Magnetic attachment for dance shoe, and method and kit therefor

Abstract

A dance shoe dons an accessory that provides a visual indication of the foot position of a dancer. The accessory includes an ornamental device that is releasably attachable to the side wall of the dance shoe using magnetic attraction. A method for instructing dance students comprises the step of providing the accessory on a dance shoe worn by the dance student. Instructions are called out for the dance student to show the ornamental device in accordance with a dance position. The position of the ornamental device, and thus the position of the dance student's feet, is observed. The dance student is instructed to adjust the dance student's feet if improperly positioned, as indicated by the ornamental device. A kit comprises packaging, an accessory including magnetically responsive elements and magnets within the packaging, and instructions for attaching the accessory to dance shoes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dance shoe donning an accessory that provides a visual indication of the foot position of a dancer wearing the dance shoe for observation by the dancer and/or a dance instructor, the dance shoe comprising:
 a side wall, and   an accessory including an ornamental device releasably attachable to the side wall of the dance shoe using magnetic attraction.   
     
     
         2 . The dance shoe of  claim 1  wherein the dance shoe further comprises:
 an upper having a rear part, the upper comprising a quarter panel defining the side wall, the quarter panel being formed of layers of material comprising a cotton inner liner and a satin outer layer, and 
 at least one of a fabric ribbon or an elastic band secured to the upper for securing the shoe to the dancer's foot. 
 
     
     
         3 . The dance shoe of  claim 2  wherein the accessory comprises a magnetically responsive element and magnet, the accessory being releasably attachable to the quarter panel by sandwiching the quarter panel between the magnetically responsive element and the magnet. 
     
     
         4 . The dance shoe of  claim 3  wherein the magnetically responsive element is supported inside the quarter panel and the magnet is supported outside the quarter panel by magnetic attraction between the magnetically responsive element and the magnet. 
     
     
         5 . The dance shoe of  claim 3  wherein the magnet is a first magnet and the magnetically responsive element is a second magnet. 
     
     
         6 . The dance shoe of  claim 5  wherein the magnets are Neodymium disc rare earth magnets. 
     
     
         7 . The dance shoe of  claim 6  wherein the magnets are about 5/16 inch in diameter and about 7/64 inch thick. 
     
     
         8 . The dance shoe of  claim 7  wherein the magnets have a magnetic flux density over 2000 gauss. 
     
     
         9 . The dance shoe of  claim 4  wherein the dance shoe is one of a pair of dance shoes including a second dance shoe having the magnet supported outside a quarter panel thereof, wherein the poles of the magnets on each shoe are arranged so that the magnets on each shoe are attracted to one another when the shoes are in an improper position so that the magnets stick together. 
     
     
         10 . The dance shoe of  claim 4  wherein the magnetically responsive element is a non-magnetic ferrous metal selected from a group consisting essentially of iron, nickel, cobalt, steel and alloy. 
     
     
         11 . The dance shoe of  claim 10  wherein one of either the magnetically responsive element or the magnet is attached to the quarter panel by glue. 
     
     
         12 . The dance shoe of  claim 11  wherein one of either the magnetically responsive element or the magnet is attached to either the cotton inner liner, the satin outer layer, or between the cotton inner liner and the satin outer layer. 
     
     
         13 . The dance shoe of  claim 3  wherein the ornamental device is supported in relation to one of either the magnetically responsive element or the magnet, so that the ornamental device is visually observable from outside the shoe, and further so that the accessory is readily removable and replaced with another ornamental device to permit the aesthetic appearance of the shoe to be readily changed. 
     
     
         14 . The dance shoe of  claim 13  wherein the ornamental device is selected from a group consisting essentially of a jewel of a sconce. 
     
     
         15 . The dance shoe of  claim 2  wherein the ornamental device is positioned on the outside of the quarter panel, to the rear of the ribbon or the elastic band, vertically centered below the wearer's ankle bone, forward from the wearer's heel, and equidistantly between an upper end and a lower end of the quarter panel. 
     
     
         16 . The dance shoe of  claim 2  selected from a group consisting essentially of a ballet shoe or an Irish dance shoe. 
     
     
         17 . A method for instructing dance students, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) providing an accessory on a dance shoe worn by the dance student, wherein the accessory comprises an ornamental device that provides a visual indication of the position of the dance student's foot for observation by the dance student or a dance instructor;   b) calling out instructions to the dance student, wherein the instructions instruct the dance student to show the ornamental device in accordance with a dance position;   c) observing the position of the ornamental device, and thus the position of the dance student's feet;   d) instructing the dance student to adjust the dance student's feet if the student's feet are improperly positioned, as indicated by the ornamental device.   
     
     
         18 . A kit comprising:
 packaging;   an accessory including magnetically responsive elements and magnets within the packaging; and   instructions for attaching the accessory to dance shoes.   
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 18  wherein the packaging is packaging selected from a group consisting essentially of a bag, a hanging bag, re-sealable zipper storage bag, a laminated bag with a flap, or a blister pack. 
     
     
         20 . The kit of  claim 18  wherein the instructions are in the form of printed matter, including indicia including at least one of text or one or more graphical images provided on physical media.