LIQUID IMPERVIOUS FOOT WEAR

Abstract

A protector for the associated foot of an associated human person which includes a plastic enclosure dimensioned and configured for enclosing the associated foot of an associated human person, the enclosure having only a single opening dimensioned and configured for entrance and exit of the associated human foot; the plastic enclosure has first and second layers proximate to the opening defining a channel proximate to and surrounding the single opening and a drawstring disposed in the channel enabling the user to snuggly position the single opening proximate to the associated body of a human person. In Other embodiments use other means for snuggly gathering the plastic enclosure to embrace the associated ankle of the user including a strap for snuggly gathering the plastic enclosure to embrace the associated ankle of the user.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Technical Field

The invention relates to wearing apparel and more particularly to wearing apparel particularly suited to be worn in inclement weather conditions such as during and following snowstorms and rainstorms. An example of the weather conditions for which the present invention has particular application is the time following a snowfall in an urban environment. The crosswalk areas may be shoveled and the adjacent areas are treated with salt typically leading to substantial pools of dirty water that pedestrians cannot avoid because of laterally adjacent areas blocked by snow and ice. Frequently a pedestrian steps into accumulations of water resulting in both the pedestrian's shoe, sock and foot becoming very wet. Accordingly the pedestrian is confronted with an uncomfortable wet sock that will not dry out readily.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is intended to avoid the uncomfortable and unhealthy impact of such occurrences. It is an object of the present invention to achieve this result by a structure that is inexpensive to manufacture and purchase and which accordingly can be recycled after use or alternatively may be dried out and used again.

The prior art includes a variety rather bulky and expensive inserts intended to be placed within a shoe or boot. Both the bulk and the expense limits the possibility of a user carrying one or more pairs of such inserts in anticipation of the consequences of inclement weather.

From the above, it is therefore seen that there exists a need in the art to overcome the deficiencies and limitations described herein and above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The shortcomings of the prior art are overcome and additional advantages are provided through a protector for the associated foot of an associated human person which includes a plastic enclosure dimensioned and configured for enclosing the associated foot of an associated human person. The enclosure has only a single opening dimensioned and configured for entrance and exit of the associated human foot. The plastic enclosure may have first and second layers proximate to the opening defining a channel proximate to and surrounding the single opening and a drawstring disposed in the channel enabling the user to snuggly position the single opening proximate to the associated body of a human person.

Other embodiments include a protector for the associated foot and associated ankle of an associated human person which includes a plastic enclosure dimensioned and configured for enclosing the associated foot and associated ankle of an associated human person, the enclosure having only a single opening dimensioned and configured for entrance and exit of the associated human foot; and means for snuggly gathering the plastic enclosure to embrace the associated ankle of the user.

Another embodiment provides a protector for the associated foot and associated ankle of an associated human person which includes a plastic enclosure dimensioned and configured for enclosing the associated foot and associated ankle of an associated human person, the enclosure having only a single opening dimensioned and configured for entrance and exit of the associated human foot; and a strap for snuggly gathering the plastic enclosure to embrace the associated ankle of the user.

Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present invention. Other embodiments and aspects of the invention are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed invention.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide embodiments of the present invention that is compact enough for the user to place one or more pairs of the apparatus in his or her pocket.

Similarly it is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus that is so compact that users can easily carry pairs of the apparatus even if inclement weather is not forecast or anticipated.

It is another object of the present invention to provide apparatus that is so inexpensive that it can easily be discarded after use.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide apparatus that will limit the loss of heat from the feet of the user by providing an additional layer of clothing that is liquid and gas impermeable.

The recitation herein of desirable objects which are met by various embodiments of the present invention is not meant to imply or suggest that any or all of these objects are present as essential features, either individually or collectively, in the most general embodiment of the present invention or in any of its more specific embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of practice, together with the further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a low rise embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a side view of the low rise embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a high-rise embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 4 is a side view of a high-rise embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The protector in accordance with the present invention is intended to be used over the sock or stocking of the user and within the shoe or boot of the user. The terms low rise and high-rise are used herein to describe respective embodiments of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the terms are not precisely coincident with the ordinary usage with respect to socks. More particularly, a typical low rise sock may barely cover the heel of the user. Because the function of the present apparatus is to provide a fluid impervious covering for the sock of the user most embodiments of the present invention will extend to an elevation above the heel of the user. Ordinarily lower elevations of that portion of the projector may result in the unintended consequence of liquid entering the shoe of the user and then entering the protector and being trapped around the sock of the user.

The low rise embodiment 10 of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 includes a foot portion 12 that is dimensioned configured for surrounding the foot of the user and an ankle portion 14 that is dimensioned and configured for engaging the ankle of the user. Because the material of which the preferred embodiments of the present invention are manufactured is very thin and flexible material the fit of the low rise embodiment and the foot and ankle of the user need not be precisely the same as the dimensions of the foot and ankle of the user. More particularly, the material from which the protector is manufactured enables selection of required sizes because each size of the protector can accommodate a larger group of potential users. Stated another way the protector can be dimensioned and configured to accommodate a range of physical foot and ankle sizes because the material is so flexible a small amount of doubling over within the shoe of the user without any discomfort or loss of effectiveness.

The open end 16 is hemmed (similar to the manner in which the bottom of her skirt is hemmed). Unlike the hem of a skirt the folded over part is secured by adhesive or by a heating process. This folded over portion cooperates with a drawstring 20 to snuggly position the upper extremity against the ankle of the user.

A high rise embodiment 24 extends further up the ankle of the user. The upper part 26 thereof typically will have a shape which is larger than the lower part 28 thereof. More particularly, the larger upper part 26 is necessary to enable the user to insert his or her foot into the product. Thus, after the user places his or her foot within the product folds of material in the upper part will overlap each other as best illustrated in FIG. 4. The illustrated embodiment is provided with a strap or belt 30 supported by belt loop 32 secured to the main body of the protector 28. In the illustrated embodiment the strap is provided with hook and eye fastening surfaces (Velcro™) and or double face tape to facilitate joining the free end of the strap 30 to an axial part of the strap 30. Still other embodiments may have on axial extremity of the strap 30 fixed to the to the main body of the protector 28 with hook and eye fastening surfaces (Velcro™) and or double face tape to facilitate joining the free end of the strap 30 to an axial part of the strap 30.

Although the drawing illustrates a strap 30 in one embodiment and a drawstring 20 another embodiment those skilled in the art will recognize that the strap 30 may be used in all embodiments. The use of double-faced tape or hook and loop fastening for the strap may be used in all embodiments. Although FIG. 3 illustrates the use of a belt loop 34 for securing the strap 30 to the protector it will be understood that all embodiments may alternatively utilize the direct attachment of an axial portion of the strap 30 to the main body of the protector. Similarly the drawstring 20 may also be used in all embodiments.

The apparatus in accordance with the present invention is manufactured, in preferred embodiments, of plastic materials including but not limited to linear low density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, polypropylene as well as other known plastic materials. Ordinarily it is preferable burial that is disposable and recyclable. The choice of the particular plastic it preferably also dependent on the environmentally friendly nature of the material.

Because the protector in accordance with the present invention is not subject to wear and tear issues inherent in a covering that is placed over the shoe of the user the plastic material may be quite thin. Ordinarily the material will have a thickness of approximately 0.0018″.

All publications and patent applications mentioned in this specification are indicative of the level of skill of those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains. All publications and patent applications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

Although the description above contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Thus, the scope of this invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Therefore, it will be appreciated that the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to those skilled in the art, and that the scope of the present invention is accordingly to be limited by the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” All structural, chemical, and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described preferred embodiment that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the present claims. Moreover, it is not necessary for a device or method to address each and every problem sought to be solved by the present invention, for it to be encompassed by the present claims. Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.”

Claims

1. A protector for the associated foot of an associated human person which comprises:

a plastic enclosure dimensioned and configured for enclosing the associated foot of an associated human person, said enclosure having only a single opening dimensioned and configured for entrance and exit of the associated human foot and having a thickness of approximately 0.0018″;

said plastic enclosure having first and second layers proximate to said opening defining a channel proximate to and surrounding said single opening and

a drawstring disposed in said channel enabling the user to snuggly position said single opening proximate to the associated body of a human person.

2. A protector for the associated foot and associated ankle of an associated human person which comprises:

a plastic enclosure dimensioned and configured for enclosing the associated foot and associated ankle of an associated human person, said enclosure having only a single opening dimensioned and configured for entrance and exit of the associated human foot and having a thickness of approximately 0.0018″; and

means for snuggly gathering said plastic enclosure to embrace the associated ankle of the user.

3. A protector for the associated foot and associated ankle of an associated human person which comprises:

a plastic enclosure dimensioned and configured for enclosing the associated foot and associated ankle of an associated human person, said enclosure having only

a single opening dimensioned and configured for entrance and exit of the associated human foot and having a thickness of approximately 0.0018″; and

a strap for snuggly gathering said plastic enclosure to embrace the associated ankle of the user.