Footwear cover

Abstract

A cover for closing off access to the mouth of a boot. The cover is a generally tubular member that forms a cap at a first end and a skirt that extends outwardly away therefrom. The cap and skirt define a bore sized to receive the neck of the boot therein. At least one annular gripping region is provided in the cover and is expandable to allow the cover to receive the top end of the boot and contracts to sealingly grip the neck of the boot. The gripping region preferably includes an elastic material that is either retained in an annular pocket in the skirt or sewn directly onto the skirt fabric. When engaged with the boot, no part of the cover extends into the interior thereof. The cover is also provided with a removal strap and one or more elastic loops that are design to receive a sock therethrough.

1 . A protective cover for a boot, where the boot has a neck with a mouth at a top end thereof, said cover comprising;
 a substantially tubular member having a wall defining a bore therein, said wall having a closed first end and a second end remote therefrom which defines an opening to the bore; which opening is adapted to receive the top end of the boot therethrough;   a first annular gripping region provided in the tubular member; and   a second annular gripping region provided in the tubular member a spaced distance from the first gripping region; said gripping regions being movable between an expanded position where the top end of the boot is receivable through the opening, and a contracted position where the gripping regions sealingly engage the neck of the boot whereby a portion of the first end of the wall extends across the mouth of the boot and substantially none of the first end extends into the interior of the boot.   
   
   
       2 . The protective cover as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first gripping region is of a first circumference and the second gripping region is of a second circumference and the first circumference is greater than the second circumference. 
   
   
       3 . The protective cover as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second gripping regions includes an elastic fabric. 
   
   
       4 . The protective cover as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the wall includes at least one pocket and the elastic fabric is sewn into the pocket. 
   
   
       5 . The protective cover as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the elastic fabric is sewn directly onto the wall. 
   
   
       6 . The cover as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the first end of the wall is manufactured from one of a breathable fabric and a waterproof fabric. 
   
   
       7 . The cover as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the portion of the first end of the wall is manufactured from one of a nylon mesh fabric and a waterproof poly-cotton fabric. 
   
   
       8 . The cover as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the cover is manufactured from a flexible fabric that is foldable into a substantially planar member. 
   
   
       9 . The cover as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the wall is formed from a single length of fabric. 
   
   
       10 . The cover as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the wall is formed from more than one piece of fabric that are secured together, and at least the first end of the cover is made from one of a breathable fabric and a waterproof fabric. 
   
   
       11 . The cover as defined in  claim 2 , further including a removal strap extending outwardly from the wall. 
   
   
       12 . The cover as defined in  claim 11 , further including a pair of spaced apart loops extending outwardly away from the wall. 
   
   
       13 . The cover as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the loops are manufactured from an elastic material and are each adapted to retain a sock therein. 
   
   
       14 . The protective cover as defined in  claim 3 , wherein each of the first and second gripping regions is between ¾ and 1½ inches in width. 
   
   
       15 . In combination:
 a boot having a neck with a mouth at a top end thereof and defining an interior adapted to receive a foot therein;   a cover for sealing off access to the interior of the boot; and wherein said cover includes:
 a substantially tubular member having a wall defining a bore, said wall having a closed first end and a second end remote therefrom which defines an opening to the bore; and 
 a first annular gripping region provided in the tubular member and being movable between an expanded position and a contracted position; and when the first gripping region is in the expanded position, the top end and neck of the boot are receivable through the opening; and when in the contracted position the first gripping region sealingly engages the neck and the first end of the cover extends across the mouth of the boot and no part of the cover extends into the interior of the boot. 
   
   
   
       16 . The combination as defined in  claim 15 , wherein at least the first end of the tubular member is manufactured from one of a breathable and a waterproof fabric. 
   
   
       17 . The combination as defined in  claim 15  further comprising
 a second annular gripping region provided in the tubular member spaced a distance from the first gripping region; whereby a section of wall extends between said first and second gripping regions.   
   
   
       18 . The combination as defined in  claim 15 , further comprising a removal strap extending outwardly from proximate the first end of the tubular member. 
   
   
       19 . The combination as defined in  claim 18 , further comprising at least one elasticized loop extending outwardly from proximate the first end of the tubular member, said loop being adapted to receive a sock therethrough. 
   
   
       20 . The combination as defined in  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the first and second gripping regions comprises an elastic member that engages the wall of the tubular member, and wherein the elastic member is one of retained within a pocket formed in the wall of the tubular member and sewn directly onto the wall.