GB2479160A

GB2479160A - Shoe drying apparatus and method

Info

Publication number: GB2479160A
Application number: GB1005383A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tina Sinclair; Craig Kench
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-03-30
Filing date: 2010-03-30
Publication date: 2011-10-05
Also published as: GB201005383D0

Abstract

Apparatus for drying, and/or heating, a shoe includes a container 1 having a hollow shoe-shaped part 7 having heel 11, upper 17, sole 13 and toe 15 portions, the container being arranged to store a liquid heating medium within. Also claimed is apparatus for heating/drying a shoe that is arranged to fit into the shoe being dried, said shoe-shaped part 7 having an external profile that conforms to the internal profile of the shoe and arranged to carry a heating medium. The heating medium is preferably water, or sodium acetate solution. The container and heating medium may be heated in a microwave oven. Preferably, the container includes an anti-bacterial agent and a perfume. A method for at least partly drying, and/or heating, a shoe is also disclosed.

Description

SHOE DRYING APPARATUS AND METHOD

The present invention relates to apparatus and a method for drying shoes, in particular, but not exclusively, to sports shoes.

Sports shoes such as football, rugby and walking boots, are often wetted during use. For people who play sports regularly, it is desirable to dry the boots quickly so that they are ready for use for the next game or training session. The traditional way of drying wet shoes is to place them next to a radiator in a domestic central heating system and allow convection currents of air to dry the shoes over a period of time. However there is often a significant temperature difference between those parts of the shoe that are nearest to the radiator and those that are furthest from it and therefore it is necessary for the user to turn the shoe periodically to ensure that the shoe is fully dried.

Another problem with this approach is that the upper part of the shoe can sag inwards during drying because it is not supported. It is known to insert paper into wet shoes to absorb moisture and to support the upper part of the shoe. The paper is typically formed into balls and pushed towards the front of the shoe. However, this is an imprecise process.

Often too little paper is inserted to support the upper part of the shoe, and therefore the upper is not prevented from collapsing inwards, or too much paper is inserted, and the upper stretches. This is a particular problem for some leather shoes. *..S * * **..

* : ..: 20 In either case, the shoe can lose its original shape which has a detrimental effect on the performance when playing sport. This is particularly so for sports where kicking is *..: involved such as football, rugby, rugby league, American football, Australian rules, etc. * because a very high degree of kicking precision and control is required in order for the * *. player to produce a high standard of play. Variations in shoe shape can reduce the ball control that can be achieved when playing sport. This can be the difference between * winning and losing a game, particularly with high pressure, and some-times long distance kicks, such as penalties and free-kicks. Changing the shape of a sports shoe when drying introduces an unnecessary variable into the kicking game, and this can be detrimental to performance.

Having a consistently shaped shoe is also desirable for amateurs. The skill level of an amateur is typically lower than a professional sportsperson, which means that the amateur is less able to adapt to the misshapen shoe quickly during a game. This can lead to dissatisfaction and frustration.

Another problem with drying sports shoes is that they are often not dried sufficiently well between instances of use, particularly in winter months. It is also common for owners to forget that their sports shoes are wet, for example an owner may forget to remove them from his/her sports bag, and only discover this shortly before the next game or training session. In this instance, using a traditional drying / warming method such using a domestic central heating system is not possible because the position of the heat source is fixed. Thus the user often plays or trains in cold conditions wearing wet shoes. This can make the user feel uncomfortable and therefore may distract the user from playing to his/her full potential. Conversely, playing sport in pre-warmed shoes can improve the player's perfonnance because it provides a greater sense of wellbeing.

Accordingly the invention seeks to provide apparatus and a method for drying shoes that mitigates at least one of the aforementioned problems, or at least provides an alternative thereto.

According to the one aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for at least partly e.

.... drying andlor heating a shoe, including a container having a hollow shoe-shaped part that * : is arranged to fit into the shoe being dried, said shoe-shaped part having an external profile * : that is sized and shaped to substantially conform to the internal profile of the shoe, said container being arranged to carry a heating medium therein for drying andlor heating the ** shoe. In use, the shoe-shaped part is inserted into the shoe and supports at least a part of the * shoe thereby substantially maintaining the shape of the shoe. *s S * * S

* By shoe it is meant any footwear. The invention has particular application to sports shoes such as training shoes, rugby boots, football boots and walking boots, but can be applicable to any other type of shoe or boot.

Since the hollow substantially shoe-shaped part of the container is arranged to substantially conform to the internal profile of the shoe, the container efficiently delivers heat by conduction for at least some parts of the upper shoe. It provides support to upper shoe to prevent it from collapsing inwards during use and prevents the shoe from being stretched during drying, and thus maintains the shape and integrity of the shoe. Maintaining the shape of the upper shoe in kicking sports, such as football and rugby, is very important to enable the kicker to kick the ball with precision. Since the walls of the container are typically thin and the container substantially fills the volume of the shoe, the volume of heating medium within the shoe is approximately equal to the volume of the shoe.

Advantageously the container is portable and therefore can be used on the move, for example when travelling to sporting events such as a match or a training session.

The container body is substantially rigid and therefore maintains its shape in use. The shoe-shaped part includes a heel, an upper, a sole and a toe portion. The heel includes tapered sides and a tapered rear wall, each tapering inwards from the sole. The sole substantially conforms to the insole of the shoe. The sole is substantially planar but may optionally include an arch to accommodate the arch of the shoe. The toe portion substantially conforms to the toe portion of the shoe. The upper slopes upwards from the toe portion and has a curved cross-section. The container has tapered sides such that the upper is narrower than the sole.

The container can include a heating medium stored therein. Advantageously the heating medium can be arranged to undergo, in use, a physical change and/or chemical reaction S.....

* that generates heat. In this arrangement, the apparatus can include actuation means for * : initiating the physical and/or chemical reaction. For example, in a preferred embodiment S...

the heating medium includes sodium acetate, and the container includes an activation * 25 switch that is arranged to cause the sodium acetate to change state and liberate heat. S...

* . Advantageously the heating medium is reusable, and preferably includes water.

Advantageously the container and heating medium can be arranged to be suitable for heating in a microwave oven.

Advantageously the container can be sealed such that the heating medium cannot escape from the container. Alternatively the container can include an opening to provide access to the interior of the container to enable the heating medium to be replaced, and a sealing member for releaseably sealing the opening. For example, the sealing member can comprise a screw cap, a push fit cap or a plug.

Advantageously the container can be moulded, for example from a plastics material. The container can include at least one of the following additives: an anti-bacterial agent and a perfume. The additives can be included in the container during the moulding process. The anti-bacterial agent prevents the container from becoming mouldy due to moisture in the heating medium and from the shoe.

Advantageously the container can include a handle portion to enable the user to grip the container when inserting it into, and removing it from, the shoe. The handle is preferably formed integrally with the container and comprises an extension of the shoe-shaped part of the container. Advantageously the handle can include a cavity that is contiguous with the interior void of the shoe-shaped part of the container. The cavity is arranged to store a quantity of the heating medium, thereby providing a larger capacity for the container.

Advantageously the container can include at least one recess formed in wall of the container. The or each recess can be used to accommodate the inclusion of a badge, logo, or text to enable the container to be personalised.

* 20 Preferably, the apparatus includes a pair of containers according to any configuration * : * described herein, one for each of the lefi and right shoes.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for at least partly * drying and / or heating a shoe, including a container having a hollow shoe-shaped part said : * shoe-shaped part having a heel portion, an upper portion, a sole and a toe portion, wherein **.S * : * 25 the container is arranged to securely store a liquid heating medium therein.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method for at least partly drying and/or heating a shoe, including providing a container having a hollow shoe-shaped part that is arranged to fit into the shoe being dried, said shoe-shaped part having an external profile that is sized and shaped to substantially conform to the internal profile of the shoe, inserting the shoe-shaped part of the container into the shoe, supporting at least a part of the shoe with the shoe-shaped part thereby substantially maintaining the shape of the shoe, providing a heating medium in the container, and at least partly drying and/or heating the shoe using heat generated from the heating medium.

The method can include inserting hot water into the container to provide the heating medium. Alternatively the method can include inserting the container into a microwave oven to heat the heating medium.

Advantageously the method includes storing a heating medium in the container, said heating medium undergoing a physical change and/or a chemical reaction that generates heat. For example, the heating medium can comprise a material such as sodium acetate that is arranged to undergo a phase change in order to liberate heat, for example by changing from a liquid to a solid. Alternatively, the heating medium may comprise materials that are arranged to produce an exothermic reaction when mixed together.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a rear view of a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the embodiment of Figure 1; * S 20 Figure 3 is an isometric view of the embodiment of Figure 1; ***.

*..: Figure 4 is a plan view of the embodiment of Figure 1; and

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: Figure 5 is a side view of a second embodiment of the invention. S.S

* : * Figures 1 to 4 show a container 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention.

The container 1 includes a thin-walled moulded body 3, the walls of which define a hollow interior 5. The body 3 includes a shoe-shaped part 7 and a handle part 9 that is integrally formed with the shoe-shaped part 7.

The shoe-shaped part 7 includes a heel portion 11, a sole 13, a toe portion 15, an upper 17 and an arch 19. The shoe-shaped part 7 is shaped and sized to fit snugly into a sports shoe such as a training shoe, rugby boot, football boot or walking boot.

The snug, or relatively tight, fit between the inside facing part of the shoe (sometimes referred to as the medial) and the outer surface of the shoe-shaped part 7 of the container provides support to the upper part of the shoe (sometimes called a vamp) when inserted into the shoe. In particular, the outer surface of the container upper 17 prevents the uppermost part of the vamp from sagging inwards thereby substantially maintaining the shape and integrity of the shoe. Also, since the shoe-shaped part 7 is sized to fit within the shoe, it does not stretch the shoe. The body 3 of the container is substantially rigid and therefore it does not deform in use nor between uses and therefore when reused provides consistent results.

It will be apparent to the skilled person that the exact dimensions and proportions of the outer surface of the container are somewhat dependent on the shoe to be dried.

However, a container according to the invention can be sized to accommodate a plurality of shoe sizes since the difference in length between shoes sizes is relatively small, typically around 8mm for UK adult shoe sizes, and the difference in width is significantly lower than this. The most important areas of contact for retaining the shape of the shoe are located along the upper 17 and the sides of the container, since these contact areas prevent the shoe upper from collapsing in on itself and the shoe sides from bending. Therefore provided that those contact areas are maintained the container works effectively even if the heel 11 and toe 15 portions are not in direct contact with their respective parts of the shoe, for example there can be a gap of * S. **.

* around 1cm between the shoe toe and the toe portion 15 of the container without * : 25 substantially affecting the performance of the container 1. The inventors have *.*S *:. determined that all standard UK adult size shoes can be accommodated by three different sized containers, herein referred to as small, medium and large. The small container is suitable for shoe sizes 1, 2, 3 and 4; the medium size container is suitable for shoe sizes 5, 6, 7 and 8; and the large container is suitable for shoe sizes 9, 10, 11 and 12+. The inventors have also determined that there is sufficient commonality of shape between many sports shoes to enable a sufficiently generic shaped container to be produced that can be used in several different sports shoes of approximately the same size.

For example, a large sized container 1 may have the following dimensions: a width y in the region of the sole of approximately 6cm, a width z in the region of the handle 9 of approximately 6cm, a length win the region of the sole of approximately 23cm, an angle 0 subtended between the upper and the sole of approximately 15 to 30 degrees, and preferably around 20 degrees, and a capacity of approximately 0.5L. The width z of the handle can be smaller than the width y in the region of the sole, in some embodiments.

The handle 9 is integrally formed with the shoe-shaped part 7. The handle 9 is hollow and its interior space is contiguous with the interior of the shoe-shaped part 7.

The container 1 includes an opening in the handle 9, which is formed in a threaded neck portion thereof, and a screw cap 21, which releasably seals the interior 5 of the container I. This enables hot water to be poured into the interior 5 of the container.

The hot water acts as a heating medium to provide heat to the shoe when the container 1 is located therein. Hot water can be poured into the interior of the container 5, or alternatively cold water can be provided and the container 1 can be placed into a microwave oven to heat the water. In either case, the heat source is available for use typically within two to three minutes. Since the shoe-shaped part 7 is hollow the heating medium fills substantially the entirety of the inner shoe. This provides relatively even drying across the entire shoe. Since the shoe-shaped part 7 of the container is sized to fit snugly within the shoe, the outer surface of the * : * container is in contact with a substantial part of the surface area of the internal face of the shoe, thus heat is transferred from the container 1 to at least some parts of the **** *** 25 shoe by conduction. This provides efficient heat transfer. **. *

* The container 1 can include recesses 23 formed in the walls of the body 3. The recesses 23 provide locations for badges, logos and printed text to enable the container 1 to be personalised. The recesses 23 also reduce the thickness of the container walls in localised areas and thereby enabling heat to be transferred more efficiently to the boot. Thus the recesses 23 can be positioned to increase heat transfer to parts of the shoe that require greater drying, for example where the material is thicker.

Typically the container I is made from a plastics material such as HDPE and is moulded, for example by blow moulding or rotational moulding. During the moulding process, additives can be added to the plastics material such as an anti-bacterial agent andlor a perfume. The anti-bacterial agent is selected to prevent bacteria from forming on the container. The perfume produces a pleasant odour when the heating apparatus is used.

Typically, containers are provided in pairs, one for each of the left and right shoes.

The container bodies 3 can be shaped to closely match the left and right shoe configurations. Alternatively, each container 1 can be arranged more generically such that it can fit into both the left and right shoes.

In use, the user removes the screw cap 21 and either inserts hot water into the interior of the container via the opening. Alternatively, the user can insert cold water into the container 1 and place the container 1 into a microwave oven to heat the water to the desired temperature. The cap 21 is screwed onto the container to seal the interior 5. The container 1 is then inserted into the shoe such that it fits snugly therein. The shoe is allowed to dry over a period of time by the heat conducting from the interior of the container 5 through the walls of the body and into the material of the shoe. If the shoe is not fully dried by the time the water is close to room temperature, the process can be repeated. The container 1 can also be used to warm shoes before use, for example before undertaking sporting activity during winter months. This helps to * ***S* * keep the user's feet warm thereby giving a greater sense of wellbeing and enhanced performance during a game. In each case, the shape and integrity of the shoe is :. 25 maintained by the container 1.

: *. The container 1 can be inserted into the shoe without first having been heated in **** * . order to maintain the shape and integrity of the shoe, for example when travelling to and from a sports ground.

Figure 5 shows a container 101 according to a second embodiment of the invention.

The container 101 is similar to the first embodiment except that the interior 105 of the container is sealed and sodium acetate is used as the heating medium instead of water. The sodium acetate can provide a temperature of around 38 °C for around 11⁄2 hours depending on the quantity of phase change material provided. The container 101 also includes an activation device 125, which initiates a phase change of the sodium acetate to generate heat. This is very convenient for the user since it is not necessary to heat water prior to using the container. Other phase change materials can be used as the heating medium or alternatively materials that produce an exothermic chemical reaction. * * S...

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Claims

CLAIMS1. Apparatus for at least partly drying and/or heating a shoe, including a container having a hollow shoe-shaped part that is arranged to fit into the shoe being dried, said shoe-shaped part having an external profile that is sized and shaped to substantially conform to the internal profile of the shoe, said container being arranged to carry a heating medium therein for drying and/or heating the shoe.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the container includes a heating medium stored therein.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the heating medium is arranged to undergo, in use, a physical change and/or chemical reaction that generates heat.
4. Apparatus according to claim 3, including actuation means for initiating the physical and/or chemical reaction.
5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the heating medium includes sodium acetate, and the container includes an activation switch that is arranged to cause the sodium acetate to change state and liberate heat. *.S. * *

* : *
6. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heating medium is reusable. **** * S...
7. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heating : ** * medium includes water. **SS
S. *

* *: 8. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container and heating medium is suitable for heating in a microwave oven.
9. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container is sealed such that the heating medium cannot escape from the interior of the container.
10. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container includes an opening to provide access to the interior of the shoe-shaped part to enable the heating medium to be replaced, and a sealing member for sealing the opening.
11. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container is substantially rigid.
12. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container is moulded.
13. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container includes a plastics material.
14. Apparatus according to claims 13 or 14, wherein the container includes at least one of the following additives: an anti-bacterial agent and a perfume.
15. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container includes a handle portion to enable the user to grip the container when * : : : : e inserting it into, and removing it from, the shoe. ** ** *.* * *
16. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, including at least one **** *..: recess formed in a container wall. ***

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17. Apparatus as substantially described herein and shown in Figures 1 to 4. S..,

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18. Apparatus as substantially described herein and shown in Figure 5.
19. Apparatus for at least partly drying and / or heating a shoe, including a container having a hollow shoe-shaped part said shoe-shaped part having a heel portion, an upper portion, a sole and a toe portion, wherein the container is arranged to securely store a liquid heating medium therein.
20. A method for at least partly drying and/or heating a shoe, including providing a container having a hollow shoe-shaped part that is arranged to fit into the shoe being dried, said shoe-shaped part having an external profile that is sized and shaped to substantially conform to the internal profile of the shoe, inserting the shoe-shaped part of the container into the shoe, supporting at least a part of the shoe with the shoe-shaped part thereby substantially maintaining the shape of the shoe, providing a heating medium in the container, and at least partly drying and/or heating the shoe using heat generated from the heating medium.
21. A method according to claim 20, including inserting hot water into the container to provide the heating medium.
22. A method according to claim 20 or 21, including inserting the container into a microwave oven to heat the heating medium.
23. A method according to any one of claims 20 to 22, wherein the container includes a heating medium stored therein, and the heating medium is arranged to undergo, in use, a physical change and/or a chemical reaction that generates heat. S. * I S...* .S*** * * *.*S I... S..S * S. * a * *5II 0* * * . * * *q