Detachable noise reduction and traction enhancing element for footwear

Abstract

An appliance for modifying the traction and noise generating characteristics of footwear, including a traction element, typically constructed of felt material, and an attachment system adapted to anchor the traction element to the bottom surface of footwear to restrain the traction element from longitudinal and transverse movement with respect to the footwear.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An appliance for modifying the traction characteristics of footwear, comprising 
 a traction element constructed of felt material; and    an attachment system adapted releasably to anchor said traction element to the bottom surface of said footwear, said system being constructed and arranged to restrain said traction element from transverse movement with respect to said bottom surface.    
     
     
         2 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said attachment system comprises: 
 a forward harness system arranged to interface with a toe portion of said footwear; and  
 a rear harness system arranged to interface with a rear portion of said footwear.  
   
     
     
         3 . The appliance of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said forward harness system comprises a plurality of forward straps operably arranged to adjust for a size of said footwear to embrace said toe portion between said forward straps and a top surface of said traction element.    
     
     
         4 . The appliance of  claim 3 , wherein: 
 said rear harness system comprises a spacer element disposed between said traction element and an adjustable length restriction element.    
     
     
         5 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said traction element comprises a plurality of traction spikes.    
     
     
         6 . The appliance of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said forward harness system is mechanically fastened to said traction element.    
     
     
         7 . The appliance of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said forward harness system is adhesively bonded to said traction element.    
     
     
         8 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said appliance comprises structure arranged to carry a deliberately applied masking scent.    
     
     
         9 . A noise modifying element, for use in conjunction with footwear having a sole, comprising: 
 a traction element constructed of a material that is softer, on an applicable hardness scale, compared to material forming said sole; and    an attachment system comprising a plurality of straps adapted releasably to anchor said traction element against undue movement with respect to said sole.    
     
     
         10 . The traction modifying element of  claim 9 , wherein: 
 said attachment system is constructed and arranged to restrain said traction element from transverse movement with respect to said sole.    
     
     
         11 . The traction modifying element of  claim 9 , wherein: 
 said traction element comprises a prismatic section of felt material.    
     
     
         12 . The traction modifying element of  claim 9 , wherein: 
 said attachment system comprises: 
 a forward harness system arranged to hold a toe portion of said footwear; and  
 a rear harness system arranged to hold a rear portion of said footwear.  
   
     
     
         13 . In a waterproof boot having a sole, the improvement comprising: 
 a removable, traction-modifying oversole operably associable with said sole to resist transverse motion of said oversole relative to said sole.    
     
     
         14 . The improvement of  claim 13 , wherein: 
 said oversole comprises a material that is deformable to conform, at least in-part, to a shape of a rock on which a wearer of said boot may stand.    
     
     
         15 . The improvement of  claim 14 , wherein: 
 said oversole is affixed to said boot, operably to resist transverse motion with respect to a traction surface of said boot, by way of an adjustable strap system.    
     
     
         16 . The improvement of  15 , wherein: 
 said strap system comprises: 
 a forward harness system arranged to hold a toe portion of said boot; and  
 a rear harness system arranged to hold a rear portion of said boot.  
   
     
     
         17 . The improvement of  claim 16 , wherein: 
 said rear harness system comprises a flexible spacer element disposed between said oversole and an adjustable length restriction element operable to encircle an ankle area of said boot to resist accidental extraction of a user's foot from inside said boot.    
     
     
         18 . The improvement of  claim 17 , wherein: 
 said forward harness system comprises: 
 a first strap disposed near a first edge of said oversole;  
 a second strap disposed near a second edge of said oversole; and  
 means to adjust an enclosing space, in which to receive said toe portion, defined in-part by said first strap, said second strap, and a portion of said oversole.  
   
     
     
         19 . The improvement of  claim 18 , wherein: 
 said oversole comprises a prismatic member formed from a thickness of a nonwoven material.    
     
     
         20 . The improvement of  claim 19 , wherein: 
 said prismatic member comprises a section of felt mat.