Elastic Protective Cover for Cleated Athletic Shoes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Athletes wearing cleated shoes face damage to both the shoes and hard surfaces due to protrusions like cleats, spikes, and studs, leading to premature wear and the risk of tracking dirt and debris, with existing protective solutions being less appealing and difficult to attach.

Innovation Solution

A low-profile, stylish protective covering for cleated shoes that fits snugly, featuring adjustable grips and materials like thermoplastic or thermosetting materials to mold to the shoe's shape, providing easy attachment and removal while preventing damage and debris accumulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If protective covers are attached using straps or attachment mechanisms, then protection against damage is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in attachment and removal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection against damageVSAvoidease of attachment and removal

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical attachment systems (straps, buckles, Velcro) with a simple friction-based retention mechanism. The cover uses a tight-fitting elastic or rubberized material that stretches over the shoe and retains itself through friction and elastic tension, eliminating the need for additional attachment components and enabling easy donning and doffing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The protective cover is constructed from flexible elastic or rubberized material that can stretch and conform to the shoe's shape. This flexibility allows the cover to be easily put on and taken off while maintaining a secure fit through elastic tension, resolving the contradiction between secure attachment and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Shape

If protective covers are designed to be low-profile and stylish, then aesthetic appeal is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to potential poor adhesion to shoe contours

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelow-profile appearanceVSAvoidadhesion to shoe contours

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses elastic or rubberized material with specific elastic properties that allow the cover to stretch and conform tightly to the shoe's contours. The material's elasticity enables it to maintain a low-profile appearance while ensuring reliable adhesion through friction and elastic tension, resolving the contradiction between aesthetics and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If cleats are made of metal or hard plastic for improved traction, then functionality is improved, but object-generated harmful factors worsen due to damage to shoes and hard surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraction and stabilityVSAvoiddamage to shoes and surfaces

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The protective cover serves as an intermediary layer between the hard cleats and the surfaces they contact. This soft cover allows the cleats to maintain their traction-gripping function while preventing direct contact between the hard cleats and hard surfaces, thereby eliminating damage to both the shoes and the surfaces without compromising the cleats' functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The protective covering effectively reduces damage to cleats and surfaces, maintains the shoe's aesthetic appeal, and is easy to use, ensuring prolonged shoe life and cleanliness by securely attaching to various cleated shoe designs.

Implementation Method 1

featuring adjustable grips and materials like thermoplastic or thermosetting materials to mold to the shoe's shape

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermoplastic:

Implementation Method 2

featuring adjustable grips and materials like thermoplastic or thermosetting materials to mold to the shoe's shape

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermosetting:

Data Source

PatentUS10952492B2Protective cover for cleated athletic shoes

Publication Date: 2021.03.23 CHRISTIAN JESSIE C

AI summary

A protective covering device for the bottom of an athletic shoe having cleats, spikes, studs, or other traction and stability-enhancing protrusions is disclosed. The covering protects against damage—to both cleats and hard surfaces underfoot—while at the same time being aesthetically pleasing and durable, fitting the profile of the shoe, and being easy to use. The protective covering also helps to avoid grass, dirt, mud and other foreign objects becoming stuck in the cleats. The protective covering may attach to the shoe in a variety of manners, including by cage or teeth-like gripping mechanisms, by side grips, by elastic band, by drawstring, adhesion, vacuum, or another mechanism.