CN113924020A

CN113924020A - Shoe insert and system of left and right shoe inserts and at least one fragrance container

Info

Publication number: CN113924020A
Application number: CN202080018789.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 克莱门斯·图马
Original assignee: Klaus Foster Fan Sean Wittgenstein; Ke LaimensiTuma
Current assignee: Klaus Foster Fan Sean Wittgenstein; Ke LaimensiTuma
Priority date: 2019-03-05
Filing date: 2020-03-04
Publication date: 2022-01-11
Also published as: US20220175087A1; DE202019001061U1; DE112020001092A5; EP3934468A1; EP3934468B1; DE102019118373A1; KR20210132675A; AU2020230743A8; AU2020230743A1; EP3934468C0; JP2022524324A; CA3132598A1; WO2020177814A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a shoe insert comprising a cover layer, a damping layer and an absorbent core for receiving liquid flavourant, wherein the damping layer has a recess for receiving the absorbent core on its upper side, wherein the cover layer is arranged above the damping layer and the absorbent core and covers them, wherein the layers are connected to each other, and wherein hole-like recesses are formed in the cover layer in the area of the absorbent core for providing the absorbent core with liquid flavourant.

Description

Shoe insert and system of left and right shoe inserts and at least one fragrance container

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a shoe insert and a system of left and right shoe inserts and a fragrance container.

Background

A well-known problem in the art of footwear is foot odor, which is considered unpleasant and which subsequently also causes unpleasant odours to appear inside the footwear.

One of the most common causes of foot odor is perspiration secretion in the foot area. Foot odor does not originate directly from secreted sweat, but is produced by bacteria decomposing sweat and producing butyric acid in the process.

Thus, the odor of the foot area is caused by the release of moisture from the foot, wherein the use of synthetic, air-impermeable shoe materials further increases the problem of unpleasant odor. This is due to the accumulation of body moisture inside the shoe that is emitted by the wearer's foot without being adequately dissipated to the environment by the synthetic shoe material. In addition, puberty leads to increased sweating, and thus increased foot odor.

Different solutions for dealing with the problem of foot malodor are known from the prior art. In particular, deodorant sprays or sprays with fragrances are known which are sprayed directly on the feet to prevent or mask unpleasant foot odours. The disadvantage of the above sprays is that they have a short duration of action and are very limited, and therefore the sprays must be applied to the feet several times per day.

Alternatively, insoles for footwear are known from the prior art, wherein the fragrance is introduced into the material of the insole at once during the manufacturing process. The disadvantages of the products available to date are that the fragrances used have a very artificial effect and/or additionally a very short duration of the fragrance, so that the effect of the scented insole disappears after a short time and the product is designed as a disposable product.

Disclosure of Invention

The problem addressed by the present invention, based on the known prior art, is to reduce the unpleasant foot odor and the odor in the shoe and to continuously improve the environment in the shoe.

According to the invention, this problem is solved by a shoe insert comprising a cover layer, a damping layer and an absorbent core for receiving liquid fragrance, wherein the damping layer has a recess for receiving the absorbent core on its upper side, wherein the cover layer is arranged above and covers the damping layer and the absorbent core, wherein the layers are connected to each other, and wherein a hole-like recess is formed in the cover layer in the area of the absorbent core for providing the absorbent core with liquid fragrance.

An advantage of the design according to the invention is that the absorbent core for receiving liquid fragrance can be refilled again and again through the hole-like recesses when the effect of the applied fragrance is reduced. Furthermore, the proposed design allows the user of the previously described shoe insert to fragrance the shoe insert as desired, since the user introduces the preferred liquid fragrance. In particular, the user may scent the shoe insert with a personal preference brand of fragrance or deodorant.

Liquid fragrances, preferably essential oils, have the advantage that they have a longer duration of action in so far as the fragrance evaporates more slowly. Furthermore, essential oils have a higher viscosity than conventional liquid fragrances, so that essential oils have the additional advantage of emerging more slowly from the absorbent core and being more firmly enclosed in the absorbent core.

The absorbent core may be sprayed or supplied with liquid fragrance through the hole-like depressions in the cover layer, wherein the fragrance may penetrate into the absorbent core or the fabric of the absorbent core, in particular the woven fabric of the absorbent core, and be safely stored or enclosed therein for days or weeks. Starting from the absorbent core, in particular through the hole-like recesses, the fragrance can be released as a gas phase into the surrounding shoe space and ensure a pleasant freshness in the shoe space and can mask unpleasant odours. In this case, a direct escape of the liquid flavourant is prevented by the provided overlapping arrangement of the absorbent core and the cover layer, so that, for example, the liquid flavourant cannot be directly absorbed by the wearer's socks.

The cover layer may completely cover the underlying damping layer and the absorbent core contained therein and only have hole-like recesses in the area of the absorbent core arranged below the cover layer. However, in an alternative form, it can also be provided that the cover layer covers only a part of the upper surface of the damping layer, but at least the surface of the absorbent core.

The joining of the various layers of the shoe insert, in particular the above-mentioned covering and damping layers, can be achieved in particular by gluing the various layers to one another, so that a permanent mechanical connection or gluing of the various layers to one another is ensured. In particular, it can be provided that the absorbent core is glued into the depressions of the damping layer. However, the joining of the individual layers and optionally the absorbent core can also be achieved using alternative methods, for example, by joining the starting material of the damping layer, which is still in the liquid state, to the absorbent core in a mould during injection moulding and/or to the other layers of the shoe insert during manufacture, and the material of the damping layer is subsequently cured, thereby producing a mechanical connection of the damping layer with the other layers and optionally with the absorbent core.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the absorbent core may be formed of a woven fabric as a reservoir for the fragrance. An advantage of an absorbent core formed from a woven fabric is that it can store a fragrance, such as an essential oil, for a specified period of time. The absorbent core thus forms a reservoir or reservoir for the liquid flavourant. Since the absorbent core is designed as a woven fabric, the essential oil is uniformly received by and distributed throughout the absorbent core, thereby allowing for a slow and continuous release of the perfume. Furthermore, the liquid fragrance is not permanently incorporated in the absorbent core, so that it can be removed again from the absorbent core by a washing process.

The absorbent core may be designed with at least two layers, wherein the upper layer is made of a woven fabric and the adhesive layer is arranged thereunder. When fragrance droplets are applied to the upper layer of the absorbent core, the textile fibers of the textile fabric direct the liquid fragrance into the lower adhesive layer where it is stored.

In one embodiment of the shoe insert according to the invention, it may be provided that it comprises a textile covering, wherein the textile covering is arranged as an additional layer below the damping layer and optionally completely covers the bottom surface thereof. In this case, provision may also be made for the textile covering to be connected inseparably, for example adhesively, to the damping layer.

The advantage of the fabric covering is that the insertion of the shoe insert into the shoe is simplified and that during use the layer of the shoe insert arranged above the fabric covering is supported by the fabric covering, thereby further increasing the service life of the shoe insert of the invention. In one embodiment according to the invention, a textile covering may form the bottom surface of the shoe insert according to the invention.

The cover layer can be formed from a film which is impermeable to liquids but at the same time permeable to gases. A membrane designed in this way prevents the escape of liquid fragrance from the absorbent core to the environment, but allows the permeation of gaseous fragrance, thus providing fragrance inside the shoe.

It can also be provided that the hole-like recess is designed as a valve device. The valve means may be designed to make it possible for liquid fragrance to be supplied into the absorbent core from the environment of the shoe insert, but to prevent leakage of liquid fragrance from the absorbent core.

In a preferred embodiment, it can be provided that the cover layer of the shoe insert is formed by a microfiber cover.

The microfiber covering may absorb moisture, particularly perspiration secreted by the feet. Furthermore, the microfiber covering may be provided with antimicrobial properties that prevent or reduce the generation of odors inside the shoe. In addition, the microfiber covering has thermal regulating properties, thereby further improving the environment of the shoe through the microfiber covering.

In one embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the depression of the damping layer is formed by a circular stamped section on its upper side. The circular punch section may for example have a diameter in the range of 1-2cm, preferably about 1.3 cm.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the damping layer is made substantially of Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA). An advantage of using ethylene vinyl acetate as a base material for producing the damping layer is that the EVA material provides a damping and simultaneous recovery effect to the shoe insert. The EVA damping layer may have a layer thickness in the range of 1mm to 5 mm; it is particularly preferred that the layer thickness in the middle region of the shoe insert is about 2mm and is thinner around the edge regions of the shoe insert.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, it can be provided that the layers of the shoe insert are joined by a neoprene adhesive or alternatively by a solvent-free spray adhesive system.

According to the invention, it can be provided that the edges of the damping layer taper peripherally and are thinner than in the middle of the damping layer. In the context of the present application, the above-mentioned tapering and thinner feature means that the thickness of the damping layer in the edge regions of the damping layer decreases continuously from a maximum thickness of the damping layer in the middle region of the damping layer to a minimum thickness at the edges. In particular, in the edge regions on the underside and/or the upper side of the damping layer, a convex or concave surface contour can be provided for adapting the shape of the shoe insert to the existing insole.

In a further preferred embodiment, the layer, the absorbent core and the adhesive bond of the shoe insert according to the invention may be configured such that they are machine washable, in particular at 30 ℃.

The design as a machine washable shoe insert has the following advantages: the different scents of the liquid fragrance may be used consecutively with one and the same shoe insert, and the shoe insert according to the invention is thus designed as a reusable product. The fragrance introduced into the absorbent core may also be fully neutralized or washed away in a washing machine so that the shoe insert may be reused. The above-described embodiments also have the advantage that the shoe insert can also be disinfected and thoroughly cleaned during the washing process by adding suitable washing additives.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, provision can be made for the dimensions of the absorbent core to substantially correspond to the dimensions of the depression in the damping layer and for the absorbent core to be embedded in the depression.

Due to the fact that the size of the absorbent core is substantially adjusted to the size of the recess, the user cannot feel the absorbent core inside the shoe or in the shoe insert, which further increases the wearing comfort of the shoe insert. Furthermore, due to the embedding in the depressions, the absorbent core does not slip or get lost during use. For this purpose, the absorbent core can be embedded in the depression, in particular by adhesive bonding. Embedding also has the following advantages: the absorbent core is prevented from being squeezed out during use of the shoe insert according to the invention, so that it can be ensured that the respective fragrance remains closed for as long as possible with the shoe insert according to the invention. When the shoe insert is viewed in cross-section, the upper side of the absorbent core is preferably flush with the upper side of the damping layer, so that the pressure exerted by the wearer's foot on the shoe insert according to the invention is evenly distributed over the upper surface of the shoe insert and the compressive force exerted locally on the absorbent core is reduced. In a cross-section of the shoe insert according to the invention, the upper side of the absorbent core is particularly preferably designed to be slightly recessed with respect to the surrounding surface of the damping layer, so that the pressure exerted on the absorbent core by the foot of the wearer is further reduced or completely prevented.

In a further preferred embodiment of the shoe insert according to the invention, it can be provided that the layers substantially have the shape and size of an insole of a left or right shoe and are designed as insoles.

It is particularly preferred that the layers of the shoe insert all have the same shape and surface dimensions so that the layers are congruent to one another and can be permanently joined to one another.

The invention also relates to a system comprising a left shoe insert and a right shoe insert of the invention with the features of the invention as described above, and at least one fragrance container for receiving liquid fragrance, wherein the fragrance container has a container outlet which is adapted to the hole-like recess of the shoe insert, and wherein liquid fragrance can be supplied to the absorbent core of the shoe insert through the container outlet via the hole-like recess.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially in section, of a first exemplary embodiment of a shoe insert according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a damping layer of a shoe insert according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a shoe insert according to the present invention; and

figure 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of a shoe insert in conjunction with a fragrance container according to the present invention.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a shoe insert according to the invention in a schematic three-dimensional view, wherein the individual layers are shown partially cut away for a better understanding of the selected layer structure.

According to fig. 1, a first exemplary embodiment of a shoe insert 1 according to the invention comprises a cover layer 2 as the uppermost layer of the shoe insert 1 and a damping layer 3 in combination with a further textile covering 5, which in the depicted embodiment is arranged as an additional layer below the damping layer 3 and completely covers the underside 32 thereof. In the depicted embodiment, the damping layer 3 has a recess 31 on its upper side 30, in which recess the absorbent core 4 is accommodated, wherein the cover layer 2 is arranged above and covers the damping layer 3 and the absorbent core 4, wherein in fig. 1, for better illustration, parts of the cover layer 2 and the damping layer 3 have been cut away.

As can also be seen from fig. 1, the depression 31 for accommodating the absorbent core 4 is formed by a circular punched-out part on the upper side 30 of the damping layer 3. In the exemplary embodiment depicted according to fig. 1, the

layers

2, 3 and 5 are in this case substantially based on the shape and size of the insole of the left shoe, wherein the shoe insert in the depicted embodiment is designed as a shoe insole. In the depicted embodiment the

individual layers

2, 3, 5 are placed on top of each other and inseparably connected to each other, for example by providing an adhesive bond using a neoprene adhesive.

Fig. 2 shows a design of a damping layer 3 according to the invention, wherein the damping layer 3 in the embodiment shown has a recess 31 in the form of a circular punched section 33 on the upper side 30 of the damping layer 3. As can be seen from a comparison of fig. 1 and 2, the location and size of the depression 31 in the surface 30 for receiving the absorbent core 4 may vary according to the invention. In particular, the recess 31 and thus the absorbent core 4 may be positioned in an area of the shoe insert 1 where a low local pressure is expected during use due to the geometry of the wearer's arch.

Fig. 3 shows a second exemplary embodiment of a shoe insert 1 according to the invention, wherein the shoe insert 1 comprises a cover layer 2 and a damping layer 3 and an additional layer formed by a textile cover 5 under the damping layer 3, which completely covers the underside 32 of the damping layer 3. As can be seen in the cross-section of fig. 3, the damping layer 3 has a depression 31 on its upper side 30, in which depression the absorbent core 4 is accommodated. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the cover layer 2 completely covers the damping layer 3, but in the region of the absorbent core 4 it has a valve arrangement, formed for example by hole-like recesses 21, by means of which the absorbent core 4 can be supplied with liquid fragrance 8 (not shown in fig. 3). The exemplary embodiment in fig. 3 of a shoe insert 1 according to the invention has a middle area 34 and edge areas 35 and 36, wherein the damping layer 3 in the edge areas 35 and 36 tapers from a maximum thickness in the middle area 34 to a minimum thickness in the peripheral edge area of the shoe insert 1 according to the invention, and the edges 35 and 36 of the damping layer 3 taper all around to be thinner than in the middle of the damping layer 3.

As can also be seen from fig. 3, the absorbent core 4 has substantially the size of the depression 31 of the damping layer 3, wherein the absorbent core 4 is embedded in the depression 31. In the provided embodiment, the absorbent core 4 is designed to be minimally smaller than the size of the depression 31, such that the absorbent core 4 can be bonded into the depression 31 by an adhesive, such as a neoprene adhesive.

Figure 4 shows the components of a system according to the invention comprising left and right shoe inserts 1 and a fragrance container 7 according to the invention. For the sake of clarity, only a partial section of the shoe insert 1 according to the invention is shown in fig. 4 in combination with a fragrance container 7, wherein the shoe insert 1 according to the invention is again designed with a covering layer 2 arranged on top of the underlying damping layer 3, and a textile covering 5 forming an additional layer. An absorbent core 4 for receiving the liquid fragrance 8 is arranged in the depression 31 of the damping layer 3. Figure 4 shows the process of supplying a fragrance 8 to an absorbent core 4. In this case, the fragrance 8 is contained as a liquid in the fragrance container 7 and is introduced into the absorbent core 4 via the container outlet 70 through the hole-like recess 21 in the cover layer 2. The figure shows the application of droplets of a fragrance 8 to the upper surface of the absorbent core 4. For this purpose, the receptacle outlet 70 is adapted to the shape and size of the hole-like recess 21 of the cover layer 2, thereby preventing the fragrance 8 from being accidentally applied to the cover layer 2.

Claims

1. A shoe insert (1) comprising:

-a cover layer (2),

-a damping layer (3), and

-an absorbent core (4) for receiving a liquid fragrance,

wherein the damping layer (3) has a depression (31) on its upper side (30) for receiving the absorbent core (4), wherein the cover layer (2) is arranged above and covers the damping layer (3) and the absorbent core (4), wherein these layers are connected to each other, and wherein a hole-like depression (21) is formed in the cover layer (2) in the area of the absorbent core (4) for providing the absorbent core (4) with liquid fragrance.

2. The shoe insert according to claim 1, wherein the absorbent core (4) is formed of a woven fabric as a reservoir for a fragrance.

3. The shoe insert according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the absorbent core (4) is designed with at least two layers, wherein the upper layer is made of a woven fabric and the adhesive layer is arranged thereunder.

4. The shoe insert according to any of claims 1 to 3, comprising a textile covering (5), wherein the textile covering (5) is arranged as an additional layer below the damping layer (3) and completely covers its underside (32).

5. The shoe insert according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cover layer (2) is formed by a film which is impermeable to liquids but at the same time permeable to gases.

6. The shoe insert of any of the preceding claims, wherein the aperture-like recess is designed as a valve arrangement.

7. The shoe insert according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cover layer (2) is formed by a microfiber cover.

8. The shoe insert according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the recess (31) is formed by a circular punched part (33) on the upper side (30) of the damping layer (3).

9. The shoe insert according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the damping layer (3) is substantially made of Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA).

10. The shoe insert according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the layers (2, 3, 5) are attached by neoprene adhesive.

11. The shoe insert according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the edges (35, 36) of the damping layer (3) are tapered all around to be thinner than the middle portion (34) of the damping layer (3).

12. The shoe insert according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the layers (2, 3, 5), the absorbent core (4) and the adhesive bond are designed such that they are machine washable.

13. The shoe insert according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the size of the absorbent core (4) substantially corresponds to the size of a recess (31) in the damping layer (3), and the absorbent core (4) is embedded in the recess (31).

14. The shoe insert according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the height dimension of the absorbent core (21) is designed to be smaller than the depth dimension of the recess (31) such that the upper surface of the absorbent core (21) is recessed with respect to the upper surface of the damping layer (3).

15. The shoe insert according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the layers (2, 3, 5) substantially have the shape and size of an insole of a left or right shoe and are designed as insoles.

16. System comprising a left and right shoe insert according to any of claims 1-15 and at least one fragrance container (7), wherein the fragrance container (7) has a container outlet (70) adapted to the hole-like recess (21), and wherein the liquid fragrance (8) can be supplied to the absorbent core (4) through the container outlet (70) via the hole-like recess (21).