US20040074109A1

US20040074109A1 - Cosmetic bootie

Info

Publication number: US20040074109A1
Application number: US10/277,599
Authority: US
Inventors: Mahjoob Mohammad
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-10-21
Filing date: 2002-10-21
Publication date: 2004-04-22

Abstract

A therapeutic foot covering provides an outer portion for engaging a foot. The outer portion may be tightened about the foot. An interior lining of the outer portion lies in contact with the foot when the foot is resting within the apparatus. An absorbent lining is positioned between the outer portion and the interior lining and contains a salve that is able to move through the interior lining to the foot. The article may cover the entire foot or only a portion of it.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to cosmetic treatment for the feet and more particularly to a bootie used for treatment of the feet.

2. Description of Related Art

The prior art teaches footwear for many applications and primarily shoes for work or play in a wide variety of types. For relaxation sandals are known in a range of types and designs. All of the shoes and sandals are used for protecting the feet from wear. Foot coverings, include socks and stockings, are used for absorbing sweat, as cushions, and for insulating the feet from wear and temperature. Foot bandages are known for applying salves and balms to the feet. However, the present invention is a bootie that is laced to the foot and which contains a preparation that is thus applied to the feet over time through mechanical dispensing by action of the foot in walking or through natural diffusion processes. The present invention fulfills a need for therapeutic application of salves and balms and provides further related advantages as described in the following summary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the objectives described below.

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method of use of such apparatus that provides advantages not taught by the prior art.

Another objective is to provide such an invention capable of providing a salve to the foot over a period of time.

A further objective is to provide such an invention capable of holding the salve against the foot surface.

A still further objective is to provide such an invention capable of providing therapy to all or only portions of the feet over a period of hours.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention. In such drawings: [0012]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one preferred embodiment of the invention; [0013]
FIG. 2 is a perspective view thereof of a further embodiment; and [0014]
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line [0015] 3-3 in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The above described drawing figures illustrate the invention in at least one of its preferred embodiments, which is further defined in detail in the following description. [0016]
The present invention is a therapeutic foot covering apparatus for, in one [0017] embodiment 10 shown in FIG. 1 covering a foot 5 of the wearer; and in a further embodiment 20, covering only the rear portion of the foot, as shown in FIG. 2. An outer portion 30 is an impermeable layer and provides an aperture or opening 65 for insertion of the foot 5 into the apparatus. The outer portion 30 provides both upper and sole. A means for tightening 35, such as the laces shown, is applied to the upper portion about the foot 5. Such tightening means may also be snaps, clasps, hook and loop fastener material and other common fasteners. An interior lining 60 is generally in contact with the foot 5 when the foot is resting within the apparatus. In one embodiment, an absorbent lining 40 is positioned between the outer portion 30 and the interior lining 60. A salve 50 is absorbed within the absorbent lining 40. The interior lining 60 provides a means for salve delivery, 70 as a seam, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, or 70′ as plural micro pores, shown in FIG. 3. Thus, the salve 50 moves from the absorbent lining 40, through the interior lining 60, to the surface of foot 5.
In an alternate embodiment, the [0018] salve 50 is applied to the space between the outer portion 30 and the inner lining 60, without using the absorbent lining 40. In this case the salve 50 is able to wick, diffuse or otherwise move through the interior lining 60 to the foot 5.
The salve may be any type of cosmetic that reacts generally with the heat of the [0019] foot 5 to either vaporize and move to the foot 5 as a vapor, or to liquefy and move to the foot as a liquid. The cosmetic material may be a cold-cream or other cosmetic product beneficial to the skin of the foot. In an alternate modus, the cosmetic material moves to the foot surface by the compressing action caused when walking wherein the inner lining is alternately compressed against the foot causing the cosmetic to displace through the seam 70 or micro-pores 70′ of the inner liner.
While the invention has been described with reference to at least one preferred embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited thereto. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims. [0020]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A therapeutic foot covering apparatus comprising: an outer portion providing an aperture for insertion of a foot into the apparatus; a means for tightening the outer portion about the foot; an interior lining fixed to the outer portion for contact with the foot when the foot is resting within the apparatus; an absorbent lining positioned between the outer portion and the interior lining; and a salve absorbed within the absorbent lining; the interior lining providing a means for delivery of the salve from the absorbent lining, through the interior lining, to the foot.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the delivery means is at least one seam.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the delivery means is a plurality of micro-pores in the interior liner.

4. A therapeutic foot covering apparatus comprising: an outer portion providing an aperture for insertion of a foot into the apparatus; a means for tightening the upper portion about the foot; an interior lining fixed to the outer portion for contact with the foot when the foot is resting within the apparatus; and a salve positioned between the outer portion and the interior lining; the interior lining providing a means for delivery of the salve from the absorbent lining, through the interior lining, to the foot.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the delivery means is at least one seam.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the delivery means is a plurality of micro-pores in the interior liner.

7. A therapeutic foot covering apparatus comprising: an outer portion extensive for covering only a rear portion of a foot; a means for tightening the outer portion about the foot; an interior lining fixed to the outer portion for contact with the foot when the foot is resting within the apparatus; and a salve positioned between the outer portion and the interior lining; the interior lining providing a means for delivery of the salve to the foot.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the delivery means is at least one seam.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the delivery means is a plurality of micro-pores in the interior lining.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising an absorbent lining positioned between the outer portion and the interior lining, the salve impregnated within the absorbent lining.