CA2129424A1 - Footpad of a shoe as a separate footpad insert or as a footpad part connected to a shoe - Google Patents

Abstract

The shoe sole proposed is made of flexible to stiff elastic material. It has a generally smooth surface which is shaped to match the sole of the foot. The sole has a reservoir (20) for a substance which produces a cooling effect. The reservoir (20) is connected via a line (22) to an outlet (34) located in the surface (28) of the sole. Fitted in the line (22) is a valve (24) associated with a control element (26) which, when the temperature exceeds a given threshold value, opens the valve (24) and is located in such a position on the surface (28) of the sole that it comes in contact with the sole of the foot.

Description

212~4~ 1 esi~nation: Footpad of a shoe as a separate footpad insert or as a footpad part connected to a shoe The invention relates to a footpad acco-r~ing to the preamble of patent claim 1. It is concerned with a footpad of the individual inner movement space in a shoe in the form either of a separate footpad insert or a footpad part connected to a shoe which is made of a supple to hard-rubber elastic material and which provides a generally smooth surface adapted to the human foot sole and which guarantees~for blood circulation to take place axound the foot, especially in the area of the toes, in order to thus allow~ for metabolism processes to take place, general ones as well as specific ones, as well as their respective mechanisms to proceed. Based on individual body we~ight and individual body statics, such footpad~ takes on the impression of the individual user's foot and maintains it so as to obtain a positive effect on~general and specific metabolism~processes in the most individually adapted and best targeted way possible (see figure~7 of DE-A-39~02 207). The invention is based on a renewed and continued phylogenetic-energetic discussion of the~;subject ;"Walking" on ~a cultural and historic F~otpads of shoes ~such as the footpad of the kind as mentioned above, are generally provided with a smooth surface which is adapted more or less perfectly to the shape of a human foot sole. They serve to support the :foot as evenly as possible over the~entire surface of the footpad, but also to provide a certain guidance and thus ~a supporting maintenance for the foot. A footpad insert made of a supple material can actually participate in the rolling-off process of the foot in each single step, it can attenuate or intercept impact energies and convert excessive kinetic energy into other forms of energy, or degrade them. Thus, the still existing potential in ~12~2~

motional energy or kinetic energy can be evenly distributed over the foot in a well-targeted way so as to be able to make good use of it for the preparation of the next step. In this process, the parts of the foot sole which lean on are supported. Footpads made of rigid material would not allow for such use; here, at least the heel of a foot lifts off at each step ta~en and then returns to touch down on the footpad. In the case of footpads of the kind as mentioned above, the steady contact between foot sole and footpad depends on the degree of adaptation of said footpad~

The term "shoe" here stands for foot wear in its most general form, such as~for example street shoes, sneakers, boots, sandals,~ house shoes, gymnastic shoes, etc.
Usually, a foot pad for~a shoe is provided in one piece and extends from~ the~heel to the toes; however, it is also possible, to~subdivide the~ footpad into two or several sections,~one~of~which couId for exam~le support the ~e~l, another one ~the ~oes' area and so forth. The ;footpad~can be exchangeable or it can be firmly connected to~the~shoe. ~

From~the documents US-A-4 109 661, GB-A-1 553 415 and GB-A-2 ~046~79, footpads of the abo~e~ mentioned kind are known~which in ~seleGted parts of~ the~surace provide proj~ection~. They`~are~ assigned to vital parts of the sole of;~a~ fo:ot. Fur~hermore, from the~ DE-A-39 02 207, a ootpad of the~kind~as mentioned in the beginning of the present text is~ known, the generally smooth surface of ~; ~ which provides at least one local impression which is formed like a dimple and stands back against the (non-structured~ surface~, and which gradually, with a smooth rounding along its entire border, grades into the surface, and which provides a basis, situated a few millimeters below said non-structured surface. A knob ~.:: - ~
~ ~ projects from this basis, the free cap of which lies , ~ ' .

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substantially in the course of the ~non-structured) surface.

In this known arrangement (DE-A-39 02 207), a partial area (neglectable in terms of surface area) of the human foot sole is left without any footpad support. The impression is fashioned in such a way that due to the smoothly rounded-of border a gradual txansition from supported area to non-supported area takes place which inhibits, respectively avoids the motional energy or kinetic energy to be upset so that it is available for well-targeted power development, power deployment and power conservation. By means o said knob, a well~defined pregiven point, respectively small surface in the foot sole is influenced by pressure, which fact causes a stimulation, respectively a positive motivation of metabolism processes to take place through a massaging of main~ nerves. The~ area~ of the foot sole supported by the knob~is~ subjec~to~substantially constant pressure while standin~ on it ~which leads to continuous and natural ahanges~ of posture.~stimulation is repeated while walking or~running.~

By-~means of the~;footpad as mentioned~in~the beginning, a desired individual reaction of the user is obtained, for example~a localized ~elevation in temperature. Such te~perature elevations preferably occur;~ in~ areas in which thé~ foot~sole;;is~stimulated by me~ans of~projections, as for~example by~ knobs as described. However, o~Jerheating ;can~also occur~in other places, due to individual givens.

Overly pronounced localized temperature elevations caused for example by a rise în temperature due to individual overmodulation, released by metabolism processes, can deteriorate well-being when using~ the footpad and the user's wearing impression changes. Such effects, in turn, can have an influence on a targeted treatment of parts of ' ':
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212942~
the oot sole due to the latter's special fashio~ing and form.

Localized temperature elevation only occurs a certain time after putting on a shoe equipped with a ootpad as mentioned in the beginning of this text. Based on the targeted motivation of specific foot-sole~ areas, and based on the desired dissolution of energy blocks~energy upsettings, the restitution and maintenance of the flow of kinetic energy, motional energy, is guaranteed. The user feels a gradual transition from a normal temperature at first, to a localized heating. Localized heatings can occur principally due to contact of the foot with the footpad, for example when standing, or, possibly only after starting to walk, run or the like. Local heating can be detected on the basis of a temperature elevation of the foot sole in the foot-sole areas concerned.

This is, where the invention finds its purpose. Its o~ject is to further develop a footpad as mentioned in the beginning of the present text in such a way that loca~lly occurring temperature elevations to a degree exceeding body temperature, which occur some time after putting on the shoe equipped with such footpad, will be eliminate~

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On ~he basis of the~-~ootpad of the kind as mentioned in the beginning of the present text, this object is ob~ained by providing said footpad with a reservoir container to h~ld a substance which generates a cooling (coldness), by a connection of said reservoir container to an outlet valve via a line, which outlet val~e provides its discharge opening into the surface of said footpad, and by providing a valve in said line, to which a control member is assigned, which is disposed at the surface of said footpad in such a way that it is in contact with the foot sole of a foot and which opens said " 2129~24 5 valve for a short period of time, when a pregiven temperature-threshold value is exceeded.

~hus, a well-targeted cooling of particular areas of the human foot sole is carried out in the inventive footpad.
Cooling occurs only when the control member of said valve detects a temperature level in a first partial area of the foot sole which lies above a threshold value. Thus, when such temperature level is detected, a localized temperature elevation is present; the control organ opens the valve for a short period of time, and a small amount of cooling substance emerges at the opening of the line~
This prompts a localized cooling, which fact is signalized to the organ concerned via the central nervous system where the~ information is processed, used converted and controlled accordingly.
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The discharge opening of the line can be disposed either remotely from or in the immediate vicinity of the control membe~r. At any rate,~ the place at which the foot-sole temperature is detected by means of said control member, is in close relation to the place of the footpad which is situated above the opening and which is cooled actively when the valve opens fQr a short period of time.

The~invention IS based on the ~enerally known idea that to each-partial~area of the human foot sole, one organ can be associated. This fact constitutes the basis of foot-zone-reflex massage, for example. Here, the object to~ be obtained- is to dissolve energy blocks and to achieve an optimum~ circulation within the organ through the best possible processing or through stimuli and in~ormation and thus to promote a free flow of vital energy, motional energy and kinetic energy. By avoiding localized temperature elevations, heat upsets and overheating of parts of the foot sole, the particular status can be maintained for the user, which was present at the very beginning of said wearing process ~f the ,........................................ ~12g~2~

footpad. ~hus, no excessive heating of parts of the footsole will occur, the symmetry breaking processes of kinetic energy are not impaired but rather enhanced.
Consequently, natural bone metabolism takes place without impediment, which in turn guarantees power developing, power deploying and power conserving processes to take place. The first impression, as perceived by the user in the very beqinning of wearing said footpad, can substantially be maintained.

A combination of the inventive cooling arrangement with the teaching according to the applicant's DE-A-39 02 20 has proven particularly advantageous. The content of the disclosure in said patent, and of the disclosure in the present application belong closely together. Accordingly, the individual footpad provides a local impression which provides a knob projecting from it. It has proven to be of advantage to dispose the control member for the valve in the cap of said projection. The opening of the line from which the substance which generates coldness can be discharged, is to be disposed advantageously in said impression, and thus in the vicinity of said knob, however, it can also be disposed at a different place of the ootpad, for example in another impression.

The~ reservoir container for said substance is situated pre~erably in the sole itself and, if emptied, can be exchanged together ~with said substance. In a preferred embodiment, the reservoir contain~er provides transparent, flexible walls; it can be made for example of a degradable (environmentally compatible) transparent plastic film. The substance itself provides a coloring or is slightly dyed. The reservoir container is at least pa;rtly visible, preferably it is embedded in the bottom side of the footpad. Thus, it is possible at any time to check whether the reservoir container is still full or whether it is empty. If the reservoir container is empty, -" 212942~L
the footpad (in the form o~ an insert sole) or at least the cooling device is to be exchanged.

The substance responsible for generating coldness consists of one or two components. In the case of a one-component substance, a substantially chemically neutral composition with a low boiling point is ~selected, for example difluorine~dichlorine-methane or difluorine-chlorine-methane. In the case of a two-component substance, the two components are fed to the valve under pressure, and mingle in the valve. Thereupon they flow to the opening via the remaining common part of the line~
Here, coldness is maintained thrQugh a chemical reaction between the two components and/or through vaporization heat. The~pressure can either be generated by means of the substance, respectively component itself, or by means of a sponging ~agent and/or by loading the reservoir container with the user's weight.

The~ line between reservoir container and opening is selected to be so narrow, respectively the passage , ~ ~
through the valve~provides such small dimensions that at sach opening of the valve, which alwa~s occur for only a short period ~of time, only a small amount of the substance, however~ sufficient for cooling, can emerge at the~ opening.~eservoir aontainer, line~and valve are onnected so permanently tight ~o each other that under normal operating~conditions, no~leakages can occur. A
separate refilling or exchange of the reservoir container is not provided~for.
, : : , ~' An especially advantageous arrangement has proven to fashion the valve as a dosage valve;or portioning valve.
Each time the ~alve is released by the control organ, a ;~ dosed amount of substance (or substance mixture) is ; ~ discharged. For this purpose, valves can be used which are designed for example as a vane-cell pump or a gear pump etc. Here it is ensured that the valve normally -` 212942~ 8 locks in direction towards the opening so that the su~stance can neither evaporize nor react chemically, as long as the valve is closed. Only upon opening of the valve, a pregiven amount of the substance is released towards the opening.

Further advantages and features of the invention can be derived from the remainin~ claims and from the following description of an embodiment, explained in more detail with reference to the figures; this example, however, is not meant to have any limiting character.
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Fig. 1 is a perspective representation or the footpad of a shoe provided with the inventive cooling ~~device which footpad here, for the purpose of greater clarity, is made of completely transparent material.
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Fig.2 is a perspective representation of a cooling device as used in the embodiment according to fig. 1 and Fig~3 is a perspective representation of a cooling ;device e~uipped with two reservoir containers.
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The ~ootpad according to fig. 1 is shown in a completely transpar~nt representation for the purpose of greater ;clarity~ and for a better understanding of the cooling device which will be explained in more detail in the ollowing. In general, footpads ~ are not made of transparent material, they rather ~consist of leather, rubber, a non-transparent plastic material, or the like.
The construction of a footpad is basically known and such principle is not modified by the present invention. For a description of the footpad, reference is made for example to ~he DE-A-39 02 207, already mentioned in the beginning of the present text.
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In the heel area of the body of the footpad, according to the embodiment shown in fig. 1, a reservoir container 20 is embedded fashioned as an insert sole. As can be seen in fig. 1, it is substantially shaped like a pillow with almost square dimensions of approximately 45mm by 45mm.
The reservoir container is made of flexible plastic film which, by bending over and welding, forms a sealed-off and water-tight container. The reservoir container 20 is filled with a substance providing a high evaporation heat and/or which, when emerging, reacts endothermally with a second substance from another reservoir container (see fig. 3) or from the environment (air, sweat). The reservoir container 20 is integrated either permanently (fig. 1) into the footpad or exchangeably together with the complete ~ooling device ~fig. 2) in such a way that at least one part of its surface facing towards the bottom remains visible. The substance either provides a color or is slightly dyed. By looking at the bottom surface of the footpad, a check can be carried out as to whether or not the reservoir container 20 is still filled.
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Since the footpad is~ made of an elastic material andJor since the reservoir container 20 projects downwards against ~he bottom surface of the footpad, pressure is exerted onto the reservoir container 20 when the footpad is being used. This pressure can occur constantly, when standing, or it can also occur periodically, for example when walking or running. Thus, it is ensured that the substance in said reservoir container 20 only comes under under pressure, when the footpad is actually in use.

In another embodiment, the reservoir container 20 is constantly under pressure, for example under the pressure of the substance or of an additional sponging agent. In this caser the footpad can also be fashioned substantially rigidly, and it is not necessary that the , 212~42~ o .. .
reservoir container 20 project downwards, as against the lower surface of the footpad.

A line 22 is permanently connected to said reservoir container 20, which line provides relatively small dimensions; its inner cross~section for example lies below 2 mm2. It is made of a supple plastic material. A
material similar to the material for the reservoir container 20 is used.

Into the line 22, a valve 24 is integrated. This valve 24 is actuated via a control organ 26. Such control organ 2~
1s substantially a heat detector. If a pregiven temperature-threshold value is exceeded, for example 3B
C~ said heat detector delivers a control command to the valve 24 mechanically (preferably) or in another way, for example electrically, upon which command said valve opens and closes and a p~eset amount of the substance is allowèd to pass through.

In~ a preferred embodiment, the control member 26 is fashioned similarly to the control members o radiator-thermostate ~alves. In this case the Gontrol member 26 consists of a small expansion tank which is connected to the valve 24 via~a (flexible) duct. In the expansion tank and in~ the duct a li~uid with a high thermal coefficient of~expansion is disposed, to where the coefficient of expansion of expansion tank and duct are as low as possible. The liquid column is directly effective upon said valve 24. If the temperature of the li~uid reaches a pre~iven threshold value, an expansion is caused which causes the valve 24 to be actuated.

The valve 24 is fashioned as a portioning valve. It is actuated for a short period of time by said control member 26. The valve provides for example a tappet which is guided tightly in a sleeve. The tapped provides a radial recess. In closed position, the tappet is drawn ~, 21294~

far enough towards the line on the side of -the reservoir container that the recess projects from the sleeve and that it is surrounded by the substance supply. Due to the tight guidance of the tappet within the sleeve, no substance can pass through the valve. When the valve is released, the tappet shif~s through the sleeve until the recess reaches the other end of the sleeve; now the substance contained in it can flow off, respectively react. After a certain period of time, the length of which depends on how long it takes for the substance to flow out of the recess, respectively to evaporate, the tappet is retreated~ Thus, the recess can be refille~
with substance which in turn will be released in a new discharging operation.

In a further embodiment, the valve is equipped either with an impeller wheel provided with a few chambers which are turned successively from an inlet to an outlet, or with a gearwheel.

The valve 24 is actuated by the pressure exerted by the substance contained in the reservoir container 20. It is released by the control member 26. In another embodiment, the energy for actuating the valve is also delivered by said control member 26, for example in the case of the above described embodiment of said control member 26 with a liquid.

The control member 26 is disposed in the area of said surface 28 of the footpad in such a way that a user's foot will come into contact with said control member 26.
Thus, said control member 26 can detect a user's foot-sole temperature at a pregiven point.

In an especially preferred embodiment which, however, does not involve any limiting effect, said control member 26 is disposed in the area of the free cap of a kno~ 30 which projects centrally from within a local impression 212942~ 12 32 which in turn stands back as against the non-structured surface of said footpad. In this context, reference is made to the already menationed DE-A-39 02 207. The cap of said knob 30 is substantially situated in the course of said non-structured surface of said footpad.

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In a further embodiment, the control member 26 is embedded in the surface of said footpad without a impression being provided in its vicinity.

The material of the footpad provides low therma~
condu~tivity; it is made for example of an electrically isolating material. This counteracts a fast temperature equalization within said footpad; the control member 26 detects locally the temperature prevailing in a specific area of a user's foot sole.

At the other end of the line 22 an opening 34 is disposed. It is provided in the surface of the foo~pad and faces in upward direction, towards a user's foot. In the embodiment according to fig. 1, a small impression is ~provided in the surface of said footpad in the area of the discharge opening, so as to enlarge the outlet of the line in a funnel-like shape.

In another embodiment, the discharge opening 34 is either provided in the cap of a knob 30 which is surrounded ~y a .
inpression 32 in the above explained way, or in the impression 32 itself.
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Fig. 2 shows the described cooling device. The reservoir container 20 is equipped with flexible walls and, when emptied, is completely flat and thus does not provide any inner volume any more. The line 22 provided on both sides of the valve 24 has an optional length and is connected permanently to said valve 24, respectively to said

2 1 2 9~ 2l1 13 reservoir container 20, for example through welding or glueing. Said valve 24 is formed as small as possible.

As soon as said reservoir container 20 is exhausted, normally the entire insert sole is to be discarded and needs to be replaced by a new one. However, another possibilîty is to provide the cooling device according to fig. 2 separably from said insert sole, for example by pressing down an undercut recess provided with an elastic border in the bottom face o~ the insert sole. In such case, a replacement including the body of the footpad is not necessary.

Fig. 3., finally~ shows an arrangement including two reservoir containers 20, 21. They are connected to a valve 24 via one line associated to each of them respectively. This is ~fashioned in such a way that the substances contained in the two reservoir containers 20, 21~only come into~contact with each ~other downstream of the~valve 24. The valve provides for example two sleeves and~two tappets~of~the kind~as described above. The two ubstances react~with~eachother downst}eam of said valve 2~4~in the tWQ rsservoir aontainers 20,~21, and they form a~ mix~ture with~ high evaporation heat and/or with endothermal characteristics. ~

Furthermore, it ~is~possible to couple in parallel several reservoir~containers 20 accordin~ to the embodiment as shown~in figures 1 ~and 2; said reservoir containers do not nècessarily provide a volume zero~when emptied; this holds especially true when the filling aonsists of a propellant which is harmful to the environment.

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Claims (10)

C L A I M S

1. Footpad of a shoe in the form of a separate footpad insert or in the form of a footpad part which is connected to a shoe, made of a supple to hard-rubber elastic material, providing a generally smooth surface adapted to a foot sole, characterized in that said footpad is equipped with a reservoir container (20) for a substance generating a cooling (coldness), such reservoir container (20) is connected to an opening (34) through a line (22), which opening opens into the surface (28) of said footpad, and in said line (22) a valve (24) is provided to which a control member (26) is assigned which opens, when the temperature exceeds a pregiven threshold value, and which is disposed at the surface (28) of said footpad in such a way that it comes into contact with the foot sole of a foot.

2. Footpad according to claim 1, characterized in that said footpad provides at least one local impression (32) which is formed like a dimple and stands back against the (non-structured) surface (28), and gradually, with a smooth rounding along its entire border, grades into the surface (28), and provides a basis, from which a knob (30) projects, in the free cap of which said conntrol organ (26) is disposed, said free cap substantially lying in the course of said (non-structured) surface (28).

3. Footpad according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said reservoir container (20) is made of a flexible material, especially a plastic film.

4. Footpad according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said reservoir container (20) is disposed in a place below the foot sole which is loaded while walking.

5. Footpad according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said discharge opening (34) of said line (22) is disposed in another place of said surface (28) of said footpad than said control organ (26) of said valve (24).

6. Footpad according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said substance is a two-component substance, for each component a separate reservoir container (20, 21) is provided, which are respectively connected ti said vakve (24) via a separate line (22), and said valve (24) is connected to said opening (34) via one single line for the mixture of said two components.

7. Footpad according to one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said substance in said reservoir container (20) is provided in a liquid to pasty-liquid form.

8. Footpad according to one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said substance provides a high specific evaporation heat.

9. Footpad according to one of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it provides only one opening (34) of said line (22).

10. Footpad according to one of the claims 1 to 9, characterizied in that said valve (24), upon each actuation, discharges a pregiven amount of substance to said opening (34).