Thermal foot cover
View Patent ↗The thermal foot cover is an article of footwear to be worn when the wearer's foot is subjected to cold temperatures. The thermal foot cover has an upper cover portion attached to a bottom panel to define a cavity for insertion of a wearer's shoe-encased or boot-encased foot or a wearer's foot. The upper cover portion and the bottom panel are made from a material comprising an outer covering, a radiant barrier and a inner covering where the radiant barrier is sandwiched between the outer cover and the inner cover. The radiant barrier is the insulation system of the thermal foot cover, which reflects the wearer's body heat back inside the footwear and keeps the wearer's feet warm. The thermal foot cover is flexible, lightweight and readily washable due to the use of the radiant barrier as the insulation system. The addition of a cavity enlargement means and a means for fastening the cavity enlargement means can be used to facilitate the insertion of the wearer's shoe-encased or boot-encased foot or the wearer's foot into the thermal foot cover and facilitate securing of the thermal foot cover to the wearer's shoe-encased or boot-encased foot or the wearer's foot and ankle to prevent loss of body heat when the thermal foot cover is being worn. A coating may be added to bottom of the thermal foot cover to provide a non-skid surface for walking. A flexible sole may also be provided for increased durability.
1. A thermal foot cover for receiving a wearer's shoe-encased or boot-encased foot or a wearer's foot comprising an upper cover portion having an ankle opening therethrough and a bottom panel attached to said upper cover portion to define a cavity for receiving the wearer's shoe-encased or boot-encased foot or wearer's foot, at least a portion of said upper cover portion having an outer covering, an inner covering and a radiant barrier sandwiched between said outer covering and said inner covering, said radiant barrier being adapted to reflect heat inwardly into said cavity, said radiant barrier comprising an inner layer of metal foil overlying said inner covering, adjacent surfaces of said inner covering and said inner layer of metal foil being not bonded to each other, a polymeric sheet bonded to said inner layer of metal foil, an outer layer of metal foil bonded to said polymeric sheet and said outer covering overlying said outer layer of metal foil, adjacent surfaces of said outer covering and said outer layer of metal foil being not bonded to each other.
2. The thermal foot cover of claim 1 , at least a portion of said bottom panel having an outer covering, an inner covering and a radiant barrier sandwiched between said outer covering and said inner covering, said bottom panel radiant barrier being adapted to reflect heat inwardly into said cavity.
3. The thermal foot cover of claim 1 , said bottom panel being a sole.
4. The thermal foot cover of claim 1 , further comprising a cavity enlargement means for facilitating insertion of the wearer's shoe-encased or boot-encased foot or the wearer's foot into said cavity.
5. A thermal foot cover of claim 1 , further comprising a bottom panel exterior coating attached to said bottom panel outer covering to provide a non-skid surface on the bottom of the thermal foot cover.
6. The thermal foot cover of claim 4 , said upper cover portion comprising a first top panel and a second top panel and said cavity enlargement means comprising a fastener which attached said first top panel to said second top panel to facilitate insertion of the wearer's shoe-encased or boot-encased foot or the wearer's foot into said cavity.
7. The thermal foot cover of claim 4 , said cavity enlargement means comprising an expandable ankle portion, said expandable ankle portion being adjacent to said ankle opening and made of an elastic material.