FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention is directed to a traction device for footwear, and more particularly, to a removable traction device intended to be worn over a conventional shoe or boot to improve traction for the wearer when traversing potentially slick or slippery surfaces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Many type of conventional footwear, including dress shoes, work boots and even athletic shoes, may not provide adequate traction for the wearer on certain types of slippery or wet surfaces. Hence, in attempting to traverse such a slippery or wet surface, injury may occur.

[0003] According to recent statistics, falls are the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths in the United States, with work related injuries costing over $131.2 Billion. Thus, due to the increase in slip-and-fall claims against employers and other business establishments, the market for indoor traction devices in rapidly increasing. Examples of potential markets for such a traction device include custodial businesses, warehouses, fast food chain restaurants and car washes, for example. Currently on the market to meet this demand are several non-slip footwear designs. Such traction devices intended to be worn over an article of footwear, however, tend to be cumbersome, difficult to attach to the footwear, and unreliable in their ability to remain in place on the footwear. Thus, employee compliance in wearing over the shoe traction devices, even when available, is reduced. Rubber matting, which also serves an anti-fatigue purpose for employees that must do a substantial amount of standing, can also be installed over the entire at-risk area, but is generally cost prohibitive.

[0004] Due to the high cost and unsuccessful use of both non-slip footwear and rubber matting, businesses are looking for cost effective alternatives that will appeal to employees, thereby increasing utilization of the same. It would thus be desirable to provide user friendly non-slip footwear that is economical, adaptable to a variety of footwear, and which also addresses the issue of anti-fatigue comfort.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] These and other objects are achieved by the removable traction device of the present invention. According to one aspect of the invention, the traction device includes an outer peripheral band, a forefoot pod member disposed interior of the outer peripheral band, a heel pod member disposed interior of the outer peripheral band, and a plurality of resilient connecting strands extending between the forefoot pod member and the outer peripheral band and between the heel pod member and the outer peripheral band, thereby connecting the forefoot pod member and heel pod member to the outer peripheral band. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least some of the connecting strands define a non-linear configuration. [0006] In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a removable traction device is provided for wearing over an article of footwear, the article of footwear having a toe portion, a heel portion and opposing side portions. The traction device includes an outer peripheral band, a forefoot pod member disposed interior of the outer peripheral band, a heel pod member disposed interior of the outer peripheral band, and a plurality of resilient connecting strands extending between the forefoot pod member and the outer peripheral band and between the heel pod member and the outer peripheral band, thereby connecting the forefoot pod member and heel pod member to the outer peripheral band. In a preferred embodiment, the forefoot pod member and heel pod member include a ground-engaging outsole surface having a non-slip tread pattern and the forefoot pod member and heel pod member also include an opposing footwear engaging surface having an anti-fatigue tread configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0007] These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description, in conjunction with the appended drawings in which: [0008] FIG. 1 is a bottom rear perspective view of a traction device for footwear according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0009] FIG. 2 is a bottom front perspective view of the traction device shown in

FIG. 1. [0010] FIG. 3 is a top rear perspective view of the traction device shown in FIG.

1.

[0011] FIG. 4 is a top front perspective view of the traction device shown in

FIG. 1.

[0012] FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the traction device shown in FIG. 1. [0013] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the traction device shown in FIG. 1.

[0014] FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the traction device shown in FIG. 1 when worn over a conventional article of footwear.

[0015] FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the traction device shown in FIG. 1 when worn over a conventional article of footwear.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0016] Referring to FIGS. 1 - 6, a traction device for footwear in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown generally by reference numeral 10. Traction device 10 is a generally planar device including an outer peripheral band 12, a forefoot pod or portion 14, a heel pod or portion 16, and a plurality of resilient connecting strands 18, all of which are preferably molded as an integral or one-piece member. The traction device is preferably formed (e.g., molded) from a flexible and resilient elastomeric material, e.g., rubber, PVC, 5-10 rubber, etc., that is slip and oil resistant. As described in detail below, the outer peripheral band 12 can adapt to the shape of different footwear such that the traction device 10 can be easily stretched by a wearer into a non-planar shape for removably mounting the traction device over an article of footwear.

[0017] The traction device 10 includes a lower surface 20 intended to face towards the slick or slippery ground surface when worn and an upper surface 22 intended to face towards the article of footwear over which the traction 10 is worn. Thus, the lower surfaces of both the forefoot pod 14 and the heel pod 16 have a ground engaging outsole 24 utilizing a non-slip tread design 28 such as, preferably, a plurality of cylindrical elements 32, nubs, or other projecting types of cleats, similar to that found on various athletic shoes, or any other type of non-slip tread pattern or configuration. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the upper surfaces of both the forefoot pod 14 and the heel pod 16 have a footwear engaging surface 26 including an anti-fatigue tread 30, such as a herringbone pattern 34, although other tread configurations for helping to reduce foot fatigue from standing are of course also possible. The ground engaging outsole surfaces 24 of the forefoot pod and heel pod 14, 16 may be constructed so that they are identical or different from the footwear engaging surfaces 26, depending upon the desired application for the traction device 10. Still further, the forefoot pod 14 and the heel pod 16 may have different tread configurations on the ground engaging outsole surface and/or the footwear engaging surface 26 depending on the desired type of traction to be provided. [0018] The outer peripheral band 12 has a planar, approximately oval shape with a generally rounded front or toe section 12a, a generally rounded rear or heel section 12b, and two generally linear side sections 12c and 12d interconnecting the toe and heel sections 12a and 12b. The toe section 12a is preferably tapered so as to prevent the toe from catching and causing the wearer to trip and/or fall. The heel section 12b preferably includes a slight extension defining a heel tab 36 to assist the user in donning the traction device 10 over a conventional article of footwear, as described further below.

[0019] The plurality of connecting strands 18 include single strand elements 38 preferably connecting the side and/or middle portions of the forefoot pod 14 and heel pod 16 to the peripheral band 12, and compound strand elements 40 preferably connecting the front of the forefoot pod 14 and the rear of the heel pod 16 to the peripheral band 12. More particularly, the forefoot pod 14 preferably includes two forward strand elements 38a, one connecting each lateral side of the forefoot pod 14 to the peripheral band 12, and two rearward strand elements 38b, one connecting each rearmost corner of the forefoot pod 14 to the peripheral band 12. The heel pod 16 preferably includes two forward strand elements 38c, one connecting each forwardmost comer of the heel pod 16 to the peripheral band 12. The single strands 38b, 38c preferably have a somewhat non-linear or serpentine configuration, as shown for example in FIGS. 5 and 6, so as to permit stretching between the forefoot pod 14 and the heel pod 16 when the traction device 10 is worn. That is, it is preferable for the forefoot pod 14 to be disposed beneath the forefoot of the wearer's foot and for the heel pod 16 to be disposed beneath the heel of the wearer's foot. In order for this self-positioning to occur, the strands 38a, 38b, 38c are specifically dimensioned so as to allow for greater stretch, i.e., elongation, in the longitudinal direction between the forefoot pod and the heel pod. The traction device 10 is dimensioned such that, coupled with the fact that the material forming the peripheral band is resilient, the non-linear strands enable the band 12 to be easily stretched for accommodating a variety of sizes of footwear, preferably anywhere from a Woman's size 6 to a Men's size 13.

[0020] The compound strand elements 40 preferably connect the front of the forefoot pod 14 and the rear of the heel pod 16 to the peripheral band 12 through an open network of serpentine, arcuate, and straight strands. More particularly, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, an arcuate strand 40a is disposed intermittent a plurality of serpentine strands 40b and straight strands 40c so as to form a framework with a plurality of openings 42, thereby reducing production costs and the overall weight of the traction device 10. Other configurations for the compound strand elements are of course also possible, as one skilled in the art would readily appreciate.

[0021] Referring also to FIGS. 7 and 8, traction device 10 is illustrated as it is intended to be worn over an article of footwear 44. As generally shown, the outer peripheral band 12 is stretched so as to surround the toe, side portions, and heel of the article of footwear 44. That is, the rounded front or toe section 12a is stretched over the toe portion of the footwear 44, the generally rounded rear section 12b is stretched over the heel portion of the footwear 44, with the assistance of heel tab 36, and the two generally linear side sections 12c,12d extend along the sides of the upper of the footwear 44, thereby encircling the same. In addition, the serpentine single strand elements 38b, 38c become substantially straight due to the additional elongation required to properly position the forefoot pod 14 and heel pod 16 relative to the forefoot and heel of the footwear 44, and thus the wearer's feet. [0022] While the present invention has been described with respect to a particular embodiment of the present invention, this is by way of illustration for purposes of disclosure rather than to confine the invention to any specific arrangement as there are various alterations, changes, deviations, eliminations, substitutions, omissions and departures which may be made in the particular embodiment shown and described without departing from the scope of the present invention.