US20150020417A1

US20150020417A1 - Footwear covers and associated methods

Info

Publication number: US20150020417A1
Application number: US14/328,750
Authority: US
Inventors: Lisa Barnes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-07-16
Filing date: 2014-07-11
Publication date: 2015-01-22

Abstract

Footwear covers and associated methods are disclosed. According to an aspect, a cover may include a top face defining two side edges and a back edge. Further, the cover may include a foreshortened, substantially L shaped face that defines a first edge, a second edge, and a third edge. The first edge may extend in a first direction and is attached to one of the side edges of the top face. The second edge may extend in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and attaches to the back edge of the top face. The cover may also include a back face attached to the third edge of the L shaped face and the back edge of the top face such that the top face, L shaped face, and back face define a hole.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/846,917, filed Jul. 16, 2013; the content of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present subject matter relates to apparel, and more specifically to footwear covers and associated methods.

BACKGROUND

Running, hiking, biking, walking, or otherwise enjoying outdoor activities in rain or snow can lead to wet socks, wet shoes, and wet feet. Besides being uncomfortable, this can lead to blisters, athlete's foot and other fungal infections, and in extreme situations trench foot, immersion foot, jungle rot, or gangrene. Wet shoes during competitive activity can lead to slower racing times, inaccuracies in passing and shooting, or other undesirable decreases in athletic performance.
Recreational activities are not alone in leading to wet socks, shoes, and feet. Swimming pool attendants, food service workers, factory workers in the paper making industry, and many others may have to contend with wet socks, feet, and shoes. As well, repeated cycles of wetting and drying can cause the leather portions of shoes to shrink and crack destroying the shoe.
Current practice consists of covering the shoe in loose fitting rubber or other water resistant material. Though this works in some situations, it can lead to a loss of traction and thus control that is undesirable in outdoor or competitive athletic activities as well as most employment scenarios. For at least these reasons, there is need for improved footwear coverings.

SUMMARY

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
Disclosed herein are footwear covers and associated methods. According to an aspect, a cover may include a top face defining two side edges and a back edge. Further, the cover may include a foreshortened, substantially L shaped face that defines a first edge, a second edge, and a third edge. The first edge may extend in a first direction and is attached to one of the side edges of the top face. The second edge may extend in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and attaches to the back edge of the top face. The cover may also include a back face attached to the third edge of the L shaped face and the back edge of the top face such that the top face, L shaped face, and back face define a hole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of various embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purposes of illustration, there is shown in the drawings exemplary embodiments; however, the presently disclosed subject matter is not limited to the specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional, perspective view of an example footwear cover in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the cover shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an upper, side perspective view of the cover shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 along with a magnification of a portion of the closure mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a lower, side perspective view of the cover shown in FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 shows a front view of a cover as an individual is wearing the cover over one of the individual's shoes and attaching the cover by use of the drawstring; and

FIG. 6 shows a front view of an individual wearing covers during an outdoor activity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The presently disclosed subject matter is described with specificity to meet statutory requirements. However, the description itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. Rather, the inventor has contemplated that the claimed subject matter might also be embodied in other ways, to include different steps or elements similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other present or future technologies. Moreover, although the term “step” may be used herein to connote different aspects of methods employed, the term should not be interpreted as implying any particular order among or between various steps herein disclosed unless and except when the order of individual steps is explicitly described.
FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional, perspective view of an example footwear cover in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The cover is shown in an upright position as it would be worn during operation to cover an individual's shoe. Thus, the upward or vertical direction in the figure is upright during use. Also, the horizontal direction in the figure would be substantially parallel to ground during use.
Referring to FIG. 1, the cover includes a top face 102, one foreshortened L shaped face 103, and a back face 104. The top face 102 may cover a portion of an end of a shoe (not shown in this figure). Further, the top face 102 extends to and terminates at a back edge 105. As shown, the top face 102 is angled with respect to the horizontal direction. The angle may be between about 10° and about 60°. The back edge 105 attaches to a vertical edge 106 of L shaped face 103. The top face 102 also attaches to L shaped face 103 at top face's side edge 107 and L shaped face's horizontal edge 108. The L shaped face 103 is foreshortened such that the face 103 ends at and forms a diagonal edge that cuts back toward the back face 104. The back edge 109 of the foreshortened L shaped face 103 and the back edge 105 of the top face 102 connects to the back face 104. The back face 104 can extend in the vertical direction between about 3 inches and about 10 inches.
The cover may include a closure mechanism, generally designated 110, configured for tightening a top portion of the cover around an upper portion of an individual's foot, ankle, or lower leg. In this example, the closure mechanism 110 includes a drawstring 112 that can be threaded within an upper portion of the cover. An individual may use the portion 114 of the drawstring 112 that is exposed tie the drawstring 112 for securing the cover to the individual. The drawstring 112 may be made of any suitable material such as plastic. In another example, the drawstring 112 may be an elastic band. In yet another example, the closure mechanism 110 may be a hook and fastener mechanism suitably attached to the upper portion of the cover for securing the cover to the individual.
The cover may be made of any suitable material. The material may be waterproof or semi-waterproof. Further, the material may be washable. As an example, all or a portion of the cover may be made of plastic, rubber, cloth, neoprene, spandex, rubber, or the like.
FIG. 2 shows a top perspective view of the cover shown in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 2, the cover includes a second foreshortened L shaped face 202 that substantially “mirrors” the face 103. The foreshortened L shaped face 202's horizontal edge 203 is attached to top face 102's second side edge 204 while foreshortened L shaped face's vertical edge 205 is attached to the top face 102+s back edge 105. By this configuration, the top face 102, back face 104, and foreshortened L shaped faces 103 and 202 define a top hole 205 for fitting around an individual's upper foot, ankle, or lower leg. Further, an opening is provided within the cover from the top hole 205 to a bottom hole for containing the individual's foot and shoe. The bottom part of the individual's shoe can extend out of the bottom hole for contact with the ground during walking or running.
FIG. 3 illustrates an upper, side perspective view of the cover shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 along with a magnification of a portion of the closure mechanism 110 (depicted within the broken-line circle 300). As shown in the magnified portion 300, a portion (shown in broken lines) of the drawstring 110 is threaded within a portion of the top part of the cover. In this way, the drawstring 112 is held in place. The other portion 114 can be exposed so that the wearer can tie the drawstring 110 for securing the cover around the individual's upper foot, ankle, or lower leg.
FIG. 4 illustrates a lower, side perspective view of the cover shown in FIGS. 1-3. Referring to FIG. 4, this figure shows a bottom hole 400 at the bottom part of the cover through which the individual's shoe can extend out of the bottom hole for contact with the ground during walking or running as discussed above.
The cover as disclosed herein can protect footwear in adverse conditions without impeding traction as shown in the examples of FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of a cover as an individual 500 is wearing the cover over one of the individual's shoes 502 and attaching the cover by use of the drawstring 112. FIG. 5 also shows another cover placed on the ground and ready for attachment to the individual's other shoe and foot. Further, as shown the tread of the shoe 502 is exposed to allow the shoe's tread to contact the ground. FIG. 6 illustrates a front view of an individual 600 wearing covers 602 and 604 during an outdoor activity.
In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, one or more portions or the entirety of a cover may be formed of rigid or semi-rigid material for retaining a shape as shown by the figures and described herein. For example, the material of one or more portions may be made of rubber or flexible plastic for retaining a shape.
While the embodiments have been described in connection with the various embodiments of the various figures, it is to be understood that other similar embodiments may be used or modifications and additions may be made to the described embodiment for performing the same function without deviating therefrom. Therefore, the disclosed embodiments should not be limited to any single embodiment, but rather should be construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed:

1. A cover comprising:

a top face defining two side edges and a back edge;

a foreshortened, substantially L shaped face that defines a first edge, a second edge, and a third edge, wherein the first edge extends in a first direction and is attached to one of the side edges of the top face, and wherein the second edge extends in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and attaches to the back edge of the top face; and

a back face attached to the third edge of the L shaped face and the back edge of the top face such that the top face, L shaped face, and back face define a hole.

2. The cover of claim 1, wherein the L shaped face is a first L shaped face, and

wherein the cover further comprises a second foreshortened, substantially L shaped face that defines a first edge, a second edge, and a third edge, wherein the first edge of the second L shaped face extends in substantially the same direction as the first direction and is attached to the other side edge of the top face, and wherein the second edge extends substantially the same direction as the second direction and attaches to the back edge of the top face.

3. The cover of claim 2, further comprising a closure mechanism attached substantially circumferentially about the hole for securing the cover to an individual.

4. The cover of claim 3, wherein the closure mechanism comprises a drawstring.

5. The cover of claim 3, wherein the closure mechanism comprises an elastic band.

6. The cover of claim 3, wherein the closure mechanism comprises a hook and fastener mechanism.

7. The cover of claim 1, wherein the L shaped face, the top face, and the back face comprise one of cloth, neoprene, spandex, and rubber.

8. The cover of claim 1, wherein the top face defines a bottom edge positioned lower than the back edge.

9. The cover of claim 1 wherein said top face has a bottom edge positioned lower than said back edge.

10. The cover of claim 1, further comprising a closure mechanism positioned near an intersection of the top face, the L shaped face, and the back face.

11. The cover of claim 10, wherein the closure mechanism comprises a drawstring.

12. The cover of claim 10, wherein the closure mechanism comprises an elastic band.

13. The cover of claim 10, wherein the closure mechanism comprises a hook and fastener mechanism.

14. The cover of claim 1, wherein one of the top face, the L shaped face, and the back face are made of a rigid material or semi-rigid material.

15. A method of using a footwear cover, the method comprising:

providing footwear being worn by an individual;

providing a footwear cover comprising:

a top face defining two side edges and a back edge;

a back face attached to the third edge of the L shaped face and the back edge of the top face such that the top face, L shaped face, and back face define a hole;

covering the footwear with the footwear cover; and

using a closure mechanism to attach the footwear cover to one of the individual and footwear.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the L shaped face is a first L shaped face, and

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the closure mechanism is attached substantially circumferentially about the hole for securing the cover to an individual.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the closure mechanism comprises a drawstring.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the closure mechanism comprises an elastic band.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the closure mechanism comprises a hook and fastener mechanism.