Pedicure Slipper with Toe Separator and Method

Abstract

A pedicure slipper having a toe separator is provided. The pedicure slipper features a thin sole and a fabric toe separator attached to the sole at a single location. The fabric toe separator is wrapped about each toe and about itself between the toes. A tee-shaped toe-retaining member is defined by cuts through the sole and folds to an upright position to be disposed between the big toe and second toe of the wearer. An arcuate cut through the sole defines an ankle-engaging member and folds to an upright position to retain the sole to the ankle of the wearer.

1 . A pedicure slipper apparatus, the pedicure slipper apparatus comprising:
 a. a sole, said sole having a top side and a bottom side, said sole being configured to support a foot of a wearer, said top side of said sole being configured to conform generally to an outline of a bottom of said foot, said sole defining a big toe location, said big toe location being configured to support a big toe of said foot when said foot is supported by said sole;   b. a toe separator, said toe separator being composed of a fabric, said toe separator having a first end and a second end, said toe separator defining an intermediate location, said intermediate location being intermediate between said first end and said second end, said fabric defining a first fabric length between said intermediate location and said first end, said fabric defining a second fabric length between said intermediate location and said second end, said intermediate location being attached to said sole at said big toe location to define a toe separator attachment, said first end and said first fabric length and said second end and said second fabric length not being otherwise attached to said sole.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said toe separator attachment comprises:
 a. a first opening communicating through said sole; 
 b. a second opening communicating through said sole, said first and said second openings being located at said big toe location, said intermediate location on said fabric being disposed between said first opening and said second opening and adjacent said bottom side of said sole, said first fabric length passing from said intermediate location through said first opening from said bottom side of said sole to said top side, said second fabric length passing from said intermediate location through said second opening from said bottom side of said sole to said top side. 
 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said fabric is selected from the list consisting of non-woven and woven synthetic and natural fabrics. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said fabric being selected and configured to be adequately flexible and adequately bulky to separate each said toe of said foot and to prevent contact between each toenail of each said toe with any other of said toes of said foot when said sole supports said foot and said first and said second fabric lengths are wrapped about each of said toes and said first and said second fabric lengths are wrapped about each other between each of said toes. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said fabric is adequately soft so as not to cause discomfort to said wearer when said sole supports said foot and said first and said second fabric lengths are wrapped about each of said toes and said first and said second fabric lengths are wrapped about each other between each of said toes. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said sole has a sole length, a sole width and a sole thickness, said sole thickness being small compared to its length and width, said sole being composed of a material selected from a list consisting of: a synthetic polymer, a rubber, a foam and a cellulosic material. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein said sole has a first sole end corresponding to a heel of said foot when said sole is supporting said foot, said sole has a second sole end corresponding to said toes when said sole is supporting said foot, said big toe location being located at said second sole end, said big toe location being defined by a first and a second cut communicating through said sole and intersecting said second sole end, said first and said second cut defining a Tee-shaped toe-retaining member, said first and said second cut defining a toe-retaining member hinge, said toe-retaining member hinge being located between said big toe and a second toe of said foot when said sole is supporting said foot. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said toe-retaining member hinge is configured to bend from a flat position to an upright position, said toe-retaining member when in said upright position being configured to engage said big toe and said second toe and to retain said sole on said big toe and said second toe when said sole is supporting said foot. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein said first end of said sole defines an arcuate third cut communicating through said sole, said third cut defining an ankle-retaining member, said ankle-retaining member being bendable between a flat position and an upright position, said ankle-retaining member when in said upright position being configured to receive said foot and to retain said sole to the ankle of the wearer. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said toe separator attachment is selected from the list consisting of a staple connection, an adhesively bonded connection, a thermal weld connection, a sewn connection, a mechanical interference connection and a fastener connection. 
     
     
         11 . A method for administering a pedicure, the method comprising:
 a. providing a pedicure slipper, said pedicure slipper comprising a sole having a top side and a bottom side, said sole being configured to support a foot of a wearer, said top side being configured to conform generally to an outline of a bottom of said foot, said sole defining a big toe location, said big toe location being configured to support a big toe of said foot when said foot is supported by said sole, said pedicure slipper having a toe separator, said toe separator being composed of a fabric, said toe separator having a first end and a second end, said toe separator defining an intermediate location, said intermediate location being intermediate between said first end and said second end, said fabric defining a first fabric length between said intermediate location and said first end, said fabric defining a second fabric length between said intermediate location and said second end, said intermediate location being attached to said sole at said big toe location to define a toe separator attachment, said first end and said first fabric length and said second end and said second fabric length not being otherwise attached to said sole;   b. placing said pedicure slipper on a foot of a wearer;   c. applying a nail polish to a toe nail of said foot.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said toe separator attachment further comprises:
 a. a first opening communicating through said sole; 
 b. a second opening communicating through said sole, said first and said second openings being located at said big toe location, said intermediate location on said fabric being disposed between said first opening and said second opening and adjacent said bottom side of said sole, said first length passing from said intermediate location through said first opening from said bottom side of said sole to said top side, said second length passing from said intermediate location through said second opening from said bottom side of said sole to said top side. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said step of placing said slipper on said foot of said wearer further comprises:
 a. placing said bottom of said foot in contact with said top side of said sole; 
 b. wrapping said first fabric length and said second fabric length about each said toe of said foot and wrapping each of said first fabric length and said second fabric length about the other of said first fabric length and said second fabric length between each adjacent two of said toes, said fabric being selected from a list consisting of non-woven and woven synthetic and natural fabrics. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said fabric is selected and configured to be adequately flexible and adequately bulky to separate each said toe of said foot and to prevent contact between each toenail of each said toe with any other of said toes of said foot when said sole supports said foot and said first and said second fabric lengths are wrapped about each of said toes and said first and said second fabric lengths are wrapped about each other between each of said toes. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said sole has a first sole end corresponding to a heel of said foot when said sole is supporting said foot, said sole has a second sole end corresponding to said toes when said sole is supporting said foot, said big toe location being located at said second sole end, said big toe location being defined by a first and a second cut communicating through said sole and intersecting said second sole end, said first and said second cut defining a tee-shaped toe-retaining member, said first and said second cut defining a toe-retaining member hinge, said toe-retaining member hinge being located between said big toe and a second toe of said foot when said sole is supporting said foot, said toe-retaining member hinge being configured to bend from a flat position to an upright position, said toe-retaining member when in said upright position being configured to engage said big toe and said second toe and to retain said sole on said big toe and said second toe when said sole is supporting said foot, said step of placing said slipper on said foot of said wearer further comprising:
 a. bending said toe retaining member to said upright position; and 
 b. engaging said big toe and said second toe by said toe retaining member. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said first end of said sole defines an arcuate third cut communicating through said sole, said third cut defining an ankle-retaining member, said ankle-retaining member being bendable between a flat position and an upright position, said ankle-retaining member when in said upright position being configured to receive said foot and to retain said sole to an ankle of the wearer. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said toe separator attachment is selected from the list consisting of a staple connection, an adhesively bonded connection, a thermal weld connection, a sewn connection, a mechanical interference connection and a fastener connection.