# US 5,329,704 A · Split-sole anti-slip attachments for footwear

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- Number: US 5,329,704 A
- Document ID: US5329704A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/044,656
- Filed: 1993-04-12
- Granted: 1994-07-19
- Earliest claimed: 1993-04-12
- Inventors: Roy C. Martin, Jr.
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5329704A

## CPC

- A43C 15/00: Non-skid devices or attachments (apparatus for climbing poles, trees, or the like A63B27/00)
- A43C: FASTENINGS OR ATTACHMENTS OF FOOTWEAR; LACES IN GENERAL

## Abstract

A slip on attachment for use on footwear when additional traction is needed has a sole, a heel seat and resilient arms. The sole is divided by a slit opening through the toe portion and extending into the heel seat and is resiliently yieldable so that it will spread apart as footwear is inserted between and under the arms until the heel of the footwear can enter the heel seat, the arms then engaging and holding the footwear in its waist line zone. The sections of the sole are provided with anti-slip portions.

## Claims

### Claim 1

In combination, an article of footwear and an attachment therefor, said article having sole structure and upper structure secured thereto, the upper structure having a waist line dividing the article into fore and rear parts, the rear part provided with a heel portion and the fore part having a toe portion, and said attachment including a flexible, resilient sole and upper structure connected thereto, the upper structure of the attachment including a resilient counter yieldably maintained in a first position against spreading and defining a heel seat with the portion of the sole which is bordered thereby, the heel seat of lesser width than the heel portion of the article, the upper structure also including resilient, waist line arms, one for each side of the sole and curved inwardly and forwardly towards the opposite side, the two arms spaced and dimensioned to enable the toe portion of the article to be entered between the two arms and the sole of the attachment including two lengthwise sections joined together in the heel seat, the maximum width of the sole less than the widest portion of the forepart of the article whereby when the article is slid forwardly relative to the attachment, the two sections and the heel seat are spread apart with the arms as the forepart of the article is forged between and forwardly of the arms, the resiliency of the heel seat then forcing the heel seat and the arms into holding contact with the heel portion and waist line of the upper structure of the article, respectively, and the tread surfaces of said sole sections provided with traction enhancing members.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The combination of claim 1 in which the sole has a line of severance extending through the toe and into the heel seat and establishing the spreadable sections.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The combination of claim 1 in which the line of severance terminates short of the extremity of the heel portion and provides a resilient web.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The combination of claim 1 in which the counter functions as a U-shaped spring.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The combination of claim 1 which the sole and upper structure are molded together as a unit.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The combination of claim 1 in which the sole thereof extends rearwardly of the heel seat to establish a lip engageable in attachment removal by the toe of a worn article of footwear or the toe of an attachment being worn.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The combination of claim 1 in which the cross sectional dimensions of each arm are maximum adjacent the sole and minimum adjacent the free end thereof thereby to be relatively inflexible adjacent the sole and the free end thereof sufficiently flexible to yield to enable the forepart of the article to pass between the two arms.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The combination of claim 1 in which the arms are of a length such that the free ends thereof are substantially in abutment when the attachment is detached from the article of footwear.