Removable athletic shoe guard

Abstract

A removable shoe guard includes a cover piece is attachable to a shoe. The cover piece covers the front, and some portion of the sides of the shoe adjacent the sole as well as a portion of the top and bottom of the shoe. The cover piece provides additional grip for activities such as skateboarding and also protects the shoe from wear.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63 / 776,960, filed Mar. 24, 2025, which is expressly incorporated herein and is a continuation of application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 19 / 287,813, filed Jul. 31, 2025.THE FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to athletic shoes. More specifically, the present invention relates to a removable tread piece which is attachable to the sides of shoes to protect the shoe and provide additional grip locations for activities such as skateboarding.BACKGROUND

[0003] Many people engage in skateboarding. In skateboarding, it is common to perform stunts which involve twisting or flipping the skateboard with the feet. A skateboarder will often use the sides or top of their shoe to grip the board in order to hold or maneuver the board. This results in two primary problems. One problem is that there is typically not a suitable gripping surface on the top or sides of the shoe to sufficiently control the skateboard. The canvas or leather typically used to make the upper part of the shoe is not particularly effective in gripping the skateboard. If a person cannot grip the skateboard, they are unable to perform desired stunts and may crash or injure themselves. There is thus a need for a method to improve the person's ability to grip the skateboard.

[0004] Another problem is that the skateboard is typically covered with grip tape, a surface similar to sandpaper. The canvas or leather used on the shoe is quickly worn out or damaged by the contact with the grip tape on the skateboard. There is thus a need to improve the life of the shoe.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a shoe guard for use while skateboarding and engaging in other sporting activities which can damage shoes.

[0006] According to one aspect of the invention, a shoe guard is provided which covers a portion of the sides of the shoe and which may cover a portion of the top of a shoe. The shoe guard may be made from rubber or a similar elastomeric substance which has a high coefficient of friction. The shoe guard may provide an increased ability to grip the skateboard to facilitate the performance of stunts and the like. Additionally, the shoe guard may be more durable than the materials typically used to make the top and sides of the shoe and contacts the skateboard grip tape instead of the shoe, extending the life of the shoe.

[0007] According to another aspect of the invention, a shoe guard may be provided which is removable from the shoe. A removable shoe guard may be attached to any shoe, allowing a person to obtain the advantages of the present guard without sacrificing the fit or style of a preferred shoe brand. The shoe guard may be worn while skating and, if desired, removed for everyday wearing of the shoe.

[0008] These and other aspects of the present invention are realized in a removable shoe guard and tread piece as shown and described in the following figures and related description.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Various embodiments of the present invention are shown and described in reference to the numbered drawings wherein:

[0010] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a shoe having the tread piece of the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the inside of a shoe having the tread piece of FIG. 1;

[0012] FIG. 3 shows the underside of a shoe having the tread piece of FIG. 1;

[0013] FIG. 4 shows the back of a shoe having the tread piece of FIG. 1;

[0014] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a shoe having a tread piece similar to that of FIG. 1;

[0015] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a pair of cover pieces which can be used in a shoe guard in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0016] FIG. 7 shows a front view of the cover pieces;

[0017] FIG. 8 shows a top view of the cover pieces;

[0018] FIG. 9 shows a top view of the cover pieces; and

[0019] FIG. 10 shows a side view of the shoe guard disposed on a shoe.

[0020] FIG. 11 shows a front view of the cover pieces;

[0021] FIG. 12 shows a top view of the cover pieces;

[0022] FIG. 13 shows a bottom view of the cover pieces;

[0023] FIG. 14 shows a rear view of the cover pieces; and

[0024] FIG. 15 shows a side view of the cover pieces.

[0025] It will be appreciated that the drawings are illustrative and not limiting the scope of the invention which is defined by the appended claims. The embodiments shown accomplish various aspects and objects of the invention. It should be appreciated that it is not possible to clearly show each element and aspect of the invention in a single figure, and as such, multiple figures are presented to separately illustrate the various details of the invention in greater clarity. Similarly, not every embodiment need accomplish all advantages of the present invention.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Various aspects of the invention and accompanying drawings will now be discussed in reference to the numerals provided therein so as to enable one skilled in the art to practice the present invention. The skilled artisan will understand, however, that the apparatus and methods described below can be practiced without employing these specific details, or that they can be used for purposes other than those described herein. Indeed, they can be modified and can be used in conjunction with products and techniques known to those of skill in the art in light of the present disclosure. The drawings and the descriptions thereof are intended to be exemplary of various aspects of examples of the invention and are not intended to narrow the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the drawings may show aspects of the invention in isolation and the elements in one figure may be used in conjunction with elements shown in other figures, etc.

[0027] Reference in the specification to “one embodiment,”“one configuration,”“an embodiment,” or “a configuration” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment, etc., but need not be included in any particular embodiment. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places may not necessarily limit the inclusion of a particular element of the invention to a single embodiment, rather the element may be included in other or all embodiments discussed herein.

[0028] Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of embodiments of the present disclosure may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details may be provided, such as examples of products or manufacturing techniques that may be used, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that embodiments discussed in the disclosure may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations may not be shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.

[0029] Before the present invention is disclosed and described in detail, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to any particular structures, process steps, or materials discussed or disclosed herein, but is extended to include equivalents thereof as would be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the relevant art. More specifically, the invention is defined by the terms set forth in the claims. It should also be understood that terminology contained herein is used for the purpose of describing particular aspects of the invention only and is not intended to limit the invention to the aspects or embodiments shown unless expressly indicated as such. Likewise, the discussion of any particular aspect of the invention is not to be understood as a requirement that such aspect is required to be present apart from an express inclusion of that aspect in the claims.

[0030] It should also be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, singular forms such as “a,”“an,” and “the” may include the plural unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a bracket” may include an embodiment having one or more of such brackets, and reference to “the plate” may include reference to one or more of such plates.

[0031] As used herein, the term “substantially” refers to the complete or nearly complete extent or degree of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result to function as indicated. For example, an object that is “substantially” enclosed would mean that the object is either completely enclosed or nearly completely enclosed. The exact allowable degree of deviation from absolute completeness may in some cases depend on the specific context, such that enclosing the nearly all of the length of a lumen would be substantially enclosed, even if the distal end of the structure enclosing the lumen had a slit or channel formed along a portion thereof. The use of “substantially” is equally applicable when used in a negative connotation to refer to the complete or near complete lack of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, structure which is “substantially free of” a bottom would either completely lack a bottom or so nearly completely lack a bottom that the effect would be effectively the same as if it completely lacked a bottom.

[0032] As used herein, the term “generally” refers to something that has characteristics of a quality without being exactly that quality. For example, a structure said to be generally vertical would be more vertical than horizontal, i.e., would extend greater than 45 degrees from horizontal. Likewise, something said to be generally circular may be rounded like an oval but need not have a consistent diameter in every direction.

[0033] As used herein, the term “about” is used to provide flexibility to a numerical range endpoint by providing that a given value may be “a little above” or “a little below” the endpoint while still accomplishing the function associated with the range.

[0034] As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositional elements, and / or materials may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member.

[0035] Concentrations, amounts, proportions, and other numerical data may be expressed or presented herein in a range format. It is to be understood that such a range format is used merely for convenience and brevity and thus should be interpreted flexibly to include not only the numerical values explicitly recited as the limits of the range, but also to include all the individual numerical values or sub-ranges encompassed within that range as if each numerical value and sub-range is explicitly recited. As an illustration, a numerical range of “about 1 to about 5” should be interpreted to include not only the explicitly recited values of about 1 to about 5, but also include individual values and sub-ranges within the indicated range. Thus, included in this numerical range are individual values such as 2, 3, and 4 and sub-ranges such as from 1-3, from 2-4, and from 3-5, etc., as well as 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, individually. This same principle applies to ranges reciting only one numerical value as a minimum or a maximum. Furthermore, such an interpretation should apply regardless of the breadth of the range or the characteristics being described.

[0036] Turning now to FIGS. 1 through 4, a shoe guard, generally indicated at 12, having cover piece 14 is shown installed on a shoe 10. FIGS. 1 and 2, show perspective views of a shoe 10 having a cover piece 14. FIG. 3 shows the bottom of the shoe 10 and cover piece 14 which may include a portion which is formed to be contoured similar to the front of a shoe and which has a void therein to receive the front of a shoe. FIG. 4 shows the back of the shoe. The cover piece 14 forms a band or wrap with a generally vertical side portion 18 which extends around the front and sides and may extend to the back of the shoe 10 next to the sole 22 of the shoe 10. The side portion 18 may be generally convex on the exterior to fit around the shoe as shown.

[0037] The cover piece 14 may have a bottom flange 26 which extends inwardly from the bottom of the side portion 18. The bottom flange 26 extends adjacent a portion of the sole 22 of the shoe 10. The bottom flange 26 may cover a relatively small portion of the sole 22 of the shoe 10 in some applications. Alternatively, the bottom flange 26 may cover a larger portion of the sole 22, such as the front half of the sole. The larger the portion of the sole 22 covered by the bottom flange 26, the larger the area that provides consistent gripping against the skateboard. It will be appreciated that a larger bottom flange may be particularly beneficial when used with shoes which do not have a tread which provides sufficient friction to engage a skateboard sufficiently to perform tricks.

[0038] In contrast, the smaller bottom flange 26, such as that shown in FIG. 3, is less likely to interfere with the ability of a skateboarder to feel the board through the sole. As such, the bottom flange 26 may extend inwardly between about 0.5 inches and 1 inch near the front of the shoe 10 in some embodiments and extend below the ball of the foot. The cover piece 14 may have a top flange 30 which extends inwardly from the top of portion 18. The top flange 30 may extend adjacent a portion of the top 34 of the shoe 10. The top flange 30 only needs to cover the part of the shoe 10 commonly used to perform skateboarding tricks and stunts. Thus, the top flange 30 preferably may only extend inwardly between about 1 inch and 1.5 inches around the front and sides of the shoe 10, though other sizes could be used.

[0039] The top and bottom flanges 30, 26 also help to secure the cover piece 14 to the shoe 10. Since the top and bottom flanges 30, 26 ideally fit snugly around the top and bottom portions of the shoe 10, these flanges keep the front of the cover piece 14 from sliding out of place on the shoe while the user is skateboarding. The front part of the cover piece 14 is the part primarily used for skateboarding stunts.

[0040] The cover piece 14 may have strap system 36 for holding the cover piece 14 on the shoe. As shown in FIG. 1, the strap system 36 may include a first strap 38 attached at or near one end of the cover piece 14 and a second strap 42 attached at or near an opposing end of the cover piece. The first strap 38 and the second strap 42 may extend around the back of the shoe 10 and connect together to secure the cover piece to the shoe. The first and second straps 38, 42 may include one or more fasteners such as hook and loop fastener 46 or an eyelet or buckle 50 to secure the cover piece 14 around the shoe 10.

[0041] The cover piece 14 (in particular the side portion 18, bottom flange 26 and top flange 30) is formed of an elastomeric material. In some embodiments, the cover piece 14 is formed of a rubber similar to bicycle tire tread or shoe tread. This provides the cover piece 14 with good traction against the various types of surfaces on a skateboard. The cover piece 14 may include a textured outer surface 54 which further enhances the gripping abilities of the cover piece.

[0042] Turning now to FIG. 5, an alternative embodiment of the cover piece 14 and a shoe 10 is shown. The cover piece 14 is similar to that shown above and differs in a few points. The cover piece 14, instead of having a first strap 38 and a second strap 42, has a side portion 18 which forms a continuous band 58 around the front, back, and sides of the shoe 10. The band 58 fits snugly around the shoe 10 to secure the cover piece 14 to the shoe. Another difference is that the cover piece 14 has textured outer surface 54 which is largely formed on knobs such as are found on off-road tires. The knobs provide an aggressive grip and look preferred by many youths. The knobs may also help the skater to engage a side of the skateboard with a knob and facilitate rotating the deck of the skateboard.

[0043] In use, the cover piece 14 may be removably attached to a shoe 10. The cover piece 14 may be attached to the shoe 10 during an athletic performance such as skateboarding and may then be removed afterwards so that the shoe can be worn normally and used for other activities. Alternatively, the cover piece 14 may be worn constantly as a fashion accessory. The cover piece 14 is advantageous as it can be provided in several sizes or may be configured to fit nearly all shoes 10, making an item which may be manufactured inexpensively. As such, the cover piece 14 allows a person to wear their shoe of choice. The cover piece 14 provides enhanced grip and athletic performance while simultaneously protecting the shoe from wear. This is significant, as many skateboarders will wear through shoes on a frequent basis.

[0044] Turning now to FIG. 6, there is shown another configuration of cover piece 14 of a shoe guard 12. The cover piece 14 may be made of an elastomeric material and may have either a contoured surfaces as discussed above, or may have a high friction, smooth surface made from rubber or rubber-like material. In such a manner the cover piece 14 may stretch to accommodate a variety of different shoe designs. The cover piece 14 may include a side portion 18 which will extend along the sides of the shoe and a top potion 32 which may be formed like a flange 30 as discussed above, or which have other shapes to accommodate a variety of shoes. For example, in FIG. 6 the top portion 32 includes two flange portions 30a and 30b which would be positioned on opposing sides of the top of a shoe. The flange portions 30a and 30b may include slots or slits 56 through which a lace or band (not shown) may be placed to pull the two flange portions toward one other. The band may be elastic or may be adjustable to allow the users to ensure that there is a snug fit of the cover piece 14 on the shoe.

[0045] Along the side portion 18 of the cover piece 14 may be one or more slots or slits 58. The slits 58 may be positioned in pairs and allow the belt or strap to engage the cover piece 14 and hold it to a shoe similar to the manner in which a belt passes through belt loops on a pair of pants. The slits 58 may be disposed continuously around the shoe, or they may be positioned in strategic locations to allow the strap to hold the cover piece 14 to a shoe. Also shown in FIG. 6 is an alternative attachment method wherein one or more loops 62 are disposed on the cover piece 14 to secure the strap without having it pass through slits. Thus, a plurality of loops 62 could be disposed on the inside of the cover piece 14.

[0046] FIG. 7 shows a front view of the cover pieces 14 and provides a better view of the flange portions 30a and 30b on the top portion of the cover pieces, including the slots 56 therein. Additionally, some of the slots 58 for the strap can also be seen. The V-shape between the flange portions 30a and 30b allows the flange portions to be drawn together and accommodate a variety of different shapes at the front of the shoe, as well as facilitate mounting on shoes of different sizes.

[0047] FIG. 8 shows a top view of the cover pieces 14, along with the flange portions 30a and 30b, the slots 56 therein, and the slots 58 along the side portion 18. Additionally, the flange 26 on the bottom of the cover pieces 14 is shown so that it extends to approximately where the ball of the foot of the user would be disposed.

[0048] FIG. 9 shows a top view of a shoe guard 12 which includes a cover piece 14 and strap 36. The strap 36 is secured to the cover piece 14 by passing in and out of the slots 58 along the side portion 18. The cover piece 14 may have a strap 68 which passes through the slots 56 in the top flanges 30a, 30b to pull the top flanges toward each other and facilitate different sizes / shapes of shoes being worn with the shoe guards 12.

[0049] FIG. 10 shows a side view of the shoe guard 12 mounted on a shoe 10 so as to protect the shoe during use in skateboarding or other activities where the shoe would likely get damaged. The strap 36 extends around the back of the shoe and may be held in place with a buckle 50, hook and loop fastener, or other attachment means. As discussed above, the strap 36 may hold onto the cover piece 14 by passing in and out of the slots 58 along the side portion 18. Alternatively, loops (such as loop 62 in FIG. 7) may be disposed along the cover piece so the strap 36 is not exposed.

[0050] The strap may be formed from a variety of materials such as nylon. In one currently preferred embodiment the strap is made from BioThane® 520 Beta Standard offered by BioThane Coated Webbing Corp. in North Ridgeville, Ohio, U.S.A.

[0051] FIG. 11 shows a front view of left and right cover pieces 14 which have been formed with a bottom flange 26 which has a textured outer surface 54 disposed thereon. The textured outer surface 54 may extend up part of the side portion. Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the entire cover piece 14 may be provide with a tread design. Moreover, different textured outer surfaces 54 signs can be provided on different parts of the cover pieces 14 so as to provide different gripping dynamics between the cover pieces and the skateboard, etc., during use. Furthermore, the pattern of the textured outer surface 54 can be done with designs which provide promotional display for various brands, etc.

[0052] FIG. 12 shows a top view of the cover pieces. When the textured outer surface 54 is limited to the bottom flange 26 and / or the lowermost part of the sidewall 18, the tread may not be visible from the top.

[0053] FIG. 13 shows a bottom view of the cover pieces so that the textured outer surface 54 is plainly visible. The textured outer surface 54 can help to engage the skateboard, etc., during use and can improve skateboarding over the use of shoes with limited tread or generally smooth (non-gripping) bottoms.

[0054] FIG. 14 shows a rear view of the cover pieces 14, and FIG. 15 shows side views of the cover pieces wherein the textured outer surface 54 can be seen. It will be appreciated that various aspects of the shoe guards 12 are shown in various of the figures and that different aspects shown can be selectively combined to create shoe guards within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.

[0055] There is thus disclosed an improved removable shoe guard 12. It will be appreciated that numerous changes may be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the claims.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0026]Various aspects of the invention and accompanying drawings will now be discussed in reference to the numerals provided therein so as to enable one skilled in the art to practice the present invention. The skilled artisan will understand, however, that the apparatus and methods described below can be practiced without employing these specific details, or that they can be used for purposes other than those described herein. Indeed, they can be modified and can be used in conjunction with products and techniques known to those of skill in the art in light of the present disclosure. The drawings and the descriptions thereof are intended to be exemplary of various aspects of examples of the invention and are not intended to narrow the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the drawings may show aspects of the invention in isolation and the elements in one figure may be used in conjunction with elements shown in other figures, etc.

[0027]Reference in t...

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63 / 776,960, filed Mar. 24, 2025, which is expressly incorporated herein and is a continuation of application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 19 / 287,813, filed Jul. 31, 2025.THE FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to athletic shoes. More specifically, the present invention relates to a removable tread piece which is attachable to the sides of shoes to protect the shoe and provide additional grip locations for activities such as skateboarding.BACKGROUND

[0003] Many people engage in skateboarding. In skateboarding, it is common to perform stunts which involve twisting or flipping the skateboard with the feet. A skateboarder will often use the sides or top of their shoe to grip the board in order to hold or maneuver the board. This results in two primary problems. One problem is that there is typically not a suitable gripping surface on the top or sides of the shoe to sufficiently control the skateboard. The canvas or leather typically used to make the upper part of the shoe is not particularly effective in gripping the skateboard. If a person cannot grip the skateboard, they are unable to perform desired stunts and may crash or injure themselves. There is thus a need for a method to improve the person's ability to grip the skateboard.

[0004] Another problem is that the skateboard is typically covered with grip tape, a surface similar to sandpaper. The canvas or leather used on the shoe is quickly worn out or damaged by the contact with the grip tape on the skateboard. There is thus a need to improve the life of the shoe.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a shoe guard for use while skateboarding and engaging in other sporting activities which can damage shoes.

[0006] According to one aspect of the invention, a shoe guard is provided which covers a portion of the sides of the shoe and which may cover a portion of the top of a shoe. The shoe guard may be made from rubber or a similar elastomeric substance which has a high coefficient of friction. The shoe guard may provide an increased ability to grip the skateboard to facilitate the performance of stunts and the like. Additionally, the shoe guard may be more durable than the materials typically used to make the top and sides of the shoe and contacts the skateboard grip tape instead of the shoe, extending the life of the shoe.

[0007] According to another aspect of the invention, a shoe guard may be provided which is removable from the shoe. A removable shoe guard may be attached to any shoe, allowing a person to obtain the advantages of the present guard without sacrificing the fit or style of a preferred shoe brand. The shoe guard may be worn while skating and, if desired, removed for everyday wearing of the shoe.

[0008] These and other aspects of the present invention are realized in a removable shoe guard and tread piece as shown and described in the following figures and related description.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Various embodiments of the present invention are shown and described in reference to the numbered drawings wherein:

[0010] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a shoe having the tread piece of the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the inside of a shoe having the tread piece of FIG. 1;

[0012] FIG. 3 shows the underside of a shoe having the tread piece of FIG. 1;

[0013] FIG. 4 shows the back of a shoe having the tread piece of FIG. 1;

[0014] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a shoe having a tread piece similar to that of FIG. 1;

[0015] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a pair of cover pieces which can be used in a shoe guard in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0016] FIG. 7 shows a front view of the cover pieces;

[0017] FIG. 8 shows a top view of the cover pieces;

[0018] FIG. 9 shows a top view of the cover pieces; and

[0019] FIG. 10 shows a side view of the shoe guard disposed on a shoe.

[0020] FIG. 11 shows a front view of the cover pieces;

[0021] FIG. 12 shows a top view of the cover pieces;

[0022] FIG. 13 shows a bottom view of the cover pieces;

[0023] FIG. 14 shows a rear view of the cover pieces; and

[0024] FIG. 15 shows a side view of the cover pieces.

[0025] It will be appreciated that the drawings are illustrative and not limiting the scope of the invention which is defined by the appended claims. The embodiments shown accomplish various aspects and objects of the invention. It should be appreciated that it is not possible to clearly show each element and aspect of the invention in a single figure, and as such, multiple figures are presented to separately illustrate the various details of the invention in greater clarity. Similarly, not every embodiment need accomplish all advantages of the present invention.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Various aspects of the invention and accompanying drawings will now be discussed in reference to the numerals provided therein so as to enable one skilled in the art to practice the present invention. The skilled artisan will understand, however, that the apparatus and methods described below can be practiced without employing these specific details, or that they can be used for purposes other than those described herein. Indeed, they can be modified and can be used in conjunction with products and techniques known to those of skill in the art in light of the present disclosure. The drawings and the descriptions thereof are intended to be exemplary of various aspects of examples of the invention and are not intended to narrow the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the drawings may show aspects of the invention in isolation and the elements in one figure may be used in conjunction with elements shown in other figures, etc.

[0027] Reference in the specification to “one embodiment,”“one configuration,”“an embodiment,” or “a configuration” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment, etc., but need not be included in any particular embodiment. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places may not necessarily limit the inclusion of a particular element of the invention to a single embodiment, rather the element may be included in other or all embodiments discussed herein.

[0028] Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of embodiments of the present disclosure may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details may be provided, such as examples of products or manufacturing techniques that may be used, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that embodiments discussed in the disclosure may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations may not be shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.

[0029] Before the present invention is disclosed and described in detail, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to any particular structures, process steps, or materials discussed or disclosed herein, but is extended to include equivalents thereof as would be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the relevant art. More specifically, the invention is defined by the terms set forth in the claims. It should also be understood that terminology contained herein is used for the purpose of describing particular aspects of the invention only and is not intended to limit the invention to the aspects or embodiments shown unless expressly indicated as such. Likewise, the discussion of any particular aspect of the invention is not to be understood as a requirement that such aspect is required to be present apart from an express inclusion of that aspect in the claims.

[0030] It should also be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, singular forms such as “a,”“an,” and “the” may include the plural unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a bracket” may include an embodiment having one or more of such brackets, and reference to “the plate” may include reference to one or more of such plates.

[0031] As used herein, the term “substantially” refers to the complete or nearly complete extent or degree of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result to function as indicated. For example, an object that is “substantially” enclosed would mean that the object is either completely enclosed or nearly completely enclosed. The exact allowable degree of deviation from absolute completeness may in some cases depend on the specific context, such that enclosing the nearly all of the length of a lumen would be substantially enclosed, even if the distal end of the structure enclosing the lumen had a slit or channel formed along a portion thereof. The use of “substantially” is equally applicable when used in a negative connotation to refer to the complete or near complete lack of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, structure which is “substantially free of” a bottom would either completely lack a bottom or so nearly completely lack a bottom that the effect would be effectively the same as if it completely lacked a bottom.

[0032] As used herein, the term “generally” refers to something that has characteristics of a quality without being exactly that quality. For example, a structure said to be generally vertical would be more vertical than horizontal, i.e., would extend greater than 45 degrees from horizontal. Likewise, something said to be generally circular may be rounded like an oval but need not have a consistent diameter in every direction.

[0033] As used herein, the term “about” is used to provide flexibility to a numerical range endpoint by providing that a given value may be “a little above” or “a little below” the endpoint while still accomplishing the function associated with the range.

[0034] As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositional elements, and / or materials may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member.

[0035] Concentrations, amounts, proportions, and other numerical data may be expressed or presented herein in a range format. It is to be understood that such a range format is used merely for convenience and brevity and thus should be interpreted flexibly to include not only the numerical values explicitly recited as the limits of the range, but also to include all the individual numerical values or sub-ranges encompassed within that range as if each numerical value and sub-range is explicitly recited. As an illustration, a numerical range of “about 1 to about 5” should be interpreted to include not only the explicitly recited values of about 1 to about 5, but also include individual values and sub-ranges within the indicated range. Thus, included in this numerical range are individual values such as 2, 3, and 4 and sub-ranges such as from 1-3, from 2-4, and from 3-5, etc., as well as 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, individually. This same principle applies to ranges reciting only one numerical value as a minimum or a maximum. Furthermore, such an interpretation should apply regardless of the breadth of the range or the characteristics being described.

[0036] Turning now to FIGS. 1 through 4, a shoe guard, generally indicated at 12, having cover piece 14 is shown installed on a shoe 10. FIGS. 1 and 2, show perspective views of a shoe 10 having a cover piece 14. FIG. 3 shows the bottom of the shoe 10 and cover piece 14 which may include a portion which is formed to be contoured similar to the front of a shoe and which has a void therein to receive the front of a shoe. FIG. 4 shows the back of the shoe. The cover piece 14 forms a band or wrap with a generally vertical side portion 18 which extends around the front and sides and may extend to the back of the shoe 10 next to the sole 22 of the shoe 10. The side portion 18 may be generally convex on the exterior to fit around the shoe as shown.

[0037] The cover piece 14 may have a bottom flange 26 which extends inwardly from the bottom of the side portion 18. The bottom flange 26 extends adjacent a portion of the sole 22 of the shoe 10. The bottom flange 26 may cover a relatively small portion of the sole 22 of the shoe 10 in some applications. Alternatively, the bottom flange 26 may cover a larger portion of the sole 22, such as the front half of the sole. The larger the portion of the sole 22 covered by the bottom flange 26, the larger the area that provides consistent gripping against the skateboard. It will be appreciated that a larger bottom flange may be particularly beneficial when used with shoes which do not have a tread which provides sufficient friction to engage a skateboard sufficiently to perform tricks.

[0038] In contrast, the smaller bottom flange 26, such as that shown in FIG. 3, is less likely to interfere with the ability of a skateboarder to feel the board through the sole. As such, the bottom flange 26 may extend inwardly between about 0.5 inches and 1 inch near the front of the shoe 10 in some embodiments and extend below the ball of the foot. The cover piece 14 may have a top flange 30 which extends inwardly from the top of portion 18. The top flange 30 may extend adjacent a portion of the top 34 of the shoe 10. The top flange 30 only needs to cover the part of the shoe 10 commonly used to perform skateboarding tricks and stunts. Thus, the top flange 30 preferably may only extend inwardly between about 1 inch and 1.5 inches around the front and sides of the shoe 10, though other sizes could be used.

[0039] The top and bottom flanges 30, 26 also help to secure the cover piece 14 to the shoe 10. Since the top and bottom flanges 30, 26 ideally fit snugly around the top and bottom portions of the shoe 10, these flanges keep the front of the cover piece 14 from sliding out of place on the shoe while the user is skateboarding. The front part of the cover piece 14 is the part primarily used for skateboarding stunts.

[0040] The cover piece 14 may have strap system 36 for holding the cover piece 14 on the shoe. As shown in FIG. 1, the strap system 36 may include a first strap 38 attached at or near one end of the cover piece 14 and a second strap 42 attached at or near an opposing end of the cover piece. The first strap 38 and the second strap 42 may extend around the back of the shoe 10 and connect together to secure the cover piece to the shoe. The first and second straps 38, 42 may include one or more fasteners such as hook and loop fastener 46 or an eyelet or buckle 50 to secure the cover piece 14 around the shoe 10.

[0041] The cover piece 14 (in particular the side portion 18, bottom flange 26 and top flange 30) is formed of an elastomeric material. In some embodiments, the cover piece 14 is formed of a rubber similar to bicycle tire tread or shoe tread. This provides the cover piece 14 with good traction against the various types of surfaces on a skateboard. The cover piece 14 may include a textured outer surface 54 which further enhances the gripping abilities of the cover piece.

[0042] Turning now to FIG. 5, an alternative embodiment of the cover piece 14 and a shoe 10 is shown. The cover piece 14 is similar to that shown above and differs in a few points. The cover piece 14, instead of having a first strap 38 and a second strap 42, has a side portion 18 which forms a continuous band 58 around the front, back, and sides of the shoe 10. The band 58 fits snugly around the shoe 10 to secure the cover piece 14 to the shoe. Another difference is that the cover piece 14 has textured outer surface 54 which is largely formed on knobs such as are found on off-road tires. The knobs provide an aggressive grip and look preferred by many youths. The knobs may also help the skater to engage a side of the skateboard with a knob and facilitate rotating the deck of the skateboard.

[0043] In use, the cover piece 14 may be removably attached to a shoe 10. The cover piece 14 may be attached to the shoe 10 during an athletic performance such as skateboarding and may then be removed afterwards so that the shoe can be worn normally and used for other activities. Alternatively, the cover piece 14 may be worn constantly as a fashion accessory. The cover piece 14 is advantageous as it can be provided in several sizes or may be configured to fit nearly all shoes 10, making an item which may be manufactured inexpensively. As such, the cover piece 14 allows a person to wear their shoe of choice. The cover piece 14 provides enhanced grip and athletic performance while simultaneously protecting the shoe from wear. This is significant, as many skateboarders will wear through shoes on a frequent basis.

[0044] Turning now to FIG. 6, there is shown another configuration of cover piece 14 of a shoe guard 12. The cover piece 14 may be made of an elastomeric material and may have either a contoured surfaces as discussed above, or may have a high friction, smooth surface made from rubber or rubber-like material. In such a manner the cover piece 14 may stretch to accommodate a variety of different shoe designs. The cover piece 14 may include a side portion 18 which will extend along the sides of the shoe and a top potion 32 which may be formed like a flange 30 as discussed above, or which have other shapes to accommodate a variety of shoes. For example, in FIG. 6 the top portion 32 includes two flange portions 30a and 30b which would be positioned on opposing sides of the top of a shoe. The flange portions 30a and 30b may include slots or slits 56 through which a lace or band (not shown) may be placed to pull the two flange portions toward one other. The band may be elastic or may be adjustable to allow the users to ensure that there is a snug fit of the cover piece 14 on the shoe.

[0045] Along the side portion 18 of the cover piece 14 may be one or more slots or slits 58. The slits 58 may be positioned in pairs and allow the belt or strap to engage the cover piece 14 and hold it to a shoe similar to the manner in which a belt passes through belt loops on a pair of pants. The slits 58 may be disposed continuously around the shoe, or they may be positioned in strategic locations to allow the strap to hold the cover piece 14 to a shoe. Also shown in FIG. 6 is an alternative attachment method wherein one or more loops 62 are disposed on the cover piece 14 to secure the strap without having it pass through slits. Thus, a plurality of loops 62 could be disposed on the inside of the cover piece 14.

[0046] FIG. 7 shows a front view of the cover pieces 14 and provides a better view of the flange portions 30a and 30b on the top portion of the cover pieces, including the slots 56 therein. Additionally, some of the slots 58 for the strap can also be seen. The V-shape between the flange portions 30a and 30b allows the flange portions to be drawn together and accommodate a variety of different shapes at the front of the shoe, as well as facilitate mounting on shoes of different sizes.

[0047] FIG. 8 shows a top view of the cover pieces 14, along with the flange portions 30a and 30b, the slots 56 therein, and the slots 58 along the side portion 18. Additionally, the flange 26 on the bottom of the cover pieces 14 is shown so that it extends to approximately where the ball of the foot of the user would be disposed.

[0048] FIG. 9 shows a top view of a shoe guard 12 which includes a cover piece 14 and strap 36. The strap 36 is secured to the cover piece 14 by passing in and out of the slots 58 along the side portion 18. The cover piece 14 may have a strap 68 which passes through the slots 56 in the top flanges 30a, 30b to pull the top flanges toward each other and facilitate different sizes / shapes of shoes being worn with the shoe guards 12.

[0049] FIG. 10 shows a side view of the shoe guard 12 mounted on a shoe 10 so as to protect the shoe during use in skateboarding or other activities where the shoe would likely get damaged. The strap 36 extends around the back of the shoe and may be held in place with a buckle 50, hook and loop fastener, or other attachment means. As discussed above, the strap 36 may hold onto the cover piece 14 by passing in and out of the slots 58 along the side portion 18. Alternatively, loops (such as loop 62 in FIG. 7) may be disposed along the cover piece so the strap 36 is not exposed.

[0050] The strap may be formed from a variety of materials such as nylon. In one currently preferred embodiment the strap is made from BioThane® 520 Beta Standard offered by BioThane Coated Webbing Corp. in North Ridgeville, Ohio, U.S.A.

[0051] FIG. 11 shows a front view of left and right cover pieces 14 which have been formed with a bottom flange 26 which has a textured outer surface 54 disposed thereon. The textured outer surface 54 may extend up part of the side portion. Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the entire cover piece 14 may be provide with a tread design. Moreover, different textured outer surfaces 54 signs can be provided on different parts of the cover pieces 14 so as to provide different gripping dynamics between the cover pieces and the skateboard, etc., during use. Furthermore, the pattern of the textured outer surface 54 can be done with designs which provide promotional display for various brands, etc.

[0052] FIG. 12 shows a top view of the cover pieces. When the textured outer surface 54 is limited to the bottom flange 26 and / or the lowermost part of the sidewall 18, the tread may not be visible from the top.

[0053] FIG. 13 shows a bottom view of the cover pieces so that the textured outer surface 54 is plainly visible. The textured outer surface 54 can help to engage the skateboard, etc., during use and can improve skateboarding over the use of shoes with limited tread or generally smooth (non-gripping) bottoms.

[0054] FIG. 14 shows a rear view of the cover pieces 14, and FIG. 15 shows side views of the cover pieces wherein the textured outer surface 54 can be seen. It will be appreciated that various aspects of the shoe guards 12 are shown in various of the figures and that different aspects shown can be selectively combined to create shoe guards within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.

[0055] There is thus disclosed an improved removable shoe guard 12. It will be appreciated that numerous changes may be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the claims.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0026]Various aspects of the invention and accompanying drawings will now be discussed in reference to the numerals provided therein so as to enable one skilled in the art to practice the present invention. The skilled artisan will understand, however, that the apparatus and methods described below can be practiced without employing these specific details, or that they can be used for purposes other than those described herein. Indeed, they can be modified and can be used in conjunction with products and techniques known to those of skill in the art in light of the present disclosure. The drawings and the descriptions thereof are intended to be exemplary of various aspects of examples of the invention and are not intended to narrow the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the drawings may show aspects of the invention in isolation and the elements in one figure may be used in conjunction with elements shown in other figures, etc.

[0027]Reference in t...

Claims

1. -17. (canceled)18. A shoe guard comprising:a cover piece formed from an elastomeric material having a side portion, a top flange extending inwardly from a top of the side and a bottom flange extending inwardly a bottom of the side portion; wherein the top flange covers less than 3 inches of the top of a shoe when the shoe is disposed in the Shoe Guard and wherein the bottom flange covers between 0.5 and 4 inches of the bottom of the shoe from a front end of the shoe and wherein a plurality of vertical slots formed therein and spaced apart around the side portion for allowing a strap to extend around the cover piece by passing into and out of the slots.

19. The shoe guard of claim 18, wherein the plurality of vertical slots are disposed in pairs.

20. The shoe guard of claim 19, further comprising a strap passing through the vertical slots, the strap being attachable so as to hold the cover piece onto a shoe.

21. The shoe guard of claim 20, wherein plurality of vertical slots includes pairs of slots disposed along a side of the cover piece and wherein the strap passes through multiple pairs of slots in the cover piece.

22. The shoe guard of claim 21, wherein the strap has a buckle disposed along the strap for attaching the strap to itself.

23. The shoe guard of claim 18 wherein the bottom flange is between 0.5 and 1 inches wide.

24. The shoe guard of claim 18, wherein the top flange includes a first top flange portion and a second top flange portion with a space disposed therebetween.

25. The shoe guard of claim 24, wherein the first top flange portion and the second top flange portion each includes a slot formed therein.

26. The shoe guard of claim 25 further comprising a strap which passes through the slot in the first top flange portion and the slot in the second top flange portion.

27. The shoe guard of claim 24, wherein the space between the first top flange portion and the second top flange portion is V-shaped.

28. The shoe guard of claim 18 wherein the cover piece has an exterior surface which is smooth and formed from a high friction material.

29. The shoe guard of claim 18, wherein the bottom flange on the cover piece extends to a location adjacent to the ball of a user's foot when a user wears a shoe having the cover piece disposed thereon.

30. The shoe guard of clam 18, wherein the cover piece has a textured surface formed thereon.

31. The shoe guard of claim 30, wherein the textured surface is disposed on the bottom flange of the cover piece.

32. The shoe guard of claim 31, wherein the top flange has a smooth surface.

33. A shoe guard comprising:a cover piece comprising an elongate piece of elastomeric material, the cover piece having a side, a top flange extending from the top of the side and being configured for covering the top front portion of a shoe and a bottom flange extending from the bottom of the side and inwardly so as to cover at least a portion of a sole of a shoe and a plurality of similar slots placed along the side disposed in adjacent pairs for weaving a strap around the cover piece.

34. The shoe guard of claim 33 further comprising at least one strap attached to the cover piece for holding the cover piece to a shoe.

35. The shoe guard of claim 34, wherein the plurality of similar slots on the cover piece includes a plurality of pairs of vertical slots formed therein and wherein the at least one strap extends through one or more slots of the plurality of pairs of vertical slots in the cover piece.

36. The shoe guard of claim 34, wherein the plurality of slots includes pairs of matching slots spaced around the side and wherein the strap passes through the pairs of matching slots.

37. The shoe guard of claim 34, further comprising a buckle disposed along the strap.

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