US20130111784A1

US20130111784A1 - Foldable bottomless rainproof shoe cover

Info

Publication number: US20130111784A1
Application number: US13/310,669
Authority: US
Inventors: Michael Kann; Chia Ling Chen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-11-04
Filing date: 2011-12-02
Publication date: 2013-05-09
Also published as: JP3173551U; CN202425699U; TWM423466U

Abstract

A foldable bottomless rainproof shoe cover includes a front piece, a rear piece, a supporting element and connecting elements. The supporting element is continuously provided on the periphery of the front piece. The rear piece is formed with a notch for allowing the front piece to be connected thereto. The connecting elements are provided on front and rear sides of the rear piece. The shoe cover of the present invention includes two pieces and the supporting element is provided on one of the two pieces, so that the shoe cover of the present invention can be put on or taken off conveniently and foldable for easy storage.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a foldable bottomless rainproof shoe cover, and in particular to a rainproof shoe cover made of a light and thin material, which can be put on or take off rapidly and can be folded for easy carry and storage.
2. Description of Prior Art
In the countries of island-type climate, it may have a heavy rain suddenly. At this time, people usually use a raincoat or umbrella to shield their jacket and trousers from the rains. However, the bottom of the trousers, shoes and socks in the shoes cannot be protected against the rains by using the raincoat or umbrella. As a result, the bottom of the trousers, the shoes and the socks absorb a lot of rains, which makes people feel very uncomfortable. As for a rider who is riding a bicycle or motorcycle, the existing shoe cover available in the market is a flat-bottomed show cover. Although such a flat-bottomed shoe cover is capable of protecting the shoes and the socks against the rains, the convenience in putting on or taking off such a conventional shoe cover is insufficient. Further, such a flat-bottomed shoe cover is not foldable for easy storage.
Another kind of the shoe cover (such as a light shoe cover) is available in the market, which is convenient for carry and storage. However, the user has to put their feet into the light shoe covers via only one opening, so that the user may slip and fall over when putting on the light shoe covers. Further, such a light shoe cover cannot conform to various shoes having different sizes and profiles.
Taiwan Patent Application Number No. 100212069 filed by the present Inventor and entitled “Improved bottomless rainproof shoe cover” discloses a bottomless rainproof shoe cover, which is integrally formed into one body by plastic materials. One side of this conventional shoe cover is formed with a notch around which adhesive fasteners are provided. By this arrangement, this conventional shoe cover can be put on or taken off rapidly. Further, the thickness of this conventional bottomless rainproof shoe cover is large, so that it is not convenient in easy carry and storage.
In view of the problems of the above-mentioned two conventional shoe covers, the present inventor proposes a novel foldable bottomless rainproof shoe cover to solve the above problems. The shoe cover of the present invention is bottomless and constituted of a plurality of pieces made of a light and thin material. A supporting element is provided on the front piece. A rear piece is formed with a notch. Connecting elements are provided on the front side and rear side of the rear piece. By this arrangement, the shoe cover of the present invention is convenient for easy carry and storage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to solve the above problems, an objective of the present invention is to provide a foldable bottomless rainproof shoe cover. According to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the foldable bottom rainproof shoe cover of the present invention is characterized in that: front and rear pieces are made of a waterproof film or waterproof cloth.
According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the foldable bottom rainproof shoe cover of the present invention is characterized in that: the waterproof film is made of one selected from a group including silicone, thermoplastic polyurethane, polyethylene, polypropylene, sticky silicone, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and foams thereof.
According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the foldable bottom rainproof shoe cover of the present invention is characterized in that: the waterproof cloth is made of one selected from a group including nylon, polyester, and polypropylene.
According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the foldable bottom rainproof shoe cover of the present invention is characterized in that: the thickness of the waterproof film is in a range of 0.01 mm to 2 mm.
According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the foldable bottom rainproof shoe cover of the present invention is characterized in that: the supporting piece may be elastic or inelastic and is made of one selected from of a group including piano wire, shape memory wire, galvanized iron wire, thin steel wire, and stainless steel wire.
According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the foldable bottom rainproof shoe cover of the present invention is characterized in that: the periphery of the supporting element is formed with a plurality of winding portions.
According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the foldable bottom rainproof shoe cover of the present invention is characterized in that: the diameter of the supporting element is in a range of 0.05 mm to 3 mm.
According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the foldable bottom rainproof shoe cover of the present invention is characterized in that: the front piece and the rear piece are combined with each other by a process selected from a group including high-frequency welding, supersonic thermal fusion melding, thermal sealing, stitching and adhesive binding.
According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the foldable bottom rainproof shoe cover of the present invention is characterized in that: the rear piece is made of sticky silicone.
According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the foldable bottom rainproof shoe cover of the present invention is characterized in that: the connecting element of the rear piece is made of one selected from a group including an adhesive fastening tape, a fastening piece, and an adhesive silicone piece.
According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the foldable bottom rainproof shoe cover of the present invention is characterized in that: a front section of the supporting element is riveted with a galvanized iron wire or a stainless steel wire.
According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the foldable bottom rainproof shoe cover of the present invention is characterized in that: the supporting element is formed into a semi-circular shape.
The detailed description and technical contents of the present invention will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the foldable bottomless rainproof shoe cover of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the foldable bottomless rainproof shoe cover of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the supporting element of the foldable bottomless rainproof shoe cover of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing bent ends of the supporting element of the foldable bottomless rainproof shoe cover of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a top view showing the front piece of the foldable bottomless rainproof shoe cover of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a front view showing the front piece of the foldable bottomless rainproof shoe cover of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a top view showing the folded state of the foldable bottomless rainproof shoe cover of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a side view showing the folded state of the foldable bottomless rainproof shoe cover of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing that a holding element is provided on the front piece of the foldable bottomless rainproof shoe cover of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing that the supporting element is provided on the foldable bottomless rainproof shoe cover of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Please refer to FIGS. 1 and 2. The present invention provides a foldable bottomless rainproof shoe cover 1, which includes a front piece 10, a rear piece 11, a supporting element 12, and connecting elements 13 and 13′. The front piece 10 is substantially formed into a round rectangular shape. The supporting element 12 is provided on the periphery of the front piece 10 to generate a better shaping effect for covering the surface of a shoe. A connecting portion 14 provided on one side of the front piece 10 is connected with a connecting portion 14′ provided on a notch 15 of the rear piece 11. The connection between the front piece 10 and the rear piece 11 may be achieved by a process selected from a group including high-frequency welding, supersonic thermal fusion welding, thermal sealing, stitching, and adhesive binding.
The rear piece 11 is substantially formed into a rectangular piece for covering the lower leg of the user. The rear piece 11 is provided with a curved notch 15. The front side and the rear side of the rear piece 11 are provided with the connecting elements 13, 13′ connected to each other by means of male and female connection. The connecting element 13, 13′ is made of an adhesive fastening tape, a fastening element or a sticky silicone piece. The connecting portion 14′ of the notch 15 is connected with the connecting portion 14 of the front piece 10. The connection is achieved by a process selected from a group including high-frequency welding, supersonic thermal fusion welding, thermal sealing, stitching, and adhesive binding. The front piece 10 and the rear piece 11 are made of a waterproof film or waterproof cloth. The waterproof film is made of a material selected from a group including silicone, thermoplastic polyurethane, polyethylene, polypropylene, sticky silicone, polyvinyl chloride and foams thereof. The thickness of the front piece 10 or the rear piece 11 is in a range of 0.01 mm to 2 mm. The waterproof cloth is made of a material selected from one group including nylon, polyester, and polypropylene. The front piece 10 and the rear piece 11 may be made of the waterproof film or the waterproof cloth of the same material. The rear piece 11 may be made of a sticky silicone film. If the rear piece 11 is made of a sticky silicone film, it is not necessary to provide the connecting elements 13, 13′ to be bound to each other. The connection between the front piece 10 and the rear piece 11 may be achieved by entirely or partially providing a waterproof water-permeable film.
The supporting element 12 is formed into a thin stick shape and continuously provided on the periphery of the front piece 10. As shown in FIG. 4, two bent ends A and B of the front piece 10 are provided with spring-shaped winding portions 121, thereby generating a better bendability. The supporting element may be made of one selected from a group including piano wire, shape memory wire, galvanized iron wire, thin steel wire, and stainless steel wire. The diameter of the supporting element 12 is in a range of 0.05 mm to 3 mm. The supporting element 12 is provided on the periphery of the front piece 10. As shown in FIG. 10, the supporting element 12 is provided in the front piece 10 with a semi-circular shape.
The connecting elements 13 and 13′ are connected to each other by means of male and female connection. The connecting elements 13 and 13′ are provided on the front side and the rear side of the rear piece 11 respectively. The connecting elements 13 and 13′ are made of an adhesive fastening tape, a fastening element or an adhesive silicone piece. The front piece 10 and the rear piece 11 are made of a film material, so that they can be connected to each other easily. The periphery of the front piece 10 is provided with the bendable supporting element 12, so that the user can take on or put off the shoe cover 1 of the prevent invention quickly and easily. Further, the construction of the shoe cover 1 of the present invention is convenient for easy carry and storage.
Please refer to FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6. The foldable bottomless rainproof shoe cover 1 includes a front piece 10, a rear piece 11, a supporting element 12, and the connecting elements 13, 13′. The supporting element 12 is continuously provided on the periphery of the front piece 10. The supporting element 12 may be elastic or inelastic and is made of one selected from a group including piano wire, shape memory wire, galvanized iron wire, thin steel wire, and stainless steel wire. The diameter of the supporting element 12 is in a range of 0.05 mm to 3 mm. The supporting element 12 is formed into a flat stick. Both ends of the supporting element 12 are connected to each other by a connecting piece 120 to form a loop shape. Please also refer to FIG. 4. The supporting element 12 is provided on the periphery of the front piece 10. The ends A and B are embodied as a spring-shaped winding portion 121 in order to generate a better bendability. By this arrangement, when both sides of the supporting element 12 are bent downwardly, a larger angle can be formed by both sides of the supporting element 12. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, since the front piece 10 covers the front half portion of the surface of the shoe, the user can bend both sides of the supporting element 12 to form an U shape for covering the surface of the shoe.
Please refer to FIGS. 7 and 8, which are a top view and a side view showing the folded state of the present invention respectively. The bottomless rainproof shoe cover 1 is made of a film or cloth with a small weight and thickness. Further, the bottomless rainproof shoe cover 1 is made by connecting two pieces of different shapes. The supporting element 12 is provided on the periphery of the front piece 10, so that the front piece 10 can be bent and return to its original shape. In the present invention, the supporting element 12 can be bent and return to its original shape. Further, the front piece 10 and the rear piece 11 are light, thin and foldable. Thus, when the bottomless rainproof shoe cover 1 is to be stored, the rear piece 11 is folded to be stored in the front piece 10. The folded rear piece 11 is disposed in the loop formed by the supporting element 12 of the front piece 10, thereby reducing the volume of the inventive shoe cover 1 after being folded. Since the inventive shoe cover 1 is made of a light and thin material, it is more convenient for the user to carry the inventive shoe cover 1.
Please refer to FIG. 9, which is a schematic view showing that a holding element is provided on the front piece 10 in order to provide a better effect for holding the shape of the inventive shoe cover 1. The bottom of the front edge of the supporting element 12 is additionally provided with a curved holding element 16. The holding element 16 may be made of a galvanized iron wire or a stainless steel wire, which is inelastic and foldable. The distal end of the head portion of the holding element 16 is connected to the supporting element 12 by a riveting process, a fixing process or a welding process. Te holding element 16 is partially exposed to the outer edge of the front piece 10. When the user puts on the inventive shoe cover 1, the holding element 16 may be bent toward another direction based on practice demands, thereby increasing the stability of the shoe cover 1.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A foldable bottomless rainproof shoe cover, at least including a front piece, a rear piece, a supporting element, and a plurality of connecting elements, characterized in that:

the supporting element is circumferentially provided on the periphery of the front piece, the supporting element is formed with a plurality of winding portions, front and rear sides of the rear piece are provided with the connecting elements, the rear piece is formed with a curved notch for allowing the front piece to be connected thereto;

whereby the shoe cover is able to be folded to reduce its volume for easy carry and storage, the shoe cover is able to be put on and taken off rapidly and conveniently.

2. The foldable bottomless rainproof shoe cover according to claim 1, wherein the front and rear pieces are made of a waterproof film or waterproof cloth.

3. The foldable bottomless rainproof shoe cover according to claim 2, wherein the waterproof film is made of one selected from a group including silicone, thermoplastic polyurethane, polyethylene, polypropylene, sticky silicone, polyvinyl chloride and foams thereof.

4. The foldable bottomless rainproof shoe cover according to claim 2, wherein the waterproof cloth is made of one selected from a group including nylon, polyester, and polypropylene.

5. The foldable bottomless rainproof shoe cover according to claim 2, wherein the thickness of the waterproof film is in a range of 0.01 mm to 2 mm.

6. The foldable bottomless rainproof shoe cover according to claim 1, wherein the supporting piece is elastic or inelastic and is made of one selected from of a group including piano wire, shape memory wire, galvanized iron wire, thin steel wire, and stainless steel wire.

7. The foldable bottomless rainproof shoe cover according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the supporting element is in a range of 0.05 mm to 3 mm.

8. The foldable bottomless rainproof shoe cover according to claim 1, wherein the connecting elements of the rear piece are made of one selected from a group including adhesive fastening tapes, fastening elements and sticky silicone pieces.

9. The foldable bottomless rainproof shoe cover according to claim 1, wherein the supporting element provided on the bottom of a front section of the front piece is made of a galvanized iron wire or a stainless steel wire by a riveting process, a fastening process or a welding process.

10. The foldable bottomless rainproof shoe cover according to claim 1, wherein the supporting element is formed into a semi-circular shape.