Disposable Protective Footwear Cover

Abstract

The present invention provides a disposable footwear cover suitable for used in critical manufacturing environments, sterile environments, and industrial clean rooms. The disposable footwear cover will protect both the environment in which it is used while providing durable protection to the user.

1 . A disposable footwear cover comprising:
 a. a sole having a generally planer outer surface and an outer perimeter;   b. a first upper portion having a lower periphery and an upper periphery, the lower periphery being connected the sole along the outer perimeter of the sole, such that the first upper portion extends in a direction that is out of a plane created by the generally planer outer surface of the sole;   c. a second upper portion having a proximate periphery and a distal periphery, the proximate periphery being joined to the upper periphery of the first upper portion;   d. an interior volume defined by the sole, the first upper portion and the second upper portion; and   e. an opening for insertion of a user's foot and footwear into the interior volume, the opening being located at the distal periphery of the second upper portion.   
     
     
         2 . The disposable footwear cover according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of strips of material, each strip having a first attached end and a second free end, wherein the attached end is attached to the disposable footwear cover and the free end is unattached to the disposable footwear cover. 
     
     
         3 . The disposable footwear cover according to  claim 2 , wherein the attached end of the strips of material are attached to the disposable footwear cover at or near where the first upper surface joins the second upper surface. 
     
     
         4 . The disposable footwear cover according to  claim 3 , wherein the disposable footwear cover has a toe section, a heal section and a metatarsal section, the metatarsal section is between the toe section and the heal section, the pair of strips of material is attached to the metatarsal section of the disposable footwear cover. 
     
     
         5 . The disposable footwear cover according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening has a perimeter wherein the perimeter of the opening further comprises a gather material, the gather material encircles at least a portion of perimeter of the opening. 
     
     
         6 . The disposable footwear cover according to  claim 5 , wherein the gather material comprises an elastic material, wherein the elastic material encircles the entire perimeter of the opening. 
     
     
         7 . The disposable footwear cover according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the sole comprises an anti-slip and abrasion resistant material. 
     
     
         8 . The disposable footwear cover according to  claim 7 , wherein the sole comprises a reinforced material. 
     
     
         9 . The disposable footwear cover according to  claim 8 , wherein the reinforced material comprises a reinforced vinyl material. 
     
     
         10 . The disposable footwear cover according to  claim 1 , wherein the first upper portion is prepared from the same type of material as the sole. 
     
     
         11 . The disposable footwear cover according to  claim 9 , wherein the first upper portion is prepared from the same type of material as the sole. 
     
     
         12 . The disposable footwear cover according to  claim 10 , wherein the first upper portion and the sole are prepared from separate pieces of material, which are joined together. 
     
     
         13 . The disposable footwear cover according to  claim 12 , wherein the first upper layer and the sole have a seam therebetween, the seam being formed by stitching, heat bonding or a combination thereof, the sole to the first upper material. 
     
     
         14 . The disposable footwear cover according to  claim 10 , wherein the sole and the first upper portion comprises a single piece of material. 
     
     
         15 . The disposable footwear cover according to  claim 14 , wherein a transition zone is formed between the sole and the first upper portion. 
     
     
         16 . The disposable footwear cover according to  claim 15 , wherein the transition zone is formed by stitching, heat bonding or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The disposable footwear cover according to  claim 1 , wherein the second upper portion is prepared from a nonwoven material. 
     
     
         18 . The disposable footwear cover according to  claim 17 , wherein the nonwoven material comprises a spunbond/meltblown laminate. 
     
     
         19 . The disposable footwear cover according to  claim 17 , wherein the nonwoven material comprises a spunbond/meltblown/spunbond laminate. 
     
     
         20 . The disposable footwear cover according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of strips of material, each strip having a first attached end and a second free end, wherein the attached end is attached to the disposable footwear cover and the free end is unattached to the disposable footwear cover, wherein the disposable footwear cover has a toe section, a heal section and a metatarsal section, the metatarsal section is between the toe section and the heal section, the pair of strips of material is attached to the metatarsal section of the disposable footwear cover; wherein the opening has a perimeter wherein the perimeter of the opening further comprises an elastic material, wherein the elastic material encircles the entire perimeter of the opening; wherein the sole comprises a reinforced vinyl material; wherein the first upper portion is prepared from the same material as the sole; and wherein the second upper portion is prepared from a spunbond/meltblown/spunbond laminate.