Roof Shoe Pad

Abstract

This Roof Shoe Pad invention is for replaceable shoe pads which attach to a wearer's ordinary shoe soles by releasable adhesive and are designed to improve the traction, footing and comfort of a wearer, on a inclined roof and to provide scuff protection for roof surfaces.

Description

INVENTION DESCRIPTION

The title of this invention is: Roof Shoe Pad. This invention is for replaceable shoe pads which are attached by releasable adhesive to a wearer's ordinary shoe sole(s) and are designed to improve the traction, footing and comfort of a wearer, when walking or working on a inclined roof, and to provide scuff protection for roof surfaces.

The shoe pads are composed of foam or soft rubber or other material with similar deformable and friction characteristics. In a preferred embodiment the shoe pads are comprised of geometric solids with length, width, and height dimensions. The width and length of the shoe pads are preferably equal to or somewhat larger than the length and width of the wearer's shoe soles. In a preferred embodiment, foam shoe pad(s) attach directly to the soles of a wearer's ordinary shoes by releasable adhesive.

The height of the shoe pads is nominally one inch but may vary with the type of material used for the pad. In a preferred embodiment the shoe pads are employed by removing a adhesive protectant sheet from the adhesive and attaching the pad to the wearer's ordinary shoe sole(s).

When the pads are no longer needed, they are peeled from the wearer's shoes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Persons who work on inclined roofs or have need to negotiate inclined roofs, including homeowners, are subject to risks of foot slippage and consequent falling as well as the inherent discomfort of walking or working on inclined and sometimes uncomfortably hot, roof surfaces. During hot weather, asphalt shingles and similar types of roof surfaces are easily scuffed or scarred by a wearer' shoe soles which can involve costly repair or rework.

Numerous devices have been introduced to address the safety problems of roof workers. Among these are safety ropes, safety harnesses, special ladder devices, and a number of special footwear devices. None of these are without inherent shortcomings. Tying roof workers with ropes and harnesses does not improve their foot traction, provides only secondary safety from loss of footing, and negatively impacts productivity. It is a readily observable fact that most roof workers do not use such devices. Homeowners and do-it-yourself persons who negotiate roofs are also exposed to foot slippage.

Some of the footwear devices previously introduced for roof workers involve complex mechanical attachments that are expensive and cumbersome to attach and adjust or to keep adjusted. Some require frequent readjustment as the wearer shifts position or direction on a roof. Attachments using straps to fasten pads to shoes are shoe size sensitive, uncomfortable, and tend to allow a wearer's foot to roll and twist inside the straps.

Some of the footwear devices previously introduced for roof workers involve special shoes that are too expensive to cost justify for the average homeowner, do-it-yourself roof worker, and for most paid roof workers who are often seasonal and transient.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,259,125 to Gromes, discloses an attachment for a shoe consisting of a partial sole pad made of indoor-outdoor carpet that attaches to a wearer's shoe or boot with straps. That patent also discusses other various designs and devices previously disclosed for use in improving footing for persons working on or negotiating inclined roofs. The Gromes device provides improved but insufficient traction and requires adjustment of holding straps. Foam or soft rubber has greater friction characteristics than the indoor-outdoor carpet disclosed in that invention.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,252 to Cougar, discloses a special constructed shoe and replaceable foam or soft rubber pad attachment to the shoe through the use of a hook and loop fastening system. That invention does not allow for attachment of the disclosed pad to a wearer's ordinary shoe thus requiring the wearer to purchase special shoes as well as replaceable pads.

None of the devices of prior art meet all of the needs of simplicity, safety, comfort, work effectiveness and cost effectiveness of persons who regularly work on, or negotiate, inclined roofs and/or of those persons who only occasionally need to negotiate inclined roofs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Primary objectives of this invention are to provide a shoe pad attachment that will provide safer footing through improved traction, and increased comfort for the wearer while negotiating a inclined roof surface, and that will also protect the roof surface from shoe damage. A further objective of the invention is an attachment that can be worn on a roof, on the ground, and while negotiating ladders. A further objective is a shoe pad attachment that does not require special shoes.

When a preferred embodiment of this invention, utilizing a rectangular foam pad from one half to one inch thick and somewhat larger in width and length, than a wearer's shoe sole, is attached by releasable adhesive, through a peel-and-stick application, to the wearer's shoe sole, significant advantage is gained in safety, dexterity, comfort and roof scuff protection while the wearer walks or works on a inclined roof and does so at improved cost effectiveness compared to prior art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top oblique view of a preferred embodiment of the shoe pad invention prior to attachment to a shoe with a adhesive protection sheet partially peeled back.

FIG. 2 shows a exploded side view of the shoe pad with adhesive and protective sheet as denoted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating the shoe pad attached to the sole of a shoe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While embodiment examples, FIGS. 1 and 2, and 3, are illustrated for purpose of explaining the invention, it is to be understood that no limitation of the scope of the claims of the present invention is intended by these illustrations or the language used in describing the illustrations.

Referring to FIG. 1, which is a top oblique view of an embodiment of the present invention. The roof shoe pad (1) has a top surface and a bottom surface. The top surface is covered with releasable adhesive (2). The adhesive is kept covered until the pad is to be used, by a removable protecting sheet (3) which is shown partially removed to display the adhesive.

FIG. 2 shows a exploded side view of the top edge of the shoe pad (1) with a layer of adhesive (2) protected by a peel off protecting sheet (3).

FIG. 3 shows a side view of a shoe (4) with an embodiment of the roof shoe pad (1) attached to the bottom of the shoe sole (5) by releasable adhesive (2). The adhesive (2), is preferably permanently adhered to the pad (1) and releasably adhered to the shoe sole (5).

While the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiment(s), it is apparent that other forms could be adopted by one skilled in the art. For example, various materials could be used to form the shoe pads, different adhesives and methods of adhesive application could be used, and the pad shape and dimensions could vary.

Claims

1. A replaceable shoe pad, comprising a unitary base of three dimensions, that is designed to attach to the bottom of the sole of a wearer's ordinary shoe by releasable adhesive to provide added traction, safety, and comfort to a wearer, and to provide roof scuff protection from the wearer's shoe(s).

2. A shoe pad of claim 1, wherein the unitary base is constructed of any material with similar deformable and friction characteristics as foam or foam rubber.

3. A shoe pad of claim 1, wherein the unitary base is constructed of soft rubber.

4. A shoe pad of claim 1, wherein the unitary base is constructed of open cell foam.

5. A shoe pad of claim 1, wherein the unitary base is constructed of closed cell foam.

6. A shoe pad of claim 1, wherein the unitary base is constructed in the general shape of a rectangle.

7. A shoe pad of claim 1, wherein the unitary base is constructed in the general shape of a oval.

8. A shoe pad of claim 1, wherein the unitary base is constructed in the general shape of a shoe sole.

9. A shoe pad of claim 1, wherein the unitary base is approximately the same in width and length as the width and length of the wearer's shoe sole or larger.

10. A shoe pad of claim 1, wherein the unitary base is coated on it's sole contacting surface with releasable adhesive protected by a peel off protecting sheet prior to attachment of the pad to the shoe sole.

11. A shoe pad of claim 1, wherein the unitary base is coated on the sole contacting surface with releasable adhesive at the time it is attached to the shoe sole.

12. A shoe pad of claim 1, wherein the releasable adhesive and pad are removable from the shoe sole.

13. A shoe pad of claim 1, wherein the adhesive is applied into or onto a carrier material to provide for additional strength and ease of removal.

14. A shoe pad of claim 1, wherein the adhesive is applied directly to the pad without the use of a carrier material.

15. A shoe pad of claim 1, wherein the pad thickness may vary depending on the properties of the pad construction material.