Noiseless shoe

Abstract

A shoe for walking quietly on a variety of surfaces including an upper and an outsole attached to the upper. The outsole includes a pile material extending from the bottom thereof. The shoe may include a cushioning midsole interspersed between the upper and outsole.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This application relates to outdoor shoes, and in particular to a shoe that includes a sole that permits a wearer to walk quietly on almost any surface, and which at the same time provides exceptional traction on normally slippery surfaces.

[0002] In outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing and animal photography it is usually a great advantage to be able to move quietly when approaching the animal. It is also an advantage to wear a shoe that is durable and that provides good traction on a variety of surfaces, including surfaces that are wet or that are covered with vegetation. Typical outdoor shoes intended for use on dry land typically incorporates a hard rubber sole with a lug pattern. The sole material is typically very durable, and provides reasonably good traction on dry land and acceptable traction on wet surfaces. However, a typical lugged sole is not particularly compliant, and as a result is not quiet when walking on gravel or vegetation.

[0003] A need therefore exists for an improved outdoor sporting shoe that provides good traction on a wide variety of wet and dry surfaces and that permits the wearer to travel quietly on a wide variety of surfaces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] This invention is embodied in a shoe that includes a sole designed to provide good traction on a wide variety of wet and dry surfaces, and that permits the wearer to walk quietly on nearly any surface. In a preferred embodiment a shoe according to this invention includes an upper of conventional design. A sole is adhered to the bottom of the upper. The sole includes an outer sole of a fiber pile attached to a backing. The backing in turn is adhered to the bottom of the shoe upper. In another embodiment the outer fiber pile sole is mounted on a padded mid-sole that is in turn adhered to the bottom surface of the upper.

[0005] In another embodiment the invention includes an overshoe that can be worn over a normal shoe. In this embodiment the fiber pile outsole or padded mid-sole is adhered to the bottom surface of the overshoe.

[0006] The fiber pile can one or more of a variety of fiber pile configurations, including cut, loop, twisted or straight. The fiber pile can vary in length, but in preferred embodiments is between one quarter and one inch in length. The pile is preferably made of a synthetic polymeric material such as nylon or polyester. In another preferred embodiment the fiber pile is made of wool.

[0007] These and other embodiments will now be described in greater detail by reference to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a shoe according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0009] FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

[0010] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of an overshoe according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0011] FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a shoe according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown generally at 10. Shoe 10 includes an upper 12 having a bottom surface 14, a midsole 16, and an outsole 18.

[0013] Midsole 16 is preferably a polymeric foam material that is adhered to the bottom surface 14 of upper 12.

[0014] The outsole 18 is a fiber pile material 20 mounted on a backing. Outsole 18 is adhered to the midsole 16. In one embodiment the fiber pile material 20 is similar in construction to that of a carpet. Fiber pile material 20 can be in the form of a straight loop, a twisted loop, or a cut pile. The fiber pile material 20 can be of uniform length, or can vary along the length and/or width of the shoe in a pattern. The fiber pile 20 is preferably formed of a polymeric material such as nylon or polyester, or in another embodiment is formed of wool or another natural fiber. In one preferred embodiment midsole 16 is formed of polyurethane foam approximately {fraction (1/2)}″ thick. Outsole 18 is a {fraction (1/2)}″ long nylon cut pile material on a jute or synthetic backing.

[0015] Turning to FIGS. 3 and 4, in another embodiment shoe of the invention, shoe 30 is an overshoe. Shoe 30 is preferably formed of rubber or a synthetic water proof material, and can be slipped on and off over regular shoes. Shoe 30 includes an outsole 32 as described above, and may also include a midsole 34 as also described above.

[0016] Applicant has found that shoes according to the invention, and as described above, provide excellent traction on nearly any surface, wet or dry and even underwater. At the same time they permit the wearer to walk silently on many surfaces, including paved surfaces, gravel surfaces, vegetation covered surfaces, and solid rock surfaces.

[0017] The invention has been described above by reference to a number of preferred embodiments. The described embodiments are illustrative and are not intended to be an exhaustive description of possible embodiments of the invention. Those of skill in the art will recognize that numerous variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A shoe comprising:

an upper having a bottom surface; and,

a sole mounted on the bottom surface of the upper, the outsole including a bottom surface having a fibrous pile extending therefrom.

2. A shoe according to claim 1 wherein the sole further comprising a midsole mounted to the bottom surface of the upper and an outsole mounted to the midsole.

3. A shoe according to claim 2 wherein the midsole is formed of a resilient material.

4. A shoe according to claim 3 wherein the midsole is formed of a cushioning material.

5. A shoe according to claim 4 wherein the midsole is formed of a foam material.

6. A shoe according to claim 1 wherein the fibrous pile is formed of a polymeric material.

7. A shoe according to claim 1 wherein the fibrous pile is selected from the group consisting of cut pile, looped pile, twisted pile, and straight pile.

8. A shoe according to claim 1 wherein the fibrous pile is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of nylon, polyester, and wool.

9. A shoe according to claim 1 wherein the shoe comprises an overshoe.

10. A shoe according to claim 1 wherein the shoe is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of leather, synthetic polymeric material, cotton, and rubber.

11. A shoe comprising:

an upper;

a foam midsole adhered to the upper; and,

an outsole adhered to the midsole, the outsole including a fibrous pile extending from the bottom surface thereof.