Cleated overshoe and snowshoe with binding for accepting same

Abstract

A cleated overshoe and snowshoe with a binding for accepting the overshoe. The overshoe includes a fastener for tightening the overshoe around a shoe. The overshoe also has a sole with one or more claws. The claws have apertures for receiving tabs or similar protrusions. The claws fit into a step-in binding on the snowshoe. The snowshoe has an outer frame, a decking, and a decking strap and the step-in binding is secured to the decking strap. The binding has a connection point for coupling each claw of the overshoe to the binding. In one embodiment, the binding also includes a base plate, a lift mounted to the base plate, a heel plate mounted to the lift, and a latch tab mounted to the heel plate. The latch tab is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. In the locked position, the latch tab secures the claws of the overshoe in a position where the claws are coupled to the connection point.

1 . A footwear device comprising: 
 an overshoe having a fastener supported by the overshoe for tightening around a shoe, a sole, and a cleat projecting from the sole; and    a snowshoe having a binding, the binding having a connection point for coupling the cleat of the overshoe to the binding.    
     
     
         2 . A footwear device according to  claim 1 , wherein the overshoe includes a shell made from an insulating material formed in the shape of a foot.  
     
     
         3 . A footwear device according to  claim 1 , wherein the fastener includes a notched strap and a buckle adjustable in a plurality of latching mechanisms.  
     
     
         4 . A footwear device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second cleat projecting from the sole.  
     
     
         5 . A footwear device according to  claim 4 , wherein the binding has a second connection point for coupling the second cleat to the binding.  
     
     
         6 . A snowshoe comprising: 
 an outer frame;    a decking supported by the outer frame; and    a step-in binding assembly supported by the decking, the step-in binding assembly having a connection point, the connection point having an aperture with a protrusion.    
     
     
         7 . A snowshoe according to  claim 6 , further comprising a decking strap secured to the outer frame and wherein the step-in binding assembly is secured to the decking strap.  
     
     
         8 . A snowshoe according to  claim 7 , wherein the step-in binding assembly includes a front plate and a base plate and the decking strap is positioned between the front plate and base plate.  
     
     
         9 . A snowshoe according to  claim 8 , wherein the step-in binding assembly includes a second connection point.  
     
     
         10 . A snowshoe according to  claim 9 , wherein second connection point includes a protrusion.  
     
     
         11 . A snowshoe according to  claim 7 , further comprising a cleat mountable to the snowshoe.  
     
     
         12 . A snowshoe according to  claim 11 , wherein the cleat is securable to the decking of the snowshoe.  
     
     
         13 . A snowshoe according to  claim 12 , further comprising a second cleat mountable to the snowshoe.  
     
     
         14 . A snowshoe according to  claim 13 , wherein the second cleat is secured between the decking of the snowshoe and the decking strap.  
     
     
         15 . A snowshoe according to  claim 9 , further comprising an overshoe having first and second cleats, wherein the first cleat is securable to the connection point and the second cleat is securable to the second connection point.  
     
     
         16 . A snowshoe according to  claim 7 , wherein the step-in binding assembly includes a lift and a heel plate.  
     
     
         17 . A snowshoe according to  claim 16 , wherein the heel plate has a plurality of positions, the heel plate being operable to adjust for varying sizes of shoes.  
     
     
         18 . A snowshoe according to  claim 17 , further comprising a latch tab connected to the heel plate.  
     
     
         19 . A snowshoe according to  claim 18 , wherein the latch tab is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position.  
     
     
         20 . A snowshoe according to  claim 19 , wherein the step-in binding assembly includes a second connection point.  
     
     
         21 . A snowshoe according to  claim 20 , wherein second connection point includes a protrusion.  
     
     
         22 . A snowshoe according to  claim 21 , further comprising an overshoe having first and second cleats, wherein the first cleat is securable to the connection point and the second cleat is securable to the second connection point.  
     
     
         23 . A snowshoe according to  claim 22 , wherein the latch tab in the locked position prevents release of the first and second cleats from the connection point and the second connection point.  
     
     
         24 . A snowshoe according to  claim 23 , wherein the latch tab in the unlocked position allows release of the first and second cleats from the connection point and the second connection point.  
     
     
         25 . A snowshoe assembly comprising: 
 an outer frame;    a decking supported by the outer frame;    a step-in binding assembly supported by the decking and having multiple connection points; and    an insulated over boot having first and second cleats and selectively mountable to the step-in binding assembly.    
     
     
         26 . A snowshoe assembly according to  claim 25 , wherein the step-in binding assembly includes a base plate mounted to the decking, the base plate having a first and second side, a lift portion mounted to the first side of the base plate, a heel plate mounted to the lift portion, and a front plate mounted to the second side of base plate.  
     
     
         27 . A snowshoe assembly according to  claim 26 , further comprising a selectively positioned latch tab mounted to the base plate, the latch tab being movable among a plurality of positions.  
     
     
         28 . A snowshoe assembly according to  claim 27 , wherein the latch tab is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position.  
     
     
         29 . A snowshoe assembly according to  claim 28 , wherein the latch tab in the locked position prevents release of the first and second cleats from the step-in binding assembly.  
     
     
         30 . A snowshoe assembly according to  claim 28 , wherein the latch tab in the unlocked position allows release of the first and second cleats from the step-in binding assembly.  
     
     
         31 . A footwear device comprising: 
 an overshoe having two flaps, a fastener for tightening the overshoe around a shoe, a sole, and a cleat projecting from the sole, the cleat having an aperture for receiving a protrusion.    
     
     
         32 . A footwear device according to  claim 31 , wherein the overshoe has a toe portion, a calcaneus portion, a talus portion, and a metatarsals portion, and the fastener is positioned between the talus portion and metatarsal portion.  
     
     
         33 . A footwear device according to  claim 31 , wherein the overshoe has an upper portion, the upper portion being made of a single piece.  
     
     
         34 . A footwear device according to  claim 31 , wherein the fastener includes a ratcheting mechanism.  
     
     
         35 . A footwear devices according to  claim 34 , wherein the fastener includes a buckle and a notched strap.  
     
     
         36 . A footwear device according to  claim 31 , wherein the overshoe is made from an insulating material formed in the shape of a foot.  
     
     
         37 . A footwear device according to  claim 31 , further comprising a second cleat projecting from the sole.  
     
     
         38 . A footwear device comprising: 
 a connector that is sized and configured to attach to a shoe, the connector having an interface that is selectively connectable to a binding of a foot operated device.    
     
     
         39 . A footwear device according to  claim 38 , further comprising a fastener being mountable to the connector, the fastener being operable to attach the connector to the shoe.  
     
     
         40 . A footwear device according to  claim 39 , wherein the connector is a cleat for traversing slippery surfaces.  
     
     
         41 . A footwear device according to  claim 40 , wherein the binding is a step-in snowshoe binding.  
     
     
         42 . A footwear device according to  claim 41 , wherein the fastener is a strap.  
     
     
         43 . A footwear device according to  claim 41 , wherein the fastener is a friction grip.  
     
     
         44 . A footwear device according to  claim 38 , wherein the connector is a cross-country ski mount.  
     
     
         45 . A footwear device according to  claim 44 , wherein the binding is a cross-country ski binding.  
     
     
         46 . A footwear device according to  claim 38 , wherein the connector is a bicycle pedal mounting bracket.  
     
     
         47 . A footwear device according to  claim 46 , wherein the binding is a bicycle pedal binding.