Overshoe footwear traction device

A footwear traction device removably attachable to an item of footwear having a bottom outersole, a rear portion, and a forward portion:

• a traction portion sized and shaped to at least partially cover the bottom outersole of the item of footwear, and having a rear portion, a forward portion, the traction portion having one or more traction elements disposed on a bottom of the traction portion for increasing friction between the item of footwear
• and a ground surface;
• a heel support portion attached to and extending upwardly from the rear portion of the traction portion and having opposing first attachment points disposed on a forward portion of lateral and medial sides of the heel support portion, each attachment point having a heel-support cable guide;
• a forefoot support portion attached to the forward portion of the traction portion the forefoot support portion having a pair of lateral and medial supports extending upwardly from the lateral and medial sides of the traction portion for wrapping around the lateral and medial front sides of the item of footwear, the lateral and medial supports each having a lateral support attachment portion having a cable guide;
• a cable reel device;
• a cable;
• and
• a flexible upper support portion having an elongate shape and configured to cover an upper forefoot portion of the item of footwear, including over a tongue or lace area and extending between the medial side and the lateral side of the footwear traction device, and having one or more attachment portions each having an upper-support cable guide, the upper support portion being a discrete structure separated from and not directly coupled to the heel support portion;
• a cable routing wherein the cable forms a tensionable loop routing through the cable reel device, and each cable guide;
• and
• wherein the forefoot support portion and/or the heel support portion and the cable routing are configured to define an opening through which respectively the forward and/or rear portions of the item of footwear protrude when the cable is so tensioned, the cable routing being configured to converge the forefoot support portion and the heel support portion towards each so as to urge the forward and/or rear portions of the item of footwear more tightly through the opening and against the forefoot and/or heel support portions of the item of footwear, and wherein the upper support portion is simultaneously urged towards the traction portion.