Footwear harness for user activities

• US 10,639,517 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2017
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ivan W. Griffin
• Original Assignee: Ivan W. Griffin
• Inventors: Griffin, Ivan W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Urbiel Goldner, Gary D
• Application Number:
  US15/801,495
• Publication Number:
  US 20190126091A1
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0081 made at least partially of hook-and-loop type material hook and loop-type straps for fastening purpose A43C11/1493
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/16 Overshoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/00 Footwear for sporting purposes non-skid devices, e.g. ice-spurs or studs for football shoes, A43C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/18 Attachable overshoes for sporting purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4013 to the ankle
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4015 to the foot
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4034 for operation by feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4043 Free movement, i.e. the only restriction coming from the resistance A63B21/00043, A63B21/072 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/02 with reinforcing fibres, e.g. carbon, polyamide fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/04 for lower limbs training appliances for special sports A63B69/00; for the purpose of producing mechanical power F03G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0054 Features for injury prevention on an apparatus, e.g. shock absorbers mats or the like for absorbing shocks for jumping A63B6/00

Abstract

A harness to be placed over footwear, the harness including a toe portion to be placed around a toe of the footwear. The toe portion may include a plurality of belts from a sole of the footwear to an upper surface of the footwear. The toe portion may further include coupling points located on a front surface and sides of the toe portion. The harness may include a heel portion to be placed around a heel of the footwear. The harness may include a bottom belt that runs along the sole of the footwear that is to couple the toe portion to the heel portion. The harness may further include top belts that run along the upper surface of the footwear that couple the toe portion to the heel portion.

Claims

1. A harness to be placed over footwear, the harness comprising:

a toe portion to be placed around a toe of the footwear, the toe portion comprising;

a first plurality of belts to cover the toe of the footwear from a sole of the footwear to an upper surface of the footwear;

a first coupling point located on a first side of the toe portion;

a second coupling point located on a second side of the toe portion; and

a third coupling point located on a front surface of the toe portion;

a heel portion to be placed around a heel of the footwear, the heel portion comprising;

a second plurality of belts to cover the heel of the footwear from the sole of the footwear to the upper surface of the footwear;

the second plurality of belts comprises;

a first belt to cover the first side of the heel portion, the sole of the footwear, and the second side of the heel portion;

a second belt to cover the first side of the heel portion, the rear surface of the heel of the footwear, and the second side of the heel portion; and

a third belt and a fourth belt to collectively cover the first side of the heel portion, the upper surface of the footwear, and the second side of the heel portion, wherein the first belt, the second belt, the third belt, and the fourth belt are coupled by a first coupling positioned at the first side of the heel portion and by a second coupling positioned at the second side of the heel portion,

a fourth coupling point located on a first side of the heel portion;

a fifth coupling point located on a second side of the heel portion; and

a sixth coupling point located on a rear surface of the heel portion;

a bottom belt that runs along the sole of the footwear and couples the toe portion to the heel portion; and

a plurality of top belts that run along the upper surface of the footwear, the plurality of top belts being configured to couple the toe portion to the heel portion, wherein the plurality of top belts comprise a seventh coupling point located on a belt of the plurality of top belts that is above the upper surface of the footwear.

2. The harness of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of belts comprises:

a fifth belt to cover the front surface of the toe portion from the sole of the footwear to the upper surface of the footwear;

a sixth belt to cover the first side of the toe portion from the sole of the footwear to the upper surface of the footwear; and

a seventh belt to cover the second side of the toe portion from the sole of the footwear to the upper surface of the footwear, wherein

the fifth belt, the sixth belt, and the seventh belt are coupled by a third coupling located at the sole of the footwear and are coupled by a fourth coupling located above the upper surface of the footwear.

3. The harness of claim 2, wherein at least one of the fifth belt or the sixth belt comprises an adjustable buckle to adjust the at least one of the fifth belt or the sixth belt relative to the footwear.

4. The harness of claim 1, wherein the first coupling and the second coupling are configured to couple the first belt, the second belt, the third belt, and the fourth belt, wherein the first coupling and the second coupling each comprise a triangular loop.

5. The harness of claim 1, wherein the plurality of top belts comprise at least one coupling configured to couple the toe portion to the heel portion.

6. The harness of claim 5, wherein the at least one coupling configured to couple the toe portion to the heel portion comprises a buckle.

7. The harness of claim 1, further comprising:

a first side belt that runs along a first side of the footwear and is configured to couple the toe portion to the heel portion; and

a second side belt that runs along a second side of the footwear and is configured to couple the toe portion to the heel portion.

8. The harness of claim 1, wherein each of the coupling points comprises at least one of a hook, a loop, or a clip.

9. The harness of claim 1, further comprising:

a heel belt coupled to the heel portion and comprising a fastener configured to couple to an upper surface of the heel of the footwear.

10. The harness of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of belts comprises:

an adjustable buckle coupled to a respective belt of the plurality of belts that facilitates an adjustment of the respective belt relative to the footwear.

11. A footwear apparatus to facilitate different exercises for a wearer of the footwear apparatus, the footwear apparatus comprising:

a toe portion for a toe of footwear, the toe portion comprising a first plurality of belts;

a heel portion for a heel of the footwear, the heel portion comprising a second plurality of belts;

at least one belt to couple the toe portion and the heel portion; and

a plurality of coupling points at locations on the toe portion and the heel portion to facilitate the different exercises for the wearer of the footwear apparatus, the second plurality of belts comprises;

a first belt to cover a first side of the heel portion, a sole of the footwear, and a second side of the heel portion;

a second belt to cover the first side of the heel portion, a rear surface of the heel of the footwear, and the second side of the heel portion; and

a third belt and a fourth belt to collectively cover the first side of the heel portion, the upper surface of the footwear, and the second side of the heel portion, wherein the first belt, the second belt, the third belt, and the fourth belt are coupled by a first coupling positioned at the first side of the heel portion and by a second coupling positioned at the second side of the heel portion.

12. The footwear apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first plurality of belts comprises:

a fifth belt to cover a front surface of the toe portion from the sole of the footwear to an upper surface of the footwear;

a sixth belt to cover a first side of the toe portion from the sole of the footwear to the upper surface of the footwear; and

a seventh belt to cover a second side of the toe portion from the sole of the footwear to the upper surface of the footwear, wherein the fifth belt, the sixth belt, and the seventh belt are coupled by a third coupling located at the sole of the footwear and are coupled by a fourth coupling located above the upper surface of the footwear.

13. The footwear apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first coupling and the second coupling are configured to couple the first belt, the second belt, the third belt, and the fourth belt, wherein the first coupling and the second coupling each comprise a triangular loop.

14. The footwear apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one belt to couple the toe portion and the heel portion comprises at least one coupling configured to couple the toe portion to the heel portion.

15. The footwear apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one belt to couple the toe portion to the heel portion comprises:

a first side belt that runs along a first side of the footwear and is configured to couple the toe portion to the heel portion; and

a second side belt that runs along a second side of the footwear and is configured to couple the toe portion to the heel portion.

16. The footwear apparatus of claim 11, wherein the plurality of coupling points comprises at least one of a hook, a loop, or a clip.

17. The footwear apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

a heel belt coupled to the heel portion and comprising a fastener configured to couple to an upper surface of the heel of the footwear.

18. The footwear apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one belt to couple the toe portion to the heel portion comprises:

an adjustable buckle coupled to the at least one belt that facilitates an adjustment of the at least one belt relative to the footwear.