U.S. patent application number 11/807345 was filed with the patent office on 2007-11-01 for foot cap.
Invention is credited to Jeff C. C. Thomas.
Application Number | 20070251121 11/807345 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38646960 |
Filed Date | 2007-11-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070251121 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Thomas; Jeff C. C. |
November 1, 2007 |
Foot cap
Abstract
Thin, lightweight footwear made of a polyethylene material that
is composed of a top part and a sole part that are sewn together
such that when fitted properly to the wearer's foot the footwear
encompasses the foot and extends to the level of the ankle. The top
part is porous allowing the ingress and egress of soap and water.
The sole has slip resistance properties due to the material from
which it is made and the texture of its outer surface. The finished
product can be folded and compressed for storage, then later
unfolded and worn without the folding adversely affecting its
intended function of providing a barrier between the wearer's feet
and the tub or shower floor on which the wearer stands while the
wearer showers.
Inventors: |
Thomas; Jeff C. C.;
(Indianapolis, IN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BAKER & DANIELS LLP
300 NORTH MERIDIAN STREET
SUITE 2700
INDIANAPOLIS
IN
46204
US
|
Family ID: |
38646960 |
Appl. No.: |
11/807345 |
Filed: |
May 25, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10860507 |
Jun 4, 2004 |
7237345 |
|
|
11807345 |
May 25, 2007 |
|
|
|
09691921 |
Aug 5, 1999 |
|
|
|
10860507 |
Jun 4, 2004 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/8.1 ;
36/83 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 3/24 20130101; A43B
9/02 20130101; A43B 7/06 20130101; A43C 11/006 20130101; A43B 3/10
20130101; A43B 3/242 20130101; A43B 5/08 20130101; A43B 3/00
20130101; A43B 3/163 20130101; A43B 13/22 20130101; A43B 3/106
20130101; A43B 1/009 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
036/008.1 ;
036/083 |
International
Class: |
A43B 5/08 20060101
A43B005/08; A43B 5/00 20060101 A43B005/00 |
Claims
1. A method for protecting a foot of the wearer during showering,
comprising the steps of: providing a foot cap including a
non-porous bottom component for covering a bottom of the foot from
heel to toe; an upper component covering the foot of the wearer and
coupled to the non-porous bottom component circumferentially and in
the plantar plane, the upper component including a flexible, thin
plastic material covering the foot from heel to toe, an opening for
receiving the foot of the wearer and a plurality of openings for
permitting the ingress and egress of water; and an elastic
component coupled to the upper component and extending around a
circumference of the opening, the elastic component providing
contraction around an ankle of the wearer, wherein the foot cap has
a use configuration wherein the foot cap is configured to receive
the foot therein and a storage configuration, the storage
configuration being smaller than the use configuration; placing the
foot cap on the foot by inserting the foot through the opening in
the upper, plastic component; and introducing water and soap
through the plurality of openings.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the upper component is coupled to
the non-porous bottom component through an elastic component
extending completely around the foot cap.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of openings are
arranged in a plurality of rows, at least a portion of the
plurality of openings being positioned in a toe region of the
flexible, thin plastic material.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: removing
the foot from the foot cap; and placing the foot cap in the storage
configuration by compressing and folding the foot cap.
5. A foot cap, comprising: a non-porous bottom component for
covering a bottom of the foot from heel to toe; an upper component
covering the foot of the wearer and coupled to the non-porous
bottom component circumferentially and in the plantar plane, the
upper component including a flexible, thin plastic material
covering the foot from heel to toe, an opening for receiving the
foot of the wearer and a plurality of openings for permitting the
ingress and egress of water; and an elastic component coupled to
the upper component and extending around a circumference of the
opening, the elastic component providing contraction around an
ankle of the wearer, wherein the foot cap has a use configuration
wherein the foot cap is configured to receive the foot therein and
a storage configuration, the storage configuration being smaller
than the use configuration.
6. The foot cap of claim 5, wherein the upper component is coupled
to the non-porous bottom component through an elastic component
extending completely around the foot cap.
7. The foot cap of claim 5, wherein the plurality of openings are
arranged in a plurality of rows.
8. The foot cap of claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the
plurality of openings are positioned in a toe region of the
flexible, thin plastic material.
9. The foot cap of claim 7, wherein the plurality of rows extend
along a first side of the flexible, thin plastic material, across a
toe region of the flexible, thin plastic material, and along a
second side of the flexible, thin plastic material.
10. The foot cap of claim 5, wherein the flexible, thin plastic
material is made of a polyethylene material.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/860,507, filed Jun. 4, 2004, titled
"DISPOSABLE AND NON-DISPOSABLE FOOT CAP", Atty Docket (JTH-P0001),
the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference
herein, and which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/691,921, now abandoned.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to shower footwear articles worn on
the feet by persons as a means to reduce the risks of contracting
athlete's foot, plantar warts and other pathological conditions of
the feet secondary to using away from home showers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Due to the abundance of material related to health care and
the easy access to this information, many individuals have become
more conscientious about their personal health and on maintaining
it. One concern that is significantly important to people who
frequent fitness centers, travel, or work in industrial settings,
is the maintenance of disease-free feet when using on site shower
facilities. The objective is to avoid contracting foot problems
such as athlete's foot and plantar warts. The usual approach is to
create a barrier between the feet and the floor of the shower or
tub. Barriers have included bath towels placed on the floor, socks
or regular shoes worn in the shower, and more commonly, sandals and
similarly configured footwear worn in the shower. Regarding the
items mentioned above, one might consider any of those items to be
relatively bulky and quite cumbersome to carry around just for the
purpose of using when in the shower.
[0004] Given the above discussion, it would be quite convenient to
have at one's disposal a foot cover designed specifically as a
prophylaxis against contracting athlete's foot, plantar warts, or
other pathologic conditions of the feet as a result of using an
away from home showering facility. The invention would perform as a
foot cover to be worn in the shower. Feet could be washed
effectively during the showering process without having to remove
the article from the feet. The invention would have a
slip-resistant sole as a safety feature to reduce the risk of slips
and falls in the shower. Instead of creating an add-on attachment
to provide slip-resistance, the sole itself would be made of a
specially processed polyethylene material manufactured in such a
way that a high coefficient of friction is created between the sole
or bottom of the invention and the wet or dry shower floor surface
as the wearer is showering.
[0005] Another favorable characteristic of the invention is that it
be low in weight (lightweight) and non-rigid or compressible, such
that it is easily foldable. That is to say--easily foldable and
lightweight in the same manner as a current-day, inexpensive, thin,
disposable, plastic showercap. This characteristic would allow the
invention to be compressed, folded, and placed in a small
compartment such as shirt or pants pocket, or in a small space
inside of a travel bag or standard-sized purse. The invention would
be, in essence, an "ultra-lightweight" showercap for the
foot--resembling a disposable showercap in structure, weight, and
compressibility.
[0006] In Summary, the invention proposed here in this document is
an article of footwear to be worn in the shower: It is
ultra-lightweight and compressible for easy portability, fits the
foot like a bootie, has a slip-resistant sole, and allows each foot
to be thoroughly cleansed without removing the item from the foot
while showering.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The following is a summary of the drawings and will serve to
further clarify the characteristics of the invention in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the shower footwear invention
5.
[0009] FIG. 1a is preformed representative of a side elevation view
of top component 6 interrupted posteriorly, thus forming
non-confluent flaps in the back. The figure reflects top component
6 prior to assembly into footwear invention 5.
[0010] FIG. 1b is an alternative representative of a side elevation
view of top component 6 circumferentially confluent and without
interruption in the back. This figure reflects an alternative
configuration of top component 6 prior to assembly into footwear
invention 5.
[0011] FIG. 1c is a side view of bottom component 7 prior to
assembly into footwear invention 5.
[0012] FIG. 1d is an exploded view of a section of the outside
surface of bottom component 7 illustrating one of several patterns
or textures on the outside surface. The purpose of the pattern is
to provide additional slip-resistance.
[0013] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a section demonstrating a
manner of attachment of elastic component 10 to top component 6 via
stitching 13.
[0014] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a section demonstrating a
manner of attachment of elastic component 8 to top component 6 via
stitching 13 to form opening 9. (Similarly done is the attachment
of elastic component 11 to top component 6 and bottom component 7
via stitching 13).
[0015] FIG. 4 provides two (2) perspective views of the invention 5
as it would appear on a foot. Note: The configuration of the
stitching 13 may vary from that shown in the figures as long as it
serves its purpose of attaching the components and elastic
materials together to create invention 5, while preserving the form
and function of invention 5.
DETAILED DESCIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] Note: The terms "footwear" or "invention" are used
interchangeably throughout this document and both terms refer to
the same thing--the invention.
[0017] With reference to FIG. 1, the shower footwear, according to
the present invention is shown therein and denoted by numeral 5.
Footwear 5 has a top component 6 which has multiple discrete holes
12 in it for the ingress and egress of soap and water, a non-porous
sole or bottom component 7, an elastic component 8 which is
directly attached to top component 6 to form an expandable opening
9. Opening 9 receives the wearer's foot. Elastic component 10 is
attached posteriorly to component 6 via stitching 13. Elastic
component 10 extends vertically along top component 6 and
intersects elastic component 8 above down to bottom component 7 and
elastic component 11 below. The attachments are created via
stitching 13. Elastic component 11 is integrated with top component
6 and bottom component 7 via stitching 13, circumferentially, and
in the plantar plane--along the front, sides, and back of footwear
5. Elastic component 10 may be incorporated into the finished
product as shown in FIG. 1 using top component 6 (as shown in FIG.
1a). Attachments are made via stitching 13. Elastic component 10
could be excluded from invention 5 if the alternative top component
6 (as shown in FIG. 1b) is used. The alternative top component 6 is
not interrupted in the back, thus no stitching is needed
posteriorly along top component 6. Excluding elastic component 10
will not change form or function, and may provide a costs savings
in manufacturing invention 5.
[0018] At present the incorporation of elastic component 10 in
invention 5 may provide a small amount of stretch in the back of
footwear 5 along the heel of the wearer, and may minimize the
pulling off of the posterior aspect of footwear 5 from the heel of
the wearer should a forward directed shearing force be applied to
sole 7 when footwear 5 is on the wearer's foot. Alternatives to
stitching 13 as a means of securing the components of invention 5
to each other include the use of adhesive bonding, temperature or
friction bonding, stapling, zippers (where possible) or other
fastening methods that provide the same form, function and chief
characteristics as outlined in this document. Top component 6
contains multiple strategically placed holes that allow the ingress
and egress of soap and water through the multiple holes 12. The
wearer can wash the foot with footwear 5 remaining on the foot
during the showering process.
[0019] With reference to FIG. 1, elastic component 8 provides
opening 9 with stretching capability to accommodate insertion of a
foot into opening 9. Once the foot is inserted, elastic component 8
provides contraction around the ankle or foot to help keep footwear
5 on the wearer's foot. In FIG. 1, elastic component 8 is attached
to top component 6 via stitching 13 to form opening 9.
[0020] The invention also allows for other means of attaching
elastic component 8 to top component 6 to form opening 9. Examples
of alternatives to stitching 13 to attach the individual components
of the invention 5 to each other are mentioned above.
[0021] With reference to FIG. 1, top component 6 is attached to
bottom component 7, circumferentially and in the plantar plane by
elastic component 11. Top component 6 and bottom component 7 are
secured to each other along their edges along with elastic
component 11 via stitching 13. Slack is introduced along the joined
edges of top component 6 and bottom component 7, in the plantar
plane. Top component 6 and bottom component 7 are attached to
elastic component 11 via stitching 13. Expansion and recoil in the
plantar plane is provided by elastic component 11. Alternatives to
using stitching 13 are mentioned above.
[0022] While preferred embodiments of the present invention have
been described, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill
in the art that certain modifications may be made without departing
from the scope of the present invention. All such modifications are
intended to come within the scope of the claims which follow:
* * * * *