Patent Publication Number: US-2009229148-A1

Title: Footwear protectors and methods of production

Description:
This application is a United States Utility Application that claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/036,604 filed on Mar. 14, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE SUBJECT MATTER 
     Protective coverings for footwear and particularly a protective covering for shoes and boots are described herein. 
     BACKGROUND 
     During periods of snow and rain it is often difficult to wear high heels or boots in view of the high possibility of the shoes being ruined in the snow or rain, especially when made of suede, leather, satin, silk, finer fabrics, etc. Even a single day in the snow or the rain, can make brand new shoes appear to be several years old. Therefore, most women walk around in snow boots or old shoes. Thus, what is needed in the art is a device which will allow women to wear their expensive heels, boots and other shoes while walking outside in the rain, snow, sleet, hail, etc. and without causing harm to such shoes and/or boots. There are several people who have tried to solve this problem with various designs, but as shown below, they all fall short for different reasons. 
     For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,479,006 issued to Garth uses a vinyl-based material with a zipper on the top of the “overshoe” in order to secure the covering on the shoe. In addition, the overshoe is manufactured by fusing several parts of the vinyl-based material together. The zipper on the top of the overshoe can rust, break down or cause water to leak into the inside of the overshoe and onto the foot and/or shoe. In addition, if the vinyl-based material is made to a certain specific size or stretches over time, there is no method to conform the overshoe to other types of shoes or tighten the overshoe to compensate for stretching. One weakness in the design is that the sole of the overshoe is straight along the bottom of the shoe and does not conform to the heel of the shoe, as in the case of high heel shoes (see FIG. 1 of Garth). 
     Larson et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 3,634,954) discloses wearable disposable coverings for hands and feet made from heat shrinking film. While this solves one of the problems of Garth in that Larson does not have a zipper on top of the covering, it creates other problems for the wearer. In Larson, the covering is designed to “loosely fit onto the foot” where it can be tightened by applying heat to the covering. While this arrangement may work at home, it is impossible to carry these coverings in a purse or briefcase and apply it on the run. One rarely carries a heating element around during the day to heat shrink foot coverings. 
     Plotkin (U.S. Pat. No. 4,967,491) discloses disposable, collapsable overshoes that have a plurality of foldlines or score lines on the overshoe to permit folding and collapsing the overshoe. Plotkin refers to these foldlines as “areas of weakening”, and it is understood by those in the art that repeated use of these overshoes will result in splits and tears at these “areas of weakening”, which will lead to leakage and expose to the elements for the shoes. 
     March (U.S. Pat. No. 6,584,704) discloses a rolled disposable shoe cover, wherein the cover is rolled over the shoe and snapped into place. Again, while this design solves some of the problems inherent in the other art, it is still a problematic design. For example, in order to provide a material that can be rolled up and unrolled, the material must be thin and pliable. This design may be fine if the cover is designed to be disposable, as is the case with the covers in March, but it is not an appropriate design if the wearer wants to reuse the covers multiple times. Second, the March design does not conform to the heels of a high heel shoe, as shown in FIG. 13 of the March patent. These covers are clearly designed to be uniformly applied to flat and heeled shoes, without taking into consideration the shoe design. Finally, the March design does not incorporate any method of tightening or adjusting the shoe cover in order to accommodate different types of shoes. Regardless of the fact that March utilizes polyurethane to provide an elastic and stretchable material, once the material is stretched beyond natural retraction, there is no method of tightening the shoe cover—and thus, it must be discarded. 
     Therefore, it would be ideal to develop a footwear protective covering that a) conforms to high heel shoes and boots by not only conforming to the shoe portion, but also conforming individually to the heel, b) is transparent, so that the shoe can be seen through the protective covering, c) protects the upper part of the foot and shoe from inclement weather, d) can be tightened to fit the individual shoe or foot, so that one protective covering can accommodate several types of heeled shoes and can survive after stretching during wear, e) can be reused overtime in order to reduce landfill materials, f) can be provided in different colors and with different designs to enhance the footwear and or act as a fashion accessory, and g) can be provided in at least partially opaque or fully opaque materials in order to provide a versatile design. 
     SUMMARY OF THE SUBJECT MATTER 
     Footwear protectors and covers are disclosed that include a body member, wherein the body member comprises an open top end, a foot portion, and a heel portion, and at least one tightening member coupled to the body member. 
     High heel footwear protectors are also disclosed that include a body member, wherein the body member comprises an open top end, a foot portion, and a heel portion, wherein the heel portion conforms to the individual heel of the footwear. 
     High heel footwear protectors also comprise a body member, wherein the body member comprises an open top end, a foot portion, and a heel portion opening, wherein the heel portion opening allows the heel of the footwear to fit through the opening. 
     In the high heel footwear protectors, these may include at least one tightening member. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a contemplated footwear protector utilized for boots. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a contemplated shoe protector of  FIG. 1  shown in use disposed over a boot. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the back of a contemplated footwear protector. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a contemplated shoe protector utilized with a skinny or slim heel women&#39;s shoe. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the shoe protector of  FIG. 4  shown in use disposed over a skinny or slim heel women&#39;s shoe. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a contemplated shoe protector utilized with a thick heel women&#39;s shoe. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the shoe protector of  FIG. 6  shown in use disposed over a thick heel women&#39;s shoe. 
         FIG. 8  shows a contemplated protector and footwear. 
         FIG. 9  shows a contemplated protector and footwear. 
         FIG. 10  shows a contemplated protector and footwear. 
         FIG. 11  shows a contemplated protector and footwear where the heel of the footwear is exposed. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Surprisingly, a footwear protective covering has been developed that a) conforms to high heel shoes and boots by not only conforming to the shoe portion, but also conforming individually to the heel, b) is transparent, so that the shoe can be seen through the protective covering, c) protects the upper part of the foot and shoe from inclement weather, d) can be tightened to fit the individual shoe or foot, so that one protective covering can accommodate several types of heeled shoes and can survive after stretching during wear, e) can be reused overtime in order to reduce landfill materials, f) can be provided in different colors and with different designs to enhance the footwear and or act as a fashion accessory, and g) can be provided in at least partially opaque or fully opaque materials in order to provide a versatile design. 
     Contemplated footwear protectors may a shoe or boot protector for each shoe or boot, which is designed to protect the footwear from the snow, rain, sleet, hail and other outside elements while walking outside and at the same permit the aesthetics and design of the shoe to be seen or otherwise visible. 
     Specifically, footwear protectors and covers are disclosed that include a body member, wherein the body member comprises an open top end, a foot portion, and a heel portion, and at least one tightening member coupled to the body member. High heel footwear protectors are also disclosed that include a body member, wherein the body member comprises an open top end, a foot portion, and a heel portion, wherein the heel portion conforms to the individual heel of the footwear. High heel footwear protectors also comprise a body member, wherein the body member comprises an open top end, a foot portion, and a heel portion comprising an opening, wherein the heel portion opening allows the heel of the footwear to fit through the opening and be exposed. In the high heel footwear protectors, these may include at least one tightening member. 
     In some embodiments, contemplated footwear protectors comprise a leg portion that effectively extends the footwear covering up the leg. This type of protective covering is advantageous to protect boots and shoes with knee socks, such as might be worn with mini skirts and school uniforms. 
       FIG. 1  shows a contemplated embodiment of the protector, generally designated as protector  10 , preferably for use with a boot, such as a women&#39;s boot.  FIG. 2  illustrates protector  10  disposed over a women&#39;s boot  50 . 
     In contemplated embodiments, protector  10  may comprise at least one transparent material, at least one partially opaque material, at least one opaque material, at least one patterned material or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, protector  10  is constructed from a clear or transparent material, such as, but not limited to plastics and polymer-based materials. In some embodiments, the material of the protector is designed to be transparent, so that the shoe or boot can be seen through the material. However, in some contemplated embodiments, the protector may comprise a color, such that it is transparent, but not clear. For example, the protector  10  may be any suitable color, such as pink, red, blue, purple, green, orange, yellow, gray, and any other number of suitable colors. Contemplated protectors  10  may be designed to be worn by marching bands and cheerleaders, so that they protect their shoes and feet during outdoor games, while still having the colors of the school. Additionally, aesthetic designs or artwork (i.e. flowers, school logos, words/phrases, sports team logos, etc.) can also be imprinted onto protector  10  to enhance its appearance. 
     Contemplated protector materials should permit a certain amount of stretching (without ripping), similar to a nylon stocking, such that protector  10  preferably conforms to the shape of women&#39;s boot  50 , including heel  52 . By conforming to boot  50 , the style, design and shape of boot  50  is not ruined or obstructed. Other materials which allow protector  10  to be stretched and slid over boot  50 , without prematurely tearing or ripping, can be used. 
     In some contemplated embodiments, protector  10  comprises a material that will allow for at least one tightening member  18  to be incorporated into the design, such as is shown in  FIG. 3 . So, for example, in those embodiments where the at least one tightening member includes a shoestring-type of product, the protector  10  must comprise a material that can hold up as the tightening members are tightened and loosened. In some embodiments, the holes in the protector material may also include protective eyelets, loops or lugs  20  that are designed in impart durability to the protective covering. 
     In one contemplated embodiment, protector  10  comprises a body member  11  having an open top end  12 , foot portion  14 , heel portion  16 , leg portion  17  and one or more tightening members  18 . Tightening members  18 , when provided, can be used to customize the shape and size of protector to boot  50  or any other piece of footwear. 
     In use, protector  10  is designed to fit over a shoe or boot  50  similar to a glove on a hand and generally forms the shape of boot  50 . To secure protector  10  onto boot  50 , the foot portion  54  and heel portion  52  of boot  50  are inserted within protector  10  through open end  12 . Protector  10  is stretched enough to permit heel portion (tall or short heel)  52  of boot  50  to be disposed or positioned within heel portion  16  of protector  10  and foot portion  54  to be disposed or positioned within foot portion  14  of protector  10 . The remaining leg portion of  56  of boot  50  is covered and protected by leg portion  17  of protector  10 . 
     Tightening members may be provided at certain strategic locations on the protective footwear coverings, including at the ball of the foot, at the top of the heel, above the ankle bone, midway up the leg, along the back of the leg, foot and or/heel, and/or at the open end  12  of the protector. In one embodiment, the at least one tightening member can be a tie string or set of laces, whereas in another embodiment tightening members  18  can be an elastic member that is either physically attached to or coupled with the protector  10 , wherein the at least one tightening member snugly grabs the portion of boot  50  or shoe to which it is adjacent to. Thus, protector  10  is slid over boot  50  and preferably tightened to fit exactly to boot  50 . 
     As distinguished from the Grath patent in the background section, tightening members are designed to tighten the protective cover around the piece of footwear and/or leg and not just to close the protective cover after inserting the shoe and foot. So, for example, in Grath—the zipper is included in the design merely to close the protective covering and not to tighten the protective covering. As also pointed out in the background, the zipper closure in Grath is also poorly placed, such that water can leak into the protective covering, especially if it is raining hard or the wearer is wading through high standing water. Additionally, in some contemplated embodiments of the present protector, tightening members are coupled with additional material or “tongues”, which may or may not be separate pieces of material from the protector  10 , that provide extra protection in addition to the tightening member. So, in embodiments where the tightening members comprise laces that lace up the protector, there is a tongue of material (shown in  FIG. 3  as reference number  22 ) under the tightening members that provides protection to the underlying foot or footwear. 
     In use disposed over a shoe or boot  50 , protector  10  is in the shape of boot  50 . In some embodiments, the actual shape of protector  10  fits closely against boot  50 , similar to a glove over a hand. The visible tightening members  18  can be of a color and/or design such that protector  10  adds to the aesthetics of boot  50 , as opposed to being a distraction. 
       FIG. 4  shows a second version of the protector, generally designated as protector  110 , preferably for use with a skinny or thin heel shoe  150 .  FIG. 5  illustrates protector  110  disposed over a women&#39;s skinny or thin high heel shoe  150 . As described earlier, contemplated materials should permit a certain amount of stretching (without ripping), similar to a nylon stocking, such that protector  110  preferably conforms to the shape of shoe  150 , including heel  152 . By conforming to shoe  150 , the style, design and shape of shoe  150  is not ruined or obstructed. Other materials which will allow protector  110  to be stretched and slid over shoe  150 , without prematurely tearing or ripping, can be used. 
     In some contemplated embodiments, protector  110  comprises a body member  111  having an open top end  112 , foot portion  114 , heel portion  116 , ankle/leg portion  117  and one or more tightening members  118 . Tightening members  118 , when provided, can be used to customize the shape and size of protector  110  to shoe  150  or any other shoe it is used with, as discussed earlier with other embodiments. 
     In use, protector  110  preferably fits over shoe  150  similar to a glove on a hand and preferably generally forms the shape of shoe  150 . To secure protector  110  onto shoe  150 , preferably foot portion  154  and heel portion  152  of shoe  150  are inserted within protector  110  through open end  112 . Protector  110  is stretched enough to permit heel portion  152  of shoe  150  to be disposed or positioned within heel portion  116  of protector  110  and foot portion  154  to be disposed or positioned within foot portion  114  of protector  110 . The remaining ankle/leg portion of  156  of shoe  150  is covered and protected by ankle/leg portion  117  of protector  110 . 
     Tightening members may be provided at certain strategic locations on the protective footwear coverings, including at the ball of the foot, at the top of the heel, above the ankle bone, midway up the leg (for boots and in embodiments where the wearer wants to cover socks), along the back of the leg, foot and or/heel, and/or at the open end  112  of the protector. In one embodiment, the at least one tightening member can be a tie string or set of laces, whereas in another embodiment tightening members  118  can be an elastic member that is either physically attached to or coupled with the protector  110 , wherein the at least one tightening member snugly grabs the portion of boot  150  or shoe to which it is adjacent to. Thus, protector  110  is slid over boot  150  and preferably tightened to fit exactly to boot  150 . 
       FIG. 6  shows another contemplated embodiment of a protector, generally designated as protector  210 , preferably for use with a thick heel shoe  250 .  FIG. 7  illustrates protector  210  disposed over a women&#39;s thick high heel shoe  250 . As mentioned, the material should permit a certain amount of stretching (without ripping), similar to a nylon stocking, such that protector  210  preferably conforms to the shape of shoe  250 , including heel  252 . By conforming to shoe  250 , the style, design and shape of shoe  250  is not ruined or obstructed. 
     Protector  210  preferably comprises a body member  211  having an open top end  212 , foot portion  214 , heel portion  216 , ankle/leg portion  217  and one or more tightening members  218 . Tightening members  218 , when provided, can be used to customize the shape and size of protector  210  to shoe  250  or any other shoe it is used with. 
     In use, protector  210  preferably fits over shoe  250  similar to a glove on a hand and preferably generally forms the shape of shoe  250 . To secure protector  210  onto shoe  250 , preferably foot portion  254  and heel portion  252  of shoe  250  are inserted within protector  210  through open end  212 . Protector  210  is stretched enough to permit heel portion  252  of shoe  250  to be disposed or positioned within heel portion  216  of protector  210  and foot portion  254  to be disposed or positioned within foot portion  214  of protector  210 . The remaining ankle/leg portion of  256  of shoe  250  is covered and protected by the ankle/leg portion  217  of protector  210 . 
     In use disposed over shoe  250 , protector  210  is basically in the shape of shoe  250 . The actual shape of protector  210  preferably fits closely against shoe  250 , similar to a glove over a hand. The visible tightening members  218  can be of a color and/or design such that protector  210  adds to the aesthetics of shoe  250 , as opposed to being a distraction. 
       FIGS. 8-11  show various contemplated embodiments of protective footwear coverings in use with shoes and boots that are contemplated. In  FIG. 8 , a protector  810  is utilized over an open-toe shoe  850  having an ankle strap  854 , wherein a plurality of tightening members  818  are located on the back of the protector  810 . In  FIG. 9 , a protector  910  is utilized over an open-toe shoe  950  having an embellishment  953 , wherein a plurality of tightening members  918  are located on the back of the protector  910 . In  FIG. 10 , a protector  1010  is utilized over a closed toe shoe  1050 , wherein a plurality of tightening members  1018  are located on the back of the protector  10107  according to one contemplated embodiment. In  FIG. 11 , a protector  1110  is utilized over a closed toe shoe  1150 , wherein a plurality of tightening members  1118  are located on the back of the protector  1110 , according to one contemplated embodiment. In this figure, an opening  1119  in protector  1110  is shown, wherein the heel  1152  of the shoe  1150  fits through the opening  1119  and is exposed. 
     Given the potential for slippery conditions when the protector will be used, in contemplated embodiments, the bottom area of the protector can be provided with an anti-slip, anti-skid, nonskid, nonslip and/or oil resistant component or material (all collectively referred to as “anti-slip”). The anti-slip member will not detract from the design of the protector or the shoe or boot, since it will be located on the bottom of the protector (when the protector is secured to the shoe or boot) and thus out of sight for the most part. 
     It should also be recognized that in, an alternative embodiment for all of the above versions ( 10 ,  110  and  210 ), the heel portion ( 16 ,  116  and  216 ) can be eliminated or removed such that the heel is not covered. A small aperture or slit may be provided to permit passage of the heel through body member ( 11 ,  111  or  211 ) of the protector ( 10 ,  110  or  210 ). The tightening members ( 18 ,  118  or  218 ) are still preferably provided in these embodiments, at the top of the heel and/or below the start of the shoe at the heel. Additionally, all other components or features (i.e. materials, anti-skid, designs, etc.) described above for protector ( 10 ,  110  or  210 ) can be included in this alternative embodiment. 
     Thus, in use, the protector covers the shoe or boot to protect it from the elements, while at the same permits the shoe or boot to be visible (in some embodiments). It should be recognized that contemplated footwear protectors can also be shaped for use with men&#39;s and children&#39;s shoes. It should be also appreciated that contemplated footwear protectors may be utilized for open-toe shoes, wedge shoes, platform shoes, sandals and shoes that having open areas on different parts of the shoes, tennis shoes and other types of athletic shoes. Contemplated protectors are able to protect and cover toe shapes and heel shapes of all sizes, including pointed, rounded, square, wedge and platform. Where the footwear comprises ankle straps, t-straps and embellishments, contemplated protectors are designed to cover all of these features and details comfortably without tearing. In contemplated embodiments, protectors disclosed herein are designed to stretch to fit different shapes of shoes and boots, heels and toes. 
     Contemplated protectors may be manufactured by any suitable methods, including molding protectors into a one-piece protector or fusing portions of the protector together, in order to meet the specific needs of a particular type of shoe. It should be understood, however, that the method of manufacturing is ideally optimized to produce a protector that is durable, reusable and substantially able to control leaks into the internal cavity of the protector. 
     The protector can be provided in a unique packaging. In one embodiment, the packaging can be in the shape of a purse. The handle can be cut-out so that, not only will it look like a purse, but it will be able to be displayed at retailers very easily by sliding the handle onto a rack. The box can also be fairly thin, similar to a typical panty-hose box, and thus can be displayed by stacking the packages of protectors up against each other, again similar to how panty-hose packaging is commonly displayed Though not limited to any particular colors, in one embodiment the packaging can be pink and black, with the base pink and the accents black or vice versa. The use of a “purse” style packaging can help to reinforce the idea that the protectors can easily be stored in one&#39;s purse without any hassle. 
     Prior to use, contemplated protectors can be shaped flat and fit comfortably into a purse or pocket. After use, contemplated protectors may be placed into a separate package or complimentary bag that allows the dirty protector to be placed in a bag or purse without damage to other items in the purse or bag. 
     Contemplated protectors can be designed such that it can be rinsed with water to be cleaned and then re-used again. It is anticipated that twenty to twenty five uses of contemplated protectors may be obtained before replacement would be necessary, though such is not considered limiting. In another embodiment, contemplated protectors can be designed such that it is replaced after each use or a few uses, and preferably a package of folded and/or flattened contemplated protectors would be carried by the user. In some contemplated embodiments, footwear protectors are considered ideal, because they are not disposed after each use and therefore will reduce landfill waste and reduce the costs to the wearer. 
     Thus, specific embodiments and methods of production for protective footwear coverings have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the disclosure herein. Moreover, in interpreting the specification and claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced.