Foot covering

Abstract

A foot covering made from a single piece of non-woven material symmetrical about a vertical axis having a closed toe portion and an open heel portion. The toe portion of a blank can be either generally octagonal or generally octagonal or generally heart-shaped prior to joining the symmetrical segments. The toe of the blank is closed by joining the periphery of the symmetrical segments of the toe portion from the point at which the periphery crosses the vertical axis to corresponding points on the periphery of each of the symmetrical segments which will produce a foot covering whose heel's peripheral lateral edges will curve up to form lateral walls around a foot when the foot is inserted in the closed toe portion and then into a shoe. The foot covering can also be made without lateral walls.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a disposable foot covering, and more particularly to a foot covering for customers when trying on new shoes in a shoe store.

During warm weather, many people find it more convenient to not wear stockings. For reasons of health and sanitation, shoe stores do not permit customers without a foot covering or stockings to try on a new pair of shoes (unless they bring with them, or buy, a pair of stockings). Although stockings, including peds, are generally sold by shoe stores, customers are reluctant to purchase same merely for the purpose of trying on a new pair of shoes. Thus, there exists a need for an inexpensive, comfortable and disposable foot covering to be available when this situation presents itself.

The foot coverings of prior art devices are formed from blanks having intricate non-continuous surfaces stitched together to form a closed toe, heel (and sometimes ankle) section. Some are formed from a single piece of material and others are formed by joining two symmetrical pieces of material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foot covering of the present invention minimizes the manufacturing costs involved by providing a covering that is made from a single piece of non-woven material, symmetrical about a vertical axis and having a closed toe and open heel portion.

Before joining symmetrical segments, the toe portion of the blank is either generally octagonal or generally heart-shaped. Also, it is closed by joining the periphery of the symmetrical segments of the toe portion from a point at which the toe periphery crosses the vertical axis to a corresponding point on the periphery of each of the symmetrical segments, which will produce a foot covering which has the peripheral lateral edges of the heel curving up to form lateral walls around the foot, when it is inserted in the closed toe portion and then into a shoe. The foot covering can also be made without laterial walls. Straps may be added to the heel portion to be joined together around the ankle so as to secure the covering to the foot, when it is used alone without a shoe.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to reduce the manufacturing costs of disposable foot coverings.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the manufacturing costs of disposable foot coverings by reducing the time and amount of seaming or stitching.

A further object of the invention is the provision of the construction of the toe, such that the lateral periphery of the open heel section will rise automatically upon the insertion of the foot into the toe and then into a shoe, to form lateral walls around the inserted foot.

Still another object of the invention is to reduce the manufacturing costs of disposable foot coverings by the elimination of elastic materials.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a foot covering that can be used without shoes by the inclusion of two straps at the heel section to secure the covering to the foot.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the foot covering of the present invention with a foot therein;

FIG. 2 is a plane view of a foot covering before the toe portion is formed;

FIG. 3 is a plane view of the foot covering also before the toe portions are formed;

FIG. 4 is a plane view of the invention showing the toe portion formed;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the foot covering of the present invention with an inserted foot and straps extending from the foot covering, secured to the ankle;

FIG. 6 is a side cutaway view of the foot covering worn with a shoe.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1, which illustrates the preferred embodiment of the foot covering 10, shows a foot inserted in the toe portion 12 and extending through the heel portion 14. The toe portion 12 is composed of two symmetrical portions 16 and 18 shown to be joined together at seam 20. The heel portion 14 has two symmetrical portions which curve up to form lateral walls 22 and 24 around a portion of the foot. Equal sections of the symmetrical heel portions form a sole 26 terminating at 28. The foot covering 10 is made from a blank of single sheet material to have a closed toe 12 and an open heel 14. Other than the cutting, the only other manufacturing technique required is the joining of the toe to form seam 20, which may be by sewing or heat sealing.

The toe is formed in such a way that heel walls 22 and 24 naturally rise to encompass a portion of the side of the foot on the insertion of the toe into the toe portion 12, as shown in FIG. 1, and the complete sides of the foot when inserted into a shoe, as shown in FIG. 6. This is without the need for additional structure, such as elastic, nor the requirement of joining or closing the heel.

Two configurations which are used to form the present foot covering 10 are illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. A generally heart-shaped peripheral outline truncated at its apex is illustrated in FIG. 2. The blank is symmetrical about a vertical axis 30. The toe portion 12 has a peripheral outline of segments of two circles 32 and 34. The circles intersect at vertex 36 and have centers which define a line, which is perpendicular to the vertical axis 30. The circular segments which define the periphery of the toe start at the vertex 36 and continue around to points 38 and 40 to define slightly more than half of the circles. At these two points, i.e. 38 and 40, extends the elongated heel portion 42, which has a gradually diminishing width and terminates at a rear edge 28. The peripheral outline of the truncated heart-shaped piece of material is a smooth, continuous curve except at the vertex 36 and the point at which the heel portion terminates at 28. It should be noted that heel termination 28 is perpendicular to the vertical axis 30.

The blank illustrated in FIG. 2 joins the symmetrical toe portions 16 and 18 from the vertex 36 to points 43 and 44 on the periphery thereof. Points 43 and 44 lie in the plane defined by the centers of the circle which also define points on the circle whose tangents are parallel to the vertical axis 30. By forming the toe portion as just described and terminating at points 43 and 44, a foot covering is formed which will produce the lateral walls 22 and 24 curving up from the center line 30 to encompass a portion of the side of the foot when it is inserted into the toe section 12 and then to encompass the whole side of the foot when inserted into a shoe.

The second preferred embodiment of the blank from which foot covering 10 is made is illustrated in FIG. 3. A covering is shown which has a generally octagonal toe portion which has sides 45, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56 and 58. As in the previous embodiment, an elongated heel portion 42 extends from the toe portion and has a gradually diminishing width with termination being at a rear edge 28, which is generally perpendicular to a vertical axis 30. Octagonal edge 45 and edge 52 are perpendicular to the vertical axis 30 and the heel portion 42 can be considered as extending from octagonal segment 52. Octagonal segments 50 and 54, which flow into heel portion 42, are curved. Segments 48 and 56 are parallel to the vertical axis 30 and define the broadest width of the blank. To form the foot covering 10 as illustrated in FIG. 1, the symmetrical segments of the octagonal periphery are joined starting at center point 60 of octagonal segment 45, which lies on the vertical axis 30 around the periphery to points 62 and 64 of octagonal segments 48 and 56, respectively. For expediency and economics, octagonal segments 45, 48 and 56 may comprise the top and lateral edge of the material from which the blank is to be cut.

When the blank is cut and joined as described above in FIG. 3, a foot covering 10 will be produced with an open heel which automatically produces upward rising lateral walls 22 and 24 to encompass the foot when said foot is inserted into the toe section 12 and then into a shoe.

FIG. 4 illustrates the foot covering 10 in a collapsed condition. It is in this condition that the foot covering can be shipped and dispensed for usage.

FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative construction of the preferred embodiment having straps 64 and 66 secured to heel lateral walls 22 and 24, respectively. The straps 64 and 66 are joined around the ankle to form bows 68. By joining the straps in such a manner, foot covering 10 is secured to the foot and may be used as the only foot covering, without a shoe. Also, the straps 64 and 66 may be joined at the heel to form a rear lateral wall.

The materials from which foot covering 10 is made are non-woven materials. The most successful non-woven material which will produce the upwardly rising lateral walls of an open heel has been found to be non-woven nylon. Other materials such as "Wondercloth" (being made of 75 percent nylon, 25 percent polyester) have been used. Similarly, other materials may be used which exhibit the ability to form upwardly rising heel portions as required by the present invention.

For ease of manufacture and standardization of the foot coverings 10, they will be made in small, medium and large sizes for men, women and children. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the dimensions of the blank include the width across the tow (WT), the width across the heel (WH), the diameter of the circular segments (D), the overall length of the formed foot covering (LF), and the overall length of the blank (LB). Suggested dimensions for small, medium and large sizes for women are shown in Table I.

TABLE I ______________________________________ Size WT WH D LF LB ______________________________________ S 6 2 3 83/4 91/2 M 61/2 21/4 31/4 93/4 101/2 L 7 21/2 4 103/4 111/2 ______________________________________

The present foot covering minimizes manufacturing costs by reducing or eliminating the amount of stitching or joining necessary to form the closed toe and heel portions. Also, the cost of the material is reduced by non-inclusion of an elastic band around the periphery of the foot covering.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spirit and scope of the invention being limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed:

1. A one piece blank for a foot covering comprising a generally octagonal toe portion peripheral outline and an elongated arch and heel portion extending from a first octagonal peripheral segment, said toe, arch and heel portions being symmetrical about a vertical axis, said elongated arch and heel portions having a gradual diminishment in width and terminating at a rear edge, and said rear edge being a straight line perpendicular to said vertical axis.

2. A one piece blank as in claim 1 wherein a second and third octagonal peripheral segment is parallel to said vertical axis, and wherein a fourth and fifth octagonal segment, which connects said first segment with said second and third segments, respectively, are curved.

3. A foot covering comprising a single sheet of material symmetrical about a vertical axis and having a toe, an arch and a heel portion, said toe portion having a peripheral outline of seven segments of an octagon, said arch and heel portions extending from the eighth segment of an octagon, said heel portion terminating in a straight line substantially perpendicular to said vertical axis, said toe portion being closed by means joining symmetrical segments of said toe's periphery from the center of an octagonal segment which is perpendicular to said vertical axis to approximately the midpoints of two of said octagonal segments which are parallel to said vertical axis such that upon insertion of the toes of a foot into said closed toe portion, the peripheral edges of said heel portion curve up from said vertical axis to form lateral walls around the arch of said foot.

4. A foot covering as in claim 3 wherein said heel portion includes two straps extending from the end thereof adapted to be crossed and joined to form a side and rear lateral wall around the heel of said foot.

5. A foot covering comprising a single sheet of material symmetrical about a vertical axis and having a toe, arch and heel portion, said toe being closed by means joining symmetrical segments of the periphery of said sheet from a point at which said periphery crosses said vertical axis in said toe portion to corresponding points which are the lower end points of two peripheral segments of said toe section which are parallel to said vertical axis before joining, said arch and heel portion being open and said heel portion terminating in a straight line substantially perpendicular to said vertical axis, and said corresponding points at which said joining means terminates being such that upon insertion of the toes of a foot into said closed toe portion, the peripheral edges of said arch portion curve up from said vertical axis to form lateral walls around the arch of said foot.

6. A foot covering as in claim 5 wherein the toe portion includes a vertex symmetrical about said vertical axis.

7. A foot covering as in claim 5 wherein said heel portion includes two straps extending from said straight line at points spaced from the ends of said straight line adapted to be crossed and joined to cause said heel portion to form sides walls and a rear lateral wall around the heel of said foot.