Patent Application
20050246821
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is broadly concerned with form-fitting foot socks adapted to be worn as comfortable and protective coverings over the feet, lower leg, and/or upper leg of users. More particularly, the invention is concerned with such foot coverings used to create a protective barrier over the foot that may be watertight and may be used to apply medicaments to the skin of the user.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of latex or other synthetic resin gloves by medical or food service personnel is well-established. It is known that these glove products inhibit the spread of potentially harmful microorganisms, in order to protect both the wearer and others.
However, there are many other vectors for infection other than through the hands. For example, it is quite common that Athlete's Foot can be spread in locker and shower rooms, owing to the fact that users generally are in their bare feet. This is particularly troublesome if a particular person has extant foot problems or bandages on his feet or ankles.
Protective coverings have previously been provided for leg or arm casts, in order to allow the wearer to shower and bathe. However, these prior products are typically of bag-like construction, meaning that they do not form fit and simply hold a limb within the confines of a loosely fitting waterproof enclosure. Such products are marketed under the designation ShowerSafe waterproof cast protectors. Non-medicated stretch latex socks have also been provided as bandage protectors in order to keep the feet dry (DRI-Foot protectors). These are constructed to be reusable coverings for special circumstances rather than ultra thin disposable coverings for routine use.
The present invention provides improved form-fitting disposable foot coverings which are usable in a wide variety of contexts for foot protection and the delivery of medicaments. Broadly, the foot coverings of the invention comprise a tubular body presenting a sole portion having an inner surface and an outer surface, and an uppers portion, where the body is configured to tightly fit over a person's foot with the inner surface of the sole region proximal to the person's sole and the uppers region extending upwardly and engaging the person's leg above the ankle. At a point of engagement an adhesive may be used to seal the foot covering against the person's body creating a watertight barrier to keep a desired portion of the user's body dry. At least the sole region of the covering (and preferably the entirety thereof) is formed of a thin, resilient, stretchable resin material. Also, medicament can be provided on at least a portion of the inner surface of the body, typically in patch or layer form on the inner surface of the sole portion. However, the medicament may be applied anywhere along the inner surface of the foot covering.
The foot coverings of the invention may be used for the protection of bare feet by preventing direct contact with contaminated surfaces, such as those found in locker rooms, shower rooms, airports, hospitals and nursing homes. An additional important use would be covering and protecting dressings or bandages on the foot or ankle of the wearer. The presence of medicament, and especially transdermal medicaments or topical ointments, assists in the administration thereof. Versions of the foot coverings can be essentially airtight, aiding in the elimination of dry feet; alternately, breathable versions having woven cloth or perforate uppers may be provided for extended wearing.
Turning now to the drawings, a foot covering 10 in accordance with the invention is illustrated in
In more detail, in the illustrated embodiment, the sole portion 14 which is proximal to the person's sole, presents an outer surface 18 and an opposed inner surface 20 (see
As shown in
When used in conjunction with a medicament that is coated onto the inner surface or infused into the material, the sock and medicament can be used to treat any and all cutaneous or systemic conditions. It is possible to use any medication that can be transmitted transdermally. For example, the medicament in conjunction with the sock may aid in the treatment of dermatitis by impregnating the sock with Lamisil or similar anti-fungal medicaments. It may also be used in the hydration of feet for those on dialysis. The present invention may also be used in the administration of antibiotics, hypertensive medications, to treat hypo-hydrosis with lanolin, to treat hyper-hydrosis with formaldehyde, to treat ulcerations on the feet which may occur as a result of complications caused by diabetes. Additionally, anti-yeast, vassal activators, medication used to control migraine headaches, and arthritis treatments may also be administered through use of the present invention. Free radicals of the foot cover can be used to bond the medications.
These and other topically and transdermally administered medications may all be employed as will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art without the departing from the scope of the invention. The foot covering of the present invention can be manufactured with medications pre-infused into the sock. Thus, doctors could prescribe a medicament coated or infused sock that a user could then purchase from a pharmacy thereby avoiding the necessity of applying the medicament themselves. Medicament pre-coated or pre-infused socks would also be useful with non-prescription drugs.
The preferred resin materials useful in the invention are selected from the group consisting of latex, vinyl, polyurethane, polymer gel, and nitrile materials. Although the materials can have a variety of physical properties, generally the materials should have a tensile strength of from about 14 to 21 MPa and an ultimate elongation of from about 600 to 750% and a stress at 300% of from about 2 to 5 MPa. The material typically would have a relaxed thickness (i.e., when not worn) in the uppers region thereof of from about 0.001-0.010 inches, or preferably from about 0.002-0.005 inches. The materials contemplated for use in the present invention will have an elasticity and thickness such that they can be comfortably worn for long periods of time beneath the regular sock and shoe of the user or by themselves.
Again referring to
The invention may be utilized in other forms as depicted for example in
A further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in
The various embodiments are of course suited for different uses or environments, as dictated by their specific design features. Additionally, the invention may be realized in a number of ways not specifically discussed herein, but within the spirit and scope of the invention.
