Abstract:
A disposable flip-flop, comprising an insole support, an insole, a strap having portions that are attached to the insole, a layer of exfoliating material attached to the insole so as to directly contact the plantar region of a user foot, and a predetermined amount of moisturizing agent on and in the layer of exfoliating material so as to moisturize the plantar of the user foot. In one embodiment, the moisturizing agent is a lotion. In another embodiment, the moisturizing agent is a creme. In a further embodiment, the moisturizing agent is a gel. In another embodiment, the moisturizing agent is oil.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention generally relates to flip flops.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Footwear using loofah is known in the art and such footwear is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,930,916 and Great Britain Patent Nos. 230887 and 15819. Disposable footwear is also known in the art and is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,526,676.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a disposable flip flop that provides both exfoliating and moisturizing functions.  
         [0006]     The present invention is directed to a disposable flip-flop comprising an insole support having an insole, a strap having portions thereof attached to the insole, a layer of exfoliating material attached to the insole so as to directly contact the plantar region of a user foot, and a predetermined amount of moisturizing agent in and on the layer of exfoliating material so as to moisturize the plantar of the user foot. In one embodiment, the moisturizing agent is a lotion. In another embodiment, the moisturizing agent is a creme. In a further embodiment, the moisturizing agent is a gel. In another embodiment, the moisturizing agent is oil.  
         [0007]     In a related aspect, the present invention is directed to a method for making a disposable flip-flop, comprising the steps of providing an insole support having an insole, providing a strap having portions adapted to be attached to the insole, attaching the portions of the strap to the insole, attaching a layer of exfoliating material to substantially the entire insole, and treating the layer of exfoliating material with a moisturizing agent.  
         [0008]     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the ensuing description. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     The foregoing features of the present invention will become more readily apparent and may be understood by referring to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a flip flop, which is part of a pair of flip flops, in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the flip flop of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is cross-sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a lengthwise, cross-sectional view of a flip-flop in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention; and  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0015]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown the disposable flip flop of the present invention. Flip flop  10  comprises insole support  14  and insole  16 . Flip flop  10  further comprises strap  18  that has portions  20 ,  22  and  24  that are attached to insole  16 . Insole support  14  and insole  16  are fabricated from any suitable materials including plastic, rubber, PVC, polyurethane, silicone, EVA, leather and foam. These are just examples and other suitable materials can be used. Similarly, strap  18  is fabricated from plastic, rubber, EVA, PVC, polyurethane, silicone, and leather, or other suitable materials.  
         [0016]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , flip flop  10  further includes a layer of material  30  that is attached to insole  16 . Layer of material  30  directly contacts the plantar region of the user foot and provides therapeutic benefits that include a slight massaging effect, slight exfoliation of the skin of the plantar region of a user foot, and increased blood flow. For purposes of brevity, layer of material  30  shall be referred to herein as “layer of exfoliating material  30 ”. In a preferred embodiment, layer of exfoliating material  30  is a layer of loofah. Loofah is known in the art and is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,930,916. However, it is to be understood that layer of exfoliating material  30  can be any suitable material that can provide the aforesaid therapeutic benefits. In an alternate embodiment, the layer of exfoliating material  30  is loofah and is formed of separate loofah fibers bonded to each other or to a backing material.  
         [0017]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , layer of exfoliating material  30  is of a substantial constant thickness and is attached to insole  16  via any suitable technique (e.g. adhesives, sewing, melting, or molding process). In a preferred embodiment, layer of exfoliating material  30  covers substantially the entire insole  16  except where portions  20 ,  22  and  24  of strap  18  are attached to insole  16 . Portions  20 ,  22  and  24  are shown in phantom in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In a preferred embodiment, layer of exfoliating material  30  has a thickness between about 1/16 inch and ¼ inch. However, layer of exfoliating material  30  may have other suitable thicknesses.  
         [0018]     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , layer of exfoliating material  30  is attached to insole  16  by any of the methods mentioned above. The peripheral edges of layer of exfoliating material  30  are further attached to insole  16  by strip of material  40  that extends about the peripheral region of insole  16 . Strip of material  40  has a first portion  42  that is attached to the peripheral region of insole  16 . In one embodiment, stitching is used to attach first portion  42  to insole  16 . The edge  30 A of layer of exfoliating material  30  is disposed over first portion  42 . Strip of material  40  also includes a second portion  44  that is folded over on top of edge  30 A. In one embodiment, stitching  46  is inserted through second portion  44 , edge  30 A, first portion  42  and into the peripheral region of insole  16 . However, other suitable methods, techniques or configurations may be used to attach the edge  30 A of layer of exfoliating material  30  to insole  16 . In a preferred embodiment, strip of material  40  is fabricated from fabric. However, other suitable materials may be used.  
         [0019]     In accordance with the invention, layer of exfoliating material  30  is treated with moisturizing agent  50  that moisturizes the plantar region of the user foot.  FIGS. 1-3  show reference number  50  indicating some of the moisturizing agent. However, it is to be understood that moisturizing agent  50  extends substantially throughout the entire layer of exfoliating material  30 . Specifically, moisturizing agent  50  is located on top of and within the layer of exfoliating material  30 . Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the layer of exfoliating material  30  is saturated with the moisturizing agent  50 . This can be accomplished by spraying the moisturizing agent onto layer of exfoliating material  30 . In another embodiment, the moisturizing agent is brushed onto the layer of exfoliating material  30 . In another embodiment, the layer of exfoliating material  30  is first soaked in the moisturizing agent and then attached to insole  16 . The moisturizing agent can take many forms, e.g. cocoa butter, shea butter, lotions, oils, cremes, or gels. It is to be understood that these aforesaid moisturizing agents are just examples and that other suitable moisturizing agents may be used. In another embodiment, the moisturizing agent includes an exfoliating agent.  
         [0020]     As the user walks in flip flops  10 , moisturizing agent  50  contacts the plantar regions of the user&#39;s feet to heal dry or cracked skin. The moisturizing agent  50  will most likely dry, wear out or dissipate within 10-14 days. Once that occurs, the user may dispose of the flip flops  10 .  
         [0021]     In a preferred embodiment, insole support  14 , insole  16  and strap  18  are fabricated from inexpensive materials to allow the flip flops to be disposable. This is because in many instances, layer of exfoliating material  30  will be a porous material which, under certain circumstances, is conducive to growth of bacteria. Loofah is a porous material and is susceptible to bacteria growth. Therefore, if layer of exfoliating material  30  is fabricated from loofah, then flip flops  10  are preferably packaged in a vacuum sealed package to prevent the growth of bacteria in the loofah and to preserve the moisturizing agent and prevent it from drying out. When the user decides to wear the flip-flops for the first time, he or she breaks the vacuum sealed package and then removes the flip-flops therefrom.  
         [0022]     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , there is shown an alternate flip-flop of the present invention.  FIG. 4  is a lengthwise cross-sectional view, and  FIG. 5  is a widthwise cross-sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 4 . Flip-flop  100  comprises insole support  102  and insole  104 . In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, insole  104  is configured to have a recessed or sunken region  105  that extends for the substantially the entire length and width of flip-flop  100 . This recessed or sunken region  105  provides sloping sides  106 A,  106 B, sloping toe section  108 , and sloping heel section  110 . Flip-flop  100  further includes layer of exfoliating material  112  that is attached to insole  104 . The peripheral portions of layer of exfoliating material  112  follow or conform to the contours of sloping sides  106 A,  106 B, sloping toe section  108 , and sloping heel section  110 . Such a configuration facilitates contact between layer of exfoliating material  112  and the toes, sides and heel of a wearer&#39;s foot. In one embodiment, layer of exfoliating material  112  is fabricated from loofah. The layer of exfoliating material  112  can be attached to insole  104  by of any of the methods described in the foregoing description with respect to the attachment of layer of exfoliating material  30  to insole  16 . Flip flop  100  also includes straps  118  that have portions thereof attached to insole  104 . Insole support  102 , insole  104  and straps  118  may be fabricated from plastic, rubber, EVA, PVC, polyurethane, silicone, and leather, or other suitable materials. For purposes of simplicity and to facilitate understanding of this embodiment of the invention, straps  118  are not shown in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0023]     In accordance with the invention, layer of exfoliating material  112  is treated with moisturizing agent  120  that moisturizes the plantar region of the user foot in the same manner as moisturizing agent  50  described in the foregoing description. For purposes of simplicity, moisturizing agent  120  is only shown in  FIG. 5 . Moisturizing agent  120  extends substantially throughout the entire layer of exfoliating material  112 . Specifically, moisturizing agent  120  is located on top of and within the layer of exfoliating material  112 . Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the layer of exfoliating material  112  is saturated with the moisturizing agent  120 .  
         [0024]     The principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the present invention have been described in the foregoing specification. The invention which is intended to be protected herein should not, however, be construed as limited to the particular forms disclosed, as these are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Variations and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing detailed description should be considered as exemplary in nature and not limiting the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the attached claims.