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  Slip resistant ski boot protection apparatusUSPTO Application #: 20060096130Title: Slip resistant ski boot protection apparatus Abstract: A flexible, rollable sole having a thin elastic or rubber cord attached thereto in parallel to and at a distance from the sole edge, the elastic cord fits around the ski boot at the junction of the sole and upper, the elastic cord extends around the boot at the level of the sole. The attachment may comprise a plurality of extensions of the plastic or rubber cord. In embodiments pair of soles sufficient to completely cover the toe and heel of the boot have a short gap therebetween. In embodiments a thin elastic hand holds a fabric upper body in place. Large loops allow a user to easily manipulated the device wearing ski gloves, a band, fastener or hook may be used to hold the device to its companion device or in the rolled up position or around the boot shaft while the user is skiing. (end of abstract) Agent: Barber Legal - Golden, CO, US Inventor: Frederick Robert May USPTO Applicaton #: 20060096130 - Class: 036132000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Boots, Shoes, And Leggings, Boots And Shoes, Occupational Or Athletic Shoe (e.g., Roof Climbing, Gardening, Etc.), Athletic Shoe Or Attachment Therefor, Attachment (e.g., Weight For Shoe, Etc.) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060096130. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This invention claims the priority and benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/626,355 filed Nov. 9.sup.th, 2004 in the name of the same inventor, Frederick Robert May, and entitled "SLIP RESISTANT SKI BOOT PROTECTION SYSTEM". FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates generally to ski boots, and specifically to ski boot protectors and traction aids. STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH [0003] This invention was not made under contract with an agency of the US Government, nor by any agency of the US Government. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0004] Ski boots are specialized boots which serve several functions. They are intended to retain the warmth of the user's foot in cold conditions. Famously, they move the site of any broken leg up the shin bone and away from the ankle, thus providing an easier medical fix in the event of a broken leg. [0005] On a more mundane level, ski boots are designed, dimensioned and configured to physically cooperate with a ski binding so as to lock the boot and the ski together firmly, thus allowing the user to control the ski with confidence and precision. The fittings, projections and indentations on the ski boot sole exactly match (in a complementary match) the fittings, projections and apertures on the ski binding, indeed, the size and shape of the planform or outline of the boot sole is crucial to this physical engagement to the ski binding. The planform of a ski boot sole is a squared off rectangle very different from practically any other type of footwear. The sole has a specific shape and size in addition to having various devices thereon, and the primary purpose of these devices and the shape of the sole is simply to provide a secure and strong engagement to the ski. As a result, a ski boot in outline and planform resembles no other footwear. The sole may project at front and/or back, the sole may be a considerably narrower shape than the uppers of the boot above it and so on. [0006] Walking on ski boots is initially disconcerting, but most users pick up the trick quickly. After that, a pair of new problems with walking on ski boots quickly emerges. The first is lack of traction. The ski boot is not shaped for walking with good traction, rather it is shaped to fit to a ski binding. Unlike most footwear, it is even possible to lose traction and have a foot slip sideways. Front and back slips occur frequently too, especially considering that most ski boot walking occurs on the icy surface between the parking lot and popular ski runs or on the tile floors many "bottom of the ski run" businesses provide for their customers. This problem tends to yield to practice on the part of the user, which only exacerbates the other problem: damage and wear on the ski boot soles. [0007] The devices on the ski boot sole are not intended for walking, they are precisely designed for physical engagement to ski bindings. The devices (generally "projections, indentations and fittings" in this application) are easily damaged or worn by being used as traction devices or treads by walking users. Even short walks can damage the devices enough to cause problems or even safety issues, since the fit of sole to binding is very precise in some regards. Most ski boot soles are quite strong materials which the maker may hope will minimize such issues. [0008] One known solution to the traction issue is the family of hard plastic snap on devices which have numerous cleats on one side and on the other side fit either the toe or heel of the ski boot. This solves traction problems and even provides a degree of protection at ski boot toes/heels. However, the mid-section of the sole remains largely exposed to the hazards of ice, rocks, debris, door sills and the like. A problem with such rigid devices is that they are also somewhat difficult to handle and store when not in use, being essentially squares of hard plastic with cleats on them. [0009] Two other problems occur with the hard plastic snap on devices. The first such problem is that the devices tend to stretch over time. As a result of stretching, they eventually begin to fall off. While walking, the normal skier simply has very little ability to see such devices at all, as they attach to the bottom of the ski boots. In addition, the typical walker in ski boots concentrates on skis, poles, packs, lift tickets and similar encumbrances. Thus, the absence of the traction device may go un-noticed. The second problem with such devices is that makers tend to compensate for the stretching problem by making the tolerances of the devices as tight as possible, thus making the devices extremely hard to get on or even off when they are new. A fully encumbered skier must then fight with a device securely attached to the bottom of the ski boot when new, or stretched and absent when old. [0010] In the unrelated field of more mundane footwear, a different problem has led to a different structure for solution. Dress shoes may be equipped with a rubber "partial galoshes" which comprise a unitary rubber tread and minimal upper of one or two inches tall (2.5-5 cm tall). Being a single unit of rubber makes such devices water proof, allowing wearers of dress shoes to chance muddy city streets with a bit less trepidation. Such devices cannot fit onto a ski boot, being dimensioned and configured to fit upon a normal dress shoe. [0011] US Design Pat. No. 394740, to Poust on Jun. 2, 1998, and US Design Pat. No. 377710 dated Feb. 4, 1997, teach an overshoe type device having numerous holes therethrough. They do not appear to teach structures relating to ski boots. [0012] US Design Pat. No. 340123, dated Oct. 12, 1993 to Howey, Jr., teaches a hard device of ribs with hinged clips to secure it to footgear. [0013] U.S. Pat. No. 6,154,982, dated Dec. 5, 2000 and in the name of Bell et al, teaches another device of numerous holes through a rubber or plastic body. [0014] U.S. Pat. No. 6,044,578, granted Apr. 4, 2000 to Ketz teaches a device having a heel portion, a toe portion and straps to hold it together and onto footwear. [0015] U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,334, issued Sep. 14, 1999 to Gerhardt teaches a toe trap and a hook and loop strap across the ankle to hold it to footwear. [0016] U.S. Pat. No. 5,909,945, Jun. 8, 1999 to Noy teaches a network of metal encrusted bands across the bottom of footwear, having no true sole. [0017] U.S. Pat. No. 5,727,339, issued Mar. 17, 1998 to inventor Owen teaches a device having a set of strap arrangements for use around the angle of a ski boot. [0018] U.S. Pat. No. 5,661,915, issued Sep. 2, 1997 in the name of Smith teaches a shoe, perhaps an athletic shoe, having a removable spike plate. [0019] U.S. Pat. No. 5,188,578, in the name of Voight and issued Feb. 23, 1993, shows a plate which is clamped on with a screw or other arrangement at the toe. [0020] U.S. Pat. No. 5,142,798, dated Sep. 1, 1992 and issued in the name Kaufman et al teaches a multi-part high upper assembly which has significant straps for support. Continue reading... Full patent description for Slip resistant ski boot protection apparatus Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Slip resistant ski boot protection apparatus 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. 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