Waterproof polyethylene disposable foot and sock cover

Abstract

An article for keeping a foot (and potentially a sock) dry, when placed within a boot, the article comprising a non-rigid membrane impermeable to water and disposable material, and conformed to the shape of the foot so that there is little or no excess material when the article is placed over the foot (and potentially the sock, and both are) placed within the boot. The article may comprise a toe section, heel section, lower leg section, top opening, and a means for preventing the lower leg section and the top opening from falling down. Notwithstanding its disposability, the material comprising the article may be sufficiently resilient and durable for withstanding the frequent and substantial forces that the boot and foot may be subjected to during a work day at a wet construction site. The article may also allow continued use of a punctured previously-waterproof boot without the foot becoming wet.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An article for keeping a foot and a sock placed over the foot dry, the foot having toes and a heel and above the foot there being a lower leg, when the foot and the sock are placed within a boot, the article comprising:
 a non-rigid, resilient membrane impermeable to water and comprised of disposable material, conformed to the shape of the foot and comprising a toe section, a heel section opposite to the toe section, a lower leg section above the heel section, and a top opening above the lower leg section;   the article configured for placement over the foot and over the sock so that the toe section covers the toes of the foot and the heel section covers the heel of the foot, and the lower leg section covers at least a portion of the lower leg without the presence of excess material not conformed to the shape of the foot;   
       whereby, with the article placed over the foot and sock, and the article foot and sock placed in the boot, water is prevented from passing through the membrane to the foot and sock and also substantially prevented from entering the top opening to the foot and sock, so that the foot and the sock remain dry while in the boot. 
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the disposable material comprises polyethylene. 
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 2 , wherein, the disposable material comprises  100 % polyethylene. 
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 2 , further comprising, near the top opening, a means for preventing the lower leg section and the top opening from falling down when the foot and sock are placed in the article and the article and the foot and sock are placed in the boot. 
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 4 , wherein the means for preventing the lower leg section and the top opening from falling down is expandable and contractable in the horizontal direction so that when the article is placed over the foot and the sock there is a constant contracting force at equilibrium against the lower leg. 
     
     
         6 . The article of  claim 5 , wherein the amount of contracting force is configured to keep the means for preventing the lower leg section and the top opening from falling down tight against the lower leg without resulting in skin irritation. 
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 6 , wherein the means for preventing the lower leg section and the top opening from falling down comprises an elastic band component. 
     
     
         8 . The article of  claim 7 , wherein the lower leg comprises an ankle, and the lower leg section comprises a height so that when the article is placed over the foot and the sock and inside the boot the top opening remains situated above the ankle. 
     
     
         9 . The article of  claim 8 , wherein above the lower leg is a knee, and the lower leg section comprises a height so that when the article is placed over the foot and the sock and inside the boot the top opening remains situated between the knee and the ankle. 
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 3 , wherein the lower leg comprises an ankle and above the lower leg is a knee, and the lower leg section comprises a height so that when the article is placed over the foot and the sock and inside the boot the top opening remains situated above the ankle and below the knee. 
     
     
         11 . The article of  claim 10 , further comprising an inner liner for absorbing moisture and reducing odor. 
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 11 , wherein the disposable material comprises a thicker gauge. 
     
     
         13 . An article for keeping a foot dry after a boot having a membrane that is in its initial state impermeable to water is punctured so that the membrane is no longer impermeable to water, the foot having toes and a heel and above the foot a lower leg, the article comprising:
 a non-rigid, resilient polyethylene membrane impermeable to water and comprised of disposable material, conformed to the shape of the foot and comprising a toe section, a heel section opposite to the toe section, a lower leg section above the heel section, and a top opening above the lower leg section;   the article configured for placement over the foot so that the toe section covers the toes of the foot and the heel section covers the heel of the foot, and the lower leg section covers at least a portion of the lower leg without there being substantial excess material not conformed to the shape of the foot;   near the top opening, a means for preventing the lower leg section and the top opening from falling down when the foot is placed in the article and the article is placed in the boot with the punctured membrane;   
       wherein, the article is configured for placement over the foot and inside the boot so that water having entering through the punctured boot membrane and into the interior of the boot is prevented from passing through the article membrane, and also water is prevented from entering the top opening, so that the foot remains dry while in the boot. 
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 13 , wherein the fit of the article over the foot is tight enough to prevent sliding of the foot in the article with the article and foot placed in the boot. 
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 14 , wherein a dry sock is placed over the foot, and the fit of the article is configured for covering both the foot and the sock. 
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 15  wherein two dry socks are placed over the foot and the fit of the article is further configured for covering the boot and both socks. 
     
     
         17 . The article of  claim 15 , wherein the disposable polyethylene material is substantially durable and comprises a gauge and density for withstanding frequent non-puncturing forces exerted on the foot and boot throughout a period of one to ten hours without the waterproof membrane of the article being compromised. 
     
     
         18 . The article of  claim 17 , wherein the means for preventing the lower leg section and the top opening from falling down is expandable and contractable in the horizontal direction so that when the article is placed over the foot and the sock there is a constant contracting force at equilibrium against the lower leg, where the amount of contracting force is sufficient to keep the lower leg section and the top opening from falling down yet not result in skin abrasion. 
     
     
         19 . The article of  claim 18 , further comprising an inner liner for absorbing moisture. 
     
     
         20 . The article of  claim 19 , wherein, except for inner liner and the means for preventing the lower leg section and the top section from falling down, the disposable material comprises 100% polyethylene.