Shoe tap protectors

Abstract

Removable tap covers for dancing shoes which can quickly and easily be placed on the taps to prevent accumulation of dirt and grime in the taps, yet which can quickly and easily be removed. An improved tap dancing shoe including a dancing shoe having taps on the toe and heel of said shoe, tap covers removably mounted on said taps, optional spacers mounted between said taps and said shoe, where said tap covers are formed with attachment means to releasably attach said tap covers to said taps.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a dancing shoe;    a tap attached to said dancing shoe;    a tap cover adapted to be removably mounted to said tap;    wherein said tap cover comprises a first attachment mechanism; and    wherein said tap comprises a second attachment mechanism adapted to releasably connect to the first attachment mechanism.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said tap comprises a first material having a first hardness;    and said tap cover comprises a second material having a second hardness;    wherein said first hardness is greater than said second hardness.    
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said first attachment mechanism comprises a latch member resiliently mounted on said tap cover.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein: 
 said tap has a tab projecting from one end thereof, and  
 said tap cover is formed with a U-shaped member releasably engageable with said tab to releasably attach said tap cover to said tap.  
 
     
     
         5 . A tap dancing shoe comprising: 
 a tap on at least one of a toe and a heel of said shoe,    a spacer plate mounted between said tap and said shoe;    a tap cover adapted to be removably mounted to said spacer;    wherein said spacer comprises a tab member attached thereto, and    said tap cover comprises a receiving member adapted to releasably receive said tab member to releasably attach said tap cover to said spacer.    
     
     
         6 . The tap shoe of  claim 5 , wherein: 
 said tap cover is formed with an additional layer applied to an exterior surface of said tap cover formed of a relatively high friction material.    
     
     
         7 . The tap shoe of  claim 5 , wherein: 
 said tap cover is formed with an additional layer applied to an inner surface of said tap cover formed of a hard, rigid material.    
     
     
         8 . The tap shoe of  claim 5 , wherein: 
 said tap cover is formed with a frame extending across an interior of said tap covers.    
     
     
         9 . The tap shoe of  claim 8 , wherein: 
 said frame comprises a polymer.    
     
     
         10 . The tap shoe of  claim 8 , wherein: 
 said frame is formed with a plurality of openings to allow a polymer to flow into said openings during manufacture of said tap cover.    
     
     
         11 . A tap cover system for a dancing shoe having a tap, said system comprising: 
 a spacer plate mounted between a tap and a shoe, said spacer plate being slightly smaller than said tap to provide spaces about the periphery of the plate between said tap and said shoe,    said tap cover is formed with means insertable into said spaces to releasably attach said tap cover to said tap.    
     
     
         12 . The tap cover system of  claim 11 , wherein: 
 said tap cover is formed with an additional layer applied to an exterior surface of said tap cover and formed of a soft material.    
     
     
         13 . The tap cover system of  claim 11 , wherein: 
 said tap cover is formed with a rigid framework extending across an interior of said tap cover.    
     
     
         14 . The tap cover system of  claim 13 , wherein: 
 said framework comprises polypropylene.    
     
     
         15 . The tap cover system of  claim 13 , wherein: 
 said framework is formed with a plurality of openings to allow a soft polymer to flow into said openings during manufacture of said tap cover.    
     
     
         16 . A apparatus comprising: 
 a dancing shoe comprising an interior of the apparatus;    a sole exterior to the shoe;    a tap exterior to the sole, wherein the tap comprises a first attachment mechanism; and    a tap cover exterior to the tap, wherein the tap cover comprises a second attachment mechanism, and wherein the second attachment mechanism is adapted to releasably connect to the first attachment mechanism, so that the tap cover is releasably connected to the tap.    
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 a spacer exterior to the sole, and interior to the tap.    
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the tap comprises a first material having a first hardness, and the tap cover comprises a second material having a second hardness, wherein the first hardness is at least one of greater and harder than the second hardness.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the tap cover further comprises a frame, wherein the frame comprises a third material, further wherein the third material has a third hardness, wherein the first hardness and the third hardness are at least one of greater and harder than the second hardness, and wherein the first hardness is at least one of greater and harder than the third hardness.