Accessory for shoe laces, hat brims, and the like

Abstract

A decorative and/or promotional accessory to be secured to a lace such as a shoe lace includes a molded plastic body having a passage longitudinally extending therethrough from a first opening to a second opening. The passage is sized and shaped to receive the lace therethrough and to frictionally secure the body in a desired position along the lace. The accessory also includes indicia provided on an exterior surface of the accessory which can be in the form of any desired message, name, number, logo, graphic, or the like. An alternative embodiment of the accessory is disclosed which is to be secured to a cap bill. This embodiment includes a slot radially extending to the passage which is sized and shaped to receive the cap brim therein and to resiliently grip the bill and removably secure the accessory in a desired position along the bill.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An accessory to be secured to a lace comprising, in combination:
 A body having a passage longitudinally extending therethrough from a first opening to a second opening;   wherein the passage is sized and shaped to receive the lace therethrough and to frictionally secure the body in a desired position along the lace; and   indicia provided on an exterior surface of the accessory.   
     
     
         2 . The accessory according to  claim 1 , wherein the body is molded of plastic, and further comprising a molded plastic insert forming at least a portion of the exterior surface of the accessory, and wherein the indicia is provided on the portion of the exterior surface of the accessory formed by the insert. 
     
     
         3 . The accessory according to  claim 2 , wherein the body comprises a first plastic material and the insert comprises a second plastic material and the second plastic material has a hardness greater than the first plastic material. 
     
     
         4 . The accessory according to  claim 2 , wherein the body and the insert are each molded of the same plastic material. 
     
     
         5 . The accessory according to  claim 1 , wherein a first portion of the passage extends from the first opening and has a first diameter, a second portion of the passage extends from the second opening and has a second diameter, and the second diameter is greater than the first diameter. 
     
     
         6 . The accessory according to  claim 1 , wherein only a portion of the passage frictionally grips the lace. 
     
     
         7 . The accessory according to  claim 1 , wherein the passage is frusto-conical shaped from the first opening to the second opening. 
     
     
         8 . The accessory according to  claim 1 , wherein the passage is provided with a helical thread. 
     
     
         9 . The accessory according to  claim 1 , wherein the passage is provided with surface texture. 
     
     
         10 . A shoe comprising, in combination:
 a lace;   an accessory including a body having a passage longitudinally extending therethrough from a first opening to a second opening;   wherein the passage receives the lace therethrough to frictionally secure the body in a desired position along the lace; and   indicia provided on an exterior surface of the accessory.   
     
     
         11 . The accessory according to  claim 10 , wherein a first portion of the passage extends from the first opening and has a first diameter, a second portion of the passage extends from the second opening and has a second diameter, and the second diameter is greater than the first diameter. 
     
     
         12 . The accessory according to  claim 10 , wherein the passage is frusto-conical shaped from the first opening to the second opening. 
     
     
         13 . The accessory according to  claim 10 , wherein the passage is provided with a helical thread. 
     
     
         14 . The accessory according to  claim 10 , wherein the passage is provided with a surface texture. 
     
     
         15 . An accessory to be secured to a cap bill comprising, in combination:
 a body having a passage longitudinally extending therethrough and a slot radially extending to the passage;   wherein the slot is sized and shaped to receive the cap bill therein to resiliently grip the and removably secure the body in a desired position along the cap brim; and   indicia provided on an exterior surface of the accessory.   
     
     
         16 . The accessory according to  claim 15 , wherein the body is molded of plastic, and further comprising a molded plastic insert forming at least a portion of the exterior surface of the accessory, and wherein the indicia is provided on the portion of the exterior surface of the accessory formed by the insert. 
     
     
         17 . The accessory according to  claim 16 , wherein the body comprises a first plastic material and the insert comprises a second plastic material and the second plastic material has a hardness greater than the first plastic material. 
     
     
         18 . The accessory according to  claim 16 , wherein the body and the insert are each molded of the same plastic material. 
     
     
         19 . The accessory according to  claim 15 , wherein the body is molded of a resilient plastic material.