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  Overshoe for sportsUSPTO Application #: 20070051014Title: Overshoe for sports Abstract: An overshoe for sports is comprised of a flexible, stretchable, waterproof material with a plurality of spikes extending from the a base surface that is entirely flat. The plurality of spikes forms a circular design at the toe portion of the flat base and staggers outward so that the spikes uniformly cover the base. The design and placement of the spikes enhances the balance of the user while preventing large amounts of turf or earth from clinging to the base of the outsole. The flat base surface allows the overshoe to contour around a user's footwear of choice thus maintaining a flat surface with the ground while, at the same time, maintaining the user's comfort in his footwear of choice. The flat base surface also assists in maintaining balance while contemporaneously restricting sway and movement of other parts of the body. (end of abstract) Agent: Whitham, Curtis & Christofferson, P.c. - Reston, VA, US Inventor: Ralph W. Cromley USPTO Applicaton #: 20070051014 - Class: 036007300 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Boots, Shoes, And Leggings, Boots And Shoes, Overshoes, Rubber The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070051014. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an overshoe that can be worn over a user's shoes to provide protection against water and mud, while, at the same time, permitting the user to have stability for performing an athletic movement, such as a golf swing. [0003] 2. Background Description [0004] Water resistant overshoes, designed to allow a user to more easily play golf or other sports in wet or muddy conditions, have been described in various patents. [0005] U.S. Pat. No. 3,643,352 shows an overshoe for golf with screwed on metal spikes or cleats. The overshoe is shown with a bottom surface having an arched portion separating the heel and toe portions of the bottom surface, and curved toe portion. No cleats or spikes protrude from the arched portion separating the heel and toe portions. [0006] U.S. Pat. No. 6,568,101 shows a softspike overshoe for playing golf. There are both integrated diamond-shaped spikes and a raised grid-like pattern on the bottom surface of the shoe. Like the '352 patent, the overshoe shows a bottom surface with an arched portion separating the heel and toe portions of the bottom surface, and does not include spikes in this arched portion. [0007] Currently, the undersigned is not aware of any commercially available overshoe products with spiked bottom surfaces such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,643,352 and 6,568,101. This maybe due to problems with the design of the overshoes or for other reasons. Given that the popularity of golf is expanding, and that rain and inclement weather continues to pose problems for golfing or other sports activities, there is a need for improved overshoe designs that allow for better stability, ease of manufacture, comfort to the wearer, and ease of use in wet or muddy conditions. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] It is an exemplary object of this invention to provide an overshoe with a bottom surface with downwardly projecting spikes uniformly distributed thereon, and where the bottom surface is flat from heel to toe, thereby allowing for more contact with the earth and greater stability. [0009] It is another exemplary object of this invention to provide an overshoe with a bottom surface having a plurality of downward projecting pyramidal shaped spikes that are separated from one another so as to avoid collection of turf on the bottom surface of the shoe. [0010] It is yet another exemplary object of this invention to provide an overshoe with a bottom surface having a plurality of downward projecting pyramidal shaped spikes distributed uniformly thereon, with a portion of the sole designed with a circular pattern of the pyramidal shaped spikes to allow for improved turning ability for the wearer, while still allowing greater stability. [0011] The overshoe of the present invention is made of a flexible, stretchable material (e.g., rubber, plastic, etc.) for stretching over a user's footwear. The flexible, stretchable material is all-weather and waterproof to protect the user's footwear. The overshoe includes an open top portion in which a user's footwear can be inserted. A heel portion of the open top portion may include an integrally formed, or otherwise connected, pull-tab that assists the user in stretching the overshoe over his or her footwear. The overshoe further includes a bottom portion that extends from the heel portion to the toe portion, and is preferably integrally formed with the top portion so as to form one continuous piece. The bottom portion includes a bottom surface, or base surface, with a plurality of spikes projecting downward from the bottom surface. The spikes may be integrally formed with the bottom surface of the bottom portion, or otherwise attached to the bottom surface. Preferably, the spikes are pyramidal shaped; however, any pointed shape of spike can be used (e.g., diamond, conical, etc.). Moreover, the spikes are manufactured at a suitable height and width so as to not restrict the turn of the foot on the outdoor surface. Accordingly, pressure on the wearer's knees is reduced. [0012] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the base surface of the portion is uniformly and continuously flat from a heel region to a toe region. In other words, the base surface does not include an arched portion that makes the heel portion distinct from the toe portion of the bottom portion. The purpose and benefit of the uniformly flat base surface are two-fold. First, the flat base surface assists in maintaining balance while contemporaneously restricting sway and movement of other parts of the body. In the sport of golf, for example, the flat base surface will help a golfer maintain his balance and restrict unnecessary bodily movement (e.g., the head) during a golf swing and putting. As is known in the sport of golf, balance and restriction of certain bodily movements are some of the most important steps in executing the proper golf swing. Thus, those familiar with the sport of golf will appreciate the enhanced swinging and putting techniques that result from an overshoe with a flat base surface. Second, the overshoe is capable of stretching over footwear with a deeper or wider heel or sole construction while maintaining the flat base surface. Thus, a user can maintain the comfort of his or her footwear of choice while ensuring balance and certain required movement restriction. [0013] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the spikes located in a sole region of the base surface of the bottom portion are arranged in a circular pattern. This circular pattern is designed to let a user turn between 1 and 360 degrees on the user's feet without applying excessive pressure to other parts of the feet and legs during walking, running or other movements necessary in outdoor sports and related activities. In the sport of golf, for example, the circular pattern enhances a user's golf swing on the final path through the ball. [0014] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the spikes are distributed over an entirety of the base surface of the bottom portion from the heel region to the toe region and at all points in between. The spikes not positioned in a circular pattern are, preferably, distributed in a staggered pattern and, generally, evenly spaced apart from one another. The spacing can range from 1/20 of an inch to 1 inch. Within the scope of this invention, staggered means that the adjacent spike is slightly offset and spaced apart, as shown in FIG. 1. This staggered pattern and the distance between the spikes reduces turf build-up on the bottom surface of the overshoe. If turf does collect on the bottom surface of the overshoe, the staggered pattern allows the overshoe to release grass, dirt, and turf that builds up on the base surface by flexing the overshoe. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0015] The foregoing and other objects, aspects and advantages will be better understood from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawings, in which: [0016] FIG. 1 is a bottom view of the overshoe of the present invention; [0017] FIG. 2 is a left side view of the overshoe of the present invention; [0018] FIG. 3 is a top view of the overshoe of the present invention; [0019] FIG. 4 is a right side view of the overshoe of the present invention; [0020] FIG. 5 is a length wise cross-sectional view of the overshoe of the present invention; [0021] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the overshoe along line A-A in FIG. 1; Continue reading... Full patent description for Overshoe for sports Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Overshoe for sports patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Overshoe for sports or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Shoe ventilation system Next Patent Application: Slipper having shape memory Industry Class: Boots, shoes, and leggings ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Overshoe for sports patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.20038 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Canon USA , Celera Genomics , Cephalon, Inc. , Cingular Wireless , Clorox , Colgate-Palmolive , Corning , Cymer , |
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