WO2003043453A1

WO2003043453A1 - Spiked shoe protector

Info

Publication number: WO2003043453A1
Application number: PCT/AU2002/001561
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cliff Coleman
Original assignee: Cliff Coleman; Hahn Susannah; Hahn Carol
Priority date: 2001-11-22
Filing date: 2002-11-21
Publication date: 2003-05-30
Also published as: AUPR903701A0

Abstract

A spiked shoe protector for use by sports persons. It comprises a moulded slip-on article having a portion (11) which extends over the shoe toe box and a portion (12) which extends over the shoe collar. Two mid-regional tabs (13, 14) extend against the sides of the shoe.

Description

SPIKED SHOE PROTECTOR

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a spiked shoe protector and is particularly concerned with a spiked shoe protector which can be worn on a spiked shoe to protect the spikes as well as the walking surface from being damaged, while ensuring that the skeletal structure of the foot is in no way distressed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Spiked shoes are worn by athletes in many track and field events as well as by professional and recreational sports players such as cricketers and golfers. Spiked athletic shoes typically have spikes in the forward sole portion and are not usually worn off the field. This means that the athlete must have a separate pair of shoes, go barefooted, or if the spiked shoes are worn off the field, assume a "negative heel position" which can give rise to various foot problems.

Golfers' and cricketers' shoes have spikes which extend over the entire sole surfaces of the shoes, but while they can be worn off the golf course or cricket pitch, they are usually specifically banned from clubhouses and other areas where they can cause damage to the underlying surface. In addition, the spikes will usually be subject to wear if worn on hard surfaces and frequent replacement may be necessary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Various types of protective devices for spiked and studded shoes have been proposed but none meet all of the requirements of being inexpensive to manufacture, extremely lightweight, waterproof, readily securable and releasable, non-masking to the enclosed shoe and non- damaging to the wearer's feet. Examples of such protective devices are disclosed in the following patent literature: US5794368, US5548910, US4258483, US3858336, US3821858, US3559309, US3313047, GB2300345, CA2164992 and WO 96/34542.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is therefore a principle object of the invention to provide a spiked shoe protector for all wearers of spiked shoes for example athletes, golfers and cricketers, which enable spiked shoes to be worn off the athletic field, golf course or pitch, as the case may be, without causing damage to the spikes, the underlying surface or the wearer's feet, and which are lightweight, waterproof, readily fittable and economical to produce.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spiked shoe protector which is readily securable and releasable from the spiked shoe, and which in a preferred form does not mask the design of the spiked shoe.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided a spiked shoe protector comprising a shoe sole encompassing portion having an anterior projection which extends superior to the shoe toe box, a posterior projection which extends over the shoe collar, and two mid-regional tab projections, one of which projects against the side of the shoe between the position where the fifth metatarsal phalangeal joint and the styloid process of the foot are accommodated, and the other of which projects against the opposing side of the shoe posteriorly of the location where the first metatarsal phalangeal joint of the foot is accommodated but so as not to overlie the shoe in the position where the navicular tuberosity of the foot is accommodated. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The anterior projection is designed to retain the anterior portion of the spiked shoe in the protector, while the respective tab projections contribute to holding the protector onto the shoe at the mid-foot region, and the posterior projection retains the heel region of the shoe. In order to facilitate this, the various projections are preferably resiliently flexible so that they can be temporarily deformed when inserting or removing a shoe. Further, the design is preferably such that the protector can be fitted by simply being stepped into, thereby avoiding the necessity of using ones hand to position it over the shoe. However, in some instances minor adjustment by hand may be necessary or desirable. In this later regard an appendage may be formed on the upper rear region of the posterior projection to enable gripping of the protector when it is being fitted over the heel section of the shoe.

Looking at the spiked shoe protector from a lateral perspective, the anterior projection is preferably designed to taper downwardly toward the shoe sole to meet the base of the tab projection. The tab projection on this side of the protector can suitably be substantially tongue-shaped and slightly curved inwardly so that it compresses against at least a portion of the adjacent shoe side wall to give the necessary retention property.

From a medial perspective, the mid-regional tab projection preferably tapers downwardly toward the shoe sole at a steeper angle than the tab on the previously mentioned side. The tab on this side consequently has a broader base and need not extend downwardly toward the shoe sole on the posterior side to the same amount as the tab on the other side of the protector. This provides greater holding power against the side of the shoe. The posterior projection on the protector should suitably be as high as the spiked shoe heel collar at the rear of the shoe. Preferably, as previously noted, an appendage of approximate thumb nail length, can be provided on the top rear end of the posterior projection to assist the wearer in positioning the protector up into the correct position.

The shoe sole encompassing portion can be formed separately or integrally with the various projections. Preferably it is formed integrally with the projections and an additional ground-contacting layer is adhered to it.

In addition, one or more layers of soft deformable materials can be provided on the interior side of the shoe sole encompassing portion to provide protection for the spikes and extra support for the wearer. This layer or layers can be formed over the entire interior support surface or only over a defined section thereof.

Suitable materials from which the spiked shoe protector can be manufactured, include a range of natural and artificial polymers such as plastics and rubber materials, natural products, composites and combinations of all these products and materials. A particularly preferred material for the shell of the protector is clear polyurethane as this provides flexibility, strength and durability, while enabling the shoe design to be unhindered and completely visible.

The ground contacting material can suitably be a non-slip material which is conventionally used for shoe soles, and the interior layer or layers can be formed from soft ethyl vinyl acetate polymer, or the like. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a lateral view of a spiked athletic shoe protector according to the invention, showing a spiked shoe in phantom;

Figure 2 is a medial view of the protector and shoe shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a posterior view of the protector and shoe shown in Figures 1 and 2.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in each of which like reference numerals refer to like parts.

Referring to all of the drawings simultaneously, the spiked shoe protector comprises a shoe sole encompassing portion 10, an anterior projection 11, a posterior projection 12, a lateral mid-regional tab 13 and a medial mid-regional tab 14. All these elements can be formed from a clear, sheet, heat, mouldable thermoplastics material such as Erkoflex deep-drawing foil (F.W. Kramer), or be injected moulded from clear plastics material such as polyurethane.

An outer ground engaging layer 15 is adhered to the exterior of the sole encompassing portion 10 to provide extra strength and rigidity to the protector, as well as wear resistance. The ground engaging layer comprises a 1.8mm "Topy non-slip" outsole material.

The interior of the shoe sole encompassing portion has a layer 16 of highly deformable plastics material which extends from one end of the protector to the other. A preferred material is "multiform, multicolour", viz ethyl vinyl acetate copolymer which has a density such that the spikes of the shoe can be embedded therein to provide full cushioning support for the forward portion of the shoe. The thickness of the layer preferably increases from the mid section to the heel section to provide adequate heel height.

An appendage 17 is formed on the upper rear region of the posterior projection 12 so that the shoe protector can be easily gripped to fit it over the heel of the shoe.

The spiked shoe protectors are designed to enable all spiked shoe wearers such as track and field athletes and golfers to walk normally off the track or off the course for example, when not competing while still wearing their normal spiked shoes. The protectors can be easily put on or removed; they offer convenient protection to the spikes and ground surface, and, in the case of athletes, prevent negative heel walking.

Furthermore, the longevity of the spikes is increased as the plastics materials from which they can be manufactured ensure that the spikes are not exposed to moisture, and clogging of the spikes off track is eliminated.

Please note that the term "comprise", or variations of the term such as "comprising", is used herein to denote the inclusion of a stated integer or inters but not to exclude any other integer or integers, unless in the content or usage on exclusive interpretation of the term is required.

Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example of the invention, many modifications and variations may be made thereto by persons skilled in the art without departing from the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein set forth.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. A spiked shoe protector comprising a shoe sole encompassing portion having an anterior projection which extends superior to the shoe toe box, a posterior projection which extends over the shoe collar, and two mid-regional tab projections, the first of which projects against the side of the shoe between the position where the fifth metatarsal phalangeal joint and the styloid process of the foot are accommodated, and the second of which projects against the opposing side of the shoe posteriorly of the location where the first metatarsal phalangeal joint of the foot is accommodated but so as not to overlie the shoe in the position where the navicular tuberosity of the foot is accommodated.

2. A spiked shoe protector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first mid-regional tab projection tapers downwardly toward the shoe sole to meet the base of the tab projection, when viewed in a lateral perspective.

3. A spiked shoe protector as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first mid-regional tab projection on the lateral perspective is substantially tongue-shaped and slightly curved inwardly so that it can compress against at least a portion of an adjacent shoe side wall when in use.

4. A spiked shoe protector as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the second mid-regional tab projection tapers downwardly toward the shoe sole at a steeper angle than the first mid-regional tab projection.

5. A spiked shoe protector as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second mid-regional tab projection has a broader base and does not extend downwardly toward the shoe sole on the posterior side to the same extent as the first mid-regional tab projection.

6. A spiked shoe protector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the posterior projection on the shoe protector extends to a height which is as high as or higher than the height to which a spiked shoe heel collar at the rear of a shoe with which the shoe protector is to be used, extends .

7. A spiked shoe protector as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the posterior projection includes an appendage on its top rear end to enable the shoe protector to be gripped when being placed over a shoe.

8. A spiked shoe protector as claimed in Claim 1 and wherein one or more layers of soft deformable materials are provided on the base of the interior side of the shoe encompassing portion of the shoe protector.

9. A spiked shoe protector as claimed in claim 1 and wherein a non-slip layer of material is formed on an exterior ground-engaging region of the shoe protector.

10. A spiked shoe protector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shell of the shoe protector is manufactured from clear polyurethane material.

Dated this 21^st Day of November 2002 Cliff Coleman By his Patent Attorneys

CULLEN & CO