Protective covering for athletic shoes

Abstract

A two-piece covering for athletic shoes having spikes, cleats or other protrusions extending from the soles of the shoes. The covering comprises a toe member that wraps around a front part of a shoe, and a heel member that is positioned around a back part of the shoe. The toe member comprises two flaps that open up to accept the toe of the athletic shoe and a front bottom member attached to the flaps that prevents the cleats or spikes on the front of the shoe from contacting the ground. The heel member comprises a cup portion that fits around the heel of the shoe and a back bottom member attached to the cup portion that prevents cleats or spikes on the back of the shoe from contacting the ground.

1 . A covering for a shoe having a sole from which one or more protrusions extend comprising: 
 a right flap comprising a first piece of material that wraps around at least a part of the right front side of the shoe;    a right strap comprising an elongated member that extends from the right flap and that has sufficient length to extend around a heel of the shoe;    a left flap comprising a second piece of material that wraps around at least a part of the left front side of the shoe, the left flap being separable from the right flap to allow a front part of the shoe to be positioned between the right flap and the left flap, the right flap and the left flap being attachable to each other with a flap fastener to secure the covering around the front part of the shoe;    a left strap comprising an elongated member that extends from the left flap and that has sufficient length to extend around the heel of the shoe, the left strap attaching to the right strap to secure the right strap and the left strap around the heel of the shoe; and    a bottom member attached to the right flap and to the left flap, the bottom member being adapted for covering at least a part of the sole of the shoe, but less than all of the sole, so that the bottom member helps prevent the protrusions from contacting a walking surface when the covering is wrapped around the front part of the shoe.    
     
     
         2 . The covering of  claim 1  wherein the first piece of material and the second piece of material are each comprised of a flexible material.  
     
     
         3 . The covering of  claim 2  wherein the flexible material comprises neoprene.  
     
     
         4 . The covering of  claim 1  wherein the flap fastener comprises a hook and loop fastener.  
     
     
         5 . The covering of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a front protective sole attached to the toe member underneath the bottom member.    
     
     
         6 . The covering of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a right fastener attached to the right strap; and    a left fastener attached to the left strap so that the right strap can be attached to the left strap.    
     
     
         7 . A covering for a shoe having sole protrusions comprising: 
 a toe member adapted for wrapping around a front part of a shoe having a sole from which one or more protrusions extend, the toe member comprising: 
 a right flap comprising a first piece of material that wraps around at least a part of a right front side of the shoe;  
 a right strap comprising an elongated member that extends from the right flap;  
 a left flap comprising a second piece of material that wraps around at least a part of a left front side of the shoe, the left flap being separable from the right flap to allow the front part of the shoe to be positioned between the right flap and the left flap, the right flap and the left flap being attachable to each other with a flap fastener to secure the toe member around the front part of the shoe;  
 a left strap comprising an elongated member that extends from the left flap; and  
 a first bottom member attached to the right flap and to the left flap, the first bottom member being adapted for covering at least a part of the sole of the shoe, but less than all of the sole, so that the first bottom member helps prevent at least some of the protrusions from contacting a walking surface when the toe member is wrapped around the front part of the shoe; and  
   a heel member adapted for positioning around a back part of the shoe, the heel member comprising: 
 a cup portion comprising a third piece of material that fits around the back part of the shoe; and  
 a second bottom member attached to the cup portion, the second bottom member being adapted for covering at least a part of the sole of the shoe, but less than all of the sole, the right and left straps of the toe member attaching to the heel member to help in securing the heel member to the shoe, the heel member being a separate piece from the toe member when the right and left straps are not attached to the heel member.  
   
     
     
         8 . The covering of  claim 7  wherein the first piece of material and the second piece of material are each comprised of a flexible material.  
     
     
         9 . The covering of  claim 8  wherein the flexible material comprises neoprene.  
     
     
         10 . The covering of  claim 9  wherein the neoprene has a thickness of approximately three millimeters.  
     
     
         11 . The covering of  claim 7  wherein the flap fastener comprises a hook and loop fastener.  
     
     
         12 . The covering of  claim 7  wherein the first bottom member comprises neoprene.  
     
     
         13 . The covering of  claim 7  wherein the second bottom member is adapted for helping to prevent at least some of the protrusions from contacting the walking surface.  
     
     
         14 . The covering of  claim 7  further comprising: 
 an ankle strap extending from a first side of the heel member and being adapted for positioning over an ankle of a person wearing the shoe and attaching to a second side of the heel member.    
     
     
         15 . The covering of  claim 7  further comprising: 
 a front protective sole attached to the toe member underneath the first bottom member.    
     
     
         16 . The covering of  claim 15  wherein the front protective sole comprises a thermoplastic rubber.  
     
     
         17 . The covering of  claim 7  further comprising: 
 a rear protective sole attached to the heel member underneath the cup portion.    
     
     
         18 . A covering for a shoe having spikes or cleats comprising: 
 a toe member adapted for wrapping around a front part of a shoe having a sole from which one or more spikes or cleats protrude, the toe member comprising: 
 a right flap comprising a first piece of flexible material that wraps around at least a part of a right front side of the shoe;  
 a right strap comprising an elongated section of the first piece of flexible material that extends from the right flap;  
 a left flap comprising a second piece of flexible material that wraps around at least a part of a left front side of the shoe, the left flap being separable from the right flap to allow the front part of the shoe to be positioned between the right flap and the left flap, the right flap and the left flap being attachable to each other with a flap fastener to secure the toe member around the front part of the shoe;  
 a left strap comprising an elongated section of the second piece of flexible material that extends from the left flap;  
 a first bottom member attached to the right flap and to the left flap, the first bottom member being adapted for covering at least a first part of the sole of the shoe, but less than all of the sole, so that the first bottom member helps prevent at least some of the spikes or cleats from contacting a walking surface when the toe member is wrapped around the front part of the shoe; and  
 a front protective sole attached to the toe member underneath the first bottom member; and  
   a heel member adapted for positioning around a back part of the shoe, the heel member comprising: 
 a cup portion comprising a third piece of flexible material that fits around a back part of the shoe;  
 a second bottom member attached to the cup portion, the second bottom member being adapted for covering at least a second part of the sole of the shoe, but less than all of the sole, so that the second bottom member helps prevent any spikes or cleats that protrude from a back part of the sole from contacting a walking surface when the heel member is positioned around the back of the shoe, the right and left straps of the toe member attaching to the heel member to help in securing the heel member to the shoe, the heel member being a separate piece from the toe member when the right and left straps are not attached to the heel member; and  
 a rear protective sole attached to the heel member underneath the second bottom member.  
   
     
     
         19 . The covering of  claim 18  wherein the first piece of flexible material and the second piece of flexible material are each comprised of neoprene.  
     
     
         20 . The covering of  claim 18  wherein the flap fastener comprises a hook and loop fastener.