Athletic footwear accessory system with interchangeable adhesive articles

Abstract

A footwear accessory system is presented. The system includes a shoe including an exterior surface upon which an individual may desire to customize. An interchangeable article is provided having an appearance that the individual desires to place on the exterior surface of the shoe. The article further includes a contour to match a contour of the exterior surface of the shoe. A means for attaching the interchangeable article to the shoe is provided. When attached to the shoe, the article remains in place during normal use of the shoe by the individual. The individual, for replacement by another interchangeable article, can easily remove the article.

1 . A footwear accessory system comprising:
 a shoe comprising an exterior surface upon which an individual may desire to customize;   an interchangeable article comprising an appearance that said individual desires to place on said exterior surface of said shoe, said article further comprising a contour to match a contour of said exterior surface of said shoe; and   means for attaching said interchangeable article to said shoe where, when attached to said shoe, said article remains in place during normal use of said shoe by said individual and said article can be easily removed by said individual for replacement by another interchangeable article.   
     
     
         2 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said exterior surface comprises a design area comprising a shape corresponding to said article. 
     
     
         3 . The system as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said design area comprises a first part of said attachment means and said article further comprises a second part of said attachment means. 
     
     
         4 . The system as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said first and second parts form a hook and loop type fastener. 
     
     
         5 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said attachment means is an adhesive type and is disposed on a surface of said article. 
     
     
         6 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said attachment means comprises an adhesive layer for placement between said exterior surface and said article. 
     
     
         7 . The system as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said attachment means further comprises a shape corresponding to said article. 
     
     
         8 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said attachment means comprises a plurality of adhesive layers comprising shapes smaller than said article for placement at positions between said exterior surface and said article. 
     
     
         9 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said shoe is an athletic shoe. 
     
     
         10 . A footwear accessory system comprising:
 means for providing an exterior surface upon which an individual may desire to customize;   means for providing an interchangeable article to be placed on said exterior surface; and   means for attaching said interchangeable article to said exterior surface.   
     
     
         11 . The system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said exterior surface comprises a design area comprising a shape corresponding to said article. 
     
     
         12 . An accessory apparatus for a personal item, said apparatus comprising:
 an interchangeable article comprising an appearance that an individual desires to place on an exterior surface of the item, said article further comprising a contour to match a contour of said exterior surface of the item; and   means for attaching said interchangeable article to the item where, when attached to the item, said article remains in place during normal use of the by said individual and said article can be easily removed by said individual for replacement by another interchangeable article.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said exterior surface comprises a design area comprising a shape corresponding to said article. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said design area comprises a first part of said attachment means and said article further comprises a second part of said attachment means. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said first and second parts form a hook and loop type fastener. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said attachment means is an adhesive type and is disposed on a surface of said article. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said attachment means comprises an adhesive layer for placement between said exterior surface and said article. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 17 , wherein said attachment means further comprises a shape corresponding to said article. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said attachment means comprises a plurality of adhesive layers comprising shapes smaller than said article for placement at positions between said exterior surface and said article. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said exterior surface is an exterior surface of an athletic shoe.