# US 8,189,318 B2 · Electrostatic discharging overshoe > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,189,318 B2 - Document ID: US8189318B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/269,142 - Filed: 2008-11-12 - Published: 2009-06-11 - Granted: 2012-05-29 - Earliest claimed: 2007-11-12 - Assignees: 32north Corporation - Inventors: Douglas E. Norton - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8189318B2 ## CPC - A43B 1/009: {made at least partially of washable material} - A43B 3/0078: {provided with logos, letters, signatures or the like decoration (A43B23/24 takes precedence)} - A43B 3/163: {specially adapted for health or hygienic purposes, e.g. comprising electrically conductive material allowing the discharge of electrostatic charges} - A43B 23/24: Ornamental buckles; Other ornaments for shoes without fastening function - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR ## Abstract An electrostatic discharging, detachable, overshoe, includes an electrically conductive flexible skeleton with oversized heel and toe regions for placing over footwear, and a conductive element situated to facilitate conducting static electricity between a body of a wearer of the footwear and the overshoe. The overshoe can be worn over a wide variety of street, work, office, and specialty footwear and may support reduction of electro-static discharge buildup on the body of the wearer by safely conducting any electrical charge generated or transferred to the body of the wearer to a grounded surface such as an electrically conductive floor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electrostatic discharging, detachable, overshoe, comprising: an electrically conductive flexible skeleton overshoe for placing over footwear, wherein the skeleton overshoe is constructed of a molded dissipative material; and a conductive strap molded to the skeleton overshoe and positioned to be in contact with a body of a wearer of the footwear, wherein the skeleton overshoe dissipative material provides a conductive conduit to transmit an electric charge from the conductive strap to a grounded surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The overshoe of claim 1 wherein the dissipative material contains one of nitrile rubber or polyurethane. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The overshoe of claim 1 wherein the dissipative material consists of one of nitrile rubber or polyurethane. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The overshoe of claim 1 wherein the dissipative material includes at least one of carbon, silver, carbon black, conductive silicone, polyacetylene, nanopolyacetylene, dissipative vinyl, carbon nanotubes, thermoplastic elastomer and polyurethane. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The overshoe of claim 1 further comprising the conductive strap attached to the skeleton overshoe by an attachment means. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The overshoe of claim 1 wherein the overshoe is an open frame skeleton construction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The overshoe of claim 1, wherein the overshoe is unchanged after processing in at least one of a washing machine or an autoclave. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The overshoe of claim 1, wherein the flexible skeleton overshoe is configured to stretch over the footwear to make a contact fit with the footwear. ### Claim 9 An electrostatic discharging, detachable, overshoe, comprising: an electrically conductive flexible skeleton overshoe for placing over footwear, wherein the skeleton overshoe is constructed of a molded dissipative material; a conductive strap molded to the skeleton overshoe and positioned to be in contact with a body of a wearer of the footwear, wherein the skeleton overshoe dissipative material provides a conductive conduit to transmit an electric charge from the conductive strap to a grounded surface; and a resistor in series with the conductive strap and the skeleton overshoe. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The overshoe of claim 9 wherein the resistor has a resistance value of between 1 mega ohm and 10 mega ohms. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The overshoe of claim 9 wherein the resistor is a current limiting resistor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The overshoe of claim 9 wherein the overshoe is an open frame skeleton construction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The overshoe of claim 9, wherein the overshoe is unchanged after processing in at least one of a washing machine or an autoclave. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The overshoe of claim 9, wherein the flexible skeleton overshoe is configured to stretch over the footwear to make a contact fit with the footwear. ### Claim 15 An electrostatic discharging, detachable, overshoe, comprising: an electrically conductive flexible skeleton overshoe for placing over footwear, wherein the skeleton overshoe is constructed of a molded dissipative material; a conductive strap molded to the skeleton overshoe and positioned to be in contact with a body of a wearer of the footwear, wherein the skeleton overshoe dissipative material provides a conductive conduit to transmit an electric charge from the conductive strap to a grounded surface; and wherein an interface between the skeleton overshoe and the grounded surface has a coefficient of friction of 0.5 or greater. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The overshoe of claim 15 wherein a lower surface of the overshoe includes a tread pattern. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The overshoe of claim 15 wherein a lower surface of the overshoe includes the dissipative material. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The overshoe of claim 15 wherein the dissipative material contains one of nitrile rubber or polyurethane. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The overshoe of claim 15 wherein the dissipative material consists of one of nitrile rubber or polyurethane. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The overshoe of claim 15 wherein the dissipative material includes at least one of carbon, silver, carbon black, conductive silicone, polyacetylene, nanopolyacetylene, dissipative vinyl, carbon nanotubes, thermoplastic elastomer and polyurethane. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The overshoe of claim 15 wherein the overshoe is an open frame skeleton construction. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The overshoe of claim 15, wherein the overshoe is unchanged after processing in at least one of a washing machine or an autoclave. ### Claim 23 (depends on 15) The overshoe of claim 15, wherein the flexible skeleton overshoe is configured to stretch over the footwear to make a contact fit with the footwear.