US20080289223A1

US20080289223A1 - Footwear Accessory

Info

Publication number: US20080289223A1
Application number: US11/793,614
Authority: US
Inventors: Francisco De Borja Adrover Bernabeu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-12-22
Filing date: 2005-11-24
Publication date: 2008-11-27
Also published as: RU2007126766A; WO2006070039A1; ES2255865B1; ES2255865A1; EP1834537A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a footwear accessory which provides protection against water and moisture. The invention comprises a main part which is made from a water-repellent, moisture-repellent, resistant and flexible material and which is open at the upper part thereof. According to the invention, the main part is tightened around the ankle and fitted to the heel of the shoe by means of an opening through which the heel can extend (5). The invention also comprises two closure elements, namely a first upper element which secures the instep (4) and a second side element which secures the ankle (3). In addition, the invention comprises a rubber insole (2) and a rubber outer sole (1). The main part can be used to display advertising and to render a pedestrian visible.

Description

TECHNICAL SECTOR

The invention included in this patent describes a footwear accessory. It describes a footwear accessory used to protect shoes against the effects of water and moisture, as well as for advertising and marking purposes.

PRIOR ART

Different products have already been developed in the footwear accessory sector to cater for the different needs and types of shoes. Therefore, in the case of sports footwear, we can highlight the North American patent U.S. Pat. No. 4,704,810 property of JAMES MASENGALE which includes footwear protection elements for the practice of bowling (1987), a protection element on footwear for the practice of golf, football and baseball, adjusted with a zipper, part of the North American patent U.S. Pat. No. 2,970,390 property of BROUGH WAYNE and STANFORTH DONALD (1961), as well as the North American patent U.S. Pat. No. 2,188,440 property of GOODRICH CO B F for the protection of footwear tips and insteps (1940), as in the case of the North American patent U.S. Pat. No. 2,506,245 used for the same purposes, property of HENRY STANTON (1950). Finally, we can present the Spanish Utility Model No. 1053930 property of TECNICAS DEL CAUCHO Y DERIVADOS in relation to footwear protection.
However, the said North American patents describe protection elements for sporting uses or for the reinforcement of the tip and instep, whereas the Spanish patent is imprecise and generic regarding this invention. Therefore, the invention described in this document is more advantageous than the aforesaid patents.

TECHNICAL PROBLEM

The problem lies in protecting footwear from moisture and rain water with the use of elements that can be easily and quickly placed inside or outside the shoe, as well as being easily transported and with a low weight, small size to facilitate carrying them in purses, bags, suitcases, cases and any other type of clothes or carrying elements. Therefore, it is vital in the case of unforeseen rain or storms. Similarly, the said accessory can use its own configuration, including printed or sown marking and advertising elements used to increase the level of security on roads where there are low visibility conditions (fog, rain and snow) and commercial advertising from third parties.

TECHNICAL SOLUTION

The accessory solves the problems of uncomfortable footwear and the danger of walking on different paths (streets, country paths, tracks, etc.) under damp conditions and under rain or sleet, which have very reduced dimensions and weight and can be easily carried by the user. In addition, they can be used to prevent catching a cold since they protect the user's foot from dampness.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS

The advantages have a functional, economic and operational character. They have a functional character since the material and shape of the footwear accessory facilitates the quick evacuation of water and allows the insertion of marking and advertising elements. They have an economic character because the methods involve a low cost of manufacturing and raw materials and they are operational because these accessories can be placed immediately and easily and can be transported in any type of clothes or carrying bag (raincoat, bag, handbag, case, etc.), with easy folding and packaging.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

For a better understanding of the aforesaid general characteristics, there are various figures included in this document to state its different features, as shown next:

FIG. 1: Representation of the set composed by a footwear accessory that includes the rubber outer sole (1), a rubber insole (2), a side element which secures the ankle (3), a top element which secures the instep (4) and an open section at the heel (5).

FIG. 2: Representation of a set of a footwear accessory composed of a rubber outer sole with relief drawings (1) and an insole with grooves (2).

FIG. 3: Top representation and open layout of the set of footwear composed of a rubber outer sole (1), a side element to hold the ankle (3), a top element to hold the instep (4) and an open section at the heel (5).

FIG. 4: Top representation and closed layout of the set of footwear composed of a rubber outer sole (1), and an open section at the heel (5).

BEST USE OF THE INVENTION

The footwear accessory includes two sets of covers—one for the right foot and one for the left foot—manufactured in water-repellent material, destined to cover the shoe, enabling full mobility. Each cover includes a skidproof insole inside and a rubber sole outside with water evacuation channels, providing a grip system for the cover to prevent sudden slips on wet surfaces. Each cover has a system that can be regulated on the shoe.
Each cover has three main elements:
1. The cover itself, manufactured with flexible water-repellent and resistant material, open on the top and fixed to the heel of the shoe with a special hole. The cover has two fasteners that are adjusted to the shoe, avoiding it from moving inside the cover; one is located on the top part that holds the instep and the other on the side of the ankle.
2. The insole has various transverse grooves used to ensure that the shoe does not slide inside the cover.
3. The exterior sole is larger than the insole, and it is also manufactured with rubber materials and designed with longitudinal and transverse grooves for the evacuation of water, providing a better grip on the floor to avoid sudden slips.
The body of the covers—in other words, throughout the instep, sides and heel—can include fixed (printed, sown or stamped) advertising or marking elements, such as logos, slogans, boxes or fluorescent and light reflecting bands, etc.

MANUFACTURING THE INVENTION

The footwear can be manufactured and created in different sizes and dimensions as follows:
1. Material of the cover: flexible and transparent plastic.
2. Fastening and fixing elements: Top: longitudinal Velcro element and Side: rubber strap with plastic buckle.
3. Insole: 1 mm thick rubber with mesh drawing.
4. External sole: rubber sole with transversal channels and a thickness of 3 mm.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION

List of Sequences

Claims

1. Footwear accessory used to protect the shoe against water and moisture characterised by a main part which is tightened around the ankle and fitted to the heel of the shoe by means of an opening through which the heel can extend (5), two closure elements, one on the top that secures the instep (4) and the other one on the side to secure the ankle (3); a rubber insole (2) and an exterior rubber sole (1).

2. Footwear accessory used to protect the shoe against water and moisture, in accordance with claim 1, characterised by a main element that is open and manufactured with a water-repellent, flexible and resistant material.

3. Footwear accessory used to protect the shoe against water and moisture, in accordance with claim 1, characterised by the rubber insole with transversal grooves to fix the shoe's sole inside the accessory.

4. Footwear accessory used to protect the shoe against water and moisture, in accordance with claim 1, characterised by an exterior rubber sole designed with longitudinal and transverse channels to facilitate the evacuation of water.

5. Footwear accessory used to protect the shoe against water and moisture, in accordance with claim 1, characterised by an exterior rubber sole that is larger than the insole.

6. Footwear accessory used to protect the shoe against water and moisture, in accordance with claim 1, characterised by a main element that can be used as support for advertising.

7. Footwear accessory used to protect the shoe against water and moisture, in accordance with claim 1, characterised by a main element that can be used as a support to mark the show and provide signals to improve the visibility of the pedestrian.