Outsole cover

Abstract

A removable form-fitted outsole cover is disclosed for an article of footwear having a specific style and size, wherein the article of footwear has a finished outsole and an upper, the outsole being attached to the upper at an intersection of the outsole to the upper and defining a rim about an outer perimeter of the outsole of the article of footwear. The outsole cover comprises an elastic material especially adapted for attachment to the article of footwear and having a sole and an outer band, the outer band shaped and sized to be adapted for attachment to and conform with the rim of the outsole of the article of footwear and to cover the outsole of the article of footwear.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A removable form-fitted outsole cover for an article of footwear having a specific style and size, wherein the article of footwear has a finished outsole and an upper, the outsole being attached to the upper at an intersection and defining a rim about an outer perimeter of the outsole of the boot, the rim of the outsole having a circumference and the intersection of the upper to the outsole having a circumference less than the circumference of the rim, the outsole cover comprising an elastic material especially adapted for attachment to the article of footwear and having a sole and an outer band, the outer band having a rim portion and a lip portion, wherein the rim portion has a circumference and the lip portion has a circumference less than the circumference of the rim portion and wherein the circumference of the lip portion is less than the circumference of the rim, the outer band thus being shaped and sized to be adapted for attachment to and conform with the rim of the outsole of the article of footwear to cover the outsole of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         2 . The removable form-fitted outsole cover for an article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the outsole cover covers the entire outsole of the article of footwear up to and including the intersection of the upper to the outsole. 
     
     
         3 . The removable form-fitted outsole cover for an article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the outsole cover is comprised of an integrated single piece of elastic material. 
     
     
         4 . The removable form-fitted outsole cover for an article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic material is 100% elastic. 
     
     
         5 . The removable form-fitted outsole cover for an article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the article of footwear is inserted into the outsole cover by stretching the lip portion of the outer band to allow insertion of the rim. 
     
     
         6 . The removable form-fitted outsole cover for an article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the material for the outsole cover is selected from the group consisting essentially of natural rubber, silicone rubber, CSM rubber, and blends thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The removable form-fitted outsole cover for an article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the lip portion of the outer band has a first texture and the rim portion of the outer band has a second texture, and wherein the first and second textures are different. 
     
     
         8 . The removable form-fitted outsole cover for an article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein different colors are provided on the rim portion of the outer band. 
     
     
         9 . The removable form-fitted outsole cover for an article of footwear of  claim 1 , the outsole cover further comprising an inner rim wall and an inner sole, wherein a dual-sided die-cut adhesive sheet is attached to at least a portion of at least one of the inner rim wall and the inner sole. 
     
     
         10 . A removable form-fitted outsole cover for an article of footwear having a specific style and size, wherein the article of footwear has a finished outsole and an upper, the outsole being attached to the upper at an intersection of the upper to the outsole and defining a rim about an outer perimeter of the outsole of the article of footwear, the outsole cover comprising an elastic material especially adapted for attachment to the article of footwear and having a sole and an outer band, the outer band shaped and sized to be adapted for attachment to and conform with the rim of the outsole of the article of footwear to cover the outsole of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         11 . The removable form-fitted outsole cover for an article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the outsole cover covers the entire outsole of the article of footwear up to and including the intersection of the upper to the outsole. 
     
     
         12 . The removable form-fitted outsole cover for an article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the article of footwear is inserted into the outsole cover by stretching the lip portion of the outer band to allow insertion of the rim. 
     
     
         13 . The removable form-fitted outsole cover for an article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the rim of outsole has an outer circumference greater than the circumference of the intersection of the upper to the outsole and the band has a rim portion and a lip portion, wherein the circumference of the lip portion is less than the circumference of the rim portion. 
     
     
         14 . The removable form-fitted outsole cover for an article of footwear of  claim 13 , wherein the circumference of the lip portion is less than the circumference of the rim. 
     
     
         15 . The removable form-fitted outsole cover for an article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the elastic material is 100% elastic. 
     
     
         16 . The removable form-fitted outsole cover for an article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the material for the outsole cover is selected from the group consisting essentially of natural rubber, silicone rubber, CSM rubber, and blends thereof. 
     
     
         17 . A method of covering an article of footwear having a specific style and size and a finished upper and outsole, the upper being attached to the outsole at an intersection between the upper and the outsole, the outsole defining a rim about an outer perimeter of the outsole , the intersection of the outsole to the upper having a circumference and the rim of the outsole having a circumference greater than the circumference of the intersection of the outsole to the upper, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a removable form-fitted outsole cover comprising an elastic material especially adapted for attachment to the article of footwear and having a sole and an outer band, the outer band having a rim portion and a lip portion, wherein the circumference of the lip portion of the outer band is less than the circumference of the rim portion and the circumference of the lip portion is less than the circumference of the rim;   inserting the article of footwear into the outsole cover by stretching the lip portion of the outer band to allow insertion of the rim; and   releasing the lip portion of the outer band upon inserting the article of footwear into the outsole cover, wherein the outer band attaches to and conforms with the rim of the outsole of the article of footwear to cover the outsole of the article of footwear.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the lip portion of the outer band has a first texture and the rim portion of the outer band has a second texture, and wherein the first and second textures are different. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the outsole cover covers the entire outsole of the article of footwear up to and including the intersection of the upper to the outsole. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the material for the outsole cover is selected from the group consisting essentially of natural rubber, silicone rubber, CSM rubber, and blends thereof.