GB2107983A

GB2107983A - Footwear comprising medicament active against athlete's foot

Info

Publication number: GB2107983A
Application number: GB8132711A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William James Walmsley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-10-30
Filing date: 1981-10-30
Publication date: 1983-05-11

Abstract

To minimise the spread of athletes foot in shower baths, a sheet of foamed plastics material incorporates a substance known to be effective against athletes foot. Such a substance, e.g. Canasten, kills the athletes foot fungus by direct contact and is not leached out of the foamed material by water. Such a sheet can be used as a bath mat but is preferably used as the soles of flip flops or as insoles. The sheet can be laminated or otherwise have a higher proportion of the substance on one or both surfaces than the inner layers. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in footwear The present invention concerns footwear of the sandal-type such as flip-flops worn usually without socks or intermediate foot-covering.

The fungus known as "athlete's foot" is spread by the wet floors of shower baths and changing rooms. Fungicidal substances are known which cure athlete's foot and which can be incorporated in talcs or creams; however the use of such substances occur only after athlete's foot is diagnosed and tend merely to keep the condition under control rather than eradicate it. Prior application of these substances would tend to prevent or minimise the risk of catching athlete's foot but this is messy and time-consuming so that few people would bother. It is known to provide insoles for shoes which absorb perspiration odours but these have a minimal effect as far as athlete's foot is concerned at most tending to keep feet drier and less conducive to the growth of athlete's foot fungus.It is impossible to incorporate the known substances in such insoles effectively since the known substances require direct contact with the skin and the insoles are usually worn with socks which separate the skin from the insole. It would be pointless to use such insoles in footwear intended for bare feet since such footwear is normally open and allows air to circulate around the feet keeping them dry and unlikely to smell of perspiration. The present invention aims at providing a convenient way of minimising the risk of catching athlete's foot.

The present invention provides an article of footwear of the sandal type having a sole and an upper part, the upper part being of open construction such that it will normally be worn bare-foot, in which the upper, foot-contacting, surface of the article contains a fungicidal substance known to be effective against athlete's foot.

Conveniently the substance kills the fungus, or at least stunts its growth, by direct contact, is not so water-soluble as to be leached away by water, and is chemically-inert to the material forming the said upper surface. It is thought that the type of sandal known as a "flip-flop" has advantages in that the foot tends to slide around relative to said sole spreading the active substance and also wearing away the surface so exposing fresh substance. Whilst it would be possible to incorporate the substance throughout the thickness of the sole, the cost of the substance will normally lead to the substance being only in a thin layer, This can be achieved either by sprinkling the substance in powder form on the upper surface and anchoring it to that surface by rolling it in or adhesively or by incorporating it in a thin flexible layer which is laminated to the main body of the sole.Excessive heat will destroy the activity of the substance and care must be taken to keep ail manufacturing processes down to below say 1 750C.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying perspective sketch of a flip-flop according to the present invention.

The flip-flow shown comprises a sole 1 and an upper part 2. The upper part is quite conventional and needs no further description except to say it is of open construction. With an open construction, socks look unsightly and are of course not protected against rain or other moisture and as a result the flip-flop will not normally be worn with socks. The sole is cut from a layer 3 of suitable material such as closed cell foamed ethylene vinyl acetate to which has been laminated a thin sheet 4 of a like material but containing before foaming a powder of a fungicidal substance such as Canasten available from Beyer (U.K.) Limited.

When forming the thin sheet, care must be taken to limit the foaming temperature to below 1 750C.

Preferably the thin layer also contains a colourant.

The thickness of the thin layer is dictated by manufacturing considerations since the thickness required by the present invention is less than 1 millimetre. Incorporating the substance as a very fine powder in a closed cell foam minimises any tendency for the ingredient to leach out when the wearer walks through water or otherwise allows the sole to get wet. Wear will continually expose fresh substance.

Another aspect of the present invention provides an insole comprising a thin sheet of cellular material containing a fungicidal substance known to be effective against athlete's foot. Such an insole can be used loose in a suitable sandal or open shoe of a style conducive to barefoot wear, or can be stuck permanently in place in such an item of footwear or can be secured within a knitted or other sock forming a cross between a slipper and a sock which cross can be worn inside an outdoor shoe.

A further aspect of the present invention provides a sheet of foam material incorporating a fungicidal substance known to be effective against athlete's foot.

The said sheet can be used to make the insoles or can be used as a bath mat. The foam material can be E.V.A. foamed closed cell plastics material and the fungicidal substance Canasten. For bath mat use the sheet can be backed with other material or can be made double-sided.

1. A sheet of foam material incorporating a fungicidal substance known to be effective against athlete's foot.

2. A sheet according to claim 1 wherein the foam material is E.V.A. closed-cell plastics material.

3. A sheet according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the substance is concentrated in at least one surface.

4. A sheet according to claim 3 wherein the substance is sprinkled on the said at least one surface and attached thereto adhesively or by rolling it into the said surface.

5. A sheet according to claim 3 wherein the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in footwear The present invention concerns footwear of the sandal-type such as flip-flops worn usually without socks or intermediate foot-covering. The fungus known as "athlete's foot" is spread by the wet floors of shower baths and changing rooms. Fungicidal substances are known which cure athlete's foot and which can be incorporated in talcs or creams; however the use of such substances occur only after athlete's foot is diagnosed and tend merely to keep the condition under control rather than eradicate it. Prior application of these substances would tend to prevent or minimise the risk of catching athlete's foot but this is messy and time-consuming so that few people would bother. It is known to provide insoles for shoes which absorb perspiration odours but these have a minimal effect as far as athlete's foot is concerned at most tending to keep feet drier and less conducive to the growth of athlete's foot fungus.It is impossible to incorporate the known substances in such insoles effectively since the known substances require direct contact with the skin and the insoles are usually worn with socks which separate the skin from the insole. It would be pointless to use such insoles in footwear intended for bare feet since such footwear is normally open and allows air to circulate around the feet keeping them dry and unlikely to smell of perspiration. The present invention aims at providing a convenient way of minimising the risk of catching athlete's foot. The present invention provides an article of footwear of the sandal type having a sole and an upper part, the upper part being of open construction such that it will normally be worn bare-foot, in which the upper, foot-contacting, surface of the article contains a fungicidal substance known to be effective against athlete's foot. Conveniently the substance kills the fungus, or at least stunts its growth, by direct contact, is not so water-soluble as to be leached away by water, and is chemically-inert to the material forming the said upper surface. It is thought that the type of sandal known as a "flip-flop" has advantages in that the foot tends to slide around relative to said sole spreading the active substance and also wearing away the surface so exposing fresh substance. Whilst it would be possible to incorporate the substance throughout the thickness of the sole, the cost of the substance will normally lead to the substance being only in a thin layer, This can be achieved either by sprinkling the substance in powder form on the upper surface and anchoring it to that surface by rolling it in or adhesively or by incorporating it in a thin flexible layer which is laminated to the main body of the sole.Excessive heat will destroy the activity of the substance and care must be taken to keep ail manufacturing processes down to below say 1 750C. An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying perspective sketch of a flip-flop according to the present invention. The flip-flow shown comprises a sole 1 and an upper part 2. The upper part is quite conventional and needs no further description except to say it is of open construction. With an open construction, socks look unsightly and are of course not protected against rain or other moisture and as a result the flip-flop will not normally be worn with socks. The sole is cut from a layer 3 of suitable material such as closed cell foamed ethylene vinyl acetate to which has been laminated a thin sheet 4 of a like material but containing before foaming a powder of a fungicidal substance such as Canasten available from Beyer (U.K.) Limited. When forming the thin sheet, care must be taken to limit the foaming temperature to below 1 750C. Preferably the thin layer also contains a colourant. The thickness of the thin layer is dictated by manufacturing considerations since the thickness required by the present invention is less than 1 millimetre. Incorporating the substance as a very fine powder in a closed cell foam minimises any tendency for the ingredient to leach out when the wearer walks through water or otherwise allows the sole to get wet. Wear will continually expose fresh substance. Another aspect of the present invention provides an insole comprising a thin sheet of cellular material containing a fungicidal substance known to be effective against athlete's foot. Such an insole can be used loose in a suitable sandal or open shoe of a style conducive to barefoot wear, or can be stuck permanently in place in such an item of footwear or can be secured within a knitted or other sock forming a cross between a slipper and a sock which cross can be worn inside an outdoor shoe. A further aspect of the present invention provides a sheet of foam material incorporating a fungicidal substance known to be effective against athlete's foot. The said sheet can be used to make the insoles or can be used as a bath mat. The foam material can be E.V.A. foamed closed cell plastics material and the fungicidal substance Canasten. For bath mat use the sheet can be backed with other material or can be made double-sided. CLAIMS

5. A sheet according to claim 3 wherein the sheet is formed as a laminate of a foam material including the substance and a foam material not including the substance.

6. An insole for a shoe cut from a sheet as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

7. An insole for a shoe of a style conducive to barefoot wear or for securing within a knitted or other sock comprising a thin sheet of cellular material containing a fungicidal substance known to be effective against athlete's foot.

8. An article of footwear of the sandal type having a sole and an upper part, the upper part being of open construction such that it will normally be worn barefoot, in which the upper, foot-contacting, surface of the sole contains a fungicidal substance known to be effective against athlete's foot.

9. A flip-flop sandal substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.