Patent Application
20060021112
The present invention relates to footwear and methods for making and using the same, and more particularly, to footwear and methods for making and using the same.
Many types of footwear are known and have been employed since time immemorial. However, people who work or recreate out-of-doors have not had footwear available which would protect their feet from the heat and roughness of the supporting ground or pavement while providing tactile feel and allowing the components of the foot freedom of movement.
Footwear intended for use in a casual or recreational environment exists in many forms. Of course, socks of woven or knitted construction are an important form of footwear. Conventional woven or knitted socks offer little or no protection against the elements.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved work or recreation shoe that provides protection of a foot from the heat of the ground or pavement.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved work or recreation footwear that provides protection of a foot from rough surfaces including ground and pavement, swimming pool bottoms, beach shores and workout areas.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved work or recreation footwear capable of improved tactile feel for heightened physical performance, including but not limited to a textured coating that helps retain traction on wet or slick surfaces.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide improved work and recreation footwear that insulates the skin from direct contact with unsanitary surface, thus limiting risk of Athlete's Foot and other contagious conditions.
An advantage of the present invention is that it can provide foot protection for a user in various environments while the user is wearing it.
According to one aspect, the invention is a footwear for a foot on a human leg having an ankle. The footwear includes a fabric layer and a coating. The fabric layer has an inner surface and a corresponding outer surface. The inner surface conforms closely to the top, sides, bottom and individual toes of the foot. The coating is adhered to sections of the outer surface of the fabric layer. The sections correspond to the portions of the inner surface of the fabric layer that conform closely to the sides, bottom and individual toes of the foot.
According to a second aspect, the invention is a method for making a footwear for a foot on a human leg having an ankle. The method includes the step of a) forming a fabric layer having an inner surface and a corresponding outer surface, where the inner surface conforms closely to the top, sides, bottom and individual toes of the foot. The method further includes the step of b) adhering a first coating to sections of the outer surface of the fabric layer that correspond to the portions of the inner surface of the fabric layer that conform closely to the sides, bottom and individual toes of the foot.
According to a third aspect, the invention is an apparatus for making a footwear for a foot on a human leg having an ankle. The apparatus includes means for forming a fabric layer having an inner surface and a corresponding outer surface, the inner surface conforming closely to the top, sides, bottom and individual toes of the foot. The apparatus also includes means for adhering a first coating to sections of the outer surface of the fabric layer that correspond to the portions of the inner surface of the fabric layer that conform closely to the sides, bottom and individual toes of the foot.
The fabric layer 52 has an upper opening 53 into which the foot 51 is inserted when the footwear 50 is worn. If desired, the fabric layer 52 can be high enough so that the upper opening 53 extends above the ankle 55 of the human leg.
The foot 51 has a top 60, sides 62 (such as left side 62L and heel side 62H, as well as the right side (not shown)), a bottom 64 and individual toes 66 (big toe 66B, little toe 66P, middle toe 66M, and second and fourth toes 66S and 66F, respectively. The inner surface 54 conforms closely to the top 60, sides 62, bottom 64 and individual toes 66 of the foot 51.
The footwear 50 also includes a first coating 68 which is adhered to portions of the outer surface of the fabric layer corresponding to the portions of the inner surface 54 that conform closely to the sides, bottom and individual toes of the foot 51. The first coating 68 can be made from one or more of the form-fitting materials chosen from the class of materials including latex, nitrile, and polyurethane.
The fabric layer 52 has an upper opening 53 into which the foot 51 is inserted when the footwear 50 is worn. If desired, the fabric layer 52 can be high enough so that the upper opening 53 extends above the ankle 55 of the human leg.
The foot 51 has a top 60, sides 62 (such as left side 62L and heel side 62H, as well as a right side), a bottom 64 and a single toe box 166 for the big toe 66B and a group toe box 167 for all of the remaining toes (little toe 66P, middle toe 66M, and second and fourth toes 66S and 66F, respectively). The inner surface 54 conforms closely to the top 60, sides 62, bottom 64 and the toe box 166 of the foot 51.
The footwear 50 also includes a first coating 68 which is adhered to portions of the outer surface of the fabric layer corresponding to the portions of the inner surface 56 that conform closely to the sides, bottom and toe boxes 166 and 167 of the foot 51. The first coating 68 can be made from one or more of the form-fitting materials chosen from the class of materials including latex, nitrile, and polyurethane.
The fabric layer 52 has an upper opening 53 into which the foot 51 is inserted when the footwear 50 is worn. If desired, the fabric layer 52 can be high enough that the upper opening 53 just extends above the ankle 55 of the human leg. If desired, the upper opening 53 of the fabric layer 52 can have a cuff 57 to help to prevent sand and the like from entering the footwear 50.
The foot 51 has a top 60, sides 62 (such as left side 62L and heel side 62H, as well as a right side 62R (not shown)), a bottom 64 and a single toe box 166 for the big toe 66B, and a group toe box 167 for all of the remaining toes (little toe 66P, middle toe 66M, and second and fourth toes 66S and 66F, respectively). The inner surface 54 conforms closely to the top 60, sides 62, bottom 64 and the toe box 166 of the foot 51.
The footwear 50 also includes a first coating 68 which is adhered to lower portions of the outer surface of the fabric layer corresponding to the lower portions of the inner surface 56 that conform closely to the bottom 64, and the lower halves of the sides 62 and toe boxes 166 and 167 of the foot 51. The first coating 68 can be made from one or more of the form-fitting materials chosen from the class of materials including latex, nitrile, and polyurethane.
The next step in the method (block 104) is to adhere a first coating to a portion of the outer surface of the fabric layer. This step can also include immersing the fabric layer in a container of coating material to suffuse the material through the fabric layer. If desired, the coating material may possibly have an additive to improve adhesion between the coating material and the fabric layer. The first coating is then dried, either by exposing the first coating to an ambient condition, or by exposing the first coating to an elevated temperature or other condition to cause the first coating to dry. The first coating can be made from one or more of the form-fitting materials chosen from the class of materials including latex, nitrile, and polyurethane.
The next step in the method (block 106) is to adhere a second coating to portions of the outer surface of the fabric layer in the same way that the first coating is adhered.
The apparatus 200 then lowers the arm 202 and the foot-shaped form 204 into a container 214 of the coating material until the desired portions of the outer surface of the fabric layer are immersed in the coating material. This is signified by position B in
Next, the apparatus 200 raises the arm 202 and foot-shaped form 204 until the foot-shaped form 204 is clear of the coating material in the container 214. The apparatus 200 then allows the coating material to dry or set so that the coated fabric layer is ready for use. This is signified by position B in
While the foregoing is a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, there are many alternative embodiments of the invention that would occur to those skilled in the art and which are within) the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is to be determined by the following claims.
