Shoe covers for bowling

Abstract

Described herein are shoe covers configured to be worn on a shoe of a user for bowling on a bowling surface. The shoe covers include a sole portion configured to slide on a bowling surface, and an upper portion comprising an opening configured to receive a sole of the shoe. The upper portion is stretchable to surround at least a portion of the sole. One or more gripping portions are disposed on the sole portion, the one or more gripping portions configured to create traction against the bowling surface. In some examples, the gripping portions include a first gripping portion disposed beneath a heel of the user when the shoe cover is worn on the shoe of the user, and a second gripping portion disposed beneath a ball of the user's foot when the shoe cover is worn on the shoe of the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shoe cover configured to be worn on a shoe of a user for bowling on a bowling surface, the shoe cover comprising:
 a sole portion configured to slide on the bowling surface;   a first gripping portion disposed beneath a heel of the user when the shoe cover is worn on the shoe of the user, and   a second gripping portion disposed beneath a ball of the user's foot when the shoe cover is worn on the shoe of the user, wherein the first gripping portion and the second gripping portion are disposed on the sole portion and configured to create traction against the bowling surface; and   an upper portion comprising an opening configured to receive a sole of the shoe, wherein the upper portion is stretchable to surround at least a portion of the sole.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe cover of  claim 1 , wherein, when the shoe cover is worn on the shoe of the user, the upper portion fits snugly around the sole of the shoe. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe cover of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion is stretchable to surround at least 2.5 cm of the sole of the shoe. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe cover of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion comprises an elastic region encircling the opening. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe cover of  claim 4 , wherein the elastic region comprises non-slip silicone. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe cover of  claim 4 , wherein, when the shoe cover is worn on the shoe of the user, the elastic region contacts the sole of the shoe to secure the shoe cover to the shoe. 
     
     
         7 . The shoe cover of  claim 1 , wherein a width of a heel region of the upper portion is greater than a width of a toe region of the upper portion. 
     
     
         8 . The shoe cover of  claim 1 , wherein a heel region of the upper portion includes an antislip region configured to contact a rear portion of the sole when the shoe cover is worn on the shoe of the user. 
     
     
         9 . The shoe cover of  claim 1 , wherein, when the shoe cover is worn on the shoe of the user, the upper portion does not cover an upper portion of the shoe. 
     
     
         10 . The shoe cover of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion comprises an elastic material. 
     
     
         11 . The shoe cover of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion comprises nylon. 
     
     
         12 . The shoe cover of  claim 1 , wherein the sole portion is shaped to underlie the sole of the shoe. 
     
     
         13 . The shoe cover of  claim 1 , wherein the sole portion comprises a fabric. 
     
     
         14 . The shoe cover of  claim 1 , wherein the sole portion comprises cotton. 
     
     
         15 . The shoe cover of  claim 1 , wherein the first gripping portions and the second gripping portion comprise a polymeric material. 
     
     
         16 . The shoe cover of  claim 1 , wherein the first gripping portions and the second gripping portion comprise non-slip silicone. 
     
     
         17 . The shoe cover of  claim 1 , wherein a width of the first gripping portions is greater than 1 mm and a width of the second gripping portion is greater than 1 mm. 
     
     
         18 . The shoe cover of  claim 1 , wherein the first gripping portions have a thickness of at least 1 mm and the second gripping portion have a thickness of at least 1 mm. 
     
     
         19 . The shoe cover of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion has greater elasticity than the sole portion. 
     
     
         20 . A method of using a shoe cover, the method comprising:
 inserting a sole of the shoe into an opening of the shoe cover, wherein the shoe cover comprises:
 an upper portion comprising the opening, 
 a sole portion configured to underlie the sole of the shoe, 
 a first gripping portion disposed on the sole portion beneath a heel of the user, and 
 a second gripping portion disposed on the sole portion beneath a ball of the user's foot; 
   stretching the upper portion around the sole such that the upper portion surrounds at least a portion of the sole of the shoe and a lower portion of the shoe;   sliding the sole portion on a bowling surface; and   in response to the sliding on the bowling surface, creating, via the first and second gripping portions, traction against the bowling surface.