Assistive devices for applying and removing protective shoe covers, and related systems and protective covers

Abstract

An assistive device for applying and removing a protective shoe cover from a shoe of a user includes a base, a shoe cover application mechanism supported by the base and configured to releasably receive and retain a protective shoe cover in an expanded state for applying the expanded protective shoe cover to a shoe, and a shoe cover removal mechanism supported by the base and configured to releasably grip a portion of a protective shoe cover fitted on a shoe for removing the protective shoe cover from the shoe. The assistive device may be stored in a device holder mountable to a vertical support surface. A protective shoe cover includes a non-rigid body, an elastic portion, and at least one device engagement element on the non-rigid body and configured to releasably engage an assistive device for at least one of applying the protective shoe cover to a shoe or removing the protective shoe cover from a shoe.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for use with protective shoe covers, the system comprising:
 an assistive device having at least one of:   a shoe cover application mechanism configured to releasably receive and retain a protective shoe cover in an expanded state for applying the expanded protective shoe cover to a shoe, or
 a shoe cover removal mechanism configured to releasably grip a portion of a protective shoe cover fitted on a shoe for removing the protective shoe cover from the shoe; and 
   a device holder configured to releasably receive and retain the assistive device when the assistive device is not in use, the device holder being mountable to a vertical support surface.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a dispenser having a chamber configured to store a supply of protective shoe covers, and a lower opening that provides access to protective shoe covers stored in the chamber.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the dispenser is coupled to the device holder. 
     
     
         4 . A protective shoe cover configured to cover a shoe of a user, comprising:
 a non-rigid body defining an inner pocket configured to receive a shoe;   an elastic portion formed at an upper end of the non-rigid body and defining an opening to the inner pocket, the elastic portion being alterable between an expanded state in which the elastic portion expands to receive the shoe through the opening and into the inner pocket, and a contracted state in which the elastic portion contracts to conform to an outer surface of the shoe located within the inner pocket; and   at least one device engagement element provided on the non-rigid body and configured to releasably engage an assistive device for at least one of applying the protective shoe cover to a shoe or removing the protective shoe cover from a shoe.   
     
     
         5 . The protective shoe cover of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one device engagement element includes a flap configured to releasably receive a retaining element projecting from the assistive device. 
     
     
         6 . The protective shoe cover of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one device engagement element includes first and second side elements provided on opposed side portions of the non-rigid body, the first and second side elements each configured to releasably engage a respective retaining element of the assistive device. 
     
     
         7 . The protective shoe cover of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one device engagement element includes at least one lower element provided on an underside of the non-rigid body, the at least one lower element configured to releasably engage a respective retaining element of the assistive device.