Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SOLE COVER FOR WORK SHOES OR BOOTS
The present invention may be termed a shoe or boot sole cover for protecting a
floor, carpeting, rugs, etc. from foreign matter.
Work shoes or boots often become contaminated by dirt, oil and grease,
chemicals
requiring changing of footwear when entering a home or office. Such changing
constitutes a nuisance and requires that additional footwear must be made
available at
entry locations. Where there are several workers, pairs of shoes, slippers and
the like
must be available at the entry area.
A solution to the foregoing problem is proposed by providing an over-the-shoe
(or
boot) cover for temporary installation on contaminated footwear. Cost, ease of
use,
durability, convenient storage, range of sizes are some of the considerations
entering into
providing a desirable over-the-shoe (or boot) article or cover.
U. S. Patent Application 2003/0226281 discloses an article having a fibrous
sole
formed from a sheet of felt with multiple front and rear straps stitched
thereto.
U. S. Patent Application 202/0148138 discloses a floor protective cover having
an
upper with an elastic opening for she reception and is of neoprene, rubber or
the like.
U. S. Patent 5,056,240 discloses an overshoe intended for use by someone doing
gardening who finds it necessary to periodically enter the home with dirty or
contaminated footwear. The article is of molded material having a sole and an
upper
closeable about an article of footwear with an adjustable strap secwed by a
fabric closure.
A tab facilitates retention of the overshoe during shoe entry.
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U. S. Patent 5,694,704 discloses an adhesive sheet sized and shaped to permit
attachment to a work shoe with the sheet overlapping a portion of the shoe
upper for
protection from overspray from a commercial spray booth. The cover and strap
securing
the cover in place are formed from a sheet of adhesive bearing material.
U. S. Patent application publication U. S. 2003/0230006 discloses a cover for
a
shoe or boot sole intended for use by workers at a work station over long
periods of time
to provide a resilient anti-fatigue layer which is otherwise provided by
resilient mats at a
work station. The cover includes a sole of synthetic fibrous material which
resiliently
supports a shoe or boot. An array of straps in conjunction with front and rear
sole
mounted tabs serve to attach the cover to the footwear with two strap ends
provided with
fabric closwe members. Front, side and rear tabs in place on the sole of one
embodiment
serve to connect the plurality of straps engageable with the toe, sides and
heel portion of
a piece of footwear. The cover is apparently intended for use over a
substantial period of
time as it entails a degree of effort for footwear attachment.
U. S. Patent 5,659,978discloses the use of interconnected toe straps directed
through a common ring with some of the straps reversed for attachment
purposes. It
appears as if the disclosed article is more or less for attachment to a piece
of footwear for
a considerable duration.
U. S. Patent Application Publication 2004/0006893 shows a shoe attachment
having a relatively thick pad for placement beneath a shoe sole with front and
rear straps
passing through the pad for buckled attachment about a work shoe.
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U. S. Patent 1,187,778 discloses an overshoe formed from a fabric to provide a
sole portion with a toe cap for insertion of the toe of a shoe. Strap segments
pass through
fabric loops and are tied for retention of the overshoe.
U. S. Patent 3,009,269 discloses a molded overshoe with a strap for extension
over a shoe upper with strap ends attached as by fabric closure material or
alternatively,
buckle.
A cover is provided to underlie the sole and heel of a work shoe or boot. A
sole
component of the present cover is attached to contaminated footwear by
multiple front
straps and rear straps provided with fabric closure elements of the hook type.
The cover is
formed from material having closed loop pile with the same or like material
utilized on
the straps which cooperates with a hook type closure element on another strap.
The cover
sole has upturned side margins for retention of dirt or debris from the
contaminated
footwear. Construction of the straps from a piece of material having closed
loop pile
provides straps engageable at any point therealong with the hook type closure
elements.
Both economy of manufacture and simplicity of installation on footwear is
realized.
The present cover provides homeowners and workers a means for preventing
damage to floors or floor coverings by providing a cover readily applied to a
piece of
dirty footwear, perhaps several times a day. The cover is lightweight, sturdy
material
which lends itself to cleaning and convenient storage adjacent a home or
building entry.
Use of low cost material and minimal assembly effort contributes to a modes
cost of
manufacture.
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In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a work shoe with the cover in place;
Figures 2 and 3 are top and bottom plan views with the cover detached from the
work shoe;
Figure 4 is a vertical section taken along line 4-4 of Figure l;
Figure 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of Figure 4;
Figure 6 is an elevational view of a rack with stored covers;
Figure 7 is a top plan view of a modified cover.
With continuing attention to the drawings wherein applied reference numerals
indicate parts similarly hereinafter identified, the reference numeral I
indicates generally
a sole of the present cover which is of a length to extend somewhat beyond the
length of
a shoe or boot sole and a heel. A surface at 2 to be protected from dirt or
debris on the
footwear is indicated generally at F.
With continuing attention to the sole 1 of the cover, the same is of a width
to
provide side margins as at 4 extending laterally beyond the sides of a
footwear sole and
heel. Similarly, the cover sole 1 extends lengthwise to a point somewhat
beyond the ront
and rear-most portions of the footwear to be isolated from a floor surface. A
typical
piece of footwear is shown at F in place on the cover sole. It is to be noted
that the side
margins 4 of the cover, when applied to footwear, are upwardly inclined, a.s
later
described, to cone any dirt or other debris or contaminant.
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It is desirable from a practical standpoint to form sole 1 from material with
a floor
contacting surface comprised of loop pile at 5 of miniature loops of polymeric
material
such as polypropylene which loops are highly resistant to separation when
tensioned.
'The sole has an upper surface or back 6 of a synthetic polymer which serves
to carry the
loop pile as the same is partially embedded in the back during manufacture.
The sole
may be embodied in level loop pile carpeting having a depth of 3/16~'to 1/4'~
of an inch
including back and the loop pile.
Forward or toe straps at 7 and 8 are integral with sole 1 for engagement with
the
footwear toe. The straps 7 and 8 preferably have reduced width inner segments
at 7B and
8B to facilitate placement over the footwear toe. A frontal center strap at 9
with a fabric
closure element 11 assists in elevating the forward end portion of the sole
for retention of
dirt or debris on the sole.
With attention now to the rearward straps at 14 and 15, which may be termed
heel
straps, are of greater length than toe straps 7 and 8 and wrap oppositely
about the
wearer's ankle prior to joining forward of the ankle in a snug manner. A hoop
type
closure element at 16 on one strap 14 or 15 engages the remaining heel strap
at a
segment thereon as the heel straps, like the forward or toe straps, provide a
multitude of
fabric loops therealong. Hook type closure element 16 and the loop pile on the
cooperating strap segment provide cover attachment means. Forward attachment
means
are provided by hoop type closure element 10 on a forward or toe strap 7 or 8
and a
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cooperating strap segment of the remaining toe strap and specifically the loop
pile located
thereon.
During installation of the present cover on a work shoe, or other footwear,
the
marginal areas 4 along the opposite side of the sole will be displaced
upwardly, as best
shown in Figure 4, upon upward positioning the forward straps and rearward
straps about
the piece of footwear.
For economy of manufacture or other reasons the front and rear straps ?-8 and
14-
15 are preferably formed from the same material as the sole. The straps may be
formed
separately if so desired and applied to the sole during assembly of the cover
as by
stitching, bonding, stapling, etc., per Fig 7.
An included angle, 60 degrees or so between each forward strap and the
centerline
lengthwise of sole 1 provides snug, desired transverse placement of same
across the
footwear toe.
Installation of the cover on a piece of footwear entails placement of the
footwear
with the shoe vamp located intermediate the innermost ends toe straps 7 and 8.
Rear or
heel straps 14~15 are applied with the first applied strap passing rearwardly
of the
footwear so as to lie across the wearer's ankle (or boot upper) whereupon the
remaining
rear strap is wound oppositely about the ankle (or boot) to locate the
attachment element
I6 for pressed engagement with the loop pile on the first positioned rear
strap. The front
and rear straps so positioned contribute to the side margins 4 of the sole
being drawn
upwardly.
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The loop pile of the sole cover is formed from polymeric material with the
back
joining the loops preferably of like material. The combination of such loop
pile and
backing is found in carpeting wherein polymers such as polypropylene,
polyethylene,
olefin, nylon and polyester may be utilized and bonded to the baking. The back
upper
surface is substantially continuous and lends itself to ease of cleaning and
debris removal.
Suitable material may have an overall depth or thickness of approximately one-
quarter of an inch but could be varied to best suit an intended use. Strap
width, at the
juncture with the sole, is flaired to contribute to elevation to the sole
margins. Several
covers may be stored on a wall mounted rack 20 per Figure 6 having a strip of
loop pile
21 to receive a cover mounted element.
Hook and loop type closure elements are sole under the registered trademark
VELCRO and are available with an adhesive permitting installation on the back
or
smooth side of selected straps. The closure elements may also be stapled to
the straps
selected.
While I have shown but a few embodiments of the invention, it will be apparent
to
those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied still otherwise
without
departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention.
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