GB2350278A

GB2350278A - Gel-containing footwear

Info

Publication number: GB2350278A
Application number: GB0010624A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Arthur Charles Chown
Original assignee: INTERNET WORLD SPORT
Current assignee: INTERNET WORLD SPORT
Priority date: 1999-05-24
Filing date: 2000-05-03
Publication date: 2000-11-29
Also published as: AU4766400A; GB0010624D0; WO2000070986A1

Abstract

An article of footwear (2, Fig. 1) comprises a gel suitable for treating foot problems. Typically, the gel contains a medicament and may be located in a reservoir 16 in a sole 4 of the footwear. The sole preferably comprises a plurality of interconnecting passageways 12 which extend through the reservoir between a heel region 10 and a toe region 14 of the sole. The reservoir may be positioned at a part of the sole which, in use, receives either the ball or the heel of a user's foot. Alternatively, the gel may be located in an upper (6, Fig. 1) of the footwear or between top and bottom layers (32, 34, Fig. 9) of an insole, wherein the top layer may include one or more apertures (38, Fig. 8) to allow the gel to escape. A footwear system comprising the article of footwear and a dispenser adapted to dispense the gel into the footwear are also disclosed.

Description

2350278 AN ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR This invention relates to an article of

footwear.

There are many different types and styles of articles of footwear. They all generally suffer from the problem that when they are worn, foot odours and infections can occur. The problem is especially prevalent with articles of footwear which have closed uppers such for example as sports footwear known as trainers. There are various sprays and insoles containing substances for combating the foot odours and infections. In the case of sprays, a sprayed substance into an article of footwear does not last very long. In the case of insoles, the insoles tend to curl up inside the article of footwear.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an article of 15 footwear comprising a sole, an upper, and a substance used for treating foot problems in the article of footwear, characterised in that the substance is in the form of a gel.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a footwear system comprising:

i) at least one article of footwear having a sole and an upper, the article of footwear being provided with means for receiving and storing a substance used for treating foot problems; and ii) a dispenser containing and adapted to dispense the substance into the receiving and storage means; characterised in that the substance is in the form of a gel.

In one embodiment of the invention, the gel is in the sole.

The gel may be in a plurality of interconnecting passageways in the sole. The interconnecting passageways may extend from a heel of the sole to a toe part of the sole.

The interconnecting passageways may extend through a reservoir for the gel. The reservoir is preferably at a part of the sole that receives the ball of a person's foot when the article of footwear is being worn.

In another embodiment of the invention, the gel is still in the sole but the interconnecting passageways are not employed. The gel is just present in a reservoir in the sole, for example in a part of the sole that receives the ball of a person's foot when the article of footwear is being worn. The gel may be in other positions if desired.

Advantageously, the gel may be supplied by way of a pressurised container or aerosol-type dispenser. For example, the reservoir or the interconnecting passageways may communicate with an exterior portion of the article of footwear by way of a passageway which opens onto the exterior portion, advantageously by way of a one-way inlet valve. When further gel needs to be supplied, the pressurised container or aerosol-type dispenser may be connected to the passageway or one-way inlet valve and gel may then be dispensed under pressure into the reservoir or the interconnecting passageways. The one-way inlet valve, where fitted, helps to keep the gel within the article of footwear.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the gel is in an inner sole of the article of footwear. In this case, the inner sole may comprise a layer of the gel sandwiched between upper and lower inner sole layers, the upper inner sole layer having at least one and preferably a plurality of apertures through which the gel is able to escape when the article of footwear is being worn. The upper and lower inner sole layers may be made of a synthetic material. Generally they may be made of any suitable and appropriate material.

2 In a yet flirther embodiment of the invention, the gel is in the upper. In this case, the gel may be provided in any suitable and appropriate part of the upper.

The substance used for the foot problems may be any one of the known and currently available substances for use with foot problems such for example as foot odours and foot infections. Thus, for example, the substance may be at least one of an antibacterial agent, an anti-fungal agent, an anti-viral agent, an anti-allergenic agent, and a deodorant. All the substance has to do is to be able to be formulated as a gel and then it can act in its normal manner. Because the substance is in the form of a gel, it will provide for a longer effective use of the substance for treating the foot problems than would be the case if the substance for treating the foot problems were sprayed directly into the article of footwear.

Advantageously, the gel is such that it shrinks with use and eventually disappears when it has all been used up. More gel can then be provided as desired.

Preferably, the gel is slow release gel. Other types of gel may however be employed.

When the gel is a slow release gel, then the gel may have a gelling agent comprising a hydroxyalkyl cellulose preferably having 2-5 carbon atoms in the alkyl group. The hydroxyalkyl cellulose may be hydroxyalkyl methyl cellulose or hydroxyalkyl ethyl cellulose. The gelling agent may alternatively be an alkali metal carboxyalkyl cellulose, an i metal alginate, xanthan gum, carrageenan, agar, a naturally occurring clay, a synthetic clay, a polyacrylate, a polyaerylic: acid, or a polyamide. Generally, any suitable and appropriate gelling agent may be employed.

The gel may include a disinfectant substance. The disinfectant substance may be a quaternary ammonium compound. The quaternary ammonium compound may be an alkyl trimethyl ammonium salt pre&rably having 12-18 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, a dialkyldimethyl ammonium salt preferably having 12-18 carbon atoms in the 3 alkyl group, a chlorine compound, a phenolic compound, a peracid, or an amphoteric disinfectant. The chlorine compound may be sodium hypochlorite. The phenolic compound may be that sold under the trade mark Triclosan. The peracid may be peracetic acid. The amphoteric disinfectant may be that sold under the trade mark Tego 2000.

The gel may include an allergenic neutralising compound. The allergenic neutralising compound may be, for example, tannic acid.

The article of footwear of the present invention may be any suitable and appropriate type of footwear in any suitable and appropriate type of style. Thus, for example, the article of footwear may be a trainer, a shoe, a boot, a wellington, or a sandal. The article of footwear may be for men, women or children. The sole and the upper can be of any suitable and appropriate design.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of an article of footwear; 20 FIGURE 2 is a side view of a sole forming part of the article of footwear shown in Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the sole shown in Figure 2; 25 FIGURE 4 is a side view of an inner sole forming part of the article of footwear shown in Figure 1; FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the inner sole shown in Figure 4; 30 4 FIGURE 6 is a plan view of a piece of a substance used for treating foot problems in an article of footwear; FIGURE 7 is a section through the piece of the substance shown in Figure 6; 5 FIGURE 8 is a plan view of an inner sole; and FIGURE 9 is a section through the inner sole shown in Figure 8.

Referring to Figures 1-5, there is shown an article of footwear 2 comprising a sole 4 and an upper 6. The article of footwear 2 includes a substance (not shown) for treating foot problems in the article of footwear 2. The substance is in the form of a gel and it is introduced into the article of footwear 2 via a non-return valve 8 provided in a heel 10 of the sole 4. When the gel has been introduced into the sole 4, it passes into a plurality of interconnecting passageways 12 which are shown in Figures 2 and 3. The interconnecting passageways 12 pass from the heel 10 of the sole 4 to a toe part 14 of the sole 4. The interconnecting passageways 12 pass through a reservoir 16 for the gel. As can be seen from Figures 2 and 3, the reservoir 16 is at a part 18 of the sole 4 that receives the ball of a person's foot when the article of footwear 2 is being worn.

The gel may be injected into the. sole 4 through the non-return valve 8 using a syringe device or an aerosol device or from a pressurised container. The gel is forced under pressure into the interconnecting passageways 12. Once the gel is in position, it is then able to slow release through apertures 20 in the sole, and then through apertures 22 in an inner sole 24 which rests on an upper surface of the sole 4. This method of slow releasing the necessary active substances in the gel is able to provide effective foot care treatment for prolonged periods, for example for up to six months. At the end of its active life, the gel will have disappeared and then the sole 4 will be ready for receiving a further filling of new gel. In addition to the prolonged and controlled slow release of the substance for treating foot problems, the dispersal is over substantially the entire area of the sole 4 due to the provision of the interconnecting passageways 12 and the apertures 20, 22. Gel that starts to get used up in the interconnecting passageways 12 is able to be replenished by gel from the reservoir 16. A person walking or running with the article of footwear 2 on their foot, causes pressure to be exerted on the reservoir 16 which is thus able to force gel in the reservoir 16 along the interconnecting passageways 12. This gel cannot be squeezed out through the valve 8 since the valve 8 is a non-return valve 8.

Referring now to Figures 6 and 7, there is shown a piece of gel substance 28 which is for use in treating foot problems in an article of footwear. The piece of gel substance 28 can be placed in the reservoir 16 and then the sole 4 does not require the non return valve 8. With such an arrangement, the reservoir 16 needs to be open at its top face in order to enable the insertion of the piece of gel substance 28. This provision of the piece of gel substance 28 is able to provide enough of the substance for all of the apertures 22 in the inner sole 24. Thus the interconnecting passageways 12 shown in Figure 3 can be dispensed with in the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 6 and 7. When the piece of gel substance 28 has been used up, it is simply necessary to lift the inner sole 24 and insert a new piece of gel substance 28 in the reservoir 16. 20 Referring now to Figures 8 and 9, there is shown an embodiment of the invention in which a gel substance 30 used in treating foot problems in an article of footwear is sandwiched between an upper layer 32 of a synthetic material and a lower layer 34 of the synthetic material. Any suitable and appropriate type of man-made material may be employed. The entire composition is in the form of an inner sole 36 as can best be appreciated from Figure 8. The upper layer 32 is provided with apertures 38 through which the gel substance 30 is released during use of an article of footwear containing the inner sole 36. The apertures 38 are appropriately dispersed all over the upper layer 32 of the inner sole 36.

6 Any suitable and appropriate type of gel substance may be employed in the article of footwear described with reference to the drawings. Thus, for example, the gel substance may be semi-viscous in nature. The gel substance may contain compounds which have one or more of an antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-allergenic activity. Thus, for example, typical gels may include a hydroxyalkyl cellulose having 2-5 carbon atoms in the alkyl group. Examples of such hydroxyalkyl celluloses include hydroxyalkyl methyl cellulose and hydroxyalkyl ethyl cellulose. Examples of other compositions are alkali metal carboxyalkyl celluloses, alkali metal alginates, xanthan gum, carrageenan, agar, naturally occurring and synthetic clays, polyacrylates, polyacrylic acids, polyamides, and any other suitable and appropriate thickening/gelling agents.

The gel substance may include disinfectants such for example as quaternary ammonium compounds. Examples of such quaternary ammonium compounds are alkali trimethyl ammonium salts and dialkyldimethyl ammonium salts having from 12-18 carbon atoms in the alkyl group. Other disinfectants may be chorine compounds such for example as sodium hypochlorite, phenolics such for example as Triclosan made by Ciba Geigy, peracids such for example as peracetic acid, and amphoteric disinfectants such for example as Tego 2000 made by Th. Goldschnidt.

An anti-allergenic compound may be, for example, tannic acid.

The gel composition may include any suitable and appropriate type of pleasant smelling substance for helping to mask any foot odours. Thus any suitable and appropriate type of perfume may be employed.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the gel substance may be provided in another part of the article of footwear, for example in the upper 6 shown in Figure 1.

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Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An article of footwear comprising a sole, an upper, and a substance used for treating foot problems in the article of footwear, characterised in that the substance is 5 in the form of a gel.

2. An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gel is in the sole.

3. An article as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sole includes a reservoir in 10 which the gel is located.

4. An article as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the sole includes a plurality of interconnecting passageways in which the gel is located.

5. An article as claimed in claim 4, wherein the interconnecting passageways extend from a heel part of the sole to a toe part of the sole.

6. An article as claimed in claim 4 depending from claim 3 or as claimed in claim 5, wherein at least one of the interconnecting passageways passes through the 20 reservoir.

7. An article as claimed in claim 3 or any one of claims 4 to 6 depending from claim 3, wherein the reservoir is located at a part of the sole that receives a ball of a person's foot when the article is being worn.

8. An article as claimed in claim 3 or any one of claims 4 to 6 depending from claim 3, wherein the reservoir is located at a part of the sole that receives a heel of a person's foot when the article is being worn.

9. An article as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the sole includes an aperture through which the gel may be supplied to the sole.

8 10. An article as claimed in claim 9, wherein the aperture is provided with a oneway inlet valve.

11. An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gel is in an inner sole of the article.

12. An article as claimed in claim 11, wherein the inner sole comprises a layer of gel sandwiched between upper and lower inner sole layers.

13. An article as claimed in claim 12, wherein the upper inner sole layer includes at least one aperture through which the gel may escape when the article is being WOM.

14. An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gel is in the upper.

15. An article as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the gel includes at least one substance selected from the group comprising: an anti-bacterial agent, an antifungal agent, an anti-viral agent, an antiallergenic agent and a deodorant.

16. An article as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the gel is such that it shrinks with use.

17. An article as claimed in claim 16, wherein the gel is such that it eventually 25 disappears after a predetermined period of use.

18. An article as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the gel is a slow release gel.

19. An article as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the gel includes at least one gelling agent selected from the group comprising: a hydroxyalkyl cellulose, an 9 alkali metal carboxyalkyl cellulose, an alkali metal alginate, xanthan gum, carrageenan, agar, a naturally occurring clay, a synthetic clay, a polyacrylate, a polyacrylic acid and a polyamide.

21. An article as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the gel includes at least one disinfectant substance.

22. An article as claimed in claim 21, wherein the at least one disinfectant substance is selected from the group comprising: a quaternary ammonium compound, an alkyl trimethyl ammonium salt, a dialkyldimethyl ammonium salt, a chlorine compound, a phenolic compound, a peracid, an amphoteric disinfectant, sodium hypochlorite and peracetic, acid.

23. An article as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the gel includes an allergenic neutralising compound.

24. An article as claimed in claim 23, wherein the allergenic neutralising compound is tannic acid.

25. A footwear system comprising:

i) at least one article of footwear having a sole and an upper, the article of footwear being provided with means for receiving and storing a substance used for treating foot problems; and ii) a dispenser containing and adapted to dispense the substance into the receiving and storage means; characterised in that the substance is in the form of a gel.

26. A system as claimed in claim 25, wherein the dispenser is a syringe type dispenser.

27. A system as claimed in claim 25, wherein the dispenser is a pressurised 5 container.

28. A system as claimed in any one of claims 25 to 27, wherein the means for storing and receiving the substance is in the sole of the article of footwear.

29. A system as claimed in claim 28, wherein the means for storing and receiving the substance includes a reservoir.

30. A system as claimed in claim 28 or 29, wherein the means for storing and receiving the substance includes a plurality of interconnecting passageways.

is 31. A system as claimed in claim 30, wherein the interconnecting passageways extend from a heel part of the sole to a toe part of the sole.

32. A system as claimed in claim 30 depending from claim 29 or as claimed in 20 claim 3 1, wherein at least one of the interconnecting passageways passes through the reservoir.

33. A system as claimed in claim 29 or any one of claims 30 to 32 depending from claim 29, wherein the reservoir is located at a part of the sole that receives a ball 25 of a person's foot when the article of footwear is being worn.

34. A system as claimed in claim 29 or any one of claims 30 to 32 depending from claim 29, wherein the reservoir is located at a part of the sole that receives a heel of a person's foot when the article of footwear is being worn.

35. A system as claimed in any one of claims 28 to 34, wherein the sole includes an aperture through which the gel may be supplied to the sole.

36. A system as claimed in claim 35, wherein the aperture is provided with a one5 way inlet valve.

37. An article of footwear substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

38. A footwear system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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