Disposable shoe cover for athletic use

Abstract

A disposable shoe cover for athletic use includes a unitary flexible material sheet folded into a shoe shape. The shoe shape defines a sole, an upper and a closed-loop shoe-receiving opening in the upper adapted to receive a wearer's shoe. Surface gripping members are provided on the sole.

1 . A disposable shoe cover for athletic use, comprising: 
 a unitary flexible material sheet folded into a shoe shape;    said shoe shape defining a sole, an upper and a closed-loop shoe-receiving opening in said upper adapted to receive a wearer's shoe; and    surface gripping members on said sole.    
   
   
       2 . A disposable shoe cover in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said flexible material sheet is maintained in said shoe shape by a front seam extending along a mid-portion of said upper from said shoe-receiving opening toward a forward end of said sole.  
   
   
       3 . A disposable shoe cover in accordance with  claim 2  wherein said flexible material sheet is further maintained in said shoe shape by a rear seam extending along a mid-portion of said upper from a rearward portion of said shoe-receiving opening toward a rearward end of said sole.  
   
   
       4 . A disposable shoe cover in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said flexible material sheet is selected from the group consisting of fabric material and plastic sheet material.  
   
   
       5 . A disposable shoe cover in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said flexible material is water resistant.  
   
   
       6 . A disposable shoe cover in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said shoe-receiving opening comprises an elastic band.  
   
   
       7 . A disposable shoe cover in accordance with  claim 3  wherein said front seam and said rear seam each extend inwardly into an interior of said disposable shoe cover.  
   
   
       8 . A disposable shoe cover in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said gripping members comprise spikes.  
   
   
       9 . A disposable shoe cover in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said gripping member are permanently mounted to said sole.  
   
   
       10 . A disposable shoe cover in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said gripping members are detachably mounted to said sole.  
   
   
       11 . A disposable shoe cover in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said gripping members are only disposed on a forward portion of said sole and said disposable shoe cover further comprises a heel member on a rearward portion of said sole.  
   
   
       12 . A disposable shoe cover in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said gripping members are disposed on forward and rearward portions of said sole.  
   
   
       13 . A disposable shoe cover in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising an insole having a textured upper surface for gripping a bottom of a wearer's shoe.  
   
   
       14 . A disposable shoe cover in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising securing means for adjustably securing said disposable shoe cover to a wearer's shoe.  
   
   
       15 . A disposable shoe cover in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said securing means comprises one of an adjustable retention strap adapted to wrap around a forward portion of said upper, an elastic retention band extending around a forward portion of said upper, or an adjustable seam on said upper.  
   
   
       16 . A method for forming a disposable shoe cover for athletic use, comprising: 
 selecting a unitary flexible material sheet;    folding said flexible material sheet into a shoe shape;    said shoe shape defining a sole, an upper and a closed-loop shoe-receiving opening in said upper adapted to receive a wearer's shoe; and    providing surface gripping members on said sole.    
   
   
       17 . A method in accordance with  claim 16  wherein said flexible material sheet is turned inside out following said folding.  
   
   
       18 . A method in accordance with  claim 16  wherein said shoe receiving opening is formed by securing an elastic element around said opening.  
   
   
       19 . A method in accordance with  claim 16  further including forming a front seam extending along a mid-portion of said upper from said shoe-receiving opening toward a forward end of said sole, and a rear seam extending along a mid-portion of said upper from a rearward portion of said shoe-receiving opening toward a rearward end of said sole.  
   
   
       20 . A disposable shoe cover for athletic use, comprising: 
 a unitary flexible material sheet folded into a shoe shape;    said shoe shape defining a sole, an upper and a closed-loop shoe-receiving opening in said upper adapted to receive a wearer's shoe; and    surface gripping members on said sole;    said flexible material sheet being secured by a front seam extending along a mid-portion of said upper from said shoe-receiving opening toward a forward end of said sole, and by a rear seam extending along a mid-portion of said upper from a rearward portion of said shoe-receiving opening toward a rearward end of said sole;    said flexible material sheet being selected from the group consisting of water resistant fabric material and plastic sheet material;    said shoe-receiving opening comprises an elastic band;    said front seam and said rear seam each extending inwardly into an interior of said disposable shoe cover;    said gripping members comprising spikes and being permanently or detachably mounted to said sole;    said gripping members being only on a forward portion of said sole and said shoe further comprising a heel member on a rearward portion of said sole, or said gripping members being on forward and rearward portions of said sole;    an insole having a textured upper surface for gripping a bottom of a wearer's shoe; and    an adjustable seam on said upper, or one or more adjustable retention straps or retention bands adapted to wrap around a forward portion of said upper, to assist in securing said disposable shoe covering to a wearer's shoe.