| Uni-sex multi-sport footwear accessory -> Monitor Keywords |
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Uni-sex multi-sport footwear accessoryRelated Patent Categories: Boots, Shoes, And Leggings, Boots And Shoes, Foot-supporting Or Foot-conforming Feature, Ankle SupportUni-sex multi-sport footwear accessory description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20050252041, Uni-sex multi-sport footwear accessory. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to footwear accessories, and particularly to a footwear accessory that ornamentally displays indicia. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] Decorative displays on shirts, shoes, and other such products that may be worn by consumers have become a prosperous facet of the clothing industry. Once plain shirts now often feature elaborate designs of famous artists, and virtually every sport-related item of clothing now displays a professional team's or sporting company's logo. There are few additional avenues left for visual displays that may be worn on items of clothing, sportswear or the like. While some clothing items that do not immediately lend themselves to displaying ornamental designs have incorporated such designs on the item of clothing, new clothing items do not abound. [0005] In addition, although there are various items of clothing such as ankle braces, shoes, etc. that may be placed on feet or around ankles, these items are used for therapeutic purposes, generally to support the feet and ankles. They are designed to restrict movement of the ankle and foot, thus to prevent injuries. However, there are no footwear accessories, the sole purpose of which is ornamental display of indicia. [0006] Accordingly, there is a need for a footwear accessory used to display indicia. [0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,792,087, issued Aug. 11, 1998 to J. Pringle, describes an ankle brace that controls pivotal movement of the foot about the ankle joint. The ankle brace includes a support member, an upper cuff and braces extended on either side of the user's leg. In addition, stop members are utilized to control pivotal movement of the foot about the ankle in order to prevent injury. [0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,902,259, issued May 11, 1999 to G. Wilkerson, describes a therapeutic ankle orthosis that permits pivotal movement of the foot about the ankle joint. A medial and a foot shell overlap and are pivotally connected to allow for movement by a user. Multiple straps are used to secure the shells to each other and about the foot and ankle. Additionally, the therapeutic ankle orthosis increases the compression effect on ankle tissues in order to control swelling. [0009] U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. US 2003/0083603 A1, published May 1, 2003 and invented by R. Nelson, describes a bootlike ankle brace allowing flexion and extension while preventing certain injury-causing movements, such as inversion, twisting and the like. The brace allows the user to place his foot within it and is laced together through eyelets in ends of the brace. The brace is constructed with a medial member and a lateral member that receive the user's ankle and foot, respectively. The ankle brace is designed to limit certain types of movement by the user. [0010] U.S. Pat. No. Des. 335,000, issued Apr. 20, 1993 to K. Johnson, shows a knee protector having indicia thereon. [0011] Other patents showing clothing items displaying indicia thereon include U.S. Pat. No. Des. 339,671, issued Sep. 28, 1993 to R. Manning (foot case cover); U.S. Pat. No. Des. 377,241, issued Jan. 7, 1997 to P. Kenner (face shield for winter outdoor activities). [0012] Other patents showing ankle bands or similar include U.S. Pat. No. Des. 417,036, issued Nov. 23, 1999 to L. Hamowy (combined knee and elbow pad); U.S. Pat. No. Des. 417,933, issued Dec. 21, 1999 to S. Hanley et al. (combined knee and elbow pads); U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. US 2002/0029009 A1, published Mar. 7, 2002 and invented by G. Bowman (rigid ankle and foot orthosis); U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. US 2003/0153857 A1, published Aug. 14, 2003 and invented by F. McCarthy et al. (pneumatic achilles sleeve); U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. US 2003/0171706 A1, published Sep. 11, 2003 and invented by R. Nelson (adjustable size ankle brace); U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. US 2003/0233062 A1, published Dec. 18, 2003 and invented by S. McCormick et al. (nonbulky ankle brace for use with footwear) [0013] Additional patents showing ankle bands include U.S. Pat. No. 1,624,266, issued Apr. 12, 1927 to M. Luder (ankle brace); U.S. Pat. No. 4,753,229, issued Jun. 28, 1988 to T. Sutherland (ankle brace); U.S. Pat. No. 4,844,094, issued Jul. 4, 1989 to T. Grim (ankle brace); U.S. Pat. No. 5,014,691, issued May 14, 1991 to G. Cueman et al. (ankle brace with densified batting); U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,478, issued Feb. 18, 1992 to T. Grim (gel and air cushion ankle brace); U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,232, issued Mar. 10, 1992 to D. Harris et al. (ankle brace with floating pivot hinge); U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,439, issued Nov. 22, 1994 to R. Peters (ankle brace with bubble cushioning); U.S. Pat. No. 5,620,413, issued Apr. 15, 1997 to D. Olson (combination ankle brace and wrap); U.S. Pat. No. 5,944,678, issued Aug. 31, 1999 to C. Hubbard (ankle brace); U.S. Pat. No. 5,944,679, issued Aug. 31, 1999 to W. DeToro (adjustable ankle and foot orthosis brace); U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,884, issued Apr. 25, 2000 to R. Peters (ankle brace with cuff); U.S. Pat. No. 6,652,474 B1, issued Nov. 25, 2003 to P. Quinn et al. (ankle brace); U.S. Pat. No. 6,689,081 B2, issued Feb. 10, 2004 to G. Bowman (rigid ankle and foot orthosis); PCT Intl. Pat. No. WO 99/02109, published Jan. 21, 1999 and invented by C. Neal (ankle brace); and U.K. Pat. No. GB 2 370 230 A, published Jun. 26, 2002 and invented by A. Bourne et al. [0014] Although the related art addresses braces situated about an ankle and items of clothing on which indicia is shown, what is needed is a comfortable, flexible accessory item that provides for display of various marks and indicia. What is further needed is a footwear accessory that serves to display items and does not limit the user's ankle or foot movement. Such an accessory should fit with ease within a shoe and serve merely as a clothing item providing for ornamental display of team logos, names, etc. [0015] None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus a uni-sex multi-sport accessory solving the aforementioned problems is desired. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0016] The uni-sex multi-sport footwear accessory is a flexible accessory shaped as an ankle band for use as an indicia-displaying device. The multi-sport accessory includes an upper band adapted to encircle a wearer's lower leg, side straps depending from the upper band, a middle section adapted to encircle a wearer's ankle and a lower band dimensioned to extend beneath a wearer's foot. The middle section and lower band define several openings with which to situate a user's foot. The upper band has several display strips with which to display indicia such as logos, team names and the like. When the footwear accessory is pulled onto the foot and a shoe is put on over the accessory, the upper band of the footwear accessory is visible over the shoe and provides a clear display of the indicia. [0017] The footwear accessory may consist of one or a multitude of fasteners located on various areas of the accessory, including the upper band and the middle section of the flexible body. Additionally, it may omit the fastener, requiring the user to slip the footwear accessory over the user's foot. [0018] The upper band, side straps, middle section and lower band define openings in the footwear accessory the purpose of which is to allow the upper band to resemble a wrist band in terms of aesthetic construction. In alternate embodiments, the design of the footwear accessory may be slightly modified by adding openings in the upper band. The additional openings serve merely as a variation on the aesthetic construction of the footwear accessory. [0019] Additionally, the flexible body of the footwear accessory may be reversible, having indicia on either side of the flexible body. Further, the display strips may be detachable. [0020] Advantageously, the uni-sex multi-sport footwear accessory is a lightweight, flexible accessory designed to fit comfortably within a user's shoe. It is not bulky nor does it require an elaborate, sturdy construction as it is not intended for use as a therapeutic ankle brace. The footwear accessory does not limit movement of the ankle in order to protect the ankle against injury-causing twisting movements. It is intended only as an accessory item that allows for the display of a team logo or similar indicia. The footwear accessory is a unique clothing item that may be used to compliment team uniforms or identify individual athletic players. [0021] It is an aspect of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. [0022] These and other aspects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. Continue reading about Uni-sex multi-sport footwear accessory... Full patent description for Uni-sex multi-sport footwear accessory Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Uni-sex multi-sport footwear accessory patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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