Article with identifying device

Claim 2

An article having an identifying device attached thereto, characterised by an article portion including a first ply of material, a retainer including a base and a peripherally extending wall defining a socket, means for attaching the retainer base to the article portion outwardly of said first ply of material, an identifying element interfitting the socket, and means between the retainer and the element for removably holding the element in captive snap-fitting relation to the socket.

Claim 3

An article having an identifying device attached thereto according to Claim 1, characterised in that the article portion includes a second ply of material attached to the first ply of material in overlying relation, said second ply including a socket-accessible opening, and the base is, at least in part, sandwiched between said first and second plies of material said base being fixedly attached to at least one of said plies of material to provide the means for attaching the base to the article portion.

Claim 4

An article having an identifying device attached thereto according to Claim 2, characterised in that the wall portion is raised to extend outwardly of the opening in the second ply of material.

Claim 5

An article having an identifying device attached thereto according to Claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the identifying element received by the socket includes an upper portion having substantially the same size and/or shape as the socket.

Claim 6

An article having an identifying device attached thereto according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that the article is an article of footwear and the article portion is a footwear upper portion.

Claim 7

An article having an identifying device attached thereto according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the means holding the element in captive relation within the socket includes a groove portion and an interfitting rib portion, one of said portions being integrally formed with the wall and the other of said portions being integrally formed with the element.

Claim 8

An article having an identifying device attached thereto according to any of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the wall portion is raised and includes an inwardly extending peripheral rib and the element includes a peripheral groove receiving said rib.

Claim 9

An article having an identifying device attached thereto according to Claim 1, characterised in that the article portion includes a second ply of material attached to the first ply of material in overlying relation, said second ply including a socket-accessible opening, the base includes a flange at least in part sandwiched between said first and second plies of material, the flange being fixedly attached to at least one of said plies of material to provide the means for attaching the base to the article portion and the wall portion is raised to extend outwardly of the opening in the second ply of material, and the means holding the identifying element in captive relation within the socket includes a rib portion extending inwardly of the wall and a portion of the element engagingly receiving the rib.

Claim 10

An article having an identifying device attached thereto according to Claim 8, characterised in that the raised wall portion includes an inwardly extending peripheral rib and the identifying element includes a peripheral groove receiving said rib.

Claim 11

An article having an identifying device attached thereto according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the retainer includes a second peripherally extending wall defining a second socket, a second identifying element is provided interfitting the second socket, and means between the retainer and the second element removably hold the second element in captive snap-fitting relation within the second socket.

Claim 12

An article having an identifying device attached thereto according to Claim 10, characterised in that the article portion includes a second ply of material attached to said first ply of material in overlying relation, said second ply of material including a second socket-accessible opening, and the base is, at least in part, sandwiched between said first and second plies of material, said base being fixedly attached to at least one of said plies of material to provide the means for attaching the base to the article portion.

Claim 13

An article having an identifying device attached thereto according to Claim 11, characterised in that each identifying element received by its associated socket is substantially the same size and/or shape as said socket.

Claim 14

An article having an identifying device attached thereto according to any of Claims 8 to 12, characterised in that the article portion is a footwear upper portion and includes a vamp reinforcing portion providing the second ply of material.

Claim 15

An article having an identifying device attached thereto according to any of Claims 10 to 13, characterised in that the means holding each element in captive relation within its associated socket includes a groove portion and an interfitting rib portion, one of said portions being integrally formed with the wall and the other of said portions being integrally formed with the element.

Claim 16

An article having an identifying device attached thereto according to any of Claims 10 to 13, characterised in that each wall portion is raised to extend outwardly of its associated opening in the second ply of material.

Claim 17

An article having an identifying device attached thereto according to any of Claims 10 to 15, characterised in that the base includes a common flange outwardly extending about both of said socket portions, said flange being fixedly attached to at least one of said plies of material to provide the means for attaching the base to the article portion.

Claim 18

An article having an identifying device attached thereto according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the or each socket and the or each element is of generally triangular configuration.

Claim 19

An article having an identifying device attached thereto according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the or each element is of different-colours.

Claim 20

An article having an identifying device attached thereto according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the or each element includes opposed faces of different colours.

Claim 21

An article having an identifying device attached thereto according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the or each retaining wall is substantially transparent.

Claim 22

An article having an identifying device attached thereto according to any preceding claim, characterised in that one of the wall and identifying portions is formed from relatively resilient material.