Traction enhancement devices and related packages of traction enhancement devices

Abstract

A traction enhancement device for installation to a sole of a shoe includes a generally rigid support layer having opposing first and second surfaces, an adhesive material coupled to the first surface of the support layer for coupling the traction enhancement device to the sole of the shoe, and a gritty material coupled to the second surface of the support layer for enhancing traction of the sole of the shoe.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A traction enhancement device for a shoe, the traction enhancement device comprising:
 a generally rigid support layer having opposing first and second surfaces;   an adhesive material coupled to the first surface of the support layer for coupling the fraction enhancement device to a sole of a shoe; and   a gritty material coupled to the second surface of the support layer for enhancing traction of the sole of the shoe.   
     
     
         2 . The traction enhancement device of  claim 1 , wherein the support layer comprises a generally rigid paper material. 
     
     
         3 . The traction enhancement device of  claim 1 , wherein the gritty material comprises sand and/or gravel material. 
     
     
         4 . The traction enhancement device of  claim 1 , wherein the gritty material comprises multiple particles, and wherein an average diameter of the multiple particles is less than about 50 micrometers. 
     
     
         5 . The fraction enhancement device of  claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive material coupling the gritty material to the second surface of the support layer. 
     
     
         6 . The traction enhancement device of  claim 1 , further comprising a release layer coupled to the adhesive material, the release layer configured to be removed from the adhesive material when installing the traction enhancement device to a sole of a shoe. 
     
     
         7 . The traction enhancement device of  claim 6 , wherein a thickness of the traction enhancement device is about 50 micrometers or less. 
     
     
         8 . The traction enhancement device of  claim 1 , wherein the support layer has a generally rectangular shape. 
     
     
         9 . A shoe comprising the traction enhancement device of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         10 . A traction enhancement device for a sole of a shoe for improving traction of the sole of the shoe on surfaces when the shoe is worn by a user, the traction enhancement device comprising:
 a rigid support layer formed from paper, the support layer having opposing first and second surfaces;   an adhesive material coupled to the first surface of the support layer for use in coupling the traction enhancement device to a sole of a shoe;   a release layer coupled to the adhesive material, the release layer configured to be removed from the adhesive material when coupling the traction enhancement device to the sole of the shoe; and   a gritty material comprising multiple sand and/or gravel particles coupled to the second surface of the support layer, the multiple sand and/or gravel particles having diameters of less than about 50 micrometers.   
     
     
         11 . The traction enhancement device of  claim 10 , further comprising an adhesive material coupling the gritty material to the second surface of the support layer. 
     
     
         12 . The traction enhancement device of  claim 10 , wherein a thickness of the traction enhancement device is about 50 micrometers or less. 
     
     
         13 . The traction enhancement device of  claim 10 , wherein a thickness of the traction enhancement device is between about 47 micrometers and about 50 micrometers. 
     
     
         14 . The fraction enhancement device of  claim 10 , wherein the traction enhancement device defines a generally rectangular shape with a width dimension of about 0.5 inches and a length dimension of about 3.5 inches. 
     
     
         15 . A shoe comprising the traction enhancement device of  claim 10 . 
     
     
         16 . A package of traction enhancement devices, the package comprising:
 a plurality of traction enhancement devices, the traction enhancement devices configured to be coupled to soles of shoes to thereby help improve traction of the shoes on surfaces; and   a container for holding the plurality of traction enhancement devices, the container having a body configured to receive the plurality of traction enhancement devices therein and a cover releasably coupled to the body for providing selective access to the plurality of traction enhancement devices received in the body.   
     
     
         17 . The package of  claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of traction enhancement devices comprises:
 a rigid support layer formed from paper, the support layer having opposing first and second surfaces;   an adhesive material coupled to the first surface of the support layer for use in coupling the traction enhancement device to a sole of a shoe;   a release layer coupled to the adhesive material, the release layer configured to be removed from the adhesive material when coupling the traction enhancement device to the sole of the shoe; and   a gritty material comprising multiple sand and/or gravel particles coupled to the second surface of the support layer, the multiple sand and/or gravel particles having diameters of less than about 260 micrometers.   
     
     
         18 . The package of  claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of traction enhancement devices further comprises an adhesive material coupling the gritty material to the second surface of the support layer. 
     
     
         19 . The package of  claim 18 , wherein a thickness of each of the plurality of traction enhancement devices is between about 47 micrometers and about 50 micrometers. 
     
     
         20 . The package of  claim 19 , wherein each of the plurality of traction enhancement devices defines a generally rectangular shape with a width dimension of about 0.5 inches and a length dimension of about 3.5 inches.