Security Screening Protective Foot Liner

Abstract

A thin, low profile, one time use, disposable non-padded and non-metallic material of ornamental shape, thickness, and flexibility with a low tack pressure sensitive adhesive side to adhere to the bottom of the foot, that protects a passenger's clean/healthy feet from contaminated floor surfaces, while keeping other passengers with dirty/unhealthy feet from transferring their own personal foot disorders onto the floor surfaces of security screening lines. The foot liner is used when passengers are required to remove their shoes during the security screening process before boarding their flight. The foot liner needs to be cost effective due to the large volume of passengers (1.7 million worldwide daily) throughout airports and has a built-in removal tab that can be any size, shape, or length, and can either be non-adhesive or have low tack pressure sensitive adhesive qualities (to stick to the heel to ensure no floor contact) for quick removal of the foot liner, so the wearer's fingers are not exposed to germs during the removal process.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the top view of the foot liner along with the back liner still applied (1) and the removal tab (2) used for removing the foot liner after use.

FIG. 2 shows the side view of the foot liner with the back liner (3) attached to the low tack pressure sensitive adhesive foot liner (4) along with the removal tab (5) folded up to eliminate floor contact.

FIG. 3 shows the back liner (6) being peeled away from the foot liner (7). Fold removal tab (8) upward before applying the foot liner to the foot.

FIG. 4 shows foot placement (9) on the foot liner.

FIG. 5 shows the foot liner (10) adhered to the bottom of the foot with the removal tab folded upward.

FIG. 6 shows the foot liner being peeled away from the bottom of the foot using the removal tab (11).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND OTHER INFORMATION

Most, if not all, airport security screening area floor surfaces e.g. carpet and tile, harbor germs and bacteria, especially since the introduction of service animals. When travelers are required to remove their shoes before entering the scanning process, their feet immediately come in contact with mold, bacteria, salmonella, campylobacter and even E. coli, that reside on the floor surfaces. Tinea pedis (athlete's foot) is a common foot disorder caused by fungus that is transferred from one person to another and is estimated that 1 in 5 people have tinea pedis at any given time.

Currently, there are no cost effective, germ protective solution alternatives that protect the feet of passengers that travel through airports daily. The foot liner when worn properly can also mitigate the introduction of the user's own medical foot disorders. Other products that have been developed such as padded liners or plastic slippers would be either too expensive or wasteful due to the volumes needed at airports worldwide. Also, in the case of plastic slippers for example, placing one's foot inside plastic might create the foot to sweat and be uncomfortable. In the case of a foot with a sock on it, the contact between a sock and plastic might create a slip hazard.

The purpose for security screening in airports is to screen and observe passengers for objects, weapons, and liquids that are prohibited on airplanes while traveling. Current foot protectors like plastic slippers may protect feet from contaminated surfaces, but they might provide cover for individuals trying to hide objects, especially liquids in small containers, past security within the slipper and would be difficult for screeners to view.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With the amount of airport travelers daily (approx. 1.7 million worldwide), the foot liner needs to be inexpensive, easy to self-apply, or with the help of others, either sitting or standing, quickly removed limiting germ contact with hands, and easily disposed of. Other solutions such as disposable shoe covers (hospital), foam footpad liners, and plastic slippers, are bulky and are not cost effective. Padded liners that are very sticky are specifically designed for comfort and wet surfaces e.g. showers, and do not have a tab attached for quick germ-free removal, therefore exposing the wearer's fingers and defeating the whole purpose of a germ-free experience.

A better solution (foot liner) is needed to protect travelers in the current Covid-19 and service animal environment.

The foot liner is comprised of a preferred embodiment of a flexible or rigid material e.g. paper with a low tack pressure sensitive adhesive backing on one side that can be easily applied (after removing the back-liner) to the bottom of the foot for protection against contaminated floor surfaces. The low tack pressure sensitive adhesive is sufficient enough to adhere to the foot but designed not to damage skin or delicate foot coverings, such as stockings/hosiery, when removed. The foot liners intention is to be worn for a short period of time (through security screening lines) on dry/low moisture surfaces, and then discarded after the screening process has been completed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A thin, on-time use, protective foot liner (FIG. 3) of, but not limited to, paper, cloth, plastic, cardboard or any flexible or rigid material. One side of the liner (7) will have low tack pressure sensitive adhesive qualities to allow the foot liner to adhere to the bottom of a foot after application.

Application of the foot liner can be by hand, machine, or mechanical system. Simply choose the foot liner, fold the removal tab (8) up and peel off the back-liner (6), after folding the removal tab, and applying the foot liner to the bottom of the foot (FIG. 4), the removal tab is designed to eliminate contact with the contaminated floor when worn (FIG. 5).

After using the foot liner, the wearer's hands are protected from the bottom of the contaminated foot liner by using the removal tab. Simply peel off the foot liner by using the removal tab (FIG. 6). Using the removal tab (11), it can be easily unpeeled and removed, eliminating any contact between the contaminated bottom surface of the foot liner and the user's fingers.

Both the foot liner and the back-liner can be discarded into any trash receptacle for possible recycling.

The foot liner can also be treated, if necessary, with a substance/chemical that resists/kills germs with disinfectant abilities/qualities for even more protection. The foot liner will adhere to bare feet, socks, or hosiery. The foot liner is designed to, but not limited to, just covering the sole of the foot e.g. the removal tab which can be stuck to the back of the foot if low tack pressure sensitive adhesive is applied during production to the foot liner. The foot liner has no particular shape or color as long as it protects the bottom of the foot completely. When worn properly, the foot liner will provide a barrier between one's feet and any surface that has human or animal traffic. It allows a traveler to go through airport security screening lines with confidence knowing they are eliminating personal contact with the contaminated floor.

The foot liner can also provide a space for advertisement e.g. airport amenities, public awareness messages, application instructions etc. As passengers enter the security screening line and before they apply the foot liner, they will be able to read any message or advertisement on the foot liner's surface, both top and bottom.

The foot liner can be distributed at airline ticket counters, kiosks, vending machines, entry into the security screening lines, handed out by flight attendants, found in the back of airline seats, online, TV, or travel leisure stores prior to a traveler's trip/vacation.

Claims

1: A foot liner with a fold up tab for easy removal after use, comprising of a thin non-padded, non-slip protective liner made of flexible or rigid material with a low tack pressure sensitive adhesive surface on one side, for adhering to the bottom of the foot, for use in a dry/low moisture environment to protect the user's feet during use and user's hands after use (removal) from contaminated floor surfaces while participating in the security screening process at airports.

2: The foot liner of claim 1 further having a folding, non-adhesive or low tack pressure sensitive adhesive removal tab that can be any size, shape, or length and may or may not have a perforation line used for folding upward whereas to eliminate contact with the floor when worn properly and can be anywhere on the foot liner, preferably located on the heel, which is used for easy removal helping to protect the wearer's fingers from possible germ contact.

3: The foot liner of claim 1 in which the liner has an ornamental shape designed to, but not limited to, covering just the sole of the foot to allow the security screeners a non-obstructive view of the complete foot.

4: The foot liner of claim 1 constructed of materials suitable to be a one-time use disposable product.

5: The foot liner of claim 1 with a low tack, pressure sensitive adhesive so not to damage socks, hosiery, or irritate the wearer's feet and is removed easily.

6: The foot liner of claim 1 which can be any color and can be used to display advertising, usage instructions, or other messages.

7: The foot liner of claim 1 which can be treated with anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-odor, or other treatments.

8: The foot liner of claim 1 which can be treated with anti-slip qualities on the bottom.