US3694939A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of covering shoes
Assignee: LORTON LAB Ltd
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Filing: 1970-10-27
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Granted: 1972-10-03
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Expires: 1990-10-27
Abstract
Abstract A method for covering shoes on the feet of a wearer with a protective sanitary shoe wrapper formed of heat-shrinkable material is disclosed, wherein individual shoe wrappers are positioned at a heat-shrink station in an open configuration to receive and enclose a shoe on the foot of a wearer; after the insertion of the shoe, heat is applied to the wrapper to heatshrink it and conform it to the show.
Inventors
- 👤 Allen Chen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 16:56
CPC Classifications
A; A43; A43D; A43D11/00; A43D11/003; A43B; A43B3/00; A43B3/16; A43B3/163; A43B3/18; A43B3/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
59 words
The method of covering a shoe on the foot of a wearer with a protective wrapper, comprising the steps of positioning said wrapper for insertion of said shoe and foot therein, inserting said shoe and foot in the wrapper, and, after insertion of said shoe, heat shrinking said wrapper about said shoe, whereby said wrapper conforms to said shoe.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
59 words
The method of covering a shoe on the foot of a wearer with a protective wrapper, comprising the steps of positioning said wrapper for insertion of said shoe and foot therein, inserting said shoe and foot in the wrapper, and, after insertion of said shoe, heat shrinking said wrapper about said shoe, whereby said wrapper conforms to said shoe.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method as in claim 1 wherein said wrapper is preformed, said method including the step of holding said wrapper in an open configuration for insertion of said shoe and foot therein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as in claim 2 wherein said holding step includes the step of blowing air into said wrapper.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method as in claim 1 wherein said step of heat shrinking comprises the step of supplying a flow of warm air over said wrapper and said shoe to shrink said wrapper.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method as in claim 1 wherein said positioning step includes the step of holding said wrapper in a partially open configuration with at least two of its sides in spaced relation to permit insertion of said shoe in said wrapper.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as in claim 5 including the step of sealing said open wrapper sides after insertion of said shoe.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as in claim 6 wherein said sealing step comprises the step of heat sealing said sides.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as in claim 1 wherein said step of heat shrinking comprises the step of directing infrared radiation at said shoe and said wrapper.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method as in claim 5 including the steps of sensing the size of said shoe after insertion in said wrapper and sealing said wrapper sides adjacent said shoe to enclose said shoe prior to said heat shrinking step.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said sealing step comprises the step of moving a pair of heat sealing jaws toward each other wIth said open sides therebetween.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said sensing step includes the step of moving said jaws to a position adjacent the heel of said shoe prior to said heat sealing step.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 10 including the step of cutting off excess portions of said sides.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 including the step of forming said wrapper with an electrically conductive strip to provide a ground contact between the body of the wearer and the floor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 13 including the step of heat sealing a portion of said strip to said wrapper along a relatively narrow band, whereby said strip comprises a tear strip for opening said wrapper after use.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 13 including the step of forming a tear strip in said wrapper for opening said wrapper after use.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 including the step of forming said wrapper from a conductive heat shrinkable material.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
68 words
The method of covering a shoe on the foot of a wearer with a protective wrapper, comprising the steps of holding an oversized protective shoe shaped wrapper formed of heat shrinkable material in an opened configuration for insertion of said shoe and foot therein, inserting said shoe and foot in the open wrapper, and heat shrinking said wrapper about said shoe to conform the wrapper to the shoe.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
68 words
The method of covering a shoe on the foot of a wearer with a protective wrapper, comprising the steps of holding an oversized protective shoe shaped wrapper formed of heat shrinkable material in an opened configuration for insertion of said shoe and foot therein, inserting said shoe and foot in the open wrapper, and heat shrinking said wrapper about said shoe to conform the wrapper to the shoe.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as in claim 17 wherein said step of heat shrinking comprises the step of supplying a flow of warm air over said wrapper and said shoe to heat shrink said wrapper.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 17 including the step of forming said wrapper with an electrically conductive strip to provide a ground contact between the body of the wearer and the floor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 19 including the step of forming a tear strip in said wrapper for opening said wrapper after use.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
78 words
A protective shoe covering comprising an oversized generally shoe-shaped wrapper having an access opening therein for insertion of a shoe while said shoe is on the foot of a wearer, said wrapper being formed of a heat-shrinkable material to be tightly drawn onto the shoe by an application of heat to the wrapper after the wrapper is placed on the shoe, thereby to define a sole and top portion surrounding this sole, heel and upper of said shoe.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
78 words
A protective shoe covering comprising an oversized generally shoe-shaped wrapper having an access opening therein for insertion of a shoe while said shoe is on the foot of a wearer, said wrapper being formed of a heat-shrinkable material to be tightly drawn onto the shoe by an application of heat to the wrapper after the wrapper is placed on the shoe, thereby to define a sole and top portion surrounding this sole, heel and upper of said shoe.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
A protective shoe covering as in claim 21 wherein said wrapper is a fully formed oversized overshoe and said access opening is in the top thereof.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
45 words
A protective shoe covering as in claim 21 wherein said wrapper is formed with a toe portion, a sole portion, and spaced side portions rearwardly of said toe portion, said side portions defining said access opening in the heel and upper portion of said wrapper.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
A protective shoe covering as in claim 21 wherein said material is electrically conductive.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
60 words
A protective shoe covering as in claim 21 including an electrically conductive strip of material secured at one end to the sole of said wrapper, the other end of said strip being positioned adjacent said access opening and adapted to be placed in contact with the skin of the wearer for conducting electricity from the wearer''s body to the floor.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
A protective shoe covering as in claim 25 wherein said strip is heat sealed to said wrapper.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
45 words
A protective shoe covering as in claim 25 wherein said strip is heat sealed to said wrapper along a relatively narrow portion thereof, whereby said strip forms a tear strip for ripping said wrapper upon completion of use to facilitate removal thereof from said shoe.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
31 words
A protective shoe covering as in claim 21 including a tear strip secured to said wrapper for tearing said wrapper upon completion of use to facilitate removal thereof from said shoes.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
A protective shoe covering as in claim 21 wherein said material is alinged to shrink to a substantially greater extent in length than in width.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
A protective shoe covering as in claim 21 wherein said material is air permeable.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-03 | 1976-04-03 | 1976-10-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-03 | 1980-04-03 | 1980-10-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-03 | 1984-04-03 | 1984-10-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |