Systems and methods for a dial cover for a rotary closure for a shoe

Abstract

Various embodiments of a system for an improved rotary closure including a dial cover for ease of gripping and customizability are described herein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dial cover for a rotary closure, the dial cover comprising:
 a body defining an outer convex surface and an inner concave surface defined interior to the outer convex surface, a sidewall portion and a topside portion;   wherein the dial cover is configured to encapsulate a peripheral edge of a dial of a rotary closure.   
     
     
         2 . The dial cover of  claim 1 , further comprising an aperture defined through a center of the topside portion of the outer convex surface. 
     
     
         3 . The dial cover of  claim 2 , wherein the sidewall portion of the dial cover assumes a shape of a peripheral edge of the dial such that the sidewall portion of the dial cover conforms to a plurality of recesses and ridges of the peripheral edge of the dial. 
     
     
         4 . The dial cover of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an inner lip extending inward towards a center of the dial cover that extends underneath the peripheral edge of the dial when the dial cover is coupled with the dial.   
     
     
         5 . The dial cover of  claim 1 , wherein the body of the dial cover further comprises:
 at least one protrusion extending away from a center of the dial cover.   
     
     
         6 . The dial cover of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one protrusion includes a concave edge and an opposite convex edge. 
     
     
         7 . The dial cover of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a token configured for engagement by the dial cover.   
     
     
         8 . The dial cover of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a recessed portion circumferentially defined at a top of the inner concave surface, the recessed portion configured to engage the token and secure the token against a top surface of the dial.   
     
     
         9 . The dial cover of  claim 7 , wherein the token is chemically bonded to the dial cover. 
     
     
         10 . The dial cover of  claim 7 , wherein the token is coupled to the dial cover by a plurality of cover engagement points defined on a surface of the token. 
     
     
         11 . The dial cover of  claim 1 , wherein the dial cover comprises a flexible material having a suitable friction coefficient for gripping. 
     
     
         12 . The dial cover of  claim 1 , further comprising an inner lip defined along a bottom of the sidewall portion that extends inward towards a center of the dial cover. 
     
     
         13 . The dial cover of  claim 1 , wherein the dial cover comprises a rigid material having a suitable friction coefficient for gripping or otherwise being coated with a material having a suitable friction coefficient for gripping. 
     
     
         14 . The dial cover of  claim 1 , wherein the dial cover includes a plurality of tangs that couple with the dial in a snap fit engagement. 
     
     
         15 . The dial cover of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall portion of the body is frictionally engaged to the peripheral edge of the dial. 
     
     
         16 . The dial cover of  claim 15 , wherein the sidewall portion includes a plurality of friction-fit ribs that engage the peripheral edge of the dial. 
     
     
         17 . A method, comprising:
 forming a dial cover, the dial cover including:
 a body defining an outer convex surface, an inner concave surface defined interior to the outer convex surface, and a sidewall portion. 
   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 coupling the dial cover to a dial of a rotary closure such that the inner concave surface contacts the dial and the sidewall portion encapsulates a peripheral edge of the dial.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 forming one or more protrusions along the outer convex surface.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 forming a solid core comprising a rigid material for each protrusion of the one or more protrusions; and   coating the solid core with a material having a suitable friction coefficient for gripping.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the dial cover comprises at least one of:
 a flexible material having a suitable friction coefficient for gripping; and/or   a rigid material, the rigid material having a suitable friction coefficient for gripping or otherwise being coated with a material having a suitable friction coefficient for gripping.   
     
     
         22 . A rotary closure, comprising:
 a dial defining a peripheral edge and configured for rotation in a clockwise or counterclockwise rotational direction; and   a dial cover that defines an outer convex surface, an inner concave surface defined interior to the outer convex surface, and a sidewall portion that encapsulates the dial against the inner concave surface, wherein the dial cover includes at least one of:
 a flexible material having a suitable friction coefficient for gripping; and/or 
 a rigid material having a suitable friction coefficient for gripping or otherwise being coated with a material having a suitable friction coefficient for gripping.