GB2188224A - Motorists' footwear heel guard - Google Patents

Abstract

A motorists' footwear heel guard has a covering 3 that protects the heel seat and surrounding area of footwear whilst driving. To secure and fit, the tips 4 of the covering 3 are eased apart and close-up automatically when released. The covering 3 can provide against slippage, friction and pressure marks whilst the guard is fitted and in use. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Motorists' Footwear Heel Guard This invention relates to a motorists' footwear heel guard.

Driving can be an occupation, necessity, and/or hobby for many people. The action of pivoting and sliding the feet across the pedals even after a short journey marks footwear heel seats. Therefore, leather, suede or manmade material footwear heel seats and surrounding area wear and tear very quickly. This problem is especially true for women drivers.

Most womens' footwear are more susceptible to wear because the backs of the actual heel tend to slant inwards. This leaves the heel seat and surrounding area in direct contact with the floor of the motor vehicle. An old pair of shoes is the well known remedy. Changing into and out of another pair of shoes before and after driving is inconvenient, cumbersome and sometimes not practical.

According to the present invention there is provided a motorists' footwear heel guard comprising of a covering, in the form of a wide horseshoe, with the chosen dimensions to protect the heel seat and surrounding area whilst driving, means that allow the guard to fit and secure to different types and sizes of footwear, the guard being adapted to provide against friction marks inside the heel guard, any pressure marks from the edges of the heel guard and heels slipping on the vehicle floor once fitted to footwear and in use.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of exampie with references to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a side view of the heel guard as fitted to footwear.

Figure 2 shows the top and back view of the heel guard.

Referring to the drawing the guard comprises of a covering 3 in the form of a wide horseshoe, with the chosen dimensions. The tips 4 are eased apart and close-up automatically when released.

In order to fit the guard to the back of footwear as shown in Figure 1 the tips 4 of the heel guard are to be eased apart as shown in Figure 2. The covering 3 is secured onto footwear by the material used own "memory" qualities.

1. A motorists' footwear heel guard comprising of a covering, in the form of a wide horseshoe, with the chosen dimensions to protect the heel seat and surrounding area whilst driving, means that allow the guard to fit and secure to different types and sizes of footwear, the guard being adapted to provide against friction marks inside the heel guard, any pressure marks from the edges of the heel guard and heels slipping on the vehicle floor once fitted to footwear and in use.

2. A motorists' footwear heel guard as claimed in claim 1 wherein secure and fitment means are provided by the particular qualities of the material(s) in use.

3. A motorists' footwear heel guard as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the non-slip whilst driving means are provided by the material(s) from which the heel guard is made.

4. A motorists' footwear heel guard as claimed in claim 3 wherein anti-pressure marks means are provided by the finish given to the outside edges of the guard.

5. A motorists' footwear heel guard as claimed in claim 4wherein anti-friction means is provided by the material(s) used.

6. A motorists' footwear heel guard substantially as described herein with reference to figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: Claims 1 to 5 above have been deleted or textually amended.

Claim 6 above has been re-numbered as 5.

New or textually amended claims have been filed as follows:- 1. A motorists' footwear heel guard comprising of a covering, in the form of a wide horseshoe, with the chosen dimensions to protect the heel seat and surrounding area whilst driving, resilient gripping means that allow the guard to fit and secure to different types and sizes of footwear, the guard being adapted to provide against friction marks inside the heel guard, any pressure marks from the edges of the heel guard and heels slipping on the vehicle floor once fitted to footwear and in use, and wherein secure fitment to footwear of different types and sizes is provided by the material in use particular qualities of resilient gripping means.

2. A motorists' footwear heel guard as claimed in claim 1 wherein the non-slip whilst driving means are provided by the material from which the heel guard is made.

3. A motorists' footwear heel guard as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein anti-pressure marks means are provided by the finish given to the outside edges of the guard.

4. A motorists' footwear heel guard as claimed in claim 3 wherein anti-friction means is provided by the material used.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Motorists' Footwear Heel Guard This invention relates to a motorists' footwear heel guard. Driving can be an occupation, necessity, and/or hobby for many people. The action of pivoting and sliding the feet across the pedals even after a short journey marks footwear heel seats. Therefore, leather, suede or manmade material footwear heel seats and surrounding area wear and tear very quickly. This problem is especially true for women drivers. Most womens' footwear are more susceptible to wear because the backs of the actual heel tend to slant inwards. This leaves the heel seat and surrounding area in direct contact with the floor of the motor vehicle. An old pair of shoes is the well known remedy. Changing into and out of another pair of shoes before and after driving is inconvenient, cumbersome and sometimes not practical. According to the present invention there is provided a motorists' footwear heel guard comprising of a covering, in the form of a wide horseshoe, with the chosen dimensions to protect the heel seat and surrounding area whilst driving, means that allow the guard to fit and secure to different types and sizes of footwear, the guard being adapted to provide against friction marks inside the heel guard, any pressure marks from the edges of the heel guard and heels slipping on the vehicle floor once fitted to footwear and in use. A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of exampie with references to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a side view of the heel guard as fitted to footwear. Figure 2 shows the top and back view of the heel guard. Referring to the drawing the guard comprises of a covering 3 in the form of a wide horseshoe, with the chosen dimensions. The tips 4 are eased apart and close-up automatically when released. In order to fit the guard to the back of footwear as shown in Figure 1 the tips 4 of the heel guard are to be eased apart as shown in Figure 2. The covering 3 is secured onto footwear by the material used own "memory" qualities. CLAIMS

1. A motorists' footwear heel guard comprising of a covering, in the form of a wide horseshoe, with the chosen dimensions to protect the heel seat and surrounding area whilst driving, means that allow the guard to fit and secure to different types and sizes of footwear, the guard being adapted to provide against friction marks inside the heel guard, any pressure marks from the edges of the heel guard and heels slipping on the vehicle floor once fitted to footwear and in use.

2. A motorists' footwear heel guard as claimed in claim 1 wherein secure and fitment means are provided by the particular qualities of the material(s) in use.

3. A motorists' footwear heel guard as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the non-slip whilst driving means are provided by the material(s) from which the heel guard is made.

4. A motorists' footwear heel guard as claimed in claim 3 wherein anti-friction means is provided by the material used.

4. A motorists' footwear heel guard as claimed in claim 3 wherein anti-pressure marks means are provided by the finish given to the outside edges of the guard.

5. A motorists' footwear heel guard as claimed in claim 4wherein anti-friction means is provided by the material(s) used.

6. A motorists' footwear heel guard substantially as described herein with reference to figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: Claims 1 to 5 above have been deleted or textually amended.

Claim 6 above has been re-numbered as

5.

New or textually amended claims have been filed as follows:-

1. A motorists' footwear heel guard comprising of a covering, in the form of a wide horseshoe, with the chosen dimensions to protect the heel seat and surrounding area whilst driving, resilient gripping means that allow the guard to fit and secure to different types and sizes of footwear, the guard being adapted to provide against friction marks inside the heel guard, any pressure marks from the edges of the heel guard and heels slipping on the vehicle floor once fitted to footwear and in use, and wherein secure fitment to footwear of different types and sizes is provided by the material in use particular qualities of resilient gripping means.

2. A motorists' footwear heel guard as claimed in claim 1 wherein the non-slip whilst driving means are provided by the material from which the heel guard is made.

3. A motorists' footwear heel guard as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein anti-pressure marks means are provided by the finish given to the outside edges of the guard.