AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 Innovation Patent Specification Title: Shoes with Detachable Decorative Bands Applicant(s): Tiina Charles and Gayle Knott Inventor(s): Tiina Charles and Gayle Knott The following is a full description of the invention which sets forth the best known method known to the applicant of performing it.
Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an item of footwear. In particular the current invention relates to the vamp of a shoe with unique attachments that allow for interchangeable bands to be affixed creating different appearances from the same article of footwear. Background of the Invention 10 Generally, shoes are made for each foot as a pair and the design and style of the shoe is the same. They conventionally have the same appearance and are designed as a pair for a particular application, appearance or style. People often have a different pair of shoes for each particular purpose or appearance. Having multiple pairs of shoes for different applications and formality can be cumbersome particularly for those who travel or who seek change without wanting to purchase an entire new 15 pair of shoes. Object of the Invention It is an object of the current invention to substantially overcome or at least partially ameliorate the disadvantage of having to change shoes in order to change the style or appearance of the footwear being worn by providing the provision for a simple and 20 stylish alternation to a single pair of shoes. Summary of the Invention In a first aspect, the present invention provides footwear comprising: a shoe, sandal or other form of conventional article worn on the foot that contain a vamp or a form of upper material that surrounds the top middle or 25 forward portion of the foot; an attachment method using penetrating button or 'sam browne' studs through strategically positioned holes applied to the vamp and reinforced for durability; and a decorative band made from a variety of complimentary materials, colours, styles and shapes to provide a distinctive and different appearance to the 30 footwear item. In a second aspect, the present invention provides a method of allowing a person the ability to change the style and appearance of a single article by: having choice to create a formal, semi-formal or casual appearance; and attaching, removing or mixing and matching any combination of decorative 5 bands giving the wearer a variety of fashion options. The innovative attachment method uses common studs that are simply and easily assembled on to the footwear article which in themselves are fashionable and complimentary to the decorative band options. A decorative band fabricated in any number of designs and configurations will contain corresponding attachment holes of 10 appropriate diameter so that it may be placed on and held to the footwear article by inserting the stud into the hole. The present invention will provide the wearer with several advantages including: a simple and interchangeable accessory option to give a variety of appearances to a single article of footwear by attachment, removal and replacement of 15 decorative bands; the decorative band may be made from leather, synthetic leather, other textiles or a combination of all of these materials; footwear articles can vary including heel heights, sole units, base materials, material colour or textures; as styles change or items become fashionable, a single footwear article can be 20 maintained and updated or designed to the current fashion by simply changing the decorative band; ideal for the frequent traveller who has limited capacity to take multiple styles of footwear due to baggage constraints as they can pack a single footwear article and several different decorative bands to adapt to their different requirements; a range of decorative bands of various colours, materials, styles and shapes 25 that can be made from leather, synthetic leather, other textiles or a combination of materials and can include beads, buckles, shapes and sizes of various kinds of decorations; and the ability to design one's own shoe by using the decorative band as a method to make an expression of individuality. 30 Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of specific example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a top view of a footwear article depicting the decorative band attachment points; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a footwear article showing the vamp or upper portion with the decorative band attachment point; Figure 3 is a top view of one of the decorative band attachment points depicting the distance between the strategically placed holes; Figure 4 is a top view of a decorative band; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of the assembly of the decorative band to the vamp using the button studs. 10 Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment A typical sandal type woman's shoe 1 is shown in the accompanying drawings. In Figure 1, the shoe is depicted from the top and shows the position of two reinforced attachment holes 3 located centrally on the vamp. The through holes 3 are either 1 millimetre or 2 millimetres in diameter depending upon the size of stud 4 used. View 1A shows a close up of hole 3 with the stitched reinforcing required to ensure that 15 stud 4 does not dislodge from the native fabric of the vamp. In the embodiment as shown in the perspective view of Figure 2, a sandal type shoe 1 is shown with the vamp containing the reinforced attachment holes 3. However it will be appreciated that the shoe may be made in other suitable shapes and designs including a range of fabrics and materials provided there is similar characteristics of 20 an upper section or vamp to which the attachment points can be made and a decorative band may be affixed. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the attachment holes 3 on the vamp that accept the stud 4 and the corresponding holes 5 in the decorative band 2 align by having the same physical dimension between the centre of the holes (X 1 ). This enables any 25 footwear with the attachment holes 3 to accept any decorative band with corresponding holes 5 giving the wearer the ability to interchange decorative bands simply and quickly. The decorative band 2 may be made in any number of shapes and sizes and will be the feature article that provides the uniqueness to the footwear. By changing the 30 decorative band, the wearer can transform the look of the footwear article to adapt to various needs - for example from casual to formal or from one colour to another. The alignment of the holes 3 on the shoe vamp to the holes 5 of the decorative band will provide that interchange ability. The thickness of the decorative band is designed to fit firmly between the bottom of the top portion of the stud and the bulb at the top of the stud. The combination of the diameter of the decorative band hole 5 and 5 thickness of the decorative band 2 materials provides a firm resistance attachment to the shoe vamp. Figure 5 depicts the assembly of the invention. The footwear item 1 is manufactured with or is altered to provide the reinforced holes 3. Button studs or otherwise known as 'sam browne' studs at View 5A are affixed to the vamp of the footwear item 1 by 10 inserting the top section of the stud 5-1 into the reinforced hole 3 and screwing the bottom section 5-2 of the stud into the top and trapping the vamp between them. This is done in both of the reinforced holes 3 on the vamp. The decorative band 2 is then placed over the vamp of the shoe 1 so that the holes on the decorative band 5 align with the top section of the studs 5. Pressure is 15 applied to the extent that the studs protrude through the decorative band holes 5 and the band slips tightly over the bulb at the top of the stud and is positioned on the neck of the stud with the bulb now on the top of the decorative band. This stud is also a decorative feature of the invention as it not only provides a resistance attachment method but is also fashionable as is commonly used as an accessory on other articles of clothing. The reverse process is used to remove the decorative band 2 20 from the vamp. 25 30