Wearable protective layer to protect sole of foot, socks when worn or sole of a shoe

Abstract

A system and method and apparatus are provided which includes a sole-shaped anti-microbial sheet made up of at least one layer having at least one adhesive backing for attaching to the sole of a toot, socks or booties, or the sole of a shoe, protected with a peel-away protective layer. The sheet may advantageously include at least one tab which is not adhesively backed to facilitate removal of the sheet by gripping using the thumb and a huger and pulling away from the sole of a foot, socks or booties, or the sole of a shoe. A wearer using the sheet to protect a sole front contact with a floor surface is able to prevent dirt, genus, bacteria, etc. from being nicked-up by the sole of a foot, socks, or the sole of a shoe. When the user has completed their trajectory along a potentially unsanitary path, such as through the security hue at an airport, they peel the sheet away, optionally returning to a bag provided with the packaging. The bag may optionally be the same bag, such as a ZIPLOK™ haggle, that the protective sheet of the invention was contained in at the time of purchase.

1 . A Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) device comprising a sheet, optionally formed on a roll so as to be dispensable therefrom, cut or adapted to be cut or torn to a desired length approximately that of a shoe, sock, foot or bootie on which it is to be applied, the device made up of at least one layer having at least one adhesive backing optionally protected with a peel-away protective film and optionally having a pre-cut or pre-perforated slitting line in between a wearer's big toe and pointer toe; the device adapted for attaching to the sole and side periphery of a foot, socks, booties, or a shoe after the optional peel-away protective film is removed, the device being impregnated or treated in substantial part with an anti-microbial agent. 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The PPE device of  claim 1 , wherein the entire thickness of the at least one layer and/or the at least one adhesive backing is impregnated with agents delivering anti-microbial properties. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The PPE device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one layer is coated on both sides with adhesive or tacky backing. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The PPE device of claim  7 , wherein the adhesive backings have different levels of tackiness and may be applied to the at least one layer in the form of a double stick tape. 
     
     
         9 . The PPE device of  claim 6 , wherein one adhesive backing, the backing facing outwardly when the device is properly installed on the shoe, sock, bootie or foot, includes a lower tackiness than the other adhesive backing facing the shoe, sock, bootie or foot, the device thereby being adapted to pick up germs on the floor when the user walks around with the device properly adhered to his shoe, sock, bootie, or foot so as to both protect the user and clean the floor of germs. 
     
     
         10 . The PPE device of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom of the layer is textured via a tacky texture layer for example, of a tread or zig-zag pattern for non-slip, wherein the texture layer is applied to the at least one layer after the at least one layer is manufactured or formed on or in the layer at the same time the layer is manufactured by molding or via a secondary application step. 
     
     
         11 . The PPE device of  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises an extended length in a front area to allow a wearer to pull the device over a front of the toe box of the shoe, sock, bootie, or foot as well as over or against sidewalls thereof such as the “laces area”. 
     
     
         12 . The PPE device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one layer is perforated transverse to its longitudinal length to facilitate tearing transverse to its longitudinal length. 
     
     
         13 . The PPE device of  claim 12 , wherein perforations are perforated at certain lengths to adapt to small, medium and large shoes, socks, booties or feet or at a set length for a one size fits all feature and benefit. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The PPE device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one adhesive backing is comprised of a semi-permanent and waterproof adhesive in order to provide longer service life 
     
     
         16 . The PPE device of  claim 1 , wherein the device advantageously includes at least one tab which is not adhesively backed to facilitate removal of the sheet from the shoe, sock, bootie, or foot of the user by the user gripping using the thumb and a finger and pulling away from the sole of the shoe, sock, bootie, or foot. 
     
     
         17 . A PPE device comprised of a plastic film having anti-microbial agents built into the film and/or built in to at least one adhesive backing applied thereon, wherein the device's protective film has a pre-cut formed by a die so as to enable the installation of the device first at the center of the shoe, sock, bootie, or foot and then toward a toe region and heel. 
     
     
         18 . The PPE device of  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises at least one tab, preferably at the outer lateral edges of the device, and an adhesive backing applied thereon, which, when applied to the peripheral area around the shoe, sock, bootie or foot, helps prevent particles, such as dirt, germs and bacteria, some of which may fall from above, from being picked-up by the shoe, sock, bootie or foot. 
     
     
         19 . The PPE device of  claim 18 , wherein the pre-cut is marked by printing on the at least one layer or the adhesive backing or the peel-away protective film to facilitate the user's understanding on how the product is installed finding tabs or areas which a user can access to more easily remove an at least one protective layer. 
     
     
         20 . The PPE device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one layer is perforated in order to provide breathability and airflow through the device. 
     
     
         21 . The PPE device of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one adhesive backing covers only a portion of the at least one layer so as to facilitate removal. 
     
     
         22 . The PPE device of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one tab is formed to have a structure on one or on both sides to facilitate grip and removal. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The PPE device of claim  25 , wherein the device has a non-slip film and/or an elastic band integrated therein, the elastic band being affixed to the device such that a portion of the device elastically encloses the wearer's foot, sock or shoe around the ankle of a wearer when the device is installed. 
     
     
         27 . The PPE device of  claim 1 , wherein an adhesive with a higher adhesiveness is applied to bands near the edges of the at least one layer, wherein further an adhesive with a lower adhesiveness is applied to a central area of the at least one layer, to facilitate removal of the device after use. 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A method for installation of the device of  claim 1  for installing the device around a portion of a naked foot or a foot wearing a sock, the method including the following steps:
 a) peeling the center of the protective film off of the adhesive backing; 
 b) placing the user's foot in the center of the now exposed adhesive backing of the at least one layer, whereby the removable protective film remains on the edges of the at least one layer and acts as borders that keep the at least one layer straight and prevents it from folding against itself and sticking to itself; 
 c) removing the protective film by peeling the film off; 
 d) sticking the so laid open areas of the adhesive backing to the sides of a foot and top of toes and up the heal of the foot; 
 
       wherein, now, if the wearer prefers, he or she may place his foot into a shoe. 
     
     
         34 . (canceled)