US20030126768A1

US20030126768A1 - Carrier affixed to footwear

Info

Publication number: US20030126768A1
Application number: US10/041,351
Authority: US
Inventors: Douglas Hutt
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-01-08
Filing date: 2002-01-08
Publication date: 2003-07-10

Abstract

A carrier for carrying personal items on a shoe. The carrier is preferably affixed to a top portion of the shoe by interlacing shoe laces of the shoe through eyelets located on a bottom surface of the carrier. The carrier includes a closeable opening leading to an interior of the carrier. The carrier can carry small personal items such as keys and money. The carrier may also include a secondary pocket for holding additional personal items such as pens or pencils.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field of the Invention

This invention relates to carrier devices, and more particularly, to a carrier for carrying personal items affixed to a person's footwear.

2. Description of Related Art

It is common for people to carry personal items within a pocket located on a shirt or pants. However, there are many times, when a person does not have a pocket to place their personal items. For example, clothing may not have pockets, such as swim suits. In other situations, a person may not wish to place personal items within their pockets because it produces bulges on the clothing.

Existing carrier devices include backpacks and carrier packs affixed around the body of a person. Such devices, although useful in many situations, are cumbersome in situations where a person does not wish to carry packs for small items. A device is needed for carrying small items not requiring a bulky pack.

There is no existing device which disclosures or suggests any type of carrier which may be affixed to foot wear of a person. It is an object of the present invention to provide such an apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention is a carrier for carrying personal items on a shoe. The apparatus includes a carrier for storing personal items within an interior portion of the carrier. The carrier is positioned on a top portion of the shoe. A closeable opening is located on an edge of the carrier. The opening leads into the interior portion of the carrier. The carrier is affixed to the shoe to provide convenient access to personal items at all times.

In another aspect, the present invention is a carrier for carrying personal items on a shoe. The apparatus includes a carrier for storing personal items within an interior portion of the carrier. The carrier is positioned on a top portion of the shoe. The apparatus also includes a closeable opening positioned on an edge of the carrier. The opening leads into the interior portion of the carrier. A secondary pocket is affixed to an outer surface of the carrier. A plurality of eyelets are located on a bottom side of the carrier. The carrier is affixed to the shoe by threading shoe laces of the shoe through the eyelets to hold the carrier against the shoe.

In still another aspect, the present invention is a system for carrying personal items. The system includes a shoe and a carrier for storing personal items within an interior portion of the carrier. The carrier is positioned on a top portion of the shoe. A closeable opening is positioned on an edge of the carrier. The opening leads into the interior portion of the carrier.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and its numerous objects and advantages will become more apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the following drawings, in conjunction with the accompanying specification, in which: [0010]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a carrier affixed to a shoe in the preferred embodiment of the present invention; [0011]
FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the carrier of FIG. 1 removed from the shoe; [0012]
FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the carrier of FIG. 1 in the preferred embodiment of the present invention; [0013]
FIG. 4 is a top view of the carrier affixed to the shoe in the preferred embodiment of the present invention; [0014]
FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the carrier affixed to the shoe in a first alternate embodiment of the present invention; [0015]
FIG. 6 is a side view of the carrier of FIG. 5; [0016]
FIG. 7 is a top view of the carrier of FIG. 5 removed from the shoe; and [0017]
FIG. 8 is a front view of a carrier removed from the shoe in a second alternate embodiment of the present invention.[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

An apparatus for carrying personal items is disclosed. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a [0019] carrier 10 affixed to a shoe 12 in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The carrier is positioned on a top portion of the shoe. On an upper portion of the carrier is a closeable opening 14. The carrier includes an interior portion 16 for holding the wearer's personal items.
The [0020] opening 14 may be secured in a closed position by hook and pile strips, buttons, elastic cords, snaps or any other means allowing the opening to be closed and opened as desired by the wearer. On an outer surface of the carrier may be located a secondary pocket 18. As illustrated, the secondary pocket is shaped and sized to accommodate a pen or pencil. However, the secondary pocket may be sized and shaped to accommodate any item which the wearer desires to be separated from the personal items held within the interior portion.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the [0021] carrier 10 is affixed to a top portion 20 of the shoe 12 by lacing shoe laces 22 through eyelets located on a bottom side ofthe carrier (not shown in FIG. 1). The carrier is constructed of a durable material, such as a waterproof nylon material.
FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the [0022] carrier 10 of FIG. 1 removed from the shoe 12. The carrier may include a hook strip 22 located on an inner surface of one side of the carrier and a pile strip 24 located opposite the hook strip on a second inner surface of the carrier. When a person desires to keep personal items within the interior portion 16 of the carrier, the hook strip is pressed against the pile strip, thus closing the opening 14. When necessary, the opening may be opened by pulling the hook strip away from the pile strip. It should be understood that other devices may be used to open and close the opening, such as zippers, cords, or buttons.
FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the [0023] carrier 10 of FIG. 1 in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. As discussed above, the carrier may be affixed to the top portion of the shoe by interlacing shoe laces 30 through a plurality of eyelets 32 located on a bottom side 34 of the carrier.
FIG. 4 is a top view of the [0024] carrier 10 affixed to the shoe 12 in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The carrier preferably includes the opening located near the leg of the shoe wearer. It will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that any size carrier may be used which can fit on the top portion 20 of the shoe.
Referring to FIGS. [0025] 1-4, the carrier 10 operates in the following manner. The carrier is positioned on the top portion 20 of the shoe 12. The shoe laces 30 are interlaced through the eyelets 32, thus affixing the carrier to the shoe 12. The opening may be opened by the wearer to stow small personal items, such as keys, money, paper receipts, credit cards, and personal identification. In addition, the carrier may optionally include a secondary pocket affixed to the top side of the carrier. As illustrated, the secondary pocket is sized and shaped to accommodate a pen or pencil. However, in alternate embodiments, the size and shape of the secondary pocket may be changed to accommodate other personal items which the wearer desires to be separated from other personal items stowed within the interior portion 16 of the carrier.
When the wear of the [0026] carrier 20 desires to retrieve any of the stowed items, the wearer may open the opening 14 to access the interior portion 16 of the carrier. After retrieving the desired item, the opening can be closed.
The carrier may be affixed in many different ways to the shoe. For example, FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the [0027] carrier 10 affixed to the shoe 12 in a first alternate embodiment of the present invention. The carrier 10 may include wraps 40 extending from sides of the carrier and wrapped around the entire shoe.
FIG. 6 is a side view of the [0028] carrier 10 of FIG. 5. As illustrated, each wrap is wrapped around the bottom of the shoe 12. FIG. 7 is a top view of the carrier 10 of FIG. 5 removed from the shoe. Each wrap 40 may include a hook or pile strip 42 and 44. One wrap may then be affixed under the shoe to the other wrap. In alternate embodiments ofthe present invention, each wrap may be tied, snapped or buttoned to the other wrap.
FIG. 8 is a front view of a [0029] carrier 80 removed from the shoe 12 in a second alternate embodiment of the present invention. The carrier 80 may include at least one flap 82 positioned longitudinally on a top or bottom edge of the carrier. The flap may be tucked under the shoe laces 30, being positioned between the shoe laces and the top surface of the shoe. The flap may then be affixed to the bottom side of the carrier. The flap may be affixed by any means, such as a hook strip 92 affixed onto the bottom ofthe carrier and a pile strip 94 affixed on one side of the flap 82. In addition, the closeable opening 14 may be alternatively secured closed by a zipper 84.
The [0030] carrier 10 may also be expandable in much the same manner as a lady's purse. The sides of the carrier may include excess material which accommodates additional items within the interior portion of the carrier. When the additional volume within the interior portion is not needed, the carrier compacts to a smaller volume.
It will be understood by one of ordinary skill that the carrier may be affixed in any fashion to the shoe. For example, the carrier may be affixed by hook and pile strips, snaps or laces directly to the surface of the shoe. In addition, the carrier may be worn on one or both shoes. The carrier may include various bright colors or match the shoe to which it is affixed. It will also be understood that the color and shape may be varied for various fashion ensembles. [0031]
The [0032] carrier 10 provides many advantages over existing devices used in carrying personal items. The carrier allows small items to be carried without carrying a pack, which can be cumbersome. In addition, the carrier allows a person having clothes without pockets to carry items on their shoes. The carrier may also be used to enhance or complement a person's wardrobe.
It is thus believed that the operation and construction of the present invention will be apparent from the foregoing description. While the apparatus shown and described has been characterized as being preferred, it will be readily apparent that various changes and modifications could be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. [0033]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for carrying personal items on a shoe comprising:

a carrier for storing personal items within an interior of said carrier, said carrier being positioned on a top portion of the shoe;

a closeable opening located on an edge of said carrier, said opening leading into the interior of said carrier; and

means for affixing said carrier to the shoe.

2. The apparatus for carrying personal items of claim 1 further comprising a secondary pocket affixed to an outer surface of said carrier.

3. The apparatus for carrying personal items of claim 2 wherein the secondary pocket is sized and shaped to accommodate a writing instrument.

4. The apparatus for carrying personal items of claim 1 wherein the means for affixing said carrier to a shoe includes affixing a plurality of eyelets to a bottom side of said carrier and interlacing shoe laces of the shoe through the eyelets to hold the carrier against the shoe.

5. The apparatus for carrying personal items of claim 1 wherein said means for affixing said carrier to a shoe includes said carrier having a plurality of flaps extending from sides of said carrier and being wrapped around a bottom portion of the shoe.

6. The apparatus for carrying personal items of claim 5 wherein the flaps are tied together under the bottom portion of the shoe.

7. The apparatus for carrying personal items of claim 5 wherein a first flap includes a hook strip and a second flap includes a pile strip, the first flap is affixed to the second flap by positioning the pile strip over the hook strip.

8. The apparatus for carrying personal items of claim 1 wherein the closeable opening is a zipper.

9. The apparatus for carrying personal items of claim 1 wherein said closeable opening includes a pile strip affixed to a first side of said opening and a hook strip affixed to a second side of said opening; said pile strip being positioned on the hook strip to close said opening.

10. The apparatus for carrying personal items of claim 1 wherein said means for affixing said carrier to the shoe includes a flap extending from the carrier, the flap being positioned under shoe laces of the shoe.

11. An apparatus for carrying personal items on a shoe comprising:

a closeable opening positioned on an edge of said carrier, said opening leading into the interior of said carrier;

a secondary pocket affixed to an outer surface of said carrier; and

a plurality of eyelets located on a bottom side of said carrier;

whereby shoe laces of the shoe are thread through the eyelets to hold said carrier against the shoe.

12. A system for carrying personal items comprising:

a shoe;

a carrier for storing personal items within an interior of the carrier, said carrier being positioned on a top portion of the shoe;

a closeable opening positioned on an edge of said carrier, said opening leading into the interior of said carrier; and

means for affixing said carrier to a shoe.

13. The system for carrying personal items of claim 12 wherein:

said shoe includes a shoelace; and

said carrier includes a plurality of eyelets located on a bottom side of the carrier, said shoe laces being thread through the plurality of eyelets to affix said carrier to the shoe.