Abstract:
A sole device or attachment for shoes, boots, athletic shoes, and similar footwear. The device comprises an undershoe attachment made of a lightweight material, including but not limited to rubber or foam, or a combination thereof. The device may come in various sizes to correspond to footwear sizes currently known, and may be of larger size than the corresponding footwear. The device may be attached to the sole of footwear directly by operation of spikes on the bottom of the footwear, or may be secured by one or more straps that extend across the footwear, or some combination thereof.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority to Provisional Patent Application No. 60/950,376, filed Jul. 18, 2007, by William Christopher Lotterhos and Richard Linder, and is entitled in whole or in part to that filing date for priority. The disclosure, specification, drawings and accompanying documents of Provisional Patent Application No. 60/950,376 are incorporated herein in their entireties by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to a device that is attached to the soles of shoes, boots, athletic shoes, or similar footwear. 
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0003]    Individuals who wear specialized shoes or boots such as sports cleats or spikes have difficulty in wearing those specialized shoes or boots in locations other than on the field or area of play. Such shoes or boots can damage regular flooring, and can be damaged or worn-away by flooring such as concrete. The use of spikes or similar footwear on concrete or similar surfaces can lead to slips and falls, and be a safety concern. Athletes seeking to avoid such consequences suffer the inconvenience of removing their specialized foot gear in such locations, and donning such foot gear at the last minute or in inconvenient locations. Some facilities might place special flooring down in particular areas to avoid this need, but that flooring comes at an additional cost to place and maintain. 
         [0004]    Similarly, workers with footwear that is muddy, dirty, or debris-laden, must remove that footwear when going outside their area of work, or risk damaging or contaminating other areas. While galoshes or overshoes that fit over footwear are known in the art, they are not easy to put on, and can lead to insecure footing. Also, if the footwear has spikes or any similar protrusions or attachments, the galoshes will not fit or can be pierced and destroyed. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, what is needed is a device that allows users of specialized foot gear to continue to wear that foot gear in places other than the field or area of play or work. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention provides for a device or attachment for shoes, boots, athletic shoes, and similar footwear. In one exemplary embodiment, the device comprises an undershoe attachment made of a lightweight material, including but not limited to rubber or foam, or a combination thereof. The device may come in various sizes to correspond to footwear sizes currently known, and may be of larger size than the corresponding footwear. The device may be attached to the sole of footwear directly by operation of spikes on the bottom of the footwear, or may be secured by one or more straps that extend across the footwear, or some combination thereof. 
         [0007]    The device thus provides athletes, workers, and other users who wear uncomfortable shoes, boots, cleats, spikes, or other footgear on concrete, floors, carpet, rocky or muddy terrain, or the like, a means of absorbing the shock of walking on such surfaces with that footgear, providing traction and a safe way of walking on such surfaces with that footgear, and providing additional support to the feet, legs, and back, all while taking just second to put on or remove. 
         [0008]    Still other advantages of various embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in this art from the following description wherein there are shown and described exemplary embodiments of this invention simply for the purposes of illustration. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other different aspects and embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the advantages, drawings, and descriptions are illustrative in nature and not restrictive in nature. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  shows an elevated side view of one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  shows a top view of another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    Referring now to the figures, wherein like references identify like elements of the invention,  FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an undersole device  2  in accordance with the present invention. The device comprises a body  10  on which the footgear being worn by the user is placed. The body  10  can be of various shapes and sizes. In one exemplary embodiment, the body can comprise a left-foot and right-foot configuration which are mirror images of each other, each in a general shoe or foot-shaped form (as seen in  FIG. 2 , which shows a right-foot configuration). In an alternative embodiment, the body can comprise a single bilateral foot-shaped form, so that an undersole device  2  can be used with either the right or left foot. 
         [0012]    In one exemplary embodiment, the body comprises, but is not limited to, a foam, closed-cell foam, rubber, or similar material, or some combination thereof. The material may be lightweight. The material may be of such a composition to provide comfort and support to the users, and reduce strain to the user&#39;s shins, back, or feet when wearing uncomfortable shoes, athletic cleats or spikes, or the like. In another exemplary embodiment, the bottom of the body  10  comprises a bottom layer  12  to provide traction. The bottom layer  12  may comprise a material different from or the same as the material comprising the body  10 , and may be smooth or comprise a pattern or surface (such as ridges, bumps, nubs, waves, a generally rough surface, or the like) to assist in providing traction. The bottom layer  12  may be formed from, but is not limited to, rubber, foam, closed-cell foam, plastic or some combination thereof. There may or may not be an arch  8  in the bottom of the body. 
         [0013]    The body  10  may be of any color or colors, and may comprise a pattern, image, logo, picture, or the like. Thus, in one embodiment, the body may comprise a team&#39;s colors and/or logo. The body  10  also may be a solid unit, or may comprise one or more holes or passageways. These may be functional or decorative, or both. 
         [0014]    The body  10  may be of any size or shape. In one embodiment, the body may be one or two sizes larger than the footwear it is designed to fit. 
         [0015]    In one embodiment, the top of the body  10  comprises an inner area  16  that receives the footwear. The inner area  16  may be designed to withstand pressure, weight, and the cleats, spikes or bottom of any shoe. The inner area  16  may comprise a material different from or the same as the material comprising the body  10 , and may be smooth or comprise a pattern or surface (such as ridges, bumps, nubs, waves, a generally rough surface, or the like) to assist in providing traction. The inner area  16  may be formed from, but is not limited to, rubber, foam, closed-cell foam, plastic or some combination thereof. 
         [0016]    In one embodiment, the inner area  16  may resist penetration by spikes or cleats. In another embodiment, the inner area  16  may be of a material adapted to permit penetration by spikes or cleats. In one exemplary embodiment, the inner area  16  may comprise one or more holes, grooves, slots, or the like which are adapted to receive spikes or cleats. These holes, grooves, or slots can be of a particular pattern adapted for particular footwear, or can be in a general pattern so as to accept different configurations of spikes or cleats. A raised ridge or rim  18  around some or all of the perimeter of the top of the body or the inner area may be used to help keep the footwear on the body of the device and held snugly, or hold debris in the inner area. The ridge or rim may have holes or openings  14  to provide ventilation, allow water or debris to run out, provide a decorative appearance, or some combination thereof. 
         [0017]    In one exemplary embodiment, the inner area  16  is designed to hold onto the spikes or cleats, and thus the device can be affixed to the footwear simply by stepping on the body and applying pressure. The device can then be removed by simply pulling the device off the bottom of the footwear. 
         [0018]    In other embodiments, one or more straps  20 ,  22  can be used to securely fasten the device  2  to the feet of the user. In one exemplary embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 1 , a back strap  20  is used to secure the heel, while a front strap  22  is used to secure the front. A strap may be permanently or removably fastened at either or both ends. The fastenings also may be rotatable, so that the strap can be moved up or down, or forward and backward.  FIG. 1  shows the back strap  20  permanently fastened at both ends to opposite sides of the body  10 , but able to rotate up and down. The front strap  22  may be permanently and rotatably fastened at one end  24 , while removably fastened at the other end  26 . The removable fastening may be a snap, button, buckle or similar device. Permanent fastening may be provided by a button, rivet, or similar device  34 . Velcro  36  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) or similar material may also be used to secure the strap, providing for quick and easy removal and fastening. 
         [0019]    The straps also may comprise one or more holes  30 . These holes may help reduce weight, but also may be used to place buttons or similar devices on the strap. The buttons may be decorative or may contain names, team logos, or the like. 
         [0020]    The device thus provides athletes, workers, and other users who wear uncomfortable shoes, boots, cleats, spikes, or other footgear on concrete, floors, carpet, rocky or muddy terrain, or the like, a means of absorbing the shock of walking on such surfaces with that footgear, providing traction and a safe way of walking on such surfaces with that footgear, and providing additional support to the feet, legs, and back, all while taking just a second to put on or remove (i.e., easy access). The device may be used with, but is not limited to, football, baseball, softball, golf, lacrosse, soccer, rugby, track, cyclist, basketball, tennis, running, and similar athletic shoes. The device allows such athletes to keep their footwear on while wearing the device until ready to take the field of play. The device also may be used by working men and women who want to be able to wear their footwear into a home or similar location and keep the flooring clean, such as, but not limited to, construction workers, plumbers, hunters, cable installers, electricians, carpenters, developers, and contractors. The device also may be used by individuals with nice shoes, such as business footwear, that they want to keep clean while walking in areas where the shoes are likely to get dirty or wet, such as fields, construction sites, rain puddles, and the like. The device thus provides health, safety, and comfort advantages with ease of access, while protecting and saving flooring, and saving and protecting spikes and cleats from being broken or worn away, in a variety of colors and styles suitable for any sport, team, or use. 
         [0021]    Thus, it should be understood that the embodiments and examples have been chosen and described in order to best illustrate the principles of the invention and its practical applications to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited for particular uses contemplated. Even though specific embodiments of this invention have been described, they are not to be taken as exhaustive. There are several variations that will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto.