Footwear traction device

An improved footwear traction device designed to provide enhanced traction for the wearer while walking on ice, snow, and other slippery surfaces without causing damage to finished floors and carpeting is disclosed. The footwear traction device includes an elastic member having releasable engaging member for attaching the device about the sole and instep of the wearer's shoe. The traction device includes a reversible, frictional component fabricated from a hygroscopic fibrous material which is instantaneously frozen when the water-laden frictional component is placed into direct contact with an icy surface thereby temporarily freezing the wearer's shoe to the icy surface to provide improved traction. The frictional component is constructed to include an interrupted, ribbed pattern on the ground engaging surface thereof which is disposed transversely to the direction of walking so as to provide a measure of mechanical resistance to slippage on surfaces which are not completely frozen.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
1. Field of Invention 
This invention relates to foot wear traction devices and, more 
particularly, to an improved traction device for icy surfaces. 
Footwear traction devices to improve traction for the wearer on slippery 
surfaces are well known to those skilled in the art. Typically, such 
devices have been designed to improve the wearer's traction while walking 
on ice and include metallic spikes for gripping the surface of the ice. 
For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,366,649, 2,208,200, and 2,166,958 disclose 
devices utilizing metallic spikes which can be attached about the instep 
of a shoe. However, the use of metallic spikes tends to damage hardwood 
floors, tile, and carpet encountered when entering or leaving a building 
to walk on the ice. 
Still other footwear traction devices have utilized abrasive grit materials 
embedded in a pad or plate which is attached to the bottom of the wearer's 
shoe to provide friction on the ice. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,702,021 and 
5,485,687 disclose shoe attachment devices of the abrasive type which are 
also unsuitable for use on floors and carpets. 
Although such traction devices including metallic spikes and abrasive grit 
have proven to be useful under moderate snow conditions, they have proven 
to be ineffective during severe ice storms when the icy surface cannot be 
easily penetrated. 
Thus, the present invention has been developed to provide a footwear 
traction device including a non-abrasive, water absorbent material which 
may be conveniently attached about the instep of the wearer's shoe to 
provide frictional engagement with icy surfaces without marring finished 
floors when entering and leaving a building. 
2. Description of Related Prior Art 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,366,649 to Louis A. Priess discloses an ice gripper device 
to prevent the wearer from slipping when walking on ice, slippery grass, 
moss and the like. The ice gripper is stamped from a single sheet of 
metal, includes a flat body member having at each of its longitudinal 
edges a row of depending sharp teeth. The ice gripper is removeably held 
on the soles of the shoe with its two rows of teeth extending transversely 
of said shoe by an elastic webbing. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,208,200 to George E. Sloan also discloses an ice walker 
adapted to be attached to a shoe or boot to prevent slipping when walking 
on ice. In this invention the ice walker includes a body member formed 
from a strip of sheet metal having spurs or spikes punched through a 
central portion and having the ends turned up for the attachment of a band 
which is adapted to encircle the arch of the shoe or boot for holding the 
ice walker in working position. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,166,958 to Frans O. Lawson discloses an anti-slipping 
device which is worn on a shoe, boot, or overshoe to prevent the wearer 
from slipping on ice or other slippery surfaces. This device comprises an 
integral strip of elastic material having a central portion which carries 
a plurality of spurs and resilient fastening portions or flaps by which 
the device is secured to the foot of the wearer. The flaps includes 
openings which are located and adjusted on opposite sides of the ankle 
bone of the wearer to securely hold the device against forward or rearward 
movement relative to the shoe. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,021 to Emmett H. Cameron discloses a shoe traction 
apparatus comprising an elongated strap member provided with releasable 
engaging means on the ends, an upper frictional unit and a lower composite 
frictional unit formed intermediate the ends such that the upper 
frictional unit engages the sole of the user's shoe and the lower 
composite frictional unit that engages a slippery surface. The lower 
composite frictional unit comprises particles of rock or, an in an 
alternative embodiment, comprises seed particles which function to provide 
scattered edible foodstuffs for birds as they are worn off by contact with 
the icy surface. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,485,687 to Gilbert Rohde discloses an anti-slip shoe 
attachment device which consists of a plate that fits against the bottom 
of the sole of the shoe. A slip preventing structure on the bottom of the 
plate consists of a plurality of cleats. Each cleat is punched into the 
plate and bent downwardly so that each cleat will extend below the plate. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,258,863 to Blanche Paget discloses safety footwear for bath 
or shower comprising a body member formed of an elastomeric material such 
as natural or synthetic rubber. The top or inside surface of the body 
member is smooth while the bottom or outside is provided with a slightly 
raised screen finish which provides a plurality of small protuberances in 
a grid pattern across the entire bottom surface of the body member. A 
relatively thin piece of cloth material, preferably terrycloth, is then 
placed in overlying relationship to the center of the body member whereon 
the cloth is bonded. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,258,322 to Lill K. Frolich discloses an anti-skid shoe 
device including a tapered cylindrical body member formed of a flexible 
cloth and having attached thereto a plurality of transversely disposed 
spaced apart elastic bands. The body member is open at each end thereof 
such that the toe of the shoe may be inserted therein being disposed a few 
inches from the toe of the shoe. The opposite ends of a resilient strap 
are secured to the body member and extend over the heel of the shoe 
whereby the device is prevented from movement toward the toe of the shoe. 
The elastic bands extend across the bottom portion of the body member 
providing a ribbed structure such that the feet of the user are prevented 
from slipping or skidding upon snow and ice covered pavement. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,408,152 to Alfonso Porcelli discloses an anti-skid canvass 
device formed of heavy canvass that presents a coarse grained or rough 
surface and upon one face thereof is provided with an adhesive coating. At 
spaced points along the marginal edge of the sole shaped device there is 
provided a plurality of outwardly extending ears or tabs also having an 
adhesive coating on one side. With the anti-skid canvass device attached 
to the sole of the shoe, slipping on wet or ice covered pavements is 
prevented. 
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 1,558,378 to George C. McAuley is considered of 
general interest in that it discloses a shoe attachment for shoes to be 
worn by bowlers. The shoe attachment is preferably made of buckskin and 
configured to fit the sole of an ordinary shoe. The shoe attachment 
includes an adjustable strap which extends about the heel of the shoe 
wearer to retain it thereon. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The improved footwear traction device of the present invention was designed 
to provide traction for the wearer while walking on ice, snow and other 
slippery surfaces without damaging finished indoor floors and carpets. 
Further, the present invention may be quickly and easily attached or 
detached from a wearer's shoe. 
The improved footwear traction device of the present invention comprises an 
elastic member with releasable engaging means such as VELCRO fasteners for 
attaching the device about the sole and instep of the wearer's shoe. The 
traction device includes a frictional component fabricated from a 
hygroscopic fibrous material which instantaneously freezes as the water 
laden fibers are brought into contact with the ice or snow with each step 
of the wearer to produce frictional contact. 
The frictional component is configured so as to provide a mechanical 
resistance with the ground surface to provide additional traction on the 
surfaces which are not completely frozen. 
In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide 
an improved footwear traction device which provides all around traction to 
the wearer when walking on ice, snow, and other slippery surfaces without 
damaging finished floors and carpets upon entering or leaving a building. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a traction device 
having a frictional component fabricated from a hygroscopic material which 
instantaneously freezes when the water-laden fibers are brought into 
contact with an ice or snow covered surface. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved footwear 
traction device wherein the frictional component is reversible so as to 
enhance frictional contact with the sole of the wearer's shoe and, in 
addition, to extend its longevity. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved footwear 
traction device that is designed to be quickly and conveniently attached 
or detached from the wearer's shoe for the convenient storage thereof when 
not in use. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved footwear 
traction device which is fabricated from readily available materials at a 
low manufacturing cost. 
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent 
and obvious from a study of the following description and the accompanying 
drawings which are merely illustrative of such invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference to the drawings, there is shown therein an improved footwear 
traction device or ice walker in accordance with the present invention, 
indicated generally at 10 as illustrated in FIG. 1. The traction device 10 
is shown attached in its functional position about the instep of shoe 20 
such that the frictional component 15 is positioned under the sole 22 of 
the shoe. 
As more clearly shown in FIG. 2, the traction device 10 includes an 
elongated elastomeric strap member 12 of sufficient length to encircle the 
instep portion 24 of the shoe. In the preferred embodiment the strap 
member 12 is fabricated from a resilient, elastic material capable of 
expansion and contraction. 
The strap member 12 is provided with detachable fastening means 14 at 
either end thereof to permit the strap member 12 to be secured about the 
shoe under tension. 
In the preferred embodiment, the detachable fastening means 14 are 
comprised of mating portions of a hook and loop type fastener such as 
VELCRO fasteners which are positioned on opposite surfaces of each end 12a 
and 12b of the strap member 12. 
Of course, other detachable fastening means may be utilized for this 
purpose and the VELCRO fasteners described hereinabove are intended to be 
merely illustrative and not restrictive in any sense. 
Since such detachable fastening means are well known to those skilled in 
the art, further detailed discussion of the same is not deemed necessary. 
As shown in FIG. 3 the frictional component, pad 15, is tubular in 
construction so as to completely encircle strap member 12 and be 
symmetrically disposed on either side thereof. It will be appreciated by 
those skilled in the art that this arrangement is designed to enhance the 
frictional engagement of the traction device 10 with the sole 22 of the 
user's shoe, and, at the same time, makes the traction device reversible 
to extend its longevity. 
In the preferred embodiment, the frictional pad 15 is fabricated from a 
hygroscopic woven material tending to absorb water such as cotton, wool or 
other natural fibers which is sewn to strap member 12. Of course, other 
hygroscopic materials having excellent characteristics of water absorbency 
may be suitable for this purpose and are considered to be within the scope 
of the present invention. 
As most clearly shown in FIG. 2, the pad 15 is woven in a ribbed pattern 
having a plurality of generally parallel raised sections 15a and a 
plurality of alternating recessed sections 15b therebetween in the manner 
of a conventional sock, for example. 
In practical use the pad 15 is adapted to yield when stretched during 
bending movements of the sole 22 incident to walking movements of the 
user's foot such that the raised sections 15a of the pad 15 are compressed 
and released as the sole 22 alternately contacts and is raised up from the 
ground surface during bending movements of the user's shoe during walking. 
Thus, it will be appreciated that during use the pad 15 is caused to 
undergo sufficient changes in contour and surface area to inhibit the 
accumulation of snow and debris which would otherwise accumulate on the 
pad 15 if it were constructed to have an even contour instead of the 
interrupted, ribbed design. 
Further, it will be appreciated that the ribbed pattern is disposed 
transversely to the direction of walking so as to provide a measure of 
mechanical resistance to slippage on any slippery surface. 
Critical to the present invention, the hygroscopic nature of the fibers 
from which the pad 15 is constructed will cause it to retain water in the 
liquid state. When the water-laden pad 15 is placed into direct contact 
with an icy surface, the water within the fibers is instantaneously frozen 
causing the pad 15 and hence the wearer's shoe to be temporarily frozen to 
the icy surface to provide improved traction. 
Thus, the combined mechanical friction of the ribbed surface of the pad 15 
together with the freezing of the hygroscopic fibrous material provides 
enhanced traction and increased safety to the wearer while walking on 
frozen surfaces. 
From the above it can be seen that the present invention provides an 
improved footwear traction device which may be conveniently attached to 
the user's footwear to provide increased traction on ice, snow, and other 
slippery surfaces. 
The improved traction device includes a frictional component having an 
interrupted surface which is fabricated from a hygroscopic fibrous 
material wherein water-laden fibers are frozen to the surface of the ice 
upon contact therewith to prevent slippage and injury to persons walking 
on such surfaces. 
Further, the frictional component or pad of the present traction device is 
reversible in configuration providing enhanced frictional engagement with 
the sole of the wearer's shoe and extended longevity during use. 
In addition, the improved footwear traction device is constructed of 
entirely non-abrasive materials to provide frictional engagement with icy 
and slippery surfaces without marring finished floors when entering and 
leaving a building. 
The terms "upper", "lower", "side", and so forth have been used herein 
merely for convenience to describe the present invention and its parts as 
oriented in the drawings. It is to be understood, however, that these 
terms are in no way limiting to the invention since such invention may 
obviously be disposed in different orientations when in use. 
The present invention may, of course, be carried out in other specific ways 
than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and 
essential characteristics of such invention. The present embodiments are, 
therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not 
restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency 
range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.