Abstract:
A shoe protection device comprises a metal or plastic member having an arcuate backwall and integrally formed sidewalls which project toward curved distal ends. The device may be formed of an elastically deflectable core part having an outer coating or overmolded layer or a removable sleeve, or the sidewalls and backwall may be formed of a single solid part. The device is adapted to be slipped over the heel of a shoe or boot to protect same while the wearer of the shoe or boot is driving a motor vehicle, for example.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 60/626,846, filed Nov. 10, 2004. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     A longstanding problem in the art of shoe care has been the elimination of scuffing and other damage to the heel parts of shoes worn by a person in various circumstances but including, in particular, driving a motor vehicle. Typically, a person&#39;s right foot rests on the accelerator pedal and brake, in a conventional automobile, in such a way that the shoe heel, including the rear or heel portion of the upper part of the shoe, is subject to scuffing and other damage, such as when water and/or mud are present on the floor of the driver&#39;s compartment of the vehicle.  
         [0003]     Accordingly, what has been needed is a shoe protection device which may be conveniently placed on the rear or heel portion of a shoe while a person wearing the shoe or shoes is driving a motor vehicle or participating in other activity which might result in damage to the heel portion, which device may be easily disposed on the shoe when needed and may also be easily removed therefrom when not needed. Moreover, such a shoe protection device should also be economical to manufacture and perhaps used as a promotional item by shoe manufacturers, product retailers or other entities which may wish to give away novelty items with brand names or other identifying indicia thereon.  
         [0004]     It is to meet the above-mentioned desiderata and needs in the art that the present invention has been developed.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention provides an improved shoe protection device, particularly for protecting the heel portion of a shoe.  
         [0006]     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an improved shoe protection device is provided which is easily mounted on a shoe while being worn by a person and removed from the shoe when not needed. In particular, the device is useful for protecting the heel portion of a shoe worn by a person driving a motor vehicle wherein the heel portion of the shoe is otherwise subject to scuffing, discoloration or other damage resulting from the position of a person&#39;s foot while driving such vehicle. A shoe protection device in accordance with the invention is likely to be worn at least on a person&#39;s right shoe, but such devices may be worn on both shoes for operating vehicles that require manipulation of control pedals by both feet, including motor vehicles with so-called manual transmissions and aircraft, for example.  
         [0007]     The shoe protection device of the invention is preferably formed of an elastic material and is formed in a somewhat U-shaped configuration such that the device may be easily slipped over the heel portion of a shoe and elastically retained thereon but also be easily removed when not needed, such as when the wearer alights from a motor vehicle.  
         [0008]     The shoe protection device of the invention may be formed of a solid elastic material, such as a thermoplastic or a plastic coated elastic metal band or a core part including, for example, a perimeter band of metal or plastic. A fabric or leather cover or the like may be slipped over the metal band or core part and the band or core part retained therein by closing the cover with conventional stitching. The perimeter band may then be shaped to the final configuration using a mold or forming the shape of the device over an anvil. The cover may be replaced or cleaned when needed and may be of aesthetically pleasing design or color, including a color matching the shoe worn by the person using the protection device.  
         [0009]     Those skilled in the art will further appreciate the above-mentioned advantages and superior features of the invention, together with other important aspects thereof, upon reading the detailed description which follows in conjunction with the drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a detail side view illustrating the position of a person&#39;s foot while driving a motor vehicle and showing the shoe protection device of the invention mounted on the wearer&#39;s shoe while the wearer&#39;s foot rests on one of the vehicle control pedals;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  showing a woman&#39;s high heel shoe with a shoe protection device in accordance with the invention mounted thereon;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of one preferred embodiment of a shoe protection device in accordance with the invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the device shown in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a side elevation of the device shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a section view taken generally along the line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 7A  is a side elevation of another preferred embodiment of a shoe protection device in accordance with the invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 7B  is a section view taken along line  7 B- 7 B of  FIG. 7A ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 7C  is a developed plan view of a perimeter bandlike core part of the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 7A ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 7D  is a developed plan view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7A  illustrating how a socklike cover or envelope may be sleeved over or mounted on the developed elastic core part;  
         [0020]      FIG. 7E  is a developed plan view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7A  with the cover or envelope completely disposed over the core part and closed by stitching or the like; and  
         [0021]      FIG. 7F  is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 7A through 7E  in its finished configuration. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0022]     In the description which follows, like elements are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same reference numerals, respectively. The drawing figures are not necessarily not to scale and certain features may be shown exaggerated in scale or in somewhat generalized form in the interest of clarity and conciseness.  
         [0023]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated a portion of a driver&#39;s compartment  10  of a motor vehicle  12  including a floorboard  14 , and a control pedal, such as an accelerator pedal  16 , disposed nearby. Floorboard  14  is typically covered by carpeting  18  and a floor mat  20 . With extended use, floor mat  20  and carpeting  18 , typically, may become depressed at depression  22  which becomes a convenient place for accumulation of material  23 , such as dirt, debris, rainwater, melted snow, road salt, sand and so forth. Depression  22  is typically formed after moderate use of motor vehicle  12 . However, even without the presence of depression  22 , the aforementioned materials may accumulate on the surface of mat  20  and the mat itself may cause damage to the shoe of a person controlling the vehicle.  
         [0024]     For example, there is illustrated a person&#39;s leg  24  and shoe or boot  26  in a position for operation of pedal  16  whereupon the heel  27  of shoe or boot  26 , and the rear upper shoe or boot portion  28  are subject to damage from contact with material  23  and/or the surface of mat  20 . However, in accordance with the present invention, such damage is prevented by, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the presence of a shoe protection device  30  which is disposed about the shoe heel  27  and the portion  28  of the shoe uppers at the heel which would otherwise be subject to such damage. Further detailed description of device  30  follows hereinbelow.  
         [0025]     Referring briefly to  FIG. 2 , there is illustrated another person&#39;s leg  32  and foot  34  on which a high heeled dress shoe  36  is disposed and, in a typical position of the person&#39;s foot for controlling accelerator, brake or clutch pedal  16 , the heel portion of the shoe upper, designated by numeral  38 , would be subject to damage from floor mat  20  and any debris thereon except also for the presence of a protection device  30  sleeved over and around the upper portion  38  at the heel of shoe  36 .  
         [0026]     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 through 5 , shoe protection device  30  is shown in a relaxed state and is characterized by an arcuate backwall  40  and opposed sidewalls  42  and  44 . Sidewalls  42  and  44  are integrally joined to backwall  40  and are delimited by curved distal ends  43  and  45 , respectively, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , in particular. The radii of curvature of the distal ends  43  and  45  may take various forms but are proportioned to be aesthetically pleasing and to avoid any sharp edges which might damage a shoe on which the device is disposed. As shown in  FIG. 4 , in the relaxed state of the device  30 , the distal ends  43  and  45  are disposed closer together than the spacing of the sidewalls where they join the curved back or end wall  40 . Distal ends  43  and  45  are shown somewhat reentrant and defining a throat  26  of a space  47  between the sidewalls  42  and  44 .  
         [0027]     In the relaxed state of the device  30 , the sidewalls  43  and  45  are normally closer together than the width of the heel portion  28  of boot  26  or the heel portion  38  of shoe  36 , respectively. The device  30  may be fabricated in different sizes, that is with different spacings between the reentrant edges  43  and  45  in the relaxed state of the device  30 . In other words, the device  30  may be formed in sizes to fit different sizes of shoes or boots while being snugly fittable over the shoe or boot of the intended size. It is contemplated that the device  30  may also be formed in a one size fits all or as few as two or three different sizes to accommodate all sizes of shoes and boots. The device  30  may be of a width delimited by top and bottom edges  41   a  and  41   b  which is preferably at least one half the height of the heel portion of a shoe or boot, as shown. Accordingly, the device  30  is fitted over the heel of a shoe or boot, such as the boot  26  or the shoe  36 , by manipulating the device to spread the sidewalls  42  and  44  away from each other while slipping the device into its working position, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , and then releasing the sidewalls so that they elastically clamp onto the sides of the shoe or boot. Alternatively, the device  30  may simply be forced over the heel portion of a shoe or boot since the sidewalls  42  and  44  will elastically deflect away from each other relatively easily.  
         [0028]     The device  30  may be fabricated of different materials. For example, the device  30  may be molded of a suitable thermoplastic having enough elasticity to provide for deflection of the sidewalls  42  and  44  while retaining enough elastic memory to allow the device  30  to grip a shoe or boot onto which it has been clamped or disposed.  FIG. 6  illustrates in detail an embodiment of the device  30  wherein an inner elastic metal core part  50  is formed to have the same general shape as the finished form of the device  30  and the metal core part  50  is then coated with a layer of material, such as a thermoplastic polymer, which may be molded thereover or otherwise applied thereto, such as by spraying the polymer material onto the core part before a hardening reaction is completed. In this way the metal core part  50  is completely encapsulated by the layer  52  of plastic material, which may comprise an epoxy, for example. Substantial elasticity may be provided for the device  30  since the core part  50  may, for example, be formed of spring steel or the like, or a composite, such as a fiber reinforced polymer material, or even a non-reinforced plastic, and operable to withstand many cycles of deflection of the sidewalls  42  and  44  when the device  30  is slipped onto and off of a shoe or boot. Moreover, the outer layer or coating of plastic material may be of one of a variety of colors and offer some additional protection to a shoe or boot as the device  30  is slipped onto or off of the shoe or boot.  
         [0029]     Referring now to  FIGS. 7A and 7F , there is illustrated a shoe protection device, similar in some respect to the device  30 , and generally designated by the numeral  60 . The device  60  is of the same general shape as the device  30  and includes an arcuate backwall  62  integrally joined to opposed sidewalls  64  and  66 ,  FIG. 7F , which are delimited by reentrant distal ends  65  and  67 . Accordingly, the spacing between the distal ends  65  and  67  forms a throat  69  for a larger space  70  and the width of the throat  69  between ends  65  and  67  is less than the width of the space  70 , see  FIG. 7B  also. Shoe protection device  60  is further characterized by an elastically deformable perimeter core part  72 ,  FIGS. 7B and 7C , which may be formed of a suitable elastic material, such as a thermoplastic or spring steel, for example. Core part  72  is shown in a developed plan view in  FIG. 7C  and includes somewhat linear perimeter sections  71   a  and  71   b  integrally joined to somewhat arcuate opposed distal ends  73  and  75  which also form the distal ends  65  and  67  of the finished device illustrated. The perimeter core part  72  may thus be formed to define the shape of the device  60 , as shown in  FIGS. 7B and 7F  by deformation of the perimeter core part  72  in a mold or over an anvil, preferably as a final or near final step in the fabrication of the device. The perimeter core part  72  may also be preformed in the shape shown in  FIGS. 7B and 7F . The device  60  is operable to be elastically deflected to allow the device to be slipped over a shoe or boot in a manner substantially like that shown and described for the device  30 .  
         [0030]     However, the device  60  is further provided with a flexible, nonabrasive socklike sleeve or cover member  78  which may be sleeved over the core part  72 , as shown in  FIG. 7D , until the member  78  is positioned to entirely encapsulate the perimeter core part  72 . The cover or sleeve  78  may then be closed to retain the perimeter core part  72  therein or left open so that the perimeter core part may be removed from the sleeve and the sleeve replaced by one of a different color or different type of fabric. The socklike sleeve or cover  78  may be formed of opposed panels  78   a  and  78   b ,  FIG. 7B , and at least partially stitched along the perimeter thereof, as indicated at  78   c . However, the stitching  78   c  is not completed until the core part  72  is inserted in the sleeve  78 . Accordingly, the device  60  may utilize a socklike cover or sleeve  78  of different colors or different fabrics or other flexible materials, such as leather or plastic, which may match the colors or composition of shoes or boots with which they are to be worn. The sleeve  78  may be permanently closed by stitching  78   c  extending around the entire perimeter of device  60  once the perimeter part  72  is disposed therewithin. The panels  78   a  and  78   b  may be joined at their perimeters by other means including an adhesive or thermal bonding, for example, depending on the material used for the panels. As mentioned above, the perimeter core part  72  may also be preformed to have the shape shown in  FIG. 7F . However, the perimeter core part  72  may be elastically deflected to allow the sleeve  78  to be sleeved thereover and then allowed to relax to resume a shape that corresponds generally to the shape of the device  30 .  
         [0031]     The fabrication and use of the devices  30  and  60  is believed to be within the purview of one skilled in the art of shoe protection devices based on the foregoing description. The use of the devices  30  and  60  is also believed to be readily understandable to those skilled in the art based on the foregoing description when read in conjunction with the drawings. Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein, those skilled in the art will also recognize that various substitutions and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.