US3112571A

US3112571A - Splash shield

Info

Publication number: US3112571A
Application number: US23055A
Authority: US
Inventors: Louise E Musgrave
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-10-30
Filing date: 1962-10-30
Publication date: 1963-12-03
Anticipated expiration: 1980-12-03

Description

6 L. E. MUSGRAVE 3,112,571

SPLASH SHIELD Filed Oct. 30, 1962 //YVE/YTOR. Z 00/55 5 M05659 V5 ATTOR/YEK United States Patent 3,112,571 SPLASH SHIELD Louise E. Musgrave, Lambs Grove, Iowa (106 Waterbury Road, Newton, Iowa) Filed Oct. 30, 1%2, Ser. No. 234,055 2 Claims. (Cl. 36-76) This invention relates to an article of manufacture usable with footwear to prevent the splashing of foreign material on a persons legs or garments.

More particularly the invention is directed to a splash shield usable in combination with a shoe to intercept, in inclement weather, the upward travel of foreign material thrown upwardly by a shoe during walking movement, thereby keeping the back of a persons legs from being spattered with foreign material.

It is the object of the invention to provide an improved one piece article having a @lash shield supportable on a shoe to intercept foreign material, such as water, mud, dirt, snow and slush, displaced and thrown upwardly on a persons legs in walking over the surface retaining the foreign material.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shield means which is easily installed in and removable from a shoe and functions to preserve the dainty appearance, neatness and cleanliness of hosiery on womens legs under inclement weather conditions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lightweight versatile and portable splash shield which can be used with either the left or right shoe and with different style shoes.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a flexible and protective splash shield which does not interfere with the movement of a persons foot when driving a motor vehicle.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an eflective and durable splash shield usable with shoes which is simple, rugged and economical in construction.

According to the invention, a flange or guard is proected rearwardly from the back section of a persons shoe to form a shield to intercept, during walking, foreign materials which are splashed or thrown upwardly by the movement of the shoe. The flange is positioned adjacent the top edge of the rear section of the shoe and extends rearwardly therefrom in a downward direction. Holding means releasably positioned on and adjacent the shoe supports the flange means in its shielding position.

The exact nature of the invention as well as other objects and advantages thereof will be readily apparent from a consideration of the following specification relating to the annexed drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view partly in section of a pumpstyle shoe fitted on a foot showing the splash shield of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the splash shield shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a sandal with a wedgestyle heel containing the splash shield shown in FIG- URE 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a flat style shoe contain ing the splash shield shown in FIGURE 3;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a modified splash shield fastened on the rear portion of a shoe;

FIG. 7 is an elevation view in section of the modified splash shield shown in FIGURE 6; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another modification of the invention showing a splash shield secured to the rear section of foul weather boots.

Throughout the several views of the drawing correspending structure is identified with like reference numbers.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown in FIGURE 1 an opera style pump shoe 16 having a heel 11, inner sole 12 and counter section 13 fitted on the foot 14 of the wearer.

When a person Walks on a surface that contains foreign material 16, such as snow, slush, water and mud, the back portions of their legs 17 and hose become soiled and spotted with foreign material so as to be unsightly. In order to inhibit the foreign material 16 on the walking surface from being deposited or splashed on the back of the legs 17, a shield 18 is held in the counter section 13 of the shoe 16 by the foot 14.

The shield 18 shown in FIGURES 1 to 3 is a one piece article formed from a flexible and transparent plastic film which has the characteristics of being tear and moisture resistant and has sufficient rigidity so as to be self-supported. The shield 18 comprises an elongated U-shaped body 19 having a spherical contour shape which substantially conforms to the spherical curvature of the wearers heel and the contour of the counter section of the shoe 16. The body :19 is elongated in a vertical direction to extend from the inner sole 12 to the top edge 15 of the back portion of the shoe. The arcuate cunvature of the body 19 substantially conforms with the arcuate curvature of the top edge 15 of the back portion of the shoe and has an arcuate extent suflicient to engage the entire curved section of the back of the shoe. The lower edge of the U- shaped body is interconnected with a continuous bottom wall 21 which is adapted to conform to the shape of the heel section of the inner sole 12 of the shoe. The wall 21 extends forward under the heel of the foot 14 and covers the rear portion of the inner sole 12. The heel holds the shield 18 against the counter section 13 of the shoe. The spherical shaped body 19 and bottom wall 21 of the shield 1-8 covers the rear of the Wearers heel and in use takes the spherical shape of the heel and adheres thereto.

Formed integrally with the top edge 28 of the U-shaped body 19 is a rearwardly and downwardly projecting flange 22. The flange 22 is of a dovetail shape and diverges outwardly and downwardly preferably at an angle of about 45 to toward the walking surface and intersects the plane formed by the substantially flat bottom wall 21. The flange 22 has a width substantially equal to the width of the shoe and a length which is suflicient to intercept foreign materials splashed or thrown upwardly by the heel of the shoe. Preferably, as shown in FIG- URE 2 the flange 22 has a length which is greater than the vertical extent of the body 19 so that the outer edge thereof intersects the plane formed by the bottom wall 21.

In use, the shield 18 is inserted in the rear portion of the shoe Eli? so that the flange 22 extends rearwardly over the curved top edge 15. When the wearers foot 14 is inserted into the shoe, the heel is forced into the counter section 13 thereof thereby compressing the body 19 and bottom wall 21 of the shield 13 around the heel. The heel holds the body 19 and bottom wall 21 against the counter section 13 thereby fixing the rearward extended position of the flange 22. In this position the flange 22 forms a shield to intercept foreign materials which are thrown upwardly during walking movement.

The shoe 23 shown in FIGURE 4 is a sandal having a wedge style heel 24, an inner sole 26 and a back strap 27. The splash shield 18' is inserted over the rear portion of the back strap 27 with the wall portion 21 in engagement with the rear section of the inner sole 26 and the flange 22 directed rearwardly and downwardly from the back strap 27. Since the sandal 23 does not have a counter section, the U-shaped body 19 of the shield protects the heel of the foot from splashed foreign material.

The shoe 28 shown in FIGURE has a flat heel Z9 and a counter section 30. A splash shield 18 is positioned adjacent the counter section 30 with the flange 22 projecting rearwardly and downwardly therefrom. The length of the flange 22 is such that its rearward edge thereof is spaced above the walking surface.

Referring to FIGURES 6'and 7 the modified shield 32 is releasably attached to the rear portion of the shoe 31 and heel 33. The shield 32 has a contoured body 34 having a U-shape in horizontal cross section, thereby enabling the body 34 to conform to the curvature of the rear of the shoe. A rearwardly and downwardly extending flange 36 is an integral extension of the upper edge of the body 34 and has suflicient rigidity to inhibit flapping.

' The flange 36 has a width substantially equal to the width of the shoe which diverges laterally in a rearward direction and forms an angle preferably of about 45 to 90 with the walking surface. The body 34 and flange 36 are formed from deformable material such as leather, rubber, or plastic which have the characteristics of being wear and moisture resistant.

The shield 32 is releasably secured to the heel 33 and the rear of the shoe 31 by means of a strap 37 of any suitable elastic material secured to the lower portion 38 of the body 34 and extending around the heel 33. The upper portion 3? of the body 34 is secured to the upper edge of the rear of the shoe upper by means of a hook 41 which is fastened to the upper portion 39 by means of an elastic material 42. The body 34 is firmly held in engagement with the rear portion of the shoe by the biasing action of the elastic strap 37 and the elastic material 42. The splash shield 32 may be readily removed from the shoe by releasing the hook 41 and removing the heel 33 from the opening formed by the elastic strap 37. The rearwardly projecting flange '36 intercepts foreign material splashed in an upward direction by the heel 33 and the U-shaped body 34 prevents the splashed material from soiling the rear part of the shoe 31.

As shown in FIGURE 8 a foul Weather boot 43 is provided with a downwardly and rearwardly extended flange 44 on its rear portion 46 for inhibiting the upward movement of foreign material splashed or thrown by the up and down movement of the boot. The boot 43 and flange 44 may be formed as an integral body of deformable material such as rubberijor plastic. The flange 44 has a width substantially equal to the width of the boot and diverges outwardly in a rearward direction to increase the area of coverage surrounding the rear portion of the boot 43. The flange 44 may be removably secured to the rear portion of the boot 43 by means of conventional snaps (not shown). In foul weather use, the boot 43 keeps the shoe dry and the rearwardly extended fiange 44 inhibits the upward direction of materials splashed by the downward movement of the boot from splattering and spotting the rear portion of the leg.

While there have been shown, described, and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention, it is to be understood that various omissions, substitutions, changes in form, and details of the article of manufacture illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

l. A one piece splash shield for use on the heel of a foot positioned in a shoe having a heel portion which includes a counter section terminating in a top edge and an inner sole section to inhibit the upward splashing of foreign material during walking movements comprising:

(a) an elongated U-shaped body receivable within said heel portion and having a top edge and a bottom edge and a spherical contour shape which substantially conforms to the curvature of the heel and adapted to extend adjacent the sides of the heel,

(b) a bottom wall integral with the bottom edge of said body, said wall extended adjacent the inner sole section of said shoe, and

(c) a flange integral with the top edge of said body, said flange when the body is received within the heel portion being adapted to extend directly downwardly from the top edge of the counter section of the shoe in a direction away from the heel, said flange being diverged outwardly and of a length sufficient to intercept foreign materials splashed upwardly by said shoe.

2. A one piece splash shield for use on the heel of a foot positioned in a shoe having a heel portion which includes a counter section terminating in a top edge to inhibit upward splashing of foreign material during walking movements comprising:

(a) an elongated U-shaped body receivable within said heel portion and having a top edge and a spherical contour shape which substantially conforms to the curvature of the heel and adapted to extend adjacent the sides of the heel, and

(b) a flange integral with the top edge of saidbody, said flange when the body is received within the heel portion being adapted to extend directly downwardly from the top edge of the counter section of the shoe in a direction away from the heel, said flange being diverged outwardly and of a length sufficient to intercept foreign materials splashed upwardly by said shoe.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,012,253 Gerhart Dec. 19, 1911 1,820,095 Smith Aug. 25, 1931 1,895,598 Fricker Jan. 31, 1933 2,039,954 Fricker May 5, 1936 2,181,807 Geers et a1 Nov. 28, 1939 2,292,466 Norlin Aug. 11, 1942 2,446,285 Iacobsen Aug. 3, 1948 2,495,195 Denzer Jan. 17, 1950 2,521,021 Robinson Sept. 5, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 654,027 France Nov. 20', 1928

Claims

1. A ONE PIECE SPLASH SHIELD FOR USE ON THE HEEL OF A FOOT POSITIONED IN A SHOE HAVING A HEEL PORTION WHICH INCLUDES A COUNTER SECTION TERMINATING IN A TOP EDGE AND AN INNER SOLE SECTION TO INHIBIT THE UPWARD SPLASHING OF FOREIGN MATERIAL DURING WALKING MOVEMENTS COMPRISING: (A) AN ELONGATED U-SHAPED BODY RECEIVABLE WITHIN SAID HEEL PORTION AND HAVING A TOP EDGE AND A BOTTOM EDGE AND A SPHERICAL CONTOUR SHAPE WHICH SUBSTANTIALLY CONFORMS TO THE CURVATURE OF THE HEEL AND ADAPTED TO EXTEND ADJACENT THE SIDES OF THE HEEL, (B) A BOTTOM WALL INTEGRAL WITH THE BOTTOM EDGE OF SAID BODY, SAID WALL EXTENDED ADJACENT THE INNER SOLE SECTION OF SAID SHOE, AND (C) A FLANGE INTEGRAL WITH THE TOP EDGE OF SAID BODY, SAID FLANGE WHEN THE BODY IS RECEIVED WITHIN THE HEEL PORTION BEING ADAPTED TO EXTEND DIRECTLY DOWNWARDLY FROM THE TOP EDGE OF THE COUNTER SECTION OF THE SHOE IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM THE HEEL, SAID FLANGE BEING DIVERGED OUTWARDLY AND OF A LENGTH SUFFICIENT TO INTERCEPT FOREIGN MATERIALS SPLASHED UPWARDLY BY SAID SHOE.