Latticed elastic shoe cover with cleats

Abstract

Slip resistant covers are presented. An especially preferred slip-resistant cover includes an elastic shoe cover comprising a latticed surface that allows the shoe cover to stretch further than would ordinarily be possible if the shoe cover had a uniform thickness. Contemplated shoe covers can also comprise cleats on the bottom surface to provide slip resistance.

1 . A slip-resistant shoe cover, comprising:
 a main covering body configured to elastically couple to a shoe;   a bottom covering portion coupled to the main body, and configured to elastically cover a bottom surface of the shoe; and   wherein an external surface of the bottom portion comprises a lattice of (a) raised slip-resistant surfaces protruding outward from the external surface and (b) stretchable depressions recessed into the external surface, where the depressions are intermixed among the raised surfaces.   
   
   
       2 . The shoe cover of  claim 1 , wherein the main covering body comprises a first elastomeric material. 
   
   
       3 . The shoe cover of  claim 2 , wherein the bottom covering portion comprises at least a second elastomeric material. 
   
   
       4 . The shoe cover of  claim 3 , wherein the second elastomeric material is different than the first elastomeric material. 
   
   
       5 . The shoe cover of  claim 3 , wherein the second elastomeric material is harder than the first elastomeric material. 
   
   
       6 . The shoe cover of  claim 3 , wherein the second elastomeric material comprises a nitrile rubber. 
   
   
       7 . The shoe cover of  claim 1 , wherein the raised surface includes a cleat. 
   
   
       8 . The shoe cover of  claim 7 , wherein the cleat comprises a gripping cup. 
   
   
       9 . The shoe cover of  claim 7 , wherein the cleat is configured to stretch. 
   
   
       10 . The shoe cover of  claim 7 , wherein the cleat comprises a material other than that used to form the bottom covering portion. 
   
   
       11 . The shoe cover of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the main covering body comprises a stretch zone. 
   
   
       12 . The shoe cover of  claim 11 , wherein the stretch zone comprises an array of depressions. 
   
   
       13 . The shoe cover of  claim 12 , wherein the depressions comprise holes through a material forming the main covering body. 
   
   
       14 . The shoe cover of  claim 11 , wherein the stretch zone is located on a side of the main covering body. 
   
   
       15 . The shoe cover of  claim 1   1 , wherein the cover comprises multiple stretch zones located on at least two sides of the cover. 
   
   
       16 . The shoe cover of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom covering portion has a base thickness, T, and where the depressions extend into the bottom covering portion to a depth, D, that is at least 0.5 T. 
   
   
       17 . The shoe cover of  claim 16 , wherein the depth, D, is at least 0.7 T. 
   
   
       18 . The shoe cover of  claim 17 , wherein the depth, D, is at least 0.9 T. 
   
   
       19 . The shoe cover of  claim 18 , wherein the depressions are holes through the bottom covering portion. 
   
   
       20 . The shoe cover of  claim 16  wherein T is in the range of about 0.5 millimeters to about five millimeters, inclusively. 
   
   
       21 . The shoe cover of  claim 1 , wherein the lattice comprises a regular, repeating pattern having a unit cell with a smallest dimension of less than two centimeters. 
   
   
       22 . The shoe cover of  claim 21 , wherein the unit cell has a shape other than a rectangle. 
   
   
       23 . The shoe cover of  claim 1 , wherein the cover is configured to stretch along a linear dimension up to 900% without substantially deforming the cover. 
   
   
       24 . The shoe cover of  claim 23 , wherein the cover is configured to stretch along the linear dimension up to 400% without substantially deforming the cover.