Abstract:
An overshoe used while finishing concrete and worn over another article of footwear. The overshoe includes a flexible and resilient sole and a substantially flat and smooth outsole, which is substantially resistant to adhering to wet concrete and abrasion resistant. The overshoe further includes a strap, which securely holds the overshoe onto a work boot.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Priority is hereby claimed to provisional application Ser. No. 60/897,300, filed Jan. 25, 2007, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to an article of footwear designed to be worn over another shoe or boot and used while finishing concrete. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     Concrete is one of the fundamental materials used in construction. This highly versatile mix of cement, aggregate, and water has become one of the most widely used manmade materials on the planet. Concrete is prized for its strength, durability, and workability. Because of its strength, concrete is used as the core structural support of many buildings. Once concrete has cured, it becomes impervious to many external factors such as water, temperature, chemicals, and other natural forces. Because concrete is immensely workable, it can also be used in decorative or aesthetic ways. 
     Large slabs of concrete are created by pouring a mixture of concrete into a mold or other form. Because concrete is liquid and flows, gravity will create a generally flat and horizontal top surface. The top surface of a poured concrete slab will likely dry with an uneven and irregular surface; therefore, additional work is required to finish and smooth the top layer of the concrete. The finishing procedure requires a worker to smooth out the top layer of concrete with powered or manual tools. For a relatively small slab of concrete, a worker can stand beside the slab and reach across the slab with the finishing tool. The process of finishing a large concrete slab requires the operator to walk across the concrete slab surface and use several different pieces of equipment or tools to smooth the slab surface as it sets. The concrete is considered to be in a “plastic state” after it has been poured when it is not exactly wet, but is not yet dry. 
     Walking on wet concrete presents an obvious problem. Standard shoes or work boots used by construction workers generally have an aggressively lugged tread. Furthermore, lugged treads often pick up dirt and other debris when worn on outdoor surfaces. The dirt and debris from the shoes is deposited onto the top of and into the concrete slab. Walking on a wet concrete slab with these shoes creates footprints and indentations and deposits debris into the surface of the concrete slab. Work boots can dig into the surface of the drying concrete causing scarring or other damaging marks. Thus, a worker must not only finish the irregular surface of the drying concrete but also repair the footprints that the worker left in the concrete. One alternative to walking upright on the concrete is kneeling on the concrete slab on a “kneeboard.” The kneeboard is commonly a flat piece of stainless steel or fiberglass with the dimensions approximately 3 feet long and 1 foot wide. The size of the board spreads out the weight of the worker over a larger surface area and decreases the impression in the concrete. Although they spread out the weight, kneeboards made of stainless steel often become dented and bent and can imprint the concrete. Kneeboards made from fiberglass are porous and, along with stainless steel, stick to concrete. Furthermore, kneeling on the kneeboards causes pain and injury to the workers; standing upright while working on concrete is ergonomically preferred. 
     Wearing common work boots and shoes, while finishing a concrete slab, creates extra work for the concrete finishers. Therefore, a need exists for an article of footwear, which can be worn while standing and finishing concrete and not create surface flaws in the concrete slab. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention is directed to an article of footwear comprising a sole, a sidewall, a toe guard, and a strap. The sole has a perimeter and further comprises a substantially planar outsole, an insole, a midsole, a forefoot section, and a heel section. The sole is constructed from a material substantially resistant to adhering to wet concrete. The sidewall is attached substantially perpendicular to the perimeter of the sole. The sidewall further comprises two flanges, and each flange has an aperture defined therein. The toe guard is attached to the sidewall and is dimensioned and configured to cover the forefoot section of the sole. The strap comprises a first end and a second end dimensioned and configured to connect to each other. The strap is also dimensioned and configured to pass through the apertures in the flanges. The length of the strap is adjustable, and the first end of the strap and the second end of the strap are connected via a hook and loop buckle. The two flanges are located on opposing sides of the perimeter of the sole, and the apertures within the flanges are in substantial registration. The sole of the invention is comprised of a flexible and resilient material. The outsole is substantially flat and substantially smooth. The toe guard further contains at least one aperture dimensioned and configured to allow the passage of moisture and air. 
     The present invention is further directed to an article of footwear comprising a sole, a sidewall, a toe guard, and a strap. The sole has a perimeter and comprises an outsole, an insole, a midsole, a forefoot section, and a heel section. The outsole is substantially flat and smooth, and the sole is comprised of a substantially flexible and resilient material and is constructed from a material substantially resistant to adherence to wet concrete. The sidewall is attached substantially perpendicular to the perimeter of the sole. The sidewall further comprises two flanges, and each flange has an aperture defined therein. The toe guard is attached to the sidewall and dimensioned and configured to cover the forefoot section of the sole. The toe guard further comprises at least one aperture dimensioned and configured to allow the passage of moisture and air. The strap comprises a first end and a second end dimensioned and configured to connect to one another. The strap is dimensioned and configured to pass through the apertures and the flanges. The article of footwear is dimensioned and configured so that a second shoe can be placed on top of, and within, the perimeter of the insole. The toe guard covers the forefoot section of the second shoe, and the strap securely holds the second shoe in the article of footwear. 
     The present invention is further directed to an article of footwear comprising a sole, further comprising an insole and outsole, a forefoot section, a heel section, and two opposing lateral sides. The insole is dimensioned and configured to support and cradle a shoe, and the outsole is substantially flat and smooth. An upper is attached to the sole. The upper further comprises a toe guard, at least two flanges, and a perimeter sidewall. The toe guard is located at the forefoot section of the sole and defines a space between the insole and the toe guard. The at least two flanges are located on the two opposing lateral sides of the sole, and the at least two flanges have at least one aperture defined therein. The apertures are in substantial registration with one another. The perimeter rail is attached substantially perpendicular to the sole and is dimensioned and configured to wrap around the heel section of the sole. The strap comprises a first end and a second end and passes through the apertures in the at least two flanges. The first end and second end of the strap are dimensioned and configured to connect to each other. The first end and the second end define a length of the strap, which can be adjusted. 
     The present invention is an overshoe designed to be worn over a standard piece of footwear or, specifically, a work shoe. The overshoe is worn when a worker must walk on an end-process concrete slab. The substantially smooth and flat outsole of the overshoe spreads out the weight of the worker over a larger surface area of the concrete. This is especially advantageous compared to the traditional aggressively lugged outsoles of work shoes and boots. The flat outsole does not exert pressure on the concrete in a localized area and thus does not create divots or indentations in the concrete. Furthermore, the rounded edges of the outsole prevent the overshoe from putting creases or other lines in the wet concrete. Because the overshoe is made of a flexible and resilient material, the midsole and outsole can absorb localized pressure from the worker&#39;s shoe and spread the pressure across the surface of the outsole. This action further prevents localized pressure points between the outsole and the concrete. The flexibility of the overshoe allows for a rolling foot plant when the worker steps on the concrete. This rolling foot plant is advantageous over the stiffer construction of a typical work boot. The rolling foot plant also gradually introduces the pressure of the worker&#39;s weight onto the concrete and prevents acute impressions in the wet slab. 
     The overshoe is preferably made from a material which is substantially resistant to adherence to wet concrete and concrete in the plastic state. The preferred materials are ALCRYN® brand melt-processible rubber and DURAGRIP® brand melt-processible rubber. Both ALCRYN® brand melt-processible rubber and DURAGRIP® brand melt-processible rubber are available from Advanced Polymer Alloys, a division of Ferro Corporation, located in Wilmington, Del. ALCRYN® brand melt-processible rubber is non-hygroscopic and is very chemical resistant. ALCRYN® brand melt-processible rubber and DURAGRIP® brand melt-processible rubber are also abrasion resistant based on its tensile strength. The plastic state and finishing stage of concrete allow for the “cream” to rise to the top. This “cream” is typically very smooth, fluid, and sticky. The overshoe, made from adherence-resistant material, will not stick to the cream of the concrete. Therefore, when a worker walks across the concrete slab, he is less likely to leave footprints. In addition to the adherence resistance and flexibility of the overshoe material, it also is significantly abrasion resistant. This is advantageous because it extends the life of the overshoe in real world applications. The rough surface of cured concrete and asphalt wears down the soles of typical shoes and work boots. The overshoe&#39;s abrasion-resistant qualities help maintain the flat and smooth outsole for longer periods of time. 
     The design of the overshoe includes features designed for the comfort and safety of the worker. The elegant simplicity of the design makes the overshoe easy to put on. The large insole accommodates other shoes and work boots, which are typically large and bulky. A worker does not need to remove his work shoes to use the overshoe. The worker simply slips his work shoe onto the insole and underneath the toe guard. The toe space, between the toe guard and insole, is large enough to accommodate even the largest steel-toed work boots. The sidewall, which extends around the perimeter of the insole, keeps the worker&#39;s shoe in place on the insole. A simple strap mechanism securely holds the worker&#39;s shoe in place on the overshoe. The strap extends through the apertures in the lateral flanges and across the laces of the worker&#39;s shoe. The second end of the strap stretches around the back of the heel and attaches to the first end of the strap. A simple hook and loop type fastener securely holds the strap together. An adjustable buckle on the second end of the strap allows the effective length of the strap to be shortened and lengthened to accommodate the largest and smallest of feet. The toe guard has a plurality of holes, which provide for ventilation and water drainage. The sole of the overshoe is ergonomically beneficial to the worker because the sole is made from a flexible and resilient material. This feature reduces the stress on the worker&#39;s feet. 
     The objects and advantages of the invention will be illustrated more fully in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention made in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side plan view of the overshoe. 
         FIG. 2  is an upper perspective of the overshoe illustrating the insole and the toe guard. 
         FIG. 3  is a lower perspective of the overshoe illustrating the smooth and flat outsole and the toe space. 
         FIG. 4  is an upper perspective of the overshoe illustrating the strap and the apertures in the flanges through which it passes. 
         FIG. 5  is an illustration of a work boot inserted into the overshoe and held in place by the strap. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made to the attached drawings, where the same reference numerals are used throughout the various views. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , where the same reference numerals are used throughout the drawings, the invention is an overshoe  100 . As shown in the figures, the overshoe  100  is dimensioned and configured to be worn over another type of footwear or shoe (hereinafter generically referred to as a work boot  200 ). For purposes of brevity only, the following description is limited to an overshoe  100  dimensioned and configured to carry such a work boot  200 . The following description is limited to an overshoe  100  dimensioned and configured to be worn on wet concrete. However, the invention explicitly encompasses sizes, dimensions, and construction materials having the same claimed elements that are dimensioned and configured to be worn over other types of footwear and on other types of surfaces. 
       FIG. 1  is a side plan view of the overshoe  100 . The overshoe  100  has a substantially flat and smooth outsole  112  dimensioned and configured to non-intrusively spread the weight of a worker across a wider area of a concrete slab. The flat and smooth outsole  112  is not predisposed to indenting or gouging a pre-cured concrete slab, or concrete in the plastic state. The overshoe  100  has a substantially flexible and resilient sole  110 . The sole  110  is comprised of an outsole  112 , a midsole  114 , and an insole  116 . The insole  116  is dimensioned and configured to accommodate work boot  200 . The insole  116  is substantially slip resistant so that a work boot  200  will not slide across the insole  116  because of friction created. The midsole  114  is sandwiched between the outsole  112  and the insole  116 . The midsole  114  is also substantially flexible and resilient in order to absorb shock or pressure on a worker&#39;s feet. In the preferred embodiment, the entire sole  110  of the overshoe  100  is constructed from ALCRYN® brand or DURAGRIP® brand melt-processible rubbers. However, it is within the scope of the invention that the three layers of the sole  110  are constructed of different materials. For example, the outsole  112  may be constructed of any material that is flexible and substantially resistant to adhering to concrete. Concrete is defined as any cement-based product including epoxy, stamped concrete, colored concrete, self-leveling concrete, lightweight concrete, etc. In another embodiment, the sole is resistant to adhering to mud or clay. The midsole  114  may be constructed of any material that is flexible and provides cushioning for the worker. The insole  116  can be made of any flexible material that may also give significant grip to the work boot  200 . Additionally, the insole  116  may be coated with another slip-resistant material, such as sandpaper, to increase friction and grip between the work boot  200  and the insole  116 . In yet another embodiment, the outsole can be adapted to include spikes used to walk on thin layers of lightweight concrete. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the overshoe  100  has a forefoot section  118 , two lateral sides  119 , and a heel section  120 . The heel section  120  may also include a concave indentation into the midsole  114  extending horizontally from one lateral side  119  to the other lateral side  119 . A sidewall  124  wraps around the perimeter of the sole  110 . The sidewall  124  extends approximately around the perimeter of the sole  110  from the forefoot section  118  along a lateral side  119  around the heel section  120  along the other lateral side  119  and ends back at the forefoot section  118 . The sidewall  124  rises perpendicularly from the sole  110  to a height low enough to be easy to put on and a level high enough to prevent the work boot  200  from slipping off the insole  116 . The toe guard  122  covers the forefoot section  118  of the sole  110 . The distance between the toe guard  122  and the insole  116  defines the toe space  125 . The toe space  125  is preferably large enough to accommodate a typical work boot  200 . However, the toe guard  122  may also be made of ALCRYN® brand or DURAGRIP® brand melt-processible rubbers, which would make the toe guard  122  flexible. A flexible toe guard  122  can stretch and expand to accommodate unusually large work boots  200 . The toe guard  122  also contains ventilation holes  123 , which allow for the passage of air and moisture from the toe space  125 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the overshoe  100  also includes two flanges  126  located on each of the lateral sides  119 . Each of the flanges  126  is located above the sidewall  124  and between the forefoot section  118  and the heel section  120 . Each flange  126  has an aperture  128 . The apertures  128  are in substantial registration separated by the insole  116  of the overshoe  100 . In  FIG. 4 , the strap  130  is illustrated passing through each of the apertures  128 . The strap  130  is preferably made of a strong and elastic material. However, it may be made of any other substantially strong and flexible material. The strap  130  has a first end  132  and a second end  134 . The strap  130  is dimensioned and configured so that the first end  132  and second end  134  can be securely attached to one another. In the preferred embodiment, the first end of the strap  130  includes a loop  138 . The second end  134  preferably includes a buckle  136  with a hook  140 . The buckle  136  is dimensioned and configured to slide along the strap  130  to effectively change the length of the strap  130 . The hook  140  securely engages the loop  138  on the first end of the strap  130 . Although the preferred embodiment includes a loop  138  and a hook  140 , other means of fastening could include snaps, adhesive, or any other similar means. 
       FIG. 5  is an illustration of a work boot  200  securely engaged to the overshoe  100 . The work boot  200  is resting on the insole  116  and between the heel section  120  and the forefoot section  118 . The work boot  200  is also inserted into the toe space  125 . The strap  130  secures the work boot  200  into the overshoe  100 . The strap passes through the apertures  128 , across the work boot  200  through the opposite aperture  128 , and around the back of the work boot  200 . The first end  132  and the second end  134  are brought together so that the loop  138  and hook  140  can engage. The buckle  136  can be slid along the second end  134  of the strap  130  to shorten the length of the strap  130 . 
     In summary, the design features of the overshoe  100  are designed for the comfort of the worker and the protection of the concrete slab. The outsole  112  is substantially wider than the average work boot  200  and is substantially flat and smooth. The low sidewall  124  and the strap  130  make the overshoe  100  easy to put on and use. The flexibility and resiliency of the sole  110  provide for a cushioned foot plant for the worker and pressure distribution to protect the concrete. 
     It is understood that the invention is not confined to the particular construction and arrangement of parts herein illustrated and described but embraces such modified forms thereof as come within the scope of the following claims. Thus, the invention encompasses all different versions that fall literally or equivalently within the scope of the claims.