Patent Abstract:
A removable outersole covering for the treaded bottom of an athletic footcovering is provided in one embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment the outersole includes an elastically deformable band defining a continuous loop, the band having a top edge and a bottom edge, the bottom edge of the band forming the shape of the border of the treaded bottom of the athletic footcovering, a sole surface coupled to the bottom edge of the band, the sole surface configured in the shape of the treaded bottom of the athletic footcovering; and a plurality of sport cleats protruding from the bottom side of the sole surface.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present invention regards a supplemental removable outersole for footwear. More particularly the present invention regards a supplemental removable outersole having athletic spikes or grips that can be releasably secured to the sole of footwear for athletic use. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Cleated or spiked athletic shoes often have their spikes or cleats secured to a rigid flat sole. These rigid soles impart at least two functions. They provide an outside surface for the spikes or cleats to be mounted to and they provide a foundation for the construction of the upper portions of the shoe. The outside surface of the sole, exposed to the outside environment, is typically an uncovered and exposed rigid plastic designed to withstand external impacts. Comparatively, the inside surface of the sole, in contact with an athlete&#39;s foot, is typically covered with a layer of cloth or other material to provide a degree of cushioning. Despite this covering, however, the inside surface of the rigid flat sole may irritate or otherwise injure the foot of the wearer. For athletes, who wear these athletic shoes over prolonged periods of time, their feet may rub against the unyielding rigid inside surface, grazing their feet and leading to the formation of calluses and blisters. In addition, the flat bottoms can promote premature foot fatigue and flatten the wearer&#39;s foot due to the lack of arch support. Moreover, in younger athletes, whose feet are still developing, the problem is even more troublesome as the lack of support may not only irritate and fatigue the athletes foot but may also lead to irreparable injuries of their feet. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to supplemental removable outersoles for athletic footwear. In one embodiment of the present invention, a removable outersole covering for the treaded bottom of athletic footwear is provided. In this embodiment the outersole includes: an elastically deformable band defining a continuous loop, the band having a top edge and a bottom edge, the bottom edge of the band forming the shape of the perimeter of the treaded bottom of the athletic footcovering, a sole surface coupled to the bottom edge of the band, the sole surface configured in the shape of the treaded bottom of the athletic footcovering; and a plurality of sport cleats protruding from the bottom side of the sole surface. 
   In another embodiment of the present invention athletic footwear having a top surface is provided. This footwear may include a permanent sole; a removable outersole covering the permanent sole; a plurality of sport cleats protruding from the removable outersole; and an elastically deformable band secured to the entire perimeter of the removable outersole, the elastically deformable band sized to removably secure the removable outersole to the permanent sole. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a rear side isometric view of an athletic footcovering and removable supplementary outersole in accord with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a rear side isometric view of the athletic footcovering and removable supplementary outersole from  FIG. 1  after the supplementary outersole has been secured to the athletic shoe. 
       FIG. 3  is a rear side isometric view of a removable supplementary outersole and a rear bottom isometric view of an athletic footcovering in accord with an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a front plan view of the athletic shoe and removable supplementary outersole of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  is a rear plan view of the athletic footcovering and the removable supplementary outersole of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 6  is an isometric top view of a removable supplementary outersole in accord with another alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is an isometric top view of a removable supplementary outersole mounted on an athletic footcovering in accord with another alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1  is a side isometric view of athletic footwear or footcovering  10  and a supplementary removable outersole  15  in accord with an embodiment of the present invention. The athletic footcovering  10  in this embodiment has a toe cap  13 , a bottom tread  12 , and a side molding  11 , all made from injected rubber. These components may also be made from polyvinyl chloride and certain durable foams, while the toe cap may also be made from canvas. Moreover, other materials may also be used to manufacture these components. 
   The removable supplementary outersole  15  in this embodiment has a sole plate  17  with a bottom surface  19  having cleats  18  screwed to it. The supplementary outersole  15  also has a side elastic border  16  with a top edge  101  and a bottom edge  102 , the bottom edge  102  being glued to the plate  17 . The plate  17  in this embodiment has been made from a rigid plastic while the elastic border has been made from rubber. The removable supplementary outersole  15  has been sized to fit underneath and elastically secure itself to the bottom of the athletic footcovering  10 . 
   In use the removable supplementary outersole  15  may be placed beneath the athletic footcovering  10  as shown by arrows  14 . The elastic border may then be stretched while the bottom tread  12  of the athletic footcovering  10  is slid towards and comes in contact with the top surface of the plate  17 . Once the tread  12  has been firmly placed against the top surface of the plate  17  the elastic border may be released and the athletic footcovering and removable outersole combination is ready for use. By adding the supplementary removable outersole  15  to the athletic footcovering  10 , the athletic footcovering may now be worn as a cleated shoe. Thus, the athletic footcovering may be worn either with or without the removable outersole  15 . When the outersole  15  is not on the athletic footcovering the athletic footcovering may be used for day to day activities and when the removable outersole  15  is added to the athletic footcovering  10  it may be used for athletic competitions requiring spikes of cleats such as soccer, golf, and football. The treaded bottom of the athletic footcovering allows the shoe to also be worn without the outersole  15 . This treaded surface may include rubber, foam and other surfaces and may be both patterned and unpatterned. 
   The plate  17  is sized for the specific athletic footcovering  10  in this embodiment although it may be sized to cover a variety of athletic footcoverings, the sizes changing in both configuration and in foot size. The outersole  15  may be sized to fit multiple configurations by increasing the height of the elastic border or otherwise adjusting its configuration to conform to a wider variety of athletic footcoverings including both sneakers and sandals as well as other types of athletic footwear. 
     FIG. 2  is a side isometric view of the athletic footcovering  10  and the supplementary removable outersole  15  after they have been combined in accord with an embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen in  FIG. 2  the top edge  101  of the elastic border  16  does not extend past the top rim of the side molding  11  of the athletic footcovering  10 . It is preferred in this embodiment to push the tread  12  into the outersole  15  until it come in contact with the top surface of the plate  17  which is hidden behind the elastic border and beneath the treads  12 . 
     FIG. 3  is a bottom isometric view of an athletic footcovering  20  and a top isometric view of a supplementary removable outersole  25  in accord with an alternative embodiment of the present invention. Evident in  FIG. 3  is the side molding  21 , the treads  22 , the cleats  28 , the elastic border  26 , the top surface of the plate  27  and the bottom surface of the plate  29 . 
     FIG. 4  is a front elevation of the athletic footcovering  20  and removable outersole  25  of  FIG. 3 . The profile of the cleats  28  is clearly evident in this view. Also evident are the side molding, the treads  22 , the elastic border, and the top surface of the plate  27 . 
   Depending upon the desired sport, the cleats located underneath the plate may be removed and substituted for metal spikes, soft spikes of any other gripping system that may be appropriate for the sport to be played. 
   Moreover, while an athletic footcovering has been described in the above embodiments a low-heeled shoe may instead be used with the removable outersole being tiered to accommodate the heel. The removable outersole may, in this embodiment, contain soft spikes. Thus, in this embodiment, the removable outersole my convert an ordinary street shoe into a shoe suitable for golf. 
     FIG. 5  is a rear elevation of the athletic footcovering  20  and removable outersole  25  of  FIG. 3 . As is evident in this view, the elastic border  26  has a tapered cross-section. Also evident in this view is that the threads  22  rest against the top surface  51  of the plate  27  in this embodiment and that the elastic border may be the sole means for attaching the outersole  25  to the footcovering  20 . 
     FIG. 6  is a top isometric view of a supplementary removable outersole  60  in accord with another alternative embodiment of the present invention. The cross straps  61 , anchored to the elastic border  66  is clearly evident. These straps  61  may be employed in this embodiment to further secure the outersole  60  to a shoe. The straps  61  may be made from any elastic material and may be glued to side of the border  66  or may be releasably secured to the elastic border through a snap or other securement means. Moreover, the straps  61  illustrated in  FIG. 6  may also be laces  61  or other securement means that may be used to supplement the attachment of the removable outersole  60  to a shoe (which is not shown). 
     FIG. 7  is a rear side isometric view of another alternative embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment the supplemental releasable outersole  70  is further secured to the athletic footcovering  79  with a toe cap  71  in addition to the strap  72 . The toe cap  71  working in conjunction with the strap  72  can be configured in innumerable configurations to help secure the releasable outersole  70  to the athletic footcovering  79 . The toe cap is advantageous because it can facilitate the securement of the outersole  70  to several lengths of shoe. The toe cap  71  and the strap  72  may be formed in conjunction with the rest of the releasable outersole  70  or alternatively the toe cap  71  and the strap may be formed separately from the outersole  70  and may later be secured to the shoe with snaps or some other fastening means. 
   Also evident in  FIG. 7  are the elastic border  73  and the turf knobs  74 . As can be seen the elastic border is taller in this embodiment than in the previous embodiments and completely covers the lower portion of the athletic footcovering. In addition, rather than having the spikes or cleats of the previous embodiments the removable sole  70  in this embodiment contains a plurality of knobs  74  protruding from its lower surface. These knobs are preferably formed as surface protrusions during the manufacturing of the removable outersole  70 . 
   A supplemental removable outersole for athletic footwear has been provided. While various embodiments have been presented above other embodiments are also plausible without straying from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0