Shoe Covering Device And Method Of Use

Abstract

A shoe covering device for protecting a shoed foot from the elements includes an upper, which is attached to and which extends around a perimeter of a sole. The sole and upper comprise elastomer and thus are resiliently stretchable and substantially impermeable to water. A hole is positioned in the sole proximate to a rear end of the sole. A heel of a shoe worn by the user is inserted through the hole as a shoed foot is inserted into the upper through an opening in a top of the upper. The sole and upper protect the shoe and the foot from the elements.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A shoe covering device comprising:
 a sole;   an upper attached to and extending around a perimeter of the sole, the sole and upper comprising elastomer, such that the sole and upper are resiliently stretchable and substantially impermeable to water; and   a hole positioned in the sole proximate to a rear end of the sole, wherein the hole is configured for insertion of a heel of a shoe worn by the user as a shoed foot is inserted into the upper through an opening in a top of the upper, wherein the sole and upper are configured for protecting the shoe and the foot from the elements.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe covering device of  claim 1 , wherein the sole and upper comprise silicone, synthetic rubber, or natural rubber. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe covering device of  claim 1 , further including a plurality of treads attached to and protruding from a lower face of the sole, wherein the treads are configured for increasing traction of the sole upon a surface. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe covering device of  claim 1 , further including a sleeve attached by a first end to the sole and extending circumferentially around the hole, a second end of the sleeve being closed, the sleeve comprising elastomer, such that the sleeve is resiliently stretchable and substantially impermeable to water, wherein the sleeve is configured for insertion of the heel of the shoe worn by the user as the shoed foot is inserted into the upper through the opening in the upper, wherein the sleeve is configured for protecting the heel of the shoe from the elements. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe covering device of  claim 4 , wherein the sleeve comprises silicone, synthetic rubber, or natural rubber. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe covering device of  claim 4 , wherein the sleeve is sized and shaped complementarily to the heel of the shoe worn by the user. 
     
     
         7 . The shoe covering device of  claim 1 , further including:
 a slit positioned in the upper, the slit extending from the top toward the sole, wherein the slit is configured for facilitating insertion of the shoed foot through the opening; and   a closure attached to the upper proximate to the slit and being positioned for selectively closing the slit for substantially sealably attaching the upper to a leg of the user.   
     
     
         8 . The shoe covering device of  claim 7 , wherein the slit is positioned in an outer face of the upper. 
     
     
         9 . The shoe covering device of  claim 7 , wherein the closure comprises a zipper. 
     
     
         10 . The shoe covering device of  claim 1 , wherein the upper is sized such that the upper extends to between an ankle and a calf of the user upon insertion of the shoed foot into the upper. 
     
     
         11 . A shoe covering device comprising:
 a sole;   an upper attached to and extending around a perimeter of the sole, the sole and upper comprising elastomer, such that the sole and upper are resiliently stretchable and substantially impermeable to water, the sole and upper comprising silicone, synthetic rubber, or natural rubber;   a plurality of treads attached to and protruding from a lower face of the sole, wherein the treads are configured for increasing traction of the sole upon a surface;   a hole positioned in the sole proximate to a rear end of the sole, wherein the hole is configured for insertion of a heel of a shoe worn by the user as a shoed foot is inserted into the upper through an opening in a top of the upper, wherein the sole and upper are configured for protecting the shoe and the foot from the elements;   a sleeve attached by a first end to the sole and extending circumferentially around the hole, a second end of the sleeve being closed, the sleeve comprising elastomer, such that the sleeve is resiliently stretchable and substantially impermeable to water, wherein the sleeve is configured for insertion of the heel of the shoe worn by the user as the shoed foot is inserted into the upper through the opening in the upper, wherein the sleeve is configured for protecting the heel of the shoe from the elements, the sleeve comprising silicone, synthetic rubber, or natural rubber, the sleeve being sized and shaped complementarily to the heel of the shoe worn by the user;   a slit positioned in the upper, the slit extending from the top toward the sole, wherein the slit is configured for facilitating insertion of the shoed foot through the opening, the slit being positioned in an outer face of the upper;   a closure attached to the upper proximate to the slit and being positioned for selectively closing the slit for substantially sealably attaching the upper to a leg of the user, the closure comprising a zipper; and   the upper being sized such that the upper extends to between an ankle and a calf of the user upon insertion of the shoed foot into the upper.   
     
     
         12 . A method of protecting a shoed foot from the elements comprising the steps of:
 providing a shoe;   providing a shoe covering device comprising:
 a sole, 
 an upper attached to and extending around a perimeter of the sole, the sole and upper comprising elastomer, such that the sole and upper are resiliently stretchable and substantially impermeable to water, and 
 a hole positioned in the sole proximate to a rear end of the sole, wherein the hole is configured for insertion of a heel of a shoe worn by the user as a shoed foot is inserted into the upper through an opening in a top of the upper, wherein the sole and upper are configured for protecting the shoe and the foot from the elements; 
   donning the shoe onto a foot; and   inserting the shoed foot through the opening in the top of the upper, such that the heel protrudes through the hole in the sole.