Resilient strap-on sole cover

• US 20050193588A1
• Filed: 03/04/2004
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ben Dombowsky
• Original Assignee: Ben Dombowsky
• Inventors: Dombowsky, Ben
• Granted Patent: US 7,222,440 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/7.5
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/16 Overshoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/18 Attachable overshoes for sporting purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/02 attached to the sole

Abstract

A resilient anti-fatigue layer shaped to fit under the sole and heel of a shoe of a wearer includes a mat of fibers heat bonded together with a tight surface against the sole and a loose surface against the floor. The mat of fibers includes a generally flat portion shaped to match the bottom of the shoe and a plurality of tabs formed of the mat at the edges of the bottom portion and projecting beyond the edges of the bottom portion with at least one tab at the front, two tabs at the rear and at least one tab at each side, with each tab having attached thereto a respective strap. The straps provide a on each side a single strap which extends from the front side connection tab, through slots provided in a toe connection member to the rear side tabs, to the heel tabs and over the foot.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

a resilient, flexible layer shaped to fit under the sole and heel of a shoe of a wearer;

the layer including an upturned rear portion for extending up the rear of the heel of the wearer;

a toe connection member at a toe end;

a left and a right forward side connection members one on each side at a forward location on the side;

a left and a right rearward side connection members one on each side at a location on the side rearward of the forward location;

a left strap portion extending from a left side of the upturned rear portion to the rearward side connection on a left side of the layer;

a right strap portion extending from a right side of the upturned rear portion to the rearward side connection on a right side of the layer;

a left strap extending from the left forward side connection to the toe connection member and from the toe connection member to the left rearward side connection and from the left rearward side connection to a left end connector flap;

and a right strap extending from the right forward side connection to the toe connection member and from the toe connection member to the right rearward side connection and from the right rearward side connection to a right end connector flap;

the left and right end connector flaps being arranged to connect and pull the left and right straps tight over the arch of the foot of the wearer.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the toe connection member comprises a single member generally central of the toe end which extends from the layer over the toe rearwardly of the toe end to a rear strap engaging portion.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the forward side connection members each include a portion which increases in width from the strap to the side of the layer so as to define a width at the layer which is wider than the strap to provide increased stability.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the left and right strap portions form a common strap extending around a top edge of the upturned rear portion

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of the left and right rearward side connections includes a triangular connector which has a first side connected to a strap connector attached to the side of the layer, a second side over which the respective one of the left and right straps passes and a third side to which the respective one of the left and right strap portions connects

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of the left and right rearward side connections is arranged closely adjacent the side of the layer so as to be below the top edge of the upturned rear portion of the layer.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the layer has a plurality of holes therethrough and wherein there is provided an anti-slip insert comprising a generally support member and a plurality of studs projecting from the support member downwardly therefrom, the support member being arranged to be located between the layer and the shoe with the studs projecting through the holes.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the support member and the studs are integrally molded from a plastics material.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the layer has a plurality of molded projecting elements on a bottom surface thereof shaped and arranged to define an anti-slip surface for the bottom surface.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the projecting elements form regularly arranged spaced projections.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the projections have formed therein narrow slots which are arranged across the projections to inhibit slip in a direction transverse to the slots.

12. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the generally planar support member comprises a web with openings between the studs.

13. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the studs are stiffer than the layer and have a length such that they to a position equal to or just extend beyond the bottom surface of the layer such that the wearer is supported from the ground on both the studs and the layer.

14. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the studs have an axial metal insert extending therealong such that the studs are stiffer than the layer and have a length such that they to a position equal to or just extend beyond the bottom surface of the layer such that the wearer is supported from the ground on both the studs and the layer.

15. Apparatus comprising:

a resilient flexible layer shaped to fit under the sole and heel of a shoe of a wearer, the layer having a plurality of holes therethrough;

straps connected to a front end, a rear end and sides of the layer for wrapping around the shoe of the wearer for attachment of the layer to the foot of the wearer;

and an anti-slip insert comprising a generally support member and a plurality of studs projecting from the support member downwardly therefrom, the support member being arranged to be located between the layer and the shoe with the studs projecting through the holes;

the support member and the studs being integrally molded from a plastics material.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the layer has a plurality of molded projecting elements on a bottom surface thereof shaped and arranged to define an anti-slip surface for the bottom surface.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the projecting elements form regularly arranged spaced projections.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the projections have formed therein narrow slots which are arranged across the projections to inhibit slip in a direction transverse to the slots.

19. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the generally planar support member comprises a web with openings between the studs.

20. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the studs are stiffer than the layer and have a length such that they to a position equal to or just extend beyond the bottom surface of the layer such that the wearer is supported from the ground on both the studs and the layer.

21. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the studs have an axial metal insert extending therealong such that the studs are stiffer than the layer and have a length such that they to a position equal to or just extend beyond the bottom surface of the layer such that the wearer is supported from the ground on both the studs and the layer.

22. Apparatus comprising:

a resilient flexible layer shaped to fit under the sole and heel of a shoe of a wearer;

the layer having a plurality of molded projecting elements on a bottom surface thereof shaped and arranged to define an anti-slip surface for the bottom surface;

the layer having a plurality of spaced holes therethrough;

straps connected to a front end, a rear end and sides of the layer for wrapping around the shoe of the wearer for attachment of the layer to the foot of the wearer;

and an anti-slip insert comprising a generally support member and a plurality of studs projecting from the support member downwardly therefrom, the support member being arranged to be located between the layer and the shoe with the studs projecting through the holes.

23. The apparatus according claim 22 wherein the projecting elements form regularly arranged spaced projections.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the projections have formed therein narrow slots which are arranged across the projections to inhibit slip in a direction transverse to the slots.

25. The apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the generally planar support member comprises a web with openings between the studs.

26. The apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the studs are stiffer than the layer and have a length such that they to a position equal to or just extend beyond the bottom surface of the layer such that the wearer is supported from the ground on both the studs and the layer.

27. The apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the studs have an axial metal insert extending therealong such that the studs are stiffer than the layer and have a length such that they to a position equal to or just extend beyond the bottom surface of the layer such that the wearer is supported from the ground on both the studs and the layer.