Sole protection system

Abstract

A sole protection system for protecting a sole of a shoe from damage and soilage includes a sole cover with a base and a lip. The base is elongated between a front end and a rear end and has an upper surface configured for supporting the sole of the shoe. The lip is coupled to and extends upwardly from the base, defining a cavity within the lip and above the base. An interior side of the lip has a shape and a size such that the lip is configured to receive the sole of the shoe into the cavity. The lip comprise a frictionally enhanced material wherein the lip is configured to couple to the sole of the shoe via frictional engagement with the perimeter of the sole. A method of coupling and removing the sole cover to and from the sole of the shoe is also described.

1 . A sole protection system comprising:
 a sole cover comprising:
 a base being elongated between a front end and a rear end, the base having an upper surface configured for supporting a sole of a shoe; 
 a lip being coupled to and extending upwardly from the base, the lip defining a cavity within the lip and above the base, an interior side of the lip having a shape and a size such that the lip is configured to receive the sole of the shoe into the cavity, the lip comprising a frictionally enhanced material wherein the lip is configured to couple to the sole of the shoe via frictional engagement with the perimeter of the sole; and 
 a tab coupled to and extending in an extension direction away from an exterior side of the lip parallel to a plane defined by an uppermost edge of the lip, wherein the tab is elongated in an elongation direction perpendicular to the extension direction, the tab comprising an extension portion and an engagement portion, the extension portion being coupled to and extending away from the lip, the engagement portion being coupled to a distal end of the extension portion with respect to the lip, the engagement portion having a cylindrical outer surface, a diameter of the cylindrical outer surface being greater than a thickness of the extension portion 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the lip is configured to be complementary in shape to a perimeter of the sole. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a corner between the interior side of the lip and a top side of the lip being tapered inwardly wherein the lip corner is configured to facilitate guiding the sole of the shoe into the cavity. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the tab is positioned adjacent to the rear end of the base. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sole cover is one of a pair of sole covers, each sole cover of the pair of sole covers comprising:
 a base being elongated between a front end and a rear end, the base having an upper surface configured for supporting a sole of an associated shoe of a pair of shoes; and   a lip being coupled to and extending upwardly from the base, the lip defining a cavity within the lip and above the base, an interior side of the lip having a shape and a size such that the lip is configured to receive the sole of the associated shoe into the cavity, the lip comprising a frictionally enhanced material wherein the lip is configured to couple to the sole of the associated shoe via frictional engagement with the perimeter of the sole;   wherein the pair of sole covers includes a left sole cover and a right sole cover, the left sole cover being configured to couple to the sole of a left shoe, the right sole cover being configured to couple to the sole of a right shoe equivalent in size to the left shoe.   
     
     
         8 . A sole protection system comprising:
 a pair of sole covers, each sole cover of the pair of sole covers comprising:
 a base being elongated between a front end and a rear end, the base having an upper surface configured for supporting a sole of an associated shoe of a pair of shoes; 
 a lip being coupled to and extending upwardly from the base, the lip defining a cavity within the lip and above the base, an interior side of the lip having a shape and a size such that the lip is configured to receive the sole of the associated shoe into the cavity, the lip being configured to be complementary in shape to a perimeter of the sole, the lip comprising a frictionally enhanced material wherein the lip is configured to couple to the sole of the associated shoe via frictional engagement with the perimeter of the sole, a corner between the interior side of the lip and a top side of the lip being tapered inwardly wherein the lip corner is configured to facilitate guiding the sole of the associated shoe into the cavity; and 
 a tab being coupled to and extending in an extension direction away from an exterior side of the lip parallel to a plane defined by an uppermost edge of the lip, the tab being positioned adjacent to the rear end of the base, the tab being elongated in an elongation direction perpendicular to the extension direction, the tab comprising an extension portion and an engagement portion, the extension portion being coupled to and extending away from the lip, the engagement portion being coupled to a distal end of the extension portion with respect to the lip, the engagement portion having a cylindrical outer surface, a diameter of the cylindrical outer surface being greater than a thickness of the extension portion; 
   wherein the pair of sole covers includes a left sole cover and a right sole cover, the left sole cover being configured to couple to the sole of a left shoe, the right sole cover being configured to couple to the sole of a right shoe equivalent in size to the left shoe.   
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled)