PROTECTIVE FOOT MEMBRANE
A membrane designed to surround the front portion of the foot and protect it from pressure that may be applied by shoes. The membrane acts as a protective barrier between the shoe and the wearer's foot. As a result, direct abrasion of the foot caused by portions of the shoe is reduced. Additionally, the membrane is designed to spread the pressure exerted by portions of the shoe, such as straps, to a significantly larger surface area of the wearer's foot. The membrane is worn on the front portion of the foot between the toes and the heel.
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This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 60/911,728, filed Apr. 13, 2007, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe invention generally relates to foot comfort and specifically relates to a membrane for protecting a foot from pressure applied to the foot by shoes worn over the foot.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIt is well known that people's feet are subject to constant pressure and wear throughout the day. For this reason, there is an abundance of podiatric products available for both preventing and treating foot injuries. Most preventative products are directed at providing additional padding or pressure distribution on the bottom of the foot, particularly the heel or balls of the feet. However, many shoes place tremendous pressure on the sides and top of the foot, as well as the bottom. Open-toed and high-heeled shoes particularly place great pressure on the front portion of the foot just behind the toes. The straps of many women's fashionable high-heeled shoes are designed to fit tightly around the wearer's foot. This, in combination with the added pressure caused by the angle of the high-heeled shoe can cause extreme discomfort or even damage to the foot. Therefore, there is a need for a podiatric product that protects the front of the foot on all sides and distributes or lessens pressure to the foot.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn one embodiment, the invention provides a membrane that surrounds the front portion of the foot to protect it from pressure that may be applied by shoes. The membrane acts as a protective barrier between the shoe and the wearer's foot. As a result, direct abrasion of the foot or pressure applied to the foot caused by portions of the shoe contacting the foot are dramatically reduced. Additionally, the membrane is designed to cushion the foot from pressure and/or to spread the pressure exerted by portions of the shoe, such as straps, to a significantly larger surface area of the wearer's foot.
The membrane of the present invention may be made in one of a variety of configurations as described below. In its most general form, the membrane is a band that wraps around the front portion of the foot between the area of the foot that is just behind the toes and the heel. In one embodiment, the back of the membrane falls within the arch of the foot. Having an embodiment of the inventive membrane in the form of a band, such that the toes are left open, is advantageous for the design of open-toed shoes. The wearer may enjoy the comfort of the membrane without restricting their wardrobe to close-toed shoes. Using the membrane, the wearer may comfortably wear high heels, open-toed shoes or any traditionally uncomfortable shoes.
These and other objects and features of the invention will become more apparent by referring to the drawings, in which:
The inventive membrane 1 is shown in use in
The membrane 1 may be in the form of a straight loop, having a constant circumference along its length, such as that shown in
It is not necessary for the membrane to be uniform in thickness or construction around its circumference. A first portion of the membrane may have a first thickness and a second portion may have a second thickness. For example, as shown in
In order to target specific parts of the foot that are most prone to injury or pressure when inserted into a shoe, the membrane 1 may include an outer sheath 16 that wraps around a portion of the membrane 1. The outer sheath 16 may rotate freely about the membrane 1 so that the outer sheath 16 moves freely with the wearer's skin, thus preventing abrasion. The outer sheath 16 is also designed such that it may rotate about the circumference of the membrane 1. Accordingly, the outer sheath 16 can be positioned for any target area of the front portion of the foot. A lock 18 can be included to lock the outer sheath 16 in a particular place with respect to the circumference of the membrane 1. The embodiment of lock 18, shown in
It may be advantageous to design the inner side 20 and the outer side 22 of the membrane 1 of different materials. This can be accomplished by spraying a coating on the inside 20 or the outside 22 of the membrane 1 (
Although the use of the membrane 1 will help reduce injury and discomfort for the user, it is possible that it will reduce the foot's ability to “breathe.” That is, the foot may become hot and perspiration could become trapped beneath the membrane 1. To reduce this effect, the membrane 1 may be made out of a breathable material. Alternatively, or in addition, the membrane 1 may include slots 26 or holes 28, such as those shown in the bottom of membrane 1 illustrated in
The membrane 1 may include additional features. For instance, as shown in
The membrane 1 can also be formed in more than one band. Embodiments with more than one band are shown in
Even if the foot membrane 1 is transparent or has a skin-tone color, seams or the border of the membrane 1 may still be visible. To conceal the border of the membrane, the membrane may include an image 36 thereon that replicates a tattoo, as shown in
For added protection to the foot, the membrane may include additional protective elements on either the top or bottom of the foot. As shown in
To fit the membrane 1 snuggly on the foot, the membrane may also include a heel strap 46 shown in
A custom fit version of the membrane may be made in the form of a sock that includes a polymer material. To custom fit the membrane, the user may remove unwanted sections from the sock.
Although the preferred form of the invention has been shown and described, many features may be varied, as will readily be apparent to those skilled in this art.
Claims
1. A protective foot membrane comprising:
- a band configured to wrap around a front portion of a user's foot, the front portion being at least between the toes and heel of the user, the band having a top portion configured to cover at least a top portion of the user's foot and a bottom portion configured to cover a bottom portion of the user's foot,
- wherein the top portion of the band is configured to at least partially absorb pressure exerted on at least a portion of the user's foot.
2. The protective foot membrane of claim 1 wherein the top portion of the band is configured to at least partially absorb pressure exerted on a top portion of the user's foot.
3. The protective foot membrane of claim 1 wherein the top portion of the band is configured to at least partially absorb pressure exerted on a side portion adjacent a toe of the user's foot.
4. The protective foot membrane of claim 1 wherein the membrane comprises at least one of transparent and translucent material.
5. The protective foot membrane of claim 1 wherein the membrane comprises a dull surface finish.
6. The protective foot membrane of claim 5 wherein the dull surface finish includes a matted finish.
7. The protective foot membrane of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the membrane includes a skin-tone color.
8. The protective foot membrane of claim 1 wherein the membrane comprises a flexible material.
9. The protective foot membrane of claim 8 wherein the flexible material includes an elastic polymer.
10. The protective foot membrane of claim 1 wherein the membrane comprises an inelastic plastic.
11. The protective foot membrane of claim 1 wherein the band is formed of a single material.
12. The protective foot membrane of claim 1 wherein the band comprises an inner layer and an outer layer.
13. The protective foot membrane of claim 12 further comprising a gap between the inner layer and outer layer.
14. The protective foot membrane of claim 13 wherein the gap is filled with air.
15. The protective foot membrane of claim 13 wherein the gap is filled with a gel.
16. The protective foot membrane of claim 1 wherein the bottom portion comprises a connector configured to pass under the bottom of the foot.
17. The protective foot membrane of claim 16 wherein the connector comprises elastic material.
18. The protective foot membrane of claim 17 wherein the top portion is transparent.
19. The protective foot membrane of claim 1 further comprising an outer sheath disposed around the band.
20. The protective foot membrane of claim 19 further comprising a lock configured to hold the outer sheath in place on the band,
- the lock including at least one tab disposed on the outer sheath and at least one slit disposed on the band configured to receive the tab.
21. The protective foot membrane of claim 1 wherein an inside of the band comprises a first material and an outside of the band comprises a second material that is different from the first material.
22. The protective foot membrane of claim 1 wherein at least the bottom portion of the band includes a grip pattern thereon.
23. The protective foot membrane of claim 1 further comprising at least one slot or hole in the band.
24. The protective foot membrane of claim 1 further comprising a foot powder disposed on a surface of the protective foot membrane.
25. The protective foot membrane of claim 1 further comprising a foot lotion disposed on a surface of the protective foot membrane.
26. The protective foot membrane of claim 1 further comprising a toe loop disposed on the band.
27. The protective foot membrane of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of toe holes in a front portion of the membrane.
28. The protective foot membrane of claim 1 wherein the band comprises a plurality of strips configured to extend around at least a portion of the user's foot.
29. The protective foot membrane of claim 1 further comprising an image on an outer surface of the top portion of the band.
30. The protective foot membrane of claim 29 wherein the image is configured to replicate a tattoo.
31. The protective foot membrane of claim 1 further comprising a plastic plate adjacent the top portion of the band.
32. The protective foot membrane of claim 31, wherein the plastic plate is heat moldable to the top of the user's foot.
33. The protective foot membrane of claim 31, wherein the plastic plate includes a plurality of toe grips.
34. The protective foot membrane of claim 1 further comprising a bottom pad adjacent the bottom portion of the band.
35. The protective foot membrane of claim 34 wherein the bottom pad is a silicon pad.
36. The protective foot membrane of claim 34 wherein the bottom pad comprises a memory foam.
37. The protective foot membrane of claim 1 further comprising a molded base adjacent the bottom portion of the band, the molded base configured to cover substantially all of a sole of the user's foot.
38. The protective foot membrane of claim 1 further comprising a heel strap extending from the band and configured to be disposed behind a user's heel.
39. The protective foot membrane of claim 1 further comprising air holes configured to provide air to the user's foot.
40. The protective foot membrane of claim 1 wherein a thickness of the membrane is non-uniform.
41. A protective foot membrane comprising:
- a band configured to wrap around a front portion of a user's foot the front portion being between the toes and heel of the user, the band having a top portion configured to cover a top portion of the user's foot and a bottom portion configured to cover a bottom portion of the user's foot,
- wherein at least the top portion comprises a transparent elastic polymer.
42. The protective foot membrane of claim 41 wherein the top portion of the band is configured to at least partially absorb pressure exerted on a top portion of the user's foot.
43. The protective foot membrane of claim 41 wherein the top portion of the band is configured to at least partially absorb pressure exerted on a side portion adjacent a toe of the user's foot.
44. The protective foot membrane of claim 41 wherein the transparent elastic polymer comprises latex.
45. A protective foot membrane comprising:
- a band configured to wrap around a front portion of a user's foot the front portion being between the toes and heel of the user, the band having a top portion configured to cover a top portion of the user's foot and a bottom portion configured to cover a bottom portion of the user's foot,
- wherein the top portion is configured to at least partially absorb pressure exerted on at least a portion of the user's foot, and
- wherein the bottom portion includes a molded base configured to cover substantially the entire bottom of the user's foot.
46. The protective foot membrane of claim 1 wherein the top portion of the band is configured to at least partially absorb pressure exerted on a top portion of the user's foot.
47. The protective foot membrane of claim 1 wherein the top portion of the band is configured to at least partially absorb pressure exerted on a side portion adjacent a toe of the user's foot.
48. The protective foot membrane of claim 45 wherein the membrane comprises at least one of transparent and translucent material.
49. The protective foot membrane of claim 45 wherein at least a portion of the membrane includes a skin-tone color.
50. The protective foot membrane of claim 45 wherein the membrane comprises a flexible material.
51. A protective foot membrane comprising:
- a band configured to wrap around a front portion of a user's foot the front portion being between the toes and heel of the user, the band having a top portion configured to cover a top portion of the user's foot and a bottom portion configured to cover a bottom portion of the user's foot,
- wherein the top portion is configured to at least partially absorb pressure exerted on at least a portion of the user's foot, and the top portion comprises at least two straps separated by a gap, each strap having a first side connected to a first side of the bottom portion and a second side connected to a second side of the bottom portion.
52. The protective foot membrane of claim 51 wherein the top portion of the band is configured to at least partially absorb pressure exerted on a top portion of the user's foot.
53. The protective foot membrane of claim 51 wherein the top portion of the band is configured to at least partially absorb pressure exerted on a side portion adjacent a toe of the user's foot.
54. The protective foot membrane of claim 51 wherein the membrane comprises at least one of transparent and translucent material.
55. The protective foot membrane of claim 51 wherein at least a portion of the membrane includes a skin-tone color.
56. The protective foot membrane of claim 51 wherein the membrane comprises a flexible material.
57. A protective foot membrane comprising:
- a band configured to wrap around a front portion of a user's foot the front portion being between the toes and heel of the user, the band having a top portion configured to cover a top portion of the user's foot and a bottom portion configured to cover a bottom portion of the user's foot,
- wherein the top portion the top portion is configured to at least partially absorb pressure exerted on at least a portion of the user's foot, and the top portion comprises two crossed straps, each strap having a first side connected to a first side of the bottom portion and a second side connected to a second side of the bottom portion, and wherein the crossed straps overlap.
58. The protective foot membrane of claim 57 wherein the top portion of the band is configured to at least partially absorb pressure exerted on a top portion of the user's foot.
59. The protective foot membrane of claim 57 wherein the top portion of the band is configured to at least partially absorb pressure exerted on a side portion adjacent a toe of the user's foot.
60. The protective foot membrane of claim 57 wherein the crossed straps are integrally formed.
61. The protective foot membrane of claim 57 wherein the crossed straps are separate.
62. The protective foot membrane of claim 57 wherein the membrane comprises at least one of transparent and translucent material.
63. The protective foot membrane of claim 57 wherein at least a portion of the membrane includes a skin-tone color.
64. The protective foot membrane of claim 57 wherein the membrane comprises a flexible material.
65. A protective foot membrane comprising:
- a band configured to wrap around a front portion of a user's foot the front portion being between the toes and heel of the user, the band having a top portion configured to cover a top portion of the user's foot and a bottom portion configured to cover a bottom portion of the user's foot,
- wherein the top portion is configured to spread pressure exerted on at least a portion of the user's foot.
66. The protective foot membrane of claim 65 wherein the top portion of the band is configured to at least partially absorb pressure exerted on a top portion of the user's foot.
67. The protective foot membrane of claim 65 wherein the top portion of the band is configured to at least partially absorb pressure exerted on a side portion adjacent a toe of the user's foot.
68. The protective foot membrane of claim 65 wherein the membrane comprises at least one of transparent and translucent material.
69. The protective foot membrane of claim 65 wherein at least a portion of the membrane includes a skin-tone color.
70. The protective foot membrane of claim 65 wherein the membrane comprises a flexible material.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 14, 2008
Publication Date: Oct 16, 2008
Applicant: (New York, NY)
Inventors: Michele Laurie Hallivis (New York, NY), Craig B. Berky (Milford, OH), Steven Daniel Feinstein (New York, NY), Gina Reimann (Brooklyn, NY)
Application Number: 12/102,800
International Classification: A43B 7/14 (20060101); A43B 13/22 (20060101);