Disposable and/or camouflage scent encapsulating adsorption system interchangeably positionable about shoes, boots and feet further providing odor, barrier and/or contaminate protection during storage and use

Abstract

Scent adsorbing disposable and adjustable encapsulating foot/shoe/boot cover system for various hunters, photographers, military and medical personnel, paintball or other activities offering concealment and/or prevention of odorous detection by animals or protection from dangerous materials such as bacteria, viruses and the like when encountering animals, people or other. The cover may be solid in color or be camouflaged with various colored patterns and may be imprinted with indicia such as logos or advertisements. The cover being comprised of at least a layer of breathable material containing an odor adsorption means such as activated carbon or other; and may further be comprised of a water resistant or water-proof layer or shell enabling the user to position said product about a shoe, boot or the foot area of the user while performing an activity such as but not limited to hunting or during storage or travel.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to foot/shoe/boot covers. More specifically, the invention is at least one foot/shoe/boot cover, or a pair of foot/shoe/boot covers, which, according to the present invention, are capable of reducing scent, and may be multi-colored, i.e., camouflaged, and may contain indicia imprinted about the cover, which can be utilized by hunters, fishermen, military personnel, emergency or other medical units, photographers, athletes such as runners or for paint ball or other.

Hunters and others may encounter odors from stores, gas stations, restaurants, hunting camps, lodges or other areas containing odors, floor cleaners, or substances that would not be natural in outdoor environments. Whereby, users may implement said product to prevent contamination or to prevent the transference of odors into outdoor environments. Another embodiment of the invention is that it enables the scent adsorbing and/or the portion containing an odor adsorbing means to be used either singularly or by combination with an exterior cover that may be camouflaged, water-resistant or water proof so as to adsorb or prevent odor and/or provide a barrier. Said cover system may also prevent odor from entering or exiting shoes and boots into an environment such as a vehicle, house, luggage or other.

Typically, disposable shoe covers are solid in color and lack an odor adsorbing means and it is therefore believed that the claimed invention of both camouflage boot covers and disposable boot covers having an odor adsorbing means is new, unique and useful. Shoes or boots may be solid in color or contain undesirable colors or properties for use in specific tasks, further certain shoes and boots contain surfaces and materials capable of directly contacting adsorbing carrying and dispersing odor and or contaminates. A further benefit addressed by the present invention pertains to the ability to use disposable camouflage boot covers by military, hunters, paint ball players and others desiring to alter concealment of shoes or boots and match the terrain and environment and/or benefit from an odor adsorption means and/or barrier that is adaptable singularly or by combination.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a single or multi-layer disposable odor adsorbing foot/shoe/boot cover, or a pair of foot/shoe/boot covers, which may be used by hunters, fishermen, military personnel, emergency medical personnel, or others for the prevention of contacting, emanating or leaving human odors, and the prevention of contamination from harmful bacteria, viruses and hazardous biological materials. The foot/shoe/boot cover allows the user to encounter various objects prior to a hunt, during a hunt, a military operation, and the like, providing a barrier from scent being dispersed or transferred directly onto users boots or that might be present on users boots that may jeopardize the user's intended operation. Moreover, emergency medical personnel may benefit from the adsorption features and/or be protected from contamination when treating and encountering areas where patients having contagious diseases, blood, chemicals, or other potentially hazardous substances. In the broadest context, usage of the disposable system provides users an interchangeable system comprising foot/shoe/boot covers enabling use with any task in which the user needs a scent reducing and/or camouflage concealment, general cleanliness, and may further provide a water resistant or waterproof barrier between the foot or the user's shoe or boot and its environment. In one embodiment, indicia such as logos and advertisement can also be added including but not limited to: animals, mammals, reptiles, racing, sporting items, geometrical designs, corporate logos, or other. A specific example would be for the invaluable use of a hunter who must travel about an area that an animal is likely to cross and/or come as close to the animal being hunted as possible without being detected and which requires a pair of shoe/boot covers which will reduce odor emanating from the users foot or that may be located on the users shoe or boot preventing the hunter's scent from being dispersed on the ground while traveling to and from a hunting location or on any article or surrounding object so as to warn an animal having a superior sense of smell. A hunter or other user may prefer to implement said product prior to hunting, or while traveling, or while located in lodges, hunting camps, restaurants, gas stations, parking lots, stores, or other areas where floor cleaners, chemicals, cooking odors, smoke or other odor or contaminates may be encountered, contacted or present. The user may elect to remove and replace new or previously used covers periodically or as desired; i.e. remove a pair and substitute a different pair after traveling from a gas station and prior to entering the woods or storing in a closet or other.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide disposable scent reducing and/or camouflaged shoe/boot covers for hunting, military operations, medical operations, paint ball or other.

Additionally, it is a principal object of the invention to provide disposable odor adsorbing shoe/boot covers capable of being inserted into shoes and boots and to cover shoes and boots before, during and after activities, use or during travel or storage.

Another object of the system is to provide concealment and/or a barrier offering waterproof or water resistant properties enabling the shoe or boot to be protected.

A further object of the invention is to provide shoe/boot covers with various indicia including animals, mammals, reptiles, fish, racing, sporting items, printed logos, advertisements, geometrical designs, and the like.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

It is an object of the invention to provide an economical and improved scent management article capable of preventing odor from being transferred onto a shoe or boot or from the shoe or boot to the environment prior to hunting or during hunting, scouting or other.

These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

Disposable scent reducing and/or camouflage shoe/boot covers being adaptable for use in the present system, solving the aforementioned problems, is desired and seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the spirit and scope herein.

Absorb, adsorb, sorption, adsorption, absorption may be interchangeable within and apply to broadest coverage as they relate to the adsorption means of the present invention as included and described herein.

Velcro is a registered product.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of the present adaptable system containing an interchangeable two-part disposable scent adsorbing boot cover and camouflage boot cover used in combination.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a shoe/boot cover according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial bottom view of a shoe/boot cover according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an individual odor adsorbing cover that may be used for prevention of odor during storage an/or use.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention, as depicted in FIG. 1, is a pair of scent adsorbing and/or camouflage shoe/boot covers 9 and 10, which comprises a system which may be used together, as shown for use by a hunter or other person to both protect the users shoe, boot, or foot from contamination, and to prevent the user from leaving scent behind on any object which might be detected by game animals having a keen sense of smell. Wherein said portions may be comprised of similar or dissimilar properties and may be die cut or formed by any acceptable means into desired shape, wherein covers or portions may also be glued, sewn heat set or other. Camouflage may be applied to the exterior surface of selected material and can be heat transferred, vat dyed or printed directly onto selected materials or accomplished by other means to provide an intended look.

In this example, shoe cover 9 is a breathable shoe cover containing an odor adsorbing means such as activated carbon and shoe cover 10 is a waterproof version located exteriorly allowing the user to adjust locations of covers for weather or other. Said cover 9, may be located internally or externally of said cover 10 enabling odor within cover 10 to be adsorbed before exiting through an upper portion located about opening 7. Advantageously, covers 9 and 10 are relatively thin and flexible and may contain a fastening means 8, which may be selected from elastic, drawstring, snaps, ties, Velcro or other and be located about one or more portions such as the upper portion enabling the covers to be securable to one another and/or to assist in conforming to a shoe, boot, or foot allowing the users to easily manipulate them so as to cover the bottom, sides, top of shoe, boot, foot, ankle, leg or portions thereof. Covers 9 and 10, may be used separately or joined together temporarily or permanently about seam 11, or other by a securable fastening means 8, which may consist or Velcro snaps ties or by sewing, gluing, heat setting, by a lamination process or other suitable means and/or may appear in locations such as upper portion 6, enabling the two to be connected and used internally, externally or in combination with a shoe, boot or foot. Bottom 5, may exist as a separate portion of either or both cover 9 and 10 or may be configured by design to be included in a one piece design or included in two separate and adjoining portions, such as preferable symmetrical side portions capable of being used to construct said cover or other. Covers 9 or 10 may be secured by seam 11, which may be located about upper sections and/or about the middle and/or bottom and/or sides or other periodically or for the duration of an adjoining portion such as about an edge or other. Toe 4, is illustrated and shown included in design portions of cover 10. Covers 9 and 10 may also be secured to one another by permanently or by a fastening means 8 in one or more locations, such as the sides or edge of upper portion 6, further covers 9 and 10 and openings 7 may be designed to accommodate both a right and left foot and be used on an individual foot when used in combination or separately on both a left and right foot simultaneously, allowing the connected or separate covers to be removed from their interior or exterior location where perspective covers 9 or 10 may be positioned so as to function and provide side by side use for two feet, shoes, or boots simultaneously.

Although, camouflage pattern 12, located on cover 9 has been described with reference to its use by hunters, it will be understood that the camouflage pattern may vary with the intended use in order to blend in with the environment or other. For example, the color and pattern may consist of a solid color such as black, for night operations, or blaze orange for hunting or other or consist of a combination of colors or patterns for use by hunters, fisherman, photographers, military, or other personnel.

The shoe/boot cover 9 or 10 may be of a breathable material or consist of a water resistant or water proof material so that they offer some protection for keeping the hunter's feet dry in inclement weather. Cover 9 and 10 may be textured or smooth to meet the needs of the user (better illustrated in FIG. 3). Covers 9 and 10 may be adjustable to accommodate different size users and/or consist of a variety of sizes as may be preferred by users. Further, covers 9 and 10 may offer protection from mud, soil, tree and plant resins, and other contaminants, including harmful bacteria, viruses, or other infectious agents which may be encountered in the blood or viscera of an animal or fish while gutting or dressing the carcass or other. Cover 9 and 10 may be implemented by a user and be reversed so as to expose an internal or external surface or repositioned internally or externally about another similar or dissimilar cover so as to adjust to changes in weather, environmental factors or other.

FIG. 2 depicts cover 10, which may consist of a single layer or be comprised of a multi-layer laminate, wherein cover 9 (not shown) may be temporarily or permanently secured about the interior or exterior. Cover 10, may consist of plastic, latex, rubber, silicone or other suitable material. Cover 9 (not shown) or 10, may be solid in color or contain a coloration and pattern 12, such as a camouflage pattern located on the interior or exterior surfaces. Cover 10, in this example, may consist of a variety of shapes and sizes, and may resemble a standard shoe/boot shape. Cover 10, includes an optional cuff 3, enabling it to be rolled or folded to adjust to different heights about a shoe, boot or foot of a user or that may contain elastic or a drawstring or other. Cover 10, may also contain a separate toe 4 and heel 13 portions or may be preferably included in design with another portion. Said cover 9 (not shown) or 10 may be enclosed and or include a separate sole area or bottom 2, which may be included in design portions of said covers. The interior or exterior surfaces of cover 10 or 9 (not shown) may contain colors and/or a pattern of a two dimensional or three dimensional design which may blend in with the environment, and/or consist of shapes similar to leaves, foliage, trees, grass, dirt, corn, reeds, or other so that game animals would be less likely to detect the user in the environment where blending may be desirable. Shoe/boot cover 9 and/or 10 may be adjustable or conformable in size and shape, so as to accommodate various users and/or enable use on either the left foot or right foot.

FIG. 3, shows a partial view of bottom portion 2, of shoe/boot cover 9 or 10 (of FIG. 1) which may contain features 15, that assist with traction such as but not limited to being embossed or having a design, grit, texture or other. Bottom 2, may alternately be smooth 14, and bottom 2 may be attached separately about seams, edges or portions or be included in a one piece design and consist of materials used to construct cover 9 and 10.

FIG. 4, illustrates cover 9, in a singular form, wherein said cover 9 or 10 (of FIG. 1) or portion of either or both may be inserted inside of the cavity of a shoe or boot, or used externally to prevent or remove odor prior to use, during use, storage or other. The singular or combined system may be packaged in a suitable dispenser, plastic bag, or other which minimizes handling of the shoe/boot cover 9 and/or 10 (of FIG. 1) in order to prevent contamination prior to use. Cover 9 or 10 (of FIG. 1) of the present invention may have indicia 16, such as a logo or advertisement, or other imprinted about a portion or portions.

Claims

1. A disposable scent reducing foot/shoe/boot cover system consisting of a single layer of breathable material containing an odor adsorbing means located on the breathable material designed and configured to form a covering; containing a sole portion and at least a toe, heel or side and/or upper portion configured for use about the foot area; which may include the entire foot area and/or a portion of the ankle and/or leg area; wherein the foot/shoe/boot cover may be symmetrical about the sides and adapted for being worn or used on either a right or left foot, shoe or boot; whereby the wearer of the foot/shoe/boot cover may use the cover as a barrier from direct contact with scent containing items or wherein the user may use the shoe/boot cover to prevent scent from being dispersed on objects encountered by the user or from unnatural odors located about the user or the users shoes, socks or boots and wherein the user may also use the foot/shoe/boot cover as a weather barrier and/or to further prevent direct contact from dangerous bacteria, viruses and biological hazardous materials offering protection to the shoe, boot or foot area of the user.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising two or more layers of breathable or non-breathable material constructed so as to form a portion, shell or interior liner or exterior cover capable of being located in portion or reflecting in entirety the odor adsorbing foot/shoe/boot cover; comprising by portion or portions a bottom, toe, heel, side, upper and/or leg portion; wherein said portions may form a cavity or may be constructed so as to be capable of being adapted for use about said foot/shoe/boot; and may further consist of an exterior surface being randomly sized and shaped; wherein a coloration and pattern may be located about the exterior surface which may further include indicia imprinted on the exterior surface; whereby the foot/shoe/boot cover may be used to cover a foot, shoe or boot preventing the transference of scent or other from an item onto the users foot, shoes or boots or from transferring scent onto objects encountered by the user and/or from direct contact with dangerous bacteria, viruses and biological hazardous materials that the user may have encountered or may encounter while performing an activity or other.

3. The combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising the material used for the breathable portion may be selected from natural or synthetic materials such as but not limited to polypropylene, polyester, spun-bond, spun-laced, fibrous media, substrates or other suitable material having an odor adsorbing means located on the breathable material.

4. The combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising the material used for constructing the non-breathable portion may be selected from natural or synthetic materials such as but not limited to: films, resins, plastic, rubber, vinyl, nylon, latex, polyurethane, silicone, Tyvek, multi-layer laminates or other suitable materials.

5. The combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising the foot/shoe/boot cover system to consist of similar or dissimilar properties and/or patterns and/or colorations and/or be capable of being interchangeably positioned and/or reversible about the interior or exterior singularly or by combination and be configured for use or storage; i.e. waterproof exterior and scent adsorbing interior or vice-versa, camouflage and black, camouflage and a different camouflage, scent adsorbing interior and exterior.

6. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the foot/shoe/boot cover may include a textured exterior surface about the sole and/or toe, heel or other portions; i.e. embossed, contain grit, or consist of surface features capable of adding traction, design or other.

7. The combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising a first breathable portion and a second breathable or non-breathable portion capable of being used together or separately for said purposes herein, further allowing said first portion to be located internally or externally of said second portion; allowing said portions to be connected, attached, unattached or disconnected; further allowing said portions to be removed, repositioned or replaced as desired, needed, or other.

8. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the foot/shoe/boot cover system may contain elastic, string, strap, tie, snap, Velcro or other temporary or permanent fastening means adjoining said covers and may be located about one or more portions capable of being detachably secured or used to secured same said cover or another similar or dissimilar cover; enabling said cover to be positioned about one or more foot portions of the user or the user's shoes or boots so as to cover by portion or by entirety the feet, shoes or boots of the user.

9. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the said cover may contain a pattern and coloration.

10. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said pattern is a solid color.

11. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said pattern is a two-dimensional camouflage pattern.

12. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein materials selected for constructing said cover may consist of a three dimensional camouflage pattern; wherein said three dimensional pattern and coloration may be selected from a pattern and coloration similar to: a leaf like design, grass like design, jute, weeds, limbs, corn stalk, trees, foliage or other and be used for blending into the environment where said product is to be used.

13. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said cover may be comprised of two or more layers of breathable material having an odor adsorbing means located on the breathable material; further allowing said layers to be used internal or external or by combination of shoes and boots.

14. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said cover may be constructed so as to enclose a portion or the entire foot area and/or extend about the leg portion of the user i.e. sole, sides, top of foot, ankle and a portion or portions of the leg of the user; so as to enclose by portion or all of the foot area and/or portions of the leg of the user.

15. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said cover may be inserted within the interior of a shoe or boot; further enabling a similar or dissimilar portion of said cover to be positioned about the exterior of the shoe or boot so as to enclose the shoe or boot by portion or by entirety whether for use, storage, travel or other.

16. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said cover or portions of said cover may be sized and/or shaped so as to reflect in design whether by portion or in entirety a foot, shoe, or boot shape or other similar shape.

17. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said covers or portions of said cover may be circular, rectangular, oval, irregular or other in design so as to accommodate various sizes, shapes and heights of both of the user's feet, shoes or boots simultaneously.

18. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said odor adsorption means may consist of any suitable odor adsorbing agent capable of performing or providing benefit to a user.

19. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said odor adsorption means may also include an anti-microbial means capable of performing or providing benefit to a user.

20. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said odor adsorption means may also include an antibacterial means capable of performing or providing benefit to a user.