Step-in shoe covers

Abstract

A shoe cover (10) characterized by being removable and replaceable without requiring the use of the wearer's hands. The shoe cover (10) generally includes a sole (16) having a heel portion (18) and a toe portion (20), one or more members (30) for elastically pulling the toe portion (20) toward the heel portion (18), and a tab (32) projecting from the shoe cover (10) near the heel portion (18). As such, prior to donning, the shoe cover (10) is biased to have a slightly arcuate shape in the region of the sole (16) between the toe and heel portions (20, 18). When putting on the shoe cover (10), the intended wearer steps on the tab (32) near the heel portion (18) so as to immobilize the cover (10), and then inserts the toe of the other foot into the toe portion (20) of the shoe cover (10) to the extent that the shoe cover (10) is generally straightened, overcoming the tension generated by the elastic member (30). In so doing, the shoe cover (10) is able to accommodate the heel of the wearer's shoe, thereby allowing the shoe to be readily and completely received in the shoe cover (10). When the tab (32) is released, the elastic member (30) encourages the shoe cover (10) to return to its original arcuate shape, which serves to firmly grip the toe and heel regions of wearer's shoe and thereby reliably secure the shoe cover (10) to the shoe.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.