Protective cover for cleated athletic shoes

Abstract

A protective covering device for the bottom of an athletic shoe having cleats, spikes, studs, or other traction and stability-enhancing protrusions is disclosed. The covering protects against damage—to both cleats and hard surfaces underfoot—while at the same time being aesthetically pleasing and durable, fitting the profile of the shoe, and being easy to use. The protective covering also helps to avoid grass, dirt, mud and other foreign objects becoming stuck in the cleats. The protective covering may attach to the shoe in a variety of manners, including by cage or teeth-like gripping mechanisms, by side grips, by elastic band, by drawstring, adhesion, vacuum, or another mechanism.

1 . A protective covering for an athletic shoe, comprising:
 a bottom portion comprising a first material, the bottom portion configured to contact the ground or other walking surface, the bottom portion having a ground-or-walking-surface-facing portion and a shoe-facing footbed portion;   a front toe portion configured to fit the front of the athletic shoe, the front toe portion configured to wrap around and hold the toe of the athletic shoe;   a rear heel portion configured to fit the heel of the athletic shoe, the heel portion configured to wrap around and hold the heel of the athletic shoe;   two outer side portions running along the sides of the protective covering, the side portions being contoured such that the protective covering is shaped to receive either a left or right shoe; and   a semi-rigid cage structure extending from the side portions for gripping the athletic shoe during movement.   
     
     
         2 . The protective covering of  claim 1 , wherein the semi-rigid cage structure comprises two cage sections of semi-rigid material located opposite each other on each of the two outer side portions, wherein each of the cage sections has one or more openings therein. 
     
     
         3 . The protective covering of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom of the athletic shoe has protrusions and other formations, the shoe-facing footbed portion comprising a second material that deforms to accept the protrusions or other formations on the bottom of the athletic shoe, the shoe-facing footbed portion configured to receive the bottom of the athletic shoe. 
     
     
         4 . The protective covering of  claim 3 , wherein the shoe-facing footbed portion comprises an array of recesses configured to receive the protrusions and dimensioned such that the protrusions do not extend through the bottom portion. 
     
     
         5 . The protective covering of  claim 4 , wherein the protrusions are configured in a pattern, wherein the array of recesses is configured to match the pattern of the protrusions. 
     
     
         6 . The protective covering of  claim 1 , wherein the shoe-facing footbed comprises an adhesive material positioned to adhere to the bottom of the athletic shoe when the protective covering is attached to the athletic shoe. 
     
     
         7 . The protective covering of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom portion includes one or more stretch areas that allow the protective covering to expand longitudinally. 
     
     
         8 . The protective covering of  claim 1 , wherein the protective covering is partially translucent or transparent so the design of the athletic shoe is visible through the covering. 
     
     
         9 . The protective covering of  claim 1 , wherein the protective covering includes a loop at the rear heel portion of the protective covering. 
     
     
         10 . A protective covering for an athletic shoe, comprising:
 a bottom portion comprising a first material configured to contact the ground or other walking surface, the bottom portion having a ground-or-walking-surface-facing portion and a shoe-facing footbed portion;   a front toe portion configured to fit the front of the athletic shoe;   a rear heel portion configured to fit the heel of the athletic shoe;   two outer side portions running along the sides of the protective covering, the side portions being contoured such that the protective covering is shaped to receive either a left or right shoe;   an elastic band grip structure configured to grip the athletic shoe and hold the athletic shoe during movement, the elastic band grip structure comprising an elastic band, the elastic band grip structure extending from the outer side portions, the front toe portion, and the rear heel portion such that the elastic band grip structure fits radially around the athletic shoe, wherein the elastic band grip structure comprises a high-friction grip material facing the athletic shoe; and   a loop protruding from the portion of the elastic band grip structure nearest to the rear heel portion of the protective covering.   
     
     
         11 . The protective covering of  claim 10 , wherein the bottom of the athletic shoe has protrusions, wherein the shoe-facing footbed portion comprises an array of recesses and is configured to receive the protrusions and dimensioned such that the protrusions do not extend through the bottom portion. 
     
     
         12 . The protective covering of  claim 10 , wherein the bottom of the athletic shoe has protrusions and other formations, the shoe-facing footbed portion comprising a second material that deforms to accept the protrusions or other formations, the shoe-facing footbed portion configured to receive the bottom of the athletic shoe. 
     
     
         13 . The protective covering of  claim 10 , wherein the elastic band grip structure comprises an adhesive material positioned to adhere to the athletic shoe when the protective covering is attached to the athletic shoe. 
     
     
         14 . A protective covering for an athletic shoe, comprising:
 a bottom portion comprising a first material configured to contact the ground or other walking surface;   a front toe portion configured to fit the front of the athletic shoe;   a rear heel portion configured to fit the heel of the athletic shoe;   two outer side portions running along the sides of the protective covering, the side portions being contoured such that the protective covering is shaped to receive either a left or right shoe;   a semi-rigid cage structure extending from the side portions for gripping the athletic shoe during movement; and   a shoe-facing footbed portion on top of the shoe-facing side of the bottom portion, configured to receive the bottom of the athletic shoe, the shoe-facing footbed portion comprising a second material.   
     
     
         15 . The protective covering of  claim 14 , wherein the second material is a thermoplastic material or a thermosetting material.