CA2892091A1 - High heel footwear cover - Google Patents

Abstract

Described are various embodiments of a high heel footwear cover.

Description

HIGH HEEL FOOTWEAR COVER
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0001] The present disclosure relates to footwear and, in particular, to a high heel footwear cover.
BACKGROUND

[0002] Shoe covers have been designed to provide protection for shoes and boots from rain, snow and inclement weather conditions in general. For instance, rubber galoshes or the like provide waterproof footwear that can be worn over dress shoes, for example, and vary from those extending over the forefoot and circling below the ankle of the shoe, and those proving a full boot-like rubber covering, much like an oversized boot.

[0003] When it comes to the protection of ladies footwear, and particularly those with an elevated heel, commonly referred to herein as high heel footwear (e.g. high heel shoes, boots, etc.), the provision of form fitting galoshes becomes sparse given the challenging and varied form factor of most high heel footwear.

[0004] Some commercial examples have been provided in the art to provide protection for the heel itself, such as the high heel protectors sold as the Smart Hee1TM
and Heels AboveTM and available online at FashionFirstAid.com and HeelsAbove.com, respectively. Other heel stoppers are also available to prevent shoe heels from sinking in dirt, grass or the like.

[0005] Other solutions are disclosed in the patent literature and generally focus on the provision of a contouring shoe cover. For example, U.S. Patent Application No.

2010/0107440 for a Women's Shoe Cover provides a solution that includes a narrow opening at its base to allow the heel of a high heel shoe to be introduce therethrough, thereby limiting protection to the foot portion of the shoe when in use. Other solutions such as those disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Nos. 2009/0126223 for a Form Fitting Cover for High Heel Shoes, 2011/0072691 for a Shoe Cover, and 2009/0229148 for Footwear Protectors and Methods of Production, provide solutions that are inherently limited in versatility and adaptability to different shoe styles, shapes and sizes.

[0006] Other solutions in the a.t rather focus on the provision of a disposable shoe cover, such as that described in U.S. Patent No. 6,584,704, which may provide greater versatility, but at the expense of specificity and functionality. Namely, these covers rather provide a quick generic solution generally ill-suited for the intricate form factor of most high heel footwear, and without long-term applicability or a reasonable expectation of reusability.

[0007] This background information is provided to reveal information believed by the applicant to be of possible relevance. No admission is necessarily intended, nor should be construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior art.
SUMMARY

[0008] The following presents a simplified summary of the general inventive concept(s) described herein to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to restrict key or critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention beyond that which is explicitly or implicitly described by the following description and claims.

[0009] A need exists for a high heel footwear cover that overcomes some of the drawbacks of known products, or at least, provides a useful alternative thereto. Some aspects of this disclosure provide examples of such covers.

[0010] In accordance with one aspect, there is provided a cover for high heel footwear, wherein the footwear has a toe portion, a counter portion and an extended heel, the cover comprising: an elasticized enclosure lining shaped and sized so to receive the footwear therein via an enclosure opening defined therein, and stretch over a range of high heel footwear sizes and styles from the toe portion to the counter portion while accommodating for the heel within the enclosure lining and so to present an enclosure sole area beneath at least the toe portion and the heel once the lining is stretched in =
position; wherein the sole area is at least partially manufactured of a rubberized material to provide traction.

[0011] In accordance with one embodiment, an elasticized material of the enclosure lining is thinner than the rubberizea'material.

[0012] In accordance with one embodiment, the sole area is fixedly coupled to the elasticized enclosure lining.

[0013] In accordance with one embodiment, the sole area is integrally formed with the elasticized enclosure lining.

[0014] In accordance with one embodiment, the cover further comprises a storage pouch fixedly coupled to a rim portion of the opening and sized so to accommodate the elasticized enclosure lining therein when not in use.

[0015] In accordance with one embodiment, the storage pouch consists of a reversible pouch that reverses to allow deployment of the elasticized enclosure lining therefrom for use, and to accommodate storage thereof thereafter.

[0016] In accordance with one embodiment, the storage pouch doubles as an aid to facilitate installation of the cover over the footwear by providing a tongue extending from the rim portion which can be pulled on to stretch the cover over the footwear.

[0017] In accordance with one embodiment, the sole area consists of disjoint forefoot and heel sole areas.

[0018] In accordance with one embodiment, the rubberized material defines a tread pattern to enhance traction.

[0019] In accordance with another embodiment, there is provided a footwear cover comprising: an elasticized enclosure lining shaped and sized so to receive the footwear therein via an enclosure opening defined therein, and stretch over a range of footwear sizes and styles; and a storage pouch fixedly coupled to a rim portion of the opening and sized so to accommodate the elasticized pouch therein when not in use.

[0020] In accordance with one embodiment, the storage pouch consists of a reversible pouch that reverses to allow deployment of the elasticized enclosure lining therefrom for use, and to accommodate storage thereof thereafter.

[0021] In accordance with one embodiment, the storage pouch doubles as an aid to facilitate installation of the cover oNier the footwear by providing a tongue extending from the rim portion which can be pulled on to stretch the cover over the footwear.

[0022] In accordance with one embodiment, the elasticized enclosure lining further comprises a sole area integral or fixedly coupled thereto and to be aligned under the footwear once the lining is stretched in position, wherein the sole area is at least partially manufactured of a rubberized material to provide traction.

[0023] In accordance with one embodiment, the sole area consists of disjoint forefoot and heel sole areas.

[0024] In accordance with one embodiment, the rubberized material defines a tread pattern to enhance traction.

[0025] In accordance with another embodiment, there is provided a method of manufacturing a footwear cover, the method comprising: forming an enclosure lining of an elasticized material having an opening-defining rim formed therein and that is shaped and sized so to accommodate, in an at least partially stretched configuration, different footwear sizes and styles therein; and coupling a reversible storage pouch via a pouch opening-defining rim thereof to a portion of the enclosure opening-defining rim so to accommodate storage of the lining therein and deployment thereof upon reversing the storage pouch, and such that the pouch doubles as a tongue extending from the enclosure opening-defining rim once deployed to facilitate installation of the cover over footwear.

[0026] Other aspects, features and/or advantages will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of specific embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0027] Several embodiments of the present disclosure will be provided, by way of examples only, with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:

[0028] Figure 1 is a side schematic view of a storage pouch structurally coupled to a high heel shoe cover enclosed for storage therein, in accordance with one embodiment;

[0029] Figure 2 is a side schematic view of a high heel shoe cover once extracted from the storage pouch of Figure 1, to which it is coupled via a rim thereof and which acts as a shoe cover tongue to facilitate installation of the shoe cover over a high heel shoe, in accordance with one embodiment;

[0030] Figure 3 is a side schematic view of the high heel shoe cover of Figure 2 once installed over a high heel shoe being worn, in accordance with one embodiment;
and

[0031] Figure 4 is a bottom schematic view of the high heel shoe cover of Figure 3, showing an optional shoe tread fixedly disposed thereon for substantial alignment with a bottom of the high heel shoe and manufactured of a heavier rubberized material for increased traction and wear resistance, in accordance with one embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] The systems and methods described herein provide, in accordance with different embodiments, different examples of a high heel footwear cover.

[0033] For greater clarity, the terms high heel footwear and high heel shoe will be used interchangeably herein to re;er to different footwear shapes, types and sizes in which the footwear generally comprises a foot portion to be fitted on a person's foot from .
toe to heel, and an elevated heel portion defining a heel of the footwear that extends from the heel-end of the sole of the footwear to maintain the person's heel in an elevated position when standing. Different types of high heel footwear considered within the scope of the present disclosure may include, but are not limited to, open or closed toe high heel shoes which may for instance include at least a toe box and/or vamp as well as a counter to maintain the shoe in position; open or closed toe high heel sandals which may for instance include at least a toe box, vamp and/or straps to maintain the forefoot in position, as well as an optional counter and/or straps to maintain the heel in position;
high heel boots which may generally include a toe box and/or vamp, a counter, and some form of ankle support and/or covering; as well as other types of high heel footwear as may be readily known in the art. Generally, high heel footwear will be defined by a heel height that may generally range from P/2 to 6 inches and terminate into a relatively narrowed if not pointed heel cap, or larger heel base as the case may be, that provides a counterbalance point to the outsole portion found under the forefoot of the footwear. As will be appreciated, while the heel portion of the footwear may be disjoint from the forefoot outsole portion in defining an acute angular cross-sectional form factor, it may also be formed continuously therewith in defining a generally wedge-shaped form factor, or variants therebetween. Other structural and/or aesthetic features and components common to known high heel footwear styles may also be considered without departing from the general scope and nature of the present disclosure.

[0034] With reference now to Figures 1 to 4, and in accordance with one embodiment, an example of a high heal footwear cover will now be described.
With particular reference to Figure 2, the shoe cover 200 is generally shaped and sized when deployed to define a generally wedge-shaped cover manufactured of an at least partially pliable/stretchable material so to be snuggly fitted over high heel footwear of various types, sizes and the like, for example stretching from a toe portion 208 over a shoe heel bottom portion 206 and to a foot heel or counter portion 204 while also providing adequate coverage over the forefoot 210. A tighter or elasticized ankle band 202 or the like is also provided to secure the shoe cover in position over a given high heel footwear.

[0035] With added reference , to Figure 1, the shoe cover 200 is generally manufactured of a pliable material such that it may be folded, balled, crumpled or otherwise stored within an integrated storage pouch 100, and readily deployed therefrom for use. As seen in Figure 1, the generally rounded pouch 100 in this example generally consists of a pouch shell 104 and an opening-defining rim or lip 102, the latter optionally including a drawstring and/or elasticised material to facilitate closure of the pouch during storage.

[0036] To deploy the shoe cover 200, as seen in Figure 2, the shoe cover 200 may be retracted from the pouch 100, or again, the pouch 100 may be reversed thereby revealing the shoe cover 200 stored therein, either way with the pouch 100 remaining structurally coupled to the cover 200 via an attachment portion of the pouch rim 102 to forefoot portion of the ankle band 202. Given this attachment, the storage pouch 100 is not only readily kept handy with the cover 200 for later storage, but also acts as a convenient footwear cover tongue that can be used to facilitate installation of the cover 200 over a shoe or other high heel footwear. Likewise, the cover 200 may be removed after use and returned to the pouch. If consistently reversing the pouch shell for deployment and storage of the cover 200, one surface of the pouch shell 104 may be consistently kept dry and clear so to facilitate storing the pouched shoe cover itself into a jacket pocket or purse, for example. Namely, the reversibility of the pouch may permit extra moisture or dust collected on the pouch while walking outdoors to be kept inside the pouch along with the shoe cover in storage, preventing a corresponding mess in the user's pocket and/or purse.

[0037] With reference to Figure 3, the shoe cover 200 is shown once installed over a high heel shoe (as outlined by depicted shading), whereby the shoe cover toe (208), shoe heel (206) and counter (204) portions are respectively aligned with corresponding portions of the shoe it covers while providing adequate coverage over the forefoot 210, whereas the pouch shell 104 is shown to provide a convenient shoe cover tongue used to facilitate installation of the shoe cover 200.

[0038] Once the shoe cover 200 has been used, it can be taken off the shoe by pulling it starting from the top of the counter, over the heel 204 and then finally off of the toe 208. The tongue/pouch 104 is reversed inside out and the shoe cover 200 is balled up into the pouch 100.

[0039] With added reference to Figure 4, while the shoe cover may be manufactured of a unitary material, such as an at least partially stretchable waterproof material that can be stretched and worn snuggly over different high heel footwear types and sizes, some embodiments may further include one or more shoe cover sole portions 300 manufactured of a heavier and/or stronger rubberized material and bonded or otherwise structurally coupled to a thinner shoe cover body lining 212 or the like. For example, as seen in Figure 4, heavier forefoot sole 302 and heel sole 304 portions are shown as linked by a bridging arch sole portion 306 so to provide greater rigidity, wear resistance and/or traction in these areas for greater user safety and product durability. In the illustrated example, the forefoot sole portion 302 is further defined by a textured tread pattern so to further enhance traction and user safety, whereas the heel sole portion 304 is provided with a unitary pad or grip in this example. As will be appreciated by the skilled artisan, different tread or grip patterns may be considered, as can different materials, and that, without departing from the general scope and nature of the present disclosures.

[0040] Accordingly, the shoe cover, as disclosed herein, can provide protection for high heel shoes or other high heel footwear from outdoor elements such as rain, snow, slush, dust and salt, for example, and that, for most high heel footwear types and sizes. As will be appreciated by the skilled artisan, the shoe cover material consistency should generally be thick enough to prevent the material from tearing, while being stretchy enough to cover most high heel footwear sizes and types. Alternatively, different shoe cover sizes may be manufactured and sold to accommodate different footwear sizes. For example, shoe covers could be manufactured in small and large sizes to better accommodate smaller and larger footwear sizes, for example.
[00411 In some embodiments, the shoe cover 200 can be manufactured of the same stretchy material as the pouch, and while generally shaped like a high heel shoe in this example, it will generally be smaller than the footwear portion for which it is destined so that when stretched over this footwear portion, it is gaunt, as seen in Figure 3. While a generally wedge-shaped stretchable footwear cover, as shown for example in Figure 2, may provide greater ease of fit, other generally relaxed footwear cover shapes may be considered without departing from the general scope and nature of the present disclosure.
[0042] In some embodiments, the footwear cover can be made of different colours and have a patterned design on it, for example, or again consist of a generally translucent or transparent material such that the footwear may be at least partially seen therethrough.

[0043] As noted above, the footwear cover can be extracted from the pouch such that the pouch reverses into the semblance of a shoe tongue, for example, thus providing ready access to and portability of the pouch, while also doubling as an aid to stretch the cover over the entirety of the intended footwear portion. Other embodiments may have the pouch coupled toward a heel portion of the ankle band, in this case facilitating installation of the cover over the back and counter of the footwear, for example.
[0044] In one example, the toe of the shoe can be placed through the shoe cover opening and into the toe portion of the shoe cover. The rest of the shoe can then slip in after the toe is inserted, while the counter is the last part to be covered.
The cover pouch/tongue can then or concurrently be used to secure the cover over the forefoot or heel portion of the footwear as the case may be. Because of the stretchy material, the cover holds onto the footwear once it is slipped over the counter. As noted above, in some embodiments, a thicker rubbery material is provided at the base of the shoe cover in the form of a tread to prevent slips on ice and snow, for example, while remaining relatively stretchy to accommodate different shoe sizes, and remaining relatively easy to fold for storage in the pouch.
[0045] While the present disclosure describes various exemplary embodiments, the disclosure is not so limited. To the contrary, the disclosure is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the general scope of the present disclosure.
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Claims (16)

What is claimed is:

1. A cover for high heel footwear, wherein the footwear has a toe portion, a counter portion and an extended heel, the cover comprising:
an elasticized enclosure lining shaped and sized so to receive the footwear therein via an enclosure opening defined therein, and stretch over a range of high heel footwear sizes and styles from the toe portion to the counter portion while accommodating for the heel within said enclosure lining and so to present an enclosure sole area beneath at least the toe portion and the heel once sai,d lining is stretched in position;
wherein said sole area is at least partially manufactured of a rubberized material to provide traction.

2. The cover of claim 1, wherein an elasticized material of said enclosure lining is thinner than said rubberized material.

3. The cover of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said sole area is fixedly coupled to said elasticized enclosure lining.

4. The cover of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said sole area is integrally formed with said elasticized enclosure lining.

5. The cover of any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a storage pouch fixedly coupled to a rim portion of said opening and sized so to accommodate said elasticized enclosure lining therein when not in use.

6. The cover of claim 5, wherein said storage pouch consists of a reversible pouch that reverses to allow deployment of said elasticized enclosure lining therefrom for use, and to accommodate storage thereof thereafter.

7. The cover of claim 5 or claim 6, wherein said storage pouch doubles as an aid to facilitate installation of the cover over the footwear by providing a tongue extending from said rim portion which can be pulled on to stretch the cover over the footwear.

8. The cover of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said sole area consists of disjoint forefoot and heel sole areas.

9. The cover of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said rubberized material defines a tread pattern to enhance traction.

10. A footwear cover comprising:
an elasticized enclosure lining shaped and sized so to receive the footwear therein via an enclosure opening defined therein, and stretch over a range of footwear sizes and styles; and a storage pouch fixedly coupled to a rim portion of said opening and sized so to accommodate said elasticized pouch therein when not in use.

11. The cover of claim 10, wherein said storage pouch consists of a reversible pouch that reverses to allow deployment of said elasticized enclosure lining therefrom for use, and to accommodate storage thereof thereafter.

12. The cover of claim 10 or claim 11, wherein said storage pouch doubles as an aid to facilitate installation of the cover over the footwear by providing a tongue extending from said rim portion which can be pulled on to stretch the cover over the footwear.

13. The cover of any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein said elasticized enclosure lining further comprises a sole area integral or fixedly coupled thereto and to be aligned under the footwear once said lining is stretched in position, wherein said sole area is at least partially manufactured of a rubberized material to provide traction.

14. The cover of claim 13, wherein said sole area consists of disjoint forefoot and heel sole areas.

15. The cover of claim 13 or 14, wherein said rubberized material defines a tread pattern to enhance traction.

16. A method of manufacturing a footwear cover, the method comprising:
forming an enclosure lining of an elasticized material having an opening-defining rim formed therein and that is shaped and sized so to accommodate, in an at least partially stretched configuration, different footwear sizes and styles therein; and coupling a reversible storage pouch via a pouch opening-defining rim thereof to a portion of said enclosure opening-defining rim so to accommodate storage of said lining therein and deployment thereof upon reversing said storage pouch, and such that said pouch doubles as a tongue extending from said enclosure opening-defining rim once deployed to facilitate installation of the cover over footwear.