Removable beveled traction device

Abstract

A device may include a traction device with a traction structure to underly a user's footwear, a fastening mechanism, and an adjustment mechanism. The traction structure includes a low durometer material and a high durometer material. The high durometer material is molded to the low durometer material. The high durometer material has a higher durometer measurement than the low durometer material. The forward and rear-facing ends of the traction structure are beveled. The fastening mechanism secures the traction structure to the user's footwear. One or more gripping mechanisms are attached to a bottom surface of the traction structure. The footprint of the traction structure is designed to span a partial area of the user's footwear including an area under an arch of a user's foot. The footprint of the traction structure is designed to be substantially encompassed by the footprint of the user's footwear.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A traction device comprising:
 a traction structure to underly a user's footwear including:
 a ground-engaging surface with at least one of a beveled fore end and a beveled aft end; and
 ground-engaging gripping mechanisms nested within the ground-engaging surface; and 
 
   a fastening mechanism to removably secure the traction structure to the user's footwear, wherein a footprint of the traction structure spans a mid-foot region of the user's footwear, and wherein a majority of the footprint of the traction structure is encompassed by a footprint of the user's footwear.   
     
     
         2 . The traction device of  claim 1 , wherein the ground-engaging surfaces includes both the beveled fore end and the beveled aft end. 
     
     
         3 . The traction device of  claim 1 , wherein the traction structure further includes:
 a low durometer material including the ground-engaging surface; and   a high durometer material molded to the low durometer material, wherein the ground-engaging gripping mechanisms protruding from the high durometer material, and wherein the fastening mechanism is attached to the high durometer material.   
     
     
         4 . The traction device of  claim 1 , wherein the fastening mechanism includes at least one adjustable strap to secure the traction structure to the user's footwear over a top of the user's foot. 
     
     
         5 . The traction device of  claim 1 , wherein the fastening mechanism includes at least two straps to secure the traction structure to the user's footwear fore and aft of the user's ankle. 
     
     
         6 . The traction device of  claim 1 , wherein the fastening mechanism includes an adjustment mechanism to move a location of the traction structure with reference to the footprint of the user's footwear. 
     
     
         7 . The traction device of  claim 3 , wherein the ground-engaging gripping mechanisms each comprise one or more pins, and wherein the pins protrude from the high durometer material and through the ground-engaging surface of the traction structure. 
     
     
         8 . The traction device of  claim 3 , wherein two or more of the ground-engaging gripping mechanisms are linked together with the high durometer material. 
     
     
         9 . The traction device of  claim 1 , wherein the traction structure is rotatable to a side or a top of the user's footwear when not in use. 
     
     
         10 . The traction device of  claim 1 , wherein the beveled fore end or aft end includes gripping ridges. 
     
     
         11 . A method of stepping on a surface using a traction device, wherein the traction device includes a traction structure to underly a user's footwear, the traction structure including:
 a ground-engaging surface with beveled fore and aft ends;   ground-engaging gripping mechanisms nested within the ground-engaging surface, the method comprising:   engaging the aft beveled end of the traction structure with the surface;   pivoting the traction device about the aft beveled end of the traction structure;   engaging the surface with the ground-engaging gripping mechanisms;   pivoting the traction device about the fore beveled end of the traction structure; and   disengaging the fore beveled end of the traction structure from the surface.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein engaging the aft beveled end, pivoting the traction device about the aft beveled end, engaging the surface, pivoting the traction device about the fore beveled end, and disengaging the fore beveled end are performed in order and iterated with each step of the user's footwear. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the ground-engaging gripping mechanisms each include one or more pins, and wherein the pins protrude through the ground-engaging surface of the traction structure. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 rotating the traction structure to a side or a top of the user's footwear when not in use.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 removably securing the traction device to the user's footwear prior to engaging the aft beveled end, pivoting the traction device about the aft beveled end, engaging the surface, pivoting the traction device about the fore beveled end, and disengaging the fore beveled end.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein removably securing the traction device to the user's footwear includes:
 placing the traction structure adjacent a sole of the user's footwear;   fastening a fore strap over the user's footwear fore of the user's ankle;   fastening an aft strap over the user's footwear aft of the user's ankle; and   adjusting the fore strap and the aft strap so that the traction structure is secured in a mid-foot region of the user's footwear.   
     
     
         17 . A traction device comprising:
 a traction structure to underly a user's footwear, the traction structure including:
 a low durometer material including a ground-engaging surface with beveled fore and aft ends; 
 a high durometer material molded to the low durometer material; and 
 ground-engaging gripping mechanisms protruding from the high durometer material and nested within the ground-engaging surface; and 
   a fastening mechanism including:
 at least two straps to secure the traction structure to the user's footwear fore and aft of the user's ankle; and 
 an adjustment mechanism to move a location of the traction structure with reference to the footprint of the user's footwear, wherein the fastening mechanism is attached to the high durometer material and used to removably secure the traction structure to the user's footwear, wherein a footprint of the traction structure spans a mid-foot region of the user's footwear, and wherein a majority of the footprint of the traction structure is encompassed by a footprint of the user's footwear. 
   
     
     
         18 . The traction device of  claim 17 , wherein the ground-engaging gripping mechanisms each comprise one or more pins, and wherein the pins protrude from the high durometer material and through the ground-engaging surface of the traction structure. 
     
     
         19 . The traction device of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 at least one high visibility feature.   
     
     
         20 . The traction device of  claim 17 , wherein the traction structure is flexible.