Patent Application
20140075791
The present invention generally relates to a outsole cover for an article of footwear, and more particularly, to a outsole cover that covers the outsole of an article of footwear.
Footwear has long been an essential element of the human experience and has been available in a wide variety of forms and configurations over the centuries. In more recent years, heavier styles of footwear, such as boots, have become more and more common, not only for their utilitarian benefits, but also for their style and fashion contributions.
A drawback of such footwear is the durability of soles, especially when worn often and/or upon rugged and hard surfaces. Given the significant cost of many articles of footwear, this can be a serious drawback. Also, the appearance of many articles of footwear was often secondary to their functional features and left much to be desired, interfering with their ability to provide a style and fashion statement.
Efforts to improve the durability of footwear included thicker soles. However, these efforts tended to contribute and interfere with the style and fashion contributions of the footwear.
Hence, a solution for improving the durability of footwear designs, while preserving and enhancing the appearance of the article of footwear, at minimal cost which overcomes these drawbacks, would be advantageous.
The outsole cover of the present invention particularly overcomes the foregoing draw-backs of footwear by providing a removable outsole cover made from a single piece of elastomeric material that is form-fitted to the specific configuration of the article of footwear. The outsole cover comprises a single piece of elastic material especially adapted for attachment to the article of footwear and having a sole and an outer band. The outer band is shaped and sized to be adapted for attachment to and conform with the rim of the outsole of the article of footwear having a specific style and size, wherein the outsole cover covers the outsole of the article of footwear.
The benefits of the present invention are a removable form-fitting outsole cover that improves the durability of footwear designs, while also preserving and enhancing the appearance of the footwear, at a minimal cost. Additionally, the present invention presents a low-cost way to markedly alter the appearance of the footwear in a manner desired by the user.
It is therefore an aspect of the present invention to provide a removable form-fitted outsole cover for an article of footwear having a specific style and size, wherein the article of footwear has a finished outsole and an upper, the outsole being attached to the upper at an intersection by beaded stitching or some other method and defining a rim about an outer perimeter of the outsole of the article of footwear, the rim of the outsole having a circumference and the intersection of the upper to the outsole having a circumference less than the circumference of the rim. The outsole cover is comprised of an elastic material especially adapted for attachment to the article of footwear and has a sole and an outer band, the outer band having a rim portion and a lip portion, wherein the rim portion has a circumference and the lip portion has a circumference less than the circumference of the rim portion and wherein the circumference of the lip portion is less than the circumference of the rim. The outer band is thus shaped and sized to be adapted for attachment to and conformance with the rim of the outsole of the article of footwear to cover the outsole of the article of footwear.
Another aspect of the invention is a removable form-fitted outsole cover comprised of an integrated single piece of elastic material.
Still another aspect of the present invention is a removable form-fitted outsole cover fabricated from an elastic material that is 100% elastic.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is a removable form-fitted outsole cover fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting essentially of natural rubber, silicone rubber, CSM rubber, and blends thereof.
An additional aspect of the present invention is a removable form-fitted outsole cover where the lip portion on the outer band has a first texture and the rim portion of the outer band has a second texture, the first and second textures being different.
A still further aspect of the present invention is a removable form-fitted outsole cover where the article of footwear is inserted into the outsole cover by stretching the lip portion of the outer band to allow insertion of the rim of the outsole.
A further aspect of the present invention is a removable form-fitted outsole cover having different colors on the rim portion of the outer band.
Still another aspect of the present invention is a removable form-fitted outsole cover comprising an inner rim wall and an inner sole, wherein a dual-sided die-cut adhesive sheet is attached to at least a portion of at least one of the inner rim wall and the inner sole.
Another aspect of the present invention is a removable form-fitted outsole cover for an article of footwear having a specific style and size, wherein the article of footwear has a finished outsole and an upper, the outsole being attached at an intersection to the upper by stitching or some other method and defining a rim about an outer perimeter of the outsole of the article of footwear, the outsole cover comprising an elastic material especially adapted for attachment to the article of footwear and having a sole and an outer band, the outer band shaped and sized to be adapted for attachment to and conform with the rim of the outsole of the article of footwear and covers the outsole of the article of footwear.
Still another aspect of the present invention is a removable form-fitted outsole cover where the rim of the outsole has an outer circumference greater than the circumference of the intersection of the upper to the outsole and the band has a rim portion and a lip portion, wherein the circumference of the lip portion is less than the circumference of the rim portion.
Another aspect of the invention is a removable form-fitted outsole cover for an article of footwear where the circumference of the lip portion is less than the circumference of the rim.
A yet additional aspect of the present invention is a method of covering an article of footwear having a specific style and size and a finished outsole and an upper, the outsole being attached to the upper at an intersection by stitching or some other method and defining a rim about an outer perimeter of the outsole of the article of footwear, the intersection of the upper to the outsole having a circumference and the rim of the outsole having a circumference greater than the circumference of the intersection, the method comprising the steps of: providing a removable form-fitted outsole cover comprising an elastic material especially adapted for attachment to the footwear and having a sole and an outer band, the outer band having a rim portion and a lip portion, wherein the circumference of the lip portion of the outer band is less than the circumference of the rim portion and the circumference of the lip portion is less than the circumference of the rim; inserting the article of footwear into the outsole cover by stretching the lip portion of the outer band to allow insertion of the rim; and releasing the lip portion of the outer band upon completely inserting the article of footwear into the outsole cover, wherein the outer band attaches to and conforms with the rim of the outsole of the article of footwear to cover the outsole of the article of footwear.
These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present invention will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.
In the drawings:
For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in
As shown in
Significantly, the outsole cover 10 of the present invention is designed and fitted to attach to a specific article of footwear style and size, regardless of the specific manufacturer. As is known in the art, footwear 12 designs are available in a wide array of styles and sizes, wherein the finished upper 14 and the outsole 16 are modified to obtain a particular functionality and fashion appearance. By designing and fitting the outsole cover 10 of the present invention to attach to a specific style and size of an article of footwear 12, a defined and predetermined style and fashion statement can be uniquely obtained, while also providing protection to the outsole 16 of the boot 12. Further, the outsole cover 10 offers an inexpensive way to markedly alter the appearance of the footwear 12 in a manner desired by the user. In addition, the outsole cover 10 provides an inexpensive method of concealing an otherwise worn or disfigured outsole 16.
The outsole cover 10 is comprised of a sole 20 and an outer band 22 attached to the outer periphery of the sole 20. The outer band 22 is shaped and sized to be adapted for attachment to and conformance with the specific style and size of rim 17 of the outsole 16 of the article of footwear 12. The outer band 22 of the outsole cover 10 comprises a rim portion 24 and a lip portion 26. The circumference of the rim portion 24 is greater than the circumference of the lip portion 26. In turn, the circumference of the lip portion 26 is less than the circumference of the rim 17. The outer band 22 is thus specifically shaped and sized to be adapted for attachment to and conformance with the rim 17 of the outsole 16 of the boot 12 to cover the outsole 16 of the boot 12. Preferably, the outsole cover 10 covers the entire outsole 16 of the boot 12, up to and including the intersection 18 where the upper 14 meets the outsole 16, as shown.
The outsole cover 10 preferably is fabricated from an integrated single piece of elastic material and utilizes an injected molding construction. Of course, other manufacturing techniques may be employed, such as compression molding and vacuum forming. Preferably, the elastic material is 100% elastic and comprises natural rubber, silicone rubber, chlorosulfonated polyethylene synthetic rubber (CSM) (“hypalon”) or blends thereof. These materials are desirable as exhibiting properties important to the practice of the invention, including flexibility and resistance to ozone, sunlight, and oxidation. These materials also provide superior weather ability and resistance to oil, even at high temperatures, as well as resistance to cracking and abrasion from weather, heat, and chemical exposure. Such materials also provide low water absorption.
Moreover, the outsole cover 10 should be pliable in order to be attached to the outsole 16 of the specific style/size of the article of footwear 12, such that the user may readily attach and remove the outsole cover 10 to and from the article of footwear 12, as well as to confidently and safely walk about with the outsole cover 10 securely attached to the article of footwear 12. Thus, the outsole cover 12 covers the entire outsole 16 of the article of footwear 12, preferably up to and including the intersection 18 of the upper 14 to the outsole 16.
In operation, the toe 19 of the article of footwear 12 is inserted into the toebox 30 of the outsole cover 10 by stretching the lip portion 26 of the outer band 22 near the toebox 30 to allow insertion of the rim 17 of the outsole 16 into the outsole cover 10, as best shown in
It should be appreciated that as well as providing protection to the outsole 16 of the article of footwear 12, the removable form-fitted outsole cover 10 may be provided with a wide variety of style and fashion features that may be used to augment the style and fashion aspects of the article of footwear 12. For instance, the lip portion 26 of the outer band 22 may be given a first texture or surface treatment and the rim portion 24 of the outer band 22 may be given a second, different texture to create contrast and interest. Different colors may also be provided on the rim portion 26 of the outer band 22. Indeed, colors, patterns, and lines along the outer band 26 may be used to generate interesting and desirable styles and appearances.
Also, the lower portion 27 of the sole 20 of the outsole cover 10 may be provided with a wide variety of the tread patterns and designs, such as herringbone, swirls, and cross-hatching, as well as more rugged treads designed for outdoor use.
An alternative embodiment is shown in
It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structure without departing from the concepts of the present invention, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.
