Patent Grant
11297892
The present invention relates generally to wearable articles and, more particularly, to devices and systems for applying and removing protective shoe covers.
Disposable protective shoe covers, often referred to as “booties,” are worn by professionals for preventing contaminants on one's shoes from contaminating a floor surface in which a professional is maneuvering. Disposable protective shoe covers are often used in various service industries and medical facilities. For example, a service professional in the HVAC industry may apply a shoe cover to each one of his or her shoes prior to walking through the residence of a customer. A medical professional in a medical facility may apply a shoe cover to each one of his or her shoes before entering certain areas of the medical facility, such as an operating room. After performing the necessary services, the professional may then remove the shoe covers from his or her shoes upon leaving the area in which contamination is to be prevented, and then discard the shoe covers or save them for reuse.
Known devices for dispensing and applying disposable protective shoe covers include bulky, automated machines having various moving mechanical components and which may have limited mobility due to their size, weight, and physical configuration. Such devices thus are generally unsuitable for use in service industries in which a service professional may have to carry various items between his or her service vehicle and a customer residence.
Additionally, applying protective shoe covers to one's shoes while in a standing position, and without the use of an assistive device, can be very difficult to perform with or without full, unencumbered use of both hands for applying a shoe cover while simultaneously maintaining body balance. Furthermore, service professionals are often carrying various tools and other items upon entering a customer residence. Because their hands are occupied with carrying various items, shoe cover application is made quite difficult to perform in the customer residence without dropping the items onto the residence floor, or otherwise sitting on the floor, which may risk contamination and be considered generally unprofessional. Consequently, service professionals sometimes elect to apply shoe covers while at their parked service vehicle, before entering the customer residence. However, the applied shoe covers may become contaminated as the service professional walks from the parked vehicle to the residence, which then risks contamination of the customer residence upon entry. Thus, the purpose of applying the protective shoe covers in the first place is substantially defeated.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved device for assisting the application of disposable protective shoe covers to one's shoes, which device addresses the challenges and shortcomings described above.
According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, an assistive device for applying and removing a protective shoe cover from a shoe of a user includes a base, a shoe cover application mechanism supported by the base, and a shoe cover removal mechanism supported by the base. The shoe cover application mechanism is configured to releasably receive and retain a protective shoe cover in an expanded state for applying the expanded protective shoe cover to a shoe, and the shoe cover removal mechanism is configured to releasably grip a portion of a protective shoe cover fitted on a shoe for removing the protective shoe cover from the shoe.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, a system for use with protective shoe covers includes an assistive device and a device holder. The assistive device includes at least one of a shoe cover application mechanism configured to releasably receive and retain a protective shoe cover in an expanded state for applying the expanded protective shoe cover to a shoe, or a shoe cover removal mechanism configured to releasably grip a portion of a protective shoe cover fitted on a shoe for removing the protective shoe cover from the shoe. The device holder is configured to releasably receive and retain the assistive device when the assistive device is not in use, and is mountable to a vertical support surface.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, a protective shoe cover configured to cover a shoe of a user includes a non-rigid body, an elastic portion, and at least one device engagement element. The non-rigid body defines an inner pocket configured to receive a shoe. The elastic portion is formed at an upper end of the non-rigid body and defines an opening to the inner pocket. The elastic portion being alterable between an expanded state in which the elastic portion expands to receive the shoe through the opening and into the inner pocket, and a contracted state in which the elastic portion contracts to conform to an outer surface of the shoe located within the inner pocket. The at least one device engagement element is provided on the non-rigid body and is configured to releasably engage an assistive device for at least one of applying the protective shoe cover to a shoe or removing the protective shoe cover from a shoe.
Various additional features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention and, together with the general description given above and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the exemplary embodiments.
Like reference numerals are used to indicate like features throughout the various figures, wherein:
Referring to
In exemplary embodiments, the base 12 may be formed with any size and shape suitable for portable use, such as the oval-like, rounded-rectangular shape shown in
Referring to
As shown in the Figures, in exemplary embodiments each of the shoe cover mounts 38, 40, 42 may be in the form of an elongate rail that is secured to the deck portion 18 and formed with a generally rectangular shape that projects perpendicularly outward relative to the deck portion 18. For example, as shown, each mount 38, 40, 42 may be include an upper leg 46 extending substantially parallel to the deck portion 18, and two opposed lower legs 48 depending perpendicularly downward from the upper leg 46 at respective first and second ends thereof.
Each of the shoe cover mounts 38, 40, 42 includes a plurality of shoe cover retainers, shown in the form of prongs 50, 52, to which a respective portion of a disposable shoe cover 44 may be mounted for supporting the shoe cover in an expanded state for receiving a shoe, or foot, of a user. In particular, the first and second side mounts 38, 40 each includes first and second inner prongs 50 provided at respective first and second ends of the side mounts 38, 40, and first and second outer prongs 52 provided at respective first and second ends of the side mounts 38, 40. The middle mount 42 includes inner and outer prongs 50, 52 projecting from opposed first and second lateral sides thereof. In particular, a first set of first and second inner prongs 50 and a first set of first and second outer prongs 52 projects from a first side of the middle mount 42. A second set of first and second inner prongs 50 and a second set of first and second outer prongs 52 projects from a second side of the middle mount 42.
As shown in the illustrated exemplary embodiment, each prong 50, 52 may project angularly outward from its respective mount 38, 40, 42 in a direction toward the respective end of the mount 38, 40, 42 at which the prong 50, 52 is disposed. Additionally, the prongs 50, 52 of the first and second side mounts 38, 40 may project inwardly toward the middle mount 42, and the prongs 50, 52 of the middle mount 42 may project outwardly toward the first and second side mounts 38, 40. Various alternative quantities and configurations of prongs may be provided on the shoe cover mounts 38, 40, 42.
In one embodiment, each shoe cover mount 38, 40, 42 may be an integral rail-like element formed via a metal bending, stamping, or casting process. In another embodiment, each shoe cover mount 38, 40, 42 may be comprised of a plurality of bar members arranged side by side and welded together. For example, a first bar element may be provided with a rectangular shape as generally seen in
While the shoe cover application mechanism 22 includes shoe cover mounts 38, 40, 42 in the form of rectangular shaped rails having prongs 50, 52, it will be appreciated that various alternative configurations of shoe cover application mechanisms may be provided. For example, the shoe cover mounts 38, 40, 42 may be formed with various alternative shapes suitable for receiving shoe covers and shoes therebetween, and may include any suitable quantity, arrangement, and shape of prongs or other shoe cover retainers. In that regard, the prongs 50, 52 may be substituted with various alternative features or mechanisms suitable for releasably securing a protective shoe cover to the shoe cover mounts 38, 40, 42 or comparable structure.
As best shown in
Each of the first and second inner prongs 50 and the first and second outer prongs 52 on any one mount 38, 40, 42 are spaced apart from one another with a distance sufficient to maintain an elastic collar 54 of the respective shoe cover 44 mounted thereon in an expanded state in which a shoe (not shown) of a user may be inserted into the shoe cover 44 for application. Once the shoe has been inserted into the shoe cover 44, the user may kick his or her foot slightly forward to disengage a toe end 56 of the shoe cover 44 from the shoe cover mounts 38, 40, 42, and then slightly backward to disengage a heel end 58 of the shoe cover 44 from the shoe cover mounts 38, 40, 42. Alternatively, the user may disengage the heel end 58 and then the toe end 56 of the shoe cover 44. In this manner, the protective shoe cover 44 is easily disengaged from the assistive device 10 and the elastic collar 54 may snap into a contracted state in which it closely conforms to the outer surface of the shoe and/or the foot of the user, such that the shoe cover 44 is effectively applied to the shoe of the user.
The middle shoe cover mount 42 may be rigidly secured to the deck portion 18 of the base 12 with rigid base plates 60. In contrast, the first and second side shoe cover mounts 38, 40 may be movably coupled to the deck portion 18 with adjustable base plates 62 that enable selective adjustment of the side mounts 38, 40 in lateral directions relative to the deck portion 18 and the middle mount 42, as best shown in
Referring to
The base 12 of the assistive device 10 may be formed of any suitably rigid yet lightweight material, such as aluminum or various polymeric materials, for example. As best shown in
Referring to
Each of the auxiliary shoe cover mounts 69, 71 may include a set of inner prongs 50 and a set of outer prongs 52 projecting laterally outward toward the respective first or second side shoe cover mount 38, 40. Further, in this embodiment, the first and second side shoe cover mounts 38, 40 may include an additional set of inner prongs 50 and an additional set of outer prongs 52 projecting laterally outward toward the respective first or second auxiliary shoe cover mount 69, 71. As shown, each of the side and auxiliary shoe cover mounts 38, 40, 69, 71 may be laterally adjustable relative to the deck portion 67 via adjustable base plates 62.
Still referring to
Turning now to the first and second shoe cover removal mechanisms 24, 26 shown in
Each shoe cover removal mechanism 24, 26 may include an elongate anchor member 70, a first gripping element 72 disposed at a first end of the anchor member 70, and a second gripping element 74 disposed at a second end of the anchor member 70. The anchor member 70 may include base plates 76 extending from the sides thereof for securing to the deck portion 18 of the device base 12. Each of the gripping elements 72, 74 includes an outwardly projecting lip 78 configured to grip a portion of a protective shoe cover applied to the shoe of a user to assist in removing the shoe cover from the shoe, as described below.
As best shown in
Referring to
A biasing member, shown herein as a compression spring 84, may be provided at the coupling point between the first gripping element 72 and the anchor member 70 for biasing the first gripping element 72 into the extended position. In the exemplary arrangement shown in
Use of the shoe cover removal mechanisms 24, 26 for removal of protective shoe covers applied to shoes will now be described according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Advantageously, the shoe cover removal mechanisms 24, 26 enable quick and simple removal of protective shoe covers while the user remains in a standing position and without requiring the use of the user's hands to manipulate the shoe covers or the assistive device 10. For exemplary purposes, reference will be made to the protective shoe covers 44 shown in
In one embodiment, the user may position his or her shoe so as to engage the heel end 58 of the underside of the applied shoe cover 44 with the lip 78 of the first gripping element 72. The user may then force the first gripping element 72 toward the anchor member 70 into the retracted position, followed by rolling the foot forward to engage the toe end 56 of the underside of the shoe cover with the lip 78 of the second gripping element 74. Upon releasing the force being exerted on the first gripping element 72, the compression spring 84 causes the first gripping element 72 to spring back to the expanded position, thereby stretching and securely gripping the underside of the shoe cover 44. The user may then lift his or her foot out of the shoe cover 44, while the shoe cover 44 is retained by the shoe cover removal mechanism 24, 26. The user may then position the other shoe relative to the same or the other shoe cover removal mechanism 24, 26 for removal of an applied protective shoe cover 44 from that shoe, in a manner similar to that described above. During removal of a protective shoe cover 44 from either shoe, the user may position his or her other foot on top of one of the non-slip traction pads 64 so as to safely maintain balance and stability while remaining in a standing position.
In another embodiment, the user may elect to deploy one or both of the retractable projecting elements 80 from their respective gripping elements 72, 74 of the shoe cover removable mechanism 24, 26. The user may then engage the toe end 56 and/or the heel end 58 of the underside of the applied shoe cover 44 with the either or both of the lips 82 of the extended projecting elements 80 in a manner similar to that described above in connection with the lips 78 of the gripping elements 72, 74. A force exerted by the heel of the user onto the projecting element 80 of the first gripping element 72 may function to move the first gripping element 72 into the retracted position, as described above. It will be understood that the projecting elements 80 may be used as gripping devices in combination with, or alternatively to, the lips 78 of the gripping elements 72, 74. In other words, the user may engage the underside of an applied shoe cover 44 to either of both of the lips 78, 82 of a gripping element 72, 74 and its corresponding projecting element 80 for removal of the applied shoe cover 44.
As described above, the shoe cover removal mechanisms 24, 26 and the shoe cover mounts 38, 40, 42 are operatively coupled to the base 12 of the assistive device 10. For example, these components 24, 26, 38, 40, 42 may be releasably coupled to the base 12 using various mechanical fasteners known in the art, such as screws and/or bolts. Accordingly, and advantageously, any one of the components 24, 26, 38, 40, 42 may be quickly and easily attached to and detached from the base 12 as desired, for example for maintenance or modification purposes.
While the shoe cover application mechanism 22 and shoe cover removal mechanisms 24, 26 are shown and described as mounted to a portable base 12, in alternative embodiments these shoe cover mechanisms 22, 24, 26 may be mounted to any suitable support structure or support structures. For example, the mechanisms 22, 24, 26 may be mounted to a common support structure such as a floor or a wall, or to independent support structures such one or more free standing objects supported by a floor and/or by a wall.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
The protective device cover 140 shown herein includes a non-rigid body 142 defining an inner device pocket 144 for receiving the base 12 of the assistive device 10. The non-rigid body 142 includes an elastic collar 146 defining an opening to the device pocket 144, the elastic collar 146 being alterable between a contracted, relaxed state and an expanded state for receiving the device base 12 into the device pocket 144. The protective device cover 140 may be similar in construction, materials, and function to protective shoe covers known in the art. For example, the non-rigid body 142 may be formed of any suitable plastic, such as polyethylene, or non-woven fabric, such as polypropylene, or combination thereof. In that regard, the protective device cover 140 may be disposable. Alternatively, the protective device cover 140 may be formed from a durable material, such as a cotton-based material, that allows the cover 140 to be washed and reused multiple times as desired.
When the protective device cover 140 is applied to an assistive device, the elastic collar 146 and upper portion of the non-rigid body 142 extend over the outer edges of the device base 12 and overlie and conform to an upper surface of the device base 12. A main portion of the non-rigid body 142 overlies the underside of the assistive device. The protective device cover 140 may be applied to the device base 12 prior to placing the assistive device onto a ground surface, such as a floor in a customer residence, for example. The protective device cover 140 aids in mitigating contamination of the ground surface, and thus offers protective advantages in addition to those offered by the protective layer 66.
Referring to
The device holder 152 includes a back wall 160 and a pair of opposed side retaining walls 162 extending outwardly from opposed lateral sides of the back wall 160, and inwardly at a front side of the device holder 152 to define a device channel into which the assistive device may be received. The side retaining walls 162 are shown herein as arcuate walls, though various alternative configurations are also possible.
As shown best in
As shown in
As shown best in
While the cover dispensers 154, 156 are shown herein as being substantially elongate and rectangular in shape, it will be appreciated that the cover dispensers 154, 156 may be formed with various alternative shapes, and may be used in combination with the device holder 152 in any suitable manner. Additionally, more or fewer cover dispensers 154, 156 may be provided. For example, the system 150 may include only a single cover dispenser 154, as shown in
Referring to
First, the assistive device 10 is removed from the device holder 152 and the shoe cover mounts 38, 40, 42 are preloaded with a pair of protective shoe covers 44 obtained from the first cover dispenser 154. The protective shoe covers 44 may be loaded onto the mounts 38, 40, 42 in the manner generally described above in connection with
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
Referring to
In various embodiments, the non-rigid body 202 may be formed of any suitable material that lends the shoe cover 200 to being disposable and replaceable for minimal monetary cost. For example, the non-rigid body 202 may be formed of any suitable thermoplastic, such as polyethylene, or non-woven fabric, such as polypropylene, or any combination thereof. In other embodiments, the non-rigid body 202 may be formed of any suitable material that provides the shoe cover 200 with increased durability so as to be washable and reusable. For example, the non-rigid body 202 may be formed of any suitable cotton-based material.
The protective shoe cover 200 includes a plurality of device engagement elements configured to engage a shoe cover application mechanism and/or a shoe cover removal mechanism of a shoe cover assistive device, such as device 10. More specifically, in the illustrated embodiment, the shoe cover 200 includes side flaps 212, 214 disposed on an upper side portion of the non-rigid body 202 proximate the elastic collar 208, and which facilitate shoe cover application. In the embodiment shown in
The protective shoe cover 200 may be mounted to a pair of shoe cover mounts 38, 40, 42 such that each of the side flaps 212, 214 receives a respective prong 50, 52 at the toe-left, toe-right, heel-left, and heel-right positions, thereby maintaining the elastic collar 208 in the expanded state so that the shoe of a user may be received within the shoe pocket 210 for shoe cover application, described above. While the elastic collar 208 itself may be mounted to the prongs 50, 52 of the shoe cover mounts 38, 40, 42, as shown in
Referring to
The protective shoe cover 220, applied to the shoe of a user, may be positioned relative to a shoe cover removal mechanism of any one of the assistive devices described herein, and facilitate the ability of assistive device to securely retain the shoe cover 220 while the user removes his or her shoe from the shoe cover 220. For example, the openings 216 of the lower flaps 222, 224 may be sized, shaped, and spaced relative to one another to releasably receive the first and second gripping elements 72, 74 and/or the first and second projecting elements 80 of the shoe cover removal mechanisms 24, 26 shown in
While the side flaps 212, 214 and lower flaps 222, 224 are shown herein in a certain quantity, shape, and arrangement, it will be appreciated that various alternative quantities, shapes, and arrangements of side flaps and lower flaps may be provided. Additionally, though not shown, a protective shoe cover may be provided that includes side flaps 212, 214 and lower flaps 222, 224.
Referring to
Each of the elongate side flaps 232, 234 includes an elongate opening 236 for releasably receiving a prong 50, 52 extending from one of the shoe cover mounts 38, 40, 42 of the assistive device 10, for example. The openings 216 of the heel end side flaps 232 face toward the openings 236 of the toe end side flaps 234. The side flaps 232, 234 may be generally rectangular in shape, for example. Advantageously, the elongate construction of the side flaps 232, 234 facilitates alignment with and mounting of the shoe cover 230 to mounting elements of a shoe cover application mechanism, such as prongs 50, 52 of shoe cover application mechanism 22, for example.
The underside 226 of the protective shoe cover 230 includes a polymeric layer 238 suitable for use in various indoor and/or outdoor applications. For example, in one embodiment the polymeric layer 238 may be a rubber-based material that provides a non-slip surface suitable for use on smooth, hard ground surfaces. In other embodiments, the polymeric layer 238 may comprise various other materials suitable to enhance a resilience and/or rigidity of the underside 226 so as to render the protective shoe cover 230 suitable for use on outdoor ground surfaces. The polymeric layer 238 may be applied as a coating via a spray or dipping process, or otherwise permanently adhered to the underside 226. In other embodiments, various portions of the non-rigid body 202 may be provided with a polymeric layer for enhanced resilience, rigidity, or other performance characteristics as desired.
Similar to the non-rigid body 202 of protective shoe cover 200 described above, the non-rigid body 202 of protective shoe covers 220, 230 may be constructed of any desired material so as to render the shoe cover 220, 230 economically disposable and replaceable, or washable and reusable. Additionally, it will be appreciated that any of the exemplary protective shoe covers 200, 220, 230 may be used in combination with system 150 described above.
While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of specific embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not intended to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. The various features discussed herein may be used alone or in any combination. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the scope of the general inventive concept.
This application claims the filing benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/196,077 filed Jul. 23, 2015, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
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| Entry |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20170020225 A1 | Jan 2017 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62196077 | Jul 2015 | US |
