EP2465374A1

EP2465374A1 - Footwear cover with nails

Info

Publication number: EP2465374A1
Application number: EP10382337A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jesús VICENTE DE VERA GIL; Juan Antonio ÁLVAREZ GINÉS
Original assignee: Urban Art SL
Current assignee: Urban Art SL
Priority date: 2010-12-16
Filing date: 2010-12-16
Publication date: 2012-06-20

Abstract

Footwear cover with nails, that has the general shape of shoes, that is made of plastic materials such as rubber or elastomer, including an upper opening (1) and with a sole that has a series of emerging nails (3), which, in one of their ends, are attached to a base (4) that remains embedded in the sole of the footwear cover, and additionally it may have a hole (7) in the inner part and in the heel area, that can be filled with a wedge (8). Thanks to the configuration described above, a cover that is adaptable to footwear, easy to put on, and resistant to exterior agents is achieved, which grips to the ground and avoids sliding and slips besides protecting footwear from damp, mud and dirt.

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention, as the title of the invention provides, a footwear cover with nails, which allows accommodating footwear inside the cover, covering and protecting it, where in addition, the footwear cover object of the invention has a series of nails that stick out through the bottom of the footwear cover.
The present invention is characterized by the particular configuration and design of the footwear cover, which seeks to combine in one object and with the maximum possible functionality, the function of protecting footwear, as well as providing the cover with gripping means to prevent slips and falls.
Therefore, the present invention is circumscribed within the scope of covers or elements that cover footwear protecting it, as well as within footwear gripping elements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The closest precedent to the object of the invention would be the socalled clogs also known as wooden shoes that on the one hand, seek to protect the shoes, and above all they keep footwear away from the ground, providing a raised platform to avoid sinking into the mud.
Other elements that carry out gripping functionalities would be crampons, which adapted and set on footwear, seek to provide mountain gear with a sufficient grip on icy surfaces.
What is sought now, is to combine in a single product the double functionality described above, on the one hand, to provide some means of protection that avoid footwear staining or soaking, and on the other hand, to include some gripping means, developing a cover as the one described below, and which is essentially reflected in the first claim.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is a footwear cover with nails, made of plastic materials such as rubber or elastomer, which is in the shape of a shoe and has an inner space enough to accommodate the shoe, the cover protector covers the totality of the footwear.
Understanding as footwear, anything from shoes, slippers, mid-calf boots, low boots and high boots, i.e., any means that placed on the feet are used for walking. In addition, some nails or anchor elements stick out on its sole.
Said nails, in order to avoid their penetration toward the interior of the footwear cover, include a flat base that avoids penetration toward the interior of the cover, remaining said flat base embedded inside the structure of the cover.
Additionally, the cover has a hollow space in the heel in order to be able to accommodate the heel of the shoe that needs to be protected and in this way, a double elevation is avoided as the cover is provided with its own heel.
In the event that the shoe to be accommodated in the interior of the footwear cover does not include a heel, and with the objective of not leaving a hole or unevenness, the footwear cover can be complemented with an additional or supplementary part that would be placed in the inner hollow space defined in the interior of the footwear cover.
On the other hand, located on the back, the footwear cover has some tabs or flaps that stick out from the upper edge so that they serve as means of gripping to pull and allow the fitting of the shoe in the interior of the cover.
The material with which the cover will be made of, will be a plastic or rubber material, with or without elasticity, being preferential the fact that it comes with a certain amount of elasticity which allows its adaptability for footwear.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description being made and in order to help better understand the features of the invention, according to a preferred practical embodiment thereof, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of said description, wherein the following is shown as way of illustration but not limited to:

Figure 1, shows a representation in perspective of the footwear cover object of the invention, where the main constructive details of said cover can be seen.
Figure 2, shows in detail one of the nails embedded to the footwear cover in its base.
In figure 3, the lower part of the sole is shown, where the distribution of the nails can be seen.
In figure 4, a section obtained upon cutting the footwear cover by a vertical plane according to the longitudinal axis of the shoe, is shown.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In the light of the above-mentioned figures, it is appropriate to set out a preferred embodiment of the invention, but not limited in any way.
As seen in Figure 1, the footwear cover with nails object of the invention presents a general shape of a shoe that has an upper opening (1) through which footwear to be protected is introduced and has an inner space that can accommodate footwear, covering its entire outer surface.
In the represented shape, the footwear cover is designed for shoes or slippers, being able to be designed in such a way that covers the entire footwear to be protected, as for example a boot, so that the cover, as what it seeks is the complete protection of the shoe, will have an equal shape as that of the footwear to be protected, i.e., if the footwear to be protected is a boot, the footwear cover will be shaped as a boot.
Therefore, the term footwear should be understood in its most extensive meaning, covering any means used to protect the feet and to allow movement.
Also, it should be noted that on the sole of the footwear cover a few nails (3) stick out and on the upper edge of the opening (3) that accesses the interior some tabs (2) stick out. These tabs are used as a means to be able to pull the upper edge of the footwear cover and facilitate the introduction of the shoe to be protected.
In figure 2, a nail (3) that has a wide base (4) on one of its ends, which is embedded in the interior of the sole, is shown in detail. Thanks to this base the pressure transmitted by the free ends of the nails (3) is distributed in all the surface of the base, preventing the nails (3) from sticking out in the inner hollow space.
In a possible complementary embodiment, the nails (3) can present a knurling exterior surface.
In figure 3, a possible aspect of the sole of the footwear cover is shown, where some projections (6), besides other projections (5) in which the heads of the nails (3) are embedded, can be seen. Said projections (5) have a shape and geometry identical to that of the emerging nails.
Finally, Figure 4, in the section obtained by longitudinally cutting the footwear cover by a vertical plane, shows that, in the inside of the cover and in the heel area, there is a hole (7) where the heel of the shoe to be protected would fit.
In the event that the shoe to be protected did not include a heel, i.e., it was a flat shoe and in order not to leave any unevenness in the interior, said hollow space is filled with a wedge (8) that would fit in said hole (7).
The footwear cover is made of plastic, in any of its combinations or possible executions, and thanks to the fact that it is made of plastic, certain flexibility, durability, and stability against external agents, is obtained.
As a result, the cover described, as well as protecting the footwear, offers a better grip and stability on the ground and particularly on slippery surfaces, it also offers durability and resistance to external agents, as well as adaptability to footwear.
The essence of this invention is not altered by variations in materials, shape, size and arrangement of the components described in a not limiting way, being this sufficient to proceed to its reproduction by an expert.

Claims

Footwear cover with nails, that has the general shape of shoes, including an upper opening (1) and a sole, characterized in that it is made of plastic, it has a series of emerging nails (3) on its sole, which, in one of their ends, are attached to a base (4) that remains embedded in the sole of the footwear cover.
Footwear cover with nails, according to claim 1, characterized in that the sole of the footwear cover has some projections (6), besides other projections (5) in which the heads of the nails (3) are embedded.
Footwear cover with nails, according to claim 1, characterized in that the nails (3) may present a knurling exterior surface.
Footwear cover with nails, according to claim 1, characterized in that in the inner part of the cover and in the heel area, there is a hole (7)
Footwear cover with nails, according to claim 4, characterized in that, additionally, the footwear cover has a wedge (8) that would fit in the hole (7).
Footwear cover with nails, according to claim 1, characterized in that on the upper edge of the opening (3) that accesses the interior, some flaps (2) stick out.