EP0190232A1

EP0190232A1 - Sole for foot-wear, and foot-wear

Info

Publication number: EP0190232A1
Application number: EP19850903803
Authority: EP
Inventors: Dominik Christian Walter
Original assignee: WALTER Hans Georg
Current assignee: WALTER Hans Georg
Priority date: 1984-08-17
Filing date: 1985-08-15
Publication date: 1986-08-13
Also published as: WO1986001084A1; DE3590379D2; CH665096A5; AU4674985A

Abstract

La semelle (5), par exemple constituée par une semelle intérieure pour une chaussure, comme un soulier ou analogue, présente au moins une couche (15) absorbant la transpiration et comportant une ouverture (17) et sous la couche absorbante (15) une zone (11a) absorbant également la transpiration contenant une substance indicatrice. Cette dernière change au moins une de ses caractéristiques optiques, notamment sa couleur, quand au moins un élément existant dans la sueur en plus de l'eau, comme le sel de cuisine et/ou un autre sel et/ou au moins un acide la rencontre avec une concentration suffisante dans la zone (11a). De cette manière un utilisateur de la chaussure peut connaître visuellement quand la teneur en élément de sueur ne s'évaporant pas dans la semelle est trop grande et quand la semelle (5) est saturée par endroits par ledit élément de sueur.The sole (5), for example constituted by an inner sole for a shoe, such as a shoe or the like, has at least one layer (15) absorbing perspiration and comprising an opening (17) and under the absorbent layer (15) a zone (11a) also absorbing perspiration containing an indicator substance. The latter changes at least one of its optical characteristics, in particular its color, when at least one element existing in sweat in addition to water, such as cooking salt and / or another salt and / or at least one acid la encounter with sufficient concentration in area (11a). In this way a user of the shoe can visually know when the content of sweat element which does not evaporate in the sole is too high and when the sole (5) is saturated in places by said sweat element.

Description

Footrest for footwear and footwear

Technical field

The invention relates to a footrest for a footwear having an outsole, with at least one layer of sweat-absorbent material.

The footwear can in particular be a shoe with a sole and an upper part that more or less completely encloses the foot laterally and above, or a sandal that is more or less open above the sole and only has, for example, band-like fastening means or other footwear with a more or less firm outsole. The footrest is formed by an insole that is inseparably connected to the outsole of the footwear or by an insert that is detachably inserted into the footwear, for example for additional insulation or orthopedic purposes.

State of the art

Known insoles and insoles are made, for example, of leather, cork, fleece, textile or a combination of these materials. If a person wears footwear of the type mentioned, their footrest can absorb sweat. This consists of

16660 / Zb / ps / case 1 Water and additional components, the most important of which is table salt (sodium chloride) dissolved in the water. As further constituents of the welding still contains ammonia, phosphates, sulphates, bromide, fluoride, iodine, potassium, calcium ^', magnesium, Brenztrau- bensäure, lactic acid, cloth Urocainsäure, amino acids, ureas, glucose, lipids, Actetylcholin, creatinine, and mucoproteins other more. If the footrest has absorbed sweat while the footwear is in use, this can partially evaporate again when the footwear is not in use, but table salt and other components of the sweat present in addition to the water remain in the footrest. When using footwear, a gradually increasing amount is collected

Components in the footrest. The consequence of this is that the footrest is at least in those floor plan areas in which a lot of sweat is excreted from the foot resting on the footrest, more or less completely saturated with such constituents, accordingly largely loses its absorption capacity and possibly also harder and more brittle becomes. This affects the well-being of the person wearing the footwear. This can also have an unfavorable effect on the performance of the person concerned, in particular in the case of a person walking or doing sports, such as a soldier, runner or mountain climber. Now these disadvantages caused by the saturation of the footrests with non-evaporating sweat constituents can be avoided per se if the owner of the footwear cleans their footrest in good time or if necessary replaces it together with the entire footwear. In practice, however, the time for such a measure is known Footrests can hardly be determined properly because the assessment of well-being is of course highly subjective.

Now, with certain known footrests, the

Some discoloration takes place. However, this also does not give the owner of the footwear containing such footrests any clear criterion for when to clean or replace these footrests or the footwear containing them. This discoloration takes place, depending on the nature of the surface of the footrest, to some extent by chance and with a very different content of welding components in the deeper areas of the footrest.

The invention has now set itself the goal of creating a footrest that enables its user to determine if it contains too many non-evaporating welding components.

Presentation of the invention

The stated goal is achieved by a footrest, which according to the invention is characterized by indicator means to make_ visually visible when at least one welding component present in addition to water in the sweat reaches a partial area of the footrest and / or if at least in one Part of the footrest is the amount of said at least one welding component that has penetrated into it is at least equal to a limit value.

Advantageous embodiments of the footrest emerge from the claims dependent on claim 1. The invention further relates to footwear with an outsole which is designed according to the invention in the manner described above. A particularly important embodiment of this footwear emerges from claim 10.

Brief description of the drawing

The subject matter of the invention will now be explained with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the drawing. In the drawing shows

1 shows a schematic longitudinal section through a shoe,

2 shows a plan view of the footrest of the

Shoes,

3 shows a longitudinal section through part of the footrest on a larger scale and

4 shows one corresponding to FIG. 3

Section through a variant of a footrest.

Ways of Carrying Out the Invention

The footwear 1 shown in FIG. 1, formed by a shoe, has a reasonably solid outsole 3 with a heel and a footrest 5, which is arranged on the upper side of the outsole 3 and is firmly and non-detachably connected thereto, namely an insole, between which and the outsole 3 may also have a filling material, not shown. An upper part 7 is attached to the outsole 3. The footrest 5, shown separately in FIGS. 2 and 3 and formed by an insole, has a lower layer 11 facing the outsole and a main suction layer 15 above it, possibly with a relatively thin cover or cover layer, not shown could be arranged on the main suction layer 15. The main suction layer 15 and the cover layer, if any, have an opening into which a transparent insert is inserted, which forms a window 17. When a person wears the footwear, his foot rests on the surface 19 of the footrest 5 facing away from the outsole 3. The window 17 is preferably located between those areas of the surface 19 on which the heel or toes rest when the shoe is worn, so that only a relatively small pressure is exerted on the window 17 when the footwear 1 is worn with the foot . However, the window 17 is arranged in such a way that light can fall on the window 17 through the opening for inserting the foot in the upper part 7 and the latter can still be seen effortlessly through the opening in the upper part 7. The window is, for example, at least partially still in the area of the above-mentioned opening of the upper part 7. The surface area of the surface of the window 17 should preferably be at most about 10% of the total surface area of the surface 19 of the footrest 5. Otherwise, the window 17 can widen a little downwards, ie towards the outsole 3, so that it is well anchored in the footrest 5.

Apart from the window 17, the main suction layer 15 consists of opaque material. The two layers 11 and 15 and the possibly existing coating or The cover layer also consists of a water and sweat absorbing material. The main suction layer 13 can be made, for example, of leather or possibly of fleece or textile fiber fabric, and the lower layer 11 can be made of one of the latter two materials, for example. The window 17 consists for example of a transparent plastic, which is preferably a little deformable. The window 17 is impermeable to the sweat or at least to its at least one component to be demonstrated in a manner to be explained.

The section of the lower layer 11 which is covered by the window 17 in the floor plan and visible through it serves as the indicator zone Ha and forms together with. the window 17 indicator means to make it visually visible when at least one sweat component which is present in addition to the water and does not evaporate, or at most partially evaporates, reaches the indicator zone Ha and reaches a sufficient concentration therein. The indicator zone Ha of the lower layer contains an indicator substance which, for example, can bind and / or release a bond with at least one sweat component present in addition to the water and / or a buffer substance and / or another auxiliary substance. This bond can be physical, superficial, for example adsorptive, and / or chemical, so that the indicator substance forms a chemically reacting reagent in the latter case. The indicator substance is designed such that it has at least one optical property, preferably its, under the direct or indirect action of the at least one welding component present in addition to the water, for example via a buffer substance or other auxiliary substance Color, for

changes an observer visually through the window. The indicator substance can be formed, for example, by an adsorption, fluorescence, neutralization or redox indication substance, such as is used in chemical analysis, for example in titrations, to determine the presence of at least one, mostly in an ionic state, in an aqueous Solution to indicate existing substance by a color change. The remaining area of the lower layer 17, which cannot be seen through the window 17 and which encloses the indicator zone Ha, contains a buffer substance for setting the at least one welding component which can be detected with the indicator substance and is referred to below as buffer zone 11b .

For example, an indicator substance can be provided which is based on the common salt dissolved in the water forming the main component of the sweat, i.e. Sodium chloride, approximately to the negative originating from it. Appeals to chlorine ions. Adsorption indicator substances of this type which respond to chlorine ions and, in some cases, to other halogen ions present in the sweat by a change in color are, for example, under the trade names or chemical names' fluoroscein sodium, fluoroscein, Congo red, bromocresol purple, bromophenol blue and 1,5-diphenylcarbazone known. In this case, a substance that releases positive silver ions during dissociation in an aqueous solution, such as silver nitrate, can be present as a buffer substance in the buffer zone 11b of the lower layer 11.

If a person now wears footwear 1 and rests with his foot on the footrest 5 formed by the insole, the latter absorbs sweat. In phases of use when the footwear is not is worn, the water in the sweat and other components in the sweat can evaporate again. However, at least some of the components present in the sweat in addition to the water, in particular the table salt, remain at least partially in the footrest 5. When the footwear 1 is worn repeatedly, these non-evaporating sweat components accumulate in the footrest 5 and penetrate in the process getting deeper into this one. Now sweat with dissolved table salt also penetrates into the lower layer 11, and if the window 17 is impermeable to sweat, it first penetrates only into the buffer zone 11b of the lower layer 11 located outside the window in the plan view. The ionic chlorine and at least mainly from dissociated sodium chloride and the other ionic halogens present in the sweat react with the ionic silver present in the buffer zone 11b and are bound by this and excreted as ^" poorly soluble precipitate. If only at least in A region of the buffer zone 11b adjacent to the edge of the indicator zone Ha has all bound and used up, chlorine and other halogen ions can penetrate into the indicator zone Ha from the buffer zone 11b due to the suction effect of the indicator zone Ha and by diffusion Water belonging to sweat enters the indicator zone, and when chlorine and other halogen ions enter the indicator zone, they cause it, at least as soon as their concentration is at least equal to a predetermined one

The limit is a change in the color of the indicator substance.

The indicator zone Ha located under the window 17 could be replaced by an indicator substance that responds to chlorine and possibly other halogen ions can also be provided with an indicator substance which responds to the calcium and magnesium of sweat, for example with the substance known under the trade name eriochrome black. The buffer zone 11b of the lower layer 11 located outside the window 17 in the plan could then contain a complexing agent as a buffer substance, for example the complexing agent known under the trade names EDTA and complex III. If calcium and magnesium ions of the sweat reach the lower layer 11 in such a formation of the lower layer 15, these are first bound and excreted by the complexing agent with the formation of complex salts. If the complexing agent is applied to at least one area of the buffer zone 11b that abuts the window circumference, ion-shaped calcium and magnesium can penetrate into the indicator zone Ha of the lower layer 11 located under the window 17, so that the eriochrome black changes its color.

Furthermore, the indicator zone Ha of the lower layer 17 could be provided with an indicator substance which responds to acid or, more precisely, to falling below a pH limit or limit value range. Such an indicator substance would be, for example, Lackmoid, which in a pH range from 6.4 to 4.4, or bromocresol green, which gives a color change in a pH range from 5.4 to 3.8. In this case, the buffer zone 11b would contain a basic buffer substance which can neutralize a certain amount of acid, so that in this case too, acid only enters the indicator zone when the buffer is in at least one adjacent to the edge of the indicator zone Area of the buffer zone 11 is used up. It would also be possible to provide an indicator substance which only or only responds to a certain acid present in the foot sweat or only to a certain group of such acids. For example, amino acids present in foot sweat with the indicator substance ninhydrin, available from Merck, give a characteristic color reaction. Of course, in this case too, the buffer zone can be provided with a buffer substance for setting the acid or acids, to which the indicator substance reacts by changing the color.

The indicator zone Ha may originally have, for example, the same or a similar color as the surface 19 of the footrest 5 and then take on a color under the influence of the sweat which gives a clear contrast with that of the surface 19. However, it can also be provided that the indicator zone Ha initially has a color which strongly contrasts with the surface 19 and, under the effect of the sweat, assumes a color which is the same or at least similar to that of the surface 19 or which in turn contrasts with it.

Now the sweating is not equally intense everywhere on the entire bottom of the foot. The footrest 1 is now preferably designed in such a way that a visually detectable change, in particular a color change, only takes place and becomes visible in the indicator zone Ha when the main suction layer 15 is at least largely at least below a partial area of the surface 19 at least one non-evaporating or at most partially evaporating sweat component is saturated, ie when the concentration of this sweat component or these sweat components is at least equal to a predetermined limit value in at least one area of the footrest 5. This goal can be achieved by appropriately determining the amount and local distribution of the buffer substance or buffer substances introduced into the footrest 1 during manufacture. The footrest 1 or, more precisely, its buffer zone 11b accordingly contains in the virgin state, ie before sweat penetrates the footrest for the first time, a predetermined, defined amount of at least one buffer substance, its density and concentration in the entire buffer zone 11b is constant, but could possibly also vary locally. A visually visible change of the indicator substance present in the indicator zone Ha naturally takes place at the earliest if at least in an area of the buffer zone 11b adjoining the indicator zone Ha the amount of at least one per unit area of the surface 19 that has reached this buffer zone area detectable sweat component is at least equal to a limit value, namely at least equal to the amount at which the setting ability of the buffer substance is exhausted. Accordingly, a visually detectable change takes place in the indicator zone Ha at the earliest if the amount of at least one detectable welding component per surface unit of the surface 19 which has penetrated through the surface 19 is at least equal to a limit value in at least a region thereof. This latter limit value is equal to or greater than the previously specified limit value for the amount of welding constituents which has reached the buffer zone 11b, because part of the welding constituents remains in the suction layer 15 and does not reach the lower layer. From time to time, the person using the footwear 1 can now visually check whether the indicator zone 11b has partially or completely discolored. If this is the case and if the footwear is washable inside, as is the case for various sports shoes, the footwear can be washed. Otherwise the entire footwear must be replaced.

In the case of the footrest 25 also shown in FIG. 4, which is also formed by an insole, follow from bottom to top, i.e. in the direction running away from the outsole, not shown, a lower layer 31, a membrane-like, semi-permeable layer 33, a suction layer 35, a membrane-like, semi-permeable layer 37, a suction layer 39 and a cover or cover layer 41 on each other. The layers located above the lower layer 31 are provided with an opening which contains or forms a transparent window 47, which can be similar to the window 17. The surface of the footrest facing away from the outsole is designated by 49. The layers 31, 35, 39, 41 are all designed to absorb water and sweat and consist, for example, of non-woven or textile fiber fabric. The lower layer 31 can be analogous to the lower layer 11

Indicator zone 31a with an indicator substance and a buffer zone 31b with a buffer substance. The semipermeable layers 33 and 37 are designed in such a way that the sweat with all its components can penetrate through them from top to bottom. Furthermore, water vapor generated by evaporation from the sweat and other sweat components which have evolved into the vaporous state can also penetrate upward through the semipermeable layers 33, 37. In contrast, at least the semiperme- The layer 33 and preferably also the semipermeable layer 37 are formed in such a way that the indicator substance and preferably also the buffer substance cannot reach the surface 49. Furthermore

5 is preferably at least one of the semipermeable

Layers 33, 37 are formed in such a way that they also contain the or each component present in the sweat in addition to the water, with the sweat component detectable with the indicator substance and advantageously all in addition to the

- "- O water in the sweat, as long as these do not get into the gaseous state through evaporation, only lets them pass from top to bottom.

The semi-permeable layers 33, 37 thus prevent I ⁵ that the indicator substance and not körinen reach the foot of a person conveniently also the buffering agent, the footrest 25 carries a clothing having Fussbe¬. In addition, when the footwear provided with the footrest 25 is worn, the non-evaporating sweat components preferably only pass in significant amounts from the upper suction layer 39 into the lower suction layer 35 when the upper suction layer 39 is at least largely is saturated with the relevant welding components. The same applies to the transition from the suction layer 35 to the lower layer 31.

The footrests can also be modified in other ways

30 footrest 5 between the two layers 11 and 15 a semipermeable layer can be arranged.

Furthermore, it would be possible to provide the entire lower layer 11 or 31 with an indicator substance and therefore in the area of the footrest surrounding the window to provide a layer which contains a buffer substance and forms a buffer zone between the lower layer and the at least one suction layer located above it.

5

The indicator substance and the substance serving as a buffer can possibly also be present in the same zones of the lower layer 11 or 31. You could then, for example, the entire lower layer 11 with a

10 buffer substance and the zone of the lower layer located under the window or possibly also the entire lower layer are provided with an indicator substance.

15 It would also be possible to produce the window 17 from a material that also allows sodium chloride and / or at least one other non-evaporating or only partially evaporating sweat component that can be detected by a visually visible change in the indicator zone. In

In this case, it would be expedient if the zone of the lower layer under the window contains a buffer substance, as has already been mentioned as a possibility.

25 Instead of an indicator substance which responds to at least one salt and / or at least one acid or to ions of at least one dissociated salt and / or at least one dissociated acid, an indicator substance could also be provided which detects the presence of

30 makes other, electrically neutral molecules or atoms visible through a visually detectable change. For example, an indicator substance could be provided that responds to at least one lipid, such as cholesterol, or to glucose.

35th If you provide the indicator zone with a relatively insensitive indicator substance, the color or other optical properties of which only change when the concentration of the sweat component to be detected is relatively high, you can possibly do without a special buffer substance.

Furthermore, one could possibly provide indicator means that respond to a physical effect of an independent welding component by means of a visually visible change or display. For example, an indicator could possibly be provided which responds to the increase in electrical conductivity caused by dissolved salts and acids and which makes this change in conductivity visually visible.

Furthermore, a sole which is removable, removable and replaceable in footwear, such as a shoe or sandal, can also be inserted in an analogous manner with indicator means for visually visualizing the saturation with sodium chloride and / or other, non-evaporating sweat components be provided.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Footrest for a footwear having an outsole (3), with at least one layer of sweat-absorbent material, characterized by indicator means (Ha, 17, 31a, 47) to make it visually visible, if at least one in addition to water Welding constituent present in the sweat reaches a partial area (Ha, 31a) of the footrest and / or if at least in a partial area (11b, 31b) of the footrest the amount of said at least one welding constituent penetrated therein is at least equal is a limit.

2. Footrest according to claim 1, characterized in that it has at least one layer (15, 35, 39, 41) made of a sweat-absorbing, opaque material with a transparent window (17, 47) and on the side facing the outsole (3) of the window (17, 47) has an indicator zone (Ha, 31a) in order to make it visually visible through the window (17, 47) when at least one welding component present in addition to the water shows the indicator zone (Ha, 31a) reached and / or its concentration in this is at least equal to a limit value.

3. Footrest according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it has at least in a partial area an indicator substance, of which at least one optical property, preferably at least the color, can be changed by the action of at least one welding component and that the indicator substance is in a layer (11, 31) which is at least one part free of indicator substance (15, 17, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 47) against that of the outsole (3) avert certain surface (19, 49) of the footrest is separated.

4. Footrest according to claim 3, characterized in that the indicator substance is designed to change the at least one optical property under the action of at least one type of ion present in sweat, the change being caused by, for example, table salt and / or another salt and / or an acid-derived ion and / or can be triggered by falling below a pH limit or limit value range.

5. Footrest according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that at least one semipermeable layer (35, 37) on the side of a layer (31) containing at least one indicator zone (31a) containing indicator substance that is to be turned away from the outsole (3). is present which allows the sweat to pass into the layer (31) containing the indicator substance and the passage of the indicator substance and preferably also the passage of the or each sweat component which is detectable with the latter and is present in addition to water in the opposite direction prevented.

6. Footrest according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by a buffer substance present in it for setting and / or excretion of the sweat constituent detectable with the indicator means or the sweat constituent detectable with the indicator means, so that the indicator means only show a visually detectable change when the sweat which has penetrated into the footrest has used up the buffer substance at least in a partial area of the footrest. 18th

7. Footrest according to claims 2, 3 and 6, characterized in that a buffer zone (11b, 31b) containing the buffer substance is present, which is arranged in such a way that the sweat when wearing one with the footrest (5) provided footwear (1) the buffer zone

(11b, 31b) must pass before it reaches the indicator zone (Ha, 31a).

8. Footrest according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the indicator means (Ha, 17, 31a, 47) are designed to make it visually visible when at least in a portion of the outsole (3) determined to be turned away Surface (19, 49) of the footrest is the quantity of said welding component that has penetrated into the footrest per unit of said surface (19, 49) is at least equal to a limit value.

9. footwear with an outsole (3), characterized by a footrest according to one of claims 1 to 8.

10. Footwear according to claim 9, characterized in that the footrest (5, 35) is formed by an insole of the footwear and / or a removable insert inserted into the latter.