US2432648A

US2432648A - Hose protector

Info

Publication number: US2432648A
Application number: US734491A
Authority: US
Inventors: Beckwith Gretchen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1947-03-13
Filing date: 1947-03-13
Publication date: 1947-12-16
Anticipated expiration: 1964-12-16

Description

Dec. 16, 1947. G. BECKWITH HOSE PROTECTOR Filed March 13, 1947 mva'zvrm. Gretchen Beck with BY M6 Patented Dec. 16, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to footwear and, more specifically to improvements in hose protectors adapted for preventing the ladies hose from getting wet and soiled during inclement weather while walking on wet, sloppy ground.

Hitherto several devices have been used such as overshoes, combined leg, stocking and shoe protectors of rubber which cover the entire leg or a major portion thereof, and the like. These well known devices usually are heavy,-uncomfortable, bothersome to put on, and to take off and/or of an unpleasant outer appearance.

Therefore, the main object of the present in vention is the proViSiOn of hose protectors of the character described which can be made of plastic material, vidafilm, rubberized material or rubber, which are light in weight and can be folded and placed in a case and carried in a purse when not in use, and which cover the outside of the ankles around heel to the inside of the ankles or a 1itt1e beyond.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of hose protectors of the character described which cover only that portion of the hose which are normally exposed to water and dirt splashed thereagainst while walking on wet ground, so that the front portions of the shoes and hose remain visible, which are adjustable to fit neatly around the leg and heel, and which can be made in different sizes and colors to match Wearing apparel and thus will not cheapen but will make ones outfit more attractive due to its tailored look and neatness. The working girl particularly will benefit by this device by being able to go out to lunch and back on a wet, slushy day to find herself free from dirty splashed hose.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of hOse protectors of the character described which are provided with Zippers along their longitudinal center line for the following two purposes: First, for facilitating a speedy putting on and taking off of the hose protectors without disturbing the adjustment of adjustable straps; and second, for supporting all the way down the foldable shell members, which constitute the main protecting parts, in order to keep them up and to prevent them from sagging down or fro-m becoming dislodged While in use.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of hose protectors of the character described which are simple in construction, consisting of only a few inexpensive parts, so that they can be manufactured and sold at a very reasonable price, but which are durable and well adapted to withstand the rough usage to which devices of this type are frequently subjected.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts herein- 45 new and improved hose protectors.

2 after more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the 5 invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred forms of the invention have been shown.

In said drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view drawn on a larger scale than Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawing the numeral i denotes an entire hose protector made in accordance with my invention. Its main part is a shell consisting of two

longitudinal members

2 and 3 of plastic material, rubberized material, water repellent cloth, leather, vidafilm, rubber or the like, and being substantially quadrantal in cross-section. The

members

2 and 3 are detachably connected to one another by any suitable means, preferably by means of a slide fastener 4, which may be made of metal or of plastic materia1 or the like. When the

members

2 and 3 are joined to each other by means of the slide fastener 4 or the like, they form a pliable upright shell which is substantially U-shaped in cross-section (Figure 3) and which fits around the lower portion of the leg and the rear heel portion of the shoe, as may be seen in Figure 1. An instep strap 5 preferably is provided on the lower horizontal front edge portion of the

members

2 and 3, while the vertical front edge portions of said members are provided with adjustable straps 6 which fit around the lower front portion of the leg (Figure 1).

Once the straps 6 have been adjusted to fit properly around the lower front portion of the leg, these straps 6 do not have to be manipulated any more for taking off or for putting on my These hose protectors are slipped on by opening the slide fastener 4, stepping into the hose protectors, and closing the slide fastener 4. They can he slipped off in a very simple manner after the slide fastener 4 has been pulled down.

The slide fastener 4 affords a certain backbone stiffness to the pliable shell which is formed by the

members

2 and 3 so as to better keep them up and to prevent them from sagging down or from becoming dislodged while in use.

Underneath the slide fastener 4 there can be arranged a strip (net shown) of the same material of which consist the

members

2 and 3, so that this strip will overlap the slide fastener 4 when it is closed, thus preventing an entangling 3 of the hose with the slide fastener 4 and constituting an additional reinforcing and supporting means of the

members

2 and 3.

Since certain changes may be made in the above article and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which as a matter of language might be said to fall therebetween.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A hose protector comprising a pliable upright shell which is substantially semi-annular in cross-section and which along its longitudinal center line is sub-divided and provided with means for attaching its subdividedsections to "one another, adjustable cross-straps being provided on the vertical front edges of said shell, and an instep strap being attached tothe lower horizontal front edge portion of said shell, all substantially as set forth.

2. A device of the character described comprising a pliable upright shell which is substantially U-shaped in cross-section and which along its longitudinal center line is subdivided by a slide fastener, adjustable cross-straps being provided on the vertical front edges of said shell, and an instep strap being attached to the lower horizontal front edge portion of said shell, said shell being adapted to fit around the rear heel portion of a shoe and the lower rear portion of the leg, while said cross-straps are adapted to fit around the lower front portion of the leg, all substantially as described.

3. A hose protector comprising a pliable upright shell which is adapted to fit around the rear heel portion of a shoe and the lower rear portion of the leg and which consists of two longitudinal sections that are substantially quadrantal in cross-section, a slide fastener detachably connecting said longitudinal sections to one another, adjustable cross-straps being provided on the vertical front edges of said shell, and an instep strap being attached to the lower horizontal front edge portion of said shell, said cross-straps being adapted to fit around the lower front portion of the leg, all substantially as described.

GRETCHEN BECKWITI-I.