HAND AND FEET COVERINGS

Abstract

Described herein are hand and feet covering assemblies configured to shield portions of hands and feet from external aqueous solutions, such as spray tans, and particulate matter, such as dirt when used in tanning salons or other publicly frequented locations. The inventive concept is equipped with anchor points, a transparent, polymer material, and foot sole grip portions, such as treads or bumps. The inventive concept is flexible, disposable, adhesive-enabled and is designed in one embodiment to selectively cover the palm side of hands and the sole side of feet to shield those sides from spray tan and then be easily removed.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application with Ser. No. 63/165,103, filed on Mar. 23, 2021, with the same title, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The inventive concept relates generally to hand and feet coverings for partial shielding and protection.

BACKGROUND

People enjoy getting tans but risk harmful exposure to ultra-violet light from the sun which can damage DNA with resulting harmful medical consequences. An alternative to natural tanning is to use a spray tan, but this solution may result in deposition of tanning materials on places normally left untanned such as the palms of hands or the soles of feet. Currently, there are a number of solutions for preventing spray tan from getting on your hands and feet. One of these solutions attempts to utilize gloves or socks, but these solutions fail to meet the needs of the market because gloves can make the tan look uneven and cover the top of the hand where tanning may be desired. Another solution attempts to utilize a professional able to accurately apply the spray tan, but this solution is similarly unable to meet the needs of the market because professionals can be expensive. Still another solution seeks to wash the tan off, but this solution also fails to meet market needs because wash removal is difficult due to the semi-permanency of spray tanning solutions. Therefore, there currently exists a need in the market for an improved apparatus that prevents spray tan materials from getting on the palm of hands and the sole of feet of the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventive concept discloses hand and feet covering assemblies to selectively shield against aqueous solutions, such as spray tan materials, or particulate matter. In one example embodiment there is provided a human body part covering assembly designed to selectively cover or shield from external aqueous solutions or particulate matter a user's palm or foot sole, the body part covering assembly including at least one substantially planar shield member or substrate designed to cover a portion of a user's palm or sole, wherein the shield member includes an upper portion or top surface and a lower portion or bottom surface. The covering assembly further includes a coating at least partially and selectively disposed on the upper portion of the shield member, the coating comprised of an adhesive material or compound, wherein the selective deposition of the adhesive coating on the upper portion defines a set of anchor points or portions designed to facilitate anchoring of the shield member or substrate to the user's palm or sole. The covering assembly also includes a base template member having an upper surface designed to at least removably cover and be in contact with the adhesive coating of the upper portion of the shield member. In a related example embodiment, a tab member or extension is optionally included on a peripheral edge of the shield member to ease of removal of the shield member from the base template or removal after use of the shield member from the palm of the hand or the sole of the foot.

In another example embodiment, hand or foot covering assemblies are individually provided that are designed to selectively cover or shield from external aqueous solutions or particulate matter a user's hand/palm or foot/sole, the body part covering assembly including at least one substantially hand-shaped or foot-shaped shield member or substrate adapted to cover a portion of a user's hand or foot, wherein the shield member includes a top surface and a bottom surface. The assembly includes a coating at least partially and selectively disposed on the top surface of the shield member, the coating comprised of an adhesive material or compound, wherein the selective deposition of the adhesive coating on the top surface defines a set of anchor points or portions configured to facilitate anchoring of the shield member to the user's hand or foot. A base template member is included in the covering assembly having an upper surface adapted to at least removably cover and be in contact with the adhesive coating of the top surface of the shield member; and a tab member extends outward from a peripheral edge of the shield member to facilitate removal of the shield member from the template member or removal after use of the shield member. In a related embodiment, the shield member includes a grip portion disposed on the bottom surface of the shield member and is designed to provide improved gripping and friction for the user of the shield member.

In yet another example embodiment,.

In related embodiments, the shield members described herein can be used in hospitals or showers (in the foot embodiment) for improved hygienic protection for the user or configured to be used on the beach or sand to provide some heat protection. In another embodiment, the bottom surface of the shield member is configured to have logos, designs, different colors, team logos, favorite short quotes, symbols as desired by a user or the market. In yet another embodiment, the shield member is formed from multiple layers (to include for instance cloth or memory foam) to enhance cushion and support for the user. In yet another embodiment, the hand shield member is usable to enhanced gripping in sport-oriented uses, where optional ribs or treads are included.

In related example embodiment, the covering assemblies are in a kit having at least one polymer, substantially planar, hand-shaped left palm, finger, and thumb shield member; at least one polymer, substantially planar, hand-shaped right palm, finger, and thumb shield member; at least one polymer, substantially planar, foot-shaped left sole and toe shield member; and at least one polymer, substantially planar, foot-shaped right sole and toe shield member. Each shield member of the kit assembly has an upper portion at least partially coated with an adhesive compound and a grip bottom portion. Each substantially planar, foot-shaped shield member has a grip bottom portion, the grip bottom portion at least partially covering the bottom portion with a plurality of ridge and groove members adapted to grip a surface. The grip bottom portion at least partially covers the bottom portion of the substantially planar, foot-shaped shield members with a plurality of ridge and groove members designed to grip a surface. A plurality of substantially planar, coated, base paper members is shaped substantially the same as at least one covered portion of the upper portion of at least one shield member of the kit assembly. The plurality of substantially planar, coated, base paper template members is designed to removably cover the adhesive upper portion of the matching shield member portion wherein the plurality of substantially planar, coated base paper members removably cover the entirety of the adhesive upper portions of the shield members of the kit assembly.

In one embodiment of the hand and feet coverings to selectively shield against spray tan, the hand-shaped left and right palm, finger, and thumb shield members each have at least one tab member at the proximal end of the hand-shaped left and right palm, finger, and thumb shield members.

In one embodiment of the hand and feet coverings to selectively shield against spray tan, an adhesive coating lines an outer edge portion of each shield member and is designed to secure the edges that denote where spray tan should be masked.

It would be advantageous to have hand and feet coverings to selectively shield against spray tan that are disposable. Furthermore, it would be advantageous to have hand and feet coverings to selectively shield against spray tan that are affixed to the palms of hands and the soles of feet with an adhesive. Still further, it would be advantageous to have hand and feet coverings to selectively shield against spray tan that are flexible. Therefore, there currently exists a need in the market for hand and feet coverings to selectively shield against spray tan substantially on the palms of hands and the soles of feet.

The inventive concept advantageously fills the aforementioned deficiencies by providing hand and feet coverings, which provide a clean way to get spray tan where desired and to avoid getting spray tan where undesired.

The hand and feet coverings to selectively shield against spray tan has adhesive anchor points. The hand and feet coverings to selectively shield against spray tan has grips.

The hand and feet coverings to selectively shield against spray tan fulfills the need for spray tan skin coverings. Among other things, it is an advantage of the hand and feet coverings to selectively shield against spray tan to provide hand and feet coverings that do not suffer from problems or deficiencies associated with prior solutions. It is still further an advantage of the hand and feet coverings to selectively shield against spray tan to be disposable.

Still further, the hand and feet coverings to selectively shield against spray tan have at least partially transparent material wherein the material may be a polymer.

The inventive concept now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are intended to be read in conjunction with both this summary, the detailed description and any preferred and/or particular embodiments specifically discussed or otherwise disclosed. This inventive concept may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of illustration only and so that this disclosure will be thorough, complete, and will fully convey the full scope of the inventive concept to those skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of foot guards or shield members.

FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom view of the foot guards or shield members with the gripping portion.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the foot guards on a removable base member template for transportability and handling.

FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of hand guards or shield members.

FIG. 5 illustrates a bottom view of the hand guards or shield members.

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of the hand guards on a removable base member template for transportability and handling.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Following are more detailed descriptions of various related concepts related to, and embodiments of, methods and apparatus according to the present disclosure. It should be appreciated that various aspects of the subject matter introduced above and discussed in greater detail below may be implemented in any of numerous ways, as the subject matter is not limited to any particular manner of implementation. Examples of specific implementations and applications are provided primarily for illustrative purposes.

Referring to the figures, FIGS. 1-6 illustrate hand 20 and feet 10 covering assemblies, respectively, to selectively shield against aqueous solutions and particulate matter, including but not limited to spray tan materials. Advantageously, the covering assemblies described herein also have medical and hygienic applications where user is concerned with picking up infections from unfamiliar or poorly disinfected surfaces, such as showers or public restrooms at swimming pools or beaches. Finally, the shield members described herein are configurable for other uses such as toilet seat covers or for gripping public banisters or handrails.

In this example embodiment of the covering assemblies and referring to FIGS. 4-5, FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a top and bottom views, respectively, of a hand shield covering assembly 20 including a left hand shield member 110 that is configured from a polymer material and is substantially planar with a hand-shaped left palm 110A, fingers 110B, and a thumb shield member 110C with an overall upper portion or a top surface 111. In this example embodiment, assembly 20 in a kit also includes a right hand shield member 120 configured from a polymer material and being substantially planar with a hand-shaped right palm 120A, fingers or phalanges 120B, and a thumb shield member 120C with an overall upper portion or top surface 121. Shield members 110 and 120 each include an adhesive compound coating that is selectively deposited or formed on surfaces 111 and 121 to form a plurality of anchor points or portions 150, 152 and 154, which will facilitate anchoring or attachment to the hand and/or palms of a user. In this embodiment, partially coated palm portions 150 are formed along with a peripheral edge adhesive strip 152 and elongate strips 154 on the fingers of hand shield members 110 and 120. FIG. 5 illustrates the transparent or translucent bottom portions 119 and 129 of the shield members exhibiting the anchor points 150-154 on the left and right shaped hand shield members. Also illustrated are extension or tab members 190 which extend away from the shield members to form a tab that the user can hold to pull the shield member from the base template or from the user's body part, hand or foot, when the user is done using the shield member.

In this example embodiment and referring to FIGS. 1-2, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a top and bottom views, respectively, of foot shield covering assemblies 10 which include foot shield members 130 and 140 formed from a polymer and being substantially planar. In particular and formed from a polymer material, there is a substantially planar, foot-shaped left sole and toe shield member 130, and at least one polymer, substantially planar, foot-shaped right sole and toe shield member 140. Each shield member includes an upper portion or surface 131 and 141, respectively, and because of a translucent or transparent material used for each foot shield member a grip bottom portion 170 can be seen. Shield members 130 and 140 each include an adhesive compound coating that is selectively deposited or formed on surfaces 131 and 141 to form a plurality of anchor points or portions 145, 146, 137 and 147, which will facilitate anchoring or attachment to the foot and/or soles of a user. In this embodiment, partially coated sole anchor points or portions 145 and 146 are formed along with a peripheral edge adhesive strips 137 and 147 of foot shield members 130 and 140. FIG. 2 illustrates the transparent or translucent bottom portions 139 and 149 of the shield members 130 and 140 however the anchor points are not readily visible because grip portions 170 cover them on the left and right shaped foot shield members 130 and 140. In this example embodiment, each grip bottom portion 170 is formed from a plurality of ridge and groove members designed to grip a surface. In a related embodiment, and as seen in FIG. 3, grip portion 170 is formed from a plurality of nubs or bumps 172.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 6, hand shield members 110/120 and foot shield members 130/140 are located on a plurality of substantially planar, coated, base paper template members 180 and 182, respectively, are shaped substantially the same as at least one covered portion of the upper portion of at least one shield member of the kit assembly 111, 121, 131, 141. The plurality of substantially planar, coated, base paper template members 180 and 182 are designed to removably cover the adhesive coated anchor points 150-154 and 145, 146 and 147 upper portion of the matching shield member portion 111, 121, 131, 141, respectively, wherein the plurality of substantially planar, coated base paper members 180 and 182 removably cover the entirety of the adhesive anchor points 150-154 and 145, 146 and 147 upper portions of the shield members 111, 121, 131, 141 of the kit assembly.

In this embodiment of the hand and feet coverings to selectively shield against spray tan, the hand-shaped left and right palm, finger, and thumb shield members 110, 120 each have at least one tab member 190 at the proximal end of the hand-shaped left and right palm, finger, and thumb shield members 112, 122.

In related embodiments, the shield member or substrate have configuration selected from the group consisting of a right handprint, a left handprint, a right sole or footprint, a left sole or footprint and hand and feet shaped silhouettes. In the footprint or feet shaped silhouette substrates such can further include on the bottom surface a grip portion, the grip portion at least partially covering the bottom surface of the substrate with a plurality of ridge and groove members, or nubs, protrusions or bumps, all of which are designed to enhance gripping on a surface. These features can be included in the hand-shaped versions as well.

In various embodiments described herein, the shield member or substrate includes tear lines or points to so as to be configurable by the user prior to use. They can be hand or foot shaped in concentric forms from small to large to be removed or peeled away from the base template. In another embodiment, the shield member includes an extended tab portion at a peripheral edge to facilitate user removal of the shield member from the base template or user removal after use of the shield member. In a related embodiment, the hand-shaped left and right palm, finger, and thumb shield members each have at least one tab member at a proximal end of the palm or phalanges of the hand-shaped shield members.

In various embodiments, the material of the body part covering member is made from, but is not limited to, a stretchable polymer-based material or a paper-based material. In one embodiment the base template member is formed from a paper material and can include a low friction coefficient coating on the upper surface. The shield member is also one of a transparent or translucent material designed for enhanced body part alignment for the user but is not necessarily limited to such materials.

In various embodiments, the coating is configured such that the anchoring portions are shaped in various shapes to improve adhesion to the body part, the shapes being selected from the group consisting of lines, circles, ovals, dots and slots. the adhesive coating lines an outer edge portion of the shield member.

The coverings assemblies can be provided in a kit of right and left hand shield members and right and left foot shield members and/or with a bag enclosing the kit to be used as a disposal bag for used shield members. The covering assemblies, including the disposal bag and the shield members and coating material can also be formed from environmentally safe materials for safe disposal.

The following patents and publications are incorporated by reference in their entireties: U.S. Pat. Nos. 2003/0150041; 2006/0174390; 5,860,433; 8,069,495; 8,209,883; 10,299,953; 10,441,114 and 10,517,764.

While the inventive concept has been described above in terms of specific embodiments, it is to be understood that the inventive concept is not limited to these disclosed embodiments. Upon reading the teachings of this disclosure many modifications and other embodiments of the inventive concept will come to mind of those skilled in the art to which this inventive concept pertains, and which are intended to be and are covered by both this disclosure and the appended claims. It is indeed intended that the scope of the inventive concept should be determined by proper interpretation and construction of the appended claims and their legal equivalents, as understood by those of skill in the art relying upon the disclosure in this specification and the attached drawings.

Claims

1. A human body part covering assembly adapted to selectively cover or shield from external aqueous solutions or particulate matter a user's palm or foot sole, the body part covering assembly comprising:

at least one substantially planar shield member or substrate adapted to cover a portion of a user's palm or sole, wherein the shield member includes an upper portion or top surface and a lower portion or bottom surface;

a coating at least partially and selectively disposed on the upper portion of the shield member, the coating comprised of an adhesive material or compound, wherein the selective deposition of the adhesive coating on the upper portion defines a set of anchor points or portions adapted to facilitate anchoring of the shield member or substrate to the user's palm or sole; and

a base template member having an upper surface adapted to at least removably cover and be in contact with the adhesive coating of the upper portion of the shield member.

2. The covering assembly of claim 1 wherein the shield member or substrate having a configuration selected from the group consisting of a right handprint, a left handprint, a right sole or footprint, a left sole or footprint and hand and feet shaped silhouettes.

3. The covering assembly of claim 1 wherein the shield member or substrate includes tear lines or points to so as to be configurable by the user prior to use.

4. The covering assembly of claim 2 wherein the footprint or feet shaped silhouette substrates further include on the bottom surface a grip portion, the grip portion at least partially covering the bottom surface of the substrate with a plurality of ridge and groove members adapted to grip a surface.

5. The covering assembly of claim 2 wherein the footprint or feet shaped silhouette substrates further include on the bottom surface a grip portion, the grip bottom portion at least partially covering the bottom surface of the substrate with a plurality of nubs, bumps or protrusions adapted to grip a surface.

6. The covering assembly of claim 1 wherein the shield member includes an extended tab portion at a peripheral edge to facilitate user removal of the shield member from the base template or user removal after use of the shield member.

7. The body part covering of claim 1 wherein the material of the body part covering member is made from a stretchable polymer-based material.

8. The body part covering of claim 1 wherein the material of the body part covering member is made from a paper-based material.

9. The covering assembly of claim 1 wherein the base template member is formed from a paper material.

10. The covering assembly of claim 1 wherein the base template member includes a low friction coefficient coating on the upper surface.

11. The covering assembly of claim 1 wherein the shield member is one of a transparent or translucent material adapted for enhanced body part alignment for the user.

12. The covering assembly of claim 1 wherein the coating comprising the anchoring portions are shaped in various shapes to improve adhesion to the body part, the shapes being selected from the group consisting of lines, circles, ovals, dots and slots.

13. The coverings assembly of claim 2 wherein the hand-shaped left and right palm, finger, and thumb shield members each have at least one tab member at a proximal end of the palm or phalanges of the hand-shaped shield members.

14. The coverings assembly of claim 1, wherein the adhesive coating lines an outer edge portion of the shield member.

15. The coverings assembly of claim 1 are provided in a kit of right and left hand shield members and right and left foot shield members.

16. The coverings of claim 15 wherein a bag enclosing the kit is configured to be a disposal bag for used shield members.

17. The coverings of claim 1 wherein the shield members and coating material are formed from environmentally safe materials.

18. A hand covering assembly adapted to selectively cover or shield from external aqueous solutions or particulate matter a user's palm or hand, the body part covering assembly comprising:

at least one substantially hand-shaped shield member or substrate adapted to cover a portion of a user's palm or hand, wherein the shield member includes a top surface and a bottom surface;

a coating at least partially and selectively disposed on the top surface of the shield member, the coating comprised of an adhesive material or compound, wherein the selective deposition of the adhesive coating on the top surface defines a set of anchor points or portions adapted to facilitate anchoring of the shield member to the user's hand; and

a base template member having an upper surface adapted to at least removably cover and be in contact with the adhesive coating of the top surface of the shield member; and

a tab member extends outward from a peripheral edge of the shield member to facilitate removal of the shield member from the template member or removal after use of the shield member.

19. A foot covering assembly adapted to selectively cover or shield from external aqueous solutions or particulate matter a user's foot or sole, the body part covering assembly comprising:

at least one foot-shaped shield member or substrate adapted to cover a portion of a user's foot or sole, wherein the shield member includes a top surface and a bottom surface;

a coating at least partially and selectively disposed on the top surface of the shield member, the coating comprised of an adhesive material or compound, wherein the selective deposition of the adhesive coating on the top surface defines a set of anchor points or portions adapted to facilitate anchoring of the shield member to the user's foot; and

a base template member having an upper surface adapted to at least removably cover and be in contact with the adhesive coating of the top surface of the shield member; and

a tab member extending outward from a peripheral edge of the shield member to facilitate removal of the shield member from the template member or removal after use of the shield member.

20. The coverings of claim 19 further including a grip portion disposed on the bottom surface of the shield member and adapted to provide improved gripping and friction for the user of the shield member.