Foot cap

Abstract

Thin, lightweight footwear made of a polyethylene material that is composed of a top part and a sole part that are sewn together such that when fitted properly to the wearer's foot the footwear encompasses the foot and extends to the level of the ankle. The top part is porous allowing the ingress and egress of soap and water. The sole has slip resistance properties due to the material from which it is made and the texture of its outer surface. The finished product can be folded and compressed for storage, then later unfolded and worn without the folding adversely affecting its intended function of providing a barrier between the wearer's feet and the tub or shower floor on which the wearer stands while the wearer showers.

1 . A method for protecting a foot of the wearer during showering, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a foot cap including 
 a non-porous bottom component for covering a bottom of the foot from heel to toe;  
 an upper component covering the foot of the wearer and coupled to the non-porous bottom component circumferentially and in the plantar plane, the upper component including a flexible, thin plastic material covering the foot from heel to toe, an opening for receiving the foot of the wearer and a plurality of openings for permitting the ingress and egress of water; and  
 an elastic component coupled to the upper component and extending around a circumference of the opening, the elastic component providing contraction around an ankle of the wearer, wherein the foot cap has a use configuration wherein the foot cap is configured to receive the foot therein and a storage configuration, the storage configuration being smaller than the use configuration;  
   placing the foot cap on the foot by inserting the foot through the opening in the upper, plastic component; and    introducing water and soap through the plurality of openings.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the upper component is coupled to the non-porous bottom component through an elastic component extending completely around the foot cap.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of openings are arranged in a plurality of rows, at least a portion of the plurality of openings being positioned in a toe region of the flexible, thin plastic material.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 removing the foot from the foot cap; and    placing the foot cap in the storage configuration by compressing and folding the foot cap.    
     
     
         5 . A foot cap, comprising: 
 a non-porous bottom component for covering a bottom of the foot from heel to toe;    an upper component covering the foot of the wearer and coupled to the non-porous bottom component circumferentially and in the plantar plane, the upper component including a flexible, thin plastic material covering the foot from heel to toe, an opening for receiving the foot of the wearer and a plurality of openings for permitting the ingress and egress of water; and    an elastic component coupled to the upper component and extending around a circumference of the opening, the elastic component providing contraction around an ankle of the wearer, wherein the foot cap has a use configuration wherein the foot cap is configured to receive the foot therein and a storage configuration, the storage configuration being smaller than the use configuration.    
     
     
         6 . The foot cap of  claim 5 , wherein the upper component is coupled to the non-porous bottom component through an elastic component extending completely around the foot cap.  
     
     
         7 . The foot cap of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of openings are arranged in a plurality of rows.  
     
     
         8 . The foot cap of  claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of openings are positioned in a toe region of the flexible, thin plastic material.  
     
     
         9 . The foot cap of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of rows extend along a first side of the flexible, thin plastic material, across a toe region of the flexible, thin plastic material, and along a second side of the flexible, thin plastic material.  
     
     
         10 . The foot cap of  claim 5 , wherein the flexible, thin plastic material is made of a polyethylene material.