Bootie dispenser

Abstract

The invention is a shoe cover dispenser (10) comprising a container (1) having two opposite control sides (11, 12) and an opening for inserting a foot, and a plurality of shoe covers (2, 3) contained in said container (1), each shoe cover (2, 3) comprising in turn a cover having an opening (21, 31) for inserting a foot, each shoe cover (2, 3) comprising an elastic strip (A, B) defined along an edge (22, 32) of said opening (21, 31) of said cover, and wherein the ends (A1, A2, B1, B2) of said strip (A, B) are defined to said opposite sides (11, 12) respectively, so that said strip is forced to be fixed between said sides (11, 12) while assuming a U shape.

Description

[0001] The present patent relates to shoe cover dispensers, and more specifically, it relates to a new shoe cover dispenser whose use is improved and facilitated.

[0002] Disposable shoe covers are known, made of plastic film, shaped so as to form a covering or bag with an opening for the insertion of the foot wearing the shoe.

[0003] The edge of the shoe cover opening has elastic strips for fixing the shoe cover so as to correctly position it on the foot and wrap the sole and part of the article of footwear.

[0004] Shoe covers are generally used in places and environments where specific hygiene and health conditions are required, to prevent the direct contact of the soles of shoes known to be dirty with the floor.

[0005] For example, in hospitals, clinics, medical facilities, changing rooms of gyms and sports centers, as well as in the pharmaceutical, agricultural and food industries, the use of shoe covers is very common.

[0006] Said shoe covers are usually distributed near the entrance to these places, for example, they are contained in containers from which the user must manually extract the shoe cover and put it on his / her shoe.

[0007] This operation, although it seems simple and quick, can present some difficulties if the user must perform it without sitting, or if the user has difficulty moving, or because he / she is carrying a bag, a coat or other personal items that limit his / her movements.

[0008] Automatic shoe cover dispensers are also known.

[0009] For example, very complex devices are known, powered by electricity and equipped with devices suitable for automatically applying and adjusting the film around the user's shoe. These devices are very expensive and bulky, they cannot be moved, they are easily damaged and they require regular maintenance, more specifically, they require regular loading of the film for covering the shoe.

[0010] Automatic dispensers are also known that do not require any power supply, which comprise a container filled with a plurality of shoe covers packaged, which are confined inside the container by elastic means, so that the user can insert his / her foot inside the container and automatically put on the shoe cover.

[0011] These containers need to be filled when the shoe covers are used up, and the filling operation is generally quite complex, as it is necessary to correctly arrange the shoe cover packages and strictly follow the assembly instructions to position the elastic means in a specific and convenient way, otherwise the mechanical structure does not work properly and the shoe cover can be jammed.

[0012] To overcome all the above-mentioned drawbacks, a new shoe cover dispenser has been designed and created, whose use is improved and facilitated.

[0013] The main purpose of the present invention is to provide a shoe cover dispenser which is easy to use, without the need for complex and demanding operations to fill the dispenser and place the shoe cover therein.

[0014] Another important purpose of the present invention is to provide a shoe cover dispenser which is extremely limited in costs.

[0015] Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a shoe cover dispenser which is not bulky, light in weight, easy to transport, suitable for being placed anywhere.

[0016] These and other direct and supplementary purposes are achieved by the new shoe cover dispenser whose use is improved and facilitated, the main components of which comprise the following:

[0017] a container having at least two sides facing each other and at least one opening for inserting a foot wearing an article of footwear;

[0018] a plurality of shoe covers contained in the container;

[0019] and wherein each shoe cover comprises a bag-shaped covering having an opening for inserting a foot wearing an article of footwear, and wherein along or close to the portion of the edge of the opening there is an elastic strip having a size exceeding the distance between the two opposite sides of the container, and wherein the two ends of the strip are respectively defined to the two opposite sides of the container so that the strip is forced to be fixed between the two sides while assuming a U shape.

[0020] The strip is elastic, can be deformed and assumes one of the following configurations:

[0021] a first closed configuration in which it is arranged in a U shape with the concave portion facing in one direction, more specifically towards the opening of the covering, so as to remain closed when the shoe cover is packed,

[0022] and a second open extraction configuration in which it is arranged in a U shape with the concave portion facing in the opposite direction, so that the opening of the shoe cover is open, allowing the foot to be introduced therein.

[0023] The change between the first closed configuration and the second extraction configuration is therefore to deploy the shoe cover and open the foot insertion opening.

[0024] To facilitate the change between the closed configuration and the extraction configuration, the strip comprises two folding lines close to the two ends.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, the folding line is inclined with respect to the development direction of the strip, wherein the angle of inclination is greater than 0° and less than 90°, and wherein the strip is defined to the container in such a way that, in the closed configuration, it is substantially horizontal, meaning parallel to the bottom of the container, while in the extraction configuration it is inclined upwards.

[0026] This inclined position facilitates the operations of insertion of the foot and extraction of the shoe cover, since the heel or the rear part of the foot acts on the strip.

[0027] When the user moves his / her foot backwards to extract the first shoe cover, the latter is unfolded and therefore also extended to the foot insertion opening, after which a further force is exerted to cause the two ends of the strip to become detached from the container, thus releasing the shoe cover.

[0028] Therefore, the means for defining the two ends of the strip to the container are such that the force required to deform the strip is less than the force required to detach the two ends.

[0029] To this end, for example, an adhesive material can be conveniently used.

[0030] According to the present application, further, each shoe cover is defined to the continuous shoe cover, more specifically to the strip of the continuous shoe cover, at least at one point, in such a way that, when the first shoe cover is completely unfolded and extracted at the same time, the strip of the continuous shoe cover is caused to be pulled and the latter is unfolded and then opened.

[0031] In further detail, a portion of the covering of each shoe cover is removably defined to the strip of the continuous shoe cover, the portion preferably being located opposite the strip of the same shoe cover.

[0032] When the user moves his / her foot introduced in the shoe cover backwards, the shoe cover is caused to be completely unfolded, while exerting a traction force on the strip of the continuous shoe cover, causing the structure thereof to change from the closed configuration to the extraction configuration; at this point, the first shoe cover falls off the strip.

[0033] Therefore, the means of definition between the two continuous shoe covers are such that the force exerted to deform the strip is less than the force required to detach the shoe cover from the strip of the continuous shoe cover.

[0034] To this end, for example, an adhesive material can be conveniently used.

[0035] Along all or part of the edge of the opening of each shoe cover, there is an elastic element, for example a thread or a band, the purpose of which is to guarantee that the shoe cover remains correctly fitted around the foot of the user.

[0036] The features of the new shoe cover dispenser are emphasized in greater detail in the following description, with reference to the attached drawings, which are by way of non-limiting example.

[0037] Figure 1 A schematic view of the container (1) is shown, in which both the strips (A, B) are close to each other, both in the closed configuration (C) and both with their respective ends limited to two opposite sides (11, 12) of the container (1).

[0038] In a very simple and economical embodiment, the container (1) is substantially parallelepiped in shape, for example it is a carton, having two opposite and parallel containment sides (11, 12) and a bottom (13). According to the present application, one of the head side and the top side, not shown in the figure, can be absent, or preferably removable, or shaped in any way to form an opening (14) for the insertion of the foot.

[0039] Figure 2 A schematic view of the container of figure (1) is shown, in which the first strip (A) has been arranged in the open or extracted configuration (E) by applying to it the force (F) indicated by the arrow.

[0040] Figure 3 It is schematically shown how, by applying a further force (Fl) in the direction indicated by the arrow, it is possible to remove the ends (Al, A2) of the first strip (A) from the container (1).

[0041] Figure 4 It is schematically shown how, by applying a further force (F2) in the direction indicated by the arrow, it is possible to completely deploy the first shoe cover (2) and also to stretch completely the elastic band provided along the edge (22) of the opening (21), thus extracting the first shoe cover (2).

[0042] In addition, the first shoe cover (2) is limited to the strip (B) of the consecutive shoe cover (3), so that the user, while deploying the first shoe cover (2), also exerts a traction force on the second strip (B) of the consecutive shoe cover (3), thus also arranging the second strip (B) in the open or extracted configuration (E).

[0043] Therefore, the force required to stretch completely the elastic band of the first shoe cover (2) and to deform the strip (B) of the consecutive shoe cover (3) is less than the force required to remove the first shoe cover (2) from the strip (B) of the consecutive shoe cover (3).

[0044] In order to make the graphics clear, Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 the shoe covers (2, 3) are not shown limited to the respective strips (A, B), but they are represented only in Figure 4 .

[0045] The shoe cover (2, 3) is a covering in the form of a bag, having an opening (21, 31) for inserting a foot. The strip (A, B) is arranged along or in the vicinity of the edge (22, 32) of the opening (21, 31), preferably outside the covering.

[0046] More specifically, the strip (A, B) is arranged on the rear part of the shoe cover, i.e. at the level of the rear part of the foot, above the heel, on the part to be worn. Figure 5 A top view of the container (1) is shown, with two closed shoe covers (2, 3), each having its strip (A, B) in the closed configuration (C). Figure 1 A top view of the container (1) is shown, with two closed shoe covers (2, 3), each having its strip (A, B) in the closed configuration (C).

[0047] The strip (A, B) has ends (A1, A2, B1, B2) defined to opposite sides (11, 12) of the container (1).

[0048] In Figure 6 the first shoe cover (2) is opened by exerting a traction force (F) on the first strip (A) to bring it to the extracted configuration (E), unfolding the first shoe cover (2) and opening the foot insertion opening (21).

[0049] The first shoe cover (2) has at least one portion (23) of the second strip (B) of the second shoe cover (3) defined thereto in a removable manner.

[0050] The last shoe cover (3) housed in the container (1) has at least one portion (33) defined to the head side (15) of the container (1) in a removable manner.

[0051] Figure 7 and Figure 8 It is schematically shown how the exertion of a further force (Fl) on the first shoe cover (2) in the direction indicated by the arrow causes the strip (A) to separate from the container (1).

[0052] In addition, the first shoe cover (2) pulls the strip (B) of the second shoe cover (3) to move it from the closed configuration (C) to the extracted configuration (E).

[0053] The exertion of a further force separates the first shoe cover (2) from the second shoe cover (2, 3) around the foot of the user, the second shoe cover (2, 3) remaining in the container (1) ready for use, i.e. having the insertion opening (31) open.

[0054] The ends (A1, A2, B1, B2) of the strip (A, B) are provided with folding lines (A3, B3) intended to facilitate / guide the change from the first closed configuration (C) to the second open / extracted configuration (E).

[0055] The folding lines (A3, B3) are inclined with respect to the direction of extension of the strips (A, B) by an angle greater than 0° and less than 90°, preferably comprised between 45° and 60°.

[0056] More specifically, the folding lines (A3, B3) are inclined in such a way as to bend the strips (A, B) upwards.

[0057] The strips (A, B) are defined in such a way into the container (1) that, in the closed position (C), they are substantially horizontal, i.e. parallel to the bottom (13) of the container (1), while in the open / extracted configuration (E), the strips (A, B) folded along the folding lines (A3, B3) are inclined by an angle equal to twice the angle defined by the folding lines.

[0058] For example, if the folding lines (A3, B3) are inclined by 45°, in the extracted configuration (E) the strips (A, B) are orthogonal to the preceding closed configuration (C) and are directed upwards.

[0059] According to another example, if the folding lines (A3, B3) are inclined by 60°, in the extracted configuration (E) the strips are inclined by an angle of 120° with respect to the preceding closed configuration (C) and are directed upwards.

[0060] These are schematic representations sufficient for the expert in the field to implement the present application; therefore, in practical application variants can be developed which do not affect the substance of the innovative concept described herein.

[0061] Therefore, with reference to the above description and to the enclosed drawings, the following claims are proposed.

Claims

1. Shoe cover dispenser, including A container (1) having two opposing control sides (11, 12) and an opening designed for inserting a foot, and a plurality of shoe covers (2, 3) contained within the container (1), each shoe cover (2, 3) sequentially comprising a cover having an opening (21, 31) for inserting a foot, characterized in that, Each of the shoe covers (2, 3) includes at least one elastic strip (A, B) defined along or near a portion of the edge (22, 32) of the opening (21, 31) of the cover, wherein the length of the strip (A, B) exceeds the distance between the two opposing control sides (11, 12) of the container (1), and wherein the ends (A1, A2, B1, B2) of the strip (A, B) are defined to the opposing control sides (11, 12) in a U-shape, such that the strip is forcibly fixed between the opposing control sides (11, 12).

2. The shoe cover dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that, The strips (A, B) are elastic, allowing them to take on at least two structures: a first closed structure (C) and a second open or retractable structure (E). In the first closed structure (C), the strips (A, B) are arranged to form a U-shape, with the concave portion of the U-shape facing a first direction. In the second open or retractable structure (E), the strips (A, B) are arranged to form a U-shape, with the concave portion of the U-shape facing in the opposite direction to the first closed structure (C).

3. The shoe cover dispenser according to claim 2, characterized in that, The ends (A1, A2, B1, B2) of the strip (A, B) have fold lines (A3, B3) designed to facilitate / guide the change from the first closed structure (C) to the second open / extractable structure (E).

4. The shoe cover dispenser according to claim 3, characterized in that, The fold lines (A3, B3) are inclined at an angle greater than 0° and less than 90° relative to the extension direction of the strips (A, B).

5. The shoe cover dispenser according to claim 4, characterized in that, The fold lines (A3, B3) are inclined relative to the extension direction of the strips (A, B) at an angle between 45° and 60°.

6. The shoe cover dispenser according to any one of claims 2-5, characterized in that, The shoe cover dispenser includes a bag of shoe covers (2, 3), wherein each shoe cover (2), except for the last shoe cover in the bag of shoe covers (2, 3), includes a portion positioned opposite the strip (A) of the same shoe cover (2), the portion being removably defined to the strip (B) of the consecutive shoe covers (3).

7. The shoe cover dispenser according to claim 6, characterized in that, The shoe cover dispenser includes a limiting device suitable for defining two consecutive shoe covers (2, 3), and wherein the limiting device is configured such that the force applied to change the structure of the strips (A, B) from the first closed structure (C) to the second open or withdrawable structure (E) is less than the force required to separate the shoe cover (2) from the strips (B) of the consecutive shoe covers (3).

8. The shoe cover dispenser according to claim 7, characterized in that, The ends (A1, A2, B1, B2) of the strip (A, B) are defined to the opposite control side (11, 12) of the container (1) by a removable defining device, the defining device being configured such that the force required to change the structure of the strip (A, B) from the first closed structure (C) to the second open or withdrawable structure (E) is less than the force required to separate the ends (A1, A2, B1, B2).

9. The shoe cover dispenser according to claim 7, characterized in that, Each shoe cover (2, 3) includes an elastic band arranged along the edges (22, 32) of the opening (21, 31), wherein the elastic band is configured such that the force required to fully unfold the elastic band is less than the force required to separate the shoe cover (2) from the strip (B) of the continuous shoe cover (3).

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