Traction adjustment band for shoe

Abstract

Disclosed is a traction adjustment band for emplacement on a shoe, comprising: an upper band; a sole band; a first attachment interface connecting one end of the upper band to one end of the sole band; and a second attachment interface connecting another end of the upper band to another end of the sole band so as to form a unitary band.

1 . A method of adapting a shoe configured for a first physical activity into a modified shoe suitable for a second physical activity on a floor, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a traction adjustment band, said traction adjustment band including an upper band and a sole band;   placing the traction adjustment band around the shoe such that said upper band is disposed on an upper portion of the shoe and said sole band is disposed across a sole of the shoe; and   adjusting placement of said sole band on said shoe sole so as to produce the modified shoe, the modified shoe thus having a desired coefficient of friction with the floor, the desired coefficient of friction being substantially equivalent to a coefficient of friction with the floor that is provided by an activity shoe that is configured for the second physical activity.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said desired coefficient of friction for said modified shoe is less than a coefficient of friction of the unmodified shoe with the floor. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said desired coefficient of friction for the modified shoe is increased by repositioning said traction adjustment band along said sole of said sole of the shoe, from under the ball of the foot of a user toward the arch of the foot of the user. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said sole band covers a predetermined area of said sole of the shoe, said predetermined area having a width of from approximately 0.25 inch to approximately three inches. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the elasticity of said upper band is less than the elasticity of said sole band. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said upper band comprises a hook-and-loop fastener pair. 
     
     
         7 . A traction adjustment band suitable for emplacement on a shoe, the traction adjustment band comprising:
 an upper band;   a sole band;   a first attachment interface connecting a first end of said upper band to a first end of said sole band; and   a second attachment interface connecting a second end of said upper band to a second end of said sole band so as to form a unitary band assembly configured to enclose the upper and the sole of the shoe.   
     
     
         8 . The traction adjustment band of  claim 7  wherein said upper band comprises a substantially non-elastic fabric material. 
     
     
         9 . The traction adjustment band of  claim 7  wherein said upper band comprises a grosgrain ribbon. 
     
     
         10 . The traction adjustment band of  claim 7  wherein an outer surface of said upper band comprises a printing of at least one of a message, an advertisement, a logo, and a promotional material. 
     
     
         11 . The traction adjustment band of  claim 7  wherein said lower band comprises a substantially elastic fabric material. 
     
     
         12 . The traction adjustment band of  claim 11  wherein said substantially elastic fabric material comprises a plastic-embedded woven material. 
     
     
         13 . The traction adjustment band of  claim 7  further comprising a second sole band attached to said first end of said upper band and to said second end of said upper band. 
     
     
         14 . The traction adjustment band of  claim 7  further comprising a second upper band attached to said first end of said sole band and to said second end of said sole band. 
     
     
         15 . The traction adjustment band of  claim 7  wherein the width of said lower band is approximately 0.25 inch to approximately three inches. 
     
     
         16 . The traction adjustment band of  claim 7  wherein said upper band comprises a first upper segment and a second upper segment, said first upper segment removably secured to said second upper segment by a hook-and-loop fastener pair. 
     
     
         17 . The traction adjustment band of  claim 7  wherein said first attachment interface comprises at least one of stitching, adhesion, and thermal bonding. 
     
     
         18 . A traction adjustment band suitable for emplacement on a shoe, the traction adjustment band comprising:
 an upper band including a first upper segment, a second upper segment, and a hook-and-loop fastener pair, said hook-and-loop fastener pair removably securing said first upper segment to said second upper segment;   a sole band;   a first attachment interface connecting one end of said upper band to one end of said sole band; and   a second attachment interface connecting another end of said upper band to another end of said sole band so as to form a unitary band.   
     
     
         19 . The traction adjustment band of  claim 18  wherein the width of said upper band is different from the width of said sole band. 
     
     
         20 . The traction adjustment band of  claim 18  wherein said sole band comprises a woven material having plastic embedded therein to provide the shoe with a lower coefficient of friction with a support surface.