US2735195A

US2735195A - eaton

Info

Publication number: US2735195A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1956-02-21
Anticipated expiration: 1973-02-21

Description

Feb. 21, 1956 EATON 2,735,195

DISPOSABLE SLIPPER Filed April 13, 1955 INVENTOR. MARK 5. EATON HTTOIQ VE/ United States Patent DISPOSABLE SLIPPER Mark S. Eaton, West Acton, Mass, assignor to Propack, Inc., Hingham, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application April 13, 1953, Serial No. 348,363 1 Claim. (Cl. 369) This invention relates to a disposable slipper useful in locker rooms, hospitals, and the like. More particularly, it relates to such a slipper of a new, one-piece construction, economical to manufacture, and having increased durability.

One disposable paper slipper heretofore in use comprises an upper portion and a separate sole portion, joined together by stitching around their peripheries. One disadvantage of this slipper is that it is more easily torn along the lines of stitch perforations, especially when wet. Another disadvantage is that the two-piece construction increases the costs of manufacture.

Another disposable slipper heretofore used, while of one-piece construction, is unduly susceptible to tearing when in use. In it, flaps extending from each side of the forward part of a sole portion are bent upwardly to form an upper, and are cemented together along their junction, which runs from instep to toes. (To close the toe, a small portion of this slipper is then folded back on itself at the toe and cemented to the previously formed upper.) When ones foot is pushed into such a slipper, or when ones instep rises as a step is taken, there is a tendency for this cemented seam, which must bear fully any stresses, to pull apart at the instep, particularly when the slipper is Wet. This tendency is aggravated because of the fact that the upper portion of the slipper is wrinkled during walking, with the result that the cemented seam is weakened.

It is a purpose of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of these prior art slippers.

One object of my invention is to provide a new disposable slipper with greatly improved resistance to tearing when being put on the foot or when being worn.

Another object of my invention is to provide such strength in a slipper comprising a one-piece integral element, and capable of being economically manufactured.

Still another object is the provision of a disposable slipper which also has a sole of sufiicient thickness to have good scuff-resistance.

Yet another object of my new invention is to provide a slipper in which the weight of the body may be used to help hold together seams along which portions of the slipper are joined together, thus giving additonal strength and durability.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following description taken in the light of the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of the integral, one-piece blank from which my new disposable slipper is folded, showing in dashed lines the lines along which the blank is folded;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my new slipper; and

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the bottom thereof.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. 1 an integral, one-piece blank, indicated generally by the numeral 1, which may be folded and cemented so as to form the preferred embodiment of my slipper. The blank 2,735,195 Patented Feb. 21, 1956 may be cut from creped paper, canvas, or other inexpensive material suitable for disposable slippers.

My new slipper includes a sole portion 2, an upper portion 4 foldedly joined thereto, and two flap portions 6 foldedly joined to said upper portion and cemented to said sole portion. In forming the slipper from the blank 1, all the blank except the sole portion 2 thereof is first folded about line b upwardly and inwardly with respect to said sole portion. The flap portions 6, which extend from the lateral edges of the upper portion 4 are then folded downwardly and inwardly on lines c and a so that they lie fiat against the lower surface of the sole portion 2, as shown in Fig. 3, and are cemented thereto.

In the preferred embodiment, the sole portion 2 is at its widest beneath the instep, and tapers evenly therefrom to the narrower toe end 8 thereof. The heel end 10 of the sole portion may suitably be narrower, to conform generally with the shape of the heel.

The lateral edges 11 of the upper 4, which correspond with the fold lines 0 and d, are tapered in the same manner as the lateral edges 13 of the sole portion 2, therebeneath, and are adjacent thereto in the completed slipper. The widths between said fold lines c and d are the same as the corresponding widths of the sole portion 2, so that said upper 4 lies fiat on said sole portion 2 when the slipper is not being worn. The flexibility of the material used allows the sole portion 2 and the upper 4 to move relative to each other and provide a suitable opening for the foot.

In my preferred embodiment the flap portions 6 are of substantially half the corresponding widths of the sole portion 2. Thus, the flap portions extend underneath the entire foot, so that the weight of the wearer tends to hold together the cemented seam when a step is taken. In addition, a double-layer sole is obtained, with desirable increased resistance to scufling and ordinary wear. The fact that the cemented seam is beneath the sole portion 2 as described also prevents a direct stress being exerted on the seam when the slipper is put on or when a step is taken. A substantial part of the stress is taken up by the slipper material itself, along the lateral edges 11 where the upper portion 4 and flap portion 6 come together alongside the sole portion 2, and especially at the points 14 on said edges. Only a portion of the stress tending to pull apart the upper portion and the sole portion of my new slipper is exerted on the cemented seam itself.

However, if desired, the flap portions may be of either greater or less width. For example, each might be made to extend across substantially the full width of the sole portion, to widen and strengthen the cemented seams, to gain increased reinforcing effect from the weight of the body, and to give an even sturdier, triple-thickness sole. On the other hand, the flap portions may be made to extend across substantially less than half the width of the sole portion without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In forming the blank 1, I prefer to extend the edge of each flap portion 6 and the upper portion 4 smoothly without substantial change in direction past the respective fold lines 0 and d and into each other. I have found that such avoidance of change of direction in the vicinity of the points 14 of the blank 1 results in the edges of the flap portions 6 extending smoothly into the instep end edge 12 of the upper portion 4 and minimizes tearing of the slipper material in the completed slipper. This slipper material, as has been explained, itself takes up at these fold lines a substantial fraction of the stresses that accompany use of the slipper.

It will be apparent that I have provided the art with a new disposable slipper ofone-piece construction that permits economical manufacture and that has improved resistance to wear generally and to tearing in particular. It will be apparent that other embodiments -of-my new slipper not described, withinuthegspirittand "scope oftheappended-claim;will occur to those skilled integral :element of disposable material 'idefine'd by ea raw surrounding edge, said integral 'elernenti :cornprisin g alongitudinally extending sole portion lhavingi integral therewith at the toe end thereof an upper-portionadapted --to be"folded back on said sole-portion along said toe end thereof, said upper portion'havingintegral therewith V and extending laterally therefrom on opposed sides thereof a pair of flap portions adapted-to be' folded-down from said upper portion along a pair of fold lines between said vflap portions and :said ,upper'.portion. andvto t be secured beneath said sole portion, said upper portion and 'said flap portions beings defined r. oppositensaid 4. toe

end by adjoining portionsof said raw surrounding edge, said adjoining portions merging into one another in smooth convex curves extending across said fold lines.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,265,089 Turbin Dec. 2, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS 10,329 Swiss May 31, 1895