US3775873A

US3775873A - Disposable plastic slipper

Info

Publication number: US3775873A
Application number: US00326887A
Authority: US
Inventors: D Small
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-01-26
Filing date: 1973-01-26
Publication date: 1973-12-04
Anticipated expiration: 1990-12-04

Abstract

A slide-on or step-in slipper or sandal of the disposable type to be formed from a flat blank, preferably of foamed polyethylene sheet material, having a sole member with flat toe, heel and instep portions and a pair of opposed arch embracing strap members extending from the sides of the instep. The inner edges of the straps are foldably connected to the instep only at front and rear portions thereof, the material of the blank therebetween being severed along elongated arcuate slit lines. Conventional shoe laces join the strap outer edges to form a loop to embrace the foot. The slits provide expandable openings for adjustment of the loop on feet of varying shapes and an efficient slipper form for temporary or extended periods of use. The sole of the blank conforms to the normal curvature of a foot and the straps are laced to overlie either face of the sole for use on the right or left foot.

Description

United States Patent [191 Small DISPOSABLE PLASTIC SLIPPER [76] Inventor: Donald I. Small, 60 Woodward Rd.,

West Springfield, Mass. 01089 [22] Filed: Jan. 26, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 326,887

Primary Examiner-Patrick D. Lawson AttorneyAlonzo L. Neal et al.

[ 1 Dec. 4, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT A slide-on or step-in slipper or sandal of the disposable type to be formed from a flat blank, preferably of foamed polyethylene sheet material, having a sole member with flat toe, heel and instep portions and a pair of opposed arch embracing strap members extending from'the sides of the instep. The inner edges of the straps are foldably connected to the instep only at front and rear portions thereof, the material of the blank therebetween being severed along elongated arcuate slit lines. Conventional shoe laces join the strap outer edges to form a loop to embrace the foot. The slits provide expandable openings for adjustment of the loop on feet of varying shapes and an efficient slipper form for temporary or extended periods of use. The sole of the blank conforms to the normal curvature of a foot and the straps are laced to overlie either face of the sole for use on the right or left foot.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures DISPOSABLE PLASTIC SLIIPER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to disposable slippers of the slide-on or step-in type characterized by a flat sole member without heel engaging means, the clasping means being provided by arch or instep encircling straps foldably extending from the sides of the sole member to provide an adjustable foot embracing loop.

While useful for many different purposes as temporary footwear, and in general to protect or support the feet, slippers of this type are particularly advantageous for patient use in hospitals, not only for the obvious reasons of sanitary protection, etc. but also because once an initial adjustment is made to engage a patients foot in a satisfactory manner it may be put on or taken off merely by sliding the foot'into or out of engagement with the foot embracing loop.

As will be readily appreciated, disposable slippers have heretofore been specifically designed and provided for hospital patient use and are well known in the art. Representative prior designs and the nearest prior art known are exemplified by the disclosures of U.S. Pats. Nos. 1,641,625, 2,611,977 and 3,603,006. In the last identified patent, problems relating to this type of footwear particularly with respect to satisfactory operation in retaining the slipper on the foot while sitting or walking at different paces, in initially making adjustments necessary for properly accommodating a wide variety of foot sizes and shapes, and in minimizing hospital storage and inventory problems, are all set forth at some length. A double pair of straps is therein disclosed for looping over the foot, a specific notch design being located in the shape of a rearward strap so as to provide retaining action while flexing the foot. It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a disposable slipper also formed from a flat blank which accomplishes the same general and specific purposes above mentioned in a different manner and which will more easily enable the wearer to obtain a suitable individualized fit on each foot.

Among other specific objects of the present invention are to provide an extremely durable and inexpensive slipper of a disposable character having a relatively long life without deterioration of the material with respect to flexibility, high resistance to tearing, dimensional stability, cushioning effect, water resistance, and surface characteristics permitting repeated rinsing for cleaning purposes, as well as providing excellent insulation from cold floors and anti-static properties. In the preferred commercial form of slipper a flat blank cut from a sheet of extruded polyethylene foam material is utilized and the invention is primarily based upon the discovery that a plastic material of this type may be cut or slit to form elongated expandable openings between front and rear foldably connecting web portions without providing any reinforcement to resist tearing. Such openings permit an adjustable lacing of the straps so as to enable adjacent portions of the wearers foot to be engaged by the edges of the openings and a light frictional grip created sufficient to loosely retain the slipper against inadvertent slippage when lifted off a floor surface, and to exert a firmer grip while walking and the foot is repeatedly flexed and spread in a manner tending to dislodge a slipper.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention contemplates providing a disposable slipper in the form of a flat blank having flat toe and heel outlines and therebetween flat instep portion from the sides of which extend a pair of foot encircling straps for looping over the sole instep. The straps are foldably joined to the sole by fore and aft connecting webs, the material of the blank being severed therebetween and the line of severance defining the edges of the instep portion of the flat sole preferably along arcuate lines commencing at the fore end thereof in offset relation inwardly adjacent a projection of the sides of the toe portion. By such an inwardly offset relation, the edges of the slits provide elongated narrow openings when the straps are folded over and laced. The openings can be adjustably expanded to more securely engage the sides of the foot according to individual needs or preferences. The releasable frictional holding action is comparable to that of a frictional detent means and can be set in initially lacing the straps or later making any desired adjustment. Once set a comfortable and serviceable fit is maintained for the desired period of use.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a flat slipper blank according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the blank of FIG. 1 folded and laced for use on a wearers foot, the lacing being looped through openings in the toe portion;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 with the lacing between the straps only and further showing the result of a tighter lacing on the foot than shown by FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a slipper laced as in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. 1 the flat slipper blank is shown with toe, heel and instep portions of a sole member being indicated at 2, 4, and 6, respectively. Extending from each side of the instep 6 are strap members 8. Along'the outer edges of the straps lacing holes 10 are provided and in the toe 2 is a pair of holes 12 spaced in forwardly adjacent relation to the fore end of the instep portion 6.

As will be apparent from FIG. 1 the toe and heel portions and intermediate instep portion are generally disposed to conform to the natural curvature of a right foot as viewed in FIG. 1. It will also be apparent that the undersurface of the FIG. 1 blank will present in outline the natural curvature of a left foot. Accordingly, a blank may be used for either foot and two such blanks, placed back to back, can be economically packaged to supply matching pairs of slippers with the laces being looped through toe openings 12 thereof in opposite manner so as to identify the same for wear on the right or left foot by joining the straps to overlie the appropriate face of the blank.

The straps 8 are each foldably joined to the instep portion 6 by fore and aft connecting web portions as at 14 and 16 respectively. Between these foldable connecting areas the material of the blank is severed as by slits 18 out along arcuate lines following the general curvature of the foot. As shown the fore ends of the slits 18 lie inwardly adjacent the rearward projection of the sides of the toe portion 2. The inner edges of the cut slits define the outer edges of the sole instep portion.

As will be appreciated these inner edges in general will more or less directly underlie (see FIG. 4) the edge portions of a wearers instep around which the straps are laced. The arcuate conformation of the slits as described not only serves to more snugly and comfortably wrap the straps over a wearers arch considering the factor of a normal foot shape and curvature but also, and of equal if not of greater importance, the slits allow an expansion of the slit opening to be available for engaging by its edges the sides of the wearers foot and producing a comfortable frictional gripping or detent means to aid in retaining the slipper on a foot without requiring an excessively tight lacing. This expandable opening along the instep eliminates a common complaint regarding many prior slippers in connection with an inability to properly retain them on the feet unless repeatedly jammed into place.

The expandability of the opening of the slits 18 may be appreciated from a comparison of the slippers as shown by FIGS. 2 and 3. In FIG. 2 the straps 8 are joined by the lace 20 to more or less lightly encircle the foot. The edges of the slit 18 are relatively close together, the narrow opening shown resulting from the folding of the strap 8 upwardly and tying the laces without any appreciable degree of tension. In FIG. 3 the opening between the edges of the elongated slit 18 is shown in expanded condition which occurs as a result of suitably drawing the straps 8 together to a greater degree by the lacing. The net effect is somewhat comparable to that of imparting a degree of elasticity to the looped straps. Of further significance, as mentioned above, the inner edge of the slit 18 at each side of the foot will in most instances engage the bottom surface of the foot with an added frictional action tending to retain the slipper. The other or outer edges of the slits, depending on the degree to which the laces may be tightened, will also serve to frictionally engage the sides of the foot at its normally widest part and likewise prevent slippage. The degree to which the user will wish to tighten the lacing will, of course, be a matter of personal preference. Once the individual adjustment is made to the users satisfaction, however, the slipper will slide on and off the foot easily but will be retained under normal conditions of use without inadvertently being released.

For hospital patient use small, medium and large sizes are intended so as to minimize inventory problems. The present design, while characterized by extreme simplicity, is also extremely versatile with respect to the ease with which individually different feet may be fitted within the ranges of a small, medium and large size blank. The relationship of the sole instep and straps connected thereto as defined by the slits 18 contribute to this result.

In FIGS. 2 and 3 alternative methods of lacing the blank of FIG. 1 into slipper form as shown. In FIG. 2 the lace 20 between the straps is first looped through the toe openings to underlie the sole as at 22. This method enables the slipper to be worn with the laces extending upwardly from loop 22 between the toes and serve as toe retainer thongs. The loop 22 also slightly elevates the toe portion 2 and thus assists in keeping the extreme front edge from the chance of catching on low lying uneven edges in the floor surface. The lacing may be more tightly drawn so as to raise the toe portion 2 to a greater degree if desirable as might be the case where a hospital patient may be able to walk only by shuffling or sliding the feet.

In FIG. 3 the straps only are joined as may be suitable for a patient not desiring to have the lace pass between his toes or when socks are worn. In addition FIG. 3 represents the condition where the straps are more tightly drawn and produce a well-defined opening between the edges of the slit at 18. As previously referred to this provides a more positive gripping action at the sides of the feet and thus acts in the manner of detent recesses when the foot is being pocketed in the slipper loop.

As previously mentioned the blank of FIG. 1 is preferably cut from foamed polyethylene material extruded in flat sheet form. The particular type of material is yieldable and relatively soft to the touch, is flexible, and compresses to give a comfortable cushioned support when walking. The material is durable, waterresistant and tear-resistant to a high degree and will provide serviceability over extended periods of use. The preferable sheet thickness is on the order of oneeighth inch which imparts a sufficient firm but bendable character desirable in slipper wear to avoid excessive slapping against the heel in walking. The surface of the material has a slip-resistant leather-like feel and the closed cell formation of the foamed material resists water penetration. Where moisture may accumulate by foot perspiration the surfaces still remain slip-resistant to a high degree.

Being extruded the surface characteristics of the material on both faces of each blank are substantially identical and thus both feet are supported uniformly with respect to touch, insulating qualities, retention of body warmth, and floor grip. Foamed polyethylene material of this type is known and commercially available in the plastics trade as, for example, extruded sheet material as sold by Foam Corporation under the trade name Monofoam.

What is claimed is:

l. A flat blank of highly tear-resistant sheet material to be folded into an improved disposable slipper of the step-in type and comprising a sole member having a front toe outline and rear heel outline and therebetween an instep section having laterally extending straps provided with means at their outer edges for lacing said straps together,

said blank along the inner sides of the sole instep section having elongated slits severing the material of the blank intermediate front and rear portions joining said straps to the section and providing a pair of hinge areas for folding the straps and adjustably lacing the outer edges thereof in arched overlying relation to either surface of said instep section of the sole,

said toe and heel outlines defining at opposite surfaces of the blank a slightly angled relationship generally conforming to the normal curvature of both a right and left foot respectively. 2. The blank of claim 1, in which, said elongated slits are arcuately cut, the forward ends thereof lying rearwardly and in adjacent laterally inward relation with respect to lines projecting a continuation of the sides of said toe portion.

3. The blank of claim 2 in which,

said lacing means includes a series of openings at the outer edges of the straps, and a pair of openings is provided in said toe portion spaced forwardly adja- 6 cent said sole instep section for looping the center against a wearers toes. of a shoe lace engaging said strap edge openings, 4. The blank of claim 3, in which, thereby providing means engageable between a said blank is formed of an extruded sheet of polyethwearers toes as thong elements and adjustable for ylene foam material.

drawing said toe portion of the sole upwardly 5

Claims

1. A flat blank of highly tear-resistant sheet material to be folded into an improved disposable slipper of the step-in type and comprising a sole member having a front toe outline and rear heel outline and therebetween an instep section having laterally extending straps provided with means at their outer edges for lacing said straps together, said blank along the inner sides of the sole instep section having elongated slits severing the material of the blank intermediate front and rear portions joining said straps to the section and providing a pair of hinge areas for folding the straps and adjustably lacing the outer edges thereof in arched overlying relation to either surface of said instep section of the sole, said toe and heel outlines defining at opposite surfaces of the blank a slightly angled relationship generally conforming to the normal curvature of both a right and left foot respectively.

2. The blank of claim 1, in which, said elongated slits are arcuately cut, the forward ends thereof lying rearwardly and in adjacent laterally inward relation with respect to lines projecting a continuation of the sides of said toe portion.

3. The blank of claim 2 in which, said lacing means includes a series of openings at the outer edges of the straps, and a pair of openings is provided in said toe portion spaced forwardly adjacent said sole instep section for looping the center of a shoe lace engaging said strap edge openings, thereby providing means engageable between a wearer''s toes as thong elements and adjustable for drawing said toe portion of the sole upwardly against a wearer''s toes.

4. The blank of claim 3, in which, said blank is formed of an extruded sheet of polyethylene foam material.