Abstract:
A protector for toes is provided including a toe enclosure configured to block exposure of the toes to an environment external of the enclosure. The toe enclosure may be a footwear article configured to protect the toes. A pedicure shoe system is also provided for protecting freshly painted toe-nails from contact with foreign objects. The pedicure shoe system includes a pedicure shoe and a pedicure slipper. The pedicure slipper is positionable in the pedicure shoe, and spacer members ensure adequate space between the pedicure shoe and the toe-nails.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to footwear items and more particularly to pedicure footwear. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Pedicures are typically performed in a salon or spa. During a pedicure, a foot may be treated with creams, lotions, hot wax or other skin conditioning softeners. Typically, a pedicure also includes painting the toe-nails of the foot with nail polish. Nail polish may require a minimum of one hour to dry, during which time it is important to prevent any material or foreign objects from contacting the freshly coated toe-nails. As is well known to individuals who obtain pedicures, even if the polish is dry to the touch, the polish can scratch easily should the individual attempt to wear tight fitting shoes or inadvertently come into contact with another surface before the polish has cured to its final density and hardness. 
     During a pedicure, toe-separating slippers often are used to assist a pedicurist by inhibiting the toes from touching each other during application of nail polish to each toe. The most basic pedicure slippers are generally made from a disposable paper fabric. More sophisticated slippers may include a semi-rigid sole and enable the individual receiving the pedicure to walk immediately or to drive a car with freshly polished toe-nails. The ability to walk or to drive a car with freshly polished toenails eliminates the need for the individual receiving the pedicure to remain at the salon until the nail polish dries. However, conventional pedicure slippers and shoes are not generally suitable for use in inclement weather. For example, in northern latitudes during the winter months, conventional pedicure slippers and shoes do not provide suitable warmth and protection from slush and snow. Further, typical pedicure slippers may not be appropriate footwear for many occasions. Even if conventional pedicure shoes or slippers allow an individual to depart a salon before the polish is dry, the individual may be limited by the informal qualities of conventional pedicure shoes or slippers as to where he or she may go. Thus, while conventional pedicure shoes and slippers may be practical in a few instances, in many instances they are inadequate. 
     Many conventional pedicure shoes and slippers, for example the shoes and slippers disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,017,987 to Perez; U.S. Pat. No. 5,870,837 to Poulos; U.S. Pat. No. 6,226,893 to Schlamp, et al, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,298,580 to Tadayan, separate a wearers toes to prevent the toes from inadvertently marring the freshly polished nails. Some pedicure shoes and slippers also protect the freshly polished nails from contact with other surfaces or materials. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,946,823 to Yates (“Yates”) discloses a pedicure slipper system including a slipper assembly having a plurality of toe separation cushion assemblies on the sole of the slipper assembly and a removable toe cover assembly for shielding the toes. The removable toe cover assembly may be installed over the forward part of an individual&#39;s foot, including the toes, after the foot is inserted in the slipper. While the Yates slipper separates an individual&#39;s toes and provides some protection to freshly polished nails, it does not provide adequate protection from the elements to the individual wearing the slipper. 
     Therefore, it is desirable to provide a pedicure shoe system wherein a foot may be easily inserted into the shoe while wearing a pedicure slipper, wherein the pedicure shoe provides additional protection to the freshly coated toes, and wherein the pedicure shoe is configured to provide the comfort and versatility similar to a conventional shoe. 
     From the foregoing it will be seen there is room for improvement of pedicure shoes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A protector for toes of a foot is provided comprising: a toe enclosure configured to block exposure of the toes to an environment external of the enclosure, a foot support member positionable in the toe enclosure, and at least one spacer member configured to maintain a space between the toes and the toe enclosure when the foot support member is positioned in the toe enclosure. 
     A pedicure shoe system for protecting the toes of a foot is also provided comprising: a shoe member having a shoe sole and an upper attached to at least a portion of the perimeter of the shoe sole thereby defining a cavity, the upper including a mouth portion and a toe enclosure releasably attachable to at least a portion of the shoe sole, a slipper member positionable in the cavity of the shoe member, the slipper member having a slipper sole and a strap member attached to the slipper sole, and at least one spacer member configured to separate at least a top part of the slipper from the toe enclosure when the slipper member is positioned in the shoe member. 
     In addition, a pedicure shoe is provided comprising: a shoe member having a shoe sole and an upper attached to at least a portion of the perimeter of the shoe sole thereby defining a cavity, the upper including a mouth portion and a toe enclosure releasably attached to at least a portion of the shoe sole. The toe enclosure is configured to be at least partially removed to allow a foot to be inserted into the shoe. 
     Further, a pedicure slipper is provided comprising: a slipper sole, a strap member attached to the slipper sole, and at least one spacer member attached to the strap member.  
     A method of protecting toes of a foot is also provided. The method comprises: placing a foot in a foot support member, positioning the foot with the foot support member in a toe enclosure configured to block exposure of the toes to an environment external of the toe enclosure, and spacing the toe enclosure from the foot with at least one spacer member. 
     Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present invention will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. Likewise, elements and features depicted in one drawing may be combined with elements and features depicted in additional drawings. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a pedicure shoe with the toe flap in the closed position. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of a pedicure shoe with the toe flap in an open position. 
         FIG. 3  is an oblique view of a pedicure shoe with the toe flap in an open position. 
         FIG. 4  is an oblique view of a pedicure slipper. 
         FIG. 5  is an oblique view of a pedicure shoe system of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is an oblique view of a pedicure boot according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is an oblique view of a pedicure boot according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following description is exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto. Referring to  FIGS. 1–3 , a toe enclosure is shown in the form of a pedicure shoe  10  including an upper  12  and a sole  13 . The upper  12  includes a mouth  14  for receiving a foot into the cavity  15 , a toe flap  16  for covering the toes of a foot, and laces  17 . The toe flap  16  is attached to the upper  12  via a hinge member  20  on the right side of the shoe  10 . The toe flap  16  includes a securing device  24  on the left side of the shoe  10  for securing the flap to the upper  12  and/or sole  13 . The sole includes a top surface  25 , a bottom surface  26  a heel portion  27 , and a toe portion  28 . In  FIG. 1 , the toe flap  16  is in a closed position with the securing device  24  releasably attaching the toe flap  16  to the shoe sole  13 . 
     Turning to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the pedicure shoe  10  is shown with the toe flap  16  in an open position. The toe flap  16  opens from the left side of the shoe  10 , pivoting about the hinge member  20  located on the right side of the shoe  10 . The hinge member  20  may be any suitable device for allowing the toe flap to pivot. For example, a simple crease in the fabric of the toe flap may be a suitable hinge member. It will be appreciated that the toe flap  16  is configured to open sufficiently wide so that the toe flap  16  does not interfere with the toes of a foot when a foot is inserted into the pedicure shoe  10 . The toe flap  16  also functions to provide access to the toes of a foot without requiring removal of the pedicure shoe  10 . The securing device  24  may be used for securing the toe flap  16  in a closed position. The securing device  24  may be any suitable device for releasably attaching the toe flap  16  to the upper  12  and/or sole  13 . For example, a hook and loop fastener, such as Velcro, or a zipper or snap may be used to secure the toe flap  16  to the upper  12  and/or sole of the pedicure shoe  10  when the toe flap  16  is in a closed position. 
     Turning to  FIG. 4 , a foot support in the form of a pedicure slipper  30  is shown. The pedicure slipper  30  includes a slipper sole  32  and slipper strap  34 . The slipper sole  30  includes a top surface  35 , a bottom surface  36 , a heel portion  37 , and a toe portion  38 . The slipper strap  34  is typically configured such that when a foot is inserted into the slipper  30 , the slipper strap  34  secures the slipper  30  to the foot. Other types of slipper straps may be used. For example, a slipper strap that extends across the top of the foot behind the toes of the foot. The slipper strap  34  in the illustrated embodiment includes one or more spacer members  39  adjustably attached to the slipper strap  34 . As will be more fully understood in view of the following paragraphs, the spacer members  39  provide a protected space between the toes of a foot and a pedicure shoe when the slipper  30  is used in conjunction with a pedicure shoe of the present invention. The slipper strap  34  itself may also be configured to perform the function of the spacer members  39 . In addition, the spacer members  39  may be integrated with the slipper strap  34 . 
     In  FIG. 5 , a pedicure shoe system  5 , including toe spacers  40 , is shown. A foot  50  held to a pedicure slipper  30  with pedicure strap  34  is shown positioned in a pedicure shoe  10 . As noted, the pedicure slipper  30  includes a slipper sole  32  and one or more slipper straps  34  for holding the pedicure slipper  30  to the foot  50 . Spacer members  39  are disposed on the pedicure slipper straps  34  to provide proper spacing between the top of the foot  50  and the interior of the toe flap  16  of the pedicure shoe  10  when the toe flap is in the closed position. The sole  32  of the pedicure slipper  30  preferably is configured to fit securely within the interior of the pedicure shoe  10  to provide a stable walking surface by preventing the pedicure slipper  30  from shifting within the pedicure shoe  10 . However, the sole  32  of the pedicure slipper  30  need not securely fit within the pedicure shoe  10 , and thus a wide variety of pedicure slipper sole  32  configurations are possible. As will be described in more detail herein, the pedicure slipper  30  and/or pedicure shoe also may include an engagement device for engaging the sole of the pedicure shoe  10  when inserted into the cavity of the pedicure shoe  10 . 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , the slipper strap  34  and/or spacers  39  ensure adequate spacing between the interior of the toe flap  16  and toes of a foot, when the toe flap  16  is secured in a closed position. The toe spacers  40  may also be configured to not only space apart the individual toes of the foot, but to also ensure adequate spacing between the interior of the toe flap  16  and the toes. Thus, the slipper strap  34 , spacer members  39 , toe spacers  40 , and toe flap  16  cooperate to provide a protective covering to freshly polished nails by preventing the nails from contacting foreign objects or materials outside the shoe and also the inside of the shoe itself. The spacer members  39  may be attached to and/or integrated into any suitable component of the pedicure shoe  10 , the slipper  30 , or both. Some of the spacer members  39  may be adjustably attached to the pedicure slipper  30  and/or shoe  32 . Preferably, the spacer members  39  are adjustably attachable to the slipper strap  34  such that the position of the spacer members  39  may be adjusted to enable an individual to position the spacers members  39  in the most comfortable position, and to ensure that adequate space is provided between the toe flap  16  and the toes of a foot. Further, adjustably attachable spacer members  39  may be retrofitted onto conventional pedicure slippers thereby ensuring adequate spacing between the toe flap  16  and toes when a conventional pedicure slipper is used in conjunction with the pedicure shoe  10  of the present invention. The spacer members  39  may be resilient and/or flexible such that the spacer members  39  adapt to the surfaces between which they are situated. 
     It will be appreciated that in practice the pedicure slipper  30 , secured or held to the foot  50 , may be inserted into the pedicure shoe  10  via the mouth  14  of the pedicure shoe  10  with the toe flap  16  in an open position. Alternatively, the pedicure slipper  30  may be placed into the cavity  15  of the pedicure shoe  10  and, with the toe flap  16  in an open position, an individual&#39;s foot then may be inserted into the pedicure shoe  10  via the mouth  16  and subsequently secured to the pedicure slipper  30  with the slipper straps  34 . It will further be appreciated that, with the toe flap  16  in the open position, the laces  32  on the pedicure shoe  10  may be completely unlaced thereby providing an unobstructed path to insert a foot with or without a pedicure slipper  30  into the pedicure shoe  10 . 
     The sole  32  of the pedicure slipper  30  may be flexible yet rigid enough to provide a suitable walking surface when the slipper  30  is not used in conjunction with the pedicure shoe. The slipper sole  32  may be configured to correspond to the cavity  15  of the pedicure shoe  10  such that the pedicure slipper sole  32  is substantially fixed against longitudinal and transverse movement when the pedicure slipper  30  is positioned in the pedicure shoe  10 . For example, the bottom surface  36  of the slipper sole  32  may include various recesses for engaging various mating projections in the top surface  25  of the shoe sole  13  when the pedicure slipper  30  is positioned with the pedicure shoe  10 . The pedicure slipper  30  and/or pedicure shoe  10  also may include an engagement device for releasably securing the pedicure slipper  30  to the interior of the pedicure shoe  10  when the pedicure slipper  30  is positioned within the pedicure shoe  10 . For example, the pedicure slipper  30  may be sized to form a friction lock with the pedicure shoe  10  when the pedicure slipper  30  is inserted into the pedicure shoe  10 . Other releasably fasteners may also be used, such as snaps or Velcro, either alone or in combination with the friction lock, or in combination with each other. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , another embodiment of a pedicure shoe is shown. It will be appreciated that the foregoing discussion of the pedicure shoe in  FIGS. 1–5  is equally applicable to the pedicure shoe of  FIGS. 6 and 7 . In this embodiment, the toe enclosure is in the form of a pedicure boot  60  including an upper  62  attached to a sole  64 . The upper includes a mouth  66  and a toe flap  68 . The sole  64  includes a heel portion  70  and a toe portion  72 . An entry zipper  74  extends from the mouth  66  down the upper  62  towards the heel portion  70  of the sole  64  and continues along one side of the upper  62  parallel to the sole  64 , around the toe portion  72  of the sole  64 , and down a portion of the length of the opposite side of the upper  62 . In general, the entry zipper  74  may be configured such that, when an individual&#39;s foot is placed in the boot  60 , the entry zipper  74  extends from the mouth  66  down along one side of the ankle of the individual&#39;s foot, forward around the individual&#39;s toes, and down the other side of the individual&#39;s foot towards the base of the other side of the individual&#39;s ankle. 
     In this embodiment, the toe flap  68  is handedly attached to the upper  62  along the line marked A. When the entry zipper  74  is unzipped, the toe flap  68  is configured to open along the line A from front to back. When the entry zipper  74  is zipped, the toe flap  68  is secured to the sole  64  and covers the toes of the foot thereby protecting against inadvertent contact between the toenails and foreign objects and/or weather. 
     The pedicure boot  60  of  FIGS. 6 and 7  is configured to receive a pedicure slipper in a similar manner as the pedicure shoe  10  previously described. It will be appreciated that the entry zipper  74  allows the entire upper  62  of the boot  60  to open to receive a pedicure slipper secured to an individual&#39;s foot. 
     It will be appreciated that the pedicure shoe  10  and pedicure boot  60  may be configured for use in conjunction with a wide range of conventional pedicure slippers existing in the marketplace. Thus, as described above, the pedicure slipper  30  may be either a conventional pedicure slipper or a specialized pedicure slipper made especially for use in connection with the pedicure shoe  10  and/or the pedicure boot  60 , such as the pedicure slipper  30  disclosed above. The ability of the pedicure shoe  10  to be used in conjunction with existing pedicure slippers allows the pedicure shoe  10  to be used with a pedicurist&#39;s existing or preferred pedicure slipper. 
     In any one of the above-described embodiments, suitable water repellant and/or waterproofing measures may be employed to provide the pedicure shoe and an individual&#39;s foot with adequate protection from the elements. Further, the pedicure shoe and pedicure slipper may be made from a wide variety of suitable materials including leather, plastic, and rubber. Similarly, the toe spacers and spacer members may be made of foam rubber, plastic, cloth, leather, or any other suitable material. 
     Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to certain preferred embodiments, other equivalents and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of the specification. The present invention includes all such equivalents and modifications, and is limited only by the scope of the following claims.