Shoe and hat liners

Abstract

A shoe liner includes a body with an upper surface and a lower surface spaced apart by a plurality of edges. The plurality of edges include a front edge, a rear edge, and a pair of side edges extending therebetween. The front edge is disposed at an acute angle relative to a transverse axis of the shoe liner. A hat liner includes a body with an upper surface and a lower surface spaced apart by a plurality of edges. The plurality of edges include a top edge, a bottom edge, and a pair of side edges extending therebetween. The top and bottom edges include several cut outs and protrusions to provide flexibility and curvature.

Description

TITLESHOE AND HAT LINERSCROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 542,603, filed on October 5, 2023, entitled “SHOE LINER,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present invention generally relates to a liners for shoes and hats, and more specifically, a disposable shoe or hat liner that wicks away moisture and absorbs odor and moisture without being seen when worn with a variety of shoes or hats.BACKGROUND

[0003] Many fashion enthusiasts desire shoe styles (e.g., open-toe sandals, peep-toe shoes, boots, or heels, open-side shoes, and the like) that expose the toes or other extremities of a foot in a sleek manner. However, wearing such shoes for extended periods may cause perspiration and / or odor to emanate between the insole of the shoe and a plantar region of the foot, which is undesirable. Some users place a liner on the insole of the shoe in an attempt to circumvent such issues. Such liners, however, are often incompatible with a variety of shoe styles and sizes and / or may be seen when worn by the user, detracting from the aesthetic quality of the shoe.

[0004] For example, shoes like sandals or flip-flops are not compatible with liners because the shoes lack enough coverage and / or structure to hold the liners in place and because the straps by the toe box prevent placement of the liner in the shoe. Other open shoes that provide visibility to the toes or sides of the feet can also provide undesired visibility to liners,particularly, ill-fitting, oversized, or inadequately adhered liners. Such liners may also bunch during wear. Closed-toed heels, or other women’s and men’s dress shoes, may encounter the same perspiration and / or odor issues and may also have distinct silhouettes that prevent use of liners due to the size and shape of the toe box, arch, heel, and the like. Many liners require the user to cut the liners to size or, in some cases, wash the liners after each use, which is inconvenient for the user. Moreover, in shoes with little to no breathability, like leather dress shoes or boots, a user’s foot may be more susceptible to sweating and odor.

[0005] Liners can also take up significant space inside shoes, especially in footwear designed with a snug fit, such as dress shoes, athletic shoes, or boots and the reduced space can make shoes feel tight, uncomfortable, or even cause foot pain and blistering. Some shoes, especially those designed to be breathable (e.g., mesh athletic shoes), may experience reduced air circulation with the addition of liners. The liners can block airflow and fail to provide wi eking or anti-perspiration properties, defeating the purpose of a breathable shoe and exacerbating perspiration problems. Not only may sweat cause odor and discomfort to the user during wear of the shoe (e.g., dampness, slipping, abrasion, etc.), but sweat can also seep into shoes and cause damage to the materials over time.

[0006] Hats or caps may experience similar limitations of perspiration and odor. Hats, for example, come into contact with skin prone to sweating (e.g., the head, scalp, and forehead), and can be worn for extended periods or during activities that cause sweating. Over time, sweat can soak into the fabric of the hat, especially around the brim or inner band, leading to noticeable wet spots and discomfort. Some hat materials, such as cotton or wool, are highly absorbent and tend to hold onto sweat, while others like synthetic fabrics may repel moisture, causing sweat to accumulate underneath the hat without absorbing it. Generally, hats can have poor ventilation and can trap heat around the scalp, increasing perspiration. Due to their form and materials, hats may be washed less often than other clothes and may be hand wash only,which may not be convenient or adequate for salt and sweat stains.

[0007] Thus, there is a need for a shoe liner that is not seen when worn, is easier to use, and is versatile for a wide variety of shoes. Thus, there is a need for a hat liner that is not seen when worn, is easier to use, and is versatile for a wide variety of hats.SUMMARY

[0008] The following presents a simplified summary of the disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of some example aspects described in the detailed description. This summary is not an extensive overview. Moreover, this summary is not intended to identify critical elements of the disclosure nor delineate the scope of the disclosure. Furthermore, this summary may provide a simplified overview of some aspects that may be described in greater detail in other portions of this disclosure. Any of the described aspects may be isolated or combined with other described aspects without limitation to the same effect as if they had been described separately and in every possible combination explicitly.

[0009] The present disclosure generally relates to a shoe liner that is disposable and adapted to wick away moisture, absorb odor and moisture, protect an insole of a shoe, and be adaptable to be worn with a variety of shoe sizes and styles, including, but not limited to, open-toe shoes, peep-toe shoes, sandals, open-side shoes, and the like. The present disclosure further relates to a hat liner that is disposable and adapted to wick away moisture, absorb odor and moisture, protect an inside of a hat, and be adaptable to be worn with a variety of hat sizes and styles.

[0010] In accordance with one aspect, there is provided a shoe liner configured to fit on an insole of a shoe. The shoe liner comprises a body with an upper surface and a lower surface spaced apart by a plurality of edges. The plurality of edges comprise a front edge, a rear edge, and a pair of side edges. The front edge is disposed at an acute angle relative to a transverse axis of the shoe liner such that the shoe liner is concealed when worn by the user. The bodycomprises a plurality of layers extending between the upper surface and the lower surface. The layers comprise a protective layer adapted to protect and rest on the insole of the shoe, an absorption layer disposed on the protective layer and adapted to absorb moisture and / or odor emanating from a foot, and a wicking layer disposed on the protective layer and adapted to wick away moisture emanating from the foot.

[0011] Disclosed is a shoe liner adapted to be fitted on an insole of a shoe. In an embodiment, the shoe liner comprises a body comprising an upper surface and a lower surface spaced apart by a plurality of edges. In an embodiment, said plurality of edges comprising a front edge, a rear edge, and a pair of side edges. In an embodiment, the front edge is disposed at an acute angle relative to a transverse axis of the body such that the body will be concealed when being worn by a user. The shoe liner may be used with any shoe including, but not limited to, heels, sandals, athletic or sports shoes, sneakers, utility shoes, loafers, flats, boots, and the like.

[0012] In an embodiment, the front edge is configured to sit behind toes of a user’s foot. In an embodiment, the front edge is configured to sit at a ball of a user’s foot. In an embodiment, the front edge is tapered toward an outer side edge of the shoe liner. In an embodiment, the front edge slopes upward toward an inner side edge of the shoe liner. The shoe liner may be used with children’s, women’s, men’s shoes, and the like.

[0013] In an embodiment, the body comprises a plurality of layers extending between the upper surface and the lower surface. In an embodiment, said plurality of layers comprises a protective layer adapted to protect and rest on the insole of the shoe, an absorption layer disposed on said protective layer and adapted to absorb moisture and / or odor emanating from a foot, and a wicking layer disposed on said protective layer and adapted to wick away moisture emanating from the foot. In an embodiment, the protective layer, the absorption layer, and the wicking layer are connected at an attachment location via an ultrasonic bonding process.

[0014] In an embodiment, an exposed surface of the protective layer includes an adhesive configured to reversibly attach the shoe liner to the insole of the shoe. In an embodiment, the shoe liner further includes a release liner covering adhesive. In an embodiment, the shoe liner is disposable. In an embodiment, the shoe liner is washable and reusable.

[0015] Disclosed is a shoe liner adapted to be fitted on an insole of a shoe. In an embodiment, the shoe liner comprises a body including an upper surface and a lower surface spaced apart by a plurality of edges. In an embodiment, said plurality of edges including a front edge, a rear edge, and a pair of side edges. In an embodiment, the front edge is curved outwardly. The shoe liner may be used with any shoe including, but not limited to, heels, sandals, athletic or sports shoes, sneakers, utility shoes, loafers, flats, boots, and the like.

[0016] In an embodiment, the front edge is configured to sit behind toes of a user’s foot and contact a ball of the user’s foot. In an embodiment, the pair of side edges widen toward the front edge. In an embodiment, the front edge is configured to sit under toes of a user’s foot and contact toes of the user’s foot. In an embodiment, the pair of side edges narrow toward the front edge. The shoe liner may be used with children’s, women’s, men’s shoes, and the like.

[0017] In an embodiment, the body comprises a plurality of layers extending between the upper surface and the lower surface. In an embodiment, said plurality of layers comprises a protective layer adapted to protect and rest on the insole of the shoe, an absorption layer disposed on said protective layer and adapted to absorb moisture and / or odor emanating from a foot, and a wicking layer disposed on said protective layer and adapted to wick away moisture emanating from the foot. In an embodiment, the protective layer, the absorption layer, and the wicking layer are connected at an attachment location via an ultrasonic bonding process.

[0018] In an embodiment, an exposed surface of the protective layer includes an adhesive configured to reversibly attach the shoe liner to the insole of the shoe. In an embodiment, theshoe liner further includes a release liner covering adhesive. In an embodiment, the shoe liner is disposable. In an embodiment, the shoe liner is washable and reusable.

[0019] The following description and the drawings disclose various illustrative aspects. Some improvements and novel aspects may be expressly identified, while others may be apparent from the description and drawings.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The present teachings may be better understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the following illustrations, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, wherein:

[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a shoe liner in accordance with various disclosed aspects herein.

[0022] FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of an embodiment of a shoe liner in accordance with various disclosed aspects herein.

[0023] FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of an embodiment of a shoe liner in accordance with various disclosed aspects herein.

[0024] FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of an embodiment of a shoe liner shown in relation to the toes of a human foot in accordance with various disclosed aspects herein.

[0025] FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of an embodiment of a shoe liner shown in relation to the toes of a human foot in accordance with various disclosed aspects herein.

[0026] FIG. 6 illustrates a sectional view of the shoe liner of FIG. 1 taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1 in accordance with various disclosed aspects herein.

[0027] FIG. 7 illustrates a top view of an embodiment of a shoe liner in accordance with various disclosed aspects herein.

[0028] FIG. 8 illustrates top and bottom views of an embodiment of a shoe liner in accordance with various disclosed aspects herein.

[0029] FIG. 9 illustrates a top view of an embodiment of a shoe liner in accordance with various disclosed aspects herein.

[0030] FIG. 10 illustrates a sectional view of an embodiment example shoe liner in accordance with various disclosed aspects herein.

[0031] FIG. 11 illustrates a sectional view of an embodiment example shoe liner in accordance with various disclosed aspects herein.

[0032] FIG. 12 illustrates an example shoe liner size chart in accordance with various disclosed aspects herein.

[0033] FIG. 13 illustrates a top view of an embodiment of a hat liner in accordance with various disclosed aspects herein.

[0034] FIG. 14 illustrates a top view of an embodiment of a hat liner in accordance with various disclosed aspects herein.

[0035] FIG. 15 illustrates a top view of an embodiment of a hat liner in accordance with various disclosed aspects herein.

[0036] The invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The scope of the invention is defined in the appended claims, rather than in the specific description preceding them. All embodiments that fall within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced by the claims.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the present teachings, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein likenumbered aspects refer to a common feature throughout. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional changes may be made without departing from the respective scope of the present teachings. Moreover, features of the various embodiments may be combined or altered without departing from the scope of the present teachings. As such, the following description is presented by way of illustration only and should not limit in any way the various alternatives and modifications that may be made to the illustrated embodiments and still be within the spirit and scope of the present teachings.

[0038] In this disclosure, numerous specific details provide a thorough understanding of the subject disclosure. It should be understood that aspects of this disclosure may be practiced with other embodiments not necessarily including all aspects described herein, etc.

[0039] As used herein, the words “example” and “exemplary” mean an instance, or illustration. The words “example” or “exemplary” do not indicate a key or preferred aspect or embodiment. The word “or” is intended to be inclusive rather an exclusive, unless context suggests otherwise. As an example, the phrase “A employs B or C,” includes any inclusive permutation (e.g., A employs B; A employs C; or A employs both B and C). As another matter, the articles “a” and “an” are generally intended to mean “one or more” unless context suggests otherwise.

[0040] Further, unless context suggest otherwise, descriptions of shapes (e.g., circular, rectangular, triangular, etc.) refer to shapes meeting the definition of such shapes and general representation of such shapes. For instance, a triangular shape or generally triangular shape may include a shape that has three sides and three vertices or a shape that generally represents a triangle, such as a shape having three major sides that may or may not have straight edges, triangular like shapes with rounded vertices, etc.

[0041] Further, as herein disclosed, the terms “substantially,” “about,” and variations thereof are intended to note that the described features are equal or approximately equal to a value or characteristic, as desired, reflecting tolerances, conversion factors, rounding off, measurementerror and the like, and other factors. For example, the term “substantially” is intended to denote values or characteristics that are exact or within 15% of exact, for example within 10% of exact, or within 5% of exact. As another example, the term “about” can denote values within .5 of a degree to 1 degree of exact.

[0042] The present disclosure generally relates to a shoe liner that is disposable and adapted to wick away moisture, absorb odor and moisture, protect an insole of a shoe, and be adaptable to be worn with a variety of shoe sizes and styles. The shoe liner may be used with any shoe including, but not limited to, open-toe shoes, peep-toe shoes, sandals, open-side shoes, and the like. The shoe liner may be used with any shoe including, but not limited to, heels, athletic or sports shoes, sneakers, utility shoes, loafers, flats, boots, and the like. The shoe liner may be used with children’s, women’s, men’s shoes, and the like. The shoe liner may include narrow or wide versions. The present disclosure further relates to a hat liner that is disposable and adapted to wick away moisture, absorb odor and moisture, protect an inside of a hat, and be adaptable to be worn with a variety of hat sizes and styles.

[0043] Turning now to FIGs. 1-3 a shoe liner 10 comprises a planar body 12 with an upper surface 12a and a lower surface 12b. A plurality of peripheral edges 18a-c extend between the upper surface 12a and the lower surface 12b. In particular, the plurality of edges 18a- 18c comprise a front edge 18a, a rear edge 18b, and a pair of side edges 18c extending between the upper and lower surfaces 12a and 12b, respectively. In some embodiments, it is contemplated that the plurality of edges 18a-18c may be formed with die-cut tooling, for example, the diecut tooling of an ultra-sonic frequency machine. In some embodiments, it is contemplated that an ultrasonic cutting machine may be used to form the plurality of edges 18a- 18c, wherein an ultrasonic transducer vibrates cutting blades or die-cut tooling at ultrasonic frequencies (20-40 kHz) to seamlessly form the edges 18a-18c without causing the edges 18a-18c to fray.

[0044] In the embodiment shown, the front edge 18a is disposed at an acute angle a relativeto a dotted horizontal line L that extends in a direction substantially parallel with a transverse axis x of the shoe liner 10. Preferably, the front edge 18a is oriented such that it is disposed at or behind the base of the toes (FIG. 4) and underneath a plantar surface region of the human foot. For this purpose, the angle a between the front edge 18a and the dotted line L may be between about 1 and 20°, preferably between about 2 and 15°, and more preferably about 4°. This particular aspect of the present disclosure is particularly beneficial to conceal the shoe liner 10 underneath the foot such that it is not seen. For example, when the shoe liner 10 is worn with open-toe shoes, peep-toe shoes, sandals, and other examples of open-toe shoe designs the shoe liner 10 is not visible.

[0045] Because the length of human feet varies, the shoe liner 10 may be made available in a variety of different sizes, for example, as illustrated in the following table and with reference to FIG. 12, wherein a length (L) of the shoe liner 10 is measured from opposing longitudinal ends of the shoe liner 10 as depicted in the embodiment shown.

[0046]

[0047] In this manner, selecting and matching the appropriate size (i.e., length) of the shoe liner 10 based on the size of a shoe worn by the user will ensure that the shoe liner 10 maximizesprotection of the insole (by being disposed beneath a predominant portion of the plantar surface region of the foot), while still being concealed. In this manner, the shoe liner 10 of the present disclosure provides utility for a wide variety of shoe sizes and shoe styles, for example, opentoe or peep-toe shoe styles where it is desirable to expose the toes, without detracting from the polished and sleek appearance of the shoe, for example, if the shoe liner 10 were visible beneath the toes and the shoe insole. In some embodiments, it is contemplated that the manufacturer of the shoe liner 10 may have a recommendation chart enabling the user to select the appropriate shoe liner 10 size based on the size of the shoe being worn.

[0048] The shoe liner may be used with any shoe including, but not limited to, open-toe shoes, peep-toe shoes, sandals, open-side shoes, and the like. The shoe liner may be used with any shoe including, but not limited to, heels, athletic or sports shoes, sneakers, utility shoes, loafers, flats, boots, and the like. The shoe liner may be used with children’s, women’s, men’s shoes, and the like. As described herein, embodiments where the shoe liner sits or terminates behind a user’s toes may be used with shoes where the user’s toes are visible (e.g., sandals, peep-toe shoes, etc.). As described herein, embodiments where the shoe liner extends up to or terminates at a tip of a user’s toe, extending a general length of the user’s foot, for example, may be used with shoes where the user’ s toes are not visible (e.g., athletic shoes, dress shoes, sneakers, etc.). It is noted that both embodiments may also be used with any type of shoe as may be desired or suitable for a particular purpose.

[0049] In some embodiments, the front edge 18a of the shoe liner 10 may be shaped and oriented in a different manner, for example, to accommodate user’s foot with a Morton’s toe (e.g., wherein the second toe is longer than the first toe). For example, referring to FIG. 5, an example shoe liner 100 may comprise a rounded or convex edge 118a.

[0050] Referring to FIG. 6, the shoe liner 10 may comprise a plurality of stacked, interconnected layers suitable for disposal after each use. In particular, the shoe liner 10 maycomprise some or all of a lower layer 20, a middle layer 22, an upper layer 24, and an adhesive layer 26. In some embodiments, a release sheet 28 may be disposed about the adhesive layer 26 and be removable by the user when it is desired to expose the adhesive layer 26, e.g., when mounting the shoe liner 10 onto an insole of a shoe.

[0051] The function of each layer will now be described referring to FIG. 6. The bottom layer 20 layer is a protective layer that protects the insole of the shoe from wear (e.g., due to friction between the foot and the insole) while inhibiting residual moisture (e.g., from perspiration) from penetrating the insole. In an embodiment, the bottom layer 20 comprises an elastic, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer material that conforms to the contour of the shoe (e.g., an insole of a high-heel) and is suitable for disposal after each use. In some embodiments, it is contemplated that the proportion of vinyl acetate may be increased to give the bottom layer 20 a rubber-like texture to increase the static friction of the bottom layer 20, e.g., to prevent the shoe liner 10 from slipping, sliding, or bunching when disposed on the insole of the shoe. In other embodiments, it is contemplated the bottom layer 20 may be made from an EVA foam material, an environmentally friendly foam (EFF) comprised of plant-based materials, a sweet foam (comprised of sugarcane materials), or other examples of disposable materials suitable for protecting the shoe’s insole.

[0052] Still referring to FIG. 6, the bottom layer 20 may be treated with a suitable layer or covering of an adhesive 26 to promote releasable securement of the shoe liner 10 to the shoe’s insole. In some embodiments, the adhesive 26 may serve as an impediment surface, increasing the static frictional properties of the bottom layer 20 to preclude the shoe liner 10 from slipping, sliding, or bunching relative to the shoe’s insole. Preferably, the adhesive 26 is a disposable, low tack adhesive (e.g., comprising a low tack polymer) that does not leave residue on the insole of the shoe or damage or strip away material from the insole when being removed therefrom.

[0053] In some embodiments, the shoe liner 10 may include a release strip 28 (e.g., a disposable paper or plastic-based film) attached to the adhesive layer 26 to protect the adhesive layer 26 from contamination or exposure to the ambient environment (e.g., during product distribution). In such embodiments, the release strip 28 may be removed by the user to expose the adhesive layer 26 when it is desired to mount (removably secure) the shoe liner 10 to the shoe’s insole.

[0054] The middle layer 22 is an absorption layer configured to absorb odor and residual sweat emanating from the foot, e.g., from the plantar surface thereof. For this purpose, the middle layer 22 may comprise an effective odor and moisture-absorbing, material suitable for disposable after each use. In a preferred embodiment, the middle layer 22 comprises an activated carbon (charcoal) material. It is also contemplated that the middle layer may comprise other suitable examples of disposable moisture / odor absorbing materials, e.g., a bamboo charcoal material. In some embodiments, the middle layer 22 may be scented to mask away residual odor emanating from the foot or may comprise other materials that help reduce odors, including, without limitation, baking soda, zinc oxide, anti-bacterial agent, sodium bicarbonate, sodium polyacrylate and the like.

[0055] The upper layer 24 is a wicking layer configured to wick away moisture (e.g., perspiration) emanating from the plantar surface of the foot (e.g., from the adjacent skin contact areas thereof). For this purpose, the upper layer 24 may comprise an effective moisture-wi eking material, for example, a cellucotten (fiber cotton), bamboo fabric, or another suitable example of a disposable moisture-wicking material, including without limitation corn startch. In other embodiments, the upper layer 24 may comprise a disposable polyester or propylene material for wicking away moisture.

[0056] In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 3, the stacked layers 20, 22, 24, and 26 are interconnected to each other at attachment locations 30 positioned variously about the shoeliner 10. For example, referring to FIG. 3, the stacked layers 20, 22, 24, and 26 may be connected to each other in several different places or attachment locations 30 generally indicated by dashed rectangular boxes in FIG. 3. The stacked layers 20, 22, 24, and 26 may also be connected along the peripheral edges 18a- 18c (FIG. 3) of the shoe liner 10.

[0057] The method of attaching the respective layers 20, 22, 24, and 26 may take the form of an ultrasonic bonding process, wherein an ultra-sonic frequency machine bonds the layers 20, 22, 24, and 26 (along the edges 18a-18c and at the attachment points 30) at a temperature below the melting points of the respective layers 20, 22, 24, and 26. In such embodiments, it is contemplated that an ultrasonic press may be used to compress the layers while a high- frequency sonotrode introduces an ultrasonic frequency (e.g., 20kHz-40KhZ) into the layers 20, 22, 24, and 26 to bond the layers together. Yet, in other embodiments, it is contemplated that the layers 20, 22, 24, and 26 may be joined using different manufacturing methods, for example, textile joining processes such as sewing or stitching, adhesive bonding, heat sealing, or dielectric textile welding.

[0058] In another embodiment, the shoe liner 10, 100, 150 and corresponding attachment locations 30, 129 on the upper surface of the shoe liner 100 may be embossed with a textual mark (e.g., a brand name “Kimeez”) see FIG. 7 showing mark 131. For this purpose, embossed tooling may be utilized in conjunction with the ultrasonic bonding machine for creating the embossments during the ultrasonic bonding process. In some embodiments, the embossments may embody a team logo or a stylized design. This aspect of the present disclosure is unique insofar as the attachment locations may serve multiple functions, for example, for bonding the respective layers (e.g., 20, 22, 24, and 26 in FIG. 6) while branding or stylizing the shoe liner (e.g., 10, 100, 150, 200, or 300) with a unique textual or stylistic mark.

[0059] Turning to FIG. 7, an example shoe liner 150 according to another example is shown.In this embodiment, the shoe liner 150 includes a plurality of edges 180a-c, including a frontedge 180a, a rear edge 180b, and a pair of side edges 180c extending therebetween. The front edge 180a comprises a rounded contour adapted to fit on an insole of a closed toe shoe (e.g., a dress shoe or an athletic shoe). It is contemplated that the dimensions (e.g., the length, the width) of the shoe liner 150 may vary, for example, to protect the entire insole of the shoe (e.g., an athletic shoe). In the embodiment shown, the attachment locations 129 on the upper surface 120 are embossed with textual marks 131. As noted above, it is contemplated that embossed tooling may be used in conjunction with an ultrasonic bonding machine for creating the embossments 131 during an ultrasonic bonding process. In some embodiments, the embossments 131 may embody a team logo or a stylized design.

[0060] In the embodiment shown, there are a plurality of textual marks 131 embossed on the shoe liner 150. This may differ in other embodiments, for example, wherein only one attachment location is used to emboss a single mark on the shoe liner 150.

[0061] As shown in FIGs. 8-9, shoe liner 150 may include a tab 185. Tab 185 may be positioned at or near rear edge 180b. It is noted that tab 185 may be positioned on any edge or location on the shoe liner 150 as may be desired. Tab 185 may be used to pull off adhesive cover, e.g., release strip 28. Tab 185 may extend beyond the general silhouette or shape of shoe liner 150 prior to its removal from shoe liner 150 to make it accessible to the user to pull. Tab 185 may be coupled to or formed with release strip 28 and may be removed from shoe liner 150 when release strip 28 is removed to expose the underlying adhesive. It is noted that tab 185 may be adapted to any embodiment of the shoe liners described herein (and hat liners), including shoe liners 10, 100, 150, 200, 300, 400, etc.

[0062] Turning now to FIG. 10, a sectional view of a shoe liner 200 according to another example is shown. In this embodiment, the thickness of the shoe liner 200 gradually decreases towards the side edges 218c thereof. In this manner, the thickness of the shoe liner 200 gradually taper towards the side edges 218c. This may be beneficial, for example, whenwearing the shoe liner 200 in shoes having exposed side surfaces or slits, e.g., to make the shoe liner 200 less conspicuous when viewing the shoe from a side thereof.

[0063] In some embodiments, it is contemplated that the various examples of shoe liners 10, 100, 150, 200, and 300 described herein may be made available in a wide variety of colors, conforming to the color of a shoe that is being worn. In some embodiments, it is contemplated that the various examples of shoe liners 10, 100, 150, 200, and 300 described herein may including embossing, screen printing, or both. Moreover, due to the shoe liner’s 10, 100, 150, 200, and 300 moi sture-wi eking and odor / moisture absorption properties, it is contemplated that the shoe liners 10, 100, 150, 200, and 300 may be worn with or without socks.

[0064] In some embodiments, it is contemplated that the shoe liner 10, 100, 150, 200, and 300 may comprise an impediment layer (instead of an adhesive) disposed about the lower surface of the bottom layer. For example, referring to FIG. 11, a shoe liner 300 according to another example may include strips 326 of a high friction material disposed on a lower surface 312b thereof. In such embodiments, it is contemplated that the strips may comprise latex, rubber (e.g., natural rubber), silicone, or nitrile.

[0065] Turning to FIGs. 13-15, shown is hat liner 400. It is noted that that hat liner 400 may have the same or similar layers as any of the embodiments described herein for shoe liner 10, 200, 300, and any features herein described, such as embossing, tabs (e.g., tab 185), variable sizing based on hat size or type, and the like.

[0066] In an embodiment, the hat liner 400 comprises a planar body 412 with an upper surface 412a and a lower surface 412b. A plurality of peripheral edges 418a-c extend between the upper surface 412a and the lower surface 412b. In particular, the plurality of edges 418a-418c comprise a top edge 418a, a bottom edge 418b, and a pair of side edges 418c extending between the upper and lower surfaces 412a and 412b, respectively. In some embodiments, it iscontemplated that the plurality of edges 418a-418c may be formed with die-cut tooling, for example, the die-cut tooling of an ultra-sonic frequency machine. In some embodiments, it is contemplated that an ultrasonic cutting machine may be used to form the plurality of edges 418a-418c, wherein an ultrasonic transducer vibrates cutting blades or die-cut tooling at ultrasonic frequencies (20-40 kHz) to seamlessly form the edges 418a-418c without causing the edges 418a-418c to fray.

[0067] In the embodiment shown, hat liner 400, and the top edge 418a and the bottom edge 418b thereof, may include one or more (or a plurality of) cut-outs or protrusions and recesses which may allow curvature and flexibility of hat liner 400 when inserted into the brim of a hat, for example. In an embodiment, the top edge 418a may include 4 protrusions and 5 recesses or gaps between each protrusion. In an embodiment, the bottom edge 418b may include a single recess or gap. Side edges 418c may be elongated and extend as arms from the body of the hat liner 400. In an embodiment, a tab 485 (e.g., like tab 185) may extend from one of the side edges 418c or arms. Generally, and the top edge 418a and the bottom edge 418b may have a convex shape or rounded (excluding the non-continuous shape formed by the cut-outs or recesses). In an embodiment, the arms may generally follow the curve of the bottom edge 418b.

[0068] In some embodiments, it is contemplated that the various examples of hat liners 400 described herein may be made available in a wide variety of colors, conforming to the color of a hat that is being worn. In some embodiments, it is contemplated that the various examples of hat liners 400 described herein may including embossing, screen printing, or both.

[0069] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing detailed description, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not to be limited to just the embodiments disclosed, but that the disclosure described herein is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the scope of the claims hereafter. The terms“includes,” “including,” and “include” are inclusive and have the same scope as “comprises,” “comprising,” and “comprise” respectively. The claims as follows are intended to include all modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the claims or the equivalent thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A shoe liner adapted to be fitted on an insole of a shoe, the shoe liner comprising: a body comprising an upper surface and a lower surface spaced apart by a plurality of edges, said plurality of edges comprising a front edge, a rear edge, and a pair of side edges, wherein the front edge is disposed at an acute angle relative to a transverse axis of the body such that the body will be concealed when being worn by a user.

2. The shoe liner of claim 1, wherein the front edge is configured to sit behind toes of a user’s foot.

3. The shoe liner of claim 1, wherein the front edge is configured to sit at a ball of a user’s foot.

4. The shoe liner of claim 1, wherein the front edge is tapered toward an outer side edge of the shoe liner.

5. The shoe liner of claim 1, wherein the front edge slopes upward toward an inner side edge of the shoe liner.

6. The shoe liner of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a plurality of layers extending between the upper surface and the lower surface, said plurality of layers comprising a protective layer adapted to protect and rest on the insole of the shoe, an absorption layer disposed on said protective layer and adapted to absorb moisture and / or odor emanating from a foot, and a wicking layer disposed on said protective layer and adapted to wick away moisture emanating from the foot.

7. The shoe liner of claim 6, wherein the protective layer, the absorption layer, and the wicking layer are connected at an attachment location via an ultrasonic bonding process.

8. The shoe liner of claim 6, wherein an exposed surface of the protective layer includes an adhesive configured to reversibly attach the shoe liner to the insole of the shoe.

9. The shoe liner of claim 6, wherein the shoe liner further includes a release liner covering adhesive.

10. The shoe liner of claim 1, wherein the shoe liner is disposable.

11. A shoe liner adapted to be fitted on an insole of a shoe, the shoe liner comprising: a body including an upper surface and a lower surface spaced apart by a plurality of edges, said plurality of edges including a front edge, a rear edge, and a pair of side edges, wherein the front edge is curved outwardly.

12. The shoe liner of claim 11, wherein the front edge is configured to sit behind toes of a user’s foot and contact a ball of the user’s foot.

13. The shoe liner of claim 12, wherein the pair of side edges widen toward the front edge.

14. The shoe liner of claim 11, wherein the front edge is configured to sit under toes of a user’s foot and contact toes of the user’s foot.

15. The shoe liner of claim 14, wherein the pair of side edges narrow toward the front edge.

16. The shoe liner of claim 11, wherein the body comprises a plurality of layers extending between the upper surface and the lower surface, said plurality of layers comprising a protective layer adapted to protect and rest on the insole of the shoe, an absorption layer disposed on said protective layer and adapted to absorb moisture and / or odor emanating from a foot, and a wicking layer disposed on said protective layer and adapted to wick away moisture emanating from the foot.

17. The shoe liner of claim 16, wherein the protective layer, the absorption layer, and the wicking layer are connected at an attachment location via an ultrasonic bonding process.

18. The shoe liner of claim 16, wherein an exposed surface of the protective layer includes an adhesive configured to reversibly attach the shoe liner to the insole of the shoe.

19. The shoe liner of claim 16, wherein the shoe liner further includes a release liner covering adhesive.

20. The shoe liner of claim 11, wherein the shoe liner is disposable.

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