Patent Application
20080184593
The invention is generally directed to articles of clothing. More particularly the invention relates to a covering for inserts to be placed into a shoe.
It is well known that some individuals prefer to have little or no sock material visible when wearing shoes, e.g. deck shoes, loafers, sports shoes. One industry solution for these individuals has been to produce socks with less material covering the ankle, e.g. half socks, anklet socks, sport low socks, bootie socks, toe half socks.
It is also well known that the insole of shoes used in sports, e.g. tennis shoes, running shoes, jogging shoes, cross-training shoes, get moist and may breed bacteria. One industry solution to this problem is anti-bacteria sprays. Another industry solution to this problem is a shoe insert that absorbs/prevents/controls odor.
It is also well known that some individuals require an orthopedic shoe insert, e.g. arch supports, leg length adjusters. These orthopedic shoe inserts also have a tendency to get moist and produce an odor. Additionally, there are other inserts that are designed to be placed in a shoe, e.g. Odor Eaters, gel heel cushions, extra support insoles, massaging insoles, power walk insoles.
Other attempts to address these and other problems include the following.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,882,868, issued to Werner Tundermann on May 13, 1975, discloses a disposable foot-care article in the form of a toe cover made of absorbent non-woven fabric or suitable stock, and method of manufacturing same that utilizes a continuous web wherein the web is impregnated with medicated foot-care agents, folded longitudinally into at least a partial overlap and then sealed and cut diagonally to produce a slipper-shaped toe cover.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,372,057, issued to Olympia Neilsen on Feb. 8, 1983 discloses an insole of moisture absorbent material that is shaped to conform to an average persons' foot sole so that it covers all or at least the forward portion of the wearer's foot. This insole is removably inserted in the wearer's sock to absorb moisture, thereby protecting the wearer against the problems which stem from excess foot moisture and wet socks. The improved result is a washable and easily applied means for moisture protection of the wearer's feet consisting of a regular sock and a moisture absorbing insole positioned within the sock.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,571,851, issued to Masao Yamada on Feb. 25, 1986, discloses a slipper formed with a sole defined by an outlined edge and having a predetermined length from the front end to the back end thereof, the sole being composed of a toe of a predetermined width defining the front end thereof, a foot inserting part having a predetermined minimum width located adjacent to the toe and progressively and symmetrically enlarged to a predetermined maximum width from the toe toward the back end of the sole, the foot inserting part having pressed bend lines extending slightly inside and along both edges thereof respectively to define the opposite marginal parts which may be spontaneously bent up when pressed to each other, a reduced part having both sides connected to the end of maximum width of the foot inserting part by edges extending with an acute angle from the end of maximum width of the foot inserting part to the reduced part on both sides thereof, a heel part progressively enlarged from the reduced part toward the back end of the sole. The slipper is further formed with instep arranged on the foot inserting part in a strained state, the instep being made of a filmy material and having both sides adhered to the underside of the sole on both sides thereof.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,349, issued to Dorothy G. Munschy on Nov. 30, 1993, discloses a length adjustable scuff formed of a fabric sole of sufficient length for at least a portion of its after-section to be folded back on top of the remaining portion of the after-section to provide a support for the wearer's heel and/or arch. The folded-over portion of the after-section may be adjustably retained in its disposition relative to the front section of the sole, either by a Velcro type material or by an element securable in the vicinity of the toe of the scuff.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,880,268, issued to Cheng-Ming Chen, on Apr. 19, 2005, discloses a sock combined with an insole comprised of an insole; at least one surface of the insole is formed with elastic hooks; the hooks being deformed due to an external force, but restoring as the force disappears; and a sock having a sock body and an opening; the sock body having a sock sole; whole or part of the lower bottom of the sock sole being formed with curl wires for grasping the hooks so that the sock is tightly secured to the insole to avoid the relative motion between the sock and the insole.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,393,734, issued to Chan-Chou Ou on May 28, 2002, discloses an adjustable and disposable foot care article which includes a toe cover and an elongated insole bonded together to form a toe pocket at a front section. The insole is a bonded and pliable composite laminate consisting of an upper layer, an absorbent middle layer and a bottom layer made of air and fluid permeable non-woven fabrics or materials. The bottom layer has two side flaps extended outwards from the insole. The side flaps have spaced longitudinal perforation lines and a plurality of spaced and transverse perforation lines formed at selected locations for trimming excess portion of the side flaps and the heel section of the insole for the article to fit different sizes of foot. The article may be worn snugly on foot without flapping or flopping by fastening the rear end of the side flaps around the heel through an integrated or separated fastener. The article gives the foot and toes and part of the instep protective cover without contacting the musty or microbes-infected shoe interior. It may serve as a substitute for sock or stocking, or be worn with stocking or sock in the shoe without exposed or spoiling aesthetic appearance. It improves foot hygiene and adds comfort to foot by providing additional cushion and moisture absorption capability.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,391,064, issued to Estella Stokes McCandless on Dec. 18, 1945, discloses a toe mitt, the purpose of which is to provide a knitted element of the general form of the toe of a stocking and fitting over the toes of the wearer either inside or outside of the stocking providing a means for preventing wear of the stocking toe.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,044,497 issued to Heath Richardson on Apr. 4, 2000, discloses a half sock that, in general, can cover the anterior limb of a foot, leaving the heel bare. The half sock includes a sock-housing with a rear opening for insertion of the foot therein. It is made of a suitably cushioning, durable, flexible, thermally-insulating and physically-proportioned material, for one illustration, a neoprene-containing material, for example, an about 3-mm neoprene material having a flexible nylon lining on either side thereof. The half sock can have, in essence, mirror image symmetry through an imaginary plane bisecting its top and bottom portions. It can include inwardly-directed front tapers to accommodate the big and the smaller toes of the foot, and include inwardly-directed rear tapers to accommodate the arch of the foot. It can be made of a one-piece web in a clamshell like pattern, having side edges butted and sewn together so that there is little or no bump. The half sock can be employed for keeping warm toes during a cold weather activity, especially to include when wearing boots such as hunting, military or, in particular, ski boots.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,247,182, issued to Hedy T. Tasbas on Jun. 19, 2001, discloses a foot protector which is comprised of at least about 80 weight percent of a fabric material. The fabric material is comprised of at least 50 weight percent of stretch fabric; it is made from a two sheets of fabric, and a space between the two sheets of fabric is adapted to receive volatilizable material. A hole extends through the first sheet of fabric, and the hole has a diameter of less than about 0.3 inches. A volatilizable material is disposed within the space disposed between the two sheets of fabric.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,393,620, issued to Joy S. Hatch, Robert Craddock, and Cindy Jones Dickson on May 28, 2002, discloses an article of apparel for a foot that covers the forward portion of the foot, only does not show above the tops of shoes and enhances fit and comfort of wearing shoes. Such a partial sock, or half sock, is advantageous for uses including wearing with shoes that cover the forward portion of the foot only, such as open-heel and clog-type shoes.
U.S. Pat. No. D479,766, issued to Viveca A. Mays and Tristin M. Mays on Sep. 23, 2003, illustrates a half sock to be worn alone or with shoes that have a low cut or no back, such as mules, thong type sandals, or flip-flops, for fashion or leisure.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,874,253, issued to Katrina Hollis-Lorent on Apr. 5, 2005, discloses an apparatus comprised of a disposable inner footwear adapted for receiving a foot. The inner footwear is made from a plastic material and has a front portion, a heel portion, and an upper foot covering portion. The upper foot covering portion is adapted to be wrapped over the foot.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,013, issued to Frank G. Kräck on Nov. 19, 1996, discloses an easy-on sock having a split opening extending down the middle of the top surface of the sock from the lower leg portion to the toe pocket of the sock is provided. An extension flap, used to close the split, is connected along one edge of the split and extends substantially the full length of the split. Hook and loop closure strips are attached on the free edge of the extension strip and along the other edge of the split to enable the extension flap to be folded over the split and secured to the opposing hook and loop closure strip. In one embodiment, an insert flap is additionally connected to the other edge of the split, opposite the extension flap. A hook and loop type connector is attached to the outer surface of the insert flap and a mating hook and loop type sizing strip is attached to a corresponding location on the inner surface of the extension flap. Thus, the sock may be closely fitted to the foot of the user by first mating the hook and loop type closure strips and/or connectors. In all embodiments there is provided a sock having the ability to cover the split and the person's foot as in a conventional sock, but without the pulling, squeezing and rubbing associated with conventional socks.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,232, issued to James L. Throneburg on Feb. 18, 1997, discloses a foot protector for use in combination with stocking-type hosiery to cushion and protect a wearer's foot is described. The foot protector is preferably knit to include padding in the form of integrally knit terry loops, and has a specially constructed top portion for encircling the wearer's ankle. The top portion extends upwardly to a greater extent proximate the wearer's heel than the instep, and is substantially unpadded. When the foot protector is worn in a layered relationship with a stocking and a shoe, the protector is only minimally visible, if at all, thereby providing enhanced wearer comfort while maintaining the appearance of wearing stockings and shoes alone.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,151,660, issued to Hiroyuki Yoshimi and Yoshio Itoh on May 1, 1979, discloses a sock for use with footgear is provided comprising a core formed of copper or copper-containing metal, a top ply of air-permeable material overlying the upper surface of said core, and a bottom ply of air-permeable material underlying the lower surface of the core, at least said top ply and bottom ply being joined together around the periphery of said core. The socks according to this invention maintain user's feet sanitary in his footgear for a period of time and keeps his feet from giving off offensive odors.
While these patents and published patent application and other previous methods have attempted to solve the above mentioned problems, none have utilized or disclosed a shoe insert cover device.
Therefore, a need exists for a shoe insert covering. The shoe insert covering according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art. It can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a shoe insert covering which can be used commercially. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills these objectives.
The foregoing patent and other information reflect the state of the art of which the inventor is aware and are tendered with a view toward discharging the inventor's acknowledged duty of candor in disclosing information that may be pertinent to the patentability of the present invention. It is respectfully stipulated, however, that the foregoing patent and other information do not teach or render obvious, singly or when considered in combination, the inventor's claimed invention.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a shoe insert covering. In particular, the present invention relates to a shoe insert covering that provides a barrier between a user's sole and the insole of the shoe. In some embodiments of the present invention, there may also be a covering for a user's toes, or a user's toes and a portion of the front of the user's foot. The present invention is useful for those individuals who do not want to wear socks, but desire the protection and comfort provided by a stocking or sock.
The present invention is comprised of enclosed material formed to have a hollow interior and an opening that is dimensioned for insertion of a footwear insert, e.g. insole, into the hollow interior. The present invention is preferably washable, but may also be disposable. The present invention provides a protective barrier between the bottom of a user's feet and the footwear insert.
The opening is preferably a slit positioned on the bottom side of the shoe insert covering. This slit is preferably roughly at the mid-point of the length of the present invention, but may be positioned at other than the mid-point, e.g. nearer to the toe-ward end or heel-ward end of the shoe insert covering.
Footwear inserts that may be inserted into a shoe insert covering include, but are not limited to, a gel heel cushion, an extra support insole, an Odor Eater insole, an arch support. Additionally, an embodiment of the present invention may include shoes pre-fitted with a shoe insert covering and a footwear insert.
In some embodiments, the present invention is further comprised of a toe cover that is dimensioned to cover a user's toes. Depending on the embodiment, the toe cover dimensions may vary, e.g. sized to cover a portion of a user's toes, sized to cover all of a user's toes, sized to cover the toes and a portion of the front of the foot.
One way to use the present invention is as follows:
If the present invention contains a toe cover, the user may place his/her toes inside the toe covering cavity, similar to putting on slippers, prior to placing his/her fitted foot into the shoe.
An advantage of the present invention is that it is easy to use.
Another advantage of the present invention is that it is convenient to use.
Another advantage of the present invention is that it can be manufactured from readily available materials.
Another advantage of the present invention is that it may be made to be washable or disposable.
Another advantage of the present invention is that it can be made inexpensively.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a presently preferred embodiment which is illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings.
Other advantages and features of the invention are described with reference to exemplary embodiments, which are intended to explain and not to limit the invention, and are illustrated in the drawings in which:
Before explaining the disclosed embodiment of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangement shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.
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While the above description contains many specifics, these specifics should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but merely exemplifications of the disclosed embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other possible variations that are within the scope of the invention.
