U.S. patent application number 11/352725 was filed with the patent office on 2007-08-16 for device and method for shoe covering.
Invention is credited to Stephen Liye Chen.
Application Number | 20070186441 11/352725 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38366838 |
Filed Date | 2007-08-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070186441 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen; Stephen Liye |
August 16, 2007 |
Device and method for shoe covering
Abstract
An easy wearing disposable shoe cover and a wearing method are
provided. The shoe cover has a rear portion, distinguished from a
front portion, being capable of flipping around a sole. An elastic
band, being omitted from front portion, strains the rear portion to
be lower than front portion, which exposes the front portion of the
shoe cover widely for an easy insertion of the shoe into the shoe
cover without using hands.
Inventors: |
Chen; Stephen Liye; (El
Monte, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Stephen Liye Chen
12331 Felipe Street
El Monte
CA
91732
US
|
Family ID: |
38366838 |
Appl. No.: |
11/352725 |
Filed: |
February 13, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/7.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 7/12 20130101; A43B
3/163 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
036/007.3 |
International
Class: |
A43B 1/10 20060101
A43B001/10 |
Claims
1. A device for covering a shoe, comprising: a sole isolating said
shoe from contacting a floor; a cover, joining to said sole, being
distinguishable into a front portion and a rear portion, wherein
said rear portion, made more flexible than said front portion,
yielding to said shoe during insertion of said shoe into said front
portion of said shoe cover.
2. A device for covering a shoe, comprising: a sole isolating said
shoe from contacting a floor; a cover, joining to said sole, being
distinguishable into a front portion and a rear portion, wherein
said rear portion being more flexible than said front portion; and
an elastic member, associating with said rear portion, straining
said rear portion lower than said front portion to create a clear
view of said front portion during an insertion of said shoe.
3. The device of claim 2 wherein said rear portion is lower than
said sole.
4. A method for covering a shoe, comprising the steps of: (a)
having a device, comprising, a sole isolating said shoe from
contacting a floor; a cover, joining to said sole, being
distinguishable into a front portion and a rear portion, wherein
said rear portion being more flexible than said front portion; and
an elastic member, associating with said rear portion, straining
said rear portion lower than said front portion to create a clear
view of said front portion of said shoe cover; (b) inserting said
shoe into said front portion of said device; and (c) stretching
said elastic member to release said rear portion upwards for
securing said shoe cover onto said shoe.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to shoe covers. More
specifically, it relates to disposable shoe covers used for working
in clean rooms.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Shoe covers are usually required for working in medical
laboratories, operating rooms, animal room, high-tech facilities,
as well as real estate industries and house services. For
protection purposes, these shoe covers are often made with low cost
material in a single piece format, usually a piece of flexible
fabrics plus elastic band. The elastic band strains the flexible
fabrics into a wrinkled irregular configuration, which causes
difficulties for users to wear it. Valuable time of doctors and
nurses has been wasted for wearing the cheapest shoe covers.
[0003] An easy wearing disposable shoe cover is highly
desirable.
[0004] Some attempts have been made to create easier disposable
shoe covers. March, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,584,704 B2, for example,
teaches a translucent polyurethane shoe cover using a roll over
method to wear. While keeping the shoe visible, March has failed to
make the wearing of shoe cover easier. Mills, in U.S. Pat. No.
5,842,290, teaches a step-in shoe cover without using hands.
Unfortunately, Mills has failed to design the shoe cover simple for
disposability. The shoe cover is not suitable for working in a
medical operating room. Overfield, in U.S. Pat. D455,894 S, teaches
a disposable shoe cover with a dispenser.
[0005] Overfield has also failed to create an easy wearing shoe
cover even though a dispenser is used.
[0006] The long-felt desire of easy wearing disposable shoe cover
remains unanswered.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0007] It is, therefore, an object of the invention to create an
easy wearing disposable shoe cover.
[0008] The advance of the invention over prior arts can be
summarized as follows: [0009] (1) It creates a two-piece shoe
cover. Elastic band is omitted from front piece of the shoe cover
so that the front portion of the shoe cover opens widely. [0010]
(2) It uses an elastic band to strain rear piece lower than front
piece to facilitate easy insertion of the shoe, like wearing a
sandal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is an illustrative diagram of a presently preferred
embodiment of the invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a side view of the shoe cover showing a rear piece
being folded under a sole.
[0013] FIG. 3 shows the rear piece has been flipped up to secure
the shoe cover on a shoe.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0014] A main cause of wearing difficulties has been identified as
a hidden entry of the shoe covers.
[0015] The key feature of the present invention is to make the
disposable shoe cover in a sandal-like format. Users can easily
insert a shoe into widely opened front portion of a shoe cover
without using hands. Then a rear piece can be flipped over from
bottom to top for securing the shoe cover on the shoe.
[0016] In FIG. 1, an illustrative diagram of a currently preferred
embodiment, four elements are demonstrated as a sole 150, a front
piece 120, a rear piece 180, and an elastic band 191. Sole 150 is
the bottom boundary of shoe cover 100 for isolating a shoe from a
floor. Sole 150 can be divided into two regions, a front region 140
towards toe area and a rear region 160 towards heel area. Front
piece 120 has a body 121, a first line 111, and a second line 131.
Body 121 defines top boundary of shoe cover 100. First line 111
joins to sole 150 along edges of front region 140. Second line 131
remains open as the entry of shoe cover 100 for shoe insertion. Now
front piece 120, together with sole 150, forms a sandal-like shoe
cover, which can be easily put on by a shoe insertion without using
hands.
[0017] Also in FIG. 1, a rear piece 180 is distinguished from front
piece 120. Rear piece 180 has a third line 170, a fourth line 190,
and a body 181. Third line 170 joins to sole 150 along edges of
rear region 160. Rear piece 180 is made with a very flexible
fabrics, which enables rear piece 180 the capacity of free flipping
up and down around sole 150, called an up position and a down
position. An elastic band 191 is attached to rear piece 180 along
its fourth line 190. For illustrative purpose, elastic band 191 in
FIG. 1 is shown as its stretched condition. Elastic band 191 has
two functions. Its first function is to strain rear piece 180 to be
lower than front piece 120 so that shoe cover 100 can be accessed
easily like a sandal, as shown in FIG. 2. Its second function is to
secure shoe cover 100 on the shoe.
[0018] FIG. 2 shows rear piece 180 being strained underneath sole
150 by elastic band 191. A shoe 145 has been inserted into the
space between front piece 120 and sole 150.
[0019] FIG. 3 shows rear piece 180 being flipped to up position
above sole 150. Body 181 covers shoe 145. Elastic band 191 secures
shoe cover 100 on shoe 145.
[0020] If desired, it is an option for the user to just wear shoe
cover 100 like a sandal without flipping rear piece 180 to up
position. It is also feasible to wear shoe cover 100 in an
alternative way. That is, rear piece 180 remains in up position
instead of being flipped under the bottom of sole 150 during the
insertion of shoe 145. Elastic band 191 strains rear piece 180 down
on top face of sole 150 and create a clear view of front portion of
shoe cover 100. In this option, rear piece 180 will yield to shoe
145 and be folded between shoe 145 and sole 150.
[0021] To wear shoe cover 100 onto shoe 145, the basic steps are:
[0022] 1. Have shoe cover 100 with rear piece 180 being strained
lower than front piece 120. [0023] 2. Insert shoe 145 into front
portion of shoe cover 100. [0024] 3. Stretch elastic band 191 to
raise rear piece 180 higher than sole 150 for securing shoe cover
100 onto shoe 145.
[0025] To meet a variety of application specialties, sole 150
should be made with a suitable material, such as water proof
sheets, synthetic fabrics, or cardboard. The joints from sole 150
to front piece 120 and rear piece 180 can be done by means of
sawing, molding, or adhesives, depending on the materials
chosen.
[0026] Although the descriptions above contains specifications, it
is apparent to those who skilled in the art that a number of other
variations and modifications can be made to the invention without
departing from its spirit and scope. Rear piece 180, for example,
can join front piece 120 into one piece. Elastic band 191 can be
omitted from rear piece. Sole 150 and front piece 120 can be made
in one piece. Therefore, the descriptions as set out above should
not be constructed as limiting the scope of the invention but as
merely providing illustration of the presently preferred embodiment
of the invention.
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