GB2190823A - Shoe back protector - Google Patents

Abstract

For application to the back of a shoe to protect against scuffing, a protector comprises a first component 10 in the form of a shield for protection of the shoe backpart, and a second component 12 in the form of a tongue for protection of the heel. An upper end portion of the tongue is slidably accommodated, within a curved central spine 14 of the shield. Interengageable teeth on the tongue and the shield are arranged for retention of the tongue in adjusted position. Side webs 15 of the shield are arranged to grip the show backpart, and an elasticated strap 24 on the tongue is arranged to be secured about the show heel. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Shoe back protector This invention relates to a protector for affording temporary protection to the backs of shoes against scuffing,this problem arising particularly in driving cars.

The backs of women's shoes, especially, tend to suffer marking and abrasion damage from the floor in car driving. Many and various kinds of protector have been proposed, but mostly these are not adjustable to suit shoes with different heel heights.

It is an object ofthe present invention to enable shoes to be protected from such damage easily, effectively and cheaply by means of a protector which can readily be adjusted to suit different heel heights.

In one of its aspects the invention provides an extensible shoe back protectorfortemporary application to the outside of a shoe to protect the back of the shoe against scuffing or otherdamage,the protector comprising a first component in the form of a curved shield shaped to embrace at least partially the backpart of a shoe upper, a second component in th form of a tongue arranged to be adjustably secured to the shield to extend downwards from the shield a variable amount to guard the back of the shoe heel, and means whereby the protector can be secured to the shoe.

The shield and the tongue can conveniently be moulded of plastics materials.

The shield and the tongue may be interconnected by a simple sliding connection to permit adjustment.

Whilstthetonguemightbearrangedto be retained frictionally alone in adjusted position on the shield, it is preferred that some mechanical interengagement at adjusted positions be provided. In a preferred construction, a tooth on an upper end portion of the tongue is arranged to be engaged at choice above any one of a plurality of longitudinally-spaced teeth projecting from a surface ofthe shield over which the tongue moves, though one might as an aiternative provide a single tooth on the shield and a plurality of spaced teeth on the tongue.Forsightliness it is preferred thatthetongue be arranged to move over an inside face ofthe the curved shield (i.e. to be next to a shoe on which the protector is mounted) though it could be arranged to move over an outside face.

For securing the protector to a shoe,there may be provided, for example, one or more elasticated or other readily securable strap fastenings which can be secured abouttheshoe heel.

There nowfollowsadescription,to be readwith reference to the accompanying drawings, of a protectorwhich illustrates the invention byway of example.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 shows the protectorfitted to a woman's shoe; and Figure2 illustrates the manner in which shield and tongue parts ofthe protector are adjustably interconnected.

An extensible protector (shown applied to a shoe in Figure 1) comprises a first component in theform of a curved shield 10 which is shaped to embrace (at least partially) the backpart 11 of a shoe upper, being fitted on the outside ofthe shoe and centred on the back line ofthe shoe. A second component of the protector is in the form of a tongue 12 depending centrally from the shiled 10 to protect the back ofthe heel 13 ofthe shoe.

The parts 10 and 12 are moulded separately of a suitable plastics material.

The shield 10 comprises a spine-forming central web 14 which is curved in transverse cross-section and also curved longitudinally to match the back line ofthe shoe. Projecting from side edges ofthe spine 14 are side webs 15 which are resiliently deflectable and arranged so as to tend to grip the backpart 11 ofthe shoe.

Thetongue 12 is also in the form of a longitudinally and transversely curved web, the curvatures at an upper end portion of the tongue substantially matching those ofthe spine 14. As illustrated by Figure 2, the upperend portion ofthetongue is arranged to be introduced through an aperture 1 6formed at the bottom end of the shield 10, between a concave inside surface17Ofthespine14andabar18extending generally between side edge portions 19 of the spine.

The tongue also passes between the inside surface 17 and two tabs 20 which project towards one another (generally in parallel with the bar 18)from the side edge portions ofthe spine at a level rather above the barl8.

The concave inside surface 17 ofthe spine 14 ofthe shield 10is formed with a plurality of longitudinally- spaced teeth 21 for engagement by a tooth 22 on the outside (convex) surface ofthetongue 12 at or adjacent to itstop end. The bar 18 and the tabs 20 are engaged by longitudinal edge portions 23 of the tongue when the tongue is inserted, so serving to maintain the opposed surfaces ofthe tongue and the spine substantially together, and maintaining the tongue tooth 22 in engagement above a selected one ofthe spine teeth 21. Owing to resilience in the components, the position ofthe tongue can readily be adjusted to engage a different spine tooth, so as to alterthe length of tongue projecting downwards from the shield 10.

Means whereby the protector can be secured to a shoe, comprises an elastic strap 24 secured to the tongue 12 in a suitable manner adjacentto its bottom end, to extend around the heel 13 ofthe shoe. The side webs 15 ofthe shield 10, as hereinbefore referred to also help to secure the protector to the shoe by lightly gripping the backpart.

Adhesive-backed flocked, or other, lining pieces (not shown) can be provided to cover inside surfaces oftheshield 10.

To accommodate both high and low heel heights, there may be provided two (or more) forms oftongue 12, each having the same form of upper end portion enabling itto be attached to the one shield 10, as selected to besuitablefora particularshoe.

The protector can easily be assembled and adjusted to suit a particular shoe, to provide temporary protection when applied to the outside ofthe shoe, against scuffing or other damage to the backpart and heel of theshoe.

Claims (8)

1. An extensible shoe back protectorfor temporary application to the outside of a shoe to protect the back of the shoe against scuffing or other damage, the protector comprising a first component in the form of a curved shield shaped to embrace at least partially the backpart of a show upper, a second component in the form of a tongue arranged to be adjustably secured to the shield to extend downwards from the shield a variable amountto guard the back of the shoe heel, and means whereby the protector can be secured to the shoe.

2. Aprotectoraccording to claim 1 in which an upper end portion of the tongue is arranged to be slidably connected to the shield to move over an inside face of the shield.

3. A protector according to claim 2 i n which longitudinally-spaced teeth projecting from the tongue and said inside face ofthe shield are arranged for interengagementto retain the tongue in selected positions of adjustment.

4. Protector according to claim 3 in which there is provided a single tooth on the tongue for engagement with anyone of a plurality of spaced teeth provided on the shield.

5. A protector according to any one of claims 2,3 and 4 in which the shield comprises a central longitudinally and transversely curved spine-forming web and resiliently deflectable side webs which projectfrom side edges ofthe spine for gripping the backpart of a shoe, the spine-forming web providing said inside face over which thetongue is arranged to move.

6. A protector according to claim 5 in which the upper end portion of the tongue is on theform of a web oaf similar longitudinal and transverse curvature to the spine-forming portion of the shield.

7. A protector according to any one of claims 1 to 6 in which an elasticated strap fastening provided at a lower end portion ofthe tongue is arranged to be secured about the heel of a shoe to which the protector isto be applied.

8. A shoe protector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.