Spike cover for a track running shoe

Abstract

A track and field shoe has spikes extending outwardly from a forward portion of an outsole of the shoe. A shoe cover provides a bottom plate resting in contact with the forward portion of the outsole of the shoe and has a similar peripheral shape. The shoe cover further includes an elastic clamping fabric engaged on three mutual edges peripherally with the bottom plate. A fourth mutual peripheral edge of the clamping fabric and the bottom plate forms an opening into the shoe cover for accepting a tip of the shoe inserted into it upon stretching the clamping fabric. A hem in the clamping fabric extends parallel and adjacent to the fourth peripheral edge and terminates with a hem seam. The hem seam has a maximum elastic yield below that of the clamping fabric. This is critical as it allows the clamping fabric to stretch to fit a wide range of shoes, while enabling the hem seam to fit more tightly around the tip of the shoe applying a clamping force.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising in combination: a track and field shoe providing plural spikes extending outwardly from a forward portion of an outsole of the shoe; a shoe cover providing a bottom plate resting in contact with the forward portion of the outsole of the shoe, in contact with the spikes; the shoe cover further providing an elastic clamping fabric engaged on three mutual edges peripherally with the bottom plate, a fourth mutual peripheral edge of the bottom plate and the clamping fabric forming an opening into the shoe cover for accepting a tip of the shoe upon stretching the clamping fabric; a hem seam extending in parallel and adjacent to the fourth peripheral edge of the clamping fabric, the hem seam having a maximum elastic yield falling between about 30 and 60 percent of the maximum elastic yield of the clamping fabric.  
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the bottom plate of the shoe cover is made of a compliant material whereby the plural spikes are imbedded therein under body weight.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the compliant material is rubber.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the clamping fabric is Lycra™.