U.S. patent application number 09/986869 was filed with the patent office on 2003-05-15 for overshoe.
Invention is credited to Mihailovich, Olga.
Application Number | 20030088997 09/986869 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25532843 |
Filed Date | 2003-05-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030088997 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mihailovich, Olga |
May 15, 2003 |
Overshoe
Abstract
The present invention provides an improved overshoe for
protecting an individual's shoe from wear and tear. In particular,
this invention can provide an overshoe that can accommodate a
variety of heights and forms of heels for different styles of
shoes. The overshoe has a main body portion having a cavity and an
opening to the cavity. The cavity and opening are sized to allow a
shoe to fit through the opening and into the cavity so that the
sole of the shoe and at least a portion of the upper covering of
the shoe are covered by the main body portion. A heel portion
extends from the main body portion and has a surrounding wall that
defines a longitudinally extending cavity adapted to receive and
cover the heel of the shoe when the shoe is within the cavity of
the main body portion. The surrounding wall of the heel portion is
convoluted over at least a portion of the longitudinal extent of
the heel portion. The convolutions allow the heel portion to
longitudinally expand or contract to accommodate different heights
of heels of shoes.
Inventors: |
Mihailovich, Olga; (Toronto,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Stephen M. Beney
Bereskin & Parr
Box 401
40 King Street West
Toronto
ON
M5H 3Y2
CA
|
Family ID: |
25532843 |
Appl. No.: |
09/986869 |
Filed: |
November 13, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/7.1R ;
36/97 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 3/16 20130101; A43B
3/26 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/7.10R ;
36/97 |
International
Class: |
A43B 003/16; A43B
003/26 |
Claims
1. An overshoe comprising: a) a main body portion having a cavity
and an opening to the cavity, the cavity and opening are sized to
allow a shoe to fit through the opening and into the cavity so that
the sole of the shoe and at least a portion of the upper covering
of the shoe are covered by the main body portion; and b) a heel
portion extending from the main body portion and having a
surrounding wall defining a longitudinally extending cavity adapted
to receive and cover the heel of the shoe when the shoe is within
the cavity of the main body portion, the surrounding wall of the
heel portion is convoluted over at least a portion of the
longitudinal extent thereof to allow the heel portion to
longitudinally expand or contract to accommodate different heights
of heels of shoes.
2. An overshoe according to claim 1, wherein the convolutions of
the surrounding wall of the heel portion are formed from a
plurality of folds in the surrounding wall.
3. An overshoe according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of folds
have an accordion-like configuration.
4. An overshoe according to claim 3, wherein the surrounding wall
of the heel portion is convoluted over substantially the entire
longitudinal extent thereof.
5. An overshoe according to claim 3, wherein the main body portion
and the heel portion are of a unitary construction.
6. An overshoe according to claim 5, wherein the main body portion
and the heel portion are formed from an elastic polymeric
material.
7. An overshoe according to claim 6, wherein the surrounding wall
of the heel portion ends in a tip that presents an outer tread.
8. An overshoe according to claim 7, wherein the tip is made of
rubber.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an overshoe for shoes, and,
particularly, to an overshoe with an expandable heel to accommodate
various heel heights for different shoes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] An overshoe generally provides a protective covering for a
shoe to reduce wear and tear of the shoe from, for example, adverse
weather conditions and other sources of wear and tear. It can be
difficult to provide a single overshoe that will fit an
individual's various styles of shoes, particularly where the shoes
have heels of different heights.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention provides an improved overshoe for
protecting an individual's shoe from wear and tear. In particular,
this invention can provide an overshoe that can accommodate a
variety of heights and forms of heels for different styles of
shoes.
[0004] The overshoe of this invention comprises a main body portion
having a cavity and an opening to the cavity. The cavity and
opening are sized to allow a shoe to fit through the opening and
into the cavity so that the sole of the shoe and at least a portion
of the upper covering of the shoe are covered by the main body
portion. A heel portion extends from the main body portion and has
a surrounding wall that defines a longitudinally extending cavity
adapted to receive and cover the heel of the shoe when the shoe is
within the cavity of the main body portion. The main body portion
and the heel portion can be of a unitary construction.
[0005] The main body portion and the heel portion of the overshoe
can be formed from a suitable elastic material so that the overshoe
can stretch to fit over a variety of different size shoes. An
example of a suitable material is an elastic polymeric
material.
[0006] The surrounding wall of the heel portion of the overshoe can
end in a tip that presents an outer tread. This can provide better
grip between the overshoe (and particularly the heel of the
overshoe) and a suitable surface that an individual ambulates over.
The tread can also serve to reinforce the tip of the heel portion
of the overshoe against wear and tear. The tip can be made of any
suitable material, such as, for example, but not limited to,
rubber, latex, and plastic.
[0007] The surrounding wall of the heel portion is convoluted over
at least a portion of the longitudinal extent thereof. The
convolutions allow the heel portion to longitudinally expand or
contract to accommodate different heights of heels of shoes. In the
embodiment disclosed the convolutions of the surrounding wall of
the heel portion are formed by providing a plurality of folds in
the surrounding wall. In particular, the plurality of folds can
have an accordion-like configuration.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] For a better understanding of the present invention and to
show more clearly how it would be carried into effect, reference
will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings
that show preferred embodiments of the present invention, and in
which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an overshoe of the present
invention and illustrating an individual placing a shoe within the
overshoe;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the overshoe;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the overshoe taken
along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 2; and
[0012] FIGS. 4 and 5 are part side cross-sectional views of the
overshoe as used with alternative shoes having different heel
heights and styles.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] Referring to FIG. 1, overshoe 10 is shown comprising a main
body portion 12 having a cavity 14 therein and an opening 16 to the
cavity 14. The cavity 14 and opening 16 are sized to allow a shoe
18, for example, but not limited to, a woman's high heel shoe, to
fit through the opening 16 and into the cavity 14 so that the sole
20 of the shoe 18 and at least a portion of the upper covering 22
of the shoe 18 are covered by the main body portion 12 of the
overshoe 10, as will hereinafter be explained. A heel portion 24
extends from the main body portion 12 of the overshoe 10 and has a
surrounding wall 26 that defines a longitudinally extending cavity
28 (see FIG. 3) adapted to receive and cover the heel 30 of the
shoe 18 when the shoe 18 is within the cavity 14 of the main body
portion 12 of the overshoe 10. The main body portion 12 and the
heel portion 24 can be of a unitary construction.
[0014] The main body portion 12 and the heel portion 24 of the
overshoe 10 can be formed from a suitable elastic material so that
the overshoe can stretch to fit over a variety of different size
shoes 18. An example of a suitable material is an elastic polymeric
material.
[0015] As illustrated in FIG. 3 the surrounding wall 26 of the heel
portion 24 of the overshoe 10 ends in a tip 32 that presents an
outer tread 34. Tread 34 can provide better grip between the
overshoe 10 (and particularly the heel portion 24 of the overshoe)
and a suitable surface (not illustrated) that an individual
ambulates over. The tread 34 can also serve to reinforce the tip 32
of the heel portion 24 of the overshoe 10 against wear and tear.
The tip 32 can be made of any suitable material, such as, for
example, but not limited to, rubber, latex, and plastic.
[0016] The surrounding wall 26 of the heel portion 24 is convoluted
as at 36 over at least a portion of the longitudinal extent of the
heel portion 24. For the embodiment illustrated the convolutions 36
extend substantially the entire longitudinal extent of the heel
portion 24. The convolutions 36 allow the heel portion 24 to
longitudinally expand or contract to accommodate different heights
of heels 30 of shoes 18. In the embodiment disclosed the
convolutions 36 of the heel portion 24 are formed by providing a
plurality of folds as at 38 in the surrounding wall 26 of the heel
portion 24 of the overshoe 10. Moreover, for the embodiment
illustrated, the plurality of folds 38 have an accordion-like
configuration.
[0017] Overshoe 10 can be manufactured from an elastic polymeric
material, or other suitable material, to allow the overshoe 10 to
stretch at least lengthwise along an axis that extends generally
longitudinally of the cavity 14 of the upper portion 12 of the
overshoe 10. This enables overshoe 10 to fit a variety of different
shoe sizes and shapes. The polymeric material can be any colour and
even translucent, if desired. Moreover, the outer surface 40 of the
overshoe can be provided with any suitable indicia or designs. The
sole 42 of the overshoe 10 can be made of rubber, or feature a
rubber portion 44 (see FIG. 3) to assist in traction with a
suitable surface (not illustrated). A suitable material other than
rubber may be used to provide traction, however.
[0018] In the embodiment disclosed heel portion 24 of overshoe 10
is provided with a number of folds 38 in an accordion-like
configuration. By providing heel portion 24 with the number of
folds 38, the heel portion 24 can expand or contract over its
longitudinal extent to fit a variety of heights of heel 30 of shoe
18.
[0019] The heel portion 24 should be manufactured from a durable,
stretch material such as, but not limited to, the elastic polymeric
material mentioned previously. The material is to be sufficiently
durable to allow the heel portion to expand and contract to fit the
variety of differing heights of heels of different shoes, as
earlier explained. Moreover, the material should be sufficiently
elastic to accommodate different styles and widths of heels that
different shoes can present.
[0020] Overshoe 10 is placed over a shoe 18 by fitting shoe 18
through opening 16 and into cavity 14, stretching overshoe 10 as
needed to ensure a snug fit. The elastic effect of the polymeric
material (or other suitable material) of the overshoe 10 pulls the
main body portion 12 of the overshoe 10 over the upper portion 22
of shoe 18. In the embodiment disclosed the main body portion 12 of
the overshoe 10 covers nearly the entire upper portion 22 of the
shoe 18. Alternative embodiments could have only a portion of the
upper covering 22 of the shoe 18 covered. It can be appreciated
that for the purpose of protecting the shoe 18 from, for example,
water (for example, puddles) and adverse weather the sole 20 of
shoe 18 should be covered and enough of upper portion 22 of the
shoe 18 should be covered to keep the shoe 18 substantially
dry.
[0021] As mentioned previously, the heel portion 24 of overshoe 10
can abut the sides 40 of the heel 30 of shoe 18. The abutting
action is caused in part by the elastic nature of the material that
makes the heel portion 24 of the overshoe 10. Moreover, for the
embodiment illustrated the heel portion 24 abuts the sides 46 of
the heel 30 at one or more of the ridges 48 that are created by the
folds 38 in the heel portion 24.
[0022] By using an elastic polymeric material in the construction
of overshoe 10, as previously discussed, overshoe 10 fits snuggly
over the back 50 of shoe 18. Heel portion 24 also expands or
contracts to properly fit the height of the heel 30 of the shoe 18.
Moreover, by having the tip 32 of heel portion 24 reinforced with
tread 34, as previously discussed, sufficient traction can be
provided in conditions such as, for example, rain, snow, ice, or
other potentially dangerous conditions.
[0023] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the heel portion of overshoe 10
in use on heel 30' of a shoe 18' that is higher than the heel 30 of
the shoe 18 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. For shoe 18', folds 38 of the
heel portion 24 of the overshoe 10 stretch and conform to the
height of the heel 30', as described previously. The elastic nature
of the material that makes the heel portion 24, however, can allow
the heel portion 24 to follow the tapered shape of the heel
30'.
[0024] FIG. 5 shows the side view of overshoe 10 in use on a heel
30" of a shoe 18" that is wider and lower than the heel 30 of the
shoe 18 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. Here, the folds 38 of the heel
portion 24 of overshoe 10 stretch and conform to the particular
height, shape and width of the heel 30", as previously
described.
[0025] Overshoe device 10 can conform to a variety of heel heights
and widths and shapes. FIGS. 3 and 4 merely illustrate two
particular shapes and sizes.
[0026] It can be appreciated that variations to this invention
would be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and this
invention is intended to include those alternatives.
* * * * *