Boots – shoes – and leggings – Boots and shoes – Convertible from one style or color to another
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-06
2001-08-21
Patterson, M. D. (Department: 3728)
Boots, shoes, and leggings
Boots and shoes
Convertible from one style or color to another
C036S001000, C036S00900A, C036S112000, C036S139000, C446S026000, C446S327000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276074
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to footwear, and in particular to slippers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, there is provided a slipper in combination with a hand puppet. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the slipper comprises a sole having an upper attached to the sole and forming therewith a pocket for reception of a person's foot, decoration representing a puppet character being provided on the slipper and hand gripping means on the slipper associated with the puppet character for gripping the slipper and manipulating the puppet character by hand to animate the puppet character. Thus, the slipper can be worn on a foot in a conventional manner or can be used as a hand puppet for entertainment purposes.
In one embodiment of the invention, the hand gripping means is provided on the sole.
In an alternative arrangement, the hand gripping means may be provided on the upper.
In a further embodiment, the hand gripping means comprises a set of finger receiving slots. Preferably, the finger receiving slots are provided on the sole. Most preferably, four finger receiving slots are provided adjacent a front end of the sole and an associated thumb receiving slot is provided adjacent a heel end of the sole.
In another embodiment, the hand gripping means comprises a pocket for reception of a person's hand. Conveniently, the pocket may be in the form of a glove as this would aid in manipulating the puppet.
In a preferred embodiment, the pocket is provided on the sole. In this arrangement, the pocket may have a hand inlet opening adjacent a heel end of the sole.
Alternatively, the pocket may have a hand inlet opening intermediate a toe end and a heel end of the sole defining a pocket which extends in opposite directions from the hand inlet opening towards the toe end and towards the heel end of the sole. This allows opposition of the thumb and fingers to facilitate manipulation of the puppet.
In a further embodiment, an inlet of the pocket is closed by a flap which is integrally formed with an outer layer of the sole, said flap being movable between a closed position sealing the opening and an open position allowing access to the opening, with retaining means for releasably securing the flap in a closed position. Conveniently, the retaining means may comprise complementary interengagable hook and pile fasteners on the flap and at the heel end. Conveniently, the sole can be formed in two layers, namely an inner layer and an outer layer with the flap being formed in the outer layer at a rear or heel end of the outer layer, front portions of the inner and outer layers are permanently secured together about their periphery defining the pocket, and the heel ends of the layers are releasably secured together by means of the flap and the associated hook and pile fastener strips. Thus conveniently, a smooth bottom face to the sole is provided when the flap is closed for use of the slipper as footwear. In order to use the slipper as a puppet, the flap can be readily easily peeled back to allow a person insert his hand into the pocket.
In another embodiment, the puppet character is provided on a ground-engaging bottom face of the sole. In this case, the puppet character would typically be provided by surface decoration on the sole.
In a preferred embodiment, the puppet character is provided on the upper.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the puppet character represents the head of a person or animal. It will be appreciated that the head may be that of either a real or an imaginary person or animal.
In a further embodiment, an inlet of the foot receiving pocket defined by the sole and the upper forms a mouth of the head.
It is also envisaged that means may be provided on the slipper for broadcasting a pre-recorded message or slogan.
Typically, a pair of slippers will be provided. Both of such slippers may include the same puppet character. Alternatively, each of the slippers in the pair of slippers may include a different puppet character.
In another aspect, the invention provides a slipper comprising a sole and having an upper attached to the sole and forming therewith a pocket having an inlet opening for reception of a person's foot, decoration being provided on at least the supper such that it represents the head of a person or animal, characterised in that the foot inlet opening forms the mouth of said head.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2205091 (1940-06-01), Geffner
patent: 2598218 (1952-05-01), Brumby
patent: 3023420 (1962-03-01), Tann
patent: 3226849 (1966-01-01), Rosen
patent: 3942283 (1976-03-01), Rushton
patent: 4838827 (1989-06-01), Schlaifer
patent: 5058293 (1991-10-01), Villar
patent: 5402590 (1995-04-01), Lee
patent: 5649376 (1997-07-01), Lecates, Jr.
patent: 2243759A (1991-11-01), None
Jacobson & Holman PLLC
Marcove Holdings Limited
Patterson M. D.
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