US20030074718A1

US20030074718A1 - Toe booties

Info

Publication number: US20030074718A1
Application number: US10/021,290
Authority: US
Inventors: Victoria English
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-10-22
Filing date: 2001-10-22
Publication date: 2003-04-24

Abstract

A disposable foot covering is disclosed for protecting freshly polished, painted and/or oiled toenails from smudging, smearing or other damage so that persons can put socks, hoisery and/or shoes on after having their toenails polished, painted, and/or oiled. The disposable foot covering includes an opening having an elastic band. The coverings can also include a plurality of toe receiving areas adapted to receive one or more toes, non-stick layers located on an upper interior surface of the covering and position so that the non-stick layers further protect freshly polished, painted and/or oiled toenails from smudging, smearing or damage, and non-slip layer located at a heel, ball of the foot and/or toe regions of the covering to reduce the potential of the coverings of this invention shifting after placed on the foot and prior to the toenails drying.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a disposable foot covering devices adapted to protect freshly painted, polished and/or oiled toenails from smudging or ruining the polish, where the covering can be put on a wearer's foot immediately after polishing and/or oiling and is substantially hidden when worn with a shoe.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a disposable foot covering including an opening having an elastic band and optionally a plurality of toe receiving areas adapted to protect freshly painted, polished and/or oiled toenails from smudging or ruining the polish, where the covering can be put on a wearer's foot immediately after polishing and/or oiling and is substantially hidden when worn with a shoe.

2. Description of the Related Art

Devices are known in the prior art for protecting finger nails and toenails, but most of these devices either cover and protect a single toe or involve structures that can protect and unprotect the nails. Such devices are shown in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 5,186,189; 5,699,816; 5,890,495; 5,906,007; and 5,924,428.

Thus, there is a need in the art for an inexpensive, disposable foot covering that can be worn with stocking and/or socks shoes and protects toenails after being painted, polished and/or oiled from smudging and otherwise ruining the polish, where the foot covering can be put on immediately after toenail oiling and/or painting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a disposable foot covering including an opening having an elastic material, where the covering is adapted to cover the foot from toe to heel and to protect freshly painted, polished and/or oiled toenails from damage due to smudging or smearing, the covering can be put on a wearer's foot immediately after polishing and/or oiling and the covering is substantially hidden when worn with a shoe.

The present invention provides a disposable foot covering including an opening having an elastic material and a non-stick layer located at a toe end of the covering, where the covering is adapted to cover the foot from toe to heel with the non-stick layer positioned over the toenails to protect freshly painted, polished and/or oiled toenails from damage due to smudging or smearing, the covering can be put on a wearer's foot immediately after polishing and/or oiling and the covering is substantially hidden when worn with a shoe.

The present invention provides a disposable foot covering including an opening having an elastic material or member, and a plurality of toe receiving areas located at a toe end of the covering, where the covering is adapted to cover the foot from toe to heel and to protect freshly painted, polished and/or oiled toenails from damage due to smudging or smearing, the covering can be put on a wearer's foot immediately after polishing and/or oiling and the covering is substantially hidden when worn with a shoe.

The present invention provides a disposable foot covering including an opening having an elastic material, and a plurality of toe receiving areas located at a toe end of the covering, each area including a non-stick layer located on an upper inner surface of each toe receiving area, where the covering is adapted to cover the foot from toe to heel with the non-stick layer positioned over the toe nails and to protect freshly painted, polished and/or oiled toenails from damage due to smudging or smearing, the covering can be put on a wearer's foot immediately after polishing and/or oiling and the covering is substantially hidden when worn with a shoe.

The present invention provides a disposable foot covering including an opening having an elastic material, and a plurality of toe receiving areas located at a toe end of the covering each area including an elastic material situated at an entrance to each area, where the covering is adapted to cover the foot from toe to heel and to protect freshly painted, polished and/or oiled toenails from damage due to smudging or smearing, the covering can be put on a wearer's foot immediately after polishing and/or oiling and the covering is substantially hidden when worn with a shoe.

The present invention provides a disposable foot covering including an opening having an elastic material, and a plurality of toe receiving areas located at a toe end of the covering, each area including an elastic material situated at an entrance to the area and a non-stick upper inner layer situated so that the non-stick layer will be in proximity to the toenail of a wearer's toe, where the covering is adapted to cover the foot from toe to heel and to protect freshly painted, polished and/or oiled toenails from damage due to smudging or smearing, the covering can be put on a wearer's foot immediately after polishing and/or oiling and the covering is substantially hidden when worn with a shoe.

The present invention also provides a roll of the foot coverings of this invention with the toe region of each covering exposed for easy foot insertion to reduce damage to freshly painted and/or oiled toenails.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be better understood with reference to the following detailed description together with the appended illustrative drawings in which like elements are numbered the same: [0014]
FIG. 1A depicts a side view of a preferred embodiment of a foot covering of the present invention; [0015]
FIG. 1B depicts a top view of the foot covering of FIG. 1A; [0016]
FIG. 2A depicts a side view another preferred embodiment of a foot covering of the present invention including a non-stick toe layer; [0017]
FIG. 2B depicts a top view of the foot covering of FIG. 2A; [0018]
FIG. 3A depicts a side view another preferred embodiment of a foot covering of the present including non-slip layers at the hell and ball region of the foot; [0019]
FIG. 3B depicts a top view of the foot covering of FIG. 3A; [0020]
FIG. 4A depicts top view of another preferred embodiment of a foot covering of the present invention including a separate big toe receiving area and other toes receiving area; [0021]
FIG. 4B depicts top view of the covering of FIG. 4A including non-stick layer in the areas; [0022]
FIG. 4C depicts top view of the covering of FIG. 4A including non-stick layers in the areas and non-slip layers at a heel and ball of the foot region; [0023]
FIG. 5A depicts top view of another preferred embodiment of a foot covering of the present invention including a separate big toe receiving area and other toes receiving area each area having an elastic material associated with an entrance to the areas; [0024]
FIG. 5B depicts top view of the covering of FIG. 5A including non-stick layer in the areas; [0025]
FIG. 5C depicts top view of the covering of FIG. 5A including non-stick layers in the areas and non-slip layers at a heel and ball of the foot region; [0026]
FIG. 6A depicts top view of another preferred embodiment of a foot covering of the present invention including individual toe receiving areas each; [0027]
FIG. 6B depicts top view of the covering of FIG. 6A including non-stick layer in the areas; [0028]
FIG. 6C depicts top view of the covering of FIG. 6A including non-stick layers in the areas and non-slip layers at a heel and ball of the foot region; [0029]
FIG. 7A depicts top view of another preferred embodiment of a foot covering of the present invention including individual toe receiving areas each area having an elastic material associated with an entrance to each area; [0030]
FIG. 7B depicts top view of the covering of FIG. 7A including non-stick layer in the areas; [0031]
FIG. 7C depicts top view of the covering of FIG. 7A including non-stick layers in the areas and non-slip layers at a heel and ball of the foot region; [0032]
FIG. 8A depicts a top view of foot coverings of the present invention detachably engaging a surfaces of a sheet material with the heel region positioned under the toe region at the opening so that a wearer's foot can be inserted into the opening with minimal disturbance to the toenails; and [0033]
FIG. 8B depicts a perspective view of foot coverings of the present invention on a roll.[0034]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The inventors have found that an inexpensive and disposable foot covering can be constructed of a light weight durable material, where the foot covering is adapted to be put on the wearer's foot shortly or immediately after polishing and to cover the foot from toe to heel and to protect freshly painted, polished and/or oiled toenails from damage due to smudging or smearing and is substantially hidden when worn with an ordinary shoe. Once placed on the foot, the foot coverings can be worn with stockings, socks, and/or shoes. The inventor has found that the foot covering works best when the freshly polished or painted toenails have an oil applied to the polish or paint surface; a fairly common, but not universal practice. The oil is preferred because the oil forms a barrier between the polish surface and the material comprising the foot covering. [0035]
The present invention broadly relates to a disposable foot covering adapted to protect freshly painted and/or oiled toenails from damage due to smudging or smearing, where the covering includes an opening having an elastic band or member, where the opening is adapted to receive a wearer's foot and the elastic material is adapted to tighten about the wearer's heel. The coverings of the present invention can also include a plurality of toe receiving areas adapted to receive each individual toe. Alternatively, the coverings can include a big toe receiving area and a second receiving area adapted to receive the other four toes. The coverings of this invention can also include a non-stick layer located at an upper inner surface of a toe region of the covering or on the upper inner surface of each toe receiving area. The coverings with or without the non-stick layers are adapted to protect freshly painted, polished and/or oiled toenails from damage due to smudging or smearing. The coverings of this invention can also include non-slip layers located at an interior surface of the covering at a heel region of the covering, a ball of the foot region and/or the toe areas of the covering, where the non-slip layers are adapted to reduce the covering from changing position while covering is being worn, thus further reducing damage to freshly painted and/or oiled toenails from smearing and smudging. [0036]
Suitable materials out of which the foot covering of this invention can be made including, without limitation, polymeric materials including plastics including polyolefins such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinylchloride, polyvinlyacetate, polyethylene vinylacetate copolymers, other similar polymeric or polymeric materials, cured elastomeric polymers such as cured diene elastomers, diene-monoene copolymers or similar polymeric materials, or fiber reinforced plastics or elastomers, or mixtures or combinations thereof. Preferably, the foot covering is polyethylene or polypropylene or mixtures or combinations thereof. [0037]
Suitable non-stick layers include, without limitation, fluorine containing polymers including polytetrafluoroethylene polymers such as Teflon®, silicon containing polymer or a high viscosity silicon fluid or mixtures or combinations thereof. [0038]
Suitable non-slip layers include, without limitation, an elastomeric material, a weakly adhering adhesive, adhesives used in band aids, a hydrogel, or the like or mixtures or combinations thereof. [0039]
Referring now to FIGS. 1A&B, a preferred foot covering, generally [0040] 100 is shown to include a foot shaped body 102 having an opening 104 located at a foot region 106 of the covering 100. The opening 104 includes an elastic band or material 108 for tightening around a lower ankle region 110 of a wearer's foot 112 after the covering 100 is put on. The opening 104 and the elastic material 108 of the covering 100 are designed to position the covering 100 so that the covering 100 is substantially hidden when worn with an ordinary shoe. By ordinary shoe, the inventor means a shoe that covers the entire wearer's foot and is not opened or transparent any in part. Of course, the covering can be worn with any shoe, but one of ordinary skill would understand that all or any part of the covering 100 would be visible in shoes having openings (e.g., sandals or the like).
The wearer's [0041] foot 112 is inserted through the opening 104 with the elastic material 108 in an expanded state to increase a dimension of the opening 104 so that the toenails 114 can be covered by a toe region 116 of the covering 100 without substantially smudging or smearing polish and/or oil on the toenails 114. Once the foot 112 is inserted into the covering 100, the elastic material assumes a more relaxed state which conforms to or tightens about the wearer's heel 110. The covering 100 is designed to be placed on the foot after application of polish and/or oil so that the covering protects the toenails from smudging and/or smearing after application and prior to drying. Once the covering 100 has been put on the wearer's foot, the toe area of the covering prevents the surface of the toenails from coming into direct contact with the interior of a shoe, sandal, hosiery, socks or the like. These same characteristics apply to the other preferred embodiments of this invention.
Referring now to FIG. 2, another preferred foot covering of this invention, generally [0042] 200, is shown to include a foot shaped body 202 having an opening 204 located at a foot region 206 of the covering 200 having an elastic band or member 208 for tightening around a lower ankle region 210 after the covering 200 is put on. The covering 200 also includes a non-stick layer 212 affixed on an upper interior surface 214 of a toe region 216 of the covering 200. The non-stick layer 212 is adapted to further reduce damage to the freshly painted, polished and/or oiled toenails.
Referring now to FIG. 3, another preferred foot covering of this invention, generally [0043] 300, is shown to include a foot shaped body 302 having an opening 304 located at a foot region 306 of the covering 300 having an elastic band or member 308 for tightening around a lower ankle region 310 after the covering 300 is put on. The covering 300 also includes a non-stick layer 312 affixed on an interior surface 314 of a toe region 316 of the covering 300. The non-stick layer 312 is adapted to further reduce damage to the freshly polished toenails. The covering 300 further includes non-slip layers 318 located at a heel region 320 of the covering 300 and a ball of the foot region 322 of the covering 300.
Referring now to FIG. 4A, another preferred foot covering of this invention, generally [0044] 400, is shown to include a foot shaped body 402 having an opening 404 located at a foot region 406 of the covering 400 having an elastic band or member 408 for tightening around a lower ankle region (not shown) after the covering 400 is put on. The covering 400 also includes a big toe area 412 and an other toes area 414. Looking at FIG. 4B, the covering 400 can also non-stick layers 416 affixed on an upper interior surface 418 of the two areas 412 and 414 of the covering 400. The non-stick layers 416 are adapted to further reduce damage to freshly polished toenails. Looking at FIG. 4C, the covering 400 can also include non-slip layers 420 located at a heel region 422 of the covering 400 and a ball of the foot region 424 of the covering 400.
Referring now to FIG. 5, another preferred foot covering of this invention, generally [0045] 500, is shown to include a foot shaped body 502 having an opening 504 located at a foot region 506 of the covering 500 having an elastic band or member 508 for tightening around a lower ankle region (not shown) after the covering 500 is put on. The covering 500 also includes a big toe area 510 and an other toes area 512. Each area 512 and 514 includes an elastic band or member 514 associated with an entrance 516 to the areas 512 and 514 for tightening around an upper portion of a big toe of a wearer's foot (not shown) and around an upper portion of the other toes of the wearer's foot (not shown). Looking at FIG. 5B, the covering 500 can also non-stick layers 518 affixed on an upper interior surface 520 of the two areas 512 and 514 of the covering 500. The non-stick layers 520 are adapted to further reduce damage to the freshly painted, polished and/or oiled toenails. Looking at FIG. 5C, the covering 500 can also include non-slip layers 522 located at a heel region 524 of the covering 500 and a ball of the foot region 526 of the covering 500.
Referring now to FIG. 6, another preferred foot covering of this invention, generally [0046] 600, is shown to include a foot shaped body 602 having an opening 604 located at a foot region 606 of the covering 600 having an elastic band or member 608 for tightening around a lower ankle region (not shown) after the covering 600 is put on. The covering 600 also includes individual toe areas 612. Looking at FIG. 6B, the covering 600 can also a non-stick layer 614 affixed on an upper interior surface 616 of each toe area 612 of the covering 600. The non-stick layers 614 are adapted to further reduce damage to the freshly painted, polished and/or oiled toenails. Looking at FIG. 6C, the covering 600 can also include non-slip layers 618 located at a heel region 620 of the covering 600 and a ball of the foot region 622 of the covering 600.
Referring now to FIG. 7, another preferred foot covering of this invention, generally [0047] 700, is shown to include a foot shaped body 702 having an opening 704 located at a foot region 706 of the covering 700 having an elastic band or member 708 for tightening around a lower ankle region (not shown) after the covering 700 is put on. The covering 700 also includes individual toe areas 712; each toe area 712 having an elastic member 714 associated with an entrance 716 of each area 712. Looking at FIG. 7B, the covering 700 can also a non-stick layer 718 affixed on an upper interior surface 720 of each toe area 712 of the covering 700. The non-stick layers 718 are adapted to further reduce damage to the freshly painted, polished and/or oiled toenails. Looking at FIG. 7C, the covering 700 can also include non-slip layers 722 located at a heel region 724 of the covering 700 and a ball of the foot region 726 of the covering 700.
Referring now to FIG. 8A, a [0048] release sheet 800 having releasably attached thereto a covering 802 of this invention having an opening 804 located at a foot region 806 of the covering 802 having an elastic band or member 808 for tightening around a lower ankle region (not shown) after the covering 802 is put on. The covering 802 is releasably attached to the release sheet 800 so that a heel portion 810 of the covering 802 is underneath a toe portion 812 of the covering 802. In this configuration, a wearer's foot can be inserted into the covering 802 through the opening 804 with minimal potential for smudging, smearing or otherwise damaging freshly painted, polished and/or oiled toenails. Once the wearer's toes have been inserted into the toe portion 812 the covering 802, the covering 802 can be pulled from the sheet 800 and the elastic member 808 expanded so that the heel portion 810 can be pulled up over the wearer's heel. Looking at FIG. 8B, a roll 814 of the release sheet 800 with the coverings 802 attached thereto is shown. Of course, other formats can be used for dispensing the coverings of this invention including a dispensing box like the boxes used to dispense rubber gloves. Alternatively, the coverings can be individually wrapped and can also be releasably attached to an interior of the wrapping in the folded configuration described above.
All references cited herein are incorporated herein by reference. While this invention has been described fully and completely, it should be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. Although the invention has been disclosed with reference to its preferred embodiments, from reading this description those of skill in the art may appreciate changes and modification that may be made which do not depart from the scope and spirit of the invention as described above and claimed hereafter. [0049]

Claims

We claim:

1. A foot covering design to protect freshly painted and/or polished toenails comprising a foot shaped covering including an opening having an elastic material designed to tighten around a lower ankle region of a wearer's foot, where the covering is designed to fit over the wearer's foot and a toe region of the covering is designed to reduce smudging and smearing of freshly painted and/or polished toenails so that the wearer can wear shoes immediately after toenail polishing and where the covering is substantially hidden when worn with an ordinary shoe.

2. The covering of claim 1, wherein an oil is applied to the surface of the freshly painted and/or polished toenails, where the oil creates a barrier between the covering and the surface of te painted and/or polished toenails.

3. The covering of claim 1, further comprising a non-stick layer associated with a top upper, inner surface of the covering at the toe region of the covering to further protect the toenails.

4. The covering of claim 1, further comprising a non-slip layer associated with a lower inner surface portion of the covering at a ball of the foot region of the covering, where the non-slip layer is designed to reduce repositioning of the covering after foot insertion.

5. The covering of claim 1, further comprising non-slip layers associated with a lower inner surface portion of the covering at a heel region and a ball of the foot region of the covering, where the non-slip layer is designed to reduce repositioning of the covering after foot insertion.

6. The covering of claim 1, further comprising a non-stick layer associated with an upper inner surface of the covering at the toe region of the covering to further protect the toenails and a non-slip layer associated with a toe region of the covering, where the non-slip layer is positioned opposite the non-stick layer and is designed to reduce repositioning of the covering after foot insertion.

7. The covering of claim 1, wherein the covering comprises a polymeric material.

8. The covering of claim 7, wherein the polymeric material is polyolefin.

9. The covering of claim 8, wherein the polyolefin is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene and mixtures or combinations thereof.

10. A roll apparatus comprising a roll of a release sheet having attached in a spaced apart arrangement a foot covering comprising a foot shaped covering including an opening having an elastic material designed to tighten around a lower ankle region of a wearer's foot, where the covering is designed to fit over the wearer's foot and to reduce smudging and/or smearing of freshly painted and/or polished toenails so that the wearer can wear shoes immediately after toenail polishing, where the covering is substantially hidden when worn with an ordinary shoe and where the covering is attached to the release sheet in a folded form for ease of foot insertion.

11. The apparatus of claim, wherein an oil is applied to the surface of the freshly painted and/or polished toenails, where the oil creates a barrier between the covering and the surface of te painted and/or polished toenails.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a non-stick layer associated with a top upper, inner surface of the covering at the toe region of the covering to further protect the toenails.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a non-slip layer associated with a lower inner surface portion of the covering at a ball of the foot region of the covering, where the non-slip layer is designed to reduce repositioning of the covering after foot insertion.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising non-slip layers associated with a lower inner surface portion of the covering at a heel region and a ball of the foot region of the covering, where the non-slip layer is designed to reduce repositioning of the covering after foot insertion.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a non-stick layer associated with an upper inner surface of the covering at the toe region of the covering to further protect the toenails and a non-slip layer associated with a toe region of the covering, where the non-slip layer is positioned opposite the non-stick layer and is designed to reduce repositioning of the covering after foot insertion.

16. The covering of claim 1, wherein the covering comprises a polymeric material.

17. The covering of claim 7, wherein the polymeric material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene and mixtures or combinations thereof.

18. A method comprising the steps of:

polishing a wearer's toenails;

applying an oil to the surface of the polished toenails;

putting on to the wearer's foot a foot covering comprising a foot shaped covering including an opening having an elastic material designed to tighten around a lower ankle region of a wearer's foot, where the covering is designed to fit over the wearer's foot and a toe region of the covering is designed to reduce smudging and smearing of freshly painted and/or polished toenails so that the wearer can wear shoes immediately after toenail polishing and where the covering is substantially hidden when worn with an ordinary shoe; and

placing the wearer's covered foot into a shoe.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a non-stick layer associated with an upper inner surface of the covering at the toe region of the covering to further protect the toenails and a non-slip layer associated with a toe region of the covering, where the non-slip layer is positioned opposite the non-stick layer and is designed to reduce repositioning of the covering after foot insertion.

20. The covering of claim 1, wherein the covering comprises a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene and mixtures or combinations thereof.