Overboot

Abstract

This invention provides an overboot consists of an upper portion made of fabric and a lower portion, or sole, which is made of a rugged flexible material such as rubber or thermoelastomer. The upper portion has a front, a back, an inside, an outside, and an interior. The upper portion has an opening to allow a foot of a user wearing a shoe or ski boot to enter the interior. In one embodiment, the opening of the upper portion may have a means of closure. The rear of the overboot opens in order to ease the insertion of the foot of the user. The rear opening may consist of either one or two vertical slits.

1 . An overboot comprising:
 an upper portion, the upper portion having a front, a rear, an inside, an outside, an interior, and a toe portion,
 wherein the upper portion is made substantially of an elastic 
 material and the interior volume defined by the upper portion is sized and shaped to compliantly engage a shoe or boot, 
 wherein the upper portion having an opening to allow a foot wearing a shoe or a ski boot to enter the interior, 
 wherein the rear of the upper portion is capable of forming an opening in order to ease the insertion of a foot of a user, 
 wherein the rear opening has a closure means; 
   a lower portion, the lower portion forming a heel and a sole, the lower portion being made of a rugged flexible material.   
     
     
         2 . The overboot of  claim 1  wherein the cross-section of the upper portion approximates a ring, with the ring having an adjustable-length pull-cord disposed therewithin such that constriction of the length of the pull-cord similarly constricts the diameter of the ring. 
     
     
         3 . The overboot of  claim 1  wherein the closure means is a flap that extends downwardly from a top portion of the rear of the overboot that folds over to cover the rear opening, wherein the flap is secured to the circumference of the rear opening by a first fastening means selected from the group consisting of snaps, hook and loop fasteners, zippers, ties, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The overboot of  claim 1  wherein the closure means is a pull string with a cinch device. 
     
     
         5 . The overboot of  claim 1  wherein the rear opening has at least one vertical slit, the vertical slit having an interior, the interior having a first side and a second side. 
     
     
         6 . The overboot of  claim 5  wherein the vertical slit has a closure means selected from the group consisting of zippers, snaps, ties, hook & loop fasteners, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The overboot of  claim 5  wherein the vertical slit has a membrane connecting the first side and the second side of the interior. 
     
     
         8 . The overboot of  claim 7  wherein the membrane is made of an elastic or inelastic,
 waterproof material, wherein the membrane allows the vertical slit to keep water from entering the interior of the overboot. 
 
     
     
         9 . The overboot of  claim 1  wherein the heel or the toe portion has a strap. 
     
     
         10 . The overboot of  claim 1  wherein the sole has a plurality of protrusions extending downward therefrom for providing traction. 
     
     
         11 . The overboot of  claim 1  wherein the front and rear portions of the profile of the sole are substantially arcuate, thereby defining a rocker sole. 
     
     
         12 . The overboot of  claim 1  further comprising an attachment means on the inside of the upper portion of the near the top opening for accepting a strap to connect more than one overboot to another. 
     
     
         13 . An overboot comprising:
 an upper portion, the upper portion having a front, a rear, an inside, an outside, and an interior, wherein the upper portion is made substantially of an elastic or inelastic material, wherein the upper portion having an opening to allow a foot wearing a shoe or a ski boot to enter the interior,   wherein the rear of the upper portion is capable of forming an opening in order to ease the insertion of a foot of a user, wherein the opening has a closure means;   a lower portion, the lower portion forming a heel and a sole, the lower portion being made of a rugged flexible material; and one or more adjustable straps, the straps being positioned to reach from the rear of the overboot around a calf or over a foot to ensure a secure fit, and there is a loop of inelastic material extending upward from the rear of the lower portion configured to be grasped by the hand of a wearer.   
     
     
         14 . The overboot of  claim 1  wherein the adjustable straps are secured at a first end and pass through a loop or a plastic ring placed at an opposing end and return along the length of the strap to be releasably fixed by a second fastening means. 
     
     
         15 . The overboot of  claim 10  wherein the second fastening means is a hook and loop fastener or a buckle. 
     
     
         16 . The overboot of  claim 10  wherein the loop or the plastic ring is sewn to the fabric of the upper portion or is secured to a portion of the sole which is positioned on a side of the overboot. 
     
     
         17 . The overboot of  claim 1  wherein the adjustable straps are made of an elastic or inelastic material. 
     
     
         18 . An overboot comprising:
 an upper portion, the upper portion having a front, a rear, an inside, an outside, and an interior, wherein the upper portion is made substantially of an elastic or inelastic material, wherein the upper portion having an opening to allow a foot wearing a shoe or a ski boot to enter the interior, wherein the rear of the upper portion is capable of forming an opening in order to ease the insertion of a foot of a user, wherein the opening has a closure means;   a lower portion, the lower portion forming a heel and a sole, the lower portion being made of a rugged flexible material, the sole being a rocker sole; and one or more adjustable straps, the straps being positioned to reach from the rear of the overboot around a calf or over a foot to ensure a secure fit.   
     
     
         19 . The overboot of  claim 18  there is a loop of inelastic material extending upward from the rear of the lower portion configured to be grasped by the hand of a wearer. 
     
     
         20 . The overboot of  claim 18  wherein the cross-section of the upper portion approximates a ring, with the ring having an adjustable-length pull-cord disposed therewithin such that constriction of the length of the pull-cord similarly constricts the diameter of the ring.