Abstract:
Footwear covers are disclosed that enable the wearer to wear his or her own shoes and keep them protected from inclement weather. The protectors comprise a body member, where the body member comprises an open top portion, a foot portion, a heel portion, and a sole portion. The top portion further comprises a sleeve portion and a fastener portion. The foot portion further comprises lateral side portions, a front portion, and a toe box portion. The heel portion further comprises a heel pass-through aperture. The sole portion further comprises a traction enhancing and shock absorbing pad.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    I claim priority from provisional application No. 61/484,589. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    [N/A] 
       NAMES OF PARTIES TO JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENTS 
       [0003]    [N/A] 
       REFERENCE TO “SEQUENCE LISTING,” TABLE, OR COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC/INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL ON COMPACT DISC [N/A] 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention relates to a device for the protection of heeled footwear. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Modem high-fashion footwear can be very expensive and at times, delicate. Often, delicate fabrics, textiles and expensive animal hides are used to construct the footwear. While these materials contribute to the overall look and appeal of the footwear, they are often not robust and deteriorate quickly when exposed to inclement weather conditions such as rain or snow. In fact, even a single exposure to moisture is enough to destroy the look, if not the functionality, of many pieces of footwear. In order to address these issues, various people have developed footwear protectors and covers of varied designs. 
         [0006]    Galoshes, overshoes and shoe covers of varied type have been used in the past to protect shoes and other footwear from the negative influence of environmental conditions. Many of these shoe covers have been designed to form-fit the underlying shoe. Additionally, hospital booties, and other types of shoe coverings have been developed both to protect shoes from corrosive chemicals and to protect the environment from being contaminated by unclean footwear. While several designs exist, they tend to be bulky, large, difficult to transport, and not aesthetically pleasing. Additionally, many of the designs in the prior art, cover the sole of the shoe and interfere with the shoe&#39;s ability to provide traction. This can create a safety issue especially considering that shoe covers are often worn in inclement weather. There is therefore a need for an improved shoe cover that provides protection for the wearer&#39;s shoe, is fashionable, and provides traction even in hazardous conditions. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The shoe cover of the present invention is a shoe protector that allows the person wearing it to wear his or her own shoes of varying heel types and heights while protecting the shoes and soles of shoes from rain, snow, and street wear. They are designed to be fashionable and functional Therefore: 
         [0008]    Footwear covers are disclosed that include a body member, where the body member comprises an open top portion, a foot portion, a heel portion, and a sole portion. The top portion further comprises a sleeve portion and a fastener portion. The foot portion further comprises lateral side portions, a front portion, and a toe box portion. The heel portion further comprises a heel pass-through aperture. The sole portion further comprises a traction enhancing and shock absorbing pad. 
         [0009]    Footwear covers are disclosed that include a body member, where the body member comprises an open top portion, a foot portion, a heel portion, and a sole portion. The top portion further comprises a sleeve portion and a fastener portion. The foot portion further comprises lateral side portions, a front portion, and a toe box portion. The heel portion further comprises a heel pass-through aperture. The sole portion further comprises a traction enhancing and shock absorbing pad. And where the foot portion is designed to fit the general contours of different classes of footwear such as men&#39;s loafers, dance shoes, high heeled shoes, boots, and the like. 
         [0010]    Footwear covers are disclosed that include a body member, where the body member comprises an open top portion, a foot portion, a heel portion, and a sole portion. The top portion further comprises a sleeve portion and a fastener portion. The foot portion further comprises lateral side portions, a front portion, and a toe box portion. The heel portion further comprises a heel pass-through aperture. The sole portion further comprises a traction enhancing and shock absorbing pad. And where the foot portion is asymmetrically shaped to fit the contours of the left and right foot respectively. 
         [0011]    Footwear covers are disclosed that include a body member, where the body member comprises an open top portion, a foot portion, a heel portion, and a sole portion. The top portion further comprises a sleeve portion and a fastener portion. The foot portion further comprises lateral side portions, a front portion, and a toe box portion. The heel portion further comprises a heel pass-through aperture. The sole portion further comprises a traction enhancing and shock absorbing pad. And where the pass through heel aperture is comprised of an elastic ring that will securely grip heels of different sizes thereby protect the shoes from environmental hazards. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  shows a profile view of the shoe cover shown in use over a high-heeled boot and the sole of the protector showing the pass through heel and traction pad. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  shows profile and bottom views of the shoe cover in use over a high-heeled boot and the shoe protector in use with shoes with varied sized heels. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  shows the bottom of the shoe cover including the resiliently flexible aperture and non-slip sole and shows a cross section of the shoe protector. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  shows the shoe protector in use over a man&#39;s shoe and shows the details of the pass through heel aperture. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  shows a schematic representation of the shoe protector&#39;s sections. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of practicing the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
         [0018]    The present invention encompasses a form fitting shoe cover and protector comprising a waterproof elastic material further comprising a body member( 1 ), where the body member further comprises an open top portion ( 2 ), a foot portion ( 3 ) further comprised of lateral side portions ( 4 ), a front portion ( 5 ), a toe box portion ( 6 ), a sole portion ( 7 ) and a heel portion ( 8 ). The invention contemplates that the heel portion would comprise an aperture or opening that would allow the heel of the shoe to pass through the protector ( 9 ). Elastic stitching or other means such as a resiliently flexible annular ring ( 10 ) around the circumference of the aperture forms a weather-resistant barrier and stretches to accommodate heels of differing dimensions ( 11 ). The invention contemplates that the foot portion would be made entirely from an elastic material that would stretch to accommodate shoes of varied sizes. The invention contemplates that bottom, sole or ventral surface of the foot portion on the outside of the protector would comprise a non-slip traction pad ( 12 ). The inner surface of the ventral surface of the foot portion, or toe box, would comprise a shock absorbing pad ( 13 ). The invention contemplates that a fastening mechanism encompassing the top of the open top end or sleeve of the body member to keep the protector closed and in place around the leg ( 14 ). It is contemplated that the shoe protector of the present invention will easily fold up for convenient storage. 
         [0019]    In contrast to the prior art, the shoe cover and protector of the present invention describes a more comprehensive traction sole ( 12 ), a weatherproof seal that can accommodate various heel sizes ( 9 ,  10 ,  11 ), a shock absorbing pad built into the sole ( 13 ) and a closure to keep the protector in place ( 14 ). Additionally the shoe covers will be contoured to fit the shape of left and right shoes respectively. 
         [0020]    The shoe cover and protector of the present invention may be made from any waterproof material with elastic properties such as natural latex rubber, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane (PU), vinyl or stretchable vinyl or leather. 
         [0021]    The body of the shoe protector may contain a top portion designed to cover, with varying degrees of completeness, the leg of the wearer ( 15 ). The top portion includes a bottom edge which forms a boundary with the heel portion and the lateral side portions ( 16 ). The top portion also includes a top opening which encircles the wearer&#39;s leg when in use ( 17 ). Around the circumference of the top opening there may be an elastic fastening mechanism which serves to keep the shoe protector in place ( 18 ). It is contemplated by the inventor that the sleeve aspect of the top portion of the shoe cover will vary in size substantially in various embodiments. In some, the top portion would extend as high as the wearers thighs while in others the top portion may barely reach the ankle. In some embodiments, a zipper, laces, buttons or other fastening means would run the length of the top portion ( 19 ), to allow easy insertion and removal of the wearer&#39;s foot. In particular embodiments, the top portion of the shoe protector could be made of knit material. 
         [0022]    The body of the shoe protector will also contain lateral side portions ( 4 ). The lateral side portions include a left and right side portion that extend below the top portion on both sides of the protector and are boundaried by the front portion ( 5 ), the heel portion and the toe box portion ( 8 ). 
         [0023]    The body of the shoe protector will also include a front portion ( 5 ). The front portion extends downwards from the top portion and forms a boundary with the lateral side portions and the toe box. 
         [0024]    The body of the shoe protector also includes a heel portion ( 8 ) situated below the top portion ( 2 ) and boundaried by the lateral side portions ( 4 ). Unlike traditional shoe covers and protectors which aim to cover the heel of the shoe, the heel portion of the present invention comprises an aperture which allows the heel of the wearer&#39;s shoe to pass through the protector ( 20 ). Surrounding the aperture is a waterproof skirt ( 21 ) and a resiliently flexible opening ( 22 ) which flexes to adjust to the size of the wearer&#39;s heel, and forms a water resistant, weatherproof seal around the heel. 
         [0025]    The aperture may be formed by the superimposition of two layers ( 23 ): the base layer and the bather layer. The base layer ( 24 ) is made of a stiff yet thin material such as plastic. An opening is made in the base layer that is sufficiently wide to allow the passage of wide shoe heels ( 25 ). A barrier layer ( 26 ) is affixed to the base layer. The barrier layer is made of a resiliently flexible material such as rubber. There is a resiliently flexible annular opening ( 27 ) in the boundary layer capably of securely gripping even a narrow heel yet flexible enough to accommodate a wide heel. With the barrier layer affixed to the base layer, the aperture is capable of accommodating a large variety of heel sizes while maintaining its weatherproof integrity ( 11 ). 
         [0026]    The body of the shoe protector also includes a toe box portion ( 6 ). The toe box portion is boundaried by the front portion and the lateral side portions and forms a cavity capable of accepting and enclosing the toe box of the wearer&#39;s shoe. The floor of the toe box comprises a shock absorbing material ( 13 ) designed to minimize forces on the foot and toes of the wearer. 
         [0027]    The body of the shoe protector also includes a sole portion ( 7 ,  12 ). The sole portion makes up the underside (ventral surface) of the shoe protector and extends along the length of the toe box. The sole portion is comprised of a non-slip, traction enhancing pad ( 12 ). For example, the sole portion may be textured with raised areas and indented areas comprising ridges, circles, bumps, lines, or other shapes ( 12 ). 
         [0028]    The shoe cover and protector of the present invention may be manufactured by any method known in the art including sewing various panels together to form the shoe cover and protector. It is also contemplated that the invention could be manufactured using dip molding and/or injection molding.