Noise-attenuating attachment for footwear

Abstract

A noise-attenuating apparatus removably couple to footwear for reducing sounds associated with walking on wilderness terrain. The noise-attenuating apparatus includes a base having one end corresponding to the toe box of a shoe and a second end corresponding to the heel of a shoe. The noise-attenuating apparatus further including at least one platform disposed on the underside of the base corresponding to the toe box of the shoe and at least one platform disposed on the underside of the base corresponding to the heel of the shoe. The at least one platform disposed on the underside of the base corresponding to the toe box end having at least one sound-dampening pad. At least one platform disposed on the underside of the base corresponding to the heel end coupled to at least one sound-dampening cover. A securing system coupled to the base and adapted for securing the base to the shoe.

1 . A noise-attenuating apparatus adapted to removably couple to footwear, the apparatus comprising:
 a base configured to removably couple the footwear, the base comprising a distal end and an oppositely disposed proximal end;   at least one distal-end platform disposed at the distal end of the base;   at least one proximal-end platform disposed at the proximal end of the base;   at least one distal-end sound-dampening cover coupled to the distal-end platform;   at least one proximal sound-dampening pad coupled to the proximal-end platform; and   a strap system coupled to the base and adapted for securing the base to the footwear.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the at least one distal-end platform comprises:
 a first distal-end platform coupled to the base at the distal end and a second distal-end platform coupled to the base at a distal end. 
 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the base further comprises a distal-end base plate and a proximal-end base plate configured such that the distal-end base plate can slide over the proximal-end base plate along a common longitudinal axis thus enabling an overall length of the apparatus to adjust.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the distal-end base plate further comprise a distal-end base plate-first-array of apertures and a distal end base-plate-second-array of apertures;
 the second base plate each further comprising a second-base-plate-first array of apertures and a second-base-plate-second-array of apertures, the first base plate first array of apertures align with the second-base-plate first array of apertures;   the distal-end base plate first array of apertures align with the proximal end base plate first array of apertures while the distal end base-plate second array of apertures align with the proximal end base-plate second array of apertures; and   at least one fastener configured to position the distal end base plate relative to the proximal end base plate by inserting into at least any one of the plurality of distal end base plate first-array of apertures and simultaneously inserting into at least any one of the plurality of proximal end base plate first-array of apertures whereby the distal end base plate is fixably disposed relative to the proximal end base plate.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises: 
       a distal end base plate with at least one distal end base plate fastener and a proximal end base plate with at least one proximal end base plate fastener;
 the distal end base plate is adjustably connected to the proximal base plate by a coupling piece, the coupling piece comprises an array of coupling piece apertures configured to enable the at least one distal end base plate fastener to adjustably couple the coupling piece to the distal end base plate, and the at least one proximal end base plate fastener further adjustably couple the proximal end base plate whereby making the length of the overall apparatus adjustable. 
 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the strap system further comprises a releasable fastener to securely couple the apparatus to the footwear, the fastener disposed on the strap system located at the proximal end of the apparatus. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 the proximal end sound-dampening pad comprises a resilient, compressible, and cushioning material. 
 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: the distal-end sound-dampening cover comprises a skid-resistant material. 
     
     
         9 . A noise-attenuating apparatus adapted to removably couple to footwear, the apparatus comprising:
 a base configured to removably couple the footwear, the base comprising a distal end and an oppositely disposed proximal end;   at least one distal-end platform disposed at the distal end of the base;   at least one proximal-end platform disposed at the proximal end of the base;   at least one distal-end sound-dampening pad coupled to the distal-end platform;   at least one proximal-end sound-dampening cover coupled to the proximal-end platform; and   an elastic securing system for attaching the base of the apparatus to the footwear.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising two distal-end platforms coupled to the base at the distal end. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the proximal end sound-dampening pad comprises a resilient, compressible, and cushioning material. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein: the proximal-end sound-dampening cover comprises a skid-resistant material. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the base further comprises: a distal-end base plate and a proximal-end base plate configured such that the distal-end base plate can slide over the proximal-end base plate along a common longitudinal axis thus enabling an overall length of the apparatus to adjust. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: wherein the distal-end base plate further comprise a distal-end base plate-first-array of apertures and a distal end base-plate-second-array of apertures;
 the second base plate each further comprising a second-base-plate-first array of apertures and a second-base-plate-second-array of apertures, the first base plate first array of apertures align with the second-base-plate first array of apertures;   the distal-end base plate first array of apertures align with the proximal end base plate first array of apertures while the distal end base-plate second array of apertures align with the proximal end base-plate second array of apertures; and   at least one fastener configured to position the distal end base plate relative to the proximal end base plate by inserting into at least any one of the plurality of distal end base plate first-array of apertures and simultaneously inserting into at least any one of the plurality of proximal end base plate first-array of apertures whereby the distal end base plate is fixably disposed relative to the proximal end base plate.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of claim  9 ??, wherein the base member further comprises: 
       a distal end base plate with at least one distal end base plate fastener and a proximal end base plate with at least one proximal end base plate fastener;
 the distal end base plate is adjustably connected to the proximal base plate by a coupling piece, the coupling piece comprises an array of coupling piece apertures configured to enable the at least one distal end base plate fastener to adjustably couple the coupling piece to the distal end base plate, and the at least one proximal end base plate fastener further adjustably couple the proximal end base plate whereby making the length of the overall apparatus adjustable. 
 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic securing system is a matrix of elastic bands attached to the base 
     
     
         17 . A noise-attenuating apparatus adapted to removably couple to footwear, the apparatus comprising:
 an external frame member comprising a distal end and an oppositely disposed proximal end;   a toe strap coupled to the distal end of the external frame member and adapted to selectively couple the external frame member to the footwear and a heel strap coupled to the proximal end of the external frame member;   a distal-end base coupled to the external frame member at the distal end;   a proximal-end base coupled to the external frame member at the proximal end;   at least one distal end platform coupled to an underside of the distal-end base;   at least one proximal end platform coupled to an underside of the proximal-end base;   at least one distal-end sound-dampening cover coupled to the distal-end platform;   at least one proximal-end sound-dampening pad coupled to the proximal-end platform; and   a fastening system for securing the apparatus to the footwear.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the distal end of the external frame member has a left-distal side and a right-distal side;
 the proximal end of the external frame correspondingly has a left-proximal side and a right-proximal side;   the left-distal side of the external frame is adjustably coupled to the left-proximal side of the external frame; and   The right-distal side of the external frame is adjustably coupled to the right-proximal side of the external frame such that the overall length of the apparatus can be adjusted.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the proximal end sound-dampening pad comprises a resilient, compressible, and cushioning material. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the distal end sound-dampening cover is made of a skid-resistant material.