Overshoes with raised inner surface portions and slip resistant sole portions for use on primary footwear

Abstract

An overshoe for disposition over a primary footwear. The overshoe includes an upper and a sole. The sole has a ground engaging bottom surface and plural projections extending upward into or adjacent the hollow interior of the upper. The ridges support a portion of the sole of the primary footwear to provide cushioning and shock absorption. The sole may be a bi-component member having two layers and plural spikes with portions interposed therebetween. Each spike includes a free end which is arranged to be exposed at the ground-engaging bottom surface.

1 . An overshoe for disposition over a primary footwear, the primary footwear having an upper, a sole and a heel, the upper having a toe portion and a heel portion, said overshoe comprising an upper portion and a sole portion, said upper portion having a hollow interior adapted for receipt of at least a portion of the primary footwear, said sole portion of said overshoe comprising a ground engaging bottom surface and support means in the form of at least one projection extending upward adjacent said hollow interior of said upper portion and adapted to support a portion of the sole of the primary footwear, said sole portion of said overshoe being in the form of a solid mass of resilient material located between said ground engaging bottom surface and said at least one projection to provide shock absorption for the primary footwear.  
     
     
         2 . The overshoe of  claim 1  wherein said support means comprises plural projections extending upward adjacent said hollow interior of said upper portion of said overshoe.  
     
     
         3 . The overshoe of  claim 1  wherein said upper portion of said overshoe is formed of a resilient material.  
     
     
         4 . The overshoe of  claim 1  wherein said upper portion of said overshoe is formed of a fabric material.  
     
     
         5 . The overshoe of  claim 1  wherein said upper portion of said overshoe includes a first portion having a hollow interior adapted to receive the toe portion of the primary footwear.  
     
     
         6 . The overshoe of  claim 5  wherein said upper portion of said overshoe includes a second portion adapted to receive a portion of the upper of the primary footwear located at the heel of the primary footwear.  
     
     
         7 . The overshoe of  claim 6  wherein said upper portion of said overshoe is formed of a resilient material.  
     
     
         8 . The overshoe of  claim 6  wherein said support means comprises plural projections located between said first and second portions of said upper portion of said overshoe and extending upward adjacent said hollow interior of said first portion of said upper portion of said overshoe.  
     
     
         9 . The overshoe of  claim 1  wherein said sole portion has a toe portion, a forefoot portion, an arch portion, a heel portion and a longitudinal axis extending from said toe portion to said heel portion.  
     
     
         10 . The overshoe of  claim 9  wherein said support means comprise plural projections located along at least a portion of said longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         11 . The overshoe of  claim 10  wherein said plural projections are generally linear shaped ridges.  
     
     
         12 . The overshoe of  claim 11  wherein said linear shaped ridges are located within said forefoot portion.  
     
     
         13 . The overshoe of  claim 12  wherein said linear shaped ridges extend at an acute angle to said longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         14 . An overshoe for disposition over a primary footwear, the primary footwear having an upper, a sole and a heel, said overshoe comprising an upper portion and a sole portion, said upper portion having a hollow interior for receipt of at least a portion the primary footwear, said sole portion comprising a bi-component member and at least one spike, said bi-component member comprising a preformed upper layer formed of a resilient material and a preformed lower layer formed of a resilient material of substantially the same durometer as said upper layer, said at least one spike having a free end, said lower layer of said sole portion having an upper surface, a ground-engaging bottom surface and at least one cavity, said at least one cavity being open to said upper surface and said ground-engaging bottom surface and arranged to receive therein said at least one spike, whereupon said free end of said at least one spike is exposed at said ground-engaging bottom surface, said upper layer being fixedly secured to said lower layer, whereupon said at least one spike is held securely in place within said at least one cavity.  
     
     
         15 . The overshoe of  claim 14  wherein said free end of said at least one spike extends beyond said ground engaging bottom surface.  
     
     
         16 . The overshoe of  claim 14  wherein said free end of said at least one spike is substantially flush with said ground engaging bottom surface.  
     
     
         17 . The overshoe of  claim 14  wherein said free end of said at least one spike is slightly recessed from said ground engaging bottom surface.  
     
     
         18 . The overshoe of  claim 14  wherein said upper layer and said lower layer are fixedly secured together by an adhesive.  
     
     
         19 . The overshoe of  claim 14  wherein said upper layer and said lower layer are fixedly secured together by a thermally fused joint.  
     
     
         20 . The overshoe of  claim 14  wherein said upper layer and said lower layer are fixedly secured together by stitching.  
     
     
         21 . The overshoe of  claim 14  wherein said upper layer and said lower layer are fixedly secured together by one or more of an adhesive, a thermally fused joint, and stitching.  
     
     
         22 . The overshoe of  claim 14  wherein said overshoe comprises plural spikes, each of said spikes being located in a respective cavity open to said upper surface and said ground-engaging bottom surface, with said free end of each of said spikes being substantially flush with said ground-engaging bottom surface.  
     
     
         23 . The overshoe of  claim 14  wherein said at least one spike comprises a common base member and a plurality of projections extending outward from said base member, each of said projections having a free end, and wherein said at least one cavity comprises a first portion open to said upper surface for receipt of said base member therein and a plurality of apertures contiguous with said first portion, each of said apertures being open to said ground engaging bottom surface, whereupon when said base portion of said at least one spike is located within said first portion of said cavity, respective ones of said plural projections extend through respective ones of said plurality of apertures.  
     
     
         24 . The overshoe of  claim 23  wherein said free end of each of said projections is substantially flush with said ground-engaging bottom surface.  
     
     
         25 . The overshoe of  claim 23  wherein said free end of said at least one spike extends beyond said ground engaging bottom surface.  
     
     
         26 . The overshoe of  claim 23  wherein said free end of said at least one spike is substantially flush with said ground engaging bottom surface.  
     
     
         27 . The overshoe of  claim 23  wherein said free end of said at least one spike is slightly recessed from said ground engaging bottom surface.  
     
     
         28 . The overshoe of  claim 14  additionally comprising support means in the form of at least one projection extending upward adjacent said hollow interior of said upper portion and adapted to be engaged by a portion of the sole of the primary footwear, said sole portion of said overshoe being in the form of a solid mass of resilient material located between said ground engaging bottom surface and said at least one projection to provide shock absorption for the primary footwear.  
     
     
         29 . The overshoe of  claim 28  wherein said support means comprises plural projections extending into said hollow interior of said upper portion, said sole portion being in the form of a solid mass of resilient material located between said ground engaging bottom surface and said plural projections to provide shock absorption for the primary footwear.