Replaceable spikes for anti-slip overshoe

Abstract

An overshoe that is removably disposable on a user's shoe and provides a tread surface that enhances the user's footing on slippery surfaces. The tread surface has removable spikes that penetrate surfaces and forward-oriented and rearwards-oriented gripping ridges that grip the surface. The ease of pulling on and removing the overshoe is enhanced by using stretch zones that are placed to allow stretching of the overshoe to fit over a shoe or the like without compromising the snugness of the overshoe fit. A spike assembly for use with an overshoe that fits over a person's shoe and enhances a person's contact with the ground, includes a spike having a head operably coupled to a shank; and a button overmolded on the spike and having a neck for removable engagement in a bore defined in the overshoe. A method of minimizing slippage on a ground surface is further included.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An anti-slip overshoe that fits over a shoe and enhances contact with the ground, the shoe having a forward toe portion, a rearward heel portion and a bottom for engaging the ground, the anti-slip overshoe comprising:
 a single flexible elastic piece having a ball, a heel, a connecting portion, an over-toe component, and an over-heel component;   the ball and heel being connected by the connecting portion and each of the ball and heel having a tread pattern, the tread pattern having a plurality of gripping ridges and a plurality of spikes;   the over-toe component being operably coupled to the ball with a plurality of stretch zones so that the over-toe component conformingly engages the shoe toe portion, wherein the over-toe component has a plurality of apertures, one of which extends between each of the stretch zones, and wherein the plurality of stretch zones each have an approximately equal width; and   the over-heel component being operably coupled to the heel and being adapted to conformingly engage the shoe heel portion, the over-heel component having a plurality of apertures and having a plurality of stretch zones.   
     
     
       2. The overshoe of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of apertures each have an approximately equal width. 
     
     
       3. The overshoe of  claim 2  wherein wherein each of the plurality of apertures have a width that is greater than a width of each of the plurality of stretch zones. 
     
     
       4. The overshoe of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of apertures comprises five apertures formed proximate the intersection of the ball and the over-toe component. 
     
     
       5. The overshoe of  claim 2  wherein there are apertures formed proximate the intersection of the ball and the over-toe component are disposed in a substantially semi-circular disposition. 
     
     
       6. The overshoe of  claim 1  wherein each of the spikes are removably disposed in a respective bore defined in the ball and heel and are secured therein so that they may be readily replaced by a user. 
     
     
       7. The overshoe of  claim 1  wherein the over-toe component includes an over-toe body, the over-toe body having a plurality of apertures defined therein, a plurality of stretch zones being formed between adjacent over-toe body apertures. 
     
     
       8. The overshoe of  claim 7  wherein at least thee of the over-toe body apertures are equiangularly, radially disposed relative to an origin of a semi-circle. 
     
     
       9. The overshoe of  claim 7  wherein a circular over-toe body aperture is radially disposed relative to an origin of a semi-circle. 
     
     
       10. The overshoe of  claim 1  wherein a first portion of the ball gripping ridges are angled in a first direction and disposed in a first chevron arrangement and a second portion of the ball gripping ridges are angled in an opposed second direction and disposed in a second chevron arrangement. 
     
     
       11. The overshoe of  claim 1  wherein the ball gripping ridges are radially disposed relative to an origin of a circle in a pattern of concentric circles with increasing radii. 
     
     
       12. The overshoe of  claim 11  wherein the gripping ridges are formed in continuous circles. 
     
     
       13. The overshoe of  claim 11  wherein the gripping ridges are formed in circles selectively interrupted by spaces. 
     
     
       14. The overshoe of  claim 13  wherein every other gripping ridge is selectively interrupted by spaces. 
     
     
       15. A replaceable spike for an anti-slip overshoe, comprising:
 a solid circular body including:
 a button portion with a first diameter and adapted to be disposed on a first surface of the anti-slip overshoe, 
 a rim portion with a first height and a circular footprint including a second diameter that is less than the first diameter, the rim portion adapted to be disposed on a second surface of the anti-slip overshoe opposite the first surface, and 
 a neck portion disposed between the button portion and rim portion with a second height that is greater than the first height and a third diameter that is less than the first and second diameters; and 
 a spike permanently attached to the solid circular body, the spike comprising a tapered head with a fourth diameter included within a vertical dimension of the button portion and a shank with a fifth diameter less than the fourth diameter extending through the neck portion and exposed from the rim portion such that the fifth diameter is disposed within the neck portion. 
   
     
     
       16. The replaceable spike of claim 15, wherein the solid circular body includes a resilient material. 
     
     
       17. The replaceable spike of claim 15, wherein the solid circular body is nylon. 
     
     
       18. The replaceable spike of claim 15, wherein the shank of the spike includes serrations for gripping the solid circular body. 
     
     
       19. The replaceable spike of claim 15, wherein the spike contains carbide, stainless steel, or other metal. 
     
     
       20. A replaceable spike for an anti-slip overshoe, comprising:
 a solid body including a first portion with a first height and a first diameter, a second portion with a second height less than the first height and a second diameter less than the first diameter, and a third portion disposed between the first and second portions with a third height that is greater than the first height and a third diameter that is less than the first and second diameters, wherein the solid body is configured to be replaced with respect to the anti-slip overshoe; and   a spike permanently attached to the solid body, the spike including a head with a fourth diameter disposed within the first portion and further including a surface that is coextensive with a surface of the first portion, the spike further including a shank with a fifth diameter less than the fourth diameter extending through the third portion and exposed from the second portion.   
     
     
       21. The replaceable spike of claim 20, wherein the solid body includes a circular form. 
     
     
       22. The replaceable spike of claim 20, wherein the solid body includes nylon. 
     
     
       23. The replaceable spike of claim 20, wherein the head of the spike includes a tapered head. 
     
     
       24. The replaceable spike of claim 20, wherein the shank of the spike includes serrations for gripping the solid body. 
     
     
       25. The replaceable spike of claim 20, wherein the spike contains carbide, stainless steel, or other metal. 
     
     
       26. A replaceable spike for an anti-slip overshoe, comprising:
 a body including a button portion adapted to be disposed on a first surface of the anti-slip overshoe with a first diameter, a rim portion with a circular footprint adapted to be disposed on a second surface of the anti-slip overshoe opposite the first surface with a second diameter less than the first diameter, and a neck portion disposed between the button portion and rim portion with a third diameter that is less than the first and second diameters; and   a spike including a head permanently attached to the button portion and further including a surface that is coextensive with a surface of the button portion, the spike further including a shank exposed from the rim portion.   
     
     
       27. The replaceable spike of claim 26, wherein the body includes nylon. 
     
     
       28. The replaceable spike of claim 26, wherein the shank of the spike includes serrations for gripping the body. 
     
     
       29. The replaceable spike of claim 26, wherein the spike contains carbide, stainless steel, or other metal.