US3270442A

US3270442A - Decorative cover for women's shoes

Info

Publication number: US3270442A
Application number: US454052A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jack S Liebmann; Memole Ralph; Barkowitz Harold
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1965-05-07
Filing date: 1965-05-07
Publication date: 1966-09-06
Anticipated expiration: 1983-09-06

Description

P 1966 J. s. LIEBMANN ETAL 3,

DECORATIVE COVER FOR WOMENS SHOES.

Filed May 7, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 :2 .2?? 5 INVENTORS.

JACK 5. LIEBMANN RALPH MEMOLE \HARoL0 BARKOWITZ ATTORNEY P 6, 1966 J. 5. LIEBMANN ETAL 3,270,442

DECORATIVE covnn FOR woman's saoms Filed May 7, 1965 2 sneet-sheet z INVENTORE. JACK s. LIEBMANN RALPH MEMOLE BY HAROLD sARKowlTz i. HSM

AITORMFY United States Patent This invention relates to womens shoes and is directed particularly to improvements in reuseable decorative covers for womens dress shoes.

In United States Patent No. 3,221,421, issued December 7, 1965, to the present inventors there is described I a reuseable decorative shoe cover especially suitable for use with formal and semi-formal pumps of the type having an eggshell throat and long, slender heel. Particularly, that patent describes a decorative shoe cover comprising a soft leather or leather-like sole secured to which is a flexible shoe upper member adapted to be stretched over the upper of a shoe, the sole member being integrally formed with a sole shank portion and a breasting member, and a flexible, fabric heel-covering portion secured to the back of the upper covering member, and pressure-sensitive adhesive means for removably securing the breasting member against the inside marginal portions of the shoe opening. The present invention has for its principal object the improvement of such shoe covers by the provision of a novel pro-formed heel cover portion of unitary construction with the rest of the shoe cover, thereby simplifying its application to a shoe.

Another object is to provide a shoe cover of the above nature wherein the heel portion will be of cup-like shape pre-forrned to fit over tapered high heels of womens shoes in form-fitting relationship.

A more particular object is to provide a shoe cover of the character described wherein the heel cover portion comprises a flexible yet fairly stiff fabric inner heel cover member, and a relatively supple fabric outer heel cover member joined with said inner member, to provide a cuplike cover having sufficient rigidity to independently maintain its shape for ease of application to a shoe heel when covering a shoe, yet being of sufficient flexibility in the outer heel cover member to readily conform in closefitting embracing relation to the shape of the shoe heel to which it is applied.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a shoe cover, a heel cover member of the above nature which is provided with an opening at its lower end for projection therethrough of the tip of the heel to which it is fitted.

Yet another object is to provide a decorative heel cover member of the above nature which can be used independently of an upper cover for changing the appearance of womens shoes and which, for this purpose, includes pressure-sensitive adhesive means for its securement to the heel. In this embodiment of the invention the heel cover preferably will be highly decorated by the use of unusual outer fabric designs and surface treatments, such as by the use of sequins and the like, to distinctly change the appearance of a shoe although overing only the heel.

Still another object is to provide shoe covers of the character above described which will be inexpensive to manufacture, easy to apply and remove from a shoe, and sufficiently durable to permit reuse many times.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a womans shoe before Patented Sept. 6, 1966 covering with a decorative shoe cover embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one form of decorative cover for womens shoes;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the shoe cover of FIG. 2 applied over the shoe of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial view of the shoe cover of FIG. 2 illustrating constructional details of the heel cover portion and its method of attachment to the upper portion of the shoe cover;

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along the line 66 of FIG. 4 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 77 of FIG. 3 in the direction of the arrows and illustrating how the shoe cover upper portion is secured at the foot opening of the shoe;

FIG. 8 illustrates in perspective, a decorative heel cover member for use in independently covering the heel of a womans shoe;

FIG. 9 is a horizontal cross-section taken along the line 99 of FIG. 8 in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view, as seen from the underside, of a shoe covered by a modified form of shoe cover embodying the invention.

Referring to the drawings, S in FIG. 1 designates, generally, a womans shoe, and FIG. 2 illustrates a decorative cover embodying the invention, designated generally by numeral 10, shown before application to the shoe of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 illustrates the decorative cover of FIG. 2 applied to the shoe of FIG. 1, the same being fitted and secured in place by the method and means hereinafter described.

Referring now in detail to FIG. 2, the decorative shoe cover 10 comprises a sole member 12, which is preferably of a supple leather such as calfskin having a thickness of about inch, integrally formed with a sole shank portion 13 the outer end of which is integrally formed with a breasting member 14. Attached against the upper side of the sole 12 and a sole shank portion 13 is a flexible upper member 15, of such shape as to fit snugly over the shoe to be covered, a high-heeled pump as illustrated by way of example in the drawings. The upper member 15, which is preferably fabricated of a cotton, satin, or silklike or leather-like fabric having two dimensional stretch qualities, will be of a color and pattern to effect the desired change in external appearance of a shoe. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the upper member 15 can be secured against the top of the sole 12 by having lower marginal portions 16 of said upper member glued thereto by adhesive, as indicated at 17. The breasting member 14 extending from the sole member 12 is so shaped as to conform to the inside wall of the shoe heel portion to which it is affixed as hereinbelow more particularly described (see FIG. 4).

The flexible upper member 15 of the decorative cover 10 has a marginal portion 20 about the foot opening adapted to be folded in over the rim of a shoe upper. Pressure-sensitive means is provided for securing the marginal portion 20 in place, said means preferably comprising an inside marginal coating of pressure-sensitive adhesive 22, the surface of which is protectingly covered with a paper or fabric strip 23 before use. The protective strip 23 is preferably provided with a tab 25 to facilitate its removal.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the heel cover portion 11 embodying our improved shoe cover is hollow and self-supporting in the approximate shape of the high or moderately high heel which it is designed to cover. Preferably the heel cover portion 11 is fabricated by forming it over a dummy heel of the desired shape. A salient feature of the heel cover portion 11 resides in the greater stiffness given to the inner wall portion 26 as compared with that of the outer Wall portion 27, whereby the inner wall portion provides the stiffness required for preserving the shape of the heel cover to prevent wrinkling or other deformation of the heel cover which would spoil its appearance in use, while at the same time permitting limited flexing of the outer wall portion in its embracing conformance to shoe heels of slightly different shapes, as may occur in shoes of the same type by a different manufacture. To this end, we have found that the heel cover portion 11 is best fabricated by making the inner portion 26 of a piece of stiff though somewhat flexible fabric, such as of buckram, and the outer wall portion 27 of a relatively supple fabric. As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6, the outer wall portion 27 of the heel cover portion 11 is secured to the relatively stiff inner wall portion 26 by having

marginal side portions

28 and 29 thereof affixed inwardly against marginal outer side portions of said inner wall portion by a suitable adhesive. The upper and lower edges of the outer wall portion of the heel cover portion 11 are rolled or folded in as indicated at 30 and 31 to present a finished appearance, said rolls or folds being secured by stitching or a suitable adhesive.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the heel cover portion 11 is secured to the remainder of the shoe cover by gluing or otherwise affixing a marginal portion 24 at the heel opening end of the flexible upper member against the inside upper portion of said heel cover portion, after which the breasting member 14 at the end of the sole shank portion 13 is glued, heat sealed, or otherwise affixed against the inside of the heel cover portion to complete the appearance of a finished shoe.

In the use of the decorative shoe cover 11 it will be applied simply by slipping it over the toe of the shoe and then pulling it up at the back into form-fitting position over the heel and the back of the shoe. The marginal portion at the top of the decorative cover 10, after having removed the protective strip 23, will then be turned in over the rim at the shoe opening and pushed down against the inside of the shoe, to secure it in place by means of the pressure-sensitive adhesive 22. The roll at the upper end of the outer wall portion of the heel portion 11 will, as .illustrated in FIG. 3, register generally with the curved line of juncture at the heel seat of the shoe to which the cover is to be fitted. The tip of the shoe heel will project slightly from the lower end of the heel portion of the cover.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a decorative heel cover member 11a for use independently of a shoe upper cover, said separate heel cover member differing from the abovedescribed heel cover portion 11 in that it has permanently secured thereto against the inside, as by a suitable adhesive or any other means of attachment, a separate breasting portion 32 having an outwardly-projecting tongue portion 33, which breasting portion may be of a supple leather or leather-like material of beige or tan color to match the color of the sole shank member of the shoe to which it is applied. As a means for securing the heel cover member 11a in place, an inner marginal portion at the upper end is coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive 34, protected by a pull-away cover strip 35 until ready for use. In addition, the tongue portion 33 is similarly coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive 36 protected before use with a cover strip 37.

FIG. 10 illustrates a modification of our improved decorative shoe cover differing from that of FIGS. 1 through 7 only in that the sole member 12a and shank portion 13a instead of fully covering the sole and shank portion at the underside of a shoe, consist of marginal portions only, coated at the inside with a suitable pressure-sensitive adhesive 38 serving for attachment against outer marginal portions of a shoe sole and shank. A cover strip (not illustrated) is preferably provided to protect the adhesive 38 before application of the cover to a shoe.

Removal of the shoe and heel covers is effected simply by carefully pulling away their adhesive portions and then slipping them off. In the case of heel cover members 11a, the adhesive covering tapes can be replaced. The heel cover pairs can then be nested one within the other for compact storage in a suitable box. The comparative stiffness of the flexible inner wall portions of the heel covers will prevent collapse and thereby preserve their shape to insure smooth fitting during their entire lifetime of repeated use.

While we have illustrated and described herein only three forms in which our invention can conveniently be embodied in practice, these forms are presented by way of example only and not in a limiting sense. The invention, in brief, comprises all the embodiments and modifications coming within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a decorative cover for a womans shoe of the type having a sole, a projecting heel and an upper defining a foot opening, the combination comprising, a flexible upper member shaped to conform to the outer surface of a wom ans shoe when fitted thereon and having a toe end and a heel end and a foot opening, a flexible sole member in the shape of a womans shoe, said sole member being integrally formed with a sole shank portion and a heel breasting member, means attaching said upper member to said sole member and said sole shank portion to provide a pocket therewith for receiving a womans shoe, said upper member having an opening at its heel end for receiving in outwardly-projecting relation thereto the heel of a womans shoe fitted in said pocket, and a heel cover member secured to said upper member in surrounding relation to the heel opening thereof, said heel cover member comprising an inner heel wall cover portion of a flexible yet fairly stifi' fabric, and an outer heel wall cover portion of a relatively supple fabric joined to said inner heel wall portion and together therewith forming a hollow member having upper and lower end openings adapted to be fitted over the heel of a womans shoe in embracing relation with respect thereto and with the heel tip projecting outwardly of said lower end opening, said heel breasting member comprising an outer wall portion of said heel cover member.

2. A decorative cover for womens shoes as defined in claim 1 including folded-in portions at the upper and lower ends of said outer heel wall cover portion.

3. A decorative cover for womens shoes as defined in claim 1 wherein marginal side portions of said outer heel cover portion are turned inwardly and secured against marginal outside portions of said inner heel wall cover portion.

4. A decorative heel cover for womens shoes comprising, in combination, an inner heel wall cover portion of a flexible yet fairly stiff fabric, and an outer heel wall cover portion of a relatively supple fabric joined to said inner heel wall portion and together therewith forming a hollow member having upper and lower end openings adapted to be fitted over the heel of a womans shoe in embracing relation with respect thereto and with the heel tip projecting outwardly of said lower end opening, marginal side portions of said outer heel cover portion being turned inwardly and secured against marginal outside portions of said inner heel wall cover portion.

5. A decorative heel cover for womens shoes as defined in claim 4 including a breasting member secured in covering relation against said marginal side portions of said outer heel cover portion.

6. A decorative heel cover for womens shoes as defined in claim 5 including means for securing said outer heel cover portion with respect to a shoe heel.

7. A decorative heel cover for womens shoes as defined in claim 6 wherein said securing means comprises a pressure-sensitive adhesive applied to an inner marginal portion at the upper end of said outer heel cover portion.

8. A decorative heel cover for womens shoes as defined in claim 7 wherein said breasting member includes 'a tongue portion extending outwardly beyond the upper ends of said marginal side outer heel cover portion, and wherein said securing means further comprises a pressuresensitive adhesive on said tongue portion for securing it to the shank portion of a womans shoe.

9. In a decorative cover for a womans shoes of the type having a sole, a projecting heel and an upper defining a foot opening, the combination comprising, a flexible upper member shaped to conform to the outer surface of a womans shoe when fitted thereon and having a toe end and a heel end and a foot opening, a flexible sole member in the shape of a womans shoe, said sole member being formed with a sole shank portion, said upper member comprising a continuous marginal strip in the form of a loop and defining a central opening, means attaching said upper member to said sole member and said sole shank portion to provide a pocket therewith for receiving a womans shoe, said upper member having an opening at its heel end for receiving in outwardly-projecting relation thereto the heel of a womans shoe fitted in said pocket, and a heel cover member secured to said upper member in surrounding relation to the heel opening thereof, said heel cover member comprising an inner heel wall cover portion of a flexible yet fairly still fabric, and an outer heel wall cover portion of a relatively supple fabric joined to said inner heel wall portion and together therewith forming a hollow member having upper and lower end openings adapted to be fitted over the heel of a womans shoe in embracing relation wit-h respect thereto and with the heel tip projecting outwardly of said lower end opening, said heel 'breasting member comprising an outer wall portion of said heel cover member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,531,493 3/1925 Max-on 36-72 2,109,193 2/1938 Field et a1 36-72 2,262,253 11/1941 Rule 36-1 2,915,836 12/1959 McDonough 36-72 3,138,882 6/1964 Maya 36-34 3,196,559 7/1965 Thompson 36-2.5

FOREIGN PATENTS 16,681 1915 Scott.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

PATRICK D. LAWSON, Examiner.

Claims

1. IN A DECORATIVE COVER FOR A WOMAN''S SHOE OF THE TYPE HAVING A SOLE, A PROJECTING HEEL AND AN UPPER DEFINING A FOOT OPENING, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING, A FLEXIBLE UPPER MEMBER SHAPED TO CONFORM TO THE OTHER SURFACE OF A WOMAN''S SHOE WHEN FITTED THEREON AND HAVING A TOE END AND A HEEL END AND A FOOT OPENING, A FLEXIBLE SOLE MEMBER IN THE SHAPE OF A WOMAN''S SHOE, SAID SOLE MEMBER BEING INTEGRALLY FORMED WITH A SOLE SHANK PORTION AND A HEEL BREASTING MEMBER, MEANS ATTACHING SAID UPPER MEMBER TO SAID SOLE MEMBER AND SAID SOLE PORTION TO PROVIDE A POCKET THEREWITH FOR RECEIVING A WOMAN''S SHOE, SAID UPPER MEMBER HAVING AN OPENING AT ITS HEEL END FOR RECEIVING IN OUTWARDLY-PROJECTING RELATION THERETO THE HEEL OF A WOMAN''S SHOE FITTED IN SAID POCKET, AND A HEEL COVER MEMBER SECURED TO SAID UPPER MEMBER IN SURROUNDING RELATION TO THE HEEL OPENING THEREOF, SAID HEEL COVER MEMBER COMPRISING AN INNER HEEL WALL COVER PORTION OF A FLEXI-