Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to protective waterproof overshoes. More particularly, the present invention relates to protective boots or overshoes adapted to be worn over rubber or plastic cleated golf shoes for the purpose of keeping a golfer&#39;s feet dry when playing golf on a wet golf course and to provide sufficient traction for play.  
         [0002]     A conventional golf shoe is not waterproof and may have moisture or water, when a golfer plays in the rain or on a course that has been soaked by rainfall, seep into the shoe or overflow the shoe sides. Additionally, sometimes a golfer begins a round of golf on a clear day but rain or dew remains on the ground producing a highly concentrated moisture seepage problem for which most golf shoes are ill equipped to rebuff. The present invention is intended for use in such situations.  
         [0003]     While some more expensive golf shoes are designed to be water resistant, they are typically low cut shoes that stop below the ankle. Thus, even if such shoes do not allow water to penetrate through the sole, the upper, or the seams, water may enter the shoes from the mouth of the shoe below the ankle and the golfer&#39;s foot and shoe will still get wet. Further, these water resistant shoes are much more costly that conventional golf shoes having leather or synthetic uppers.  
         [0004]     Overshoes or boots made from elastomeric material are well known in the prior art. However, many shortcomings are evident in attempting to apply the typical overshoe to the golf scenario. These challenges are overcome by the present invention. A typical overshoe, made from rubber or other similar material, has a flimsy sole that does not provide good traction, particularly on grassy or muddy surfaces. Other overshoes, sometimes termed shoe jackets, permit the sole of the enclosed shoe to be exposed and only cover the upper portion of the shoe, thus providing an imperfect waterproofing which may allow water to seep into the overshoe from below.  
         [0005]     Additionally, a boot or overshoe can be difficult to put on over a regular shoe, and especially over a rubber or plastic cleated golf shoe, which requires the overshoe to have a higher instep height than does an ordinary shoe. Further, many overshoes are only low cut, and do not extend above the ankle. A golfer will normally want to wear both rain pants and waterproof shoes when playing on a wet course or in the rain, and it is imperative that the overshoe extend above the bottom of the cuff on the pants; otherwise, water running down the rain pants can enter the mouth of the shoe, and the entire purpose of wearing a waterproof overshoe or boot is defeated. Further still, many boots or overshoes do not secure snugly about a user&#39;s shoe, allowing the shoe to slide around within the boot. A poorly secured overshoe may make it uncomfortable and tiring to walk any significant distance and may cause the user to be less surefooted on wet or dry surfaces.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,434,565 [Haley] discloses a low cut elastomeric overshoe with a variety of interchangeable metal plates for installation in the sole, the metal plates having sharp metal projections or punched holes for creating traction on slippery or icy surfaces. The drawbacks of this design are that it does not extend above the ankle, that any holes in the metallic sole plates will permit water intrusion, and that it has no internal means to accommodate the spikes of a golf shoe.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,010,558 [Slusher] discloses an overshoe particularly adapted for use with a spiked golf shoe. However, this design includes openings to permit clearance for the spikes of the golf shoe about which the overshoe is fitted. In addition to the drawbacks of being low cut, this overshoe will permit intrusion of water from below into the space between the overshoe and the golf shoe, eventually allowing water to soak into the golf shoe and cause the golfer&#39;s sock and foot to become wet.  
         [0008]     Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,333 [Tsen] discloses a golf overshoe extending above the ankle with a partially open sole to permit the protrusion of the golf shoe spikes. While this design provides means to snug the rim of the overshoe against the golf shoe sole to seal against water intrusion, such a seal is necessarily imperfect. Further, this overshoe includes zippers down both the front and rear to ease the insertion of a shoed foot thereinto, the zippers being covered with flaps to protect against rain intrusion. However, the flaps may not prevent water from entering the overshoe if the golfer steps into a puddle or a section of very soggy turf or very deep wet grass.  
         [0009]     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a waterproof overshoe boot including a fully sealed and integral sole, as well as fully sealed and integral uppers, so that even if a golfer stands in a puddle of water, there will be no intrusion or seepage of moisture to the golfer&#39;s foot. It is another object of the present invention to provide a waterproof overshoe boot capable of accommodating a standard rubber or plastic cleated golf shoe, having sufficient instep clearance and including a means to retain the golf shoe in position within the overshoe so that the golf shoe will not slide around in the boot.  
         [0010]     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a waterproof overshoe boot that extends above the ankle so that water running off of rain pants cannot enter the mouth of the overshoe. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a waterproof overshoe boot having a durable and rugged cleated tread that provides a good grip on surfaces normally encountered on a golf course, including wet grass, mud, sand, and pavement. It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a waterproof overshoe boot that is easy for a golfer to put on and take off without first needing to remove his conventional rubber or plastic cleated golf shoes.  
         [0011]     Other objects will appear hereinafter.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     The present invention is a waterproof overshoe boot specifically adapted for use with a conventional rubber or plastic cleated golf shoe. The overshoe boot is of a unitary construction, with the sole portion and boot portion forming an integral and leak free enclosure. The inside of the boot includes a conforming insole of sufficient depth and flexibility to encapsulate the rubber or plastic cleats on the outsole of a conventional golf shoe, locking the golf shoe in place, and preventing the golf shoe from sliding around inside the boot. The conforming insole is also sufficiently resilient to rebound to its original shape once the overshoe boot is removed, so that a variety of golf shoe cleat patterns and types can be accommodated in the same boot. Additionally, the instep height of the overshoe is capable of fitting a cleated golf shoe.  
         [0013]     The upper portion of the overshoe boot of the present invention extends over the foot to above the ankle, so that rain water running off of rain pants will also run off the outside of the boot. Also, the closure system of the boot provides for a snug fit around the ankle that does not interfere with the pant leg of the golfer. The boot sole is sufficiently thick to give structural rigidity and to support a patterned grid tread similar to that found on hiking overshoes. The outsole tread provides traction on wet grass, in mud, in wet sand, and even on wet pavement.  
         [0014]     The overshoe boot of the present invention is adapted for easy entry of a golf shoe clad foot due to its double gusseted opening front. A longitudinal expansion gap runs down the front of the boot for almost its entire length, from the mouth to near the toe. Bridging the expansion gap, and integrally connected along its length, is a tongue in cooperation with two gusset flaps. When the boot is worn, the gusset flaps and tongue tuck neatly back behind the boot upper and inside the overshoe boot, which is fastened closed by engaging a plurality of mating hook and loop tabs, or another equivalent set of adjustable fasteners. The conforming insole captures the golf shoe cleats, and since the boot upper is waterproof due to its integral construction, the fasteners can be adjusted by the user for comfort.  
         [0015]     To enable insertion of a rubber or plastic cleated golf shoe into the overshoe boot, the fasteners are disengaged and the boot mouth opens widely as the tongue and gusset flaps unfold from within the overshoe boot. When the boot is fully opened, a shoed foot can readily be inserted thereinto with the cleated shoe sole planted firmly into the conforming insole of the boot. A shoed foot can be just as easily removed, by disengaging the fasteners and lifting the foot out of the overshoe boot. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]     For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings forms which are presently preferred; it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the waterproof protective overshoe for golf shoes of the present invention in the closed state.  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the waterproof protective overshoe for golf shoes of the present invention in the opened state, capable of receiving the shoed foot of a golfer.  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the gripper outsole of the protective overshoe for golf shoes of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a partially broken away view showing the insole of the protective overshoe for golf shoes of the present invention conforming to the spikes of a standard golf shoe. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]     The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. The description is not intended in a limiting sense, and is made solely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention. The various features and advantages of the present invention may be more readily understood with reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
         [0022]     Referring now to the drawings in detail, where like numerals refer to like parts or elements, there is shown in  FIG. 1 a  perspective view of the waterproof protective overshoe boot for golf shoes  10  in the closed state and in  FIG. 2 a  perspective view of the overshoe boot  10  in the opened state. The golf shoe protective overshoe  10  is a watertight boot of unitary construction, comprising a sole portion  12  integral with a boot portion  14 . The overshoe  10  is preferably cast as a single piece, to ensure structural integrity and imperviousness to water, but may also be assembled from multiple panels fused together at the seams. The overshoe  10  is manufacturable in incremental sizes to enable the proper fit for the wide range of golfer foot and shoe sizes.  
         [0023]     The boot portion  14  comprises a boot shell  26  interconnected along longitudinal seams to a tongue  16  by a pair of opposing gusset flaps  22 . When the overshoe  10  is in the closed position, the gusset flaps  22  fold inward towards the user&#39;s ankle and foot, overlapping the tongue  16 , with the tongue  16  and flaps  22  tucked underneath the boot shell  26  and the edges  24  of the boot shell  26  drawn into close proximity with each other, as shown in  FIG. 1 . When the overshoe  10  is in the opened position, the gusset flaps  22  and tongue  16  unfold from underneath the boot shell  26 , permitting the mouth  28  of the boot portion  14  to open widely to facilitate insertion or removal of the user&#39;s shoed foot from the overshoe  10 .  
         [0024]     As worn in the closed position, the protective overshoe  10  creates a lightweight waterproof enclosure to keep a golfer&#39;s foot dry to well above the ankle. When used in combination with standard rain pants extending below the ankle, the overshoe  10  will ensure that a golfer&#39;s shoes and feet remain dry while the golfer is outdoors in the rain, walking on rain-soaked terrain and through shallow puddles.  
         [0025]     As illustrated in the cut-away section of  FIG. 4 , the sole portion  12  comprises a gripping outsole  30 , a midsole  32 , and a conforming insole  34 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the outsole  30  has a patterned or rugged tread  38 , comprising an array or grid of protrusions of various geometries to enable a golfer to achieve solid non-slip footing and a firm grip on wet and slippery grass, dirt, sand, or paved surfaces, while walking or playing a shot on the golf course. The tread  38  provides the protective overshoe  10  traction equivalent to that obtained with a traditional rubber or plastic cleated golf shoe. The sole  30  may be fabricated from 70A hardness material that may be a rubber or equivalent polymeric material, approximately ¼″ thick. The overshoe  10  is preferably manufactured so that the boot shell  26  and the outsole  30  are molded as one integral unit. Alternatively, sole portion  12  and the boot portion  14  may be manufactured as separate pieces, with the perimeter of the sole  30  then being sealed to the boot shell  26  to provide an integral boot  10  that is impervious to water penetration.  
         [0026]     Referring again to  FIG. 4 , the midsole  32  is a transitional means to secure the conforming insole  34  to the gripping outsole  30 , and is permanently affixed to the outsole  30 . The inlaid conforming insole  34  is permanently affixed to the midsole  32 . If a midsole  32  is not used, the insole  34  may be affixed directly to the outsole  30 .  
         [0027]     The insole  34  is composed of a closed-cell energy absorbing material, such as soft rubber, vinyl nitrile, or another equivalent polymer composition including, without limitation, PVC, PE, EVA, SBR, EPT closed-cell foam, and high density neoprene rubber. The insole  34  has the ability to conform to accept the spike or cleat design and pattern  42  of any rubber or plastic cleated golf shoe  40 , holding the shoe  40 , and consequently the golfer&#39;s foot, firmly in position when the protective overshoe  10  is worn. Because the insole  34  returns to its original shape when the golf shoe  40  is removed, various golf shoes, having different cleat patterns, can be used over the life of the boot  10 , or from one round of golf to the next. The insole  34  should have a thickness of approximately 7/16 inches in order to accommodate standard rubber or plastic cleats.  
         [0028]     The sole portion  12  is not intended to accommodate golf shoes with metal spikes, which could potentially penetrate both the insole  34  and the outsole  30 . However, this is not viewed as a limitation on the overshoe  10 , since amateur golf courses do not normally permit metal spikes, and the vast majority of golfers own and wear golf shoes having only rubber or plastic cleats.  
         [0029]     The boot shell  26  is fabricated from an integral piece of flexible, durable, and waterproof material, such as nitrile, SBR rubber, or an equivalent polymeric composition. The boot shell  26  is no less than 1/64 inches thick, and preferably has a thickness of at least 1/32 inches. The boot shell  26  is preferably made from a single piece of material which may be made to appear as separate panels for styling and aesthetic purposes only. Alternatively, the boot shell  26  may be made from multiple panels completely sealed at the seams, including a boot toe  44 , a boot upper  46 , and a boot leg  48 . The edges  24  of the boot shell  26  create a central expansion gap longitudinally bisecting the front of the boot leg  48 , the boot upper  46 , and terminating in the boot toe  44 . Spanning the expansion gap between the edges  24  of the boot shell  26  is a tongue  16  flanked by opposing paired gusset flaps  22 . The tongue  16  and the gusset flaps  22 , in combination with the boot shell  26 , form a continuous and seam-free expansion double gusset system  36  that is completely waterproof whether in an open or closed state.  
         [0030]     When the edges  24  are spread apart to the opened position as shown in  FIG. 2 , the double gusset system  36  permits the mouth  28  to open so widely that a user may fully insert a shoed foot  40  into the protective overshoe  10  and plant the cleats of the shoe  40  into the conforming insole  34  without the need to slide the shoe  40 . The wide opening mouth  28  is an important feature of the boot portion  12 , since the conforming nature of the insole  34  will not permit the shoe  40  to be repositioned by sliding once the cleats  42  have sunk into the insole  34 . The positioning of the golf shoe  40  into the conforming insole  34  by asserting downward pressure on the insole  34  locks the golf shoe  40  in that position with the cleat-accommodating areas of the insole  34  retaining the cleats within formed recesses in the insole  34 , thus preventing the golf shoe  40  from sliding about within the protective overshoe  10 .  
         [0031]     When the shoed foot of a user is fully inserted into the protective overshoe  10 , the edges  24  may be pulled together to retain the overshoe  10  on the user&#39;s foot. The overshoe  10  is snugly secured to the user&#39;s foot by use of the two or more sets of hook and loop fastening strips  18  and  20 , cooperating mating tabs which provide an adjustable means to fasten the boot shell  26  in the closed position. Other equivalent fastening means may be used, including buckles, straps, or laces, provided those fastening means are accomplished without compromising the waterproof nature of the boot. Since the waterproof seal is created by the integral construction of the boot shell  26  with the tongue  16  and the gusset flaps  22 , it is not necessary to bring the edges  24  completely into contact with one another; thus, the overshoe  10  may be fastened to the user&#39;s foot for comfort.  
         [0032]     In summary, the protective overshoe for golf shoes  10  is a lightweight waterproof boot, easily donned by a golfer wearing standard rubber or plastic cleated golf shoes. The double gusset system  36  comprising the pair of gusset flaps  22  and the tongue  16  integrally connected to the boot shell  26  provide the overshoe  10  with a wide opening mouth  28  for easy entry of a shoed foot  40 . When the boot  10  is secured to a golfer&#39;s foot with the adjustable fasteners  18  and  20 , the gusset flaps  22  and tongue  16  fold neatly beneath the boot shell  26  and against the golfer&#39;s ankle and instep. The waterproof outsole  30 , integrally sealed to the boot shell  26 , includes a patterned grid of gripping cleats  38  for sure footing. The conformable insole  34  encapsulates the cleats  42  of the golf shoe  40  into a number of formed recesses corresponding to the number and placement of the cleats locking the shoe  40  in position, thus preventing the golfer&#39;s foot from sliding around inside the overshoe  10  while in use. Upon removal of the golf shoe  40  from the overshoe  10 , the conforming insole  34  returns to its original state so that multiple golf shoe cleat designs  42  may be used with the same overshoe  10 .  
         [0033]     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, the described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as being illustrative and not restrictive, with the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, rather than the foregoing detailed description, as indicating the scope of the invention as well as all modifications which may fall within a range of equivalency which are also intended to be embraced therein.

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