U.S. patent application number 14/487294 was filed with the patent office on 2016-03-17 for shoe cover system with internal cushioning member.
The applicant listed for this patent is Let's Gel Incorporated. Invention is credited to Robert L. McMahan.
Application Number | 20160073724 14/487294 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55453504 |
Filed Date | 2016-03-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160073724 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
McMahan; Robert L. |
March 17, 2016 |
Shoe Cover System With Internal Cushioning Member
Abstract
A shoe cover system includes a flexible shoe cover that is
configured to substantially surround a shoe of a user of the shoe
cover system. A resilient cushioning member inside the shoe cover
is non-removably attached to the interior bottom of the shoe cover
to receive and support the bottom of the user's shoe. Over-molding
the resilient cushioning member to the interior bottom of the shoe
cover may provide a permanent and direct attachment of the
resilient cushioning member to the shoe cover. An adhesive layer
between the resilient cushioning member and the interior bottom of
the shoe cover may provide a permanent and indirect attachment of
the resilient cushioning member to the shoe cover.
Inventors: |
McMahan; Robert L.; (Cedar
Park, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Let's Gel Incorporated |
Austin |
TX |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
55453504 |
Appl. No.: |
14/487294 |
Filed: |
September 16, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/72R |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 3/22 20130101; A43B
3/163 20130101; A43B 7/32 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A43B 3/22 20060101
A43B003/22 |
Claims
1. A shoe cover system, comprising: a flexible shoe cover
exhibiting a first geometry suitable to substantially surround a
shoe; and a resilient cushioning member situated inside the shoe
cover and exhibiting a second geometry suitable to contact and
support a bottom of the shoe, the resilient cushioning member being
non-removably attached to the interior of the flexible shoe
cover.
2. The shoe cover system of claim 1, wherein the resilient
cushioning member is molded to an interior bottom of the shoe cover
to attach the resilient cushioning member to the shoe cover.
3. The shoe cover system of claim 1, wherein the resilient
cushioning member is flame bonded to an interior bottom of the shoe
cover to attach the resilient cushioning member to the shoe
cover.
4. The shoe cover system of claim 1, wherein the resilient
cushioning member is adhesively attached to an interior bottom of
the shoe cover to hold the resilient cushioning member to the shoe
cover.
5. The shoe cover system of claim 1, further comprising stitching
that attaches the resilient cushioning member to an interior bottom
of the shoe cover.
6. The shoe cover system of claim 1, wherein the resilient
cushioning comprises first and second layer that exhibit first and
second durometers, respectively.
7. The shoe cover system of claim 6, wherein the first layer
comprises gel and the second layer comprises foam.
8. The shoe cover system of claim 1, wherein the shoe cover
includes an upper portion that provides an aperture for receiving
the foot of a user therethrough, the upper portion including an
elastic portion that forms a ring around the aperture to hold the
upper portion to a leg of a user.
9. The shoe cover system of claim 1, wherein the resilient
cushioning member includes an upper surface that is covered with a
layer of adhesive with a release liner thereon, to hold the shoe
bottom to the resilient cushioning member when the release liner is
removed from the layer of adhesive and the shoe bottom contacts the
layer of adhesive.
10. The shoe cover system of claim 9, wherein the layer of adhesive
includes a heel portion and a toe portion that exhibit higher
stickiness than a remaining portion between the heel portion and
the toes portion.
11. The shoe cover system of claim 1, wherein the flexible shoe
cover comprises a stretch fabric.
12. The shoe cover system of claim 11, wherein the stretch fabric
is a two-way stretch fabric.
13. The shoe cover system of claim 11, wherein the stretch fabric
is a four-way stretch fabric.
14. The shoe cover system of claim 1, wherein the flexible shoe
cover comprises a puncture resistant fabric.
15. The shoe cover system of claim 1, wherein the flexible shoe
cover comprises an electrostatic discharge (ESD) fabric.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The disclosures herein relate generally to shoe apparatus,
and more particularly to a shoe cover system that covers and
cushions a shoe. In many situations it is desirable that dirt and
other contaminants on a user's shoes not be transferred to the
environment. Clean rooms and hospitals are examples of environments
where dirt and contaminants are undesirable. In contrast, other
scenarios exist wherein it is desirable that contaminants from the
environment do not reach the user's shoes. In either case, it is
desirable that the user of the shoe cover system be as comfortable
as possible while standing in shoes for an extended period of
time.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0002] In one embodiment, a shoe cover system includes a flexible
shoe cover exhibiting a first geometry suitable to substantially
surround a shoe. The shoe cover system also includes a resilient
cushioning member situated inside the shoe cover and exhibiting a
second geometry suitable to contact and support a bottom of the
shoe, the resilient cushioning member being non-removably attached
to the interior of the flexible shoe cover. In one embodiment, the
resilient cushioning member is molded to an interior bottom of the
shoe cover to permanently and directly attach the resilient
cushioning member to the shoe cover. In another embodiment, the
resilient cushioning member is adhesively attached to an interior
bottom of the shoe cover to indirectly attach and hold the
resilient cushioning member to the shoe cover.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] The appended drawings illustrate only exemplary embodiments
of the invention and therefore do not limit its scope because the
inventive concepts lend themselves to other equally effective
embodiments.
[0004] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the
disclosed shoe cover system.
[0005] FIG. 2 is a cross section of the shoe cover system of FIG.
1.
[0006] FIG. 3 is a side plan view of a mandrel that may be used to
fabricate the disclosed shoe cover system.
[0007] FIG. 4 is a side plan view of the disclosed shoe cover
system shown inside-out and situated over the mandrel.
[0008] FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of the shoe cover system
of FIG. 4 shown with a mold for installing a resilient cushioning
member in the shoe cover system.
[0009] FIG. 5B shows the shoe cover system of FIG. 5A with
cushioning material injected into the mold.
[0010] FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional view showing the shoe cover
system with the mold removed.
[0011] FIG. 5D is a side plan view of the shoe cover system with
the shoe cover system removed from the mandrel.
[0012] FIG. 5E is a cross-sectional view of the shoe cover system
in the right-side-out orientation.
[0013] FIG. 5F is a cross-sectional view of the shoe cover system
showing a shoe within the shoe cover.
[0014] FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view of an alternative
embodiment of the shoe cover system showing an adhesive layer for
use in bonding to the cushioning member.
[0015] FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional of the shoe cover system of
FIG. 6A with the cushioning member installed on the adhesive
layer.
[0016] FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of
the shoe cover system showing an anti-trip feature installed in the
shoe cover system while the shoe cover system is on the
mandrel.
[0017] FIG. 7B shows the shoe cover system of FIG. 7A after removal
of the shoe cover system from the mandrel.
[0018] FIG. 7C shows the shoe cover system of FIG. 7B after
orienting the shoe cover system right-side-out.
[0019] FIG. 7D shows the shoe cover system of FIG. 7C after the
user places his or her foot and shoe in the shoe cover system.
[0020] FIG. 8A shows an alternative embodiment of the shoe cover
system wherein the cushioning member include multiple layers that
each exhibit a different durometer.
[0021] FIG. 8B shows the shoe cover system of FIG. 8A after the
user places his or her foot with shoe in the shoe cover system.
[0022] FIG. 9A shows an alternative embodiment of the shoe cover
system wherein the cushioning member exhibits multiple layers with
different durometers and further including a non-trip feature.
[0023] FIG. 9B shows the shoe cover system of FIG. 9A after
orienting the shoe cover system right-side-out.
[0024] FIG. 9C shows the shoe cover system of FIG. 9B after the
user places his or her foot with shoe in the shoe cover system.
[0025] FIG. 10A shows an alternative embodiment of the shoe cover
system wherein the cushioning member is sewn to the bottom of the
shoe cover of the shoe cover system.
[0026] FIG. 10B shows a bottom view of the cushioning member of
FIG. 10A with the stitching visible that holds the cushioning
member to the bottom of the shoe cover of the shoe cover
system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0027] In one embodiment, the disclosed shoe cover system includes
a shoe cover that substantially surrounds a user's shoe and further
includes a resilient cushioning member that is permanently attached
to the interior of the shoe cover. The resilient cushioning member
receives the user's shoe and acts as a cushion to reduce fatigue
when the user stands for prolonged periods of time while using the
disclosed shoe cover system. In different embodiments, the
resilient cushioning member may be attached to the interior of the
shoe cover via an adhesive layer, by over-molding the cushioning
member to the interior of the shoe cover, or by flame bonding the
cushioning member to the interior of the shoe cover.
[0028] FIG. 1 depicts one embodiment of the disclosed shoe cover
system as system 100. Shoe cover system 100 includes a flexible
shoe cover 105 that substantially surrounds a user's shoe 110 which
is depicted in dashed lines. Shoe cover system 100 further includes
a resilient cushioning member 115 that is interior to shoe cover
105 and non-removably, i.e. permanently, attached thereto. As seen
in FIG. 1, resilient cushioning member 115 is situated at the
bottom 120 of shoe cover 105 to receive shoe 110 thereon and thus
provide comfort to the user. In one embodiment, an elastic band 125
adjacent an upper portion 130 of shoe cover 105 assists in holding
shoe cover system 100 to the foot and/or leg of the user. The user
inserts his or her foot and shoe through a ring-like aperture 132
located at upper portion 130 to install the shoe cover system 100.
In an alternative embodiment, a shoe lace type arrangement (not
shown) may be used to hold shoe cover system 100 to the user's foot
and/or leg.
[0029] FIG. 2 is a cross-section of the shoe cover system 100 of
FIG. 1 taken at a section line 2-2 running along the lengthwise
major axis thereof. Shoe 110 includes a main body 205 attached to
the sole 210, wherein main body 205 receives the user's foot in the
conventional fashion. A heel member 215 attaches to the rearward
portion of sole 210 in the conventional fashion. In one embodiment,
a lower adhesive layer 220 permanently attaches resilient
cushioning member 115 to the portion of shoe cover 105 at the
bottom 120 thereof. This lower adhesive layer 220 may extend
substantially from side to side and end to end of shoe cover 105 at
bottom 120.
[0030] As seen in FIG. 3, to fabricate shoe cover system 100 one
method is to employ a mandrel 300 that is shaped in the general
form of shoe cover system 100. In one embodiment, mandrel 300 may
be generally shoe-shaped or boot-shaped depending on the shoe cover
desired. For example, mandrel 300 may be shaped in the general form
of a shoe and a portion of the user's ankle such as shown in FIG.
3. Mandrel 300 may be mounted to a base 305 by a support member 310
such that mandrel 300 is held upright during fabrication of shoe
cover system 100.
[0031] In one embodiment, shoe cover 105 is formed to be generally
shoe-shaped or boot-shaped such that its dimensions permit the user
to place his or her shoe into the shoe cover 105 such as seen in
FIG. 1. To permanently attach resilient cushioning member 115 to
cover 105, shoe cover 105 may be turned inside-out and placed over
mandrel 300 as shown in FIG. 4. Mandrel 300 is shown in dashed
lines in FIG. 4.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 5A, an injection mold 505 is fitted over
the bottom 120 of the inverted and inside-out shoe cover 105.
Injection mold 505 includes an opening 510 through which material
may be injected to form cushioning member 115 within the mold. When
injection mold 505 is fitted on shoe cover 105/mandrel 300, a mold
cavity 515 is formed. Mold cavity 515 is configured in the
particular shape desired for resilient cushioning member 115. For
example, in one embodiment mold cavity 515 may exhibit a geometry
that is sufficiently long, sufficiently wide, and sufficiently
thick to form a cushioning member 115 suitable for supporting the
user's shoe 110.
[0033] To form cushioning member 115, a resilient material such as
an open cell foam (e.g. polyurethane, polyethylene) is injected
into opening 510 as indicated by arrow 520 to substantially fill
mold cavity 515 as seen in FIG. 5B. The resilient material cures to
form cushioning member 115. The mold 505 is removed from shoe cover
105 and the portion of flexible material that formed in mold
opening 510 is cut or otherwise removed from cushioning member 115.
In this manner, cushioning member 115 is non-removably over-molded
to shoe cover 105, thus resulting in the structure shown in FIG.
5C. The shoe cover/cushion member assembly thus formed is removed
from mandrel 300, as shown in FIG. 5D. As viewed in FIG. 5D, the
shoe cover/cushioning member assembly is still inside-out. After
removal from the mandrel 300, the shoe cover/cushioning member is
turned right-side out, as shown in FIG. 5E to complete the
manufacture of one embodiment of shoe cover system 100. Shoe cover
system 100 is now ready for wearing by the user. FIG. 5F shows the
completed shoe cover system 100 with a shoe 110 inside the shoe
cover system. The above-described over-molding method is a direct
attachment method because cushioning member 115 is directly
attached to the bottom 120 of shoe cover 105. Alternatively,
instead of the injection molding method described above, a casting
method may be employed to form cushioning member 115 on bottom
120.
[0034] FIGS. 6A and 6B depict an alternative assembly method. In
this alternative assembly method, resilient cushioning member 115
may be non-removably attached, i.e. permanently attached, to shoe
cover 105 at bottom 120 by lower adhesive layer 220 which is
situated between resilient cushioning member 115 and the bottom 120
of shoe cover 105. This is an indirect attachment method. In this
approach, the same steps as employed in FIGS. 3 and 4 may be used
so that shoe cover 105 is oriented inside-out on mandrel 300 as
shown in FIG. 4. Lower adhesive layer 220 is applied to bottom 120
as shown in FIG. 6A. A pre-formed resilient cushioning member 115
is positioned on lower adhesive layer 220 as shown in FIG. 6B.
Preformed resilient cushioning member may exhibit a generally
foot-like geometry suitable for supporting the user's foot, such as
shown in FIG. 10B. Returning to FIG. 6B, lower adhesive layer 220
holds the preformed resilient cushioning member 115 to the bottom
120 of shoe cover 105. The shoe cover/cushion member assembly is
removed from mandrel 300 and turned right-side-out so that the shoe
cover system 100 is ready for use. The above-described adhesive
method is an indirect attachment method because resilient
cushioning member 115 is indirectly attached to the bottom 120 of
shoe cover 105 via an intervening layer, namely adhesive layer
220.
[0035] In another alternative embodiment, as opposed to cushion
member 115 being adhesively attached to shoe cover 105, cushion
member 115 may be permanently attached to shoe cover 105 by flame
bonding. In this approach, the same steps as employed in FIGS. 3
and 4 may be employed so that shoe cover 105 is oriented inside-out
on mandrel 300 as shown in FIG. 4. A preformed cushioning member
115 is fabricated from resilient material such as polyethylene or
other polymer that is capable of having its surface liquefied by
flame for bonding to shoe cover 105. Shoe cover 105 may be
fabricated from fabric, vinyl or other flexible material that is
suitable for bonding via flame bonding. In this method, one of the
opposed major surfaces of foam resilient cushioning member 115 is
passed by a flame to create a thin layer of molten polymer, i.e.
liquefied polymer. The liquefied major surface of the resilient
cushioning member 115 is pressed against the bottom 120 of shoe
cover 105. Resilient cushioning member 115 is allowed to cool. A
bond is thus formed between resilient cushioning member 115 and the
bottom 120 of shoe cover 105. The resultant flame-bonded shoe
cover/cushioning member assembly appears substantially the same as
illustrated in FIG. 5C where resilient cushioning member 115 is
directly attached to the bottom 120 of shoe cover 105. The shoe
cover/cushioning member assembly is removed from mandrel 300 as
shown in FIG. 5D. The shoe cover/cushion member assembly is turned
right-side-out as shown in FIG. 5E so that the shoe cover system
100 is ready for use.
[0036] In each of the above described direct and indirect
attachment methods for attaching resilient cushioning member 115 to
shoe cover 105, resilient cushioning member 115 may be further
outfitted with an upper adhesive layer covered by a release liner,
as depicted in FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C and 7D. The purpose of this
arrangement is to help prevent the shoe cover 105 from sagging away
from below the user's shoe as the user walks. This arrangement may
decrease the likelihood of tripping, thus providing an anti-trip
feature. In one embodiment, the same steps used to position shoe
cover 105 on mandrel 300 may be employed as depicted in FIGS. 3 and
4. Subsequently, the same steps used to indirectly attach resilient
cushioning member 115 to shoe cover bottom 120 via adhesive layer
220 may be employed, as shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B. Alternatively,
over-molding or flame bonding may be used to directly attach
resilient cushioning member 115 to shoe cover bottom 120 if
desired. However, for purposes of this particular example,
cushioning member 115 is indirectly attached to shoe cover bottom
120 as shown in FIG. 6B.
[0037] Referring now to FIG. 7A, upper adhesive layer 705 with
release liner 710 thereon is applied to resilient cushioning member
115 while resilient cushioning member 115 and shoe cover 105 are
still mounted on mandrel 300. Note that, in one embodiment, forming
the structure of FIG. 7A may commence after the shoe
cover/cushioning member assembly of FIG. 6B is formed. It is also
noted that the shoe cover system depicted in FIG. 7A is still
inside-out. As shown in FIG. 7B, the shoe cover/cushioning member
assembly is removed from mandrel 300. As shown in FIG. 7C, the shoe
cover/cushioning member assembly is turned right-side-out so that
the resultant shoe cover system 100' is ready for use. The user may
remove release liner 710 from upper adhesive layer 705 by peeling
away release liner 710 from upper adhesive layer 705 prior to
inserting the user's foot into shoe cover system 100', as shown in
FIG. 7D. Release liner 710 may include one or more pull tabs along
the edges of release liner 710 to assist the user in removing the
release liner 710 from upper adhesive layer 705 in preparation for
use of the shoe cover system. With the upper adhesive layer 705
thus exposed, the bottom of shoe 110 will adhere to upper adhesive
layer 705 when the user inserts the user's foot into the shoe cover
system. In this manner, resilient cushioning member 115 will stick
to the bottom of the user's shoe so that resilient cushioning
member 115 and/or shoe cover 105 does not sag away from the bottom
of the user's shoe as the user walks while using the shoe cover
system. In one embodiment, adhesive layer 705 is made of low tack
adhesive such that the bottom of the user's shoe does not
permanently bond to the shoe cover system. Adhesive layer 705
exhibits sufficient tackiness, i.e. stickiness, that the user's
shoe sticks to cushioning member 115 during use, but is still
removable from resilient cushioning member 115 when the user takes
off the shoe cover system. In one embodiment, adhesive layer 705
need not cover the entire surface of resilient cushioning member
115 as long as adhesive layer 705 is present in the heel area of
the cushioning member and the toe area of the cushioning member.
For example, as seen in FIG. 7D, adhesive layer 705 include a heel
portion 715, a toe portion 720 and a remaining portion 725 between
heel portion 715 and toe portion 720. In this particular
embodiment, heel portion 715 and toe portion 720 exhibit higher
stickiness than the remaining portion 725. Alternatively, the
adhesive need not be present in the remaining portion 725.
[0038] In another embodiment, shoe cover 105 may be fabricated from
a stretch fabric such as a two-way stretch fabric or a four-way
stretch fabric (e.g. a spandex fabric). In this manner, shoe cover
105 stretches when the user places his or her foot into the shoe
cover to more snugly hold the shoe cover system to the user's
shoe.
[0039] In yet another alternative embodiment, resilient cushioning
member 115 may be formed of multiple layers of resilient material
wherein each layer exhibits a different durometer. In the
embodiments discussed above, resilient cushioning member 115 may
include sandwiched layers 115A and 115B, wherein each layer
exhibits a different durometer, as illustrated in FIG. 8A. In other
words, each layer of cushioning member 115 exhibits a different
degree or hardness, or conversely, each layer exhibits a different
degree of softness to the user. For example, layer 115A may be
fabricated from gel which exhibits a durometer different from the
durometer of layer 115B that may be fabricated from foam. To
actually form such a shoe cover system wherein the layers of
cushioning member 115 exhibit different durometers, a preformed
cushioning member 115 may be provided prior to installation in the
shoe cover system. Preformed cushioning member 115 may include both
layer 115A that exhibits one durometer and layer 115B that exhibits
another durometer. In more detail, a shoe cover system employing a
resilient cushioning member 115 with multiple durometer layers may
be formed as described above with reference to FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and
FIG. 6A.
[0040] Next, the preformed cushioning member 115 including
sandwiched layers 115A and 115B is applied to adhesive layer 220 as
shown in FIG. 8A. The shoe cover/cushioning member assembly of FIG.
8A is removed from mandrel 300. At this point, the shoe
cover/cushioning member assembly is still inside-out. The shoe
cover/cushioning member assembly is now turned right-side-out so
that shoe cover system 100'' is ready for use. The user may then
insert his or her shoe into shoe cover system 100'' as indicated in
FIG. 8B.
[0041] FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C show the fabrication of a shoe cover
system 100''' that employs both the multiple layer, multiple
durometer cushioning member feature and the anti-trip
adhesive/release liner feature discussed above. In this embodiment,
fabrication is performed as before as indicated in the discussion
of FIGS. 3, 4, 6A and 8A. After application of the multiple
durometer layer cushioning member 115' to adhesive layer 220 as
seen in FIG. 8A, the same adhesive layer 705 and release liner 710
used with reference to FIG. 7A is applied to resilient cushioning
member 115', as shown in FIG. 9A. The resultant shoe cover system
is removed from mandrel 300 and turned right-side-out to form the
shoe cover system 100''' of FIG. 9B which is now ready for use.
Before using shoe cover system 100''', the user removes release
liner 710 to expose the adhesive layer 705 below. The user inserts
his or her foot into the shoe cover system 100''' so the bottom of
the user's shoe 110 is engaged by and adheres to adhesive layer
705, as shown in FIG. 9C.
[0042] In an alternative to the anti-trip feature provided by
adhesive layer 705 in FIGS. 9A-9C, the sticky nature of gel layer
115A may itself be employed to provide an anti-trip feature to the
of FIG. 8A and 8B. Layer 115A is provided with gel that is
configured to provide sufficient stickiness for the gel to adhere
to the bottom of the user's shoe during use and yet still be
removable when the user is done using the shoe cover system. In one
embodiment, gel layer 115A is configured such that some areas of
gel layer 115A are more sticky than other areas. For example, the
heel and toe area of gel layer 115A may be made to be more sticky
than other areas of gel layer 115A by applying a light talc to
areas of the gel layer 115A other than the heal and toe areas. In
one embodiment, a release layer may be applied to gel layer 115A.
In a manner similar to shoe cover system 100''' of FIG. 9A-9C, the
user removes the release liner when the user is ready to use the
shoe cover system.
[0043] FIG. 10A depicts an alternative method for attaching
resilient cushioning member 115 to the bottom 120 of shoe cover 105
by applying stitching 1005 around the periphery of resilient
cushioning member 115 as seen in FIG. 10B. Mandrel 300 may be
employed as shown in FIG. 10A to hold the inside-out shoe cover in
position prior to stitching. FIG. 10B shows a bottom view of the
shoe cover/cushioning member assembly so that the stitching 1005 in
resilient cushioning member 115 around the peripheral edge of the
bottom 120 of shoe cover 105 may be more easily seen. The stitching
1005 goes through cushioning member 115 and the flexible fabric
that forms the bottom 120 of shoe cover 105 to hold cushioning
member 115 to the bottom 120 of shoe cover 105. As seen in FIG.
10B, the stitching 1005 extends along the periphery of resilient
cushioning member 115, namely along toe end 115Q, first side 115-S,
heel end 115-R and second side 115-T. After completion of
stitching, the shoe cover/cushioning member assembly is removed
from mandrel 300 and turned right-side-out to ready the shoe cover
system for use by the user. This attachment mechanism of
non-removably attaching cushion member 115 to the bottom 120 of
shoe cover 105 via stitching is a direct attachment method. In one
embodiment, shoe cover 105 may be fabricated from waterproof
material. To preserve the waterproof feature of the shoe
cover/cushioning member assembly, the stitching 1005 shown in FIG.
10B may be covered with a waterproof sealant.
[0044] In yet another embodiment, the shoe cover system may be
reversible. For example, the user may insert his or her foot into
the shoe cover system and use the system while the resilient
cushioning member 115 is still exterior to the shoe cover system
such as in FIG. 5D. Alternatively, the user may turn the shoe cover
system right-side out and use the shoe cover system as shown in
FIG. 5F.
[0045] The embodiments described above are representative of the
many embodiments that are possible and still within the spirit and
scope of the invention. Many variations and modifications are
possible. For example, instead of the elastic band 125 holding the
shoe cover system to the user's foot as shown in FIG. 1, the shoe
cover system may employ a shoe lacing arrangement and/or a hook and
loop fastener arrangement to tighten the fit of the shoe cover 105
over the user's shoe. In this manner, the shoe cover may be more
firmly held in contact with the user's shoe.
[0046] In the above described embodiments, the order of assembly of
the various components and layers is intended to be exemplary.
However, it should be noted that the described components and
layers may be assembled in a different order than described
depending on the particular application. Moreover, the components,
parts and layers of the disclosed shoe cover system are not drawn
to scale. The size of some components and layers may be enlarged in
the drawings for easier viewing. For example, the thickness of the
various layers illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 9A, as well as
other embodiments, may be substantially thinner than shown.
[0047] In one embodiment, the disclosed shoe cover system may be a
one-use, disposable system. Such a shoe cover system is especially
useful in hospital settings where avoiding contamination is very
important. In this environment, the shoe cover system may employ a
shoe cover fabric that is resistant to being penetrated by
"sharps", i.e. needles and other sharp instruments such as scalpels
and knives. Materials that are acceptable for this application
include an ultra-tight weave aramid fiber material, a thick PVC
layer material, and a semi-rigid plastic liner material The
disclosed shoe cover system is also useful in the clean-room
environment to prevent contamination.
[0048] In yet another embodiment, an electro-static discharge (ESD)
material may be used to fabricate shoe cover 105 so that the user
of the shoe cover system is less likely to build up static charge
that could damage delicate electronic equipment that the user may
touch.
[0049] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of
the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and
"the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood
that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this
specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude
the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
[0050] The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and
equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the
claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or
act for performing the function in combination with other claimed
elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present
invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and
description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the
invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations
will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without
departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The
embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the
principles of the invention and the practical application, and to
enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the
invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are
suited to the particular use contemplated.
* * * * *