RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority to U. S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63/143,369 filed on January 29, 2021, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] This document relates generally to the fashion field and, more particularly, to a decorative shoe cover and a fashion footwear system wherein the shoe cover extends above the shoe and up the leg of the wearer.

BACKGROUND

[0003] This document relates to a new and improved decorative show covering that provides a number of benefits and advantages. The decorative show covering provides a fully functional foot covering without the need for a show form/body. This allows one to have multiple styles of shoes with just a “sleeve” thereby being eco-friendly and lowering waste.

[0004] The leg extension of the show cover comes in various lengths and sizes allowing once to custom fit the product to their legs. State of the art boots are purchased by shoe size, not leg size, even though as much as 90% of the product covers the legs. Currently standard boot sizing is a size 6 leg while over 80% of American women are not a size 6. The decorative show coverings disclosed in this document cost significantly less than boots and better accommodate different leg lengths and sizes for a better fir and look.

SUMMARY

[0005] In accordance with the purposes and benefits set forth herein, a decorative cover is provided for a shoe. The decorative covers comprises a body to cover an upper of the shoe. That body has (a) a toebox nest adapted to receive and cover a toebox of the shoe, (b) a heel aperture adapted to allow a heel of the shoe to project from the body, and (c) a leg extension adapted to extend up the leg of a wearer from the shoe. The leg extension may extend up substantially any portion of the leg of the wearer.

[0006] In one or more of the many possible embodiments of the decorative cover, the decorative cover further includes a tread carried on the body and adapted to underlie an outsole of the shoe.

[0007] In one or more of the many possible embodiments of the decorative cover, the decorative cover further includes an elastic section carried on the body and extending between the tread and the heel aperture, said elastic section adapted to underlie a shank of the shoe extending between the outsole and the heel.

[0008] In one or more of the many possible embodiments of the decorative cover, the leg extension includes an open end adapted for inserting a foot through the leg extension into a throat of the shoe whereby one puts on the shoe covered with the decorative cover.

[0009] In one or more of the many possible embodiments of the decorative cover, the decorative cover further includes an elastic retainer extending around the open end whereby the leg extension is maintained in position on the leg of the wearer above the shoe.

[0010] In one or more of the many possible embodiments of the decorative cover, the decorative cover further includes an access opening in the body extending up the leg extension adjacent the heel aperture. A fastener may be carried on the body and adapted to allow one to open and close the access opening through which a shoe may be inserted and positioned within the cover. That fastener may comprise a zipper.

[0011] In one or more of the many possible embodiments of the decorative cover, the body may be made from a fabric material.

[0012] In accordance with an additional aspect, this document is directed to a shoe covered by the decorative cover described herein. [0013] In accordance with yet another aspect, a fashion footwear system is provided. That fashion footwear system comprises a plurality of interchangeable decorative shoe covers wherein said plurality of decorative shoe covers have different aesthetic features to provide a variety of fashion looks. Each of the plurality of shoe covers include a body adapted to cover an upper of the shoe. The body has (a) a toebox nest adapted to receive and cover a toebox of the shoe, (b) a heel aperture adapted to allow a heel of the shoe to project from the body and (c) a leg extension adapted to extend up the leg of a wearer from the shoe.

[0014] In one or more of the many possible embodiments of the fashion footwear system, at least one of the decorative covers further includes a tread carried on the body and adapted to underlie an outsole of the shoe.

[0015] In one or more of the many possible embodiments of the fashion footwear system, at least one of the decorative covers further includes an elastic section carried on the body and extending between the tread and the heel aperture, said elastic section adapted to underlie a shank of the shoe extending between the outsole and the heel.

[0016] In one or more of the many possible embodiments of the fashion footwear system, at least one of the leg extensions includes an open end adapted for inserting a foot through the leg extension into a throat of the shoe whereby one puts on the shoe covered with the decorative cover.

[0017] In one or more of the many possible embodiments of the fashion footwear system, at least one of the decorative covers further includes an elastic retainer extending around the open end whereby the leg extension is maintained in position on the leg of the wearer above the shoe.

[0018] In one or more of the many possible embodiments of the fashion footwear system, at least one of the decorative covers further includes an access opening in the body extending up the leg extension adjacent the heel aperture. A fastener may be carried on the body and adapted to allow one to open and close the access opening through which a shoe may be inserted and positioned within the cover. That fastener may comprise a zipper. [0019] In one or more of the many possible embodiments of the decorative cover, the body may be made from a fabric material.

[0020] In accordance with an additional aspect, this document is directed to a shoe covered by one of the plurality of the decorative covers described herein.

[0021] In the following description, there are shown and described several different embodiments of the decorative shoe cover and the fashion footwear system. As it should be realized, the decorative shoe cover and fashion footwear system are capable of other, different embodiments and their several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the decorative cover and fashion footwear system as set forth and described in the following claims. Accordingly, the drawing figures and descriptions should be regarded as being illustrative in nature rather than restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0022] The accompanying drawing figures incorporated herein and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the decorative cover and fashion footwear system and together with the description serve to explain certain principles thereof.

[0023] Figure l is a perspective view of a high heel shoe of the type that might be covered by the decorative cover.

[0024] Figure 2 is a side elevational view of one possible embodiment of the decorative cover that is adapted to cover a shoe such as that shown in Figure 1 and extend up the leg of the wearer above the knee onto the thigh.

[0025] Figure 3 is a detailed view illustrated the decorative cover covering a high heel shoe such as illustrated in Figure 1.

[0026] Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the decorative cover and high heel shoe illustrated in Figure 3. [0027] Reference is now made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the decorative cover and fashion footwear system, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Reference is now made to Figure 1 which illustrates a high heel shoe 10 of the type that may be covered with the decorative cover 12 illustrated in Figure 2. The high heel shoe 10 includes an upper 14. Upper 14 includes a toebox 16, a vamp 18 a counter 20 and a throat 22. The shoe 10 also includes an outsole 24, a shank 26, a heel 28 and an insole lining 30.

[0029] The toebox 16 is the part of the upper 14 that covers and protects the toes of the wearer. The vamp 18 is the part of the upper 14 that may cover any portion of the top of the foot of the wearer between where the toes connect to the foot and the leg connects to the foot. The counter 20 is the part of the upper 14 behind the heel of the wearer’s foot. The counter 20 is adapted to stiffen the back of the shoe 10. The throat 22 is the top opening in the upper that allows one to slip the shoe 10 over the foot.

[0030] The outsole 24 is the portion of the shoe 10, underlying the toes of the wearer that makes contact with the ground. The shank 26 is the part of the shoe 10 that extends between the outsole 24 and the heel 28, sitting under the arch of the wearer’s foot. The heel 28 is the portion of the shoe 10 that is positioned under the heel of the wearer. Finally, the insole lining 30 is positioned inside the shoe 10 above the outsole 24, the shank 26 and the heel 28.

[0031] Reference is now made to Figures 2-4 which illustrate the decorative cover 12. The decorative cover 12 includes a body 32 adapted to cover the upper 14 of the shoe 10. More specifically, the body 32 has a toebox nest 34 that is adapted to receive and cover the toebox 16 the body also includes a heel aperture 36 that is adapted to allow the heel 28 of the shoe 10 to project from the body. In addition, the body 32 also has a leg extension 38 that is adapted to extend up the leg of the wearer above the shoe 10/shoe upper 14. The leg extension 38 may be long enough to extend up the ankle, over the calf, above the knee or even onto the thigh. [0032] The decorative cover 12 may incorporate a wide variety of aesthetic features in order to provide a wide range of fashion looks. For example, the body 32 of the decorative cover may be made of various colors (e.g. red, blue, green, purple), from various materials having different textures (e.g. different fabrics, such as rayon, nylon, polyester, polyester blends, cotton, velour, silk, velvet, vinyl, leather and the like) and different patterns (solid colors, stripes, plaids, prints and the like), and include various ornamentation (e.g. buttons, snaps, indicia and the like) to provide a desired look.

[0033] A tread 40 may be carried on the body 32. The tread 40 may be made of rubber or other skid-resistant material. As illustrated. When the decorative cover 12 is properly positioned over the shoe 10, the tread 40 underlies the outsole 24 of the shoe. The tread 40 may be secured to the body 32 by any appropriate means known in the art including, but not necessarily limited to stitching and/or adhesive.

[0034] An elastic section 42 may be carried on the body 32. Such an elastic section 42 may extend between the tread 40 and the heel aperture 36 so as to underlie the shank 26 of the shoe 10 when the decorative cover 12 is properly positioned over the shoe. As illustrated in Figure 4, the elastic section 42 may close a forward extension 44 of the heel aperture 36. The elastic section 42 functions to (a) allow one to more easily position the decorative cover 12 over the shoe 10 and (b) allow the body 32 of the cover to fit more snuggly over the shoe 10 for a smooth, sleek look.

[0035] The upper end 46 of the leg extension 38 is open so as to be adapted for inserting a foot through the leg extension into the throat 22 of the shoe 10 whereby one may put on the shoe when covered with the decorative cover. A retainer 48 of elastic or other material (note elastic band on inside surface of the body 32 in the illustrated embodiment) may extend around the open end 46. Such a retainer 48 functions to comfortably hold the leg extension 38 up on the leg of the wearer in the desired position. [0036] As best illustrated in Figure 2, the body may also include an optional access opening 50 that may extend from an area near or adjacent to the heel aperture 36 up the leg extension 38. Such an access opening 50 may be used to easily position a shoe 10 inside the decorative cover 12 so that it is not necessary to manipulate the shoe down from the open end 46 through the full length of the leg extension 38. A fastener 52 carried on the body 32 is adapted to allow one to open and close the access opening. In the illustrated embodiment, the fastener 52 is a zipper. It should, of course, be appreciated that zipper may be replaced by another fastener suitable for the intended purpose, such as a series of snaps and/or buttons, a hook and loop fastener or the like.

[0037] As should also be appreciated from a review of the above, a fashion footwear system 100 is also provided. The fashion footwear system 100 includes a plurality of decorative shoe covers 12 of the type described above and illustrated in Figures 2-4. The plurality of decorative shoe covers 12 have different aesthetic features, as noted above, to provide a variety of different fashion looks. The plurality of decorative shoe covers 12 are all interchangeable so that one pair of shoes 10 may be covered by any one of the decorative shoe covers and given a wide range of different fashion looks. This greatly increases wardrobe and fashion options while requiring the purchase of only a single pair of shoes. As a result, it is possible to have a great many wardrobe options while saving money on shoes.

[0038] In use, one first selects the decorative cover 12 that one wishes to wear over the shoe 10. Next one manipulates the shoe 10, either through the open end 46 and down the leg extension 38 or through the optional access opening 50 so that the toebox 16 is received and held in the toebox nest 34 and the heel 28 passes through and projects from the heel aperture 36. The stretch of the elastic section 42, forward of the heel aperture 36, helps one to manipulate the shoe into a properly seated position within the decorative cover 12 while also ensuring that the body 32 of the cover snuggly hugs the shoe upper 14 so as to provide a smooth and unruffled appearance. When the shoe 10 is properly seated inside the cover 12, the tread 40 underlies the outsole 24, the elastic section 42 underlies the shank 26 and the heel 28 is exposed through the heel aperture 36. [0039] The foregoing has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.