Footware with decorative tongue

Abstract

The article of footwear with decorative tongue is a shoe or the like having a sole and an upper attached thereto. The upper includes a tongue. A plurality of gemstones is attached to the tongue. Any desired type of gemstone(s) may be used, including variations in size, shape, color and chemical composition. Alternatively, a conventional tongue and a decorative attachment may be provided. The decorative attachment has opposed first and second faces, and a plurality of gemstones attached to the first face. The second face is releasably attached to an exterior face of the tongue by a suitable releasable fastener, such as mating hook and loop fasteners.

1 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 a sole;   an upper attached to the sole to form footwear, the upper having a tongue; and   at least one decorative article attached to at least a portion of the tongue.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one decorative article is selected from the group consisting of: natural gemstones, artificial gemstones, crystals, and decorative appliqués. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one decorative article comprises a plurality of decorative articles, the plurality of decorative articles being arrayed on the tongue. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the tongue has an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion thereof being adapted for positioning beneath a pair of shoelaces, said plurality of decorative articles at least partially covering the upper portion of the tongue. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said plurality of decorative articles at least partially covers the lower portion of the tongue. 
     
     
         6 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 a sole;   an upper attached to the sole to form footwear, the upper having a tongue;   a decorative attachment;   at least one decorative article attached to the decorative attachment; and   a fastener attaching the decorative attachment to the tongue.   
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the at least one decorative article is selected from the group consisting of: natural gemstones, artificial gemstones, crystals, and decorative appliqués. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the fastener is a releasable fastener. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the releasable fastener comprises mating hook and loop fasteners. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said at least one decorative article comprises a plurality of decorative articles, the plurality of decorative articles being arrayed on the decorative attachment. 
     
     
         11 . A decorative tongue for an article of footwear, comprising:
 a tongue adapted for attachment to an upper of an article of footwear, the tongue having an outer surface; and   at least one decorative article attached to at least a portion of the outer surface of the tongue.   
     
     
         12 . The decorative tongue for an article of footwear as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the at least one decorative article is selected from the group consisting of: natural gemstones, artificial gemstones, crystals, and decorative appliqués. 
     
     
         13 . The decorative tongue as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said at least one decorative article comprises a plurality of decorative articles, the plurality of decorative articles being arrayed on the outer surface of the tongue. 
     
     
         14 . The decorative tongue as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the tongue has an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion being adapted for positioning beneath a pair of shoelaces of the article of footwear, said plurality of decorative articles at least partially covering the upper portion of the tongue. 
     
     
         15 . The decorative tongue as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said plurality of decorative articles at least partially cover the lower portion of the tongue.