Pedicure protection device

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6704941
  • Patent Number
    6,704,941
  • Date Filed
    Monday, March 10, 2003
    21 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, March 16, 2004
    20 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Calvert; John J.
    • Hoey; Alissa L.
Abstract
A pedicure and foot protection device includes a body including a heel portion and foot portion. A plurality of toe receiving conduits is attached to and extends away from the foot portion such that each one of a plurality of toes is insertable into the body and into the conduits. Each of the conduits has an open free end having a perimeter or perimeter edge. Each of a plurality of elastic bands is attached to and extends along one of the perimeters of the free ends.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to pedicure protectors and more particularly pertains to a new pedicure protector for protecting the foot and toenails of a person receiving a pedicure.




2. Description of the Prior Art




The use of pedicure protectors is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,906,007 describes a sock having a plurality of toe sheaths which may be rolled up to expose the toenails of a person receiving a pedicure. Another type of related device is U.S. Pat. No. 5,867,838 having an open end for exposing the toes when a person wears sandals.




While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device that holds to the toes in a tight, but not restrictive manner so that the toes are exposed while the remainder of the foot is protected from debris and loss of heat.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention meets the needs presented above by including toe conduits having elastic bands encircling an end of the conduit. The bands, both by their elastic nature and surface tension, ensure that the conduits remain in place on the toe and do not unwantedly slide over toenails.




Another object of the present invention is to provide a new pedicure protector that includes tabs attached to the elastic bands for easy movement of the bands on the toes.




To this end, the present invention generally comprises a body including a heel portion and foot portion. A plurality of toe receiving conduits is attached to and extends away from the foot portion such that each one of a plurality of toes is insertable into the body and into the conduits. Each of the conduits has an open free end having a perimeter or perimeter edge. Each of a plurality of elastic bands is attached to and extends along one of the perimeters of the free ends.




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 are additional features of-the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.




The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:





FIG. 1

is an in-use perspective view of a pedicure protection device according to the present invention.





FIG. 2

is a cross-sectional view taken along line


2





2


of

FIG. 1

the present invention.











DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to

FIGS. 1 and 2

thereof, a new pedicure protector embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral


10


will be described.




As best illustrated in

FIGS. 1 and 2

, the pedicure protection device


10


generally includes a body


12


including a leg portion


13


, an ankle portion


14


, heel portion


16


and foot portion


18


. The body


12


preferably comprises a resiliently stretchable cloth material which may be any conventional material used for socks such as cotton, nylon, or mixtures of these either with or without elastomeric threads woven therein.




The body


12


forms a sock having an end to which is attached a plurality of toe receiving conduits


20


. The toe receiving conduits


20


extend away from the foot portion


12


such that each one of a plurality of toes


40


is insertable into the body


12


and into the conduits


20


. Each of the conduits


20


has an open free end


22


. Each of the free ends


22


has a perimeter


24


having one of a plurality of elastic bands


26


attached thereto and extending there along. Each of the bands


26


preferably comprises an elastomeric material. Preferably, a foot receiving band


28


is attached along a peripheral edge of the leg portion


13


.




Preferably, each of a plurality of tabs


30


is attached to one of the elastic bands


26


such that each of the elastic bands


26


has a tab


30


attached thereto. Each of the tabs


30


extends toward the body


12


.




In use, the device


10


is positioned over a foot and the toes


40


extended through and outward of the conduits


20


such that each of the elastic bands


26


extends around one of the toes


40


. The bands


26


hold the conduits


20


in place so that the conduits


20


do not move over the toenail


42


of the toe


40


. Tabs


30


may be used in order to assist in the pulling of the bands


26


toward the body


12


and away from the toenail


42


. The devices


10


are worn to keep the foot of the wearer clean and warm while receiving a pedicure as well as when walking to or from the pedicure.




With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.




Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.



Claims
  • 1. A foot covering device for exposing toenails during a pedicure, said device comprising:a body including a heel portion and foot portion; a plurality of toe receiving conduits being attached to and extending away from said foot portion such that each one of a plurality of toes is insertable into said body and into said conduits, each of said conduits having an open free end, each of said free ends having a perimeter; and a plurality of elastic bands, each of said elastic bands being attached to and extended along one of said perimeters of said free ends, each of said elastic bands extending outwardly from said free ends, each of said elastic bands comprising an elastomeric material.
  • 2. The foot covering device as in claim 1, further including a plurality of tabs, each of said tabs being attached to one of said elastic bands.
  • 3. The foot covering device as in claim 2, wherein each of said tabs extends toward said body.
  • 4. A foot covering device for exposing toenails during a pedicure, said device comprising:a body including a leg portion, an ankle portion, heel portion and foot portion, said body comprising a resiliently stretchable cloth material; a plurality of toe receiving conduits being attached to and extending away from said foot portion such that each one of a plurality of toes is insertable into said body and into said conduits, each of said conduits having an open free end, each of said free ends having a perimeter; a plurality of elastic bands, each of said elastic bands being attached to and extended along one of said perimeters of said free ends, each of said bands extending away from said free ends, each of said bands comprising an elastomeric material; and a plurality of tabs, each of said tabs being attached to one of said elastic bands, each of said tabs extending toward said body.
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