Method and apparatus for functionally covering footwear of various sizes and shapes

• US 6,467,192 B1
• Filed: 10/13/1999
• Issued: 10/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tingley Rubber Corporation
• Original Assignee: Tingley Rubber Corporation
• Inventors: Egtvedt, Robert Burnel
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Mickey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mohandesi, Jila M.
• Application Number:
  US09/417,696
• Time in Patent Office: 1,105 Days
• Field of Search: 36/71.R, 36/72, 36/73, 36/74, 36/78, 36/88, 36/93, 36/97, 361/176, 361/179, 121/42.E, 121/42.EV
• US Class Current: 36/7.3
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/06 Waterproof legs
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/166 Mud-guards
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/18 Devices for holding overshoes in position

Abstract

A method and apparatus for functionally covering footwear of various sizes and shapes is provided. In one embodiment an overshoe, having an upper portion with an inside portion and a heel portion is provided. A first inwardly protruding deformable absorber, which is adapted to restrain footwear placed within the overshoe, is then located within the upper portion of the overshoe.

Claims

1. A method for retaining footwear of various sizes and shapes within an overshoe, without substantially expanding the overshoe, comprising:

providing an overshoe having an upper portion, said upper portion having a vamp portion, a toe portion and a heel portion, said overshoe containing an indentation facing inwardly from an outside surface in said upper portion that forms a first inwardly protruding self-supporting deformable absorber within said upper portion, said first absorber sized to restrain footwear placed within said overshoe; and

inserting the footwear into said overshoe.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said first absorber is located in said vamp portion of said upper portion.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said first absorber is located in said toe portion of said upper portion.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said overshoe further contains:

a second inwardly protruding deformable absorber within said upper portion, said second absorber sized to restrain footwear placed within said overshoe.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said first absorber is located within said heel portion.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein said first absorber is located within said toe portion and said second absorber is located within said heel portion.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein said first absorber is located within said vamp portion of said upper portion and said second absorber is located within said heel portion of said upper portion.

8. A device capable of accepting and operably restraining various types and sizes of footwear comprising:

an overshoe having an upper surface with a toe portion, a vamp portion, a heel portion, and an interior surface;

a sole surface connected to said upper surface; and

an elastic self-supporting absorber integrally formed as part of said upper surface;

said absorber sized to deformably restrain footwear placed within said overshoe,

said absorber formed from an outside surface indentation, said absorber facing inwardly from the outside surface.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein said absorber is sized to deformably restrain several styles of footwear placed within said overshoe.

10. The device of claim 8 wherein said absorber is sized to deformably restrain several sizes of footwear placed within said overshoe.

11. The device of claim 8 wherein said overshoe contains an elastomeric material.

12. The device of claim 8 wherein said absorber is located in said vamp portion of said upper surface.

13. The device of claim 8 wherein said absorber is located in said toe portion of said upper surface.

14. A system for adapting a footwear cover to align and functionally secure a range of sizes and types of footwear inserted into the footwear cover comprising:

an overshoe having a toe portion with a first depression facing inwardly from an outside surface,

wherein when footwear is placed within said overshoe said first depression deflects to operably secure the footwear placed within said overshoe; and

wherein after the footwear is inserted into said overshoe, said overshoe substantially maintains its original configuration.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said overshoe further comprises:

a heel portion containing a second depression.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein said overshoe is made with an elastomeric material.

17. An overshoe for covering footwear comprising:

a galosh having an upper surface;

said upper surface having an indented self-supporting integral means facing inwardly from an outside surface for operably frictionally securing footwear within said galosh without substantially stretching said galosh to secure the footwear.

18. A cover for covering footwear comprising:

an overshoe having an upper portion, said upper portion having, an interior, a toe portion, a heel portion, and a vamp portion; and

a compressible self-supporting elastically deformable absorber integrally formed within said interior of said upper portion and facing inwardly from an outside surface, said absorber sized to functionally and compressibly secure footwear within said overshoe, said absorber fabricated from the same material as said overshoe, said absorber completely defining a void.

19. The cover of claim 18 wherein said absorber is positioned at said vamp portion of said upper portion.

20. A cover for covering footwear comprising:

an overshoe having an upper portion, said upper portion having, an interior, a toe portion, a heel portion, and a vamp portion; and

a non-inflatable elastically deformable self-supporting absorber positioned within said interior of said upper portion at said vamp portion, said absorber sized to functionally and compressibly secure footwear within said overshoe without substantially expanding the overshoe and said absorber facing inwardly from an outside surface.

21. A cover for covering footwear comprising:

an overshoe having an upper portion, said upper portion having, an interior, a toe portion, a heel portion, and a vamp portion; and

a compressible elastically deformable self-supporting absorber positioned within said interior of said upper portion at said toe portion, said absorber passively sized to functionally and compressibly secure footwear within said overshoe without substantially expanding the overshoe, said absorber facing inwardly from an outside surface, said absorber fabricated from the same material as said overshoe.

22. A method for retaining footwear of various sizes and shapes within an overshoe, without substantially expanding the overshoe, comprising:

providing an overshoe having an upper portion, said upper portion having a vamp portion, a toe portion and a heel portion,

said overshoe containing an external surface indentation in said upper portion facing inwardly from an outside surface that forms a first inwardly protruding self-supporting deformable absorber within said upper portion,

said first absorber sized to restrain footwear placed within said overshoe; and

inserting the footwear into said overshoe.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said first absorber is located in said vamp portion of said upper portion.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein said first absorber is located in said toe portion of said upper portion.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein said overshoe further contains:

locating a second external surface indentation in said upper portion that forms an inwardly protruding deformable absorber within said upper portion, said second absorber sized to restrain footwear placed within said overshoe.

26. The method of claim 22 wherein said first absorber is located within said heel portion.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein said first absorber is located within said toe portion and said second absorber is located within said heel portion.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein said first absorber is located within said vamp portion of said upper portion and said second absorber is located within said heel portion of said upper portion.

29. A device capable of accepting and operably restraining various types and sizes of footwear comprising:

an overshoe having an upper surface with a toe portion, a vamp portion, a heel portion, and an interior surface;

a sole surface connected to said upper surface; and

an elastic self-supporting absorber integrally formed as part of said interior surface of said upper surface,

said absorber facing inwardly from an outside surface and sized to deformably restrain footwear placed within said overshoe,

said absorber defining a cavity.

30. The device of claim 29 wherein said absorber is sized to deformably restrain several styles of footwear placed within said overshoe.

31. The device of claim 29 wherein said overshoe contains an elastomeric material.

32. The device of claim 29 wherein said absorber is located in said vamp portion of said upper surface.

33. The device of claim 29 wherein said absorber is located in said toe portion of said upper surface.

34. A system for adapting a footwear cover to align and functionally secure a range of sizes and types of footwear inserted into the footwear cover comprising:

an overshoe having an upper surface with a first inwardly directed absorber, facing inwardly from an outside surface and forming an indentation on the outside surface,

wherein when footwear is placed within said overshoe said first absorber deflects at a rate greater than said upper surface to operably secure the footwear placed within said overshoe and

wherein after the footwear is inserted into said overshoe, said overshoe substantially maintains its original configuration.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein said overshoe further comprises:

a heel portion of said upper surface containing an inwardly directed absorber.

36. The system of claim 34 wherein said overshoe is made with an elastomeric material.

37. An overshoe for covering footwear comprising:

a galosh having an upper surface,

said upper surface having a self-supporting integral means for operably frictionally securing footwear within said galosh without substantially stretching said galosh to secure the footwear,

said integral means defining a cavity,

said integral means facing inwardly from an outside surface and forming an indentation on the outside surface.