Kicking shoe attachment for propelling kick scooters and the like

Abstract

A kicking shoe attachment for use by the rider of a kick scooter or the like having an elongated core with a flat upper surface with a skid resistant upper sole thereupon, and an opposing curvilinear lower surface with a wear resistant lower sole disposed thereupon. The elongated core may be split apart horizontally and two or more springs, a block of a resilient material, or a scissor jack mechanism may be placed between the upper and lower body portions. An opening may be placed in the upper surface of the elongated body to receive the protruding heel of typically a woman's heeled shoe or boot. A harness or quick-release safety binding is provided to retain a rider's foot to the kicking shoe attachment. A tether may be provided for securing the kicking shoe attachment to an environmental object when not in use or to the kick scooter when the kick scooter is being ridden.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A kicking shoe attachment, comprising:
 a) a multi-layer elongated main body comprising at least: a central core having a flat upper surface and a spaced apart convex, curvilinear lower surface;   an upper sole covering disposed on said flat upper surface; and a lower sole covering disposed on said spaced apart convex curvilinear lower surface, said multi-layer elongated main body having a predetermined height H, said predetermined height H being approximately the same as the height above a pavement of an upper surface of a kick scooter with which said kicking shoe attachment is utilized by a rider thereof;   b) a device for adjustably securing at least a toe region of footwear of a wearer of said kicking shoe attachment to said upper sole; and   c) a heel locating device for locating and retaining a heel portion of said footwear of a wearer of said kicking shoe attachment disposed on said upper sole.   
     
     
         2 . The kicking shoe attachment as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said central core disposed between said upper sole covering and said lower sole covering and comprising at least one of the group: a solid object of a single material, a solid object of a single material having at least one horizontal circular openings therethrough; a solid object laminated from multiple horizontal layers; a two-part solid object having a resilient material disposed intermediate said two parts, two-part solid object having at least one mechanical spring disposed intermediate said two parts, and a two-part solid objects having a height-adjusting mechanism disposed intermediate said two parts. 
     
     
         3 . The kicking shoe attachment as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said upper sole covers the entirety of said flat upper surface. 
     
     
         4 . The kicking shoe attachment as recited in claim wherein said lower sole covers the entirety of said convex, curvilinear lower surface. 
     
     
         5 . The kicking shoe attachment as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 d) an opening in said upper sole proximate said heel locating device coincident with an opening in said upper surface of said central core, said openings accessing a heel-receiving hollow in said central core.   
     
     
         6 . The kicking shoe attachment as recited in  claim 5  wherein said opening in said upper surface of said central body comprises an elongated slot aligned parallel a major axis of said upper sole. 
     
     
         7 . The kicking shoe attachment as recited in  claim 3  wherein said heel receiving hollow has a shape chosen from the group: an inverted frustoconical-like shape, and an elongated slot. 
     
     
         8 . The kicking shoe attachment as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said central core comprises an upper core portion and a lower core portion separated horizontally in a plane substantially parallel to said flat upper surface, said upper core portion and said lower core portion being spaced apart in a vertical dimension. 
     
     
         9 . The kicking shoe attachment as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said spaced apart upper core portion and said lower core portion are joined by at least one spring, each of said at least one spring having a respective end attached to a lower surface of said upper core portion and another end attached to an upper surface of said lower core portion. 
     
     
         10 . The kicking shoe attachment as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said at least one spring comprises at least one selected from the group: coil springs, leaf springs, and other forms of spring. 
     
     
         11 . The kicking shoe attachment as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said spaced apart upper core portion and said lower core portion are joined by at least one piece of a resilient material, said at least one piece of resilient having an upper surface attached to a lower surface of said upper core portion and an lower surface attached to an upper surface of said lower core portion. 
     
     
         12 . The kicking shoe attachment as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said spaced apart upper core portion and said lower core portion are joined by a scissor jack mechanism or other suitable jack mechanism whereby the vertical space between said upper core portion and said lower core portion may be selectively varied. 
     
     
         13 . The kicking shoe attachment as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said upper sole comprises at least one selected from the group: natural rubber, artificial rubber, and a polymeric elastomer. 
     
     
         14 . The kicking shoe attachment as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said lower sole comprises a wear resistant material. 
     
     
         15 . The kicking shoe attachment as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said lower sole is removably attached to said curvilinear, convex lower surface to facilitate its replacement. 
     
     
         16 . The kicking shoe attachment as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said means for securing at least a toe region of footwear of a user of said kicking shoe attachment to said upper sole comprises one selected from the group: an adjustable harness attached to said upper surface of said body portion; and a quick-release safety binding device. 
     
     
         17 . The kicking shoe attachment as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 d) a tether attached to said elongated body and adapted and configured for securely attaching said kicking shoe attachment to one selected from the group: an environmental structure, and the kick scooter when said kicking shoe attachment is not being worn.   
     
     
         18 . The kicking shoe attachment as recited in  claim 17 , further comprising:
 e) a mechanism disposed at said distal end of a tether adapted and configured to attach said distal end to said kick scooter to prevent dangling of said tether when said kicking shoe attachment is in use during a ride.