US20210345732A1

US20210345732A1 - Interchangeable Shoe Monk Strap Apparatus

Info

Publication number: US20210345732A1
Application number: US17/315,118
Authority: US
Inventors: Derrick Robinson; Elizabeth Leighton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-05-07
Filing date: 2021-05-07
Publication date: 2021-11-11

Abstract

A footwear with interchangeable lace covers suited for formal or informal occasions is presented. The footwear with interchangeable lace covers contains a sole, an upper body, a cover insert, and at least one fastening implement. The upper body is connected on to the sole. The cover insert is removably attached to the upper body through the at least one fastening implement.

Description

The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 63/021,541 filed on May 7, 2020.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to footwear. More specifically, the present invention relates to a shoe strap that wraps around the shoe and provides various benefits, including preventing shoelaces from untying, improved appearance, and interchangeable designs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A device that covers shoelaces is in demand. Various types of shoes commonly employ laces that are drawn tight and tied to provide a relatively tight-fitting shoe. Shoelaces are generally long and thick and made of relatively smooth woven yarn materials. Thus, they often come untied during daily activities. Untied laces can cause safety issues because they can cause tripping or loss of balance due to shoes slipping off the foot. Accordingly, many people who wear shoes fastened with laces can feel uncomfortable with bowknots, which become untied at hazardous times and might cause tripping or catch on something.
Various attempts have been made to solve the problem, for example, a latch device for footwear that has a structure readily adapted to receive a shoelace, a shoelace retainer that includes a flexible elongated strap member with multiple hook fastener elements on one surface and multiple complementary loop fastener elements on the opposite surface, a removable miniature pouch device attached to the instep of a shoe to capture the lace, and a shoelace retention device for securing the loops and tails of a bowtie knot close to the shoe. However, the devices and the systems used to solve the problem are inconvenient to use and generally include complicated and bulky fastening means, making them unsuitable for typical shoes, especially formal shoes. Thus, there is a need to develop a device that can be easily worn to prevent shoelaces from coming untied without sacrificing the external design appearance of the shoe.
The present invention is intended to address problems associated with and/or otherwise improve on conventional devices through an innovative shoelace cover device designed to provide convenient use while incorporating other problem-solving features.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a footwear with interchangeable lace covers suited for formal or informal occasions. The footwear with interchangeable lace covers comprises a sole, an upper body, a cover insert, and at least one fastening implement. The upper body is connected on to the sole. The cover insert is removably attached to the upper body through the at least one fastening implement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is top view of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram view of the present invention that shows a pair of cover inserts.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. The present invention is to be described in detail and is provided in a manner that establishes a thorough understanding of the present invention. There may be aspects of the present invention that may be practiced or utilized without the implementation of some features as they are described. It should be understood that some details have not been described in detail in order to not unnecessarily obscure focus of the invention. References herein to “the preferred embodiment”, “one embodiment”, “some embodiments”, or “alternative embodiments” should be considered to be illustrating aspects of the present invention that may potentially vary in some instances, and should not be considered to be limiting to the scope of the present invention as a whole.
In reference to FIGS. 1-4, the present invention is a footwear with interchangeable lace covers 1 suited for formal or informal occasions. The footwear with interchangeable lace covers 1 comprises a sole 11, an upper body 12, a cover insert 13, and at least one fastening implement 14. The upper body 12 is connected on to the sole 11. The cover insert 13 is removably attached to the upper body 12 through the at least one fastening implement 14. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sole 11 may take the form of a shoe sole 11 but may also take the form of any other suitable footwear sole 11, such as, but not limited to soles 11 found in slippers, sandals, sneakers, boots, heels, or any other type of footwear. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the upper body 12 may take the form of a shoe upper body 12 but may also take the form of any other suitable footwear upper body 12, such as, but not limited to upper body's 12 found in slippers, sandals, sneakers, boots, heels, or any other type of footwear. The cover insert 13 removably attaches to the upper body 12, such that the covert insert protects the upper body 12. Additionally, the cover insert 13 is interchangeable, allowing different cover inserts 13 of varying ornamental design to replace along the upper body 12, such that the cover insert 13 complements the ornamental design of the upper body 12 and overall footwear. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cover insert 13 is made out of any suitable material, such as, but not limited to leather, pleather, rubber, silicone, fabric, or any other suitable material that complements the footwear design.
In reference to FIGS. 1, 3, and 4-5, each of the at least one fastening implement 14 comprises a first fastener 141 and a second fastener 142. The first fastener 141 is distributed about the upper body 12. The second fastener 142 is distributed about the cover insert 13. The first fastener 141 and the second fastener 142 are removable attached to each other, where the first fastener 141 and the second fastener 142 are configured to attach the cover insert 13 to the upper body 12. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first fastener 141 may take the form of a male button fastener that connects to the second fastener 142 that takes form of the corresponding female button fastener. In various embodiments, the first fastener 141 and the second fastener 142 may take the form of male and female strap and buckle fasteners, magnets, clips, or any other suitable fastening implement that removably attaches the cover insert 13 to the upper body 12.
In reference to FIGS. 3-5, each of the at least one fastening implement 14 comprises a first fastener 141 and a second fastener 142. The upper body 12 comprises a foot opening 121, a toe box 122, a throat 126, and a tongue 125. The foot opening 121 and the toe box 122 is terminally positioned opposite to each other along the upper body 12. The tongue 125 traverses from the foot opening 121 to the toe box 122. The throat 126 traverses along the tongue 125. The first fastener 141 is distributed about the throat. The second fastener 142 is distributed about the cover insert 13. The first fastener 141 and the second fastener 142 are removably attached to each other, where the first fastener 141 and the second fastener 142 are configured to attach the cover insert 13 to the throat 126. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cover insert 13 is oriented along the throat 126 part of the upper body 12, concealing and protecting the tongue 125. The cover insert 13 will also protect laces, straps, or bands that are intertwined along the tongue 125 and throat 126 region.
In another embodiment, the cover insert 13 comprises a first end 131 and a second end 132, as shown in FIG. 5. In reference to FIGS. 1, 3, and 4-5, each of the at least one fastening implement 14 comprises a first fastener 141, a second fastener 142, a third fastener 143, and a fourth fastener 144. In reference to FIGS. 1-4, the upper body 12 comprises a foot opening 121, a toe box 122, a first throat flap 123, and a second throat flap 124 and a tongue 125. The first end 131 and the second end 132 are terminally positioned opposite to each other along the cover insert 13. The foot opening 121 and the toe box 122 is terminally positioned opposite to each other along the upper body 12. The tongue 125 traverses from the foot opening 121 to the toe box 122. The first throat flap 123 second throat flap 124 traverses along the tongue 125. The first throat flap 123 is positioned opposite to the second throat flap 124 along the tongue 125. The first fastener 141 is distributed about the first throat flap 123. The second fastener 142 is distributed about the first end 131. The third fastener 143 is distributed about the second throat flap 124. The fourth fastener 144 is distributed about the second end 132. The first fastener 141 and the second fastener 142 are removably attached to each other, where the first fastener 141 and the second fastener 142 are configured to attach the first end 131 of the cover insert 13 to the first throat flap 123. The third fastener 143 and the fourth fastener 144 are removably attached to each other, where the third fastener 143 and the fourth fastener 144 are configured to attach the second end 132 of the cover insert 13 to the second throat flap 124. In this embodiment, the first fastener 141 and the second fastener 142 are a pair of button fastener elements. In this embodiment, the third fastener 143 and the fourth fastener 144 are a belt and buckle fastener element.
In reference to FIGS. 1-3 and 5, the cover insert 13 comprises an exterior surface 133 and a mounting surface 134. The mounting surface 134 traverses along the cover insert 13. The exterior surface 133 traverses along the cover insert 13, opposite to the mounting surface 134. The at least one fastening implement 14 is distributed about the interior surface. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the exterior surface 133 is a design exterior that complements the upper body 12 footwear design.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A footwear with interchangeable lace covers comprising:

a sole;

an upper body;

a cover insert;

at least one fastening implement;

the upper body being connected on to the sole; and

the cover insert being removably attached to the upper body through the at least one fastening implement.

2. The footwear with interchangeable lace covers as claimed in claim 1 comprising:

each of the at least one fastening implement comprising a first fastener and a second fastener;

the first fastener being distributed about the upper body;

the second fastener being distributed about the cover insert; and

the first fastener and the second fastener being removable attached to each other, wherein the first fastener and the second fastener are configured to attach the cover insert to the upper body.

3. The footwear with interchangeable lace covers as claimed in claim 1 comprising:

the upper body comprising a foot opening, a toe box, a throat, and a tongue;

the foot opening and the toe box being terminally positioned opposite to each other along the upper body;

the tongue traversing from the foot opening to the toe box;

the throat traversing along the tongue;

the first fastener being distributed about the throat;

the second fastener being distributed about the cover insert; and

the first fastener and the second fastener being removably attached to each other, wherein the first fastener and the second fastener are configured to attach the cover insert to the throat.

4. The footwear with interchangeable lace covers as claimed in claim 1 comprising:

the cover insert comprising a first end and a second end;

each of the at least one fastening implement comprising a first fastener, a second fastener, a third fastener, and a fourth fastener;

the upper body comprising a foot opening, a toe box, a first throat flap, and a second throat flap and a tongue;

the first end and the second end being terminally positioned opposite to each other along the cover insert;

the tongue traversing from the foot opening to the toe box;

the first throat flap second throat flap traversing along the tongue;

the first throat flap being positioned opposite to the second throat flap along the tongue;

the first fastener being distributed about the first throat flap;

the second fastener being distributed about the first end;

the third fastener being distributed about the second throat flap;

the fourth fastener being distributed about the second end;

the first fastener and the second fastener being removably attached to each other, wherein the first fastener and the second fastener are configured to attach the first end of the cover insert to the first throat flap; and

the third fastener and the fourth fastener being removably attached to each other, wherein the third fastener and the fourth fastener are configured to attach the second end of the cover insert to the second throat flap.

5. The footwear with interchangeable lace covers as claimed in claim 1 comprising:

the cover insert comprising an exterior surface and a mounting surface;

the mounting surface traversing along the cover insert;

the exterior surface traversing along the cover insert, opposite to the mounting surface; and

the at least one fastening implement being distributed about the interior surface.

6. The footwear with interchangeable lace covers as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first fastener and the second fastener are a button fastener element.

7. The footwear with interchangeable lace covers as claimed in claim 4, wherein the third fastener and the fourth fastener are a belt and buckle fastener element.

8. The footwear with interchangeable lace covers as claimed in claim 5, wherein the exterior surface is a design exterior.