U.S. patent application number 13/972847 was filed with the patent office on 2015-02-26 for disposable shoe buddy.
The applicant listed for this patent is Arlene Alvarez, Yvonne Alvarez. Invention is credited to Arlene Alvarez, Yvonne Alvarez.
Application Number | 20150052779 13/972847 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52479076 |
Filed Date | 2015-02-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150052779 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Alvarez; Yvonne ; et
al. |
February 26, 2015 |
DISPOSABLE SHOE BUDDY
Abstract
A disposable shoe bottom cover for allowing a user easily cover
the bottom of shoes being worn with a securely fitted, non-slip
structure. The invention comprises a bottom base with a first front
attachment lip, a second front attachment lip, a first back
attachment lip, and a second back attachment lip. The bottom base
is configured to be stretchable to be placed over and to cover the
bottom of a shoe and the attachment lips provide opposing surfaces
which allow the disposable shoe bottom cover to be secured to the
bottom of a shoe by way of engaging the toe portion of the shoe and
the heel portion of the shoe. The invention is operated by
supplying manual force to stretch apart one front attachment lip
and one back attachment lip, placing the bottom of a shoe on the
stretched bottom base, and removing the manual force.
Inventors: |
Alvarez; Yvonne; (New York,
NY) ; Alvarez; Arlene; (New York, NY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Alvarez; Yvonne
Alvarez; Arlene |
New York
New York |
NY
NY |
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
52479076 |
Appl. No.: |
13/972847 |
Filed: |
August 21, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/73 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 3/106 20130101;
A43B 3/163 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/73 |
International
Class: |
A43B 23/00 20060101
A43B023/00 |
Claims
1. A disposable shoe bottom cover, comprising: a bottom base
defined as a substantially flat piece of elastic material having a
first end and an opposing second end, wherein said bottom base
includes at least one front attachment lip disposed at its first
end and at least one back attachment lip disposed at its second
end; wherein said front attachment lip and said back attachment lip
are configured to securely fit on the top portion of a shoe and the
heel portion of a shoe when actuated, respectively, and adapted to
be actuated by manually pulling and holding said front attachment
lip in a first engaging direction and said back attachment lip in a
second engaging direction, which stretches the bottom base and
which allows a shoe to be placed on the bottom base, and releasing
said pulling and holding once a shoe has been placed on the bottom
base.
2. The disposable bottom shoe cover of claim 1, wherein at least
two front attachment lips are disposed at the first end.
3. The disposable bottom shoe cover of claim 1, wherein at least
two back attachment lips are disposed at the second end.
4. A method of covering the bottom of a shoe, comprising the steps
of: providing a disposable shoe bottom cover having a bottom base
defined as a substantially flat piece of elastic material having a
first end and an opposing second end, wherein said bottom base
includes at least one front attachment lip disposed at its first
end and at least one back attachment lip disposed at its second end
and said front attachment lip and said back attachment lip are
configured to securely fit on the top portion of a shoe and the
heel portion of a shoe when actuated, respectively; providing a
shoe having either a rounded toe or a pointed toe and either a
narrow heel or a wide heel; actuating said front attachment lip and
said back attachment lip by manually pulling and holding said front
attachment lip in a first engaging direction and said back
attachment lip in a second engaging direction, which stretches the
bottom base; placing the bottom of the provided shoe on the bottom
base; and releasing said pulling and holding.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein at least two front attachment
lips are disposed at the first end.
6. The method of claim 5, additionally comprising the step of
selecting a first front attachment lip for the step of actuating if
the provided shoe has a pointed toe.
7. The method of claim 5, additionally comprising the step of
selecting a second front attachment lip for the step of actuating
if the provided shoe has a rounded toe.
8. The method of claim 4, wherein at least two back attachment lips
are disposed at the second end.
9. The method of claim 8, additionally comprising the step of
selecting a first back attachment lip for the step of actuating if
the provided shoe has a narrow heel.
10. The method of claim 8, additionally comprising the step of
selecting a second back attachment lip for the step of actuating if
the provided shoe has a wide heel.
11. A disposable shoe bottom cover, comprising: a base means for
covering, wherein said base means includes a first end and an
opposing second end; at least one front attachment means disposed
on said first end; and at least one back attachment means disposed
on said back end.
12. The disposable bottom shoe cover of claim 11, wherein at least
two front attachment means are disposed at the first end.
13. The disposable bottom shoe cover of claim 11, wherein at least
two back attachment means are disposed at the second end.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates generally to footwear accessories
and, more particularly, to a disposable shoe covering for
protecting indoor floors from shoe soles and heels.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] In today's society, individuals tend to wear shoes almost
anywhere they go. It is well known that a prime way pathogenic
microbes and other undesirable substances enter homes is by being
tracked in on the sole of the shoes of the inhabitants or visitors.
Moreover, the bottom some shoes, such as high heel shoes, are
structure in an way which make them prone to scratching or
otherwise damaging floor surfaces, including hard wood surfaces.
For lack of convenience or for social reasons however, it has
proven difficult for people to completely disallow the wearing of
shoes in their homes or businesses. Thus, a problem which still
exists is that the continuing practice of wearing all types of
shoes indoors poses a constant threat of transferring dirt and
germs inside and of damaging expensive indoor floors. There remains
a need for a disposable shoe bottom covering which can be easily
and securely placed over the bottom of one's shoe. It would be
helpful if such a disposable shoe bottom covering was constructed
of a non-slip and waterproof material to protect the wearer and the
floor. It would be additionally desirable for such a disposable
shoe bottom cover to be a one piece, elastic structure which could
be secured over a plurality of shoe bottom types.
[0005] The Applicant's invention described herein provides for a
disposable shoe cover adapted to be placed over and fully cover the
bottom of any type of shoe. The primary component of Applicant's
disposable shoe bottom cover is a base member having a plurality of
fastening lips. When in operation, the disposable shoe bottom cover
allows a user to place a disposable and readily available cover on
the bottom of their shoes to prevent tracking substances on the
shoe bottoms inside and to protect floor surfaces. As a result,
many of the limitations imposed by resilient social customs and the
prior art are removed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] A disposable shoe bottom cover for allowing a user easily
cover the bottom of shoes being worn with a securely fitted,
non-slip structure. The disposable shoe bottom cover comprises a
bottom base with a first front attachment lip, a second front
attachment lip, a first back attachment lip, and a second back
attachment lip. The bottom base, as a base means for covering, is
configured to be stretchable to be placed over and to cover the
bottom of a shoe by way of its substantially flat profile and
construction out a clear plastic or silicone material. The
attachment lips provide opposing surfaces which allow the
disposable shoe bottom cover to be secured to the bottom of a shoe
by way of engaging the toe portion of the shoe and the heel portion
of the shoe. The attachment lips are sized to allow the disposable
shoe bottom cover to be selectively configured in real time to be
placed on a shoes having a variety of toe and heel configurations.
The first front attachment lip and a second front attachment lip,
collectively, define a front attachment means. The first back
attachment lip and a second back attachment lip, collectively,
define a back attachment means.
[0007] The disposable shoe bottom cover is operated by supplying
manual force to pull and hold one the front attachment lips and one
of the back attachment lips in an stretching direction, which
causes the bottom base to stretch as well, placing the bottom of a
shoe on the stretched bottom base, and removing the manual force to
allow the bottom base to resume its natural size. By such action,
it is contemplated that the selected front attachment lip and back
attachment lip will engage the toe and heel, respectively, of the
shoe placed in the stretched bottom base.
[0008] To remove the shoe from the disposable shoe bottom cover,
manual force in a stretching direction must again be supplied to
terminate the engagement of the front attachment lip and back
attachment lip with the toe and heel. While such force is supplied,
the shoe can be freely removed.
[0009] It is an object of this invention to provide a disposable
shoe bottom covering which can be easily and securely placed over
the bottom of one's shoe.
[0010] It is another object of this invention to provide a
disposable shoe bottom covering constructed of a non-slip and
waterproof material to protect the wearer and the floor.
[0011] It is yet another object of this invention to provide a
disposable shoe bottom cover which was a one piece, elastic
structure which could be secured over a plurality of shoe bottom
types.
[0012] These and other objects will be apparent to one of skill in
the art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1a is a top plan perspective view of a disposable shoe
bottom cover built in accordance with the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the disposable shoe
bottom cover built in accordance with the present invention having
first rear and first front attachment lip actuated.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the disposable shoe
bottom cover built in accordance with the present invention having
second rear and second front attachment lip actuated.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the disposable shoe
bottom cover built in accordance with the present invention on a
high heel shoe and having first rear and second front attachment
lip actuated.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of an embodiment of a
disposable shoe bottom cover built in accordance with the present
invention on a high heel shoe.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of the disposable shoe
bottom cover built in accordance with the present invention on a
gym shoe and having first rear and second front attachment lip
actuated.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] Referring now to the drawings and in particular FIG. 1, a
disposable shoe bottom cover 10 is shown having a bottom base 11
with a plurality of attachment lips 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 defined by a
first front attachment lip 12, a second front attachment lip 13, a
first back attachment lip 14 and a second back attachment lip 15.
The bottom base 11 is a substantially flat piece of material and
constructed out a clear plastic or silicone, allowing it to be
stretchable over the underside of a shoe. The bottom base is
additionally configured to allow designs, patterns, and colors to
be included thereon so as to make it more desirable to wear from a
social standpoint.
[0020] The attachment lips 12, 13, 14, 15 provide opposing surfaces
which allow the disposable shoe bottom cover 10 to be securely
placed on the bottom of a shoe. As the attachment lips 12, 13, 14,
15 are provided in different sizes, it is contemplated that they
allow the disposable shoe bottom cover 10 to be selectively
configured in real time to be placed on substantially any type of
shoe.
[0021] Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the disposable shoe bottom
cover 10 is shown with various attachment lips 12, 13, 14, 15
actuated. As the disposable shoe bottom cover 10 is constructed out
of an elastic material, the attachment lips 12, 13, 14, 15 are
actuated by simply manually pulling and holding whichever lips are
desired to be used in a front stretching direction 16 for the front
attachment lips 12, 13 and a back stretching direction 17 for the
back attachment lips 14, 15. As selected the attachment lips 12,
13, 14, 15, are manually held in their respective stretching
direction 16, 17, the bottom base 11 stretches as well. This allows
the entire disposable shoe bottom cover 10 to be stretched before
placement over a target shoe so that when manual force is removed,
the bottom base and whichever attachment lips 12, 13, 14, 15 which
were actuated to tighten around the toe and heel of the target shoe
by the reflective recoil action from the stretching. As in FIG. 2,
the first front attachment lip 12 and its first back attachment lip
15 are actuated. As shown in FIG. 3, the its second front
attachment lip 13 and its second back attachment lip 16 actuated.
It is contemplated, however, that any combination of front
attachment lips 12, 13 and back attachment lips 14, 15 can be used
together, depending on the structure of the target shoe. For
instance, a shoe with a more pointed toe will customarily be suited
for the first front attachment lip 12 while a shoe with a rounder
toe will customarily be suited for the second front attachment lip
13. Similarly, a shoe with a more narrow heel, such as a high heel
will customarily be suited for the first back attachment lip 14
while a shoe with a wider heel will customarily be suited for the
second back attachment lip 15.
[0022] Referring now to FIG. 4, the disposable shoe bottom cover 10
is shown on a high heel shoe 50 with a wider toe. The bottom base
11 is shown underneath the bottom of the shoe 50, covering the
same, while the second front attachment lip 13 is shown actuated
and engaging the toe of the shoe. The first back attachment lip 14
is shown actuated and engaging the heel of the shoe 40, while the
second back attachment lip (not shown) is remains in its flat, base
position.
[0023] Referring now to FIG. 5, an embodiment of a disposable shoe
bottom cover 51 is shown on a high heel shoe 50 with a pointed toe.
The bottom base 52 is shown underneath the bottom of the shoe 50,
covering the same, while in this embodiment, a single front
attachment lip 53 is shown actuated and engaging the toe of the
shoe 50. In addition, a single back attachment lip 54 is shown
actuated and engaging the heel of the shoe 40.
[0024] Referring now to FIG. 6, the disposable shoe bottom cover 10
is shown on a conventional gym shoe 60. The bottom base 11 is shown
underneath the bottom of the shoe 60, covering the same, while the
second front attachment lip 13 is shown actuated and engaging the
toe area of the shoe. The first back attachment lip 14 is shown
actuated and engaging the heel area of the shoe 60, while the
second back attachment lip (not shown) is remains in its flat, base
position.
[0025] The instant invention has been shown and described herein in
what is considered to be the most practical and preferred
embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made
therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious
modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.
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