Decorative enhancement of footwear

Abstract

Apparatuses, kits and methods for customizing one or more surfaces of an item of footwear (e.g., a shoe, a boot, etc.) are disclosed. A surface of an item of footwear may be customized by applying a decorative film thereto. The application of a decorative film may include the use of a sizing element, which may be specifically sized to a surface of a shoe that an individual wants to decoratively enhance. The sizing element may then be used to tailor a size of the decorative film, which may then be applied to the surface of the item of footwear.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method for customizing a surface of footwear, comprising:
 aligning a decorative film with the surface of the footwear;   adhesively securing a surface of contact paper against the sole, the contact paper extending beyond outer peripheral edges of the sole;   with the contact paper in place on the sole, forming a mark around the outer peripheral edges of the sole;   removing the contact paper from the sole;   adhesively securing the surface of the contact paper to the decorative film;   cutting the contact paper on the mark or at a location adjacent to the mark and simultaneously cutting the decorative film to impart the decorative film with a size that corresponds to a size of the sole;   removing the contact paper from the decorative film;   adhesively securing the decorative film to the sole;   securing a non-slip element to the decorative film; and   trimming a portion of the decorative film and/or the non-slip element that extends beyond the outer peripheral edges of the sole.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein securing the non-slip element comprises adhesively securing the non-slip element to the decorative film. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 after adhesively securing the decorative film to the surface of the footwear, pressing bubbles and/or wrinkles from between the surface and the decorative film.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein pressing bubbles and/or wrinkles is effected in conjunction with heating the decorative film. 
     
     
         5 . A method for customizing a surface of footwear, comprising:
 aligning a decorative film with the surface of the footwear; and   adhesively securing the decorative film to the surface of the footwear.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 cleaning the surface of the footwear to be customized.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein cleaning the surface of the footwear comprises cleaning a sole of the footwear. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 placing contact paper against the sole, the contact paper extending beyond outer peripheral edges of the sole;   with the contact paper in place on the sole, forming a mark around the outer peripheral edges of the sole;   removing the contact paper from the sole;   securing the contact paper to the decorative film; and   cutting the contact paper on the mark or at a location adjacent to the mark and simultaneously cutting the decorative film to impart the decorative film with a size that corresponds to a size of the sole.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein placing contact paper against the sole comprises adhesively securing a surface of the contact paper to the sole. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein securing the contact paper to the decorative film comprises adhesively securing the surface of the contact paper to the sole. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 removing the contact paper from the decorative film.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising removing the contact paper from the decorative film before adhesively securing the decorative film to the sole. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising removing the contact paper from the decorative film after adhesively securing the decorative film to the sole. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 after adhesively securing the decorative film to the sole, trimming a portion of the decorative film that extends beyond the outer peripheral edges of the sole.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 securing a non-slip element to the decorative film.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein securing the non-slip element to the decorative film comprises securing a transparent non-slip element over at least a portion of the decorative film. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 after adhesively securing the decorative film to the surface of the footwear, pressing bubbles and/or wrinkles from between the surface and the decorative film.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein pressing bubbles and/or wrinkles is effected in conjunction with heating the decorative film. 
     
     
         19 . A kit for decorating a surface of footwear, comprising:
 at least one decorative film having dimensions that exceed corresponding dimensions of a of footwear to be covered by the at least one decorative film;   at least one sizing element having same dimensions as the at least one decorative film; and   a blade configured to trim portions of the at least one decorative film that extend beyond the surface of the footwear.   
     
     
         20 . The kit of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one decorative film has dimensions that enable it to cover soles of a pair of the footwear. 
     
     
         21 . The kit of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 at least one transparent non-slip film; and   at least one additional sizing element sized to enable positioning of the at least one transparent non-slip film on the soles of the pair of footwear.   
     
     
         22 . The kit of  claim 21 , wherein each of the at least one decorative film, the at least one sizing element, the at least one transparent non-slip film and the at least one additional sizing element includes an adhesive-coated surface. 
     
     
         23 . The kit of  claim 22 , comprising a pair of decorative films, a pair of sizing elements, a pair of transparent non-slip films and a pair of additional sizing elements. 
     
     
         24 . The kit of  claim 23 , wherein each decorative film of the pair of decorative films has dimensions that exceed dimensions of a sole of the footwear. 
     
     
         25 . The kit of  claim 24 , wherein each non-slip film of the pair of non-slip films has a width that exceeds a width of each portion of the sole of the footwear that is configured to contact a surface on which an individual stands and/or walks. 
     
     
         26 . The kit of  claim 19 , wherein the blade is carried by a knife handle. 
     
     
         27 . The kit of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 at least one cleaning element.   
     
     
         28 . The kit of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 at least one application element.