Information
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Patent Grant
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6704941
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Patent Number
6,704,941
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Date Filed
Monday, March 10, 200321 years ago
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Date Issued
Tuesday, March 16, 200420 years ago
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Inventors
-
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Examiners
- Calvert; John J.
- Hoey; Alissa L.
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CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 002 239
- 002 240
- 002 241
- 002 242
- 002 409
- 002 46
- 002 159
- 002 163
- 002 245
- D02 980
- D02 989
- 602 28
- 602 4
- 602 5
- 602 23
- 602 24
- 604 24
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International Classifications
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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.
US Referenced Citations (37)