Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02864552 2014-09-19
SPORT SHOE COVER WITH CLOSEABLE VENT
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present application relates to sport shoe covers of the type
worn to
protect a cyclist's feet from water and/or cold, for instance as used in the
sport of
cycling or cross-country skiing.
BACKGROUND OF THE ART
[0002] Cycling shoe covers are commonly used by cyclists in given riding
conditions. For example, cycling shoe covers may be made with a waterproof
fabric
so as to protect the feet from rain. Cycling shoe covers may also be used for
thermal insulation and hence keep a cyclist's feet warm during the cycling
activity.
Cycling shoe covers are also known for their aerodynamic properties. Cycling
shoe
covers allow the cyclist to use cycling shoes in spite of the weather
conditions, as an
alternative to buying other gear such as winter cycling boots.
[0003] Because of these uses, and as drag must be minimized in cycling,
cycling
shoe covers are typically tight-fitting so as to closely conform to the shape
of the
foot, inclidung the cycling shoe worn under the cycling shoe cover. This
allows the
cyclists to use their cycling shoes in spite of bad weather conditions.
[0004] However, while cycling shoe covers are advantageously used for the
conditions mentioned above, they may be considered to be impractical in that
one's
shoes are concealed by the cycling shoe covers. Hence, it is not possible to
adjust
the tightness of the shoe lacing system. Moreover, cycling shoe covers may be
uncomfortable as sweat may accumulate in one's shoes as captured by the
cycling
shoe covers.
SUMMARY
[0005] It is an aim of the present disclosure to provice a sport shoe cover
that
addresses issues associated with the prior art.
[0006] Therefore, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
disclosure,
there is provided a shoe cover comprising: a soft shell adapted to be worn
over a
shoe to cover at least partially the worn shoe, the soft shell having a front
portion
covering at least partially an upper toe region of the worn shoe, a metatarsal
portion
covering at least partially an upper metatarsal region of the worn shoe, and a
heel
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portion covering at least partially an upper heel region of the worn shoe; a
cutout in
the soft shell, the cutout having a substantial portion located in a lateral
sub-portion
of the metatarsal portion of the upper; and a closure mechanism to close/open
access to the cutout from an exterior of the shoe cover.
[0007] In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure,
there is
provided a shoe cover comprising: a soft shell adapted to be worn over a shoe
to
cover at least partially the worn shoe, the soft shell having a front portion
covering at
least partially an upper toe region of the worn shoe, a metatarsal portion
covering at
least partially an upper metatarsal region of the worn shoe, and a heel
portion
covering at least partially an upper heel region of the worn shoe; a cutout in
the soft
shell, the cutout extending from a front end limit to a rear end limit
thereof, the rear
end limit being in the metatarsal portion, the front end limit being in one of
the
metatarsal portion and the front portion; and a closure mechanism to
close/open
access to the cutout from an exterior of the shoe cover.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cycling shoe cover in accordance
with an
embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0009] Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the cycling shoe cover of Fig. 1;
[0010] Fig. 3 is a first assembly view of the cycling shoe cover of Fig. 1;
[0011] Fig. 4 is a second assembly view of the cycling shoe cover of Fig.
1;
[0012] Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing access to a shoe lacing system;
and
[0013] Fig. 6 is a top view of the cycling shoe cover of Fig. 1
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] Referring to drawings, more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, there is
shown a
cycling shoe cover at 10. While the shoe cover 10 is a cycling shoe cover, a
similar
shoe cover in accordance with the present disclosure could be used in other
sports.
For instance, a shoe cover in accordance with the present disclosure could be
used
for cross-country skiing gaiters, with an opening in the toe portion of the
shoe cover
for attachment of the ski shoe or boot with the binding. However, for
simplicity,
reference is made hereinafter, with examples, to a use of the shoe cover 10
with a
cycling shoe A (Fig. 5), although other uses are considered. A gaiter in
included in
the definition of shoe cover.
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[0015] Referring to Fig. 1, the shoe cover 10 may have a sole 11 and an
upper
12. The sole 11 and upper 12 is an integral soft shell piece made of one or
numerous panels. The selection of the main material for the shoe cover 10
depends
on the contemplated use and specifications of the shoe cover 10. For example,
NeopreneTM is a material that is well suited for uses in colder weather, with
different
thickness of NeopreneTM impacting the insulating properties of the shoe cover.
Another material considered is expanded PTFE, for water-resistant uses. Other
materials given as example include polymeric waterproof fabrics, etc. The shoe
cover 10 may have strategically located patches of specific material. For
example,
robust materials such as KevlarTM may be used for the sole 11, or for the toe
region
of the shoe cover 10 as the toe region may require additional abrasion
resistance.
Reflective patches may also be used for safety issues, as well as elastics
such as at
the shin to have the shin opening conform to the shin, etc. Moreover, the shoe
cover 10 may have a panel constituted of different layers, having different
functions.
For example, a fleece inner layer may be laminated to a KevlarTM outer layer.
[0016] While the shoe cover 10 is described as having a sole 11, it is
considered
to have a large opening at the bottom periphery of the upper 12 instead of a
sole as
in Fig. 2. In such a case, straps 11A are used to attach the shoe cover 10 to
an
undersurface of the cycling shoe A. The straps 11A may have complementary
VelcroTM patches. Accordingly, the underside of the shoe A is exposed, such
that a
cycling shoe cleat B is also exposed for engagement with an automatic pedal.
In
the embodiment of Fig. 2, a front tab 11B may extend across the toe region to
conceal an underside of the front of the cycling shoe A. The front tab 11B may
consist of a rubber tarpoline, to provide adequate elasticity for the front of
the shoe
cover 10 to conform to the front of the shoe A. A peripheral elastic 12A may
delimit
the bottom periphery of the large opening of the upper 12. The peripheral
elastic
12A may be a KevlarTM bias, for example, or any other suitable elastic.
[0017] Other configurations are considered, such as a full sole 11 with
cutouts for
the cycling shoe cleat B projecting from the undersurface of the cycling shoe
A to be
exposed for being used with automatic pedals. Cutouts may also be provided in
the
heel region, so as to allow a walking cycling to walk on his/her shoe heels.
If the
shoe cover 10 is used for other sporting activities, appropriate cutouts are
made as
a function of the sport shoe configuration.
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[0018] Referring to
Figs. 1 and 6, the upper 12 is generally divided in a foot
portion 13 and an ankle and shin portion 14. The foot portion 13 of the upper
12
generally protects the shoe/foot, whereas the ankle and shin portion 14 covers
the
ankle and at least a portion of the shin of the user. The shoe cover 10 may
have a
front closure mechanism 15 as shown in Fig. 1. The front closure 15 may be a
zipper-like or Velcro-like closure mechanism by which the front of the shoe
cover 10
may be closed/opened for the foot and shoe to be inserted and removed from the
shoe cover 10. Alternatively, the closure mechanism 15 may be a rear closure,
although not shown. As another embodiment, the shoe cover 10 may not have any
closure mechanism, and rely instead on the elasticity of the fabric for a foot
to be
inserted at the opening at the ankle and shin portion 14. Although not shown,
a
strap may be provided to overlap the end of the closure mechanism and add
additional closure integrity to the shoe cover 10.
[0019] The upper 12,
and more particularly the foot portion 13, may be generally
separated in three areas, namely a front portion 20, a metatarsal portion 21
and a
heel portion 22. Without being limited to a rigid boundary, and as loosely
shown in
the Figs., the front portion generally covers the toes of the cyclist, whereas
the
metatarsal portion covers the mid-portion of the foot, including the region
encompassing the metatarsal bones of the wearer's foot, while the heel portion
22
protects and surrounds the heel of the wearer. The metatarsal portion 21 may
be
separated in an outer (or lateral) sub-portion 21A and an inner (or medial)
sub-
portion 21B. The outer sub-portion 21A generally goes from the second
metatarsal
bone to the side of the fifth metatarsal bone and is thus laterally
positioned, whereas
the inner sub-portion 21B goes from the second metatarsal bone to the first
metatarsal bone and is medially positioned.
[0020] Still
referring to Fig. 1, an access patch 30 is provided in the metatarsal
portion 21. The access patch 30 has a panel 30A in which a slit 31 is defined.
The
slit 31 has a front end limit 31A and a rear end limit 31B. The slit 31 may be
part of
a closure mechanism 32, so as to be opened/closed. In the illustrated
embodiment,
the closure mechanism 32 is a zipper fastener system, although other closure
mechanism could be used as well, such as slider zip fasteners, VeICrOTM
closing
mechanism, foldover flaps with buttons, magnets, etc. The slit 31 is mostly,
if not
completely, positioned in the outer sub-portion 21A. In a more
particular
embodiment, the slit 31 is in register with the shoe region covering the third
to fifth
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metatarsal bones. In another particular embodiment, the rear end limit 31B is
in the
outer sub-portion 21A, and the front end limit 31A is also in outer sub-
portion 21A or
extends to a rear region of the front portion of the upper 12.
[0021] Referring to
Fig. 5, the slit 31 is shown as being opened. It is observed
that, because of the positioning of the slit 31 in the outer sub-portion 21A,
the user
of the shoe cover 10 has access to components of a shoe lacing system C. In
Fig. 5
the shoe lacing system C is shown as being a BOaTM lacing system, with dials
thereof being adjacent to slit 31, such that one's fingers can rotate the
dials. The slit
31 could equally be used for accessing ratchet-type lacing systems or Velcrotm
straps, among other common cycling lacing systems. Although the expression
"lacing" is used, the shoe lacing systems C may not actually have laces.
[0022] Referring to
Fig. 1, the panel 30A of the access patch 30 is shown as
having an irregular shape with a fin 33. The panel 30A of the access patch 30
may
be made of a material that has a greater elasticity than that of the soft
shell fabric of
the upper 12. For example, the panel 30A may consist of polyurethane, while
the
exposed surface of the soft shell shoe cover 10 is NeopreneTM. The elasticity
is
desired so as to open up the slit 31 in the manner shown in Fig. 5, and give
access
to the lacing system C. Because of the presence of a fin 33, additional
elasticity is
provided. Stated differently, the panel 30A has a flaring shape in a direction
of the
rear end limit 31B.
[0023] The slit 31
may have any appropriate length. However, a length ranging
between 9.0 cm and 13.0 cm (i.e., from 3.5" to 5.1") may be sufficient to
provide
suitable access to the lacing system and to enable ventilation through the
open slit
31. The length is bound by the front end limit 31A and the rear end limit 31B.
[0024] Referring
concurrently to Figs. 3 and 4, there is illustrated a sequence of
steps by which the access patch 30 is added to a softshell shoe cover to form
the
shoe cover 10. As shown in Fig. 3, the shoe cover must have an elongated
cutout
40 that will be in register with the slit 31. Accordingly, when access is
provided to
the lacing system as in Fig. 5, the user passes his/her fingers through the
slit 31
and the panel of the upper 12 at the elongated cutout 40. According to an
embodiment, the elongated cutout 40 results from a die cut.
[0025] The access
patch 30 is fabricated when the closure mechanism 32 is
glued (e.g., laminated) to the access patch panel 30A. The closure mechanism
32
therefore includes tape surrounding the slit 31, with a slider moving between
the
CA 02864552 2014-09-19
front end limit 31A and the rear end limit 31B to open/close the slit. The
access
patch panel 30A has an elongated opening 30B of appropriate size pre-cut in
it, for
the closure mechanism 32 to be secured about the periphery of the elongated
opening 30B. In embodiment, a lamination process is used in such a way that
the
joint between the closure mechanism 32 and the access patch panel 30A is
waterproof.
[0026] Referring to Fig. 4, the resulting access patch 30 may then be
laminated
onto the soft shell NeopreneTM, with polyurethane (panel 30A) being compatible
with
the NeopreneTM for lamination. Additional fixation methods are considered,
such as
stitching, ultrasound welding, etc., so long as the shoe cover 10 does not
lose its
desired properties (e.g., waterproofness, water resistance, windproofness).
Other
methods are considered as well for the fabrication of the shoe cover 10 of the
present disclosure.
[0027] Moreover, while the use of a zipper fastener constitutes an
embodiment of
the present disclosure, other configurations are considered. For example, the
closure mechanism 32 may be secured directly to the soft shell of the upper
12,
instead of using the access patch panel 30A, with the closure mechanism 32
closing
the elongated cutout 40. Alternatively, the closure mechanism 32 may be a
foldable
flap covering a simple slit in the soft shell material of the upper 12 instead
of the
cutout 40, with the foldable flap using VeICrOTM or like means to releasably
attach to
the soft shell 12 while covering the elongated opening 40. In such a case, the
cutout 40 need not be elongated, although the cutout 40 may be a slit. In any
event,
the cutout or slit is a closeable vent. For example, if the user of the shoe
cover 10
desires ventilation, the closure mechanism 32 is used to open the slit 31 (in
the
embodiment with the slit 31), thereby creating an opening allowing the
interior of the
shoe cover to "breathe", for instance by allowing perspiration and excess
humidity to
exhaust.
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