US20030088997A1

US20030088997A1 - Overshoe

Info

Publication number: US20030088997A1
Application number: US09/986,869
Authority: US
Inventors: Olga Mihailovich
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-11-13
Filing date: 2001-11-13
Publication date: 2003-05-15
Also published as: CA2410732A1

Abstract

The present invention provides an improved overshoe for protecting an individual's shoe from wear and tear. In particular, this invention can provide an overshoe that can accommodate a variety of heights and forms of heels for different styles of shoes. The overshoe has a main body portion having a cavity and an opening to the cavity. The cavity and opening are sized to allow a shoe to fit through the opening and into the cavity so that the sole of the shoe and at least a portion of the upper covering of the shoe are covered by the main body portion. A heel portion extends from the main body portion and has a surrounding wall that defines a longitudinally extending cavity adapted to receive and cover the heel of the shoe when the shoe is within the cavity of the main body portion. The surrounding wall of the heel portion is convoluted over at least a portion of the longitudinal extent of the heel portion. The convolutions allow the heel portion to longitudinally expand or contract to accommodate different heights of heels of shoes.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an overshoe for shoes, and, particularly, to an overshoe with an expandable heel to accommodate various heel heights for different shoes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An overshoe generally provides a protective covering for a shoe to reduce wear and tear of the shoe from, for example, adverse weather conditions and other sources of wear and tear. It can be difficult to provide a single overshoe that will fit an individual's various styles of shoes, particularly where the shoes have heels of different heights.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an improved overshoe for protecting an individual's shoe from wear and tear. In particular, this invention can provide an overshoe that can accommodate a variety of heights and forms of heels for different styles of shoes.

The overshoe of this invention comprises a main body portion having a cavity and an opening to the cavity. The cavity and opening are sized to allow a shoe to fit through the opening and into the cavity so that the sole of the shoe and at least a portion of the upper covering of the shoe are covered by the main body portion. A heel portion extends from the main body portion and has a surrounding wall that defines a longitudinally extending cavity adapted to receive and cover the heel of the shoe when the shoe is within the cavity of the main body portion. The main body portion and the heel portion can be of a unitary construction.

The main body portion and the heel portion of the overshoe can be formed from a suitable elastic material so that the overshoe can stretch to fit over a variety of different size shoes. An example of a suitable material is an elastic polymeric material.

The surrounding wall of the heel portion of the overshoe can end in a tip that presents an outer tread. This can provide better grip between the overshoe (and particularly the heel of the overshoe) and a suitable surface that an individual ambulates over. The tread can also serve to reinforce the tip of the heel portion of the overshoe against wear and tear. The tip can be made of any suitable material, such as, for example, but not limited to, rubber, latex, and plastic.

The surrounding wall of the heel portion is convoluted over at least a portion of the longitudinal extent thereof. The convolutions allow the heel portion to longitudinally expand or contract to accommodate different heights of heels of shoes. In the embodiment disclosed the convolutions of the surrounding wall of the heel portion are formed by providing a plurality of folds in the surrounding wall. In particular, the plurality of folds can have an accordion-like configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how it would be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings that show preferred embodiments of the present invention, and in which: [0008]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an overshoe of the present invention and illustrating an individual placing a shoe within the overshoe; [0009]
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the overshoe; [0010]
FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the overshoe taken along the lines [0011] 3-3 of FIG. 2; and
FIGS. 4 and 5 are part side cross-sectional views of the overshoe as used with alternative shoes having different heel heights and styles.[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, [0013] overshoe 10 is shown comprising a main body portion 12 having a cavity 14 therein and an opening 16 to the cavity 14. The cavity 14 and opening 16 are sized to allow a shoe 18, for example, but not limited to, a woman's high heel shoe, to fit through the opening 16 and into the cavity 14 so that the sole 20 of the shoe 18 and at least a portion of the upper covering 22 of the shoe 18 are covered by the main body portion 12 of the overshoe 10, as will hereinafter be explained. A heel portion 24 extends from the main body portion 12 of the overshoe 10 and has a surrounding wall 26 that defines a longitudinally extending cavity 28 (see FIG. 3) adapted to receive and cover the heel 30 of the shoe 18 when the shoe 18 is within the cavity 14 of the main body portion 12 of the overshoe 10. The main body portion 12 and the heel portion 24 can be of a unitary construction.
The [0014] main body portion 12 and the heel portion 24 of the overshoe 10 can be formed from a suitable elastic material so that the overshoe can stretch to fit over a variety of different size shoes 18. An example of a suitable material is an elastic polymeric material.
As illustrated in FIG. 3 the surrounding [0015] wall 26 of the heel portion 24 of the overshoe 10 ends in a tip 32 that presents an outer tread 34. Tread 34 can provide better grip between the overshoe 10 (and particularly the heel portion 24 of the overshoe) and a suitable surface (not illustrated) that an individual ambulates over. The tread 34 can also serve to reinforce the tip 32 of the heel portion 24 of the overshoe 10 against wear and tear. The tip 32 can be made of any suitable material, such as, for example, but not limited to, rubber, latex, and plastic.
The surrounding [0016] wall 26 of the heel portion 24 is convoluted as at 36 over at least a portion of the longitudinal extent of the heel portion 24. For the embodiment illustrated the convolutions 36 extend substantially the entire longitudinal extent of the heel portion 24. The convolutions 36 allow the heel portion 24 to longitudinally expand or contract to accommodate different heights of heels 30 of shoes 18. In the embodiment disclosed the convolutions 36 of the heel portion 24 are formed by providing a plurality of folds as at 38 in the surrounding wall 26 of the heel portion 24 of the overshoe 10. Moreover, for the embodiment illustrated, the plurality of folds 38 have an accordion-like configuration.
Overshoe [0017] 10 can be manufactured from an elastic polymeric material, or other suitable material, to allow the overshoe 10 to stretch at least lengthwise along an axis that extends generally longitudinally of the cavity 14 of the upper portion 12 of the overshoe 10. This enables overshoe 10 to fit a variety of different shoe sizes and shapes. The polymeric material can be any colour and even translucent, if desired. Moreover, the outer surface 40 of the overshoe can be provided with any suitable indicia or designs. The sole 42 of the overshoe 10 can be made of rubber, or feature a rubber portion 44 (see FIG. 3) to assist in traction with a suitable surface (not illustrated). A suitable material other than rubber may be used to provide traction, however.
In the embodiment disclosed [0018] heel portion 24 of overshoe 10 is provided with a number of folds 38 in an accordion-like configuration. By providing heel portion 24 with the number of folds 38, the heel portion 24 can expand or contract over its longitudinal extent to fit a variety of heights of heel 30 of shoe 18.
The [0019] heel portion 24 should be manufactured from a durable, stretch material such as, but not limited to, the elastic polymeric material mentioned previously. The material is to be sufficiently durable to allow the heel portion to expand and contract to fit the variety of differing heights of heels of different shoes, as earlier explained. Moreover, the material should be sufficiently elastic to accommodate different styles and widths of heels that different shoes can present.
Overshoe [0020] 10 is placed over a shoe 18 by fitting shoe 18 through opening 16 and into cavity 14, stretching overshoe 10 as needed to ensure a snug fit. The elastic effect of the polymeric material (or other suitable material) of the overshoe 10 pulls the main body portion 12 of the overshoe 10 over the upper portion 22 of shoe 18. In the embodiment disclosed the main body portion 12 of the overshoe 10 covers nearly the entire upper portion 22 of the shoe 18. Alternative embodiments could have only a portion of the upper covering 22 of the shoe 18 covered. It can be appreciated that for the purpose of protecting the shoe 18 from, for example, water (for example, puddles) and adverse weather the sole 20 of shoe 18 should be covered and enough of upper portion 22 of the shoe 18 should be covered to keep the shoe 18 substantially dry.
As mentioned previously, the [0021] heel portion 24 of overshoe 10 can abut the sides 40 of the heel 30 of shoe 18. The abutting action is caused in part by the elastic nature of the material that makes the heel portion 24 of the overshoe 10. Moreover, for the embodiment illustrated the heel portion 24 abuts the sides 46 of the heel 30 at one or more of the ridges 48 that are created by the folds 38 in the heel portion 24.
By using an elastic polymeric material in the construction of [0022] overshoe 10, as previously discussed, overshoe 10 fits snuggly over the back 50 of shoe 18. Heel portion 24 also expands or contracts to properly fit the height of the heel 30 of the shoe 18. Moreover, by having the tip 32 of heel portion 24 reinforced with tread 34, as previously discussed, sufficient traction can be provided in conditions such as, for example, rain, snow, ice, or other potentially dangerous conditions.
FIG. 4 shows a side view of the heel portion of [0023] overshoe 10 in use on heel 30′ of a shoe 18′ that is higher than the heel 30 of the shoe 18 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. For shoe 18′, folds 38 of the heel portion 24 of the overshoe 10 stretch and conform to the height of the heel 30′, as described previously. The elastic nature of the material that makes the heel portion 24, however, can allow the heel portion 24 to follow the tapered shape of the heel 30′.
FIG. 5 shows the side view of [0024] overshoe 10 in use on a heel 30″ of a shoe 18″ that is wider and lower than the heel 30 of the shoe 18 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. Here, the folds 38 of the heel portion 24 of overshoe 10 stretch and conform to the particular height, shape and width of the heel 30″, as previously described.
[0025] Overshoe device 10 can conform to a variety of heel heights and widths and shapes. FIGS. 3 and 4 merely illustrate two particular shapes and sizes.
It can be appreciated that variations to this invention would be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and this invention is intended to include those alternatives. [0026]

Claims

1. An overshoe comprising:

a) a main body portion having a cavity and an opening to the cavity, the cavity and opening are sized to allow a shoe to fit through the opening and into the cavity so that the sole of the shoe and at least a portion of the upper covering of the shoe are covered by the main body portion; and

b) a heel portion extending from the main body portion and having a surrounding wall defining a longitudinally extending cavity adapted to receive and cover the heel of the shoe when the shoe is within the cavity of the main body portion, the surrounding wall of the heel portion is convoluted over at least a portion of the longitudinal extent thereof to allow the heel portion to longitudinally expand or contract to accommodate different heights of heels of shoes.

2. An overshoe according to claim 1, wherein the convolutions of the surrounding wall of the heel portion are formed from a plurality of folds in the surrounding wall.

3. An overshoe according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of folds have an accordion-like configuration.

4. An overshoe according to claim 3, wherein the surrounding wall of the heel portion is convoluted over substantially the entire longitudinal extent thereof.

5. An overshoe according to claim 3, wherein the main body portion and the heel portion are of a unitary construction.

6. An overshoe according to claim 5, wherein the main body portion and the heel portion are formed from an elastic polymeric material.

7. An overshoe according to claim 6, wherein the surrounding wall of the heel portion ends in a tip that presents an outer tread.

8. An overshoe according to claim 7, wherein the tip is made of rubber.