Patent Publication Number: US-6704941-B1

Title: Pedicure protection device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to pedicure protectors and more particularly pertains to a new pedicure protector for protecting the foot and toenails of a person receiving a pedicure. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of pedicure protectors is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,906,007 describes a sock having a plurality of toe sheaths which may be rolled up to expose the toenails of a person receiving a pedicure. Another type of related device is U.S. Pat. No. 5,867,838 having an open end for exposing the toes when a person wears sandals. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device that holds to the toes in a tight, but not restrictive manner so that the toes are exposed while the remainder of the foot is protected from debris and loss of heat. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention meets the needs presented above by including toe conduits having elastic bands encircling an end of the conduit. The bands, both by their elastic nature and surface tension, ensure that the conduits remain in place on the toe and do not unwantedly slide over toenails. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a new pedicure protector that includes tabs attached to the elastic bands for easy movement of the bands on the toes. 
     To this end, the present invention generally comprises a body including a heel portion and foot portion. A plurality of toe receiving conduits is attached to and extends away from the foot portion such that each one of a plurality of toes is insertable into the body and into the conduits. Each of the conduits has an open free end having a perimeter or perimeter edge. Each of a plurality of elastic bands is attached to and extends along one of the perimeters of the free ends. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of-the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is an in-use perspective view of a pedicure protection device according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line  2 — 2  of FIG. 1 the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, a new pedicure protector embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pedicure protection device  10  generally includes a body  12  including a leg portion  13 , an ankle portion  14 , heel portion  16  and foot portion  18 . The body  12  preferably comprises a resiliently stretchable cloth material which may be any conventional material used for socks such as cotton, nylon, or mixtures of these either with or without elastomeric threads woven therein. 
     The body  12  forms a sock having an end to which is attached a plurality of toe receiving conduits  20 . The toe receiving conduits  20  extend away from the foot portion  12  such that each one of a plurality of toes  40  is insertable into the body  12  and into the conduits  20 . Each of the conduits  20  has an open free end  22 . Each of the free ends  22  has a perimeter  24  having one of a plurality of elastic bands  26  attached thereto and extending there along. Each of the bands  26  preferably comprises an elastomeric material. Preferably, a foot receiving band  28  is attached along a peripheral edge of the leg portion  13 . 
     Preferably, each of a plurality of tabs  30  is attached to one of the elastic bands  26  such that each of the elastic bands  26 has a tab  30  attached thereto. Each of the tabs  30  extends toward the body  12 . 
     In use, the device  10  is positioned over a foot and the toes  40  extended through and outward of the conduits  20  such that each of the elastic bands  26  extends around one of the toes  40 . The bands  26  hold the conduits  20  in place so that the conduits  20  do not move over the toenail  42  of the toe  40 . Tabs  30  may be used in order to assist in the pulling of the bands  26  toward the body  12  and away from the toenail  42 . The devices  10  are worn to keep the foot of the wearer clean and warm while receiving a pedicure as well as when walking to or from the pedicure. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.