Rentable bowling overshoe

Abstract

A bowling overshoe for fitting over footwear of a casual bowler. The bowling overshoe comprises a lower sole, an upper portion integral with the lower sole, a gripping section attached to a bottom surface of the lower sole and a slide section attached to the bottom surface of the lower sole. The gripping section, the slide section and the lower sole are each substantially unstretchable while the upper portion of the bowling overshoe is sufficiently stretchable to facilitate the bowling overshoe receiving, via an access opening, and accommodating different size footwear.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention is directed to a bowling overshoe designed to fit over conventional shoes of a bowler for replacing conventional rental shoes required by operators of bowling alleys facilities.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]As is well known, bowling is an indoor sport that utilizes relatively expensive bowling surfaces that are conventionally formed of hardwood, or possibly a synthetic, surface and typically includes an approach section that is traveled on extensively by bowlers. Due to the expensive nature of such bowling alleys and the desirability to maintain the alleys in an pristine condition, operators of such bowling facilities have established certain rules and / or regulations. For example, substantially all bowling facilities require any bowler, casual or otherwise, utilizing the facility to wear a shoe which will not mark, scratch, mar, damage or otherwise cause excessive or undue wear to the bowling alleys and, more specifically, to the ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a utilizable bowling overshoe that reduces the inventory required for a bowling facility. The overshoe is available in different sizes and colors to easily identify which size and color is correct for each bowler. This improves the customer experience and makes it easier for casual bowlers to enjoy the sport.

Problems solved by technology

Moreover, such bowling shoes may not fit properly or as comfortably as the casual bowler's conventional shoes.

Additionally, the bowling facility may have only a limited amount of a particular size of bowling shoes, thus forcing some casual bowlers to wear rental bowling shoes that are either too large or too small for the casual bowler, and this could significantly diminish the amount of enjoyment the casual bowler experiences during bowling, and thus significantly decreasing the chances that the casual bowler will return to the bowling facility for another bowling activity.

This construction results in a relatively high ownership cost for the operator in order to maintain an adequate supply of rental bowling shoes for the casual bowlers.

Additionally, the antibacterial spray, which is applied to these bowling shoes, after each use, tend to cause accelerated wear, tear and / or deterioration of the bowling shoes, particularly when compared to a pair of bowling shoes which is not subjected to repeated applications of such antibacterial aerosol spray / antibacterial cleaner.

Notwithstanding the above developed alternatives to rental bowling shoes, such alternatives still have associated shortcomings and drawbacks and operators of bowling facilities are still required to maintain a large supply of conventional rental shoes for use by their rental customers.

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