Abstract:
A decorative cover for embellishing footwear is disclosed, having a cover incorporated with a sock. The cover is worn over the footwear for covering and enhancing it with at least one embellishment. The sock encloses a user&#39;s foot and is incorporated with the cover at the top of the sock to prevent the cover slipping down. To hold the cover down over the footwear, a disconnecting strap extends under the arch of the footwear. To hold the cover securely against the footwear, a zippered seam runs along the rear of the cover parallel to a user&#39;s leg.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 12/056,188, filed Mar. 26, 2008. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to footwear accessories, and more particularly to a boot glove incorporated with a sock and embellishments for covering the footwear safely and healthy. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A boot is a type of shoe that covers at least the foot and the ankle and sometimes extends up to the knee or even the hip. Most of the boots has a heel that is clearly distinguishable from the rest of the sole, even if the two are made of one piece. Traditional boots are made of leather or rubber and modern boots are made from a variety of materials. 
     Some boots are made of a single closely-stitched design using leather, rubber, canvas, or similar material to prevent the entry of water, snow, mud or dirt through the gaps left between the laces and the tongue as in regular types of shoes. Simple waterproof gumboots are made in different lengths of uppers, and, in extreme cases, thigh-boots called waders, worn by anglers, extends up to the hip level of the wearer. Such boots may also be insulated for warmth. 
     In one prior art, a plastic sock that is adapted for use in combination with a boot or galosh for facilitating insertion of the foot is disclosed. The sock keeps the feet dry while the over boot is worn. The provision of an adjustable tubular sock for use in combination with a boot comprising a liquid impermeable single sheet having a tubular configuration and one open end, the open end having a rim portion, the rim portion including means for receiving the sheet about the leg, the sheet being in contact with the inside surface of an outer boot. 
     A sock that is particularly adapted for use with western type boots in which the heel portion is enlarged to a greater extent than the heels of regular boots and shoes is disclosed in another prior art. The entire length of the leg, foot and heel portions of this sock are knit of one or more body yarns and a main terry yarn forms terry loops throughout either the entire inner surface of the sock or at least in the heel. An auxiliary terry yarn is knit in plated relationship with the main terry yarn in at least the heel portion and may be knit in the adjacent areas above and below the heel portion and forms additional terry loops to provide additional fabric thickness in the heel and adjacent areas so that the heel portion of the sock fills in the enlarged heel of the western boot. The yarns forming the terry loops are hydrophobic to wick any moisture from the inside of the sock and away from the foot of the wearer. 
     In addition, another prior art discloses a woman&#39;s modular utility shoe. A convertible base mule-style shoe may be made of an insole, an outsole, a sash, a vamp or upper, and a heel attached to the outsole or to a heel mount. Various attachment mounts fastened to the base mule may allow structural embellishments to be attached to the base mule. 
     These prior arts allow the user to use the footwear without using the socks and may build up of bacteria, causing irritation and itching to the feet. Also the embellishments attached outside the footwear are specific to the footwear and can easily slip down causing accidents. The accidents such as tripping over the embellishments, causes sprains and broken feet or ankles. Further, the embellishments are specific to the footwear and footwear style. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a device that allows the user to safely and healthily use the boot by using a boot glove incorporated with boot glove sock. There is also a need for an antibacterial boot glove sock that absorbs perspiration and bacteria caused by perspiration. Additionally, as the embellishments are done on the boot glove and not on the boot, the boot glove can be used with all types of footwear and footwear style. The present invention accomplishes these objectives. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention is a boot glove that can be used for embellishing all the footwear healthy and safely. The boot glove comprises of a boot glove body and a boot glove sock. The boot glove body worn over the boot covers and enhances the boot with at least one embellishment. The boot glove sock encloses the human foot and is incorporated with the boot glove body in order to avoid slipping down of boot glove in the event of malfunction. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the embellishments are a plurality of lacing bands extending about the front of the boot glove body and a plurality of laces extending around the top of the boot glove body. 
     The boot glove body functions only with the boot glove sock in order to safely, healthily and economically embellish the boot. The boot glove body is kept in place with the boot glove sock which is worn on the foot. A cuff can be attached with the sock wherein said cuff when folded over the top of the boot, provides additional comfort and grip while on a walk. The boot glove application accommodates all footwear regardless of footwear style. 
     To accommodate all types and styles of footwear, the boot glove body, alternatively referred to as a “cover” has an upper opening and a lower opening. A disconnecting strap with fasteners spans the lower opening of the cover. The cover also has a seam and zipper running vertically upward from the heel area of the footwear, which anchors the apparatus to the footwear. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention, illustrating a boot glove comprising a boot glove body and a boot glove sock; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention, illustrating the boot glove body showing various embellishments; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the boot; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention, illustrating the boot glove worn over the boot; 
         FIG. 5  is a high level flow diagram, illustrating a method for embellishing the boot healthily and safely; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the boot; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the invention, illustrating a cuff with a sock; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the invention, illustrating the cuff folded over the sock; and 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the invention, illustrating the cuff folded over the top of the boot. 
         FIG. 10  is a close-up view of the strap extending under an arch of an article of footwear. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the rear of the cover for embellishing an article of footwear. 
         FIG. 12  is a side perspective view of the cover installed over a heeled shoe creating the illusion of a boot. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a boot glove  100  for embellishing all footwear healthy and safely. A boot glove  100  comprises of a boot glove body  110  worn over the boot (not shown) for covering and enhancing the boot (not shown) with at least one embellishment  130  and a boot glove sock  120  for enclosing the human foot. The boot glove sock  120  is incorporated with the boot glove body  130  in order to avoid slipping down of boot glove  100  in the event of malfunction. 
     The boot glove sock  120  is attached with the boot glove body  110  in order to firmly hold the boot glove body  110  in upright position rather than falling down in the event of malfunction. The sock  120  is made from a material that absorbs perspiration and prevents bad odor building up. The sock  120  is a fabric that is treated with an antibacterial agent in order to avoid irritation and itching caused by bacteria. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the boot glove body  110  comprising of a heel section  240 , arch section  250  and leg section  260  for covering the boot (not shown).  FIG. 3  is the perspective view of the boot  300 , showing the back  310  of the boot  300 , the upper heel section  320  of the boot  300 , the boot arch  330  and boot sides  340  (one side shown). The heel section  240  covers the upper heel portion  320  of the boot  300 . An arch section  330  forward of the heel section  320  covers the boot arch  330  and a leg section  260  covers the back  310  and sides  340  of the boot  300 . 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the embellishments  130  are a plurality of lacing bands  210  extending about the front of the boot glove body  110  and a plurality of laces  220  extending around the top  230  of the leg section  260  of the boot glove body  110 . 
     The embellishments  130  may also include a sling strap, a heel strap, an ankle strap, ankle lace-up straps, a T-strap, a heel cup, a demi heel cup, or a booting. The embellishments  130  may be attached to the boot glove body  110  through many combinations of fastenings such as but not limited to a hook and eye, a double hook and eye, a clasp, a buckle, a stud, a loop a decorative snap, or like system. 
     The boot glove body  110  functions only with the boot glove sock  120  in order to safely, healthily and economically embellish the boot  300 . The boot glove body  110  is kept in place with the boot glove sock  120  which is worn on the human foot. The boot glove  110  application accommodate all footwear regardless of footwear style. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5  is a high level flow diagram illustrating a method  500  for embellishing the boot healthily and safely. As indicated by block  510 , at least one embellishment is added to the boot glove body. Next, as described at block  520 , the boot glove body is incorporated with the boot glove sock. The boot glove sock helps to absorb the perspiration and prevents bad order building up. The boot glove user is allowed to wear the boot glove sock first and then the boot as indicated at block  530  and  540  respectively. Finally, as described at block  550 , the boot is worn over the boot glove sock such that the boot glove body covers the boot. The boot glove body covers the arch, sides, back portion and the heel potion of the boot. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a boot  600  showing a top section  610 .  FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the invention  700  illustrating a cuff  730  attached to the sock  720 .  FIG. 8  is the inverted view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7  with the cuff  730  folded over the sock  720 .  FIG. 9  is the perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the invention  700  with the cuff  730  folded over the top section  610  of the boot. The sock  720  that is inserted into the boot  600  provides additional comfort and grip while on a walk. 
     As is shown in  FIG. 2 , the cover  110  has an upper opening  115  and a lower opening  140 . Referring now to  FIG. 10 , a close-up view of a releasable strap  10  is shown. In this embodiment, the strap  10  spans the lower opening  12  of the cover  110 . The strap  10  is adapted to disconnect using a fastening means. In the illustrated embodiment, the fastening means comprises a series of hook and loop fasteners  16 . In one embodiment, the strap is substantially inelastic. 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , the cover  110  has a closable seam  18  running along its length from the lower opening  140  near the heel area  20  of the shoe  22 , preferably, but not necessarily covering at least the quarter and vamp of the shoe  22 . The seam  18  comprises a zipper  24  or similar fastener, enabling the user to close the seam  18 , and hold the cover  110  adjacent the shoe  22 . Although a zipper  24  spanning the length of the cover  110  from the heel area  20  to the top  26  of the cover  110  is shown in the illustrated embodiment, anticipated alternative embodiments may have a zipper  24  extending only partially upward from the heel area  20 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , it is anticipated that the cover  110  is able to impart a boot-like appearance to a variety of non-boot footwear. In the illustrated example, the cover is worn in a manner covering a heeled shoe  22 . By pulling the sock  120  up and enclosing the user&#39;s leg in the cover  110  along with the shoe  22 , once the strap  10  and zipper  24  are in their affixed position, the apparatus remains disposed on the user&#39;s leg above the shoe  22 , giving the appearance that the shoe  22  is actually a boot. 
     The structure of the apparatus having been shown and described, its method of operation will now be discussed. 
     In order to embellish an article of foot wear, a user places the sock incorporated with the cover over a foot. At this stage, the cover hangs loosely from its connection with the sock. The user then inserts the sock and foot into an article of footwear, and brings the cover down over the exterior of the footwear. In certain cases, the sock may extend far above the footwear along a user&#39;s leg, as in the case of a court shoe or pump. In other cases, the sock may extend only to the top of the footwear, as in the case of a boot. 
     With the sock in place, a user brings the cover down over the outer surface of the footwear and attaches the strap under the arch of the footwear. In this manner, tension between the top of the cover held in place by the sock, and strap under the arch holds the cover over the footwear. A user then closes the zipper incorporated into a seam. In one embodiment, the seam spans the cover from bottom to top at the rear of and parallel to a user&#39;s leg with the zipper adapted to close the seam along its entire length. The cover is adapted to cover the zipper so that while the seam may remain visible, the zipper mechanism is obscured. With the strap and zipper in position, the cover is securely anchored to the article of footwear, providing a decorative appearance. 
     Typical applications of the present invention contemplate but are not limited to product manufacturing, installation, and maintenance. The foregoing enumeration of embodiments has been for illustrative purposes only. Other embodiments, combinations of embodiments and combinations of features are also within the scope and spirit of the teachings described herein, as will be apparent to persons skilled in the art of these teachings. 
     While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, structure, materials, procedure and the like that will fall within the scope of the invention. In any event, it is understood that other platform designs are also possible. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims.