Athletic shoe cover

A cover for an athletic shoe includes an elastic fabric upper member sized to snugly conformally fit over an athletic shoe covering at least the mid-foot region of a shoe upper portion and extending above and encircling the wearer's ankle. An elastic lower member extends under at least a portion of the shoe sole spanning the inboard and outboard side panels of the upper member without covering the gripping surfaces of the shoe sole. A zipper is provided in the fabric upper member to form an openable seam enabling the wearer to remove the athletic shoe and attach the cover on the wearer's foot without removing the cover from the shoe.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to shoe covers and, more particularly, to shoe covers for athletic shoes.

BACKGROUND ART

A variety of shoe covers have been manufactured over the years. These shoe covers generally fall into two categories: overshoes and gaiters. An example of an overshoe is rubber boots of the elastic bootie or buckle variety. An Overshoe completely covers the sole portion of a shoe and a substantial portion of the shoe upper. The overshoe is provided with a lower sole surface which, when in use, provides the gripping surface between the wearer and the ground. Gaiters, on the other hand, typically cover the ankles and a portion of the mid-sole of wearer's shoes extending upwards along the wearer's calf. Gaiters frequently have a strap which extend under the sole of the shoe forward of the heel in order to keep the gaiter from creeping up the wearer's leg. Decorative gaiters are frequently used as part of a decorative marching band uniform. Functional gaiters are used in outdoor winter sports such as cross-country skiing or snowshoeing where the gaiter is used to cover the lace portion of the shoe and a substantial portion of the wearer's sock and lower leg.

Overshoes are typically formed of natural or synthetic rubber and, in the case of rubber booties, elastically conform to the wearer's shoe. Gaiters, on the other hand, can be formed of relatively non-elastic materials such as leather, molded plastic, heavy canvas, or woven synthetic fabric and loosely conform to the wearer's lower leg.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Accordingly, a shoe cover of the present invention is provided for installation upon an athletic shoe having an upper portion and a sole. The shoe cover is both aesthetically pleasing and functional. The shoe cover is made up of an elastic fabric upper member which is sized to snugly conformally fit over the athletic shoe upper portion. The elastic fabric panel covers at least the top and inboard and outboard side portions of the mid-foot region of the shoe upper portion and extends above and encircles a wearer's ankle. An elastic lower member extends under at least a portion of the shoe spanning between inboard and outboard side panels of the fabric upper member. A zipper is provided in the fabric upper member to form an openable seam which extends from an ankle opening along a sufficient length of the fabric upper member to enable the wearer's shoe to be installed and removed when the zipper seam is open. Closing of the zipper seam causes the elastic fabric upper member to snugly conformally fit over the athletic shoe, covering the top portion of the shoe from the mid-foot region to and above the wearer's ankle.

Various embodiments of the present invention are disclosed. Several embodiments are designed for use with an athletic shoe having removable screw-in cleats providing a gripping surface on the shoe sole. The screw-in cleat embodiments in the invention have a lower elastic member provided by extensions of the elastic fabric upper member side panels which extend below the shoe sole and are joined on a common seam. At least a plurality of the screw-in cleats are installed in the shoe sole through the lower elastic member and serve to attach the shoe cover to the athletic shoe.

An alternative embodiment of the invention is specifically adapted for use with athletic shoes having a molded-in gripping surface wherein the elastic lower member is provided by at least one strap extending between inboard and outboard side panels of the fabric upper member and spanning the shoe sole in a region in which gripping surfaces are not provided for engaging an athletic playing surface.

Various zipper orientations are likewise disclosed. The zipper may extend along the longitudinal axis of the shoe from the ankle opening forward or from the ankle opening rearward along the Achilles tendon seam. Alternatively, the zipper may be asymmetrically oriented relative to the shoe longitudinal axis in order to provide a smooth upper shoe panel uninterrupted by a seam.

The shoe cover of the present invention is ideally suited for providing a unified team look and providing unified team logos where a number of athletes on a team have shoes of different styles and manufacture.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The first embodiment of the invention is illustrated by shoe cover20, shown inFIGS. 1-5.FIG. 1illustrates shoe cover20installed on a typical high-top football shoe22, which is made up of a shoe upper portion24, a shoe sole26where the shoe sole is provided with a plurality of screw-in cleats28. Screw-in cleats28form gripping surfaces to securely engage an athletic playing surface which, in the case of a football field, would be a natural grass or an artificial turf field. Upper portion24of athletic shoe22is further provided with a shoelace closure30in the upper mid-foot region of the shoe22of a conventional design, as best seen inFIG. 2.

In use, shoe cover20is sized to snugly and conformally fit over shoe upper portion22to provide a neat, clean aesthetic appearance, as illustrated inFIG. 1. Shoe cover20is made up of elastic fabric upper member32, which snugly fits and conformally follows the contours of at least the mid-foot region of the shoe and extends above and encircles the wearer's ankle and the lower leg L. Cover20is further provided with an elastic lower member34which extends under at least a portion of the shoe sole26spanning between the inboard and outboard side panels of the fabric upper member. Elastic lower member34does not inhibit gripping surfaces, namely cleats28, from engaging the athletic playing surface which the shoe is used upon. The shoe further includes a zipper36which is sewn in the fabric upper member32and forms an openable seam which extends from ankle opening38formed in the elastic fabric upper member32along a sufficient length of the elastic fabric upper member so that when the zipper is unzipped, the wearer can access the shoelace closure30of shoe22as shown inFIG. 2.

When shoe cover20is installed on an athletic shoe22, the shoe cover provides a neat, aesthetic appearance. The elastic fabric cover member32of the shoe cover is ideally suited for displaying a team logo40, which may be a sewn-on patch or a stencil-painted symbol identifying a team, sponsor or product manufacturer. The athletic shoe cover of the present invention enables an athletic team where the team members have shoes of a variety of different styles and manufacture to provide a uniform team aesthetic look by covering up shoe brand logos42that are mounted on individual player shoes. Shoe cover20additionally protects and covers the shoe closure, i.e., the shoe laces30or the like, minimizing the likelihood that the shoe laces will become untied during a game situation.

In the first embodiment of the invention illustrated, shoe cover20is provided with an annular toe opening44through which the toe of shoe22projects. Shoe cover20is manufactured from two elastic fabric cut-outs which are substantially identical and correspond to the pattern shown inFIG. 5. A pair of cutouts46are sewn together along a longitudinal axis48. Annular toe opening44and ankle opening38are appropriately hemmed. Zipper36is sewn into the top instep portion of the fabric upper member as illustrated. Preferably, an elastic band50is sewn into the fabric cutout at annular toe opening44to cause the shoe cover to securely grip the shoe22in the toe region as illustrated. Similarly, a C-shaped elastic band52is sewn into the fabric upper member32at the ankle opening38. When the openable zipper seam is closed, elastic band52snugly conforms ankle opening38to the wearer's leg L.

In the first embodiment illustrated, the elastic lower member34is integrally formed from fabric cutouts46to form the fabric upper member32as well as lower member34. Shoe cover20is installed on athletic shoe22with screw-in cleats removed. With the shoe cover properly positioned and zipper36properly closed, as illustrated inFIG. 1, small holes are formed in the elastic lower member34using an awl or the like so that screw-in cleats28may be reinstalled as shown inFIG. 4. Screw-in cleats28serve to retain shoe cover20on shoe22when zipper36is opened, as illustrated inFIG. 2. Once installed on the shoe, shoe cover22stays with the shoe during normal use as the shoe is removed and once again put back on. The shoe cover may be simply removed by unscrewing screw-in cleats28to enable the shoe cover to be washed or replaced.

Shoe cover20of the present embodiment is made from cutouts46formed of a nylon-Lycra®, 87%-13% blend having a 7.6 ounce fabric weight. Lycra® is a trademark of DuPont Corporation. Heavy elastic fabric of this type is very commonly used in the manufacture of bicycle pants. The fabric has a bidirectional stretch characteristic, is highly durable, and is breathable. Other porous elastic fabrics having similar properties are likewise suitable for fabricating the present invention provided that the material has sufficient elasticity and durability for the particular athletic shoe application. For example, a football shoe which is used in a very hostile environment where other players' cleats are constantly stepping on one's shoes would require a heavier and more durable fabric than the shoe cover adapted for use in a marching band.

It should be further noted that while shoe cover20is shown with zipper36extending longitudinally forward of anide opening38, zipper36could alternatively be located rearward of the anide opening, extending along Achilles tendon seam54. By locating zipper36along Achilles tendon seam54, as shown in phantom outline inFIG. 3, the top mid-sole portion of elastic fabric upper member32can be provided with additional graphics or logos.

Shoe cover60shown inFIGS. 6-9illustrates a second embodiment of the present invention. Shoe cover60is very similar to shoe cover20, shown and referenced inFIGS. 1-5. Shoe cover60is provided with an annular heel opening62. Fabric cutout64is accordingly modified to provide for the annular heel opening. Annular heel opening62has an elastic band66hemmed therein in order to securely conform the shoe cover to the athletic shoe. Preferably, annular heel opening62is sized sufficiently so that a typical football shoe having screw-in cleats, the heel cleats68, and shoe heel portion70will protrude through annular heel opening62as illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 8. Shoe cover60, like shoe cover20, is provided with a zipper72which may be located on the shoe mid-sole instep as illustrated, or alternatively at the Achilles tendon seam74.

Shoe cover80illustrated inFIGS. 10-13represents a third embodiment of the present invention. Shoe cover80completely encircles the shoe, covering both the toe heel and mid-foot regions and extends above the wearer's ankle to encircle the wearer's leg L. In addition, shoe cover80is provided with a zipper82which forms a zipper seam which is located significantly to one side of longitudinal axis84. The seam is preferably to the inside of the wearer's foot, thereby necessitating that the shoe covers be made in symmetrical right and left pairs. The offset zipper is achieved by forming the shoe cover of cutouts86and88having a different shaped upper edge. As illustrated inFIG. 13, the remainder of the cutout periphery forming the sole seam and Achilles seam are preferably unchanged. By offsetting the zipper seam82to the side of longitudinal axis84, the zipper can be moved to the inside of the shoe providing a smooth, seamless upper surface for installing a logo90. Alternatively, zipper82can be located along the Achilles tendon seam92, in which case the asymmetrical forward seam would be stitched closed, further rendering a clean, smooth appearance of the forefoot maximized logo space. As described previously with reference to shoe covers20and60, screw-in cleats94extend through elastic lower member96of the shoe cover and are attached to the shoe sole.

A fourth shoe cover embodiment100is illustrated inFIGS. 14-17. Shoe cover100is designed to be used with an athletic shoe102provided with molded-in gripping surfaces such as cleats104, illustrated inFIGS. 14 and 16, or forefoot and heel pads106and108, illustrated in an alternative shoe sole configuration shown inFIG. 17. Cleats104or forefoot and heel pads106and108are integrally formed as part of sole110or110′ illustrated inFIGS. 16 and 17. The primary difference between shoe cover100and shoe cover80is the design of straps112and112′, which form the elastic fore member of the shoe cover. Where shoe covers20,60and80all have an elastic lower member formed as extensions of the inboard and outboard side panels of the elastic fabric upper member, shoe cover100is provided with straps112and112′ which are separate and distinct components and preferably integrally not part of a flexible fabric upper member114. The lower edge of elastic fabric member cutout116shown inFIG. 18is hemmed and an elastic band118, illustrated in the fragment cutout inFIG. 14, securely encircles the outer periphery of sole110and forms a lower annular opening120which conformally fits about the shoe sole110. A plurality of straps112, preferably three or more, are provided when shoe cover100is intended to be used with shoes with molded and rubber cleats such as certain types of football and soccer shoes where the straps can fit between the cleats and do not interfere with the engagement of the cleats and the athletic playing surface upon which it is used.

In the case of a shoe, as shown inFIG. 17, having a relatively continuous forefoot pad106and rear heel pad108, the only place which a strap112′ could be located is in the arch region of the shoe sole between a forefoot and heel pads106and108. Examples of this type of shoes are certain basketball shoes and cross-training shoes which are provided with a raised, arched portion. Straps112and112′ are preferably formed of an elastomeric material in order to accommodate a variety of shoe shapes and sizes with a single shoe cover.

In the fourth embodiment of shoe cover100illustrated inFIGS. 14-17, zipper122is provided in the flexible upper member114and is oriented along longitudinal seam124and extends forward from ankle opening126. However, as previously described, the zipper122may alternatively extend rearwardly along Achilles tendon seam128. In the embodiment illustrated, the shoe cover100is made from two substantially identically sized cutout panels116. However, an asymmetrical panel design resulting in an offset seam, as shown inFIG. 11, alternatively can be used as previously described with reference to the shoe cover80embodiment.

The fabric upper member114has a C-shaped elastic band130sewn into a hem in the ankle opening126so that the fabric upper member snugly conforms to the wearer's leg. Ankle opening126is split by the seam on the zipper122, enabling the shoe and shoe cover to be easily removed by the wearer. Ideally, the lower annular opening120and elastic band128will so securely wrap about the outer periphery of sole110that the shoe cover remains in place when the zipper seam is opened and the shoe is being removed or installed from the wearer's foot.