Ice Grips

Abstract

An ice grip is adapted to be worn on a user's foot and includes a sole having a ground engaging surface ( 2 ) on which is mounted at least one location element ( 10 ). The location element ( 10 ) is adapted to removably engage a traction element ( 20 ) for improving the traction of a user wearing the ice grip when standing or walking over slippery surfaces. The location element ( 10 ) and the traction element ( 20 ) are cooperatively arranged such that the traction element ( 20 ) is received by and removed from the location element ( 10 ) in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the ground engaging surface ( 2 ).

1 . An ice grip adapted to be worn on a user's foot comprising:
 a ground engaging surface;   at least one location element mounted on the ground engaging surface;   at least one traction element; and   an engagement device arranged to removably secure the at least one traction element to the at least one location element, wherein movement of the traction element when secured to or removed from the location element is in a plane substantially parallel to a plane of the ground engaging surface.   
     
     
         2 . The ice grip of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement device comprises an interengaging pawl and rack, with the pawl and rack provided respectively on one each of the location element and the traction element. 
     
     
         3 . The ice grip of  claim 2 , wherein the engagement device further comprises cooperating lugs and grooves in which the lugs are slidably receivable, the lugs and grooves being respectively provided on one each of the traction element and the location element. 
     
     
         4 . The ice grip of  claim 2 , wherein the location element comprises a resilient portion which is deformable so as to disengage the pawl and rack. 
     
     
         5 . The ice grip of  claim 4 , further comprising a removal tool, the removal tool comprising a leg having a tongue engagable with an undercut of the traction element and an anvil for depressing the resilient portion of the location element. 
     
     
         6 . The ice grip of  claim 1 , wherein the location element is removably mounted on the ground engaging surface. 
     
     
         7 . The ice grip of  claim 6  wherein the location element is removably mounted to the ground engaging surface by a plurality of depressions and upstands on the location element and the ground engaging surface defining cooperating castellations allowing positioning of the location element with respect to the ground engaging surface. 
     
     
         8 . An ice grip comprising:
 a ground engaging sole having a plurality of castellations; and   a grip element having a body with a first surface forming a location element and an opposing surface forming a traction element, the grip element being secured to the ground engaging sole by a plurality of fasteners;   the grip element being positioned with respect to the ground engaging sole by a plurality of castellations on the first surface of the grip element cooperating with a plurality of castellations of the ground engaging sole, the plurality of castellations being formed by depressions on one of the ground engaging sole or the first surface of the grip element cooperating with a plurality of upstands on the other of the ground engaging sole or the first surface of the grip element.   
     
     
         9 .- 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . An overshoe for removably mounting on footwear, comprising:
 a sole;   an ice grip comprising:
 a ground engaging surface forming at least a portion of the sole of the overshoe; 
 at least one location element mounted on the ground engaging surface; 
 at least one traction element; and 
 an engagement device arranged to removably secure the at least one traction element to the at least one location element, wherein movement of the traction element when secured to or removed from the location element is in a plane substantially parallel to a plane of the ground engaging surface. 
   
     
     
         14 .- 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The ice grip of  claim 8 , in which the plurality of fasteners are screw threaded fasteners passing through the ground engaging sole and threading into the grip element. 
     
     
         20 . The ice grip of  claim 8 , in which the plurality of fasteners are press rivets passing through the ground engaging sole and threading into the grip element. 
     
     
         21 . The ice grip of  claim 8 , in which the ground engaging sole forms a part of an overshoe for removably mounting on footwear. 
     
     
         22 . The overshoe of  claim 13 , wherein the engagement device comprises an interengaging pawl and rack, with the pawl and rack provided respectively on one each of the location element and the traction element. 
     
     
         23 . The overshoe of  claim 22 , wherein the engagement device further comprises cooperating lugs and grooves in which the lugs are slidably receivable, the lugs and grooves being respectively provided on one each of the traction element and the location element. 
     
     
         24 . The overshoe of  claim 22 , wherein the location element comprises a resilient portion which is deformable so as to disengage the pawl and rack. 
     
     
         25 . The overshoe of  claim 22 , further comprising a removal tool, the removal tool comprising a having a tongue engagable with an undercut of the traction element and an anvil for depressing the resilient portion of the location element. 
     
     
         26 . The overshoe of  claim 22 , wherein the location element is removably mounted on the ground engaging surface. 
     
     
         27 . The overshoe of  claim 26 , wherein the location element is removably mounted to the ground engaging surface by a plurality of depressions and upstands on the location element and the ground engaging surface defining cooperating castellations allowing positioning of the location element with respect to the ground engaging surface.