US3334356A - Toe cover - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 8, 1967 U. E. ABEL 3,334,333

TOE COVER Filed Sept. 24, 1965 INVENTOR. Z'JQSULA E. ABEL ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,334,356 TOE COVER Ursula E. Abel, 902 W. Roma Ave., Phoenix, Ariz. 85013 Filed Sept. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 489,991 1 Claim. (Cl. 2-239) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention comprises a short, elasticized body of flimsy material to be stretched over the forward portion of the foot and terminate at the arch, being characterized by a relatively thick partial liner element for the sole portion of the body which, by its forward edge abutting the rear surface of the ball of the foot, resists forward slippage relative tothe foot.

This invention concerns an article of footwear of the type known as foot covers and relates more particularly to an item of this type which covers only the toe portion of the foot and is thus commonly called a toe cover.

Girls wear such articles for various purposes and more particularly with some types of shoes, such as openheeled and open-toed shoes. However, conventional toe covers are objectionable in that they have no means, other than their elasticity, to prevent them from slipping forwardly over the toe portion of the foot and lumping up in the toe portion of the shoe, which often happens because toe covers are usually made of a very flimsy type material. It is an object of my present invention to provide a toe cover which overcomes this tendency to slip or work forwardly on the toe portion of the foot.

More particularly it is an object of my invention to provide a toe cover which incorporates a relatively stiff and relatively thick insert or partial liner for the portion of the cover positioned immediately behind the ball of the foot, so that the front edge of the insert engages behind the ball of the foot which provides an abutment to oppose forward slipping motion of the toe cover on the foot.

Otherobjects and advantages will appear from the following" description of a presently preferred embodiment of my invention, for which purpose I shall refer to the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation showing my improved toe cover mounted on a human foot;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged bottom plan view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevation, shown partly in section, of my toe cover being worn on the foot;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the fabric blank of which the body of my toe cover is made.

Referring now to the drawing, the letter F denotes a foot and the numeral 5 generally denotes my improved toe cover.

Generally my toe cover 5 is in the form of a socklet or body of flimsy material, preferably knitted material having some elasticity, and having a toe passing opening 6 to which a continuous elastic band 7 is secured as by stitching. The toe cover typically, although not necessarily, may be made of the elliptical blank shown in FIG. 5 and has its opposed edges secured together by a bottom or sole seam 8.

The toe cover is of a length such that its bottom wall terminates adjacent and rearwardly of the ball of the foot by a distance of the order of about one inch, the ball of the foot being denoted by the numeral 10 (FIG. 1). A conventional toe cover is supposed to remain on the toe portion of the foot in conforming relationship thereto by virtue of its elasticity. However, in use, it frequently works or slips forwardly over the toe portion.

The primary purpose of my invention, therefore, is to prevent such accidental slippage of the toe cover, by means of an insert 15 having a relatively straight rear edge 16 stitched to the contiguous rear edge portion of the body and having a convexly curved forward edge 18. The body of the insert 15 engages against the somewhat concaved bottom surface portion 14 of the foot immediately behind the ball of the foot while its forward edge 18 engages against the ball of the foot which provides an abutment resisting forward movement of the toe cover on the foot.

While the insert 15 may be made of any suitable resilient material, I prefer it to be relatively thick and prefer to form its inner layer 20 of soft or foam rubber, and to form its outer layer of a separate, relatively stiffer fabric sheet 21 bonded to the inner layer 20. I also preferably provide a plurality of perforations 23 extending through the layers 20, 21 for ventilation purposes. In some instances it may be preferable to form the inner layer 20 of the insert of a perspiration absorbent material.

Thus it will be seen that the insert 15, by having its edge portion 18 abut against the ball of the foot, and by having its opposite edge stitched to the body of the toe cover, will effectively resist accidental escape of my toe cover in the manner hereinabove discussed.

To make my toe cover from the blank 30' shown in FIG. 5, the side edges 31 of the blank are folded into engagement with each other and stitched together by the seam 8. Thus the edge portions 33, which are not secured together, define the toe passing opening 6.

I claim:

A toe cover comprising a sock-like body of flimsy, elasticized material; said body having upper and sole portions, being adapted to be stretched over the toe portion of a foot, and having a maximum length terminating at the arch of the foot; and means for resisting slippage of the cover forwardly on the foot, comprising a relatively thick partial liner element for said sole portion, said element having a convexly curved forward edge disposed to engage the rear surface of the ball of the foot and to extend rearwardly therefrom under the bottom arch of the foot, and means securing the rear edge of said liner element to the rear edge of the sole portion of said cover.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,659,171 2/1928 Spafford. 2,771,691 11/1956 Luchs 36-10 2,792,001 5/1957 Ryan 128-153 2,866,979 1/ 1959 Russell 26 1 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

J. R. BOLER, Assistant Examiner.

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