Footwear cover with scent-suppressing carbon additive

Abstract

A stretchable protective cover for footwear, formed from a natural rubber or elastomeric material. Small particles of activated carbon are interspersed in the material making up the cover, in order to suppress the scent of a wearer. The footwear cover may have a textured bottom surface to resist slippage. The cover is configured to completely cover and surround at least a portion of the footwear below the ankle area thereof.

1 . A scent dampening footwear cover including: 
 a pair of substantially symmetrical sheets formed from a material comprising a scent dampening substance, each of said sheets having a shape approximating a silhouette of a human foot;    wherein said sheets are bonded together along a substantial portion of their perimeter to define a foot receiving portion therebetween; said foot receiving portion configured to accommodate a substantial portion of a footwear unit worn by a user; and    wherein a portion of said sheets remains separated at an upper portion of said cover to define an opening, said opening allows insertion of the footwear unit in the foot receiving portion;    wherein    the footwear cover is configured to substantially cover and surround at least a portion of the footwear unit below an ankle portion thereof, and    the scent dampening substance tends to suppress human scent within the footwear unit.    
     
     
         2 . A scent dampening footwear cover according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said sheets is formed from a material comprising at least one of resilient rubber and an elastomeric substance.  
     
     
         3 . A scent dampening footwear cover according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said sheets comprises a flexible binder and a plurality of carbon particles dispersed within the binder.  
     
     
         4 . A scent dampening footwear cover according to  claim 3 , wherein the carbon particles comprises at least one of finely divided and pulverulent activated carbon.  
     
     
         5 . A scent dampening footwear cover according to  claim 3 , wherein the carbon particles are irregularly shaped.  
     
     
         6 . A scent dampening footwear cover according to  claim 5 , wherein average size of the carbon particles ranges between 0.001 and 0.5 mm in diameter.  
     
     
         7 . A scent dampening footwear cover according to  claim 1 , further comprising a sole disposed at a lower portion of the sheets when configured to form the footwear cover, wherein the sole comprises a friction promoting material; and where the sole further comprises a pattern of ridges molded onto the surface thereof.  
     
     
         8 . A scent dampening footwear cover according to  claim 7 , wherein the friction promoting material comprises ground walnut shells.  
     
     
         9 . A scent dampening footwear cover according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the sheets has at least one of a camouflage color scheme on an exterior surface thereof and formed with a bright, reflective exterior surface.  
     
     
         10 . A scent dampening footwear cover according to  claim 1 , further comprising a loop attached to an upper rear portion of the sheets.  
     
     
         11 . A scent dampening footwear cover according to  claim 13 , wherein the loop is formed of an elastic material.  
     
     
         12 . A scent dampening footwear cover according to  claim 1 , wherein the sheets are water-resistant.  
     
     
         13 . A scent dampening shoe cover including: 
 a pair of substantially symmetrical stretchable sheets formed from a material comprising activated fine carbon particles, each of said sheets having a shape approximating a silhouette of a human foot;    wherein said sheets are bonded together along a substantial portion of their perimeter to define a foot receiving portion therebetween; said foot receiving portion configured to accommodate a substantial portion of a shoe worn by a user; and    wherein a portion of said sheets remains separated at an upper portion of said cover to define an opening, said opening allows insertion of the shoe in the foot receiving portion;    wherein    the footwear cover is configured to substantially cover and surround at least a portion of the shoe below an ankle portion thereof; and    the activated carbon particles tends to suppress human scent within the shoe.    
     
     
         14 . A scent dampening footwear cover according to  claim 13 , wherein the activated carbon particles are irregularly shaped.  
     
     
         15 . A scent dampening footwear cover according to  claim 14 , wherein average size of the activated carbon particles ranges between 0.001 and 0.5 mm in diameter.  
     
     
         16 . A scent dampening footwear cover comprising: 
 a pair of substantially symmetrical sheets formed from a material comprising a flexible binder and a plurality of activated carbon particles dispersed within the binder, each of said sheets having a shape approximating a silhouette of a human foot;    wherein said sheets are bonded together along a substantial portion of their perimeter to define a foot receiving portion therebetween; said foot receiving portion configured to accommodate a substantial portion of a footwear unit worn by a user; and    wherein a portion of said sheets remains separated at an upper portion of said cover to define an opening, said opening allows insertion of the footwear unit in the foot receiving portion;    wherein    the footwear cover is configured to substantially cover and surround at least a portion of the footwear unit below an ankle portion thereof.    
     
     
         17 . A scent dampening footwear cover according to  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of activated carbon particles are irregularly shaped.  
     
     
         18 . A scent dampening footwear cover according to  claim 16 , wherein average size of the activated carbon particles ranges between 0.001 and 0.5 mm in diameter.  
     
     
         19 . A scent dampening footwear cover according to  claim 16 , wherein said at least one of said sheets includes a friction promoting surface comprising ground walnut shells.  
     
     
         20 . A scent dampening footwear cover according to  claim 16 , wherein each of said sheets is formed of stretchable material.