U.S. patent application number 14/209413 was filed with the patent office on 2014-09-18 for protective shoe cover.
This patent application is currently assigned to Todd Neufeld. The applicant listed for this patent is Todd Neufeld. Invention is credited to Omar S. Bailey, Todd Neufeld.
Application Number | 20140259736 14/209413 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51520694 |
Filed Date | 2014-09-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140259736 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Neufeld; Todd ; et
al. |
September 18, 2014 |
PROTECTIVE SHOE COVER
Abstract
A protective shoe cover is disclosed, and includes a sole
portion and an upper portion integrally attached to the sole
portion. The upper portion includes an opening having a length and
width sufficient for receiving a shoe therein. The protective shoe
cover also includes fastening means for fastening it to the shoe,
whereby a wearer may tighten the opening and encapsulate the shoe
in the protective shoe cover.
Inventors: |
Neufeld; Todd; (Chappaqua,
NY) ; Bailey; Omar S.; (New York, NY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Neufeld; Todd |
Chappaqua |
NY |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Neufeld; Todd
Chappaqua
NY
|
Family ID: |
51520694 |
Appl. No.: |
14/209413 |
Filed: |
March 13, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61787828 |
Mar 15, 2013 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/7.1R ;
36/72R |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 5/18 20130101; A43B
7/12 20130101; A43C 11/1493 20130101; A43B 3/16 20130101; A43B
1/0072 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/7.1R ;
36/72.R |
International
Class: |
A43B 3/16 20060101
A43B003/16 |
Claims
1. A protective shoe cover, comprising: a sole portion having a
bottom, a front wall, a back sole wall, a lateral sole wall and a
medial sole wall; an upper portion integrally attached to said sole
portion, said upper portion including a back upper wall, a lateral
upper wall, and a medial upper wall, said lateral upper wall and
said medial upper wall being integrally joined to form a front
portion of said protective shoe cover, said front portion forming a
toe section with said bottom of said sole portion, and said back
upper wall, said lateral upper wall, and said medial upper wall
forming an opening in said protective shoe cover, said opening
having a length and width sufficient for receiving a shoe therein;
and fastening means for fastening said protective shoe cover to the
shoe.
2. The protective shoe cover of claim 1, wherein said protective
shoe cover is made from a translucent material, whereby at least a
portion of the shoe is visible through said protective shoe
cover.
3. The protective shoe cover of claim 1, wherein said protective
shoe cover is made from a water-resistant material.
4. The protective shoe cover of claim 1, wherein said fastening
means includes first fastening means disposed on said upper portion
proximate said opening of said protective shoe cover, and second
fastening means disposed on said upper portion proximate said front
portion of said protective shoe cover.
5. The protective shoe cover of claim 4, wherein said first
fastening means includes a first strap and said second fastening
means includes a second strap that is larger than said first strap,
said first strap and said second strap having hook and loop
fasteners thereon.
6. The protective shoe cover of claim 5, wherein said first strap
and said second strap are extendable across said upper portion and
securable to said upper portion, whereby said opening is tightened
to encapsulate the shoe within said protective shoe cover.
7. The protective shoe cover of claim 1, wherein said bottom of
said sole portion includes a downward facing surface, and wherein a
tread is provided on said downward facing surface.
8. The protective shoe cover of claim 1, wherein said protective
shoe cover is configured to cover a high-top athletic shoe.
9. The protective shoe cover of claim 1, wherein said protective
shoe cover is configured to cover a low-top athletic shoe.
10. In combination, an athletic shoe and a protective shoe cover,
said protective shoe cover including a sole portion having a
bottom, a front wall, a back sole wall, a lateral sole wall and a
medial sole wall; an upper portion integrally attached to said sole
portion, said upper portion including a back upper wall, a lateral
upper wall, and a medial upper wall, said lateral upper wall and
said medial upper wall being integrally joined to form a front
portion of said protective shoe cover, said front portion forming a
toe section with said bottom of said sole portion, and said back
upper wall, said lateral upper wall, and said medial upper wall
forming an opening in said protective shoe cover, said opening
having a length and width sufficient for receiving a shoe therein;
first fastening means disposed on said upper portion proximate said
opening of said protective shoe cover, said first fastening means
including a first strap; and second fastening means disposed on
said upper portion proximate said front portion of said protective
shoe cover, said second fastening means including a second strap
that is larger than said first strap, and said first strap and said
second strap having hook and loop fasteners thereon, wherein said
first strap and said second strap are extendable across said upper
portion and securable to said upper portion, whereby said opening
is tightened to encapsulate said shoe in said protective shoe
cover.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application No. 61/787,828, filed Mar. 15, 2013, the
disclosure of which is incorporated in its entirety herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to shoe covers and, more particularly,
to shoe covers for protecting athletic shoes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Athletic shoes are often desired for aesthetic appeal in
addition to, or instead of for their utilitarian purposes. However,
athletic shoes can be very expensive, and become damaged through
normal wear and tear and/or through athletic activity. Hence, it is
desired to provide an efficient, cost-effective protective cover
that will prevent or minimize the damage to a shoe, thereby
allowing the shoe to retain its aesthetic appeal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The protective shoe cover of the present invention includes
a sole portion having a bottom, a front wall, a back sole wall, a
lateral sole wall and a medial sole wall. The protective shoe cover
further includes an upper portion integrally attached to the sole
portion, the upper portion including a back upper wall, a lateral
upper wall, and a medial upper wall. The lateral upper wall and
medial upper wall are integrally joined to form a front portion of
the protective shoe cover, which forms a toe section with the
bottom of the sole portion. The back upper wall, lateral upper
wall, and medial upper wall form an opening in the protective shoe
cover, the opening having a length and width sufficient for
receiving a shoe therein. The protective shoe cover also includes
fastening means for fastening it to the shoe. The fastening means
enable a wearer to tighten the opening and encapsulate the shoe in
the protective shoe cover.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The present invention will be further explained with
reference to the attached drawings, wherein like structures are
referred to by like numerals throughout the several views. The
drawings shown are not necessarily to scale, with emphasis instead
generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the
present invention.
[0006] FIG. 1 is a side view of an exemplary shoe cover according
to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the shoe cover of FIG. 1;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the shoe cover
illustrated in FIG. 2, as taken along section line 3-3 in FIG.
2;
[0009] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the shoe cover
illustrated in FIG. 2, as taken along section line 4-4 in FIG.
2;
[0010] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the shoe cover
illustrated in FIG. 2, as taken along section line 5-5 in FIG.
2;
[0011] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the shoe cover
illustrated in FIG. 2, as taken along section line 6-6 in FIG.
2;
[0012] FIG. 7 is a side environmental view of the shoe cover
illustrated in FIG. 1, as shown in use with a shoe; and
[0013] FIG. 8 is a top environmental view of the shoe cover
illustrated in FIG. 2, as shown in use with a shoe.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIGS. 1-6 illustrate an athletic shoe cover 10 in accordance
with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The shoe
cover 10 is made of a material that facilitates its protective
coverage of a shoe. The shoe cover 10 is made of a water-resistant
material, for example, rubber, vinyl, or plastic. The material of
the shoe cover 10 is also translucent (e.g., translucent rubber or
other materials) such that at least a portion of a shoe will be
visible through the shoe cover 10.
[0015] In one embodiment, the shoe cover 10 includes a sole portion
12 integrally connected to an upper portion 14. The sole portion 12
has a bottom 16, a front wall 18, a back sole wall 20, a lateral
sole wall 22 (shown in FIGS. 4-6), and a medial sole wall 24. A
tread 26 is provided on at least a portion of the downward facing
surface of the bottom 16 for improved gripping ability (see FIGS.
1, 3 and 7).
[0016] With continued reference to FIGS. 1-6, the upper portion 14
includes a back upper wall 28, a lateral upper wall 30 (shown in
FIGS. 2 and 4-6), and a medial upper wall 32. A pull tab (not
shown) may be attached to the back upper wall 28 to facilitate
insertion and removal of a shoe from the shoe cover 10. The lateral
and medial upper walls 30, 32 are integrally joined at a front
portion 34 of the shoe cover 10 and, in conjunction with the front
sole bottom 16, form a toe section 36. The back upper wall 28 and
lateral and medial upper walls 30, 32 form an opening 38 in the
shoe cover 10 that is adapted to receive a shoe (e.g., an athletic
shoe). The opening 38 is wide enough and long enough to receive a
shoe.
[0017] The shoe cover 10 includes fastening means disposed on the
shoe upper portion 14. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-8,
the fastening means include straps 40, 42 having conventional hook
and loop type fasteners (e.g., VELCRO) to secure the straps 40, 42
in a closed position. However, any conventional fastening means may
be employed so long as it does not interfere with the operation or
protection provided by the shoe cover 10. The strap 40 is disposed
proximate the opening 38, and the strap 42 is disposed proximate
the front portion 34 of the shoe cover 10. The straps 40, 42 are
unfastened and opened so that the opening 38 is free to receive a
user's shoe. After a user places his or her shoe in the opening 38
and completely inside the shoe cover 10, the straps 40, 42 are
extended across the upper portion 14 and secured thereto by closing
the hook and loop type fasteners, to thereby tighten the opening 38
around the user's shoe and encapsulate the shoe. Since the shoe
cover 10 is made from a water-resistant material, the shoe is
protected from water and other damage.
[0018] FIGS. 3-6 are cross-sectional views of various portions of
the shoe cover 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2 that illustrate various
structural features discussed above. However, for the sake of
simplicity and clarity, these cross-sectional views do not include
the straps 40, 42 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0019] Reference is now made to FIGS. 7 and 8, which are
environmental views of the shoe cover 10 in use with a shoe S. The
straps 40, 42 have been extended across and secured to the upper
portion 14 such that the shoe S is firmly encapsulated in the shoe
cover 10. As illustrated in FIG. 7, a portion of the shoe S is
visible through the material of the shoe cover 10. As illustrated
in FIG. 8, a portion of the shoe S is also visible through the
material of the shoe cover 10. The translucent material from which
the shoe cover 10 is formed allows a user to retain the aesthetic
appeal of the shoe S by displaying the shoe S, while simultaneously
protecting the shoe S.
[0020] It will be understood that the embodiments described herein
are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art may make
many variations and modifications without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention. All such variations and modifications
are intended to be included within the scope of the invention, as
set out in the appended claims.
* * * * *