SHOE COVER

Abstract

A shoe cover for covering a shoe to present the look like the wearer is wearing a different pair of shoes. The shoe cover includes an upper piece configured to cover an upper portion of a shoe of a wearer, the upper piece sized to cover the upper portion of the shoe without being attached to the shoe while the shoe is worn. The shoe cover includes a heel cover coupled to the upper piece and configured to receive and cover a heel of the shoe. The shoe cover includes a sole piece coupled to a bottom of the upper piece and configured to grip surfaces as the wearer uses the shoe cover. The shoe cover also includes a back counter piece coupled to a bottom of the heel cover and configured to grip the surfaces as the wearer uses the shoe cover.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are several pairs of shoes that exist in most women's closets. For example, there are the classic pump and the ballerina slipper (otherwise known as ‘my flats’). And these two classics are not just requisites for working women. They are considered the basics for women of all ages, sizes, and shapes, be they working women or not. Every woman wants a pair of pumps for dress and flats for shopping and general comfort. These items are commonly bought in plain colors that will coordinate with most of the clothes in their closets.

Shoes come not only in every size, but also at every price. Serviceable shoes exist at $25.00 and $2,500 and at all prices there between. Women mostly buy the shoes they can afford, and, very often these days, skimp somewhere in the budget to purchase that extra pair to match a special outfit.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention is costume design as it relates specifically and exclusively to shoes.

This invention creates a wardrobe of changes for a prototype shoe. It is specifically designed to alter the shoe's entire appearance thereby making the prototype appear to be a different shoe entirely. Each wardrobe change, or disguise, has everything necessary to complete the effect of a shoe change, including a sole of its own, allowing the wearer the same access to the street as comfortably as with any other commonplace retail shoe. Having slipped on the disguise, it appears to be the shoe itself, and nobody can discern a difference.

There have been some patents granted for changing the appearance of shoes.

Lin (U.S. Pat. No. 6,349,486) reveals a sandal comprised of a sole and two straps. The straps can be exchanged using a complex fastening device embedded in the sole. The difficulties attendant with the device exist in addition to the limitation of this application: two-strap sandals.

Bauer (U.S. Pat. No. 4,377,042) reveals a complicated athletic shoe with a removable out-sole. The shoe includes an upper portion designed to fit an individual foot and ankle of a particular wearer, and is permanently attached to the insole. The out-sole and insole are connected together by mating hook and pile members. Bauer does not attach the upper portion directly the sole base without an insole. Its purpose is to serve the athlete, not the fashion conscious woman.

Hartung (U.S. Pat. No. 5,983,528) uses a fastening device (a zipper), which attaches the upper to the sole, and extends at least partially around the peripheral region of the sole to form a barrier between the joining device and the interior space of the shoe. It is a complicated and unsightly device.

Bailey (U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,369) uses fasteners for attaching the shoe top to the shoe bottom. This again poses the introduction of a third element—as do the others—which is a system that can fail as well as an additional expense. Costly fastening systems diminish the value of utilizing the footwear.

All of the above-mentioned patents represent systems with third element attachments that are neither fail-safe nor cost effective.

Shoes serve several purposes. The first is utilitarian. Shoes protect ones feet. The second is style. Having shoes that match outfits, or at least complement one's daily wardrobe, is very much a part of looking stylish. Given our present-day style consciousness, women are buying more shoes than even before. Women's style footwear in 2013 generated revenue of $41.52 billion, a 4 percent increase over the flat growth experienced in 2012 indicating women are increasingly interested in having their feet fashionably dressed. It is difficult to have shoes to match every item of clothing.

How does one acquire Oprah Winfrey's large shoe collection with Little Orphan Annie's allowance? By having one prototype and many disguises to cover or ‘costume’ the prototype: Tiger striped on Monday, Leopard-spotted on Tuesday, Two-toned on Wednesday, Purple suede on Thursday, Polka-dots on Friday, and Red Satin for that special occasion on Saturday night. The covers or costumes are easily affordable and cost effectively produced.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

A shoe cover that is made to disguise the prototype pump, the classic ballerina slipper and the everyday flat-heeled boot, or high-heeled boot.

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following figures display the shoe cover and regarding them will help the viewer to understand the assembly and the outcome.

FIG. 1a is a side view of a shoe cover according to some embodiments.

FIG. 1b is an exploded view of a shoe cover and a sole piece attached to the shoe cover.

FIG. 2 is a view of an upper piece of a shoe cover.

FIG. 3 is a view of a heel cover piece of a shoe cover.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the upper piece.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a shoe cover with a sole piece and an upper piece.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a shoe cover and a raised-heel shoe to be covered by the shoe cover.

FIG. 7 is a rear view of a shoe covered by a shoe cover.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of a shoe covered by a shoe cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1a is a side view of a shoe cover 100 according to some embodiments. The shoe includes a heel 102. The heel 102 can be of a size according to a style and or type of the shoe that the shoe cover 100 is configured to fit around. For example, if the shoe cover 100 is for a ballerina slipper, as shown in FIG. 1a, the heel 102 can be of a smaller size.

The shoe cover 100 can be of a specific design or pattern. For example, the shoe cover 100 can have a leopard print pattern. In various embodiments the shoe cover 100 can be shaped to cover all or a portion of a shoe. For example, the shoe cover 100 can be shaped to cover the shoe 110 (as shown in FIG. 1a and FIG. 1b) such that the tip of the shoe remains exposed. The shoe cover 100 can be of a size to fit securely around a shoe or a portion of a shoe without falling off during wear and without the use of affixing means, such as hooks, zippers, Velcro®, or adhesives. In various embodiments, the shoe is configured to be fitted with a plurality of different outer covers. In being configured to be fitted with a plurality of different outer covers, a wearer of the shoe can give the appearance that they are wearing different shoes even though they are actually wearing the same shoe.

FIG. 1b is an exploded side view of a shoe cover 100 and a sole piece 106 attached to the shoe cover 100. The sole 106 can be comprised of an applicable material for protecting a foot of a wearer of the shoe cover 100. Examples of applicable materials include rubber, leather, plastics, man-made materials, and natural materials. The sole 106 includes an attachment means 108 through which the sole 108 is attached to the shoe cover 100. An attachment means can include an applicable glue or adhesive. As illustrated in FIG. 1b, sole piece 106 extends continuously along the entire bottom surface 802 of shoe cover 100, from a toe to a heel 151 of shoe 110. The toe of the shoe 110 is not illustrated in FIG. 1b as it is covered by the shoe cover 100.

After taking measurements of the shoe last and the shoe itself, the template for a shoe cover is created. For example, the template for a shoe cover comprised of four separate pieces, including the upper piece, heel cover, sole and back counter piece. The template pieces are laid down onto the chosen fabric or material and an outline of the template is drawn onto the material. Once all pieces of the template have been drawn, they are cut out. Alternatively, the template for a shoe cover can be comprised of two or three pieces.

FIG. 2 is a view of an upper piece 200 of a shoe cover. The upper piece 200 includes a back left piece 202 and a right counter piece 204. The back left piece 202 and the right counter piece 204 are sewn together through a ¼″ seam.

After the back left piece 202 and the right counter piece 204, are sewn together to form the upper piece 200, then the upper piece 200 is folded in half along its central axis 206. The fold is made where the left and right sides of the upper meet. The idea mimics taking pieces of paper and folding them in half in the portrait or horizontal position. Once the left and right sides of the upper piece 200 meet they are pinned and sewn together with a ¼″ sewing seam along the edge of the upper piece 200. The upper piece 200 is sewn along the edge three quarters of the way around before stopping, in order to leave an un-pinned and unsewn hole for the heel of the shoe to pass through. For example, the hole can be 1″ in diameter. Then continue to sew up the back counter of the upper piece 200 where the heel passes. Doing so leaves a seam on the bottom part of the upper such that it is not viewed when it is worn by a wearer.

FIG. 3 is a view of a heel cover piece 300 of a shoe cover. In forming the shoe cover, the heel cover piece 300 and the upper piece are turned inside out and the heel cover is attached to the upper piece where the hole was left for the heel to pass through using an applicable attachment means, such as stitching, glue, and adhesive. The upper piece is attached to the heel cover piece 300 along line 302 shown in FIG. 3. The heel cover piece 300 can be sewn with a ¼″ seam along the top of the heel cover and then folded in half where the two edges of the left and right sides of the heel cover piece 300 meet. After the heel cover 300 is sewn onto the upper piece, the upper piece and the heel cover 300 are turned right side out.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the upper piece 200. The upper piece has piece of elastic 402 sewn along the top so that the upper will not slide off the top of the shoe. The elastic is sewn at least three quarters of the way around the top of the upper piece. This elastic is so thin and the seam so small the elastic is almost invisible. This gives the fabric a gathered look but when stretched out the gathering of the material is not visible.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a shoe cover 100 with a sole piece 106 and an upper piece 200. The sole piece can match the bottom of the upper piece 200 to cover the entire bottom of the upper piece 200, or be shaped to cover a portion of the bottom of the upper piece 200. The sole piece 106 can be a ⅛″ thick rubber sole matching the exact shape and size of the bottom of the upper piece 200. The sole piece can be attached to the bottom of the upper piece 200 through an applicable attachment means, such as glue or an adhesive. The sole functions to cover a seam created when folding the upper piece 200 to fit around a shoe. A gripping insert 510 can be included within the cavity formed by the folding of the upper piece 200. The gripping insert 510 can be configured to engage a shoe of a wearer of the shoe cover to prevent slipping of the shoe cover along the outer surface of the shoe. FIG. 5 also illustrates inner surface 620. As shown in FIG. 5, gripping insert 510 may be positioned so as not to extend to the edges of inner surface 620, and therefore not contact side portions 640 of upper piece 200.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a shoe cover 100 and a raised-heel shoe 610 to be covered by the shoe cover 100. The shoe cover 100 includes a back counter piece 604. The shoe can include heel lift piece 602 which can be coupled to the heel according to an applicable attachment means, such as glue or adhesive. The heel lift piece 602 can be a thin rubber grip or another applicable material with a high coefficient of friction. FIG. 6 further illustrates the toe 150, heel 151, sides 641, and sole 630 of the shoe 610. The upper piece 200 of shoe cover 100 also includes side portions 640 and inner surface 620. As shown in FIG. 6, sole piece 106 extends along the entire bottom surface (not illustrated in FIG. 6) of the upper piece 200 from the toe 150 to the heel 151 of the shoe 610. Sole piece 106 has a ground contact portion 107 at a toe end 109 which contacts the ground when the shoe 610 and shoe cover 100 are worn and a non-ground-contact portion 108 at a heel side 111 which does not contact the ground when the shoe 610 and shoe cover 100 are worn.

FIG. 7 is a rear view of a shoe 110 covered by a shoe cover 100. As illustrated in FIG. 7, and described above with respect to FIG. 2, shoe cover 100 may have a seam 701 down the back continuing to the bottom of the cover. FIG. 7 further illustrates sole piece 106 extending along a bottom of the shoe cover 100. The seam 701 along the bottom of shoe cover 100 cannot be seen because it is covered by sole piece 106.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of a shoe 110 covered by a shoe cover 100. As illustrated in FIG. 7, and described above with respect to FIG. 2, shoe cover 100 may have a seam 801 along the bottom surface 802 of the upper piece.

Claims

1. A shoe cover for a raised heel shoe comprising:

an upper piece configured to removably wrap around the raised heel shoe of a wearer and sized and shaped to conform to the measurements of the shoe so as to lay flat against the shoe while the shoe is worn, the upper piece having an inner surface configured to contact a sole of the shoe and side portions configured to cover the sides of the shoe;

a sole piece coupled to a bottom surface of the upper piece and extending along the entire bottom surface of the upper piece continuously from a toe to a heel of the shoe, the sole piece having a ground contact portion at a toe end configured to contact the ground and grip surfaces as the wearer uses the shoe cover and a non-ground-contact portion at a heel side configured not to contact the ground as the wearer uses the shoe cover; and

a gripping insert positioned between the sole of the shoe and the inner surface of the upper piece so as to lay against and contact the sole of the shoe without contacting the side portions of the shoe cover.

2. (canceled)

3. The shoe cover of claim 1, wherein the upper piece includes a seam along the sole of the shoe, the sole piece configured to cover at least a portion of the seam.

4. The shoe cover of claim 1, wherein the sole piece is coupled to the upper piece using an attachment means.

5. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

7. The shoe cover of claim 1, wherein the upper piece includes an elastic band around a top of the upper piece configured to prevent the shoe cover from slipping along the shoe of the wearer.

8. The shoe cover of claim 4, wherein the attachment means includes glue.

9. The shoe cover of claim 1, wherein the sole piece is rubber.

10. The shoe cover of claim 1, wherein the sole piece matches the shape and size of the bottom surface of the upper piece.

11. The shoe cover of claim 1, wherein the upper piece comprises a seam along a back counter of the shoe.

12. The shoe cover of claim 1, wherein the upper piece comprises an upper portion and a heel cover portion, the upper piece coupled to the heel portion.

13. The shoe cover of claim 12, wherein the upper portion and the heel cover portion are fabricated of a same material.

14. The shoe cover of claim 1, wherein the gripping insert is positioned along a portion of the sole of the shoe configured for contact with the ground when worn.