Overshoe For Running

Abstract

The overshoe for running is a protective and padded overshoe adapted to be worn over a running shoe or the like in order to provide additional shock absorption and padding for running on hard surfaces, such as pavement, cement and the like. The overshoe is in the form of a unitary body formed from a resilient material. The unitary body includes a sole having opposed upper and lower surfaces, and a peripheral wall extending from the periphery of the upper surface of the sole. The peripheral wall and the sole define an open interior region adapted for receiving the shoe. The overshoe is preferably dimensioned and configured to snugly receive the shoe so that the overshoe is removably secured thereto during use. An additional releasable fastener may be added for further securing the unitary body to the shoe.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/935,610, filed Aug. 21, 2007.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to footwear, and particularly to an overshoe for running that provides additional shock absorption and padding for running on hard surfaces, such as pavement, cement and the like.

2. Description of the Related Art

High impact exercise activities, such as running, can cause pain or injury to the exerciser's feet and legs, particularly when the exerciser is exercising on a relatively hard surface, such as concrete. Although running shoes are provided with padded soles, the padding is typically selected for use with a wide variety of running surfaces, and for a wide variety of exercises, and in some cases the padding provided in athletic shoes is inadequate to provide cushioning for hard running surfaces. It would be desirable to provide sufficient padding and shock absorption necessary for reducing pain and injury with maximally hard surfaces, such as concrete.

Although inserts for shoes are available, such padded inserts may only be inserted and removed when the user is not wearing his or her shoe. Thus, shoe removal, which may be inconvenient if the user is exercising outdoors, is necessary. It would be desirable to provide additional padding and sock absorption for a running show that does not require the user to remove his or her shoes. Thus, an overshoe for running solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The overshoe for running is a protective and padded overshoe adapted to be worn over a running shoe or the like in order to provide additional shock absorption and padding for running on hard surfaces, such as pavement, cement and the like. The overshoe is in the form of a unitary body formed from a resilient material.

The unitary body includes a sole having opposed upper and lower surfaces, and a peripheral wall extending upwardly from the periphery of the upper surface of the sole. The peripheral wall and the sole define an open interior region adapted for receiving the shoe. The overshoe is preferably dimensioned and configured to snugly receive the shoe so that the overshoe is removably secured thereto during use.

The peripheral wall includes a front portion adapted for at least partially covering a front portion of the shoe, a pair of side portions adapted for at least partially covering the side portions of the shoe, and a rear portion adapted for at least partially covering the rear portion of the shoe, with the upper surface of the sole being adapted for supporting a sole of the shoe.

Further, the overshoe may be provided with at least one strap secured to an upper edge of the peripheral wall for securing the overshoe to the running or athletic shoe. Preferably, a pair of straps is provided. The pair of straps are respectively fixed at lower ends thereof to the pair of side portions of the peripheral wall, and a buckle, hook and loop, or other releasable fastener is provided for releasably securing the pair of straps to each other.

The lower surface of the sole is preferably configured to enhance frictional engagement with the running surface (such as a sidewalk or the like). This configuring may be in the form of a plurality of grooves formed in the lower surface, or may be in the form of a plurality of spikes integrally formed with the lower surface.

These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of an overshoe for running according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view in section of a first embodiment of an overshoe for running according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view in section of a second embodiment of an overshoe for running according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a third embodiment of an overshoe for running according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a fourth alternative embodiment of an overshoe for running according to the present invention.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is directed towards an overshoe for running, designated generally as 10 in the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the overshoe for running 10 is a protective and padded overshoe adapted to be worn over a running shoe 12, athletic shoe, or the like in order to provide additional shock absorption and padding for running on hard surfaces, such as pavement, cement and the like. The overshoe 10 is in the form of a unitary body formed from a resilient material. Preferably, the material enhances frictional engagement with the running surface and provides optimal cushioning for the user's feet. One such exemplary material is foam rubber, which has a relatively high coefficient of friction and may be open- or closed-cell foam defining small internal air chambers, providing a cushioning and shock absorption effect. In addition, the sole may be formed with discrete air pockets defined therein, if so desired, for additional cushioning. The foam rubber may be specifically colored, or coated with a colored material, dependent upon the user's needs. For example, reflective, phosphorescent or luminescent material may be used, allowing a runner to be better seen at night.

The unitary body includes a sole 20 having opposed upper and lower surfaces, and a peripheral wall mounted on, and projecting upwardly from, a periphery of the upper surface of the sole 20. The sole 20 may be formed from a single layer of material, or multiple layers. The peripheral wall and the sole 20 define an open interior region adapted for receiving the shoe 12. The overshoe 10 is preferably dimensioned and configured to snugly receive the shoe 12 so that the overshoe is removably secured thereto during use. The usage of an elastic, resilient material, such as foam rubber, is preferred, as described above, allowing for the resilient attachment of the overshoe 10 to the shoe 12. Overshoes 10 may be manufactured in a wide variety of shapes and sizes in order to provide snug attachment to a wide variety of different shoes.

The peripheral wall includes a front portion 16 adapted for at least partially covering a front portion of the shoe 12, a pair of side portions 26 adapted for at least partially covering the side portions of the shoe 12, and a rear portion 18 adapted for at least partially covering a rear portion of the shoe 12, with the upper surface of the sole 20 being adapted for supporting a sole of the shoe 12.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, at least one strap for securing the peripheral wall and the sole 20 to the shoe 12 may be provided. Preferably, a pair of straps 14, 15 is provided. The pair of straps 14, 15 are respectively fixed at lower ends thereof to the pair of side portions 26 of the peripheral wall, and preferably also a releasable fastener 30 for releasably securing the pair of straps 14, 15 to each other. Releasable fastener 30 is shown as being a hook and loop type fastener in FIG. 4, although it should be understood that buckles or any suitable releasable fastener may be used.

Also, the lower surface of the sole 20 is preferably configured to enhance frictional engagement with the running surface (such as a sidewalk or the like). This configuring may be in the form of a plurality of grooves 22, shown in FIG. 2, formed in the lower surface thereof in a manner similar to conventional running shoes, or may be in the form of a plurality of spikes 24, shown in FIG. 3, integrally formed with the lower surface.

As noted above, any suitable fastener may be used for securing straps 14, 15. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, hook and loop fasteners 30 are replaced by a plurality of openings 54 formed through strap 14 for adjustably receiving an engaging member, formed as a peg, 56. It should be understood that this fastener is shown for exemplary purposes only, and that any suitable type of releasable and adjustable fastener may be used, allowing for secure adjustment about a variety of differing shoe and foot sizes.

Additionally, as shown in FIG. 5, a front strap 40 may further be added. Front strap 40 has opposed first and second ends, with the first end being secured to the front 16 of the overshoe 10, and the second end having a hook member 42 secured thereto. Strap 40, similar to straps 14, 15, is preferably formed from an elastic and resilient material, allowing it to attach the user's shoe and foot within the overshoe 10. In use, straps 14, 15 are secured together and the hook member 42 releasably grasps the joined straps 14, 15, securing the toe and tongue portions of the user's shoe within overshoe 10. It should be understood that hook member 42 is shown for exemplary purposes only and that any suitable releasable fastener may be utilized.

Further, a rear strap may be secured to the rear portion 18 of overshoe 10. The rear strap 44 is preferably formed from an elastic and resilient material, similar to that described above with regard to front strap 40. As shown in FIG. 5, rear strap 44 preferably is Y-shaped, with a first end thereof being secured to rear portion 18, and a second end terminating in two free end portions. Each end portion 46, 48 has an engaging member 50, similar to engaging member 56, secured thereto for releasable and adjustable reception within openings 52, formed through straps 14, 15. In use, each end portion 46, 48 is stretched about a respective side 26 of the overshoe 10, with engaging members 50 being received within respective openings 52, allowing the rear and side portions of overshoe 10 to be better secured to the user's shoe and foot.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A overshoe for running, comprising a unitary body formed from a resilient material, the unitary body having:

a sole having opposed upper and lower surfaces and defining a periphery;

a peripheral wall extending upwardly from the periphery of the upper surface of the sole, the peripheral wall and the sole defining an open interior region adapted for receiving a shoe; and

means for securing the unitary body to the shoe;

whereby the unitary body is selectively and removably attached to the shoe in order to provide additional padding and shock absorption therefor.

2. The overshoe for running as recited in claim 1, wherein said peripheral wall includes a front portion adapted for at least partially covering a front portion of the shoe, a pair of side portions adapted for at least partially covering side portions of the shoe, and a rear portion adapted for at least partially covering a rear portion of the shoe, the upper surface of said sole being adapted for supporting a sole of the shoe.

3. The overshoe for running as recited in claim 2, wherein said means for securing said peripheral wall and said sole to the shoe includes at least one strap secured to an upper edge of said peripheral wall.

4. The overshoe for running as recited in claim 3, wherein said at least one strap comprises a pair of straps fixed at lower ends thereof to the pair of side portions of said peripheral wall and a releasable fastener for releasably securing the pair of straps to each other.

5. The overshoe for running as recited in claim 4, wherein the releasable fastener comprises a hook and loop fastener.

6. The overshoe for running as recited in claim 4, wherein a first one of said pair of straps has at least one opening formed therethrough, the overshoe further comprising an engaging member secured to a second one of said pair of straps, the engaging member being releasably received by the at least one opening.

7. The overshoe for running a recited in claim 6, wherein the at least one opening comprises a plurality of openings, whereby the user selectively and adjustably releasably engages the engaging member with a selected one of the plurality of openings.

8. The overshoe for running as recited in claim 4, further comprising:

a front strap having opposed first and second ends, the first end thereof being secured to the front portion of the peripheral wall; and

means for releasably securing the second end of the front strap to the pair of straps.

9. The overshoe for running as recited in claim 8, wherein said means for releasably securing the second end of the front strap to the pair of straps comprises a hook member secured to the second end of the front strap.

10. The overshoe for running as recited in claim 8, further comprising:

a rear strap having opposed first and second ends, the first end thereof being secured to the rear portion of the peripheral wall; and

means for releasably securing the second end of the rear strap to the pair of straps.

11. The overshoe for running as recited in claim 10, wherein the rear strap is substantially Y-shaped, the second end of the rear strap having a pair of free strap portions so that each said strap portion is secured to a respective one of said pair of straps.

12. The overshoe for running as recited in claim 11, wherein each said free strap portion has a rear engaging member secured thereto for being releasably received within at least one aperture formed through each of said pair of straps.

13. The overshoe for running as recited in claim 1, wherein a plurality of grooves are formed in the lower surface of the sole.

14. The overshoe for running as recited in claim 1, wherein a plurality of spikes are formed on the lower surface of the sole.