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Footwear covering apparatusRelated Patent Categories: Apparel, Head Coverings, StockingsFootwear covering apparatus description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060212997, Footwear covering apparatus. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims priority from the provisional application Ser. No. 60/659,458 filed on Mar. 8, 2005. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for masking and/or providing scents on hunter's clothing and, in particular, to a footwear covering apparatus for masking scents on the footwear and, optionally, providing desirable scents. [0003] Various prior art footwear coverings are shown in the following U.S. patents: [0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,024,008 entitled "Footwear Device for Hunters". [0005] U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,418 entitled "Footwear Device for Reducing Walking Related Noise". [0006] U.S. Pat. No. 6,038,804 entitled "Scent Dispenser". [0007] U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,324 entitled "Footwear System for Hunting". [0008] Most big game hunters, especially archery hunters who actively pursue whitetail deer via tree stands and ground blinds, have witnessed the superior olfactory senses of deer, elk, bear, etc. Hundreds if not thousands of products are on the market today to aid hunters by disguising or covering up the human and/or foreign scent that is so alarming to these animals. Cover and/or scent eliminating sprays, carbon scent-control clothing (face masks, gloves, jackets, pants, coveralls . . . ), scentless soaps, shampoos, laundry detergents, sanitary wipes, etc., are all designed to help get serious hunters closer to their quarry. These products are enjoying great popularity as more and more hunters realize the value of scent management in successful big game hunting. [0009] Regarding footwear and the scent path a hunter leaves while traveling to and from a hunting stand, the most accepted "scent-free" material for boots has been rubber. Rubber tends to be less absorbent than leather or Cordura (a registered trademark owned by Invista North America S.A.R.L. Corporation of Wilmington, Del.) when it comes in contact with various odors. However, rubber boots, under real field conditions, are far from the perfect solution to masking a foot path. Scents may be removed from rubber boots by sterilization, such as by boiling or the like, but this is an impractical solution, as often hunting boots are worn not only for hunting but other activities which may involve the inadvertent acquisition of an undesirable scent. [0010] It is desirable to provide an apparatus for masking and/or providing scents on hunter's clothing and, in particular, to a footwear covering apparatus for masking scents on the footwear and, optionally, providing desirable scents. It is also desirable to provide a footwear covering apparatus that is economical to produce and, optionally, is disposable and/or able to be sterilized. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0011] The present invention concerns a footwear covering apparatus that includes a body having a closed first end and an open second end defining an opening, the body being sized to fit over a foot covering of a user's body. The body is disposable and is operable to prevent contaminants from exiting the body after being donned on the foot covering. [0012] The apparatus in accordance with the present invention provides an affordable and effective way to address the problem of scent detection by a hunter's prey while also providing uses in other applications and industries. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0013] The above, as well as other advantages of the present invention, will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings in which: [0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a footwear covering in accordance with the present invention; [0015] FIG. 2 is an elevation view of an alternative embodiment of a footwear covering in accordance with the present invention; [0016] FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the second ends of the footwear covings shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with a "ring roll" or "bead"; and [0017] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 1. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0018] The U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/659,458, filed on Mar. 8, 2005, is incorporated herein by reference. [0019] Referring now to FIG. 1, a footwear covering apparatus in accordance with the present invention is indicated generally at 10. The covering 10 includes a generally tubular body 12 having a closed and preferably rounded first end 14 and an open second end 16 having an opening 18 for receiving an article of footwear (not shown) such as a boot of the type worn by a human. The covering 10 is formed in the general shape of a fitted sock wherein the body 12 is seamless having a substantially uniform width and is angled to have a foot/ankle contour. [0020] Referring now to FIG. 2, an alternative embodiment of a footwear covering apparatus in accordance with the present invention is indicated generally at 20. The covering 20 includes a generally tubular body 22 having a closed and preferably rounded first end 24 and an open second end 26 having an opening 28 for receiving an article of footwear (not shown) such as a boot of the type worn by a human. The covering 20 is formed in the shape of a tube sock wherein the body 22 is seamless having a substantially uniform width and is substantially straight from the first end 24 to the second end 26. [0021] The covering 10 or 20 is preferably sized to fit over a wearer's footwear, such as hunting boots, work boots or the like. Alternatively, the covering 10 or 20 is sized to fit over a wearer's socks or bare feet. The length and width of the body 12 or 22, therefore, may be chosen to fit over a wide variety of shoes, boots, or the like, and to cover a user's legs from the toe to the ankle or up to the knee, depending on the amount of scent protection desired by the user. For example, some users may only want coverage to the ankle level, while others may prefer coverage closer to the knee level. [0022] As shown in FIG. 3, the opening 18, 28 at the second end 16, 26 includes "ring roll" or "bead" 30 that facilitates donning and offers additional strength at the stress area of the cover when donning. The manufacturing of the opening 18, 28 at the second end 16, 26 with the bead 30 is also easily done, as this process parameter is used regularly in the glove and condom industry, discussed in more detail below. [0023] The body 12 or 22 is preferably formed from a natural rubber latex material, which possess favorable characteristics in terms of fit and function. Natural rubber latex as a raw material source is advantageously readily available in the US and around the globe. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other non-latex polymers such as nitrile, neoprene, polyvinyl-chloride (PVC), polyurethane and styrene butadiene may also be utilized. The preference of natural rubber latex material is attributed to optimal stretch and strength features, as natural rubber latex has typical ultimate elongation rating of 750% or more before aging and 720% or more after aging and a tensile strength before aging of 20 MPa and 18 MPa after aging. Continue reading about Footwear covering apparatus... Full patent description for Footwear covering apparatus Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Footwear covering apparatus patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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