Protective Footgear Device

Abstract

A protective footgear device for protecting and disguising a medical appliance includes a sleeve, which has a lower leg portion and a shoe portion, and which is shaped substantially complementarily to a covered foot and an associated lower leg of a user, respectively. The covered foot and the associated lower leg are insertable into the sleeve. The sleeve includes elastomer so that the sleeve is substantially impermeable to water. A fur layer is attached to and substantially covers an outer face of the lower leg portion of the sleeve. A slit is positioned in the sleeve and extends through the fur layer. The slit extends from an upper edge of the lower leg portion toward the shoe portion. A closure is attached to the sleeve and extends along the slit so that the closure is positioned to selectively close the slit upon donning of the sleeve.

1 . A protective footgear device comprising:
 a sleeve comprising a shoe portion and a lower leg portion configured to be shaped substantially complementarily to a covered foot and an associated lower leg of a user, respectively, wherein the sleeve is configured for insertion of the covered foot and the associated lower leg, the sleeve comprising elastomer, such that the sleeve is substantially impermeable to water;   a fur layer attached to and substantially covering an outer face of the lower leg portion of the sleeve;   a slit positioned in the sleeve and extending through the fur layer, the slit extending from an upper edge of the lower leg portion toward the shoe portion;   a closure attached to the sleeve and extending along the slit, such that the closure is positioned for selectively closing the slit upon donning of the sleeve;   an elastomeric strap;   a pair of first fasteners attached singly proximate to opposed ends of the elastomeric strap; and   a pair of second fasteners attached to a top surface of the shoe portion proximate to the lower leg portion wherein the fur layer is positionable extending over the pair of second fasteners, the second fasteners being complementary to the first fasteners, the second fasteners being spaced apart, such that the elastomeric strap is tensioned upon engagement of the first fasteners to the second fasteners, wherein the elastomeric strap is configured for snugging the shoe portion to the covered foot.   
     
     
         2 . The protective footgear device of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is configured to be sized such that the sleeve is substantially complementary to an appliance positioned on one or more of the covered foot and the associated lower leg of the user. 
     
     
         3 . The protective footgear device of  claim 1 , wherein the fur layer comprises faux fur. 
     
     
         4 . The protective footgear device of  claim 1 , wherein the slit is positioned in a back or a side of the sleeve. 
     
     
         5 . The protective footgear device of  claim 1 , wherein the closure is positioned such that the closure is substantially covered by the fur layer upon closing of the slit. 
     
     
         6 . The protective footgear device of  claim 5 , wherein the closure comprises a zipper or a hook and loop fastener. 
     
     
         7 . The protective footgear device of  claim 1 , further including:
 a sheath attached to and extending circumferentially around the upper edge of the lower leg portion, the slit extending through the sheath; and   an elastic strap attached to and positioned in the sheath, wherein the elastic strap is configured for tightening the upper edge of the lower leg portion around the associated lower leg of the user.   
     
     
         8 . The protective footgear device of  claim 1 , further including a pair of couplers attached to the sleeve and bracketing the slit proximate to the upper edge, the couplers being selectively mutually couplable. 
     
     
         9 . The protective footgear device of  claim 8 , wherein the pair couplers comprises a snap fastener. 
     
     
         10 . The protective footgear device of  claim 1 , further including a sole attached to a lower face of the shoe portion. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The protective footgear device of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of first fasteners and the pair of second fasteners comprise a pair of snap closures. 
     
     
         13 . A protective footgear device comprising:
 a sleeve comprising a shoe portion and a lower leg portion configured to be shaped substantially complementarily to a covered foot and an associated lower leg of a user, respectively, wherein the sleeve is configured for insertion of the covered foot and the associated lower leg, the sleeve comprising elastomer, such that the sleeve is substantially impermeable to water, wherein the sleeve is configured to be sized such that the sleeve is substantially complementary to an appliance positioned on one or more of the covered foot and the associated lower leg of the user;   a fur layer attached to and substantially covering an outer face of the lower leg portion of the sleeve, the fur layer comprising faux fur;   a slit positioned in the sleeve and extending through the fur layer, the slit extending from an upper edge of the lower leg portion toward the shoe portion, wherein the slit is positioned in a back or a side of the sleeve;   a closure attached to the sleeve and extending along the slit, such that the closure is positioned for selectively closing the slit upon donning of the sleeve, the closure being positioned such that the closure is substantially covered by the fur layer upon closing of the slit, the closure comprising a zipper or a hook and loop fastener;   a sheath attached to and extending circumferentially around the upper edge of the lower leg portion, the slit extending through the sheath;   an elastic strap attached to and positioned in the sheath, wherein the elastic strap is configured for tightening the upper edge of the lower leg portion around the associated lower leg of the user;   a pair of couplers attached to the sleeve and bracketing the slit proximate to the upper edge, the couplers being selectively mutually couplable, the pair of couplers comprising a snap fastener;   a sole attached to a lower face of the shoe portion;   an elastomeric strap;   a pair of first fasteners attached singly proximate to opposed ends of the elastomeric strap; and   a pair of second fasteners attached to a top surface of the shoe portion proximate to the lower leg portion, wherein the fur layer is positionable extending over the pair of second fasteners, the second fasteners being complementary to the first fasteners, the second fasteners being spaced apart, such that the elastomeric strap is tensioned upon engagement of the first fasteners to the second fasteners, wherein the elastomeric strap is configured for snugging the shoe portion to the covered foot, the pair of first fasteners and the pair of second fasteners comprising a pair of snap closures.