner facilitates touching of the personal item 205 by children and/or skin contact with the personal item by children, such as occurs through hugging or cuddling of the personal item 205. Using the loop portion of the hook and loop coupling system may thus present a surface that is less abrasive than using the hook portion on the personal item 205, for example. In other embodiments, the personal item 205 includes some or all of the hook portion of the hook and loop coupling system.

In some embodiments, the attachment surface 235 covers the entire outer surface 250 of the personal item 205. Such configurations can allow users of the system 200 to attach the personal item 205 in many different locations, according to the user's preference. In some embodiments, the attachment surface 235 covers a portion of the outer surface 250 of the personal item 205 that is less than the entire outer surface 250.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the receiving surface 230 is located on at least one surface of the mounting patch 225. In some embodiments, the receiving surface 230 is formed integrally with the mounting patch 225. In other embodiments, the receiving surface 230 is coupled to the mounting patch 225, for example via a sewing process, glue, and/or other coupling mechanisms. According to some embodiments, the receiving surface 230 covers an entire surface of the mounting patch 225 to present a surface area of larger size. In other embodiments, the receiving surface 230 includes a portion of a surface of the mounting patch 225. In other embodiments, the receiving surface 230 is distributed along and/or across multiple surfaces of the mounting patch 225.

In some embodiments, the receiving surface 230 is the same size and shape as the attachment surface 235. In other embodiments, the receiving surface 230 has a larger area than the attachment surface 235, and in yet other embodiments the receiving surface has a smaller area than the attachment surface 235. Selecting the relative sizes of the receiving surface 230 and the attachment surface 235 can allow a user flexibility in using the system 200 to attach the personal item 205 in different configurations. For example, the user may desire to attach the personal item 205 in different rotational orientations, and certain configurations of receiving surface 230 and attachment surface 235 may allow for different attachment orientations. Some configurations allow for the personal item 205 to attach at any orientation to the mounting patch 225. Further, in some embodiments, the system 200 can be rotated while engaged with the shoe 100, so that the mounting patch 225 can be rotated to different rotational orientations, allowing different attachment orientations of the personal item 205 relative to the shoe 100 without disengaging the system 200 from the shoe 100.

In some embodiments, the receiving surface 230 and attachment surface 235 can securely and releasably attach the personal item 205 to the mounting patch 225. According to some embodiments, the personal item 205 securely attaches to the mounting patch 225 such that during normal walking or running, or otherwise foreseeable uses of the shoe 100, the personal item 205 remains coupled to the mounting patch 225 and does not detach. According to some embodiments, the personal item 205 releasably attaches to the mounting patch 225 such that a user (e.g., a child) can manually attach and/or detach the personal item 205 to/from the mounting patch 225. According to some embodiments, the personal item 205 securely and releasably attaches to the mounting patch 225.

In some embodiments, the system 200, and particularly mounting patch 225, is sized and shaped to accommodate normal use of shoe 100. For example, the mounting patch 225 can be sized so that it does not extend too far outwardly from the surface of the shoe 100, from the surface of first expandable hole 110, other expandable holes. The mounting patch 225 may be sized to extend from the surface of the shoe 100 in a low-profile manner. Other aspects of the system 200, for example the shaft 220 or second shoulder 215, can be configured to also assume a low profile (or other size, shape, or ergonomic benefit) when in use.

According some embodiments, the receiving surface 230 and attachment surface 235 couple to one another with one or more of magnets, physical straps, chemicals, glue, or the like.

A shoe 100 is described as an example in the present disclosure, but in other embodiments the system 200 includes one or more other forms of clothing, wearable items, and/or personal items that include molded, expandable, flexible, or stretchable holes. For example the system 200 can be used with a wide array of items, for example footwear, bags, clothing, hats, belts, watches, bracelets, necklaces, toys, water bottles or other drinking vessels, purses, backpacks, fanny packs, phone cases or other electronics cases, bed frames, other personal items or objects, and the like.

FIG. 3 illustrates attachment charm system 255. In some embodiments, system 200 comprises attachment charm system 255. In other embodiments, system 200 does not comprise attachment charm system 255. The attachment charm system 255 includes a first shoulder 210, second shoulder 215, shaft 220, mounting patch 225, and receiving surface 230. The first shoulder 210, shaft 220, and second shoulder 215 of the attachment charm system 255 may be configured in the manner, and operate as, described with respect to the attachment systems described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,698,836, granted on Apr. 20, 2010, which is incorporated by reference here in its entirety for all purposes.

First shoulder 210 can be inserted through an expandable hole (for example, first expandable hole 110). In some embodiments, the diameter of first shoulder 210 is larger than the diameter of the expandable hole when the hole is in its unexpanded state. When inserted through the expandable hole 110, first shoulder 210 helps to secure the attachment charm system 255 to the shoe 100.

In some embodiments, the shaft 220 is coupled to first shoulder 210 and second shoulder 215, and in some embodiments the first shoulder 210 and second shoulder 215 are coupled to opposite ends of the shaft 220. In these embodiments, when the first shoulder 210 is inserted through the first expandable hole 110, the shaft 220 extends through the hole 110 and second shoulder 215 is effectively secured on the other side of the expandable hole 110.

In some embodiments, the mounting patch 225 is coupled to the second shoulder 215, for example by adhesive coupling, mechanical coupling, and/or integral formation. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the second shoulder 215 may comprise the mounting patch 225.

D1 is a maximum dimension of mounting patch 225, and D2 is a maximum dimension of the second shoulder 215. These maximum dimensions may be taken in a radial direction as shown in FIG. 3. As used herein, the “maximum dimension” of an element is used in its broadest sense to refer to a longest distance between two points of the element along a plane intersecting the element. In some embodiments D1 is larger than D2, and in some embodiments D1 is equal to D2. In other embodiments, the radial maximum dimension of the mounting patch 225 is larger than the radial maximum dimension of the second shoulder 215. In some embodiments, the distance D1 is at least a multiple of distance D2, for example D1 is at least a multiple of D2 by 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8.

In some embodiments, system 200 includes multiple attachment charm systems 255 and a shoe 100, each of the multiple charm systems 255 compatible with the shoe 100. With multiple attachment charm systems 255, a personal item or personal items 205 can be placed on the shoe 100 in different locations depending on a user's preference. For example, in some embodiments two different attachment charm systems 255 can be placed on a shoe 100. In such embodiments, a user could decide whether to place the personal item 205 on the first attachment charm system 255 or the second attachment charm system 255. In some embodiments, the user can use two or more attachment charm systems 255 in a way that allows the personal item 205 to attach to multiple attachment charm systems 255. In certain embodiments multiple different attachment charm systems 255 use the same coupling mechanism for coupling to personal item 205, and in some embodiments the multiple different attachment charm systems 255 use different coupling mechanisms for coupling to personal item 205. In some embodiments the personal item 205 has multiple different coupling mechanisms and in other embodiments the personal item 205 only has one form of coupling mechanism (e.g., only hook and loop coupling, only magnets, and/or the like). In some embodiments, the personal item 205 can be used interchangeably with attachment charm systems 255 worn by other users, in addition to the attachment charm system 255 worn by the user.

In some embodiments, one or more of the system 200, attachment charm system 255, and personal item 205 are modular. For example, in some embodiments the attachment charm system 255 is configured to engage both the left shoe and right shoe that constitute a pair of shoes, and in further embodiments attachment charm system 255 can be configured for engagement with different pairs of shoes. In such embodiments, for example, a user can use attachment charm system 255 with their own shoes, and can use the same attachment charm system 255 with another person's pair of shoes. In some embodiments, the system 200 is configured to selectively engage with both shoes in a pair of shoes, and in other embodiments the system 200 can be used with different pairs of shoes.

In some embodiments personal item 205 can be bundled with, packaged with, and/or sold alongside system 200 and/or attachment charm system 255, and in other embodiments these elements are unbundled, separately packaged, and/or sold separately. In some embodiments, multiple personal items 205 are sold together, in other embodiments multiple attachment charm systems 255 are sold together, and in further embodiments, multiple personal items 205 are bundled with, packaged with, and/or sold alongside multiple attachment charm systems 255.

FIG. 4 illustrates a personal item 205, according to some embodiments. In some embodiments the personal item 205 is in the form of a toy bear. In other embodiments, as described further below, personal item 205 may take other forms or be entirely different items.

In some embodiments, personal item 205 has a first pair of couplers 240. In certain embodiments, the first pair of couplers 240 is a pair of hook and loop couplers. For example, in an embodiment in which the personal item 205 has limbs, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the first pair of couplers 240 can be located on the limbs, for example on the bear's hands. In such an embodiment, this placement enables the limbs, for example the hand regions of the personal item 205, to be releasably coupled. Further, in some embodiments, one of the two regions that comprise the first pair of couplers 240 can also be attached to the attachment surface 235 of the personal item 205 or to the receiving surface 230 of the mounting patch 225, depending on the compatibility of each of the fastening regions involved.

According to some embodiments, the personal item 205 also includes a second pair of couplers 245 in addition to the first pair of couplers 240. In some embodiments the second pair of couplers 245 is a pair of hook and loop couplers. In the example according to which the personal item 205 has limbs, for example four limbs like the bear shown in FIG. 4, the second pair of couplers 245 could be located on the bear's feet to enable the bear's feet to be fastened together. According to some embodiments, the first pair of couplers 240 is separate from and/or independent of the attachment surface 235. According to some embodiments, the first pair of couplers 240, the second pair of couplers 245, and the attachment surface 235 are each separate from and/or independent of one another.

In some embodiments, the receiving surface 230 and attachment surface 235, the first separate pair of couplers 240, and the second separate pair of couplers 245, couple in the same manner. In such an embodiment the relevant portions of these pairs of couplers could be interoperable with other relevant portions of the other pairs of couplers. For example, one region comprising the first separate pair of couplers 240 could couple with one of the attachment surface 235, the receiving surface 230, or one region of the second separate pair of couplers 245. In such an embodiment, a user of the personal item 205, system 200, or attachment charm system 255 could attach the personal item 205 to mounting patch 225 in many different configurations, depending on the preference of the user.

In further embodiments the personal item 205 is not shaped like a bear but is shaped like a different animal. In some embodiments the personal item 205 is not shaped like an animal. The personal item 205 may be shaped in many ways, including other popular configurations for kids such as imaginary animals, television or movie characters, fictional characters, nonfictional characters, abstract shapes, or the like. Further, instead of being shaped as described above, personal item 205 may also be, for example, a tool, bag, memento, or any item that can be easily moved or carried.

In some embodiments, the outer surface 250 of the personal item 205 other than the attachment surface 235 is comprised of plush material. In other embodiments, the outer surface 250 consists entirely of plush material. In some embodiments, the ratio of the surface area of attachment surface 235 to the total surface area of outer surface 250 is at least a multiple, for example the ratio of the surface area of attachment surface 235 to the total surface area of outer surface 250 is at least a ratio of 0.01, 0.02, 0.03. 0.04, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, or 1.

In other embodiments, the outer surface 250 of the personal item 205 can be made with different materials, such as velvet, polymer, silk, textile material, or the like. Incorporating different materials into outer surface 250 can allow the user to select a desired material based on different preferences, including for example the personal item's comfort when pressed against the skin or otherwise used as a personal item may be used. Further, varying the relative size of the attachment surface 235 to the remainder of the personal item's 205 outer surface 250 can allow for the personal item 205 to be attached in multiple different orientations based on the user's desire.

FIG. 5 illustrates the attachment charm system 255 coupled to the shoe 100. In this illustrative embodiment, the first shoulder 210 (not shown) is inserted through first expandable hole 110 and is engaging to the shoe 100. In some embodiments the mounting patch 225 is large enough such that when the first shoulder 210 is inserted through first expandable hole 110, the mounting patch 225 extends to cover a portion of a second expandable hole 120. In FIG. 5, some expandable holes of the shoe 100 are covered by the mounting patch 225, and the location of the expandable holes beneath the mounting patch 225 are indicated via dashed lines.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment where the personal item 205 is attached to the mounting patch 225 via a connection between the receiving surface 230 and attachment surface 235. This embodiment is one way that the personal item 205 can be attached to the rest of system 200, based on the embodiment shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 depicts a cross section of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The cross section is taken along line 6 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. In FIG. 7, personal item 205 is inserted into the cross-sectional view just above the receiving surface 230, depicting a cross section of the system 200 where the attachment surface 235 of the personal item 205 is in close proximity, but is not in contact with the receiving surface 230. FIG. 7 illustrates the system 200 engaged to shoe 100, after the first shoulder 210 has been inserted through first expandable hole 110.

In some embodiments, mounting patch 225 is large enough to cover an expandable hole adjacent to first expandable hole 110, such as second expandable hole 120. In other embodiments, mounting patch 225 is large enough to cover multiple adjacent expandable holes. The mounting patch 225 in some embodiments may cover only a portion of one or more adjacent expandable holes. In other embodiments, the mounting patch 225 may be large enough to completely cover one, or multiple, adjacent expandable holes.

In some embodiments shaft 220 is smaller in diameter than first expandable hole 110. In other embodiments, shaft 220 is larger than first expandable hole 110 such that it fits snugly inside first expandable hole 110.

In some embodiments, second shoulder 215 fits snugly within first expandable hole 110. In other embodiments, second shoulder 215 is larger in diameter than first expandable hole 110. In yet other embodiments, second shoulder 215 is smaller in diameter than first expandable hole 110. In some embodiments, second shoulder 215, or shaft 220, have graduated sides such that the diameter of these elements changes or slopes along their respective lengths.

In some embodiments, a plurality of, or all of, the expandable holes in the shoe 100 have substantially the same diameter and any such expandable holes are configured to receive the attachment charm system 255.

FIG. 8 shows a top plan view of the system 200 engaged to shoe 100, including the personal item 205.

In some embodiments the personal item 205 has a maximum dimension D3 that is greater than the maximum width D4 of the shoe 100. As used herein, the “width” of the shoe refers to the width of the shoe in a medio-lateral direction. In some embodiments, the maximum dimension of the personal item D3 is not greater than twice the maximum width D4 of the shoe. The personal item 205 may be sized in many ways. One consideration in sizing the personal item 205 is how much the personal item 205 will overhang the shoe 100 when engaged to the shoe via system 200. Users may prefer that the personal item 205 is sized small enough such that the personal item 205 avoids contact with obstacles while walking, for example it may be desirable for the personal item 205 to be of such a size that the personal item freely passes by routine obstacles such as doorways, bike chains, car doors, or the like.

Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, while the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this disclosure also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.