Shoe Cover

Abstract

A shoe cover for protecting a user's footwear. The shoe cover includes a body that resembles a shoe and that is configured to partially enclose a shoe therein. The shoe cover includes a toe portion, a heel portion, an ankle opening, and a sole covering. A zipper is provided on the upper portion of the shoe cover for securement around the shoe cover in position over the shoe. The sole covering encloses the toe portion of the shoe and a sole opening includes the heel portion of the shoe. The heel portion further includes an elastic band therearound for securement to the lower portion of the user's shoe.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part and claims the benefit of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/140,115 filed on Apr. 27, 2016, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/153,078 filed on Apr. 27, 2015. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to shoe covers. More specifically, the present invention provides a shoe cover comprising a body adapted to partially enclose a shoe therein so as to prevent the user's shoes from becoming soiled by dirt, mud, inclement weather, and the like.

Footwear is an important aspect of a person's wardrobe and fashion. Certain types of footwear can be extremely expensive, such as designer shoes, leather dress shoes, and the like. As a result, the owners of such footwear take precautions to preserve their footwear so that the footwear remains clean and new. People utilize shoe trees to maintain the shape of the shoes and to prevent the shoes from developing creases. Further, people may polish leather shoes, brush suede shoes, and perform other cleaning tasks. Further, other types of shoes may be delicate, such as suede shoes, which cannot get wet without ruining the material.

However, shoes can easily become dirty or soiled as the wearer spends time walking around outdoors, particularly during periods of inclement weather. Shoes can become damaged or ruined if the user wears the shoes while walking in the rain, in the snow, through mud, or through other dirty environments. Other accidents may also soil a shoe, such as spilling a drink or food onto the shoe. The user may be unable to clean the shoes properly and the shoe may be permanently damaged. As a result, a shoe cover device that provides a stylish appearance while protecting the footwear is desired in order to protect the footwear from becoming dirty or soiled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of shoe covers now present in the known art, the present invention provides a new shoe cover device wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when protecting his or her shoes from becoming soiled or damaged.

The present system comprises a body resembling a shoe and having a toe portion, a heel portion, and a sole covering. The body includes an interior volume adapted to enclose a user's shoe therein so as to protect the shoe from dirt, debris, and the like. A zipper is disposed on an upper portion of the body, wherein the zipper is configured to selectively provide access to the interior volume through an ankle opening. The ankle opening is disposed on the upper portion of the body adjacent to the heel portion. The sole covering extends across opposing sides of the body at a lower end of the body, and is configured to rest flush with a sole of the shoe and is disposed on the toe portion of the body. A sole opening is defined by a terminal end of the sole covering and the lower end of the body, wherein the sole opening is configured to receive a heel of a shoe therethrough and as such is disposed at the heel portion of the body.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a side view of an embodiment of the shoe cover.

FIG. 2A shows a top view of an embodiment of the body of the shoe cover.

FIG. 2B shows a bottom view of an embodiment of the sole covering of the shoe cover.

FIG. 2C shows a bottom view of an embodiment of the sole covering of the shoe cover.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the shoe cover in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the shoe cover. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a side view of an embodiment of the shoe cover. The shoe cover 21 comprises a body 22 shaped similarly to a shoe and adapted to enclose a shoe therein. The body 22 includes a toe portion 23, a heel portion 27, an ankle opening 24 having a perimeter 25, and a sole covering 29 having a sole opening thereon, which altogether define an interior volume in which a shoe can be positioned. The body 22 is adapted to fully cover the upper portion and sides of a shoe so as to protect the shoe from becoming dirty, wet, or otherwise soiled. The body 22 is composed of a flexible material that can contour to the shape of the shoe on which it is positioned, such as spandex. Further, the body 22 is preferably composed of a waterproof material or a material treated with a waterproofing agent that prevents liquid from passing therethrough in order to prevent the user's shoe from becoming wet.

The body 22 may further comprise indicia 28 thereon to provide a decorative appearance. The indicia 28 may also serve to indicate the owner of the shoe cover 21. Any of various symbols, words, phrases, or pictures may be shown on the body 22 of the shoe cover 21 in order to provide a stylish and aesthetically pleasing appearance. Preferably, the indicia 28 is positioned on an outward facing surface of the shoe cover 21 so that the indicia 28 is easily viewed when the user is wearing the shoe cover 21 on his or her shoes.

Referring now to FIG. 2A, there is shown a top view of an embodiment of the body of the shoe cover. The body 22 comprises an ankle opening 24 at the rear portion of the body 22 adjacent to the heel portion 27 thereof. In this way, the body 22 is configured similarly to a conventional shoe. The body 22 includes a toe portion 23 that is rounded so as to be shaped similarly to the toe portion of a shoe. The ankle opening 24 provides access to the interior volume 26 of the shoe cover 21. The user can insert his or her foot into the shoe cover 21 through the ankle opening 24 while the user is wearing his or her shoes.

A zipper 31 is disposed on an upper portion of the shoe cover 21, wherein the zipper 31 is configured to aid the user in both using and removing the shoe cover 21. In the shown embodiment, the zipper 31 is disposed beginning at the perimeter of the ankle opening 24 and extending across the lace guard of the shoe cover 21 towards the toe portion 23 along a center line, such that the zipper 31 is positioned proximal to the laces of a shoe when worn. In the illustrated embodiment, the zipper 31, beginning at the ankle opening 24, extends only fifty percent down the body 22, thereby terminating prior to the toe portion 23, such that the shoe cover 21 can join the shoe without requiring additional fasteners. However, in other embodiments, the zipper 31 is disposed across the entire body 22, extending from the ankle opening 24 and terminating at the distal end of the toe portion 23. In this way, the zipper 31 provides additional flexibility for a plurality of shoes when utilizing the shoe cover 21.

Referring now to FIG. 2B and FIG. 2C, there are shown bottom views of embodiments of the sole covering of the shoe cover. The shoe cover 21 comprises a sole covering 29, wherein the toe portion 23 is enclosed, such that the edge 32 of the sole covering 29 extends less than halfway down the shoe. In one embodiment, the toe portion 23 is composed of a durable material, such as leather or rubber, among others. In the illustrated embodiments, the sole covering 29 includes ridges or treads thereon such that the user does not lose traction when walking while wearing the shoe cover 21. The sole covering 29 is planar, such that it fits flush against the sole of the received shoe when worn. In the illustrated embodiment, the sole covering 29 comprises a uniform thickness, such that it is simple to walk while wearing the shoe cover 21.

In one embodiment, the edge 32 extends further down the shoe, such that the sole covering 29 extends past a midpoint between a distalmost region of the heel portion and the toe portion. The sole covering 29 comprises a sole opening 30 at the heel portion of the shoe cover 21. The sole opening 30 is adapted to allow the tread of the user's shoe to be exposed so that the user can utilize the tread of their shoe while walking. In the illustrated embodiment, an elastic band 33 is disposed around the sole opening 30 for cinching a perimeter of the sole opening 30 around the user's shoe so that the shoe cover 21 fits tightly over the sides of the user's shoe. In the shown embodiment, the sole opening 30 is entirely void of objects extending thereover, such that at the heel portion 27 there is nothing preventing contact between the sole of the shoe and the surface the shoe is in contact with.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a perspective view of the shoe cover in use. In operation, the user can insert his foot into the shoe cover 21 via the ankle opening 24 thereof. The user inserts his or her foot into the shoe cover 21 while he or she is wearing the shoe that he or she desires to protect. The zipper 31 is fully unzipped, such that the user can fit the shoe inside the shoe cover 21. When the zipper 31 is fully zipped up, the sides and upper portions of the shoe 41 are fully enclosed by the shoe cover 21. The toe portion 43 of the shoe is enclosed within the toe portion 23 of the shoe cover 21 and within the enclosed portion of the sole covering 29. Further, the heel of the shoe is positioned at the heel portion 27 of the shoe cover 21 and the tread on the sole of the shoe 41 is exposed via the sole opening. The elastic strap disposed about the perimeter of the sole opening cinches the body of the shoe cover 21 around the sides of the shoe 41. In this way, the user has securely positioned the shoe cover 21 onto the shoe 41 such that it does not move while in use and effectively protected the shoe from dirt and water.

It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in various embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1) A shoe cover, comprising:

a body having a toe portion, a heel portion, and a sole covering, defining an interior volume sized to receive a shoe therein;

a zipper disposed on an upper portion of the body, the zipper configured to selectively provide access to the interior volume via an ankle opening;

the ankle opening disposed on the body adjacent to the heel portion;

wherein the sole covering extends across opposing sides of the body at a lower end of the body, wherein the sole covering is configured to rest flush with a sole of the shoe and disposed on the toe portion of the body;

wherein the sole covering and the zipper are configured to cooperatively join the shoe cover to the shoe;

a sole opening defined by a terminal end of the sole covering and the lower end of the body, wherein the sole opening is dimensioned to receive a heel of a shoe therethrough and disposed at the heel portion of the body.

2) The shoe cover of claim 1, wherein the body is composed of a waterproof material.

3) The shoe cover of claim 1, wherein the sole covering is composed of a rubber material.

4) The shoe cover of claim 1 wherein the body comprises indicia thereon.

5) The shoe cover of claim 1, wherein the sole opening comprises an elastic band therearound.

6) The shoe cover of claim 1, wherein the zipper is disposed at a perimeter of the ankle opening and extends towards the toe portion along a center line.

7) The shoe cover of claim 1, wherein the zipper comprises at least fifty percent of the body as measured along the center line from the perimeter of the ankle opening to the distal end of the toe portion.

8) The shoe cover of claim 1, wherein the edge of the sole covering extends past a midpoint between a distalmost region of the heel portion and the toe portion respectively.

9) The shoe cover of claim 1, wherein the sole covering is planar.

10) The shoe cover of claim 1, wherein the sole covering has treads on a lower surface.

11) The shoe cover of claim 1, wherein the sole covering comprises a uniform thickness.

12) The shoe cover of claim 1, wherein the sole covering is flush with a sole of the received shoe.

13) The shoe cover of claim 1, wherein the sole opening is entirely void of objects extending thereover.