US20130104428A1

US20130104428A1 - Athletic Shoe Sole Cover

Info

Publication number: US20130104428A1
Application number: US13/281,530
Authority: US
Inventors: Chad O'Brien; Mike O'Brien; Kyle Nickell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-10-26
Filing date: 2011-10-26
Publication date: 2013-05-02

Abstract

A cleat cover for temporary coverage an athletic shoe sole comprising: a plurality of receptors along a top surface, where the receptors provide openings to receive cleats protruding from the athletic shoe; a sole, where the sole includes a flat smooth surface; at least two straps, where said at least two straps secure the cleat cover to the athletic shoe sole; and a heel strap, where heel strap provides an additional means to secure the cover once in place. The plurality of receptors may include a first group of receptors for receiving any front cleats from the athletic shoe and a second group of receptors for receiving any heel cleats from the athletic shoe. The plurality of receptors may be configured in accordance with the cleats of the athletic shoe and may be made of rubber foam.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a cover for the sole of an athletic shoe, in particular athletic shoes that include cleats.
2. Description of Related Art
Athletic shoes are worn in various sports that are specifically designed to assist in traction and stability when performing the sport. Many outdoor sports require cleats along the sole of the athletic shoe so that the athlete may have a firm footing when playing the sport. Examples of sports where athletes utilize shoes with cleats include football, soccer, baseball or rugby, to name a few. Many of the modern cleats are made of hard plastic as opposed to metal cleats that were formerly used in a number of sports. The hard plastic cleats provide stability of the footing for the athlete while running across an outdoor field. The cleats help to prevent loss of footing or slippage in various conditions that may exit on the field such as any mud or actually slick grass. One drawback to the hard plastic cleats is walking on hard surfaces with the cleats. Athletes occasionally have to walk across a concrete or asphalt surface while wearing the cleats. This abrasion from walking on the concrete or asphalt damages the cleats and causes excessive wear on the cleats unnecessarily. Many times athletes even wear the cleats home after participating in the sport and therefore will likely walk on the concrete or asphalt causing damage to the cleats. Consequently, it would be advantageous to have a device that could protect the cleats from damage when walking over such hard and abrasive surfaces. Further such a cover could protect any flooring that the athletes may be transferring over with the cleats when going in or out of an indoor facility to participate in their sport.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cleat cover for temporary coverage an athletic shoe sole comprising: a plurality of receptors along a top surface, where the receptors provide openings to receive cleats protruding from the athletic shoe; a sole, where the sole includes a flat smooth surface; at least two straps, where said at least two straps secure the cleat cover to the athletic shoe sole; and a heel strap, where heel strap provides an additional means to secure the cover once in place. The plurality of receptors may include a first group of receptors for receiving any front cleats from the athletic shoe and a second group of receptors for receiving any heel cleats from the athletic shoe. The plurality of receptors may be configured in accordance with the cleats of the athletic shoe and may be made of rubber foam.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a cleat cover for attachment to an athletic shoe as shown in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a shoe cover that covers the sole of a cleated shoe. The cleat cover according to the preset invention fits over the cleats that are exposed on the sole of an athletic shoe. Once the cover is placed over the cleats it may be secured by using straps provided and therefore provide a smooth walking surface for the athletic shoe. The cover according to the present invention helps to protect the cleats from excessive wear when walking over an abrasive surface and further protects any flooring that the athlete may be transferring over while wearing the cleated shoe. The present invention may be applicable for various types of cleated shoes and openings provided along the top surface of the cover may be designed in order to accommodate various cleat configurations.
In reference to FIG. 1, an athletic shoe of 20 is depicted which includes a plurality of cleats along the sole thereof. The athletic shoe 20 as shown includes a grouping of front cleats 22 and a grouping of heel cleats 24. The athletic shoe 20 has an upper portion 25 that surrounds the foot of the user. Below the athletic shoe 20 a cleat cover 30 is depicted. The cleat cover 30 includes a plurality of cleat receptors along the top surface thereof. The cleat receptors are holes that accommodate and receive the cleats protruding from the athletic shoe. When placed over the cleats the cleat cover 30 firmly and resiliently fits over the protruding cleats.
As shown along the top surface of the cleat cover 30 a group of cleat receptors 33 are provided for receiving the front cleats 22 of shoe 20. Further a grouping of heel cleat receptors 31 is provided to accommodate the heel cleats 24 of the athletic shoe 20. The configuration depicted along the top surface of the cleat cover 30 is for exemplary purposes. This configuration may be arranged in various designs in order to accommodate a particular athletic shoe. The cleat cover includes a sole 32 that provides a flat smooth surface and allows the athlete to walk over abrasive surfaces or perhaps away flooring surface to prevent damage to the cleats and/or the flooring surface. Straps 35 a, 35 b are provided to secure the cleat cover 30 onto the athletic shoe 20. Further a heel strap 34 is provided that fits securely over the rear portion of the upper 25 of the athletic shoe.
The cleat cover 30 may be formed of a rubber foam compound in one exemplary embodiment although other suitable materials may be utilized to manufacture the cleat cover. The cleat receptors provided on the cleat cover resiliently receive the cleats and provides a firm snug fit of the cover onto the sole of the athletic shoe 20. Use of the cleat cover in accordance with the present invention may help to extend the product of life cycle of the cleats and athletic shoe 20. This use of the cleat cover according to present invention on a consistent basis ensures that the cleats remain a sufficient length and remain effective over an extended period of time for repeated use. The instant invention has been shown and described in what it considers to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made there from within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A cleat cover for temporary coverage an athletic shoe sole comprising:

a. a plurality of receptors along a top surface, where the receptors provide openings to receive cleats protruding from the athletic shoe;

b. a sole, where the sole includes a flat smooth surface;

c. at least two straps, where said at least two straps secure the cleat cover to the athletic shoe sole; and

d. a heel strap, where heel strap provides an additional means to secure the cover once in place.

2. The cleat cover according to claim 1 where the plurality of receptors include a first group of receptors for receiving any front cleats from the athletic shoe and a second group of receptors for receiving any heel cleats from the athletic shoe.

3. The cleat cover according to claim 1, where the plurality of receptors are configured in accordance with the cleats of the athletic shoe.

4. The cleat cover according to claim 1, where the cleat cover is made of a rubber foam.