Systems and methods for accessory coupling

Abstract

A system for attaching a personal item to a shoe includes: a molded shoe made from a stretchable material and having a plurality of expandable holes in an upper portion; a shaft having first and second ends; a first shoulder secured to the first end, the first shoulder configured for insertion through a first expandable hole of the plurality of expandable holes and configured to engage an inner surface of the upper portion of the shoe; a second shoulder secured to the second end; a mounting patch coupled to the second shoulder, the mounting patch including a receiving surface extending at least to a second expandable hole adjacent to the first expandable hole; a personal item including an attachment surface, the attachment surface configured to securely yet releasably couple to the receiving surface when the attachment surface is placed into contact with the receiving surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for attaching a personal item to a shoe, the system comprising:
 a shoe, wherein the shoe is a molded shoe made from a stretchable material, the shoe having a plurality of expandable holes in an upper portion of the shoe;   a shaft having first and second ends;   a first shoulder secured to the first end of the shaft, the first shoulder being configured for insertion through a first expandable hole of the plurality of expandable holes and configured to engage an inner surface of the upper portion of the shoe;   a second shoulder secured to the second end of the shaft;   a mounting patch coupled to the second shoulder, the mounting patch comprising a receiving surface that extends at least to a second expandable hole of the plurality of expandable holes, the second expandable hole is adjacent to the first expandable hole;   a personal item comprising an attachment surface, the attachment surface configured to securely yet releasably couple to the receiving surface when the attachment surface is placed into contact with the receiving surface.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the personal item is a toy. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the toy is made of plush material. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein a maximum dimension of the toy is less than twice a width of the shoe. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the toy comprises the loops of a hook and loop coupling system. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the toy has at least one separate pair of hooks and loops of a hook and loop coupling system. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the toy has at least two separate pairs of hooks and loops of a hook and loop coupling system. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the toy's outer surface is made entirely of textile material. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting patch extends above the surface of the first expandable hole by no more than one inch. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the toy is in the form of an animal. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second shoulder is configured to engage an outer surface of the upper portion of the shoe. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the mounting patch and attachment surface are large enough to enable the toy to be securely attached at any rotational orientation of the toy to the mounting patch. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting patch has a radial maximum dimension larger than a radial maximum dimension of the second shoulder. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the shoe and the mounting patch are coupled together only via the first shoulder, the shaft, and the second shoulder. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the toy and the mounting patch are coupled together only via the receiving surface and the attachment surface. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving surface has a maximum dimension larger than a maximum dimension of the second shoulder. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the personal item is a tool, a bag, a memento, a portable item, or a movable item. 
     
     
         18 . A system for attaching a personal item to a shoe, the system comprising:
 a shoe, wherein the shoe is a molded shoe made from a stretchable material, the shoe having a plurality of expandable holes in an upper portion of the shoe;   a shaft having first and second ends;   a first shoulder secured to the first end of the shaft, the first shoulder being configured for insertion through an expandable hole of the plurality of expandable holes and configured to engage an inner surface of the upper portion of the shoe;   a second shoulder secured to the second end of the shaft;   a mounting patch coupled to the second shoulder, the mounting patch comprising a receiving surface comprising at least one of the hooks and the loops of a hook and loop coupling system; and   a personal item comprising an attachment surface, the attachment surface comprising at least another of the hooks and the loops of a hook and loop coupling system, the attachment surface configured to securely yet releasably couple to the receiving surface via the hook and loop coupling system when the attachment surface is placed into contact with the receiving surface, wherein a maximum dimension of the personal item is less than twice a width of the shoe.   
     
     
         19 . A system for attaching a personal item to a shoe, the system comprising:
 a shoe, wherein the shoe is a molded shoe made from a stretchable material, the shoe having a plurality of expandable holes in an upper portion of the shoe;   a shaft having first and second ends;   a first shoulder secured to the first end of the shaft, the first shoulder being configured for insertion through a first expandable hole of the plurality of expandable holes and configured to engage an inner surface of the upper portion of the shoe;   a second shoulder secured to the second end of the shaft;   a mounting patch coupled to the second shoulder, the mounting patch comprising a receiving surface that extends at least to a second expandable hole of the plurality of expandable holes, the second expandable hole is adjacent to the first expandable hole, the receiving surface comprising the hooks of a hook and loop coupling system, and wherein the mounting patch has a maximum dimension larger than a maximum dimension of the second shoulder;   a plush personal item comprising an attachment surface, the attachment surface comprising the loops of a hook and loop coupling system, the attachment surface configured to couple to the receiving surface via the hook and loop coupling system when the attachment surface is placed into contact with the receiving surface, wherein a maximum dimension of the plush personal item is less than twice a width of the shoe.