Patent Publication Number: US-2011047815-A1

Title: Solemates

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is closely related to and claims benefit from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/091,012 filed Sep. 8, 2008. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates, in general, to a foot protective apparatus, and, more particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus that can be temporarily adhered on the sole of ones foot to protect their feet from bacteria and germs commonly found on public floors that require footwear to be removed such as tanning booths, locker rooms, showers or anywhere else where individuals may not want to be in their bare feet. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     N/A 
     BACKGROUND 
     There are areas people must visit that require footwear to be removed. Some of these areas could be public swimming pools, tanning booths, locker rooms, showers or anywhere else where individuals may not want to be in their bare feet. Germs and bacteria can thrive on these floors. Individuals may easily incur athlete&#39;s foot, ringworm, warts and other ailments from unclean floors by walking barefoot on these areas. 
     Having a simple way to shield one&#39;s feet from microorganisms may help an individual feel more comfortable and safer when visiting these establishments. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In a first aspect the present invention provides a disposable apparatus for protecting a person&#39;s feet, when such person has to be barefoot, from microorganisms that are commonly found on floors. The apparatus comprises a pair of base members, each base member of such pair of base members has a predetermined shape and is formed of a predetermined material for engagement with a sole of a person&#39;s foot and has an upper surface and a bottom surface. A securing means is disposed on such upper surface of the pair of base members for securing such each base member to a sole of such person&#39;s foot. A wrapper member is disposed for one of containing such pair of base members until ready for application to the soles of a person&#39;s feet and for covering such upper surface of such each base member of the pair of base members until ready for application to such soles of a person&#39;s feet. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a foot covering that can adhere to the soles of a person&#39;s feet for protection from unclean floors. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a foot covering for the soles of a person&#39;s feet that is disposable. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a foot covering for the soles of a person&#39;s feet that is shaped like a foot. 
     In addition to the various objects and advantages of the invention which have been described in some specific detail above it should be noted that various other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description, particularly when such description is taken in conjunction with the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a partial perspective view of the apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the disposable apparatus disposed in a wrapper until ready for use. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the disposable apparatus with wrapper member disposed on the upper surface of the base member. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
     Prior to proceeding with the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity, identical components which have identical functions have been designated by identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawings. 
     In a first aspect the present invention provides a disposable apparatus, generally designated  10 , for protecting a person&#39;s feet, when such person has to be barefoot, from microorganisms that are commonly found on floors. The apparatus  10  comprises a pair of base members  2 , each base member  2  of said pair of base members  2  having a predetermined shape and formed of a predetermined material for engagement with a sole of a person&#39;s foot and having a upper surface  4  and a bottom surface  6 . A means, generally designated  20 , is disposed on such upper surface  4  of the pair of base members  2  for securing such each base member  2  to a sole of such person&#39;s foot. A wrapper member is disposed for one of containing such pair of base members  2  until ready for application to the soles of a person&#39;s feet and for covering such upper surface  4  of such each base member  2  of the pair of base members  2  until ready for application to such soles of a person&#39;s feet. 
     Such means  20  for securing such base member  2  to the sole of a person&#39;s foot includes a releasable adhesive disposed on the upper surface  4  of such pair of base members  2  for securing such each base member  2  to such sole of such person&#39;s foot. Such pair of base members  2  further includes a plurality of apertures  12  formed through such each base member  2  to permit air to flow through. Such predetermined shape of the pair of base members  2  is in the shape of a foot. 
     In the embodiment where the wrapper member  18  covers the releasable adhesive on the upper surface  4  of such base member  4 , such wrapper member  18  is a sheet of plastic that is just peeled off when the user is ready to apply the apparatus to his/her feet. In the embodiment where the wrapper member  16  contains such base members  2 , the wrapper member  16  is thin plastic bag similar to a food storage bag. 
     It is also presently preferred that each base member  2  further includes a tab member  8  disposed on a heel portion of such each base member  2  for removal of such each base member  2  from such person&#39;s foot so that such person does not have to touch a bottom portion  6  of such each base member  2  to remove such apparatus  10 . In an embodiment of the invention such bottom surface  6  of such pair of base members  2  is treated with an antifungal product to further protect users. Such disposable apparatus  10  is made of one of plastic, paper or combinations thereof. 
     While a presently preferred embodiment and alternate embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, it should be understood that various other adaptations and/or modifications of the invention can be made by those persons who are particularly skilled in the art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.