US20230354949A1

US20230354949A1 - Footwear attachment

Info

Publication number: US20230354949A1
Application number: US17/738,503
Authority: US
Inventors: Sabrina L. Williamson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2022-05-06
Filing date: 2022-05-06
Publication date: 2023-11-09

Abstract

A footwear attachment is disclosed that fastens or adheres to footwear worn by an individual to protect the footwear when an individual is walking outside of a building. A method for using the footwear attachment is also disclosed.

Description

BACKGROUND

A common problem experienced by individuals living in a home or working in a building is that the individual has footwear, such as socks, on their feet, but the individual is hesitant to go outside the building wearing only the footwear. The individual may be hesitant to go outside wearing only the footwear because the ground outside the building may stain or damages the footwear. Further, the footwear itself may not provide sufficient protection to the individual's feet against sharp objects or uneven ground present outside the building.
However, the individual may still desire to go outside the building without having to put on shoes over the footwear. A need therefore exists for something to protect the footwear and the individual's foot when the individual leaves a building without putting on shoes. Disclosed herein is an attachment for footwear that protects the footwear, and the foot of an individual, when the individual is outside of a building.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an attachment to footwear used to protect the footwear when an individual is walking outside of a building. When an individual prepares to go outside of a building, an individual places a first foot into a first attachment. The first attachment fastens or adheres to a first footwear worn on the first foot of the individual. Optionally, the individual then places a second foot into a second attachment. The second attachment fastens or adheres to a second footwear worn on the second foot. The first attachment provides protection to the first footwear when the individual is walking outside of the building, and the second attachment provides protection to the second footwear when the individual is walking outside of the building.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings, and that for purposes of illustration, these figures are not necessarily drawn to scale:

FIG. 1 shows a top view of the footwear attachment; and

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the footwear attachment.

DESCRIPTION

Consistent with embodiments of the invention, an attachment to footwear is used to protect the footwear when an individual is outside of a building. When an individual prepares to go outside of a building, an individual places a first foot into a first attachment. The first attachment fastens or adheres to a first footwear worn on the first foot of the individual. The individual then optionally places a second foot into a second attachment. The second attachment fastens or adheres to a second footwear worn on the second foot. The first attachment provides protection to the first footwear when the individual is walking outside of the building, and the second attachment provides protection to the second footwear when the individual is walking outside of the building.
As used herein, the term “footwear” is intended to mean socks, slippers, pantyhose, leggings that surround a foot, tights that surround a foot, or any other covering that surrounds a foot other than a shoe.
As shown in FIG. 1 , there is a footwear attachment 100 that attaches or adheres to footwear of an individual. The footwear attachment 100 comprises a sole 101 that has an elongated shape that will accommodate the foot of an individual when the foot is covered with footwear. The footwear attachment may completely surround the foot of the individual or it partially surround the foot of the individual. Further, footwear attachment 100 comprises a lip 102 that extends substantially vertically upward from sole 101. In addition, footwear attachment 100 comprises a surface 103 that is on the top sole 101. The surface 103 is arranged such that it can fasten or adhere to footwear worn by an individual.
As shown in FIG. 2 , footwear attachment 200 includes a lip 202 extending substantially vertically upward from sole 201 enough to substantially surround the footwear worn on the foot of the individual. In a preferred embodiment, lip 202 will extend substantially vertically upward from sole 201 such that lip 201 is higher than surface 203.
It will be appreciated that the sole of the footwear attachment may comprise any material that provides sufficient protection to the footwear worn by the individual. It will be further appreciated that the sole may comprise more than one material. Examples of materials that can be used to make the sole include rubber, plastic, molded plastic, leather, synthetic fibers, XL EXTRALIGHT®, Croslite™, metal or equivalents thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the sole comprises of a very light weight material.
It will be further appreciated that the sole of the footwear attachment may be comprised of a waterproof material.
It will be further appreciated that the sole of the footwear may be comprised of a material that resists penetration by sharp objects.
It will be further appreciated that the sole of the footwear attachment may comprise a bottom surface that it smooth or not smooth. The bottom surface may comprise tread, lines or ridges. It will be further appreciated that the bottom surface of the sole may be designed to provide slip resistance or skid resistance when the individual is walking.
It will be further appreciated that the sole of the footwear attachment may be either rigid or flexible when an individual is walking.
It will be further appreciated that the sole of the footwear attachment may have a uniform thickness from the front of the sole to the back of the sole. Alternatively, the sole of the footwear attachment may not have a uniform thickness from the front of the sole to the back of the sole. For example, a top surface of the sole of the footwear attachment may comprise an area that extends substantially upward from the top surface to provide arch support for the foot of the individual.
It will be further appreciated that the sole of the footwear attachment may have a uniform thickness from the left side of the sole to the right side of the sole. Alternatively, the sole of the footwear attachment may not have a uniform thickness from the left side of the sole to the right side of the sole.
It will be further appreciated that the sole of the footwear attachment may surround the foot of the individual. Alternatively, the sole of the footwear attachment may not surround the foot of the individual.
It will be further appreciated that the lip of the footwear attachment may comprise any material that provides sufficient durability for the lip. It will be further appreciated that the lip may comprise more than one material. Examples of materials that may be used to make the lip include rubber, plastic, molded plastic, leather, synthetic fibers, metal or equivalents thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the lip comprises rubber.
It will be further appreciated that the height of the lip of the footwear attachment may be substantially uniform. Alternatively, it will be appreciated that the height of the lip of the footwear attachment may vary at different points along the lip. It will be further appreciated that the height of the lip of the footwear attachment may be sufficient to protect the footwear if the individual steps into water, mud, clay or the equivalent.
It will be further appreciated that the lip of the footwear attachment may comprise a strap or loop that may extend over the foot of the individual to assist in keeping the footwear attachment in place when being worn by an individual.
It will be further appreciated that the lip of the footwear attachment may comprise a rim or ridge on an inner surface of the lip to assist with keeping the footwear attachment in place when being worn by an individual.
It will be further appreciated that the lip of the footwear attachment may surround the foot of the individual. Alternatively, the lip of the footwear attachment may not surround the foot of the individual.
It will be appreciated that the surface 103 of the footwear attachment may comprise any material that allows the surface 103 to sufficiently fasten or adhere to the footwear worn by the individual. In a preferred embodiment, the surface 103 comprises Velcro®.
It will be further appreciated that the surface 103 of the footwear attachment may extend the entire length of the foot of the individual. Alternatively, the surface 103 of the footwear attachment may not extend the entire length of the foot of the individual.
Further, a method for using the footwear attachment involves an individual placing a foot covered by footwear onto the surface 103 on the top of the footwear attachment with sufficient force for the footwear attachment to fasten or adhere to the footwear.
The above detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. While embodiments of the invention may be described, modifications, adaptations, and other implementations are possible. For example, substitutions, additions, or modifications may be made to the elements illustrated in the drawings, and the methods described herein may be modified by substituting, reordering, or adding stages to the disclosed methods. Furthermore, while the specification has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, the claims are not limited to the features or acts described above. Accordingly, the above detailed description does not limit the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A footwear attachment comprising:

a sole having an elongated shape that will accommodate the foot of an individual when the foot is covered with footwear;

a lip extending substantially vertically upward from the sole; and

a surface fastened or adhered to the top of the sole,

wherein the surface is arranged to fasten or adhere to footwear worn by the individual.

2. The footwear attachment of claim 1, wherein the sole comprises rubber, plastic, molded plastic, leather, synthetic fibers, metal.

3. The footwear attachment of claim 1, wherein the sole comprises rubber.

4. The footwear attachment of claim 1, wherein the sole comprises a slip resistant surface.

5. The footwear attachment of claim 1, wherein the sole comprises a bottom surface comprising a tread, lines or ridges.

6. The footwear attachment of claim 1, wherein the sole comprises an arch support for the foot of an individual.

7. The footwear attachment of claim 1, wherein the sole comprises a varying thickness.

8. The footwear attachment of claim 1, wherein the lip comprises a varying height.

9. The footwear attachment of claim 1, wherein the lip comprises a strap capable of extending over the foot of the individual.

10. The footwear attachment of claim 1, wherein the surface comprises Velcro®.