WO1991015972A1

WO1991015972A1 - Shoe slip on golf accessory

Info

Publication number: WO1991015972A1
Application number: PCT/CA1991/000121
Authority: WO
Inventors: James C. Shelley
Original assignee: Shelley James C
Priority date: 1990-04-20
Filing date: 1991-04-11
Publication date: 1991-10-31
Also published as: AU7585691A; CA2054775C; GB9008911D0; CA2054775A1

Abstract

A slip-on accessory for use with street shoes, comprising an integral upper and sole fabricated from flexible material, integrally formed spikes projecting from said sole, and an integrally formed strap extending from a top portion of said upper on the instep side thereof and having a free end thereof for attachment to the opposite side top portion of said upper.

Description

i SHOE SLIP ON GOLF ACCESSORY

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a transportable golf accessory adapted to fit over ordinary street shoes or sport shoes for providing full stability and traction normally attributable to a rigid golf shoe. Background Art

Overshoes for golf shoes are well known in the prior art. For example, United States Patents 2,260,138

(Feinberg) and 3,559,310 (Kiela) disclose rubberized overshoes which are intended to be worn over the regular golf shoe for protection thereof when playing golf over wet or marsh terrain. However, regular spiked golf shoes are known to be expensive, and can be difficult to pack in luggage with other clothing when travelling. Thus, a novice golfer may consider investment in a pair of golf shoes to be too costly, while a travelling golfer may find the procedure of transporting such golf shoes to be a nuisance. The latter disadvantage is particularly true when travelling on a return leg of a journey with shoes that have been worn for golfing and have collected mud and dirt thereon. In the presence of other clothing within a suitcase, the shoes can soil and even permanently damage such other clothing.

One attempt at overcoming the above-noted prior art disadvantages is disclosed in United States Patent 1,841,710 (Byrne et al) . The Byrne et al patent teaches an overshoe having spiked soles, which may be readily slipped over and removed from a regular pair of shoes, in order to convert the regular pair of shoes into spiked shoes and thus replace comparatively expensive spiked sport shoes. However, the overshoe disclosed in Byrne et al teaches, in addition to a gum rubber upper and outsole, the use of a leather insole, leather heel and non-integral spikes or cleats which are clinched to the leather.

The complex construction with multiple materials as taught by Byrne et al is not seen to overcome the cost disadvantage of regular golf shoes. Furthermore, the positioning of the spikes as well as the size of the leather insole are thought to restrict the ability of the overshoe in Byrne et al to fit a broad range of shoe sizes. The leather insole and non-integral cleat construction are also not seen to overcome the disadvantage in prior art golf shoes that such shoes may not be easily transported. Indeed, it is believed that the semi-rigid construction of the overshoe in Byrne et al would suffer from the same disadvantages discussed above with reference to existing prior art golf shoes. Disclosure of the Invention

In accordance with the present invention, a golf accessory is provided which is not in the form of an overshoe for existing golf shoes but, instead, forms a slip-on over regular street shoes or running shoes, in the manner discussed above with reference to Byrne et al. However, in contrast with the overshoe of Byrne et al, the accessory of the present invention is of completely integral molded rubber construction. The integral rubber construction allows for easy folding and transportation of the slip-on accessory without risking damage to clothing. In addition, the simple integral rubberized composition may be manufactured at low cost, and covers a wide range of foot sizes. Furthermore, the rubber construction of the accessory allows for easy washing thereof without risk of damaging any leather, metallic or other parts such as found in Byrne et al.

According to an aspect of the invention a slip-on accessory is provided for use with street shoes, comprising an integral upper and sole fabricated from flexible material, integrally formed spikes projecting from said sole, and an integrally formed strap extending from a top portion of said upper on the instep side thereof and having a free end thereor for attachment to the opposite side top portion of said upper. Brief Description of the Drawings

A preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in greater detail below with reference to the following drawings in which: Figure 1A is a side view of the slip-on accessory of the present invention with restraining strap in the closed position;

Figure IB is a side view of the slip-on accessory of the present invention with the restraining strap in the open position;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view along the lines A-A in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view along the lines B-B in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the slip-on accessory of the present invention; and

Figure 5 is a bottom view of the slip-on accessory of the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Referring to the drawings, the slip-on accessory 1 of the present invention is provided for use with a normal street shoe (not shown) . The accessory comprises integral upper 4 and sole 6 portions fabricated from flexible rubber such as is commonly used in the construction of overshoes or rubbers. Other suitable plastic or synthetic waterproof and flexible material may be used. Formed integrally with the sole portion 6 are a plurality of spikes or cleats 3 formed of the same materials such that the entire accessory 1 may be manufactured by injection molding. As seen from the drawings each spike conforms generally to the shape of a frustum of right circular cone.

As an alternative embodiment, the spikes 3 may be fabricated from a rubber or plasticized material having highei uuioiα er rating than the remainder of the upper 4 and sole 6 portions of the accessory. The accessory is provided with a strap 5 which, in the closed position of Figure 1A, extends across the top portion of the upper 4 from the arch-side of the wearer's foot and is attachable by means of a Velcro™ or other suitable attachment means 7, as shown in Figure IB. According to the preferred embodiment, the strap 5 is integrally formed with the upper 4. However, as an alternative, the strap 5 may be separately formed and then affixed to the top portion of upper 4 by stitching, gluing, etc.

The strap 5 is located high on the wearer's instep so as to secure the accessory to the instep portion of the wearer's shoe and thereby ensure a stable and snug fit of the accessory to the wearer's shoe for normal walking as well as walking in muddy or marshy terrain, etc.

The rim portion 9 of the upper 4 is preferably reinforced as shown in Figure 2 and 3 by means of thickening of the rubber in order to provide a snug fit over the wearer's shoe.

The reinforcement 9 serves to constrictively engage the edges of the sole and lower portion of the upper of the wearer's shoe for securing the accessory 1 thereto. More particularly, the accessory of the preferred embodiment comprises the following dimensions: thickness of the sole 6 is tj = 2.5 mm; the distance which each spike 3 extends below the sole 6 is t₂ = 5 to 9 mm; the approximate length of the heel portion is S = 80 mm; the approximate height of the heel section is H = 72 mm; the approximate height of the heel portion of the sole 6 is t₃ = 5 mm; the thickness of the top portion of the sides of upper 4 is t₄ = 2.5 mm; the thickness of the side portions of upper 4 is t₅ = 1.5 mm; the thickness of top portion 9 at the toe and heel portions of upper 4 is t₆ = 3 mm; the thickness of upper 4 in the toe and heel regions is t₇ = 2 mm; the combined thickness of sole 6 and spike 3 is t₈ = 5.5 mm.

In summary, the accessory of the present invention provides a spiked overshoe which is of light weight, and which is characterized by better ventilation than most existing golf shoes, and may be easily slipped over a regular, comfortable, pair of shoes, thereby eliminating the requirement for uncomfortable and ill fitting expensive spiked golf shoes. The accessory, being fabricated entirely from highly elastic rubberized or other suitable material, may be stretched to constrictively engage shoes of various sizes and may be folded for compact storage in a pocket or suitcase, etc.

Other modifications and variations of the invention are possible. For example, the spikes or cleats 3 may include internal reinforcement studs if required for improving the wearer's purchase on slippery surfaces. Also, the sole 6 of the accessory 1 may be provided with a plurality of apertures for reducing the weight of the accessory as well as for providing for increased air circulation and consequent cooling of the wearer's feet. These modifications and others are believed to be within the sphere and scope of the present invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

Claims

I CLAIM

1. A slip-o accessory for use with street shoes, comprising an integral upper and sole fabricated from flexible material, integrally formed spikes projecting from said sole, and a strap extending from a top portion of said upper on the instep side thereof and having a free end thereof for attachment to the opposite side top portion of said upper.

2. The slip-on accessory of claim 1, wherein said flexible material is soft gum rubber.

3. The slip-on accessory of claim 1, wherein said flexible material is waterproof plastic.

4. The slip-on accessory of claim 1, wherein said flexible material is waterproof synthetic.

5. The slip-on accessory of claim 1, wherein said flexible material is latex.

6. The slip-on accessory of claim 1, further comprising attachment means for securing said integrally formed strap to said opposite side top portion of said upper.

7. The slip-on accessory of claim 6, wherein said attachment means comprises a Velcro™ fastener.

8. The slip-on accessory of claim 1, wherein said upper 0 further includes a toe portion adapted to fit over the toe of said street shoes and a heel portion adapted to receive the heel of said street shoes.

9. The slip-on accessory of claim 8, wherein said top s portion of the upper is reinforced to provided a secure fit over said street shoes.

10. The slip-on accessory of claim 9, wherein said upper is approximately 1.5 mm thick on the sides thereof, approximately 2 mm thick in said toe portion and said heel portion, and an additional 1 mm thicker around said top portion of said upper.

11. The slip-on accessory of claim 1, wherein said sole is approximately 2.5 mm thick.

12. The slip-on accessory of claim 1, wherein each of said spikes is in the shape of a frustum of right circular cone extending approximately 5 to 9 mm from said sole and having an outer diameter of approximately 6 mm and inner diameter of approximately 4 mm.

13. The slip-on accessory of claim 1, wherein said strap is integrally formed with said upper.

14. The slip-on accessory of claim 1, wherein said strap is separately formed and attached to said top portion of said upper.