US3889401A

US3889401A - Anti-slip shoe attachment

Info

Publication number: US3889401A
Application number: US469909A
Authority: US
Inventors: Dion C Mcdonnold
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1974-05-14
Filing date: 1974-05-14
Publication date: 1975-06-17
Anticipated expiration: 1992-06-17

Abstract

A pair of spaced side-by-side elongated traction members adapted to underlie longitudinally spaced sole portions of a shoe with the traction members extending transversely of the sole are provided. The opposite ends of the traction members include upturned terminal ends terminating upwardly in inturned hooks for, together with the aforementioned terminal ends and the adjacent ends of the traction members, embracingly engaging the adjacent sole edge portions. Elongated rigid members extend between and rigidly interconnect the hooks carried by corresponding ends of the traction members and the entire apparatus is constructed of a single length of spring metal heavy gauge wire. The elongated side-by-side traction members are arcuate in plan shape and open away from each other and in this manner slipping of the associated shoe or boot over a snowcovered surface is strongly resisted.

Description

United States Patent 1191 McDonnold June 17, 1975 ANTI-SLIP SHOE ATTACHMENT [76] Inventor: Dion C. McDonnold, 1140 S.W. 6th

St., Cooper, Tex. 75432 [22] Filed: May 14, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 469,909

Pulver 36/7.6

Primary ExaminerPatrick D. Lawson Attorney, Agent, or FirmClarence A. OBrien; Harvey B. Jacobson [5 7] ABSTRACT A pair of spaced side-by-side elongated traction members adapted to underlie longitudinally spaced sole portions of a shoe with the traction members extending transversely of the sole are provided. The opposite ends of the traction members include upturned terminal ends terminating upwardly in inturned hooks for, together with the aforementioned terminal ends and the adjacent ends of the traction members, embracingly engaging the adjacent sole edge portions. Elongated rigid members extend between and rigidly interconnect the hooks carried by corresponding ends of the traction members and the entire apparatus is con structed of a single length of spring metal heavy gauge wire. The elongated side-by-side traction members are arcuate in plan shape and open away from each other and in this manner slipping of the associated shoe or boot over a snow-covered surface is strongly resisted.

9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 1 n ANTI-SLIP SHOE ATTACHMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various forms of shoe or boot sole attachable or associated traction aids have been heretofore designed. However, most of these previouslyknown traction aids are difficult to apply and are constructed in a manner whereby substantial shifting between the traction aid 1 j and the associated sole is possible under certain conditions. In addition, some shoe and boot traction aids previously designed cannot be walked upon over domestic floor surfaces or coverings for fear of damaging such flooring or coverings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The shoe sole attachment of the instant invention is constructed in a manner whereby it may be snap clampingly engaged with an associated shoe sole and treme thrusts being directedupon the traction aid defining attachment to shift the latter relative to its associated sole.

The main object of this invention is to provide a readily attachable and detachable shoe or boot sole attachment for providing additional traction on slippery surfaces to be walked upon.

Another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object, is to provide an attachment which is of one piece construction and which may be readily attached to an associated shoe sole.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a device in accordance with the preceding objects and which will be capable of adjusting to different size shoe soles.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a shoe sole attachable traction aid constructed in a manner to afford considerably increased traction on slippery surfaces to be walked upon and yet which may be worn on the shoes or boots of persons which must occasionally walk on conventional flooring or floor coverings without damage to those floorings or floor coverings.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a shoe sole attachment in accordance with the preceding objects and which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional shoe with the traction aid of the instant invention removably applied to the sole portion of the shoe;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the traction aid as seen from above and to one side thereof;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the traction aid as seen from below and with the traction aid being illustrated in operative position relative to a shoe sole fragmentarily illustrated by phantom lines.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 generally designates a conventional form of shoe including a sole 12, a heel 14 and an upper 16.

The traction aid of the instant invention is referred to in general by the reference numeral 18 and includes a pair of spaced side-by-side elongated traction members 20 for extending transversely beneath the sole 12. The opposite ends of the traction members 20 include upturned terminal ends 22 which terminate upwardly in inturned hooks which, together with the upturned terminal ends 22 in the adjacent ends of the traction members 20, are adapted to clampingly embracingly engage longitudinally spaced portions of the sole 12 spaced along the Opposite sides thereof.

The traction members 20 are arcuate in configura-.

tion and Open away from each other and the innermost A ends of corresponding hooks 24 of the traction members 20 are interconnected by means of elongated connecting members 26 which are arcuate and open toward each other. The connecting members may be considered as support members and overlie the opposite side marginal portions of the sole 12 as can best be seen from FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawings.

The connecting members 26 and the traction members 20 are disposed in parallel horizontal planes and the entire traction aid 18 is constructed of a single length of stiff heavy gage spring wire with the opposite ends of the wire joined in end-to-end abutted relation as at 28 intermediate the opposite ends of one of the connecting members 26.

It is believed apparent that the aid 18 may be snap clampingly engaged with the sole 12 and that the aid 18 may be clampingly engaged with wider sole portions merely by applying slightly greater pressure to spread the connecting members 26 apart and to thereby slightly straighten the arcuate traction members. Also, because of the round cross-sectional shape of the spring wire of which the aid 18 is formed, the aid 18 is adaptable to snap clampingly engage opposite side marginal edge portions of soles of different thicknesses.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A shoe sole attachable traction aid, said aid including a pair of generally horizontal elongated generally parallel support members at least slightly arcuate in shape and opening toward each other, the opposite ends of each of said members including Outtumed ends terminating outwardly in downturned portions terminating downwardly in inturned ends, and elongated traction members extending and connected between corresponding inturned ends of said support members,

said support members being adapted to be disposed alongside the forward mid-portions of the upper of a shoe with said outturned ends, downturned portions and inturned ends embracingly gripping adjacent sole portions of said shoe and said traction members clamped to and extending across the undersurface of the sole of said shoe.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said aid is constructed of a single elongated member having its ends rigidly joined together in end aligned abutted relatron.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said elongated member is rod shaped in configuration.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said aid is constructed of a single elongated member having its ends rigidly joined together in end aligned abutted relation, said ends being joined intermediate the ends of one of said support members.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said traction members are generally arcuate in plan shape.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said arcuate traction members open away from each other.

7. A shoesol e traction aid attachment comprising a pair of spaced side-by-side elongated traction members adapted to underlie longitudinally spaced sole portions of a shoe with said traction members extending transverselyof said sole portions, the opposite ends of said traction members including upturned terminal ends terminating upwardly in inturned hooks adapted, together with said terminal ends and the'adjacent ends'of said traction members, to embracingly engage the adjacent sole edge portions, means extending between and rigidly interconnecting the hooks carried by corresponding ends of said traction members, said traction members being generally arcuate in plan shape, said arcuate traction members opening away from each other.

8. The combinationof claim 7 wherein said aid is constructed of a single elongated member having its ends rigidly joined together in end aligned abutted relation.

9. The combinaton of claim 8 wherein said elongated member is rod shaped in configuration]

Claims

1. A shoe sole attachable traction aid, said aid including a pair of generally horizontal elongated generally parallel support members at least slightly arcuate in shape and opening toward each other, the opposite ends of each of said members including outturned ends terminating outwardly in downturned portions terminating downwardly in inturned ends, and elongated traction members extending and connected between corresponding inturned ends of said support members, said support members being adapted to be disposed alongside the forward mid-portions of the upper of a shoe with said outturned ends, downturned portions and inturned ends embracingly gripping adjacent sole portions of said shoe and said traction members clamPed to and extending across the undersurface of the sole of said shoe.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said aid is constructed of a single elongated member having its ends rigidly joined together in end aligned abutted relation.

7. A shoe sole traction aid attachment comprising a pair of spaced side-by-side elongated traction members adapted to underlie longitudinally spaced sole portions of a shoe with said traction members extending transversely of said sole portions, the opposite ends of said traction members including upturned terminal ends terminating upwardly in inturned hooks adapted, together with said terminal ends and the adjacent ends of said traction members, to embracingly engage the adjacent sole edge portions, means extending between and rigidly interconnecting the hooks carried by corresponding ends of said traction members, said traction members being generally arcuate in plan shape, said arcuate traction members opening away from each other.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said aid is constructed of a single elongated member having its ends rigidly joined together in end aligned abutted relation.

9. The combinaton of claim 8 wherein said elongated member is rod shaped in configuration.