System for Protecting Ground Surfaces from Shoe Spikes and Protective Covering for a Spike of a Shoe

Abstract

A protective spike covering for covering a spike of a shoe. The protective spike covering includes a covering member having a top portion, a bottom portion, a height extending from the top portion to the bottom portion, and a cavity. The top portion defines an opening into the cavity and the bottom portion forms a base that defines an enclosed bottom end of the cavity. The covering member has a perimeter portion that defines a perimeter of the cavity. The covering member is of a size and an arrangement such that the spike is passable into the cavity through the opening and such that the perimeter portion engages a perimeter of the spike to couple the protective spike covering to the shoe by interference fit or suction-enhanced vacuum fit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A protective spike covering for covering a spike of a shoe, the protective spike covering comprising a covering member having a top portion, a bottom portion, a height extending from the top portion to the bottom portion, and a cavity, the top portion defining an opening into the cavity, the bottom portion forming a base defining an enclosed bottom end of the cavity, the covering member having a perimeter portion, the perimeter portion defining a perimeter of the cavity, the covering member being sized and arranged such that the spike can be pressed into the cavity through the opening whereby the perimeter portion engages a perimeter of the spike to couple the protective spike covering to the shoe by interference fit. 
     
     
         2 . The protective spike covering of  claim 1 , wherein the perimeter of the opening has a generally rectangular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         3 . The protective spike covering of  claim 1 , wherein the perimeter of the opening has a generally chevron-shaped cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         4 . The protective spike covering of  claim 1 , wherein the perimeter portion has opposite first and second side walls and opposite first and second end walls. 
     
     
         5 . The protective spike covering of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second side walls have a side wall width, the first and second end walls have an end wall width less than the side wall width. 
     
     
         6 . The protective spike covering of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second side walls have a side wall thickness, the first and second end walls having an end wall thickness less than the side wall thickness. 
     
     
         7 . The protective spike covering of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the first side wall, the second side wall, the first end wall, and the second end wall includes a protrusion that protrudes inwardly relative to the cavity 
     
     
         8 . The protective spike covering of  claim 4 , wherein each of the first and second side walls includes a protrusion protruding inwardly relative to the cavity. 
     
     
         9 . The protective spike covering of  claim 1 , wherein the perimeter portion includes a protrusion protruding inward relative to the cavity about the perimeter of the cavity. 
     
     
         10 . The protective spike covering of  claim 1 , wherein the covering member is configured such that a vacuum forms in the cavity as the spike passes into the cavity through the opening. 
     
     
         11 . The protective spike covering of  claim 1 , wherein the top portion of the covering member is configured for flush engagement with a ribbing of the shoe immediately adjacent to the spike when a free end of the spike is engaged with the bottom portion of the covering member. 
     
     
         12 . The protective spike covering of  claim 1 , wherein the top portion of the covering member is configured to conform to a tapered surface of the ribbing of the shoe. 
     
     
         13 . The protective spike covering of  claim 1 , wherein the covering member is made of a rubberized material. 
     
     
         14 . The protective spike covering of  claim 1 , wherein an outer perimeter of the covering member presents indicia. 
     
     
         15 . A protection system for a shoe having a plurality of spikes, the protection system comprising a plurality of separate spike coverings, each spike covering being configured to couple to a respective one of the plurality of spikes by interference fit.