Shoe Covering Device And Method Of Use

Abstract

A shoe covering device for protecting a shoed foot from the elements includes an upper, which is attached to and which extends around a perimeter of a sole. The sole and upper comprise elastomer and thus are resiliently stretchable and substantially impermeable to water. A hole is positioned in the sole proximate to a rear end of the sole. A heel of a shoe worn by the user is inserted through the hole as a shoed foot is inserted into the upper through an opening in a top of the upper. The sole and upper protect the shoe and the foot from the elements.

Description

(b) CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

(c) STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

(d) THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

(e) INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

Not Applicable

(f) STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

Not Applicable

(g) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to overshoes and more particularly pertains to a new overshoe for protecting a shoed foot from the elements. The present invention discloses an overshoe for use with heeled shoes, wherein a heel of the shoe extends through a hole in the overshoe.

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The prior art relates to overshoes, which may comprise overshoes for heeled footwear, such as boots, high-heeled shoes, and the like, and decorative covering for high-heeled shoes. What is lacking in the prior art is an overshoe comprising an upper, which is attached to and which extends around a perimeter of a sole. The prior art does not teach a hole being positioned in the sole proximate to a rear end of the sole, through with a heel of a shoe worn by the user is inserted as a shoed foot is inserted into the upper.

(h) BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising an upper, which is attached to and which extends around a perimeter of a sole. The sole and upper comprise elastomer and thus are resiliently stretchable and substantially impermeable to water. A hole is positioned in the sole proximate to a rear end of the sole. The hole is configured for insertion of a heel of a shoe worn by the user as a shoed foot is inserted into the upper through an opening in a top of the upper. The sole and upper are configured to protect the shoe and the foot from the elements.

In another embodiment of the disclosure, a sleeve is attached by its first end to the sole and extends circumferentially around the hole. A second end of the sleeve is closed. The sleeve comprises elastomer and thus is resiliently stretchable and substantially impermeable to water. The sleeve is configured for insertion of the heel of the shoe worn by the user as the shoed foot is inserted into the upper through the opening in the upper. The sleeve is configured to protect the heel of the shoe from the elements.

Yet another embodiment of the disclosure includes a method of protecting a shoed foot from the elements. The method comprises first and second provision steps, which entail providing a shoe and providing a shoe covering device, according to the disclosure above, respectively. A preparatory step of the method is donning the shoe onto a foot. A use step of the method is inserting the shoed foot through the opening in the top of the upper so that the heel protrudes through the hole in the sole.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

(i) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an in-use view of a shoe covering device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a top isometric perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a bottom isometric perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 9 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram for a method utilizing an embodiment of the disclosure.

(j) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 10 thereof, a new overshoe embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 10, the shoe covering device 10 generally comprises an upper 12, which is attached to and which extends around a perimeter 14 of a sole 16. The sole 16 and upper 12 comprise elastomer and thus are resiliently stretchable and substantially impermeable to water. The sole 16 and upper 12 comprise silicone, synthetic rubber, natural rubber, or the like. A plurality of treads 18 is attached to and protrudes from a lower face 20 of the sole 16. As will become apparent, the treads 18 are configured to increase traction of the sole 16 upon a surface. A wide variety of treading methods are known to those skilled in the art of sole traction enhancement, such as nubs, wedges, ridges, and the like, and these are anticipated by the present invention. The present invention also anticipates the sole 16 and upper 12 being lined with an insulative material.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a hole 22 is positioned in the sole 16 proximate to a rear end 24 of the sole 16. The hole 22 is configured for insertion of a heel 26 of a shoe 28 worn by the user as a shoed foot is inserted into the upper 12 through an opening 30 in a top 32 of the upper 12. The present invention anticipates the upper 12 being sized such that the upper 12 extends to between an ankle and a calf of the user upon insertion of the shoed foot into the upper 12. The sole 16 and upper 12 thus are configured to protect the shoe 28 and the foot from the elements. The present invention is anticipated to be of particular use to those who wear shoes designed for women, as such shoes often are open toed, comprise straps, or otherwise leave skin of the foot and lower leg exposed to the elements, such as rain, snow, cold air, and the like.

As shown in FIGS. 3-9, a sleeve 34 is attached by its first end 36 to the sole 16 and extends circumferentially around the hole 22. A second end 38 of the sleeve 34 is closed. As with the upper 12 and the sole 16, the sleeve 34 comprises elastomer so that the sleeve 34 is resiliently stretchable and substantially impermeable to water. The sleeve 34 comprises silicone, synthetic rubber, natural rubber, or the like. The sleeve 34 is configured for insertion of the heel 26 of the shoe 28 worn by the user as the shoed foot is inserted into the upper 12 through the opening 30 in the upper 12. The sleeve 34 thus is configured to protect the heel 26 of the shoe 28 from the elements. The sleeve 34 may be sized and shaped complementarily to the heel 26 of the shoe 28 worn by the user.

A slit 40 may be positioned in the upper 12, as shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 6-8. The slit 40 extends from the top 32 toward the sole 16 and is configured to facilitate insertion of the shoed foot through the opening 30. As shown in these figures, the slit 40 is positioned in an outer face 42 of the upper 12, although the present invention also anticipates the slit 40 being positioned in an inner face 44 of the upper 12. A closure 46 is attached to the upper 12, proximate to the slit 40, and is positioned to selectively close the slit 40 to substantially and sealably attach the upper 12 to a leg of the user, thereby excluding rain, snow, and the like. The closure 46 comprises a zipper 48, as shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 6-8, hook and loop fasteners, clasps, or the like.

The shoe covering device 10 enables a method of protecting a shoed foot from the elements 50 comprising a first provision step 52 and a second provision step 54, which entail providing a shoe 28 and providing a shoe covering device 10, according to the specification above, respectively. A preparatory step 56 of the method 50 is donning the shoe 28 onto a foot. A use step 58 of the method 50 is inserting the shoed foot through the opening 30 in the top 32 of the upper 12 so that the heel 26 protrudes through the hole 22 in the sole 16.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements. AIMS

Claims

1. A shoe covering device comprising: a sole;an upper attached to and extending around a perimeter of the sole, the sole and upper comprising elastomer, such that the sole and upper are resiliently stretchable and substantially impermeable to water; anda hole positioned in the sole proximate to a rear end of the sole, wherein the hole is configured for insertion of a heel of a shoe worn by the user as a shoed foot is inserted into the upper through an opening in a top of the upper, wherein the sole and upper are configured for protecting the shoe and the foot from the elements.

2. The shoe covering device of claim 1, wherein the sole and upper comprise silicone, synthetic rubber, or natural rubber.

3. The shoe covering device of claim 1, further including a plurality of treads attached to and protruding from a lower face of the sole, wherein the treads are configured for increasing traction of the sole upon a surface.

4. The shoe covering device of claim 1, further including a sleeve attached by a first end to the sole and extending circumferentially around the hole, a second end of the sleeve being closed, the sleeve comprising elastomer, such that the sleeve is resiliently stretchable and substantially impermeable to water, wherein the sleeve is configured for insertion of the heel of the shoe worn by the user as the shoed foot is inserted into the upper through the opening in the upper, wherein the sleeve is configured for protecting the heel of the shoe from the elements.

5. The shoe covering device of claim 4, wherein the sleeve comprises silicone, synthetic rubber, or natural rubber.

6. The shoe covering device of claim 4, wherein the sleeve is sized and shaped complementarily to the heel of the shoe worn by the user.

7. The shoe covering device of claim 1, further including: a slit positioned in the upper, the slit extending from the top toward the sole, wherein the slit is configured for facilitating insertion of the shoed foot through the opening; anda closure attached to the upper proximate to the slit and being positioned for selectively closing the slit for substantially sealably attaching the upper to a leg of the user.

8. The shoe covering device of claim 7, wherein the slit is positioned in an outer face of the upper.

9. The shoe covering device of claim 7, wherein the closure comprises a zipper.

10. The shoe covering device of claim 1, wherein the upper is sized such that the upper extends to between an ankle and a calf of the user upon insertion of the shoed foot into the upper.

11. A shoe covering device comprising: a sole;an upper attached to and extending around a perimeter of the sole, the sole and upper comprising elastomer, such that the sole and upper are resiliently stretchable and substantially impermeable to water, the sole and upper comprising silicone, synthetic rubber, or natural rubber;a plurality of treads attached to and protruding from a lower face of the sole, wherein the treads are configured for increasing traction of the sole upon a surface;a hole positioned in the sole proximate to a rear end of the sole, wherein the hole is configured for insertion of a heel of a shoe worn by the user as a shoed foot is inserted into the upper through an opening in a top of the upper, wherein the sole and upper are configured for protecting the shoe and the foot from the elements;a sleeve attached by a first end to the sole and extending circumferentially around the hole, a second end of the sleeve being closed, the sleeve comprising elastomer, such that the sleeve is resiliently stretchable and substantially impermeable to water, wherein the sleeve is configured for insertion of the heel of the shoe worn by the user as the shoed foot is inserted into the upper through the opening in the upper, wherein the sleeve is configured for protecting the heel of the shoe from the elements, the sleeve comprising silicone, synthetic rubber, or natural rubber, the sleeve being sized and shaped complementarily to the heel of the shoe worn by the user;a slit positioned in the upper, the slit extending from the top toward the sole, wherein the slit is configured for facilitating insertion of the shoed foot through the opening, the slit being positioned in an outer face of the upper;a closure attached to the upper proximate to the slit and being positioned for selectively closing the slit for substantially sealably attaching the upper to a leg of the user, the closure comprising a zipper; andthe upper being sized such that the upper extends to between an ankle and a calf of the user upon insertion of the shoed foot into the upper.

12. A method of protecting a shoed foot from the elements comprising the steps of: providing a shoe;providing a shoe covering device comprising: a sole,an upper attached to and extending around a perimeter of the sole, the sole and upper comprising elastomer, such that the sole and upper are resiliently stretchable and substantially impermeable to water, anda hole positioned in the sole proximate to a rear end of the sole, wherein the hole is configured for insertion of a heel of a shoe worn by the user as a shoed foot is inserted into the upper through an opening in a top of the upper, wherein the sole and upper are configured for protecting the shoe and the foot from the elements;donning the shoe onto a foot; andinserting the shoed foot through the opening in the top of the upper, such that the heel protrudes through the hole in the sole.