Lace Tag For Footwear

Abstract

An article for mounting on a lace of an article of footwear is provided. The article may include a first wall disposed in a first plane and a second wall extending from the first wall in a second plane, wherein the second plane is different than the first plane. In addition, the article may include a third wall extending from the first wall in a third plane, wherein the third plane is different than the first plane. Further, the article may include at least a first side wall extending between the first wall, the second wall, and the third wall, the first side wall having a substantially T-shaped slot configured to receive a lace of an article of footwear.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for mounting an article on a lace of an article of footwear, comprising:
 providing an article of footwear including a lace, the lace having a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion between the first portion and the second portion;   wherein the first portion of the lace is threaded through a first opening in the article of footwear, and the second portion of the lace is threaded through a second opening in the article of footwear;   providing an article including:
 a first wall disposed in a first plane, wherein the first wall has a first surface and an opposite second surface; 
 a second wall extending from the second surface of the first wall in a second plane, wherein the second plane is different than the first plane; 
 a third wall extending from the second surface of the first wall in a third plane, wherein the third plane is different than the first plane; 
 a first side wall extending from the second surface of the first wall, and extending between the first wall, the second wall, and the third wall, the first side wall having a first outer side wall surface and a first inner side wall surface, and the first side wall having a first substantially T-shaped slot configured to receive a lace of an article of footwear; and 
 a second side wall extending from the second surface of the first wall, and extending between the first wall, the second wall, and the third wall, the second side wall having a second outer side wall surface and a second inner side wall surface; 
 wherein the cavity is defined, at least in part, by the second surface of the first wall, the first inner surface of the first side wall, and the second inner surface of the second side wall; 
 wherein the first substantially T-shaped slot has a first portion that extends to a first side wall edge of the first side wall, the first side wall edge being located opposite the first wall, and an elongate second portion that is oriented perpendicular to the first portion of the first substantially T-shaped slot, the elongate second portion having a substantially rectangular shape; 
 wherein the first side wall has a first dimension extending from the second surface of the first wall to the first side wall edge, and defining a depth of the cavity; 
 wherein the second portion of the first substantially T-shaped slot has a second dimension in the same direction as the first dimension defined by the first side wall; 
 wherein the second dimension is smaller than the first dimension; 
 wherein the first side wall has a third dimension extending from the second portion of the first substantially T-shaped slot to the first surface of the first wall; 
 wherein the second dimension of the second portion of the first substantially T-shaped slot is substantially the same as the third dimension of the first side wall; and 
 wherein the first surface of the first wall is substantially planar and intersects the first outer surface of the first side wall, and wherein the first surface of the first wall intersects the second outer surface of the second side wall; and 
   mounting the article onto the lace of the article of footwear, on the third portion of the lace, by passing the lace through the first portion of the first substantially T-shaped slot and into the second portion of the first substantially T-shaped slot.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the cavity is open opposite the first wall; and
 wherein mounting the article onto the lace of the article of footwear includes positioning the article such that the opening is oriented toward an outer surface of the article of footwear.   
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the second side wall has a second substantially T-shaped slot configured to receive the lace of the article of footwear; and
 wherein the method further includes passing the lace into the second substantially T-shaped slot.   
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the second substantially T-shaped slot in the second side wall includes a first portion that extends to an edge of the second side wall opposite the first wall. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the second substantially T-shaped slot includes an elongate second portion that is oriented perpendicular to the first portion of the second substantially T-shaped slot; and
 wherein passing the lace into the second substantially T-shaped slot includes passing the lace through the first portion of the second substantially T-shaped slot and into the second portion of the second substantially T-shaped slot.   
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the first plane and the second plane are substantially perpendicular. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the second plane and the third plane are substantially parallel. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the first side wall is disposed in a fourth plane that is substantially perpendicular to the first plane. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the first wall includes indicia; and
 wherein the indicia includes at least one of alpha-numeric indicia and an image.   
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the lace has a length from a first end to a second end, a width, and a thickness, wherein the width is substantially greater than the thickness; and
 wherein mounting the article onto the lace of the article of footwear includes turning the article after passing the lace into the second portion of the first substantially T-shaped slot.   
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 30 , wherein the second portion of the first substantially T-shaped slot has a fourth dimension oriented substantially perpendicular to the second dimension; and
 wherein the width of the lace corresponds to the fourth dimension of the first substantially T-shaped slot.   
     
     
         32 . A method for mounting an article on a lace of an article of footwear, comprising:
 providing an article of footwear including a lace, the lace having a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion between the first portion and the second portion;   wherein the first portion of the lace is threaded through a first opening in the article of footwear, and the second portion of the lace is threaded through a second opening in the article of footwear;   providing an article including:
 a top wall disposed in a first plane, the top wall having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the top wall includes indicia; 
 a front wall extending from the top wall in a second plane, wherein the second plane is different than the first plane; 
 a rear wall extending from the top wall in a third plane, wherein the third plane is different than the first plane; and 
 first and second side walls extending between the top wall, the front wall, and the rear wall, the first and second side walls including substantially T-shaped slots configured to receive the lace of the article of footwear, each slot having a first portion and a second portion; 
 wherein the second portion of each slot is elongate in a direction substantially parallel to the first plane in which the top wall is disposed; 
 wherein a first portion of each side wall has a first dimension that extends between the top surface of the top wall and the second portion of each slot; 
 wherein a second portion of each side wall has a second dimension that extends from the second portion of the substantially T-shaped slot to the front wall; 
 wherein the first dimension of each side wall is substantially the same as the second dimension of each side wall; 
 the first side wall having a first outer side wall surface and a first inner side wall surface; and 
 the second side wall having a second outer side wall surface and a second inner side wall surface; 
 wherein a cavity is defined, at least in part, by the bottom surface of the top wall, the first inner surface of the first side wall, and the second inner surface of the second side wall, the cavity being in communication with each of the substantially T-shaped slots; and 
 wherein the top surface of the top wall is substantially planar and intersects the first outer surface of the first side wall, and wherein the top surface of the top wall intersects the second outer surface of the second side wall; and 
   mounting the article onto the lace of the article of footwear, on the third portion of the lace, by passing the lace into the first substantially T-shaped slot and into the second substantially T-shaped slot.   
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 32 , wherein the cavity is open opposite the top wall; and
 wherein mounting the article onto the lace of the article of footwear includes positioning the article such that the opening is oriented toward an outer surface of the article of footwear.   
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 32 , wherein the first portion of each of the slots extends to an edge of the respective side wall opposite the top wall. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 32 , wherein the indicia is at least one of an alpha-numeric indicia and an image. 
     
     
         36 . A method for mounting an article on a lace of an article of footwear, comprising:
 providing an article of footwear including a lace, the lace having a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion between the first portion and the second portion;   wherein the first portion of the lace is threaded through a first opening in the article of footwear, and the second portion of the lace is threaded through a second opening in the article of footwear;   providing an article including:
 a top wall disposed in a first plane, the top wall having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the top wall includes indicia; 
 a front wall extending from the top wall in a second plane, wherein the second plane is different than the first plane; 
 a rear wall extending from the top wall in a third plane, wherein the third plane is different than the first plane; and 
 a first side wall and a second side wall, the first side wall and the second side wall each extending between the top wall, the front wall, and the rear wall, the first and second side walls including substantially T-shaped slots configured to receive the lace of the article of footwear, each slot having a first portion and a second portion; 
 the first side wall having a first outer side wall surface and a first inner side wall surface; and 
 the second side wall having a second outer side wall surface and a second inner side wall surface; 
 wherein a cavity is defined, at least in part, by the bottom surface of the top wall, the first inner surface of the first side wall, and the second inner surface of the second side wall, the cavity being in communication with each of the substantially T-shaped slots; 
 wherein the first side wall has a first inner surface facing the cavity and a first outer surface opposite the first inner surface; 
 wherein the second side wall has a second inner surface facing the cavity and a second outer surface opposite the second inner surface; 
 wherein the top surface of the top wall is substantially planar; 
 wherein the top surface of the top wall intersects the first outer surface of the first side wall at a first junction, and the top surface of the top wall intersects the second outer surface of the second side wall, at a second junction; and 
 wherein the top wall is unitary with the first side wall at the first junction and the top wall is unitary with the second side wall at the second junction; and 
   mounting the article onto the lace of the article of footwear, on the third portion of the lace, by passing the lace into the substantially T-shaped slots.   
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 36 , wherein the first plane and the second plane are substantially perpendicular. 
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 36 , wherein the second plane and the third plane are substantially parallel. 
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 36 , wherein the lace has a length from a first end to a second end, a width, and a thickness, wherein the width is substantially greater than the thickness; and
 wherein mounting the article onto the lace of the article of footwear includes turning the article after passing the lace into the substantially T-shaped slots.   
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 36 , wherein the indicia is at least one of an alpha-numeric indicia and an image.