Footwear accessory device and method of accessorizing an article of footwear

Abstract

An accessory for altering the appearance of footwear is disclosed and comprises a support portion and a decorative portion. The support portion comprising a loop that is circumferentially resiliently stretchable and that has axially opposite first and second openings. The loop is adapted and configured in a manner such that the loop can stretchably encircle a leg of a person in a manner releasably securing the support portion to the leg of the person. The decorative portion is connected to the loop in a manner such that the decorative portion encircles the loop adjacent the first opening and such that the decorative portion extends radially outward from the loop of the support portion. A method of altering the appearance of footwear is also disclosed.

1 . A method of accessorizing an article of footwear, the method comprising: 
 providing an article of footwear, the article of footwear having an upper and an interior cavity, the upper having a foot receiving opening, the foot receiving opening defining an opening edge of the upper and being in communication with the interior cavity and with an environment external to the article of footwear;    providing a footwear accessory device, the footwear accessory device having a support portion and a decorative portion;    attaching the footwear accessory device to the leg of a person by positioning the support portion of the footwear accessory device in manner such that the support portion encircles a first portion of the leg of the person and such that the support portion exerts a radially compressive force to the leg of the person;    attaching the article of footwear to the leg of the person by extending the leg of the person through the foot receiving opening of the article of footwear in a manner such that the first portion of the leg of the person is positioned within the interior cavity of the article of footwear and such that a second portion of the leg of the person is positioned in the environment external to the article of footwear; and    positioning the footwear accessory device relative to the article of footwear in a manner such that at least a portion of the support portion of the footwear accessory device is positioned radially between the first portion of the leg of the person and the upper of the article of footwear and such that the decorative portion of the footwear accessory device at least partially conceals the opening edge of the upper of the article of footwear.    
     
     
         2 . A method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the step of positioning the footwear accessory device relative to the article of footwear occurs in a manner such that a portion of the upper of the article of footwear adjacent the opening edge of the upper is positioned between a portion of the decorative portion of the footwear accessory device and the first portion of the leg of the person.  
     
     
         3 . A method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the step of providing the footwear accessory device occurs in a manner such that the support portion of the footwear accessory device comprises a length of tubular material, the material being flexible and resiliently stretchable, the length of tubular material having opposite open end portions, the decorative portion of the footwear accessory device being secured to one of the end portions of the length of tubular material, the step of attaching the footwear accessory device to the leg of the person further comprising positioning the leg of the person in a manner such that the leg of the person extends through the open end portions of the length of tubular material, the radially compressive force exerted on the leg of the person resulting from the material being resiliently stretched when the leg of the person extends through the open end portions of the length of tubular material.  
     
     
         4 . A method in accordance with  claim 3  wherein the step of providing the footwear accessory device occurs in a manner such that the decorative portion of the footwear accessory device forms a loop, and wherein the step of attaching the footwear accessory device to the leg of the person comprises positioning the decorative portion of the footwear accessory device relative to the leg of the person in a manner such that the loop of the decorative portion of the footwear accessory device encircles the leg of the person.  
     
     
         5 . A method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein a portion of the upper of the article of footwear adjacent the opening edge of the upper forms a loop and a portion of the decorative portion of the footwear accessory device forms a loop, and wherein the step of positioning the footwear accessory device relative to the article of footwear occurs in a manner such that the portion of the upper of the article of footwear adjacent the opening edge of the upper is positioned radially between the portion of the decorative portion of the footwear accessory device and the first portion of the leg of the person and such that the decorative portion of the footwear accessory device completely conceals the opening edge of the upper of the article of footwear.  
     
     
         6 . A method in accordance with  claim 7  wherein the step of providing the footwear accessory device occurs in a manner such that the decorative portion of the footwear accessory device forms a loop, and wherein the step of attaching the footwear accessory device to the leg of the person comprises passing the first portion of the leg of the person through the closed loop of the decorative portion of the footwear accessory device.  
     
     
         7 . A method of accessorizing an article of footwear, the method comprising: 
 providing an article of footwear, the article of footwear having an upper and an interior cavity, the upper having a foot receiving opening, the foot receiving opening defining an opening edge of the upper and being in communication with the interior cavity and with an environment external to the article of footwear;    providing a footwear accessory device, the footwear accessory device having a support portion and a decorative portion;    attaching the footwear accessory device to a leg of a person by positioning the support portion of the footwear accessory device in manner such that the support portion encircles a first portion of the leg of the person and such that the support portion exerts a radially compressive force to the leg of the person;    attaching the article of footwear to the leg of the person by extending the leg of the person through the foot receiving opening of the article of footwear in a manner such that the first portion of the leg of the person is positioned within the interior cavity of the article of footwear and such that a second portion of the leg of the person is positioned in the environment external to the article of footwear; and    positioning the footwear accessory device relative to the article of footwear in a manner such that at least a portion of the support portion of the footwear accessory device is positioned radially between the first portion of the leg of the person and the upper of the article of footwear and such that a portion of the upper of the article of footwear adjacent the opening edge of the upper is positioned between a portion of the decorative portion of the footwear accessory device and the first portion of the leg of the person.    
     
     
         8 . A method in accordance with  claim 7  wherein the step of providing the footwear accessory device occurs in a manner such that the support portion of the footwear accessory device comprises a length of tubular material, the material being flexible and resiliently stretchable, the length of tubular material having opposite open end portions, the decorative portion of the footwear accessory device being secured to one of the end portions of the length of tubular material, the step of attaching the footwear accessory device to the leg of the person further comprising positioning the leg of the person in a manner such that the leg of the person extends through the open end portions of the length of tubular material, the radially compressive force exerted on the leg of the person resulting from the material being resiliently stretched when the leg of the person extends through the open end portions of the length of tubular material.  
     
     
         9 . A method in accordance with  claim 7  wherein the portion of the upper of the article of footwear adjacent the opening edge of the upper forms a loop and the portion of the decorative portion of the footwear accessory device forms a loop, and wherein the step of positioning the footwear accessory device relative to the article of footwear occurs in a manner such that the portion of the upper of the article of footwear adjacent the opening edge of the upper is positioned radially between the portion of the decorative portion of the footwear accessory device and the first portion of the leg of the person.  
     
     
         10 . A method in accordance with  claim 7  wherein the step of positioning the footwear accessory device relative to the article of footwear occurs in a manner such that the portion of the upper of the article of footwear adjacent the opening edge of the upper is positioned between the portion of the decorative portion of the footwear accessory device and the support portion of the footwear accessory device.  
     
     
         11 . A method in accordance with  claim 7  wherein the step of providing the footwear accessory device occurs in a manner such that the decorative portion of the footwear accessory device forms a loop, and wherein the step of attaching the footwear accessory device to the leg of the person comprises passing the first portion of the leg of the person through the closed loop of the decorative portion of the footwear accessory device.  
     
     
         12 . A method in accordance with  claim 7  wherein the step of attaching the footwear accessory device to the leg of the person comprises positioning the decorative portion of the footwear accessory device relative to the leg of the person in a manner such that the decorative portion of the footwear accessory device encircles the leg of the person.  
     
     
         13 . An accessory for footwear comprising: 
 a support portion, the support portion comprising a loop, the loop being circumferentially resiliently stretchable and having axially opposite first and second openings, the loop being adapted and configured in a manner such that the loop can stretchably encircle a leg of a person in a manner releasably securing the support portion to the leg of the person; and    a decorative portion, the decorative portion being connected to the loop in a manner such that the decorative portion encircles the loop adjacent the first opening and such that the decorative portion extends radially outward from the loop of the support portion.    
     
     
         14 . An accessory for footwear in accordance with  claim 13  wherein the decorative portion extends radially outward from the loop of the support portion in all radial directions.  
     
     
         15 . An accessory for footwear in accordance with  claim 13  wherein the decorative portion diverges axially as the decorative portion extends radially outward from the loop of the support portion.  
     
     
         16 . An accessory for footwear in accordance with  claim 13  wherein the decorative portion is sewn to the support portion.  
     
     
         17 . An accessory for footwear in accordance with  claim 13  wherein the loop of the support portion has an average undeflected diameter and the first and second openings of the loop are spaced from each other by a distance that is between two and four times the average undeflected diameter.  
     
     
         18 . An accessory for footwear in accordance with  claim 13  wherein the decorative portion extends axially away from the second opening of the loop as it extends radially outward from the loop of the support portion.  
     
     
         19 . An accessory for footwear in accordance with  claim 13  wherein the decorative portion extends radially outward from the loop of the support portion and thereafter extends axially toward the second opening of the loop in a manner such that a first portion of the decorative portion overlaps a first portion of the loop of the support portion, the first portion of the decorative portion being radially spaced from the first portion of the loop in a manner defining a channel that encircles the loop and that is positioned between the first portion of the loop and the first portion of the decorative portion.  
     
     
         20 . An accessory for footwear in accordance with  claim 19  wherein the decorative portion extends axially away from the second opening of the loop as it extends radially outward from the loop of the support portion.