US20160120232A1

US20160120232A1 - Footwear liner

Info

Publication number: US20160120232A1
Application number: US14/529,270
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert Rocco RAEUBER
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-10-31
Filing date: 2014-10-31
Publication date: 2016-05-05

Abstract

A footwear liner is provided. The footwear liner may be adaptable to protect a user's foot and a portion of their lower leg from fluid. The footwear liner may be stitched together to form a generally tubular shaped body portion adapted to correspond generally to the shape of the user's foot and lower portion of their leg, wherein one end may define an open end sized for receiving the user's foot, and the opposing end of the body portion terminating in the sole portion. The footwear liner may provide at least one sealing apparatus. One sealing apparatus may be attached near the open end and another sealing apparatus may be attached between the open end and the sole portion.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to footwear and, more particularly, to a waterproof liner adapted to be worn under footwear.
Currently, when footwear gets wet, the wearer's socks get soaked and/or their feet are exposed to moisture for a sustained period of time. This can result in a number of health problems if not prevented such as, but not limited to, athletes foot, trench foot and immersion foot. These conditions are applicable when children play in puddles and snow, when contractors work in wet conditions, when military personnel training in water, and so on. In many of these situations the wearers have waterproof footwear. However, if water gains access to the top opening of the footwear water and/or snow will flood the inside of the footwear, which in turn traps the moisture within the waterproof footwear. Moreover, if such waterproof footwear is compromised, they must be replaced.
As can be seen, there is a need for an article that keeps a user's lower leg dry even if water fills the inside of their footwear, enabling use in combination with any footwear the user has available.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a footwear liner for keeping a foot and the lower leg of a human wearer dry, comprises: a tubular body portion formed so as to define an open end and an opposing end, wherein the body portion corresponds generally to the shape of the foot and a portion of the lower leg of the wearer; a sole portion provided by the opposing end, wherein the sole portion corresponds generally to the shape of a portion of the foot of the wearer; and a first sealing apparatus disposed generally about the perimeter of the open end.
In another aspect of the present invention, a footwear liner for keeping a foot and the lower leg of a human wearer dry, comprises: a tubular body portion formed from a water impermeable material so as to define an open end and an opposing end, wherein the body portion corresponds generally to the shape of the foot and a portion of the lower leg of the wearer; a sole portion provided by the opposing end, wherein the sole portion corresponds generally to the shape of a portion of the foot of the wearer, wherein the sole portion is textured to provide a non-skid exterior surface; a first sealing apparatus disposed generally about the perimeter of the open end; and a second sealing apparatus disposed generally about the perimeter of the tubular body portion between the first sealing apparatus and the sole portion.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, method of keeping a foot and the lower leg of a human wearer dry, comprises: providing a footwear liner comprising: a tubular body portion formed so as to define an open end and an opposing end, wherein the body portion corresponds generally to the shape of the foot and a portion of the lower leg of the wearer; a sole portion provided by the opposing end, wherein the sole portion corresponds generally to the shape of a portion of the foot of the wearer; and a first sealing apparatus disposed generally about the perimeter of the open end; sliding the open end of the footwear liner over the foot and a portion of the lower leg of the wearer; securing the first sealing apparatus; and wearing a footwear over the footwear liner.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, illustrating use; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a footwear liner adaptable to protect a user's foot and a portion of their lower leg from fluid. The footwear liner may be stitched together to form a generally tubular shaped body portion adapted to correspond generally to the shape of the user's foot and lower portion of their leg, wherein one end may define an open end sized for receiving the user's foot, and the opposing end of the body portion terminating in the sole portion. The footwear liner may provide at least one sealing apparatus. One sealing apparatus may be attached near the open end and another sealing apparatus may be attached between the open end and the sole portion.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention may include a footwear liner 10. The footwear liner 10 may be formed from a material that is impermeable to water, such as plastic, PVC coated rubber or other suitable material. The footwear liner 10 may be made of material having low thermal conductivity designed to resist the flow of heat. In certain embodiments, the footwear liner 10 may be formed of inexpensive water impermeable material so as to provide a cost effective disposable version.
Portions of the footwear liner 10 may be stitched together to form a generally tubular shaped body portion 18 closed off on one end by a sole portion 24, so that generally there is an interior surface for receiving the foot of a user and an exterior surface for shielding said food from a fluid. The body portion 18 may be adapted to correspond generally to the shape of the user's foot and lower portion of their leg.
One end of the tubular body portion 18 may define an open end 22 sized for receiving the user's foot. The opposing end of the body portion 18 may terminate in the sole portion 24. The sole portion 24 may correspond generally to the shape of the bottom of the user's foot. The sole portion 24 may be textured to provide a non-skid exterior surface.
The footwear liner 10 may provide at least one sealing apparatus. A first sealing apparatus 12 may be attached near the open end 22 of body portion 18. A second sealing apparatus 14 may be attached between the open end 22 and the sole portion 24. The sealing apparatus may be comprised of an adjustable drawstring. The drawstring may be threaded through a channel formed along a perimeter of the body portion 18. The drawstring may be manufactured from nylon, rubber or other elastic material. In a certain embodiments, the sealing apparatus may be comprised of Velcro™ strips positioned along said perimeter. It should be understood that the sealing apparatus may be any fastener known in the art for forming a waterproof seal between one object and another object.
A method of using the present invention may include the following. The footwear liner 10 disclosed above may provided. A user may slide their foot through the open end 22 so that the foot is in contact with the sole portion 24 and the body portion accommodates a portion of the wearer's calf. The user may or may not be wearing socks under the liner 10. The user may engage the first sealing apparatus 12 so as to form a watertight seal between the open end 22 and said calf portion. The use may similarly engage the second sealing apparatus 14. Then the liner 10 may protect the user's feet from partial submission within fluids and splashing thereof down a portion of the user's leg. The fluid may be water, chemicals or other liquids the user does not want their feet/leg coming in contact with.
Subsequent use, the user may discard the liner 10 or store for future use.
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A footwear liner for keeping a foot and the lower leg of a human wearer dry, comprising:

a tubular body portion formed so as to define an open end and an opposing end, wherein the body portion corresponds generally to the shape of the foot and a portion of the lower leg of the wearer;

a sole portion provided by the opposing end, wherein the sole portion corresponds generally to the shape of a portion of the foot of the wearer; and

a first sealing apparatus disposed generally about the perimeter of the open end.

2. The foot liner of claim 1, further providing a second sealing apparatus disposed generally about the perimeter of the tubular body portion between the first sealing apparatus and the sole portion.

3. The foot liner of claim 2, wherein the tubular body portion is formed from a water impermeable material.

4. The foot liner of claim 2, wherein each sealing apparatus is an adjustable drawstring.

5. The foot liner of claim 4, further providing a drawstring channel formed along the perimeter associated with each sealing apparatus, wherein each respective sealing apparatus is threaded therethrough.

6. The foot liner of claim 2, wherein each sealing apparatus is comprised of Velcro strips positioned along each respective perimeter.

7. The foot liner of claim 1, wherein the sole portion is textured to provide a non-skid exterior surface.

8. A footwear liner for keeping a foot and the lower leg of a human wearer dry, comprising:

a tubular body portion formed from a water impermeable material so as to define an open end and an opposing end, wherein the body portion corresponds generally to the shape of the foot and a portion of the lower leg of the wearer;

a sole portion provided by the opposing end, wherein the sole portion corresponds generally to the shape of a portion of the foot of the wearer, wherein the sole portion is textured to provide a non-skid exterior surface;

a first sealing apparatus disposed generally about the perimeter of the open end; and

a second sealing apparatus disposed generally about the perimeter of the tubular body portion between the first sealing apparatus and the sole portion.

9. The foot liner of claim 8, wherein each sealing apparatus is an adjustable drawstring.

10. The foot liner of claim 8, wherein each sealing apparatus is comprised of Velcro strips positioned along each respective perimeter.

11. A method of keeping a foot and the lower leg of a human wearer dry, comprising:

providing a footwear liner comprising: a tubular body portion formed so as to define an open end and an opposing end, wherein the body portion corresponds generally to the shape of the foot and a portion of the lower leg of the wearer; a sole portion provided by the opposing end, wherein the sole portion corresponds generally to the shape of a portion of the foot of the wearer; and a first sealing apparatus disposed generally about the perimeter of the open end;

sliding the open end of the footwear liner over the foot and a portion of the lower leg of the wearer;

securing the first sealing apparatus; and

wearing a footwear over the footwear liner.

12. The method of claim 11, further providing a sock, wherein the sock is worn over the footwear liner and under the footwear.

13. The method of claim 11, further providing disposing of the footwear liner when done.