Patent Application
20150366286
The present invention pertains to the field of footwear, and more specifically to the field of protective shoe covers, and even more specifically to the field of protective shoe covers for use when driving an automobile.
The prior art has put forth several designs for protective shoe covers. Among these are:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,771,607 to Michael B. Dean describes a shoe heel protector, constructed for protecting a heel and counter of a shoe of a vehicle driver, that is formed with an elongated blank of flat, planar leather, vinyl or other suitable material. The protector includes a relatively wide center area about which a plurality of darts are cut or otherwise formed. These darts are sewn or otherwise secured together along their respective facing edges to gather the periphery of the central area together to form a heel pocket therein. The heel pocket is placed over the lower rear edge of the shoe heel with the opposite elongate straps of the protector being secured together over the top of the shoe or foot by a mating hook and loop fastening material or other suitable fastening device. The protector is held securely in place about the shoe and foot of the driver, as the protector cannot move upwardly due to the portion of the pocket positioned beneath the heel and cannot move forwardly due to the back wall of the pocket positioned behind the heel and counter. Rearward and downward movements of the protector are precluded by the forwardly and upwardly extending straps secured together over the top of the shoe and foot in front of the ankle. The present protector is formed in various sizes and configurations to fit different types and sizes of shoes with reinforcement being provided optionally for the spike heels of high heel shoes.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,361,517 to Robert Liener describes a footwear protector comprised of a single piece of material of uniform thickness and width which forms an open toed design protector when in place. The protector utilizes an opening at one end to allow the insertion of any front tassel or decoration of the protected footwear and to secure the protector to the front portion of the footwear. Hook and loop fasteners are located at each end of the protector's length to further secure the protector. This fastening system allows the protector to be fitted to different size footwear, and facilitates quick and easy attachment and removal of the device. Additionally, the protector is constructed of a soft nonabrasive fabric, allowing the protector also to be used as a footwear buffing and cleaning cloth when unsecured to footwear.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,469 to Zachary P. Beasley describes a shoe protector having a body with a back portion having a length for protectively covering a rear portion of a shoe and side portions connectable to each other at a location and adapted to overlie an instep region of the shoe and including a way for selectively adjusting the length of the back portion of the body. A back portion has an upper peripheral edge and part with a lower peripheral edge and part to cover the rear portion of a shoe, side portions which extend from the back portion for securement to each other over the instep region of the shoe, and a dart in the back portion which extends to the lower peripheral edge to taper the lower part relative to the upper part and to position the lower part to conform to the contour of the rear portion of the shoe. A back portion for covering a rear portion of a shoe and elongate side portions extending from the back portion to engage each other over an instep region of the shoe are provided with a way for concurrently securing the side portions together at multiple locations along their length. Finally, methods for utilizing the same are provided.
None of these prior art references describe the present invention.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a slip on and adjustable protective boot covering to be worn over a driver's right shoe while driving a vehicle.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a slip on and adjustable protective boot covering to be worn over a driver's right shoe while driving a vehicle, wherein the shoe has an extended heel and the protective boot has an opening to accommodate the protrusion of the extended heel.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a slip on and adjustable protective boot covering to be worn over a driver's right shoe while driving a vehicle, wherein the shoe has a heel flap covering the bottom of the heel portion of the covering.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a slip on and adjustable protective boot covering to be worn over a driver's right shoe while driving a vehicle, wherein the covering has a rounded heel cup.
a shows an illustrative diagonal view showing the present invention containing hook and loop fastener straps, for use with a flat soled shoe.
b shows an illustrative side view showing the present invention containing hook and loop fastener straps, for use with a flat soled shoe, showing a rounded heel cup.
c shows the heel flap folded up and snapped up to the back of the covering to expose the bottom of the heel portion of the covering.
a shows an illustrative diagonal front views showing the present invention including a flexible material that wraps around a shoe and a snap flap that secures the present invention around an extended heel allowing the extended heel to protrude from the protective covering.
b shows an illustrative side view showing the present invention including a flexible material that wraps around a shoe and a snap flap that secures the present invention around an extended heel allowing the extended heel to protrude from the protective covering.
Inventions are always a product of vision and creativity whether they are world changing inventions like cars and computers or everyday conveniences like pump hairsprays, cordless tools and resealable soda bottles. New inventions like a cell phone change a person's life style, making communication more convenient and accessible virtually anywhere. Other inventions such as a snow scraper and brush combine two already existing inventions into an improved embodiment, reducing clutter in our lives and making a daily winter chores much easier. Often necessity combined with a little creativity is the underlying motivator for an invention. Most inventions fill a relatively small need or perform a specialized limited function. If that need is shared by a sufficient number of consumers, an invention has a great potential for success.
The need addressed by the present invention pertains to vehicle drivers. When a motorist drives a car, the heel area of their right shoe becomes worn. The wear on the right shoe is excessive and uneven when compared to the left shoe. This issue particularly pertains to women who often have more delicate shoes and wear a higher variety of footwear than men.
As used herein, the terms “driving boot”, “shoe protector” and “protective boot covering” are equivalent.
The present invention, hereinafter referred to as the Driving Boot, is a slip on, adjustable, hook and loop fastening shoe protector in the form of a boot. The Driving Boot is worn over a driver's right shoe while driving a vehicle. The Driving Boot protects the driver's shoe, whether a flat soled shoe or boot or a high heeled shoe, from excessive and uneven wear which occurs as a consequence of driving.
Please refer to the Figures. The Driving Boot covering 10 shown in
The Driving Boot fastens around a shoe's foot and ankle region by employing hook and loop fastening straps 14, ensuring a form fitting and snug fit that is essential in a shoe that is worn while driving,
The heel 18 of the Driving Boot comprises a heel cup 20, which is made of flexible material and is rounded to accommodate the pivot motion of a driver's heel while driving. As can be seen in
The Driving Boot is produced in a variety of colors, patterns and finishes to suit the range of consumer tastes. The Driving Boot is manufactured in small, medium, large and extra large sizes. The present invention accommodates both men and women's shoes. The simple and elegant Driving Boot resolves a specific and widespread problem, the tendency of a driver's right shoe to become excessively and unevenly worn as a result of its habitual position while driving. The Driving Boot is affordable, easily usable and storable in a glove box, console or door side compartment.
Although this invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments, it is not intended to be limited thereto and various modifications which will become apparent to the person of ordinary skill in the art are intended to fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as described herein taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.
This patent application claims priority under 35 USC 119 (e) (1) from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/013,881 filed Jun. 18, 2014, of common inventorship herewith entitled, “Driving Boot,” which is incorporated herein by reference as though the same were set forth in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62013881 | Jun 2014 | US |
