EP0850576A2

EP0850576A2 - Waterproof bag for protecting shoes

Info

Publication number: EP0850576A2
Application number: EP97830244A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ernesto Gaetani; Sandro Tolozzi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-12-19
Filing date: 1997-05-26
Publication date: 1998-07-01
Also published as: IT242499Y1; EP0850576A3; ITAN960036U1; ITAN960036V0

Abstract

This invention concerns a bag for shoes made of waterproof cloth having an opening at the front for the insertion of the shoe and a perimeter collar along its mouth in order to tighten the latter around the ankle of the user.

Description

This patent application for a utility model concerns a waterproof bag for protecting shoes worn over the shoe.

It is common knowledge that wearing shoes on surfaces with rainwater, snow or mud will damage the upper very evidently and irreversibly, in particular light shoes made of cloth or velvet leather are badly damaged under conditions of this kind.

Everyone knows that shoes are damaged in this way when rain, snow or muddy conditions occur unexpectedly, namely when the user finds him or herself in unexpected environmental or weather conditions.

It is evident in fact that if bad weather is expected people will wear heavy or waterproof shoes.

It was on the basis of the above considerations that the bag made of waterproof cloth according to the invention having the approximate shape of a shoe, was designed; the same is extremely useful for protecting shoes in the case of unexpected bad weather conditions.

The item in question is very light, small and easy to fold as well as being sturdy and inexpensive; a pair of these bags may easily be purchased by anyone - and more importantly - may be carried as a precaution even if there is the slightest doubt that weather and environmental conditions may be bad.

In particular, its light and small structure makes it possible to carry the bag in question in a bag, briefcase, knapsack or even in a pocket.

Moreover, the bag in question is easy to put on thanks to the fact that the same is provided with a longitudinal front opening in proximity of the shoe upper fitted with laces; means for tying the opening are quite naturally provided once the bag in question is worn over the shoe.

These means may consist either of a zipper, a pull off fastener, laces or buttons.

It should also be noted that the mouth of the bag - namely in proximity of the heel - is provided with a collar having an elastic band or lace to tie the bag against the leg in order to prevent the entry of humidity in this area as well.

In order to make the bag more efficient and sturdy, the bag is provided with rubber inserts on the tip and sole.

According to the same inventive idea it is moreover provided that the item in question may be manufactured in many different versions which may be adapted to different requirements, namely for men's, ladies' and children's shoes, high or low shoes, and for shoes with or without heel.

For major clarity the description of the invention continues with reference to the enclosed drawings which are intended for purposes of illustration and not in a limiting sense, whereby:

figure 1 is an axonometric view of the bag according to the invention showing a version for shoes without heel;
figure 2 is similar to the previous figure but shows a version designed for boots;
figure 3 is similar to the previous figures but shows a version for shoes with high heels;
figure 4 is an axonometric bottom view of the bag in figure 1 showing a version provided with rubber covering over the sole;
figure 5 is similar to the preivous figure but shows a version of the bag according to the invention provided with rubber covering only on the shoe tip and heel areas.

With reference to figure 1, the item according to the invention consists of a bag made of waterproof cloth (1) designed to be worn over shoes, and accordingly shaped approximately like a shoe; in particular, in the case of the model in figure 1 showing the version for shoes without heel, the bottom wall (2) is completely flat.

The same applies to the bag model (la) shown in figure 2 whose height is superior to that of the first model (1) in that the same is designed for boots.

The bag model (1b) in figure 3, which is designed for shoes with heel, is provided at the bottom with a back section (2a) which is separated and quite distinct from the front section (2b) of the bag; in particular, this section (2a) is expressly designed to house the heel of the shoe.

It should be noted that all three versions of the bag (1) in question are provided - in the area covering the shoe upper - with a deep front opening (4) whose edges are sealed by a zipper (4a) in the case of the models shown in figures 1 and 3, and by two pull-off fasteners (4b) in the case of the model shown in figure 2.

Moreover, the bag (1) in question is provided with a collar (5) at its mouth in order to tie the bag once it has been fitted over the shoe.

With particular reference to figure 4, showing a sturdier version, the bag (1) in question could be provided with a rubber sole (6) over the entire treading surface.

With particular reference to figure 5, the bag (1) could also be made in a version provided with rubber tip (7) and heel (8) which not only cover the corresponding "upper" section but also a brief section of the treading surface at the two longitudinal ends.

Claims

A waterproof bag for protecting shoes characterised in that it consists of a bag (1) made of thin waterproof cloth shaped approximately like a shoe and provided at the front with a deep longitudinal closable opening (4) as well as a perimeter collar (5) along the mouth:
A waterproof bag for protecting shoes according to claim 1), characterised by a zipper (4a) provided along the edges of the above longitudinal front opening (4).
A waterproof bag for protecting shoes according to claim 1), characterised by two pull-off strips (4b) provided along the edges of the above longitudinal front opening (4).
A waterproof bag for protecting shoes according to claim 1), characterised in that the treading surface is provided externally and internally with a rubber sole (6).
A waterproof bag for protecting shoes according to claim 1), characterised by a tip (7) and a heel (8) both made of rubber, which may also cover the ends of the treading surface.
A waterproof bag for protecting shoes according to the previous claims characterised, in a preferred embodiment, in that the bottom wall is provided with a back section (2a), separated and distinct from the front flat section (2b).