GB2267425A

GB2267425A - Improvements to footwear soles.

Info

Publication number: GB2267425A
Application number: GB9216021A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hon Leong Wong
Original assignee: KAM YOONG SHOE MANUFACTURER
Current assignee: KAM YOONG SHOE MANUFACTURER
Priority date: 1992-05-27
Filing date: 1992-07-28
Publication date: 1993-12-08
Also published as: GB9216021D0

Abstract

A sole for footwear wherein the sole includes a plurality of islands (13, 15, 24, 26, 28, 38) and connecting ridges (14). Some of the islands include magnets (16, 18, 32, 34, 36) secured in a manner so as to provide a good surface skin contact with the foot of the wearer. Other islands include prominent stubs (22) on the foot of the wearer when the footwear is worn. Such footwear enhances the stimulation of the reflexological points in the sole of the foot of the wearer. <IMAGE>

Description

Improvements to Footwear Soles The present invention relates to certain improvements to footwear soles, in particular relates to footwear soles which has incorporated therein on the surface at specific pre-determined positions magnetic islands and islands comprising prominent studs. The incorporation of magnetic islands and prominent studs in certain positions on the soles further enhances the therapeutic characteristics of such footwears soles. In the inventor's previous invention as disclosed in Malaysian Certificate for Utility Innovation MY 100240-A thare is disclosed a footwear sole incorporating metallic copper on the surface which enhances therapeutic characteristics of copper on the human body. In subsequent inventions, the inventor has introduced footwear soles contoured to include mounts corresponding to reflex zones in the soles of the foot.Recent studies in the field of reflexology here shown that the incorporation of magnets and prominent studs in specific areas of the soles, further enhances the therapeutic values of such footwear soles.

Thus it is an object of the present invention to provide a sole for a footwear which includes a plurality of magnets and studs at specific positions on the surface of the sole to correspond to reflex zones in the soles of the feet which are responsive to magnetic forces.

The present invention includes a footwear for the right and left sole. The footwears include a plurality of islands and connecting ridges, both of which are generally higher than the general surface of the sole. The islands and ridges correspond to the reflex points in the soles. The said islands include magnets and stubs.

In another aspect of the invention, the magnets are secured to some of the islands in such a manner that substantially a large surface area is in skin contact with the foot of the wearer. The stubs in some of the other islands, are prominently enhanced so as to enhance the massaging effect of the stubs on the foot of the wearer.

For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects, features, and advantages, ' reference should be had to the following description of a preferred embodiment which should be read with reference to the appended drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sole for the left foot.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the soles for the right and left foot.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view along line AA of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view along line BB of Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a perspective view of a left foot sole. (10). To facilitate the description,the sole can be divided into three imaginary thirds. The first third (marked R) includes on its lower outer edge region a semi-circular like first island (12); the said island continuing as a broad ridge (14) towards the central areas of the sole and thereafter the ridge continues downwards and outwards to the inner side of the sole. The first third "R" of the sole also includes two other smaller islands (13, 15). The second island (i3) is at the turning point of the broad ridge (14). The third island (15) which is bell shaped is placed at the periphery of the inner sole edge. The first island (12) includes at the mid portion, at least one but preferably two magnets (16, 18).

The said magnets (16, 18) are secured in such a manner that the a substantial part of the upper surface is exposed to the outside.

Another magnet (20) is secured to the broad ridge (14) and is positioned adjacent to the turning point of the ridge and at substantially along the central longitudinal areas of the sole.

The third island (13) includes a plurality of stubs (22), which stubs are conical or semihemispherical in shape.

The second third region of the sole (marked S in Figure 1) includes four prominent islands (24, 26, 28, 30). The two islands proximate to the external side of the left foot (24, 26) includes a plurality of stubs (22) , as contained in island (13). As before, the stubs can be conical or hemispherical in shape. The third island lying across the central longitudinal areas of the sole (28) and the fourth island (30) includes at least one magnet each. It is preferred that the third island (28) includes one magnet (32), and the fourth island (30) includes at least two magnets (34, 36).

The last third region of the sole (marked "T" in Figure 1) includes a circular island (38) lying across the central longitudinal areas of the sole.

This island (38) includes a magnet (40).

The magnets incorporated into the sole, can be secured to the sole in ay known means of fastening. Preferably the peripheral edges of the magnets are enclosed by brackets (42) which are an integral part of the sole. This configuration facilitates the easy securement of the magnets onto the sole. The magnets can be advantageously covered by aesthetically attractive magnetic covering surfaces.

The sole for the right leg footwear, is substantially a mirror image of the left leg footwear. The same numerals are used to identify the corresponding islands ridges, magnets and stubs.

Claims

1. A sole for footwear (10) consisting of a plurality of islands, - and connecting ridges corresponding to reflex points in the soles of the feet characterised in that the-islands include magnets (16, 18, 32, 34, 36, 40) and stubs (22).

2. A sole for footwear as claimed in claim 1 wherein the magnets (16, 14, 34, 36, 40) are secured to the islands in a manner such that substantially a large surface area is in skin contact with the foot of the wearer.

3. A sole for footwear as claimed in claim 1 wherein the stubs (22) are prominently positioned in the islands so as to enhance the massaging effect of the stubs on the foot of the wearer.

4. A sole for footwear as claimed in any of tlle claims 1 to 3 above wherein the first island incorporating the stubs is positioned within the first third region (R) of the sole and the next two islands (24, 26) incorporating the stubs are positioned within the second third region (S) of the sole.

5. A sole for footwear as of the kind described substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

6. A sole for footwear of the kind described, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 1.