GB2309625A

GB2309625A - Friction producing insole to reduce slipping of foot within footwear

Info

Publication number: GB2309625A
Application number: GB9701664A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brendon O'reilly
Original assignee: REILLY BRENDON O
Current assignee: REILLY BRENDON O
Priority date: 1996-02-03
Filing date: 1997-01-28
Publication date: 1997-08-06
Also published as: GB9701664D0

Abstract

An insole 1 comprising a friction inducing material for introduction between an article of footwear and a user's sock or stocking to reduce slipping of the foot within the footwear when in use. Said insole comprising an elastomeric base layer 2 capable of being shaped to conform to the configuration of the user's foot, supporting an array 3 of upstanding elements such as loops, bristles, or other elements 4 capable of frictionally engaging the fibres of a user's sock or stocking. In one embodiment the insole comprises a backing layer 13 which is attached on one side to a layer of the material providing the upstanding elements 4 and to the elastomeric base layer 2 on the other side.

Description

METHOD AND MEANS FOR REDUCING RELATIVE MOVEMENTS This invention relates to methods and means for reducing relative movements/slippage between materials In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to the provision of methods for and means for reducing relative movements between an article of footwear and an user's foot when within the article of footwear.

It is well known in connection with the wearing of footwear that the foot size of a user of footwear such as shoes, sports boots, sports shoes, and the like frequently lies between two recognised standard sizes for articles of footwear so that such user is faced with a somewhat difficult choice when purchasing/using footwear.

This situation arises from two major reasons, a first is that the length of a user's foot often falls between two standard sizes i.e., one size too small and the other size too large. A second major reason is that for many persons, if not most persons, one foot is slightly dimensionally different i.e., longer, broader or otherwise larger than the other thereby resulting in the situation above mentioned.

As a result the user is faced with having to decide whether or not to purchase and use footwear that is too small for comfortable use so that the user is likely to undergo difficulties during use of the footwear such as pain from compressed feet or to obtain footwear that is slightly too large whereby whilst the aforesaid compression is avoided during use, the user's foot is able to displace within the article of footwear being used.

Whilst in general terms this latter situation does not subject the user's feet to compressive forces (which can be extremely painful) there is createddanother user problem in that the oversize condition makes it possible for a foot when in the article of footwear to undergo during use continuous relatively easy displacement within the article of footwear. Such undesirable relative movements between a foot and an article of footwear can (and frequently does) result in the formation of skin blisters, sores etc., Such )blisters and/or sores are usually extremely painful. In addition, since in each case of blisters/sores rupture of skin tissue is liable to occur there is produced a user situation in which a user's foot can readily become poisoned through the ingress of dirt and undesirable bacteria.

In practice, this situation is not eliminated by the wearing by the user of socks/stockings since the above mentioned undesired movement often results in variable gripping interaction between a user's sock, stocking or the like and his foot so that conditions are created which can still result in the user's skin still being damaged.

A further cause of the slippage between a user sock or stocking and an article of footwear arises from the use of man-made fibres in the production of the user's socks or stockings. It has been noticed that socks or stockings incorporating man-made fibres are more prone to the undesired relative movements as compared with a user's socks or stockings when formed from natural fibres such as wool and/or cotton.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a means whereby the freedom of displacement of a user's foot within an article of footwear is inhibited.

According to a first aspevt of the invention thre is provided a method for facilitating reduction of undesired relative displacements between an article of footwear and a user's sock or stocking by providing a friction producing material between the article of footwear and the user's sock or stocking.

Preferably, the friction producing material is formed by an insole element adaptable for interpositioning between the foot supporting part of the interior of an article of footwear and a sock or stocking of a user, the insole element presenting towards the sock or stocking a non-continuous surface that is able to engage with the fibres of such user sock or stocking thereby the reduce the possibility of relative movement between the user sock or stocking and the article of footwear.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention there is provided an arrangement for facilitating reduction of undesired relative displacements between an article of footwear and a user's sock or stocking comprising a friction producing material adapted for introduction between the article of footwear and the user's sock or stocking.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how to carry the same into effect reference will now be made to the accompnying drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates a cross-section of footwear insole for providing means for reducing relative movement in accordance with the concepts of the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of a sheet of material from which the insole shown in Figure 1 can be formed; and Figure 3 is a schematic representation of an article of footwear, a user's foot clad with a sock, and the insole means for reducing said relative movement.

Referring now to Figure 1, this illustrates a particular construction of an insole 1 adaptable for introduction into the interior of the article of footwear (not shown in Figure 1) which includes a primary/base layer 2 of a elastomeric material shaped or shapable to conform to the configuration of the user's foot (not shown in Figure 1) and the sole support region of the interior of the article of footwear (not shown in Figure 1) into which it is desired to introduce the insole 1. The layer 2 serves to support an array 3 of the upstanding elements 4 such as loops, bristles, or other elements capable of frictionally engaging with a user sock thereby the reduce relative movement between the user sock or stocking and the article of footwear.

In particular, the upstanding elements 4 such as bristles, fibres, loops or other elements can be a ramdomly or regularly arranged within the array.

The insole 1 is conveniently made from sheet material 5 of such size that the sheet (Figure 2) can be custom tailored to a desired size for to provide the insole 1 for a user's article of footwear by being cutting the sheet 5 to the required size with, for example, a knife, pair of scissors etc., down to a piece of sheet of a size and shape required to permit its introduction and use as an insole with the article of footwear in question.

This possibliity is schematically indicated in Figure 2 which illustrates the general cut shape of the insole 1, together with a series of cutting lines 6 which can be provided to assist a user in cutting the sheet material 5 to a required size.

Referring now to Figure 3 this Figure very schematically illustrates in a see-through fashion an article of footwear 7. In the Figure 3 an article of footwear suitable for use as a football, rugby or hockey boot is shown. The article of footwear includes the usual sole section 8, uppers 9 and lacing-up region 10, together with a conventional pattern of studs 11.

The sole section 8 can be of any form as is used in connction with articles of footwear and would as conventional present an upper surface 12 considered appropriate by the manufacturer thereof. In practice, this surface 12 presents smooth surface characteristics.

As above mentioned the insole 1 of the present invention is cut from the aforesaid sheet material 5 so that it will correctly fit into the footwear. The insole thus cut out is intended to rest upon the foot supporting surface 12 of the shoe to provide a friction reducing article within the article of footwear.

In a specific embodiment the array 3 of upstanding elements 4 includes a backing or support layer 13 upon which is provided a layer 14 of the material providing the elements 4. This layer 14 can be produced as a woven material woven in such manner as to produce the upstanding elements 4. In the Figures these are shown as loops. This woven material layer is conveniently formed from a pllastics materail polyurethane. Also natural materials can be used.

In practice, the materials utlised for the formation of the upstanding elements need to exhibit a combination of resistance to crushing through the weight of a user's foot pressing thereupon combined with a resiliency that allows the elements to flex adequately to return to their unloaded positions and also to deflect sufficiently as to permit he requisite initiation of the friction gripping.

In practice, the support layer 14 can be held in a tensioned or stetched condition as it is applied to the backing layer 13 and secured thereto by a suitable adhesive applied to this layer on the side thereof remote from the loops. With this arrangement the backing layer 13 retains the woven material 14 in an laid out form. The formation of the woven material can be such as to produce an array of upstanding loops in the weave. The thus woven looped material once mounted to its on its backing layer 13 is then secured to an elastomeric backing sheet forming the base layer 2.

With a view to reducing user foot odours that can arise through usage of an article of footwear. The outer surface of the base layer 2 of the thus formed insoles 1 is preferably coated with a layer 16 of activated carbon, the latter being flame bonded to the insole backing layer 2.

In practice, the above mentioned sizing lines 6 are provided on the charcoal layer 16 by any convenient method i.e., printing, spraying through a suitable mask etc.

It has been noted that the provision of the carbon layer additionally assists in preventing relative displacement between the insole and the article of footwear.

As so far discussed the friction producing material, i.e., the aforesaid elements 4 are formed from sheet material incorporating looped parts similar to the loops of a loop and hook joining system.

In practice, the friction providing material can take the form of bristles which can be randomly or regularly applied to a support layer by any convenient means.

If desired, insole providing sheet material can be provided which incorporate both randomness and regularity in the arrangement of the upstanding elements.

Also mixtures of loops and bristles can be provided.

Conveniently, the upstanding elements covers the whole of the upper surface of the insole.

Bearing in mind that the thickness of user socks and/or stockings can vary this factor can be taken into account by providing for different upstanding heights for the aforesaid upstanding elements 4. Thus, for example, insoles with longer length elements can be associated with insoles for use with thick socks or stockings and insoles with shorter length elements can be associated with thin socks or stockings.

As so far described, the insole incorporating the concepts of the invention can be constructed so as additionally to provide a cushioning effect to the user's foot whilst also serving slightly to reduce the effective size of the article of footwear to a size suitable for the user's foot/footwear combination by forming the support layer from a suitably compressible/cushioning material.

It will be noted that where differently sized feet are concerned with a user the insoles in accordance with the concepts of the invention can be additionally selected so as to assist in counteracting the problem i.e., by utilising different thicknesses for each insole of a pair selected to counteract differences in the size of the user's feet.

The above mentioned cushioning material can, if desired, be provided beneath the friction producing upstanding elements arrangements.

In a further construction, the enhanced friction capability is created by producing upon a base layer a roughened surface establishing or simulating the plurality of upstanding elements.

As has been mentioned, the formation of the friction producing material is such as to provide a surface to the insole which is so able to interact with the material of a user sock or stocking as to provide a gripping effect between the material of the user sock or stocking and the friction producing material. In other words, the sock or stocking is restrained from easy displacement relative to the article of footwear involved.

In use, the commencement of relative displacement between the friction producing material and the user sock or stocking will produce a gripping action which at least reduces such relative displacements.

It has been found in connection with the proposals of the invention that the purchase between the a user's foot and the sock or stocking worn on such foot is improved.

As a consequence of the utilisation of the insole incorporating the concepts of the invention it has been noticed that a consequence of the enhanced grip between the user's foot and the associated article of footwear is that the insole of the invention acts additionally in such a manner as to assist in the natural pumping action of the sole of the foot thereby to improve circulation.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating reduction of undesired relative displacements between an article of footwear and a user's sock or stocking by providing a friction producing material between the article of footwear and the user's sock or stocking.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, and in which the friction producing material is formed by an insole element adaptable for interpositioning between the foot supporting part of the interior of an article of footwear and a sock or stocking of a user, the insole element presenting towards the sock or stocking a non-continuous surface that is able to engage with the fibres of such user sock or stocking thereby the reduce the possibility of relative movement between the user sock or stocking and the article of footwear.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, and in which a plurality of elements upstanding therefrom provides the friction reducing material,

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, and including the step of forming a sheet of material including a plurality of upstanding elements on a base layer forming a substrate, introducing the sheet of material into the article of footewear to provide an insole such that the upstanding elements are able physically to cooperate with a user sock or stocking when engaged in said article of footwear in such manner as effectively to reduce relative movement between the user sock or stocking and the article of footwear.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, and including the step of forming said elements by providing an array of upstanding loop like parts on the substrate sheet.

6. A method as claimed in claim 4, and including the step of providing a plurality of bristles to form said elements.

7. A method as claimed in claim 5, and including the step of providing a plurality of upstanding loop like parts on sheet of supporting material, and cutting said loops so as effectively to form said elements.

8. An arrangement for facilitating reduction of undesired relative displacements between an article of footwear and a user's sock or stocking comprising a friction producing material adapted for introduction between the article of footwear and the user's sock or stocking.

9. An arrangement as claimed in claim 8, and wherein the friction producing material is formed by an insole element adaptable for interpositioning between the foot supporting part of the interior of an article of footwear and a sock or stocking of a user, the insole element presenting towards the sock or stocking a non-continuous surface that is able to engage with the fibres of such user sock or stocking thereby the reduce the possibility of relative movement between the user sock or stocking and the article of footwear.

10. An arrangement as claimed in claim 7, wherein the insole element includes a sheet-like base layer, and wherein said friction producing material incorporates a plurality of elements upstanding from the base layer so as to be able physically to cooperate with a user sock or stocking in such manner as effectively to reduce relative movement between the user sock or stocking and the article of footwear.

11. An arrangement claimed in claim 10, and wherein a plurality of bristles forms said elements.

12 An arrangement as claimed in claim 10, and wherein a plurality of upstanding loop like parts forms said elements.

13 An arrangement as claimed in claim 12, wherein the insole includes a backing or support layer upon which is mounted a layer of woven material providing the elements 4, and wherein the backing or support layer secured to the surface of an elastomeric backing sheet.

14. An arrangement as claimed in claim 12 or 13, and wherein a layer of activated carbon is applied to the the other surface of the base layer.

15. An arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 13, wherein the upstanding elements comprise a plastics material.

16. An arrangement as claimed in claim 15, wherein upstanding elelemnts care formed from polyurathane.

17. An arrangement for facilitating reduction of undesired relative displacements between an article of footwear and a user's sock or stocking substantially, as hereinbefore described with rference ro Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.