Patent Publication Number: US-2016227872-A1

Title: Shoe cover

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There are several pairs of shoes that exist in most women&#39;s closets. For example, there are the classic pump and the ballerina slipper (otherwise known as ‘my flats’). And these two classics are not just requisites for working women. They are considered the basics for women of all ages, sizes, and shapes, be they working women or not. Every woman wants a pair of pumps for dress and flats for shopping and general comfort. These items are commonly bought in plain colors that will coordinate with most of the clothes in their closets. 
     Shoes come not only in every size, but also at every price. Serviceable shoes exist at $25.00 and $2,500 and at all prices there between. Women mostly buy the shoes they can afford, and, very often these days, skimp somewhere in the budget to purchase that extra pair to match a special outfit. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The field of the invention is costume design as it relates specifically and exclusively to shoes. 
     This invention creates a wardrobe of changes for a prototype shoe. It is specifically designed to alter the shoe&#39;s entire appearance thereby making the prototype appear to be a different shoe entirely. Each wardrobe change, or disguise, has everything necessary to complete the effect of a shoe change, including a sole of its own, allowing the wearer the same access to the street as comfortably as with any other commonplace retail shoe. Having slipped on the disguise, it appears to be the shoe itself, and nobody can discern a difference. 
     There have been some patents granted for changing the appearance of shoes. 
     Lin (U.S. Pat. No. 6,349,486) reveals a sandal comprised of a sole and two straps. The straps can be exchanged using a complex fastening device embedded in the sole. The difficulties attendant with the device exist in addition to the limitation of this application: two-strap sandals. 
     Bauer (U.S. Pat. No. 4,377,042) reveals a complicated athletic shoe with a removable out-sole. The shoe includes an upper portion designed to fit an individual foot and ankle of a particular wearer, and is permanently attached to the insole. The out-sole and insole are connected together by mating hook and pile members. Bauer does not attach the upper portion directly the sole base without an insole. Its purpose is to serve the athlete, not the fashion conscious woman. 
     Hartung (U.S. Pat. No. 5,983,528) uses a fastening device (a zipper), which attaches the upper to the sole, and extends at least partially around the peripheral region of the sole to form a barrier between the joining device and the interior space of the shoe. It is a complicated and unsightly device. 
     Bailey (U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,369) uses fasteners for attaching the shoe top to the shoe bottom. This again poses the introduction of a third element—as do the others—which is a system that can fail as well as an additional expense. Costly fastening systems diminish the value of utilizing the footwear. 
     All of the above-mentioned patents represent systems with third element attachments that are neither fail-safe nor cost effective. 
     Shoes serve several purposes. The first is utilitarian. Shoes protect ones feet. The second is style. Having shoes that match outfits, or at least complement one&#39;s daily wardrobe, is very much a part of looking stylish. Given our present-day style consciousness, women are buying more shoes than even before. Women&#39;s style footwear in 2013 generated revenue of $41.52 billion, a 4 percent increase over the flat growth experienced in 2012 indicating women are increasingly interested in having their feet fashionably dressed. It is difficult to have shoes to match every item of clothing. 
     How does one acquire Oprah Winfrey&#39;s large shoe collection with Little Orphan Annie&#39;s allowance? By having one prototype and many disguises to cover or ‘costume’ the prototype: Tiger striped on Monday, Leopard-spotted on Tuesday, Two-toned on Wednesday, Purple suede on Thursday, Polka-dots on Friday, and Red Satin for that special occasion on Saturday night. The covers or costumes are easily affordable and cost effectively produced. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     A shoe cover that is made to disguise the prototype pump, the classic ballerina slipper and the everyday flat-heeled boot, or high-heeled boot. 
    
    
     
       A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The following figures display the shoe cover and regarding them will help the viewer to understand the assembly and the outcome. 
         FIG. 1 a    is a side view of a shoe cover according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 1 b    is an exploded view of a shoe cover and a sole piece attached to the shoe cover. 
         FIG. 2  is a view of an upper piece of a shoe cover. 
         FIG. 3  is a view of a heel cover piece of a shoe cover. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the upper piece. 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of a shoe cover with a sole piece and an upper piece. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of a shoe cover and a raised-heel shoe to be covered by the shoe cover. 
         FIG. 7  is a rear view of a shoe covered by a shoe cover. 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom view of a shoe covered by a shoe cover. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1 a    is a side view of a shoe cover  100  according to some embodiments. The shoe includes a heel  102 . The heel  102  can be of a size according to a style and or type of the shoe that the shoe cover  100  is configured to fit around. For example, if the shoe cover  100  is for a ballerina slipper, as shown in  FIG. 1   a,  the heel  102  can be of a smaller size. 
     The shoe cover  100  can be of a specific design or pattern. For example, the shoe cover  100  can have a leopard print pattern. In various embodiments the shoe cover  100  can be shaped to cover all or a portion of a shoe. For example, the shoe cover  100  can be shaped to cover the shoe  110  (as shown in  FIG. 1 a    and  FIG. 1 b   ) such that the tip of the shoe remains exposed. The shoe cover  100  can be of a size to fit securely around a shoe or a portion of a shoe without falling off during wear and without the use of affixing means, such as hooks, zippers, Velcro®, or adhesives. In various embodiments, the shoe is configured to be fitted with a plurality of different outer covers. In being configured to be fitted with a plurality of different outer covers, a wearer of the shoe can give the appearance that they are wearing different shoes even though they are actually wearing the same shoe. 
       FIG. 1 b    is an exploded side view of a shoe cover  100  and a sole piece  106  attached to the shoe cover  100 . The sole  106  can be comprised of an applicable material for protecting a foot of a wearer of the shoe cover  100 . Examples of applicable materials include rubber, leather, plastics, man-made materials, and natural materials. The sole  106  includes an attachment means  108  through which the sole  108  is attached to the shoe cover  100 . An attachment means can include an applicable glue or adhesive. As illustrated in  FIG. 1   b,  sole piece  106  extends continuously along the entire bottom surface  802  of shoe cover  100 , from a toe to a heel  151  of shoe  110 . The toe of the shoe  110  is not illustrated in  FIG. 1 b    as it is covered by the shoe cover  100 . 
     After taking measurements of the shoe last and the shoe itself, the template for a shoe cover is created. For example, the template for a shoe cover comprised of four separate pieces, including the upper piece, heel cover, sole and back counter piece. The template pieces are laid down onto the chosen fabric or material and an outline of the template is drawn onto the material. Once all pieces of the template have been drawn, they are cut out. Alternatively, the template for a shoe cover can be comprised of two or three pieces. 
       FIG. 2  is a view of an upper piece  200  of a shoe cover. The upper piece  200  includes a back left piece  202  and a right counter piece  204 . The back left piece  202  and the right counter piece  204  are sewn together through a ¼″ seam. 
     After the back left piece  202  and the right counter piece  204 , are sewn together to form the upper piece  200 , then the upper piece  200  is folded in half along its central axis  206 . The fold is made where the left and right sides of the upper meet. The idea mimics taking pieces of paper and folding them in half in the portrait or horizontal position. Once the left and right sides of the upper piece  200  meet they are pinned and sewn together with a ¼″ sewing seam along the edge of the upper piece  200 . The upper piece  200  is sewn along the edge three quarters of the way around before stopping, in order to leave an un-pinned and unsewn hole for the heel of the shoe to pass through. For example, the hole can be 1″ in diameter. Then continue to sew up the back counter of the upper piece  200  where the heel passes. Doing so leaves a seam on the bottom part of the upper such that it is not viewed when it is worn by a wearer. 
       FIG. 3  is a view of a heel cover piece  300  of a shoe cover. In forming the shoe cover, the heel cover piece  300  and the upper piece are turned inside out and the heel cover is attached to the upper piece where the hole was left for the heel to pass through using an applicable attachment means, such as stitching, glue, and adhesive. The upper piece is attached to the heel cover piece  300  along line  302  shown in  FIG. 3 . The heel cover piece  300  can be sewn with a ¼″ seam along the top of the heel cover and then folded in half where the two edges of the left and right sides of the heel cover piece  300  meet. After the heel cover  300  is sewn onto the upper piece, the upper piece and the heel cover  300  are turned right side out. 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of the upper piece  200 . The upper piece has piece of elastic  402  sewn along the top so that the upper will not slide off the top of the shoe. The elastic is sewn at least three quarters of the way around the top of the upper piece. This elastic is so thin and the seam so small the elastic is almost invisible. This gives the fabric a gathered look but when stretched out the gathering of the material is not visible. 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded view of a shoe cover  100  with a sole piece  106  and an upper piece  200 . The sole piece can match the bottom of the upper piece  200  to cover the entire bottom of the upper piece  200 , or be shaped to cover a portion of the bottom of the upper piece  200 . The sole piece  106  can be a ⅛″ thick rubber sole matching the exact shape and size of the bottom of the upper piece  200 . The sole piece can be attached to the bottom of the upper piece  200  through an applicable attachment means, such as glue or an adhesive. The sole functions to cover a seam created when folding the upper piece  200  to fit around a shoe. A gripping insert  510  can be included within the cavity formed by the folding of the upper piece  200 . The gripping insert  510  can be configured to engage a shoe of a wearer of the shoe cover to prevent slipping of the shoe cover along the outer surface of the shoe.  FIG. 5  also illustrates inner surface  620 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , gripping insert  510  may be positioned so as not to extend to the edges of inner surface  620 , and therefore not contact side portions  640  of upper piece  200 . 
       FIG. 6  is a side view of a shoe cover  100  and a raised-heel shoe  610  to be covered by the shoe cover  100 . The shoe cover  100  includes a back counter piece  604 . The shoe can include heel lift piece  602  which can be coupled to the heel according to an applicable attachment means, such as glue or adhesive. The heel lift piece  602  can be a thin rubber grip or another applicable material with a high coefficient of friction.  FIG. 6  further illustrates the toe  150 , heel  151 , sides  641 , and sole  630  of the shoe  610 . The upper piece  200  of shoe cover  100  also includes side portions  640  and inner surface  620 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , sole piece  106  extends along the entire bottom surface (not illustrated in  FIG. 6 ) of the upper piece  200  from the toe  150  to the heel  151  of the shoe  610 . Sole piece  106  has a ground contact portion  107  at a toe end  109  which contacts the ground when the shoe  610  and shoe cover  100  are worn and a non-ground-contact portion  108  at a heel side  111  which does not contact the ground when the shoe  610  and shoe cover  100  are worn. 
       FIG. 7  is a rear view of a shoe  110  covered by a shoe cover  100 . As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , and described above with respect to  FIG. 2 , shoe cover  100  may have a seam  701  down the back continuing to the bottom of the cover.  FIG. 7  further illustrates sole piece  106  extending along a bottom of the shoe cover  100 . The seam  701  along the bottom of shoe cover  100  cannot be seen because it is covered by sole piece  106 . 
       FIG. 8  is a bottom view of a shoe  110  covered by a shoe cover  100 . As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , and described above with respect to  FIG. 2 , shoe cover  100  may have a seam  801  along the bottom surface  802  of the upper piece.