Heel guard for protecting a shoe

Abstract

A heel guard for guarding a heel of a shoe includes a barrier having a base wall and a sidewall. The sidewall is coupled to and extends upwardly from the base wall. The sidewall also extends along a perimeter of the base wall and has a U-shape wherein a concave surface of the sidewall is configured to abut and extend around the heel of the shoe. The barrier is configured to be positionable to support the shoe over a floor surface. A clip is coupled to a top edge of the sidewall and extends from the sidewall over and toward the base wall. The clip is configured to extend into an opening of the shoe when the barrier is used to support the shoe to retain the sidewall against the heel.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not ApplicableSTATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not ApplicableTHE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

[0003] Not ApplicableINCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

[0004] Not ApplicableSTATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

[0005] Not ApplicableBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION(1) Field of the Invention

[0006] The disclosure relates to shoe guards and more particularly pertains to a new shoe guard for guarding a heel of a shoe.(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

[0007] The prior art describes several shoe guards for protecting a heel of a shoe when resting the shoe against a floor surface. Such guards are notably used when driving a motor vehicle, when the heel of the shoe may rest on the floor of the motor vehicle for extended periods of time, thus leading to damage to the shoe. However, the prior art fails to describe such a guard which relies on a clip to secure the shoe guard to the shoe.BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a barrier having a base wall and a sidewall. The sidewall is coupled to and extends upwardly from the base wall. The sidewall also extends along a perimeter of the base wall and has a U-shape wherein a concave surface of the sidewall is configured to abut and extend around a heel of a shoe. The barrier is configured to be positionable to support the shoe over a floor surface. A clip is coupled to a top edge of the sidewall and extends from the sidewall over and toward the base wall. The clip is configured to extend into an opening of the shoe when the barrier is used to support the shoe to retain the sidewall against the heel.

[0009] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

[0010] The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0011] The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

[0012] FIG. 1 is a top front side perspective view of a heel guard according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a bottom rear side perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a side in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 6 is a side in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0018] FIG. 7 is a side in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 7 thereof, a new shoe guard embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

[0020] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7, the heel guard 10 generally comprises a barrier 12 having a base wall 14 and a sidewall 18. The sidewall 18 is coupled to and extends upwardly from the base wall 14. Each of the base wall 14 and the sidewall 18 have uniform thicknesses. The sidewall 18 extends along a perimeter 16 of the base wall 14 and has a U-shape wherein a concave surface 20 of the sidewall 18 is configured to abut and extend around a heel 48 of a shoe 44. The barrier 12 is configured to be positionable to support the shoe 44 over a floor surface 42. The barrier 12 has a unitary structure and comprises a resiliently deformable material such that the barrier 12 is configured to cushion the heel 48 of the shoe 44 when the barrier 12 supports the shoe 44 over the floor surface 42. The resiliently deformable material comprises rubber but may comprise silicone or another material suitable for the purpose.

[0021] A forward edge 22 of the sidewall 18 is oriented perpendicular to the base wall 14. The sidewall 18 has a length between the forward edge 22 and a rear end 26 such that the forward edge 22 is configured to be positioned forwardly with respect to a leg 38 of a user 36 wearing the shoe 44 when in the barrier 12 is used to support the shoe 44. The sidewall 18 also has a height between the base wall 14 and a top edge 24 such that the top edge 24 is configured to be positioned below a protruding ankle bone 40 of the user 36 when the barrier 12 is used to support the shoe 44.

[0022] A clip 28 is coupled to the top edge 24 of the sidewall 18. The clip 28 extends from the sidewall 18 over and toward the base wall 14. The clip 28 is configured to extend into an opening 50 of the shoe 44 when the barrier 12 is used to support the shoe 44 to retain the sidewall 18 against the heel 48. The clip 28 comprises a resiliently bendable material, such as a metal sheet or other suitable material, such that the clip 28 biases the sidewall 18 into abutment with the heel 48 when the clip 28 extends into the opening 50 of the shoe 44. The clip 28 comprises a first section 30, a second section 32, and a third section 34. The first section 30 is coupled to and extends upwardly from the top edge 24 of the sidewall 18. The second section 32 is coupled to and extends perpendicularly from the first section 30. The third section 34 is coupled to the second section 32 and is oriented perpendicular to the second section 32 when at rest.

[0023] In use, the third section 34 of the clip 28 is bent to insert through the opening 50 of the shoe 44 and move the barrier 12 around a sole 46 of the shoe 44. The barrier 12 is positioned with the base wall 14 lying in abutment with the sole 46 and the sidewall 18 in abutment with the heel 48, and the third section 34 of the clip 28 returns to rest. When the user 36 rests the heel 48 of the shoe 44 over the floor surface 42, the barrier 12 supports the shoe 44 over the floor surface 42, preventing damage to the shoe 44.

[0024] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0025] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0019]With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 7 thereof, a new shoe guard embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

[0020]As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7, the heel guard 10 generally comprises a barrier 12 having a base wall 14 and a sidewall 18. The sidewall 18 is coupled to and extends upwardly from the base wall 14. Each of the base wall 14 and the sidewall 18 have uniform thicknesses. The sidewall 18 extends along a perimeter 16 of the base wall 14 and has a U-shape wherein a concave surface 20 of the sidewall 18 is configured to abut and extend around a heel 48 of a shoe 44. The barrier 12 is configured to be positionable to support the shoe 44 over a floor surface 42. The barrier 12 has a unitary structure and comprises a resiliently deformable material such that the barrier 12 is configured to cushion the heel 48 of the shoe 44 when t...

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not ApplicableSTATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not ApplicableTHE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

[0003] Not ApplicableINCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

[0004] Not ApplicableSTATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

[0005] Not ApplicableBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION(1) Field of the Invention

[0006] The disclosure relates to shoe guards and more particularly pertains to a new shoe guard for guarding a heel of a shoe.(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

[0007] The prior art describes several shoe guards for protecting a heel of a shoe when resting the shoe against a floor surface. Such guards are notably used when driving a motor vehicle, when the heel of the shoe may rest on the floor of the motor vehicle for extended periods of time, thus leading to damage to the shoe. However, the prior art fails to describe such a guard which relies on a clip to secure the shoe guard to the shoe.BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a barrier having a base wall and a sidewall. The sidewall is coupled to and extends upwardly from the base wall. The sidewall also extends along a perimeter of the base wall and has a U-shape wherein a concave surface of the sidewall is configured to abut and extend around a heel of a shoe. The barrier is configured to be positionable to support the shoe over a floor surface. A clip is coupled to a top edge of the sidewall and extends from the sidewall over and toward the base wall. The clip is configured to extend into an opening of the shoe when the barrier is used to support the shoe to retain the sidewall against the heel.

[0009] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

[0010] The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0011] The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

[0012] FIG. 1 is a top front side perspective view of a heel guard according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a bottom rear side perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a side in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 6 is a side in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0018] FIG. 7 is a side in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 7 thereof, a new shoe guard embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

[0020] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7, the heel guard 10 generally comprises a barrier 12 having a base wall 14 and a sidewall 18. The sidewall 18 is coupled to and extends upwardly from the base wall 14. Each of the base wall 14 and the sidewall 18 have uniform thicknesses. The sidewall 18 extends along a perimeter 16 of the base wall 14 and has a U-shape wherein a concave surface 20 of the sidewall 18 is configured to abut and extend around a heel 48 of a shoe 44. The barrier 12 is configured to be positionable to support the shoe 44 over a floor surface 42. The barrier 12 has a unitary structure and comprises a resiliently deformable material such that the barrier 12 is configured to cushion the heel 48 of the shoe 44 when the barrier 12 supports the shoe 44 over the floor surface 42. The resiliently deformable material comprises rubber but may comprise silicone or another material suitable for the purpose.

[0021] A forward edge 22 of the sidewall 18 is oriented perpendicular to the base wall 14. The sidewall 18 has a length between the forward edge 22 and a rear end 26 such that the forward edge 22 is configured to be positioned forwardly with respect to a leg 38 of a user 36 wearing the shoe 44 when in the barrier 12 is used to support the shoe 44. The sidewall 18 also has a height between the base wall 14 and a top edge 24 such that the top edge 24 is configured to be positioned below a protruding ankle bone 40 of the user 36 when the barrier 12 is used to support the shoe 44.

[0022] A clip 28 is coupled to the top edge 24 of the sidewall 18. The clip 28 extends from the sidewall 18 over and toward the base wall 14. The clip 28 is configured to extend into an opening 50 of the shoe 44 when the barrier 12 is used to support the shoe 44 to retain the sidewall 18 against the heel 48. The clip 28 comprises a resiliently bendable material, such as a metal sheet or other suitable material, such that the clip 28 biases the sidewall 18 into abutment with the heel 48 when the clip 28 extends into the opening 50 of the shoe 44. The clip 28 comprises a first section 30, a second section 32, and a third section 34. The first section 30 is coupled to and extends upwardly from the top edge 24 of the sidewall 18. The second section 32 is coupled to and extends perpendicularly from the first section 30. The third section 34 is coupled to the second section 32 and is oriented perpendicular to the second section 32 when at rest.

[0023] In use, the third section 34 of the clip 28 is bent to insert through the opening 50 of the shoe 44 and move the barrier 12 around a sole 46 of the shoe 44. The barrier 12 is positioned with the base wall 14 lying in abutment with the sole 46 and the sidewall 18 in abutment with the heel 48, and the third section 34 of the clip 28 returns to rest. When the user 36 rests the heel 48 of the shoe 44 over the floor surface 42, the barrier 12 supports the shoe 44 over the floor surface 42, preventing damage to the shoe 44.

[0024] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0025] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0019]With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 7 thereof, a new shoe guard embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

[0020]As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7, the heel guard 10 generally comprises a barrier 12 having a base wall 14 and a sidewall 18. The sidewall 18 is coupled to and extends upwardly from the base wall 14. Each of the base wall 14 and the sidewall 18 have uniform thicknesses. The sidewall 18 extends along a perimeter 16 of the base wall 14 and has a U-shape wherein a concave surface 20 of the sidewall 18 is configured to abut and extend around a heel 48 of a shoe 44. The barrier 12 is configured to be positionable to support the shoe 44 over a floor surface 42. The barrier 12 has a unitary structure and comprises a resiliently deformable material such that the barrier 12 is configured to cushion the heel 48 of the shoe 44 when t...

Claims

1. A heel guard for a shoe, the heel guard comprising:a barrier comprising:a base wall; anda sidewall being coupled to and extending upwardly from the base wall, the sidewall extending along a perimeter of the base wall, the sidewall having a U-shape wherein a concave surface of the sidewall is configured to abut and extend around a heel of the shoe;wherein the barrier is configured to be positionable to support the shoe over a floor surface; anda clip being coupled to a top edge of the sidewall, the clip extending from the sidewall over and toward the base wall, the clip being configured to extend into an opening of the shoe when the barrier is used to support the shoe to retain the sidewall against the heel, wherein the clip comprises a resiliently bendable material such that the clip biases the sidewall into abutment with the heel when the clip extends into the opening of the shoe.

2. The heel guard of claim 1, wherein the base wall has a uniform thickness.

3. The heel guard of claim 1, wherein the sidewall has a uniform thickness.

4. The heel guard of claim 1, wherein a forward edge of the sidewall is oriented perpendicular to the base wall.

5. The heel guard of claim 1, wherein the sidewall has a length between a forward edge and a rear end such that the forward edge is configured to be positioned forwardly with respect to a leg of a user wearing the shoe when in the barrier is used to support the shoe.

6. The heel guard of claim 1, wherein the sidewall has a height between the base wall and the top edge such that the top edge is configured to be positioned below a protruding ankle bone of a user wearing the shoe when the barrier is used to support the shoe.

7. The heel guard of claim 1, wherein the barrier has a unitary structure.

8. The heel guard of claim 1, wherein the barrier comprises a resiliently deformable material such that the barrier is configured to cushion the heel of the shoe when the barrier supports the shoe over the floor surface.

9. The heel guard of claim 8, wherein the resiliently deformable material comprises rubber.

10. (canceled)11. The heel guard of claim 1, wherein the clip comprises a first section, a second section, and a third section, the first section being coupled to and extending upwardly from the top edge of the sidewall, the second section being coupled to and extending perpendicularly from the first section, the third section being coupled to the second section, the third section being oriented perpendicular to the second section when at rest.

12. A heel guard for a shoe, the heel guard comprising:a barrier comprising:a base wall, the base wall having a uniform thickness; anda sidewall being coupled to and extending upwardly from the base wall, the sidewall extending along a perimeter of the base wall, the sidewall having a U-shape wherein a concave surface of the sidewall is configured to abut and extend around a heel of the shoe;wherein the barrier is configured to be positionable to support the shoe over a floor surface, the barrier having a unitary structure, the barrier comprising a resiliently deformable material such that the barrier is configured to cushion the heel of the shoe when the barrier supports the shoe over the floor surface, the resiliently deformable material comprising rubber, a forward edge of the sidewall being oriented perpendicular to the base wall, the sidewall having a uniform thickness, the sidewall having a length between the forward edge and a rear end such that the forward edge is configured to be positioned forwardly with respect to a leg of a user wearing the shoe when in the barrier is used to support the shoe, the sidewall having a height between the base wall and a top edge such that the top edge is configured to be positioned below a protruding ankle bone of the user when the barrier is used to support the shoe;a clip being coupled to the top edge of the sidewall, the clip extending from the sidewall over and toward the base wall, the clip being configured to extend into an opening of the shoe when the barrier is used to support the shoe to retain the sidewall against the heel, the clip comprising a resiliently bendable material such that the clip biases the sidewall into abutment with the heel when the clip extends into the opening of the shoe, the clip comprising a first section, a second section, and a third section, the first section being coupled to and extending upwardly from the top edge of the sidewall, the second section being coupled to and extending perpendicularly from the first section, the third section being coupled to the second section, the third section being oriented perpendicular to the second section when at rest.

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