Adhesive insert for shoe sole cleaning and protection

A shoe guard assembly, the shoe guard assembly comprising:

• a guard body comprising a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the guard body is configured to cover an entire bottom surface of a sole of an athletic shoe, and wherein the guard body top portion comprises an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface and the lower surface together defining a recess in the top portion, wherein at least one guard body fastener is affixed in the recess;
• and
• an insert configured to be removably positioned in the recess in the guard body top portion, the insert comprising:
• a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface;
• an adhesive layer disposed on the top surface of the substrate, the adhesive layer configured to removably adhere to the sole of the athletic shoe when the athletic shoe is placed on the guard body top portion to capture dust and debris therefrom, wherein the adhesive layer is configured to have an adhesive engagement strength when adhering the top surface of the insert to the sole of the athletic shoe;
• at least one insert fastener affixed to the bottom surface of the substrate, the at least one insert fastener being configured to releasably engage with the at least one guard body fastener affixed in the recess of the guard body top portion with a mechanical engagement strength;
• and
• a removable protective film positioned over the adhesive layer to preserve tackiness prior to use;
• wherein during use when the removable protective film is removed, the mechanical engagement strength that attaches the at least one insert fastener to the at least one guard body fastener exceeds the adhesive engagement strength that adheres the insert top surface to the sole of the athletic shoe such that the insert remains on the guard body with the captured dust and debris thereon when the athletic shoe is removed from the guard body;
• and
• wherein the top surface of the insert is substantially flush with the upper surface of the guard body top portion when the insert is positioned in the recess with the at least one insert fastener engaged with the at least one guard body fastener.