Shoe heel protector

Abstract

A shoe heel protector includes a middle portion, a first side portion and a second side portion. The semi-rigid middle portion substantially covers a rear heel portion of a shoe and is permanently attached to the shoe. The first side portion is integrally formed with the middle portion, and the first side portion partially covers a first side of the shoe. The second side portion is integrally formed with the middle portion, and the second side portion partially covers a second side of the shoe.

1 . A shoe heel protector comprising: 
 a semi-rigid middle portion, wherein the middle portion substantially covers a rear heel portion of a shoe and is permanently attached to the shoe;    a first side portion integrally formed with the middle portion, wherein the first side portion partially covers a first side of the shoe; and    a second side portion integrally formed with the middle portion, wherein the second side portion partially covers a second side of the shoe.    
   
   
       2 . The shoe heel protector according to  claim 1 , wherein the first side portion further comprises a first aperture and the second side portion further comprises a second aperture, wherein the first aperture aligns with a first eyelet on a front of the shoe and the second aperture aligns with a second eyelet on the front of the shoe.  
   
   
       3 . The shoe heel protector according to  claim 2 , wherein a shoelace is laced through the first aperture and the first eyelet, and the second aperture and the second eyelet.  
   
   
       4 . The shoe heel protector according to  claim 1 , wherein the middle portion includes at least one horizontal ridge integrally formed in the middle portion.  
   
   
       5 . The shoe heel protector according to  claim 1 , further comprising a bottom edge, wherein the bottom edge of the protector is secured to a welt in the shoe.  
   
   
       6 . The shoe heel protector according to  claim 5 , wherein the bottom edge of the protector is stitched to the welt.  
   
   
       7 . The shoe heel protector according to  claim 5 , wherein the bottom edge of the protector is adhesively bonded to the welt.  
   
   
       8 . The shoe heel protector according to  claim 1 , wherein the shoe is an athletic shoe.  
   
   
       9 . The shoe heel protector according to  claim 1 , wherein the shoe is a workboot.  
   
   
       10 . The shoe heel protector according to  claim 1 , wherein the shoe is a dress shoe.  
   
   
       11 . A shoe heel protector comprising: 
 a semi-rigid middle portion, wherein the middle portion substantially covers a rear heel portion of a shoe and is permanently attached to the shoe along a bottom edge of the middle portion;    a first side portion integrally formed with the middle portion having at least one aperture formed therein, wherein the first side portion partially covers a first side of the shoe;    a second side portion integrally formed with the middle portion having at least one aperture formed therein, wherein the second side portion partially covers a second side of the shoe; and    wherein the at least one aperture formed in the first side portion and the at least one aperture formed in the second side portion each align with a corresponding eyelet on a front of the shoe.    
   
   
       12 . The shoe heel protector according to  claim 11 , wherein a shoelace is laced through the at least one aperture formed in the first side portion and the corresponding eyelet, and the at least one aperture formed in the second side portion and the corresponding eyelet.  
   
   
       13 . The shoe heel protector according to  claim 11 , wherein the middle portion includes at least one horizontal ridge integrally formed in the middle portion.  
   
   
       14 . The shoe heel protector according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom edge is secured to a welt in the shoe.  
   
   
       15 . The shoe heel protector according to  claim 14 , wherein the bottom edge of the protector is stitched to the welt.  
   
   
       16 . The shoe heel protector according to  claim 14 , wherein the bottom edge of the protector is adhesively bonded to the welt.  
   
   
       17 . The shoe heel protector according to  claim 11 , wherein the shoe is an athletic shoe.  
   
   
       18 . The shoe heel protector according to  claim 11 , wherein the shoe is a workboot.  
   
   
       19 . The shoe heel protector according to  claim 11 , wherein the shoe is a dress shoe.  
   
   
       20 . A shoe heel protector comprising: 
 a semi-rigid middle portion, wherein the middle portion substantially covers a rear heel portion of a shoe and a bottom edge of the middle portion is secured to a welt in the shoe;    a first side portion integrally formed with the middle portion, wherein the first side portion partially covers a first side of the shoe;    a second side portion integrally formed with the middle portion, wherein the second side portion partially covers a second side of the shoe.