This invention relates to footwear accessories, and more particularly to a boot glove incorporated with a sock and embellishments for covering the footwear safely and healthy.
A boot is a type of shoe that covers at least the foot and the ankle and sometimes extends up to the knee or even the hip. Most of the boots has a heel that is clearly distinguishable from the rest of the sole, even if the two are made of one piece. Traditional boots are made of leather or rubber and modern boots are made from a variety of materials.
Some boots are made of a single closely-stitched design using leather, rubber, canvas, or similar material to prevent the entry of water, snow, mud or dirt through the gaps left between the laces and the tongue as in regular types of shoes. Simple waterproof gumboots are made in different lengths of uppers, and, in extreme cases, thigh-boots called waders, worn by anglers, extends up to the hip level of the wearer. Such boots may also be insulated for warmth.
In one prior art, a plastic sock that is adapted for use in combination with a boot or galosh for facilitating insertion of the foot is disclosed. The sock keeps the feet dry while the over boot is worn. The provision of an adjustable tubular sock for use in combination with a boot comprising a liquid impermeable single sheet having a tubular configuration and one open end, the open end having a rim portion, the rim portion including means for receiving the sheet about the leg, the sheet being in contact with the inside surface of an outer boot.
A sock that is particularly adapted for use with western type boots in which the heel portion is enlarged to a greater extent than the heels of regular boots and shoes is disclosed in another prior art. The entire length of the leg, foot and heel portions of this sock are knit of one or more body yarns and a main terry yarn forms terry loops throughout either the entire inner surface of the sock or at least in the heel. An auxiliary terry yarn is knit in plated relationship with the main terry yarn in at least the heel portion and may be knit in the adjacent areas above and below the heel portion and forms additional terry loops to provide additional fabric thickness in the heel and adjacent areas so that the heel portion of the sock fills in the enlarged heel of the western boot. The yarns forming the terry loops are hydrophobic to wick any moisture from the inside of the sock and away from the foot of the wearer.
In addition, another prior art discloses a woman's modular utility shoe. A convertible base mule-style shoe may be made of an insole, an outsole, a sash, a vamp or upper, and a heel attached to the outsole or to a heel mount. Various attachment mounts fastened to the base mule may allow structural embellishments to be attached to the base mule.
These prior arts allow the user to use the footwear without using the socks and may build up of bacteria, causing irritation and itching to the feet. Also the embellishments attached outside the footwear are specific to the footwear and can easily slip down causing accidents. The accidents such as tripping over the embellishments, causes sprains and broken feet or ankles. Further, the embellishments are specific to the footwear and footwear style.
Therefore, there is a need for a device that allows the user to safely and healthily use the boot by using a boot glove incorporated with boot glove sock. There is also a need for an antibacterial boot glove sock that absorbs perspiration and bacteria caused by perspiration. Additionally, as the embellishments are done on the boot glove and not on the boot, the boot glove can be used with all types of footwear and footwear style. The present invention accomplishes these objectives.
The present invention is a boot glove that can be used for embellishing all the footwear healthy and safely. The boot glove comprises of a boot glove body and a boot glove sock. The boot glove body worn over the boot covers and enhances the boot with at least one embellishment. The boot glove sock encloses the human foot and is incorporated with the boot glove body in order to avoid slipping down of boot glove in the event of malfunction.
In one embodiment of the invention, the embellishments are a plurality of lacing bands extending about the front of the boot glove body and a plurality of laces extending around the top of the boot glove body.
The boot glove body functions only with the boot glove sock in order to safely, healthily and economically embellish the boot. The boot glove body is kept in place with the boot glove sock which is worn on the foot. A cuff can be attached with the sock wherein said cuff when folded over the top of the boot, provides additional comfort and grip while on a walk. The boot glove application accommodates all footwear regardless of footwear style.
To accommodate all types and styles of footwear, the boot glove body, alternatively referred to as a “cover” has an upper opening and a lower opening. A disconnecting strap with fasteners spans the lower opening of the cover. The cover also has a seam and zipper running vertically upward from the heel area of the footwear, which anchors the apparatus to the footwear.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
Referring to
The boot glove sock 120 is attached with the boot glove body 110 in order to firmly hold the boot glove body 110 in upright position rather than falling down in the event of malfunction. The sock 120 is made from a material that absorbs perspiration and prevents bad odor building up. The sock 120 is a fabric that is treated with an antibacterial agent in order to avoid irritation and itching caused by bacteria.
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In one embodiment of the invention, the embellishments 130 are a plurality of lacing bands 210 extending about the front of the boot glove body 110 and a plurality of laces 220 extending around the top 230 of the leg section 260 of the boot glove body 110.
The embellishments 130 may also include a sling strap, a heel strap, an ankle strap, ankle lace-up straps, a T-strap, a heel cup, a demi heel cup, or a booting. The embellishments 130 may be attached to the boot glove body 110 through many combinations of fastenings such as but not limited to a hook and eye, a double hook and eye, a clasp, a buckle, a stud, a loop a decorative snap, or like system.
The boot glove body 110 functions only with the boot glove sock 120 in order to safely, healthily and economically embellish the boot 300. The boot glove body 110 is kept in place with the boot glove sock 120 which is worn on the human foot. The boot glove 110 application accommodate all footwear regardless of footwear style.
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The structure of the apparatus having been shown and described, its method of operation will now be discussed.
In order to embellish an article of foot wear, a user places the sock incorporated with the cover over a foot. At this stage, the cover hangs loosely from its connection with the sock. The user then inserts the sock and foot into an article of footwear, and brings the cover down over the exterior of the footwear. In certain cases, the sock may extend far above the footwear along a user's leg, as in the case of a court shoe or pump. In other cases, the sock may extend only to the top of the footwear, as in the case of a boot.
With the sock in place, a user brings the cover down over the outer surface of the footwear and attaches the strap under the arch of the footwear. In this manner, tension between the top of the cover held in place by the sock, and strap under the arch holds the cover over the footwear. A user then closes the zipper incorporated into a seam. In one embodiment, the seam spans the cover from bottom to top at the rear of and parallel to a user's leg with the zipper adapted to close the seam along its entire length. The cover is adapted to cover the zipper so that while the seam may remain visible, the zipper mechanism is obscured. With the strap and zipper in position, the cover is securely anchored to the article of footwear, providing a decorative appearance.
Typical applications of the present invention contemplate but are not limited to product manufacturing, installation, and maintenance. The foregoing enumeration of embodiments has been for illustrative purposes only. Other embodiments, combinations of embodiments and combinations of features are also within the scope and spirit of the teachings described herein, as will be apparent to persons skilled in the art of these teachings.
While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, structure, materials, procedure and the like that will fall within the scope of the invention. In any event, it is understood that other platform designs are also possible. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims.
This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 12/056,188, filed Mar. 26, 2008.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20110162237 A1 | Jul 2011 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 12056188 | Mar 2008 | US |
Child | 13050247 | US |