ATHLETIC SHOE PROTECTOR

Abstract

The invention provides an athletic shoe protector for protecting and preserving the spikes on athletic shoes and further protects surfaces off of the playing field or track from being damaged by the spikes. The athletic shoe protector of the invention comprises a single-layer sole that is quickly and easily attachable and detachable from the spiked athletic shoe via an attaching means.

Claims

1. An athletic shoe protector for protecting spikes protruding downwardly from the bottom of an athletic shoe consisting of: a single-layer sole that is constructed from a single, uniform layer of material, wherein the single-layer sole is substantially planar and has a top surface and a bottom surface and the thickness of the single-layer sole defines a peripheral sidewall between the top surface and the bottom surface of the single-layer sole, wherein the single layer of material is deformable such that it permits the spikes to be embedded into the top surface, wherein the single layer of material comprises a thickness that does not permit the spikes to protrude through the bottom surface of the single-layer sole, optionally wherein the bottom surface comprises a spike-free bottom surface traction design; and means for attaching the single-layer sole to the athletic shoe, wherein the attachment means comprises two pairs of single strap and D-ring combinations comprising a first single strap attached to the single-layer sole in the general area of the athletic shoe's instep portion wherein on the opposite side of the sole, a first D-ring is attached to the sole in the general area of the instep portion of the athletic shoe wherein the first single strap is long enough to extend over the instep portion of the athletic shoe, through the D-ring on the opposite side to double back on itself where it is capable of being adjusted to securely fit across the instep portion of the athletic shoe and wherein it is secured to itself, wherein a second single strap is secured on one side of the sole and wherein a second D-ring is configured on the opposite side of the sole and wherein the second single strap is long enough to extend over the ball of the foot portion of the athletic shoe, through the second D-ring on the opposite side to double back on itself where it is capable of being adjusted to securely fit across the ball of the foot portion of the athletic shoe, and wherein it is secured to itself.

2. The athletic shoe protector of claim 1, wherein the first single strap is secured to itself via hook and loop material and wherein the second single strap is secured to itself via hook and loop material.

3. The athletic shoe protector of claim 1, wherein the first and second single straps and the first and second D-rings are attached to the peripheral sidewall of the single-layer sole.

4. The athletic shoe protector of claim 1, further comprising orthopedic inserts on the top surface of the single-layer sole.

5. The athletic shoe protector of claim 1, further comprising a removable insole placed on top of the single layer sole thereby converting the athletic shoe protector into a sandal.

6. An athletic shoe protector for protecting spikes protruding downwardly from the bottom of an athletic shoe consisting of: a single-layer sole that is constructed from a single, uniform layer of material, wherein the single-layer sole is substantially planar and has a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the single layer of material is deformable such that it permits the spikes to be embedded into the top surface, wherein the single layer of material comprises a thickness that does not permit the spikes to protrude through the bottom surface of the single-layer sole, optionally wherein the bottom surface comprises a spike-free bottom surface traction design; and means for attaching the single-layer sole to the athletic shoe, wherein the attachments means is a first pair of straps and a second pair of straps wherein the first pair of straps consists of two strap members wherein each strap member is secured to the single-layer sole, wherein the two strap members are capable of being joined together to form a single strap across the instep portion of the athletic shoe thereby securing the sole to the athletic shoe, wherein the second pair of straps consists of two strap members wherein each strap member is secured to the single-layer sole, wherein the two strap members are capable of being joined together to form a single strap across the ball of the foot portion of the athletic shoe, wherein the first and second pair of straps optionally further include a keeper for securing excess strap after securing the athletic shoe protector to the athletic shoe thereby securing the sole to the athletic shoe.

7. The athletic shoe protector of claim 1, wherein the two strap members of the first pair of straps and the second pair of straps are joined together by a hook and loop material, snaps or magnets.

8. The athletic shoe protector of claim 1, wherein the two strap members of the first pair of straps and the second pair of straps are attached to the peripheral sidewall of the single-layer sole.

9. The athletic shoe protector of claim 1, further comprising orthopedic inserts on the top surface of the single-layer sole.

10. The athletic shoe protector of claim 1, further comprising a removable insole placed on top of the single layer sole thereby converting the athletic shoe protector into a sandal.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating a spiked athletic shoe and single-layer sole in combination with a portion of the single-layer sole broken away illustrating the studs embedding into the single layer of material of the sole.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the bottom surface of the single-layer sole showing a first embodiment for configuring the straps that secure the single-layer sole to the athletic shoe of the wearer.

[0021] FIG. 3 is a side view of the athletic shoe protector.

[0022] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the bottom surface of the single-layer sole showing a second embodiment for configuring the straps that secure the single-layer sole to the athletic shoe of the wearer.

[0023] FIG. 5 is a top view of the athletic shoe protector showing a second embodiment for configuring the straps that secure the single-layer sole to the athletic shoe of the wearer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] As shown in FIG. 3, the athletic shoe protector 1 comprises a single layer sole 2 having a top surface 3, and a bottom surface 4. As shown in FIG. 1, the single-layer sole 2 extends substantially to the toe portion 5 of the athletic shoe 6, and to the heel portion 7 of the athletic shoe 6. A plurality of spikes 8 are illustrating projecting from the athletic shoe 6.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 2, attaching means comprise a first pair of straps 9 comprising two strap members 10, 11 are each attached to the single-layer sole 2 at the peripheral sidewall 21 (FIG. 1) of the single layer sole. The free end for each strap member has a hook and loop element 15, 16 allowing the free ends of the strap members 10, 11 to be joined together over the instep portion 17 of the athletic shoe 6 as shown in FIG. 1. Continuing with FIG. 1, a second pair of straps 12 is configured in the same manner as the first pair of straps 9 and strap elements 13, 14 are joined over the ball of the foot portion 5 of the athletic shoe 6.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, keepers 18, 19 are attached to strap members 11, 14 to secure any excess strap that may be remaining after adjusting the athletic shoe protector 1 over the athletic shoe 6 (FIG. 1).

[0027] As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 the attaching means comprises a first single strap 30 attached to the peripheral sidewall 21 (FIG. 1) of the single-layer sole 2 in the general area of the instep portion 31 of the athletic shoe 38. On the opposite side of the sole 2, a first D-ring 32 is attached to the peripheral sidewall 21 (FIG. 1) of the sole in the general area of the instep portion 31 of the athletic shoe 38. The first single strap 30 is long enough to extend over the instep portion 31 of the athletic shoe 38, through the first D-ring 32 on the opposite side to double back on itself where it is capable of being adjusted to securely fit across the instep portion 31 of the athletic shoe 38 and wherein it may be secured to itself for example via a hook and loop closure 33. Preferably a second single strap 34 in combination with a second D-ring 35 is configured the same way but in the general area of the ball of the foot portion 36 of the athletic shoe 38 wherein the second single strap 34 is secured on one side of the peripheral wall 21 (FIG. 1) and the second D-ring 35 is configured on the opposite side and wherein the second single strap 34 is long enough to extend over the ball of the foot portion 36 of the athletic shoe 38, through the second D-ring 34 on the opposite side to double back on itself where it is capable of being adjusted to securely fit across the ball of the foot portion 36 of the athletic shoe 38, and where it may be secured to itself for example via hook and loop closure 37.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, the bottom surface 4 of the single-layer sole 2 may include a spike free bottom surface traction design 20 formed integrally with the single-layer sole 2.

[0029] The patent and scientific literature referred to herein establishes the knowledge that is available to those with skill in the art. All United States patents and published or unpublished United States patent applications cited herein are incorporated by reference. All published foreign patents and patent applications cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference. All other published references, documents, manuscripts and scientific literature cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference.

[0030] While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims. It should also be understood that the embodiments described herein are not mutually exclusive and that features from the various embodiments may be combined in whole or in part in accordance with the invention.