Field of the Invention.

The present invention relates generally to a footwear protector device and an applicator therefor, particularly but not exclusively to protect against damage to training shoes.

Background

Shoes, in particular trainers or other types of shoe that are made from a thin fabric, become worn during use which often leads to big toe holes appearing in the surface of the shoe. Such damage is becoming more prevalent due to trainers being provided in more lightweight thin materials, such as mesh fabrics, to minimize their weight. This damage to the shoe can often occur quite quickly, particularly in the case of fabric trainers that are used for running or other high impact sports. Frequently, these holes are the only damage in the shoe which would otherwise have a considerable length of wear time left in them. It is clearly undesirable to have to purchase a new expensive pair of shoes due to this minimal cosmetic damage in the upper surface of the shoe.

Attempts have been made to endeavour to overcome this problem. For example, US 9,949,531 B2 (Shoe Armour LLC) describes a shoe hole prevention insert that consists of a sole pad that is placed on the inner sole of the shoe and has a toe guard and sidewall guard that extend from the sole pad and may be movable to a position within the shoe to protect the toe and side areas from wear. However, this shoe hole prevention insert is difficult to correctly install in the shoe, requiring the removal of the existing shoe sole, which on the majority of footwear is nonremovable, to hold the sole pad in position and manoeuvring the guards into the correct position.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a footwear protector device with an accompanying applicator therefor that overcomes, or at least alleviates, the abovementioned problems.

Summary of the Invention. l According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an applicator with a protective footwear device, the applicator comprising at least one template providing at least a partial shape of a sole of a foot and a footwear protector device comprising a patch temporarily adhered to a surface of the template in a region of the sole, at least part of an outer surface of the patch having a double-sided adhesive with a detachable liner attached to the outer adhesive surface.

The template may be of a whole foot or of a partial foot. Preferably, the applicator is in the form of a card having a template of a partial foot printed thereon. Preferably, a pair of templates are provided on separate applicators, one for a right foot and one for a left foot, each template having a patch temporarily adhered to a surface thereof, more preferably being in a big toe region of the sole. However, the patch may be provided at an alternative region, for example, in an area corresponding to the position of the smallest toe or a side of the sole of the foot.

The cards may be any suitable shape but preferably are rectangular cards and preferably the applicator provides for different shoe sizes, for example having templates for multiple shoe sizes imprinted thereon, preferably wherein the end user may cut around the template that is the appropriate shoe size.

Each patch is preferably an ovoid-shape. Preferably, the patch is made from a wear- resistant material, more preferably being made from an abrasion resistant material. Preferably, the material of the patch is also waterproof. One suitable material for the patch comprises a high-density polyurethane coated waterproof nylon fabric.

A temporary adhesive is preferably used to apply an inner surface of the patch to the applicator, such as a low-tack semi-permanent adhesive, such as a removable pressure sensitive adhesive with low peel strength and medium shear strength as in known in the art, the low tack semi-permanent adhesive being configured to allow the patch to disengage from the applicator when a pulling force is applied.

A double-sided adhesive tape is preferably applied to an outer surface of the patch with the other side of the tape including a removable liner, preferably being comprised of a siliconized release film. The adhesive is preferably a tackified acrylic adhesive. A tab preferably extends from one edge of the liner to aid removal of the liner from the surface of the patch.

Applicators according to the invention may be provided with different patches of colours, size and/or shape.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a kits of parts for protecting footwear, such as a trainer, the kit comprising at least a pair of applicators according to the first aspect of the present invention.

The kit of parts preferably includes a set of printed instructions packaged with the parts. Replacement patches of different size, shape and/or colour may also be provided in the kit.

A third aspect of the present invention provides a method of protecting footwear, such as a fabric shoe or trainer from being worn thin through wear, the method comprising: cutting around the template of an applicator with a protective footwear device according to the first aspect of the present invention; removing the detachable liner from the patch; placing the cut template with uncovered patch into the footwear to be protected; applying pressure to an outer surface of the footwear in the region in which the patch is to be applied; and removing the template from the footwear to leave the protective patch adhered to the footwear.

Brief Description of the Drawings For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made by way of example only to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figures 1 A and 1 B are respectively a left foot and right foot applicator with shoe protector device according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 illustrates a series of steps for applying the shoe protector device with the applicator shown in Figures 1A and 1 B.

Detailed Description

The present invention provides an applicator with a footwear protector device that prevents holes appearing in thinner fabric shoes, particularly trainers, due to pressure from the wearer’s big toe. The condition that causes big toe holes to appear is called hyperextension of the distal phalanx. This means that every time a person with this condition takes a step, their big toe lifts and rubs against the inside of their shoe. If the shoe is made of a thick material, such as leather, the shoe is able to withstand this pressure but for shoes made of thinner materials, such as trainers, this rubbing from the inside leads to a hole appearing. It is becoming the norm for all trainers to be made from a thin, breathable mesh material as this provides enhanced comfort for the wearer, but this results in big toe holes readily appearing while the rest of the trainer appears almost new.

It is desirable to be able to extend the lifespan of fabric shoes, particularly expensive trainers. The present invention addresses this need by providing a shoe protector device with applicator which enables a protective patch or pad to be secured to the shoe quickly and easily in a position which protects the area of the shoe that is subjected to repetitive rubbing from a wearer’s big toe.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figures 1A and 1 B of the accompanying drawings. The applicator consists of two display cards 2L and 2R each having the sole area 6 of a left foot and right foot respectively printed thereon. Additionally, a big toe protector patch 12 (see Figure 2) with liner 8, for example comprising a siliconized release film, is secured to a top end of the sole area of each card 2L and 2R in a position that would be occupied by a big toe. The liner 8, and the patch 12 below, are in the general shape of an ovoid, albeit other shapes may be used, such as circular.

The patch is made of a wear-resistant, preferably abrasion-resistant and waterproof material, such as a high performance, high density polyurethane coated waterproof nylon fabric, for example N9171 6oz PU coated nylon fabric supplied by Henderson Textiles. It is secured to an applicator card 2 by an adhesive. The adhesive that secures the patch to the applicator is a low-tack semi-permanent adhesive, such as a removable pressure sensitive adhesive with low peel strength and medium shear strength. This type of adhesive allows the patch to disengage from the applicator when a pulling force (removing the applicator from the footwear) is applied.

A double-sided adhesive tape, such as tackified acrylic adhesive, such as a that known as tesa® 4962 manufactured and sold by TESA is fastened to the upper surface of the patch and the liner 8 remains on this adhesive until its application to a shoe. Each liner is also provided with a tab 10 extending from a lower end thereof.

The applicator card is provided with additional information 4 (“Cut along lines to suit trainer size”) to aid installation of the patch. The printed sole area is provided in multiple sizes A, B, C which correspond to different sizes of foot (for example, A corresponding to UK sizes 12-9; B corresponding to UK sizes 8-6 and C corresponding to UK sizes 5 to 3). A pair of applicator cards 2L and 2R are packaged with a set of instructions detailing how to apply the patches correctly to a shoe.

Figure 2 of the accompanying figures illustrates the steps involved in use of the applicator to correctly apply a patch 12 to a trainer 30. Initially, one of the applicator cards for the right or left trainer is removed from the package along with a set of user instructions and the user cuts along a line A, B or C using scissors 20 according to their trainer size (see step 1). Once the sole area has been cut from the card 2R, the tab 12 is pulled upwardly to remove the liner 8 from the patch 12. The liner may be discarded. The card 2R with uncovered patch 12 is then placed within the trainer 30, pushing the card in the direction of arrow A shown in step 3 of Figure 2 to the end of the trainer so that it is flat against the insole. Once in position, the user’s thumb is used to push down on the surface of the trainer in the region of the patch, moving in different directions as shown by arrows B and C in step 4. This results in the sticky upper surface of the patch 12 becoming securely attached to the inner fabric surface of the trainer in the region where the big toe is positioned. Ideally, a little time is spent rubbing over the location of the patch to aid adhesion to the trainer 30. It is then possible to remove the applicator card 2R from the shoe as shown by arrow D in step 5. The patch remains secured to the trainer 30 and the card may be recycled. Once the applicator is removed, it is preferable to reach inside the trainer and press against the patch to ensure proper adherence to the trainer. The steps are then repeated to secure a similar patch 12 to the left hand trainer using card 2L.

The patches guard against wear from the big toe which is generally the first part of the trainer to experience damage. In this manner, the lifespan of the trainers is substantially increased. The applicator ensures quick and easy placement of the patches in the correct region of the trainer.

The illustrated example demonstrates attachment of a shoe protector device to a trainer for the prevention of big toe holes. However, it is to be appreciated that the protective patch may be applied to any type of footwear. Moreover, the patch may be located elsewhere on the applicator card, for example corresponding to the position of a different toe to the big toe or an area of the sole of the foot. Thus, the template may be adapted to apply the protective patch to a different region of the footwear as appropriate.

The protective patches may be provided in different colours to match a particular colour of trainer fabric. Multiple patches may also be provided within a package, for example to allow a single pair of applicators to be used for applying more than one set of patches and/or to allow different colour patches to be provided for selection by the user. Although the applicator cards are shown to be adjustable in size, an alternative embodiment provides the sole area already cut to size.

The present invention allows for easy application of a protective shoe patch. Both the applicator and patch may be manufactured relatively cheaply enabling an individual to reinforce expensive shoes, particularly trainers, prior to them being worn thereby enabling the shoes to last longer. The invention may also be used to repair already damaged shoes, particularly if the patch is provided in the same colour as the fabric of the shoe. Further modifications to the applicator and protective shoe device may be made without departing from the principles embodied in the examples described and illustrated herein.