US20040118015A1

US20040118015A1 - Slipper having good draining functions and thousands of flexible variable length bristles spaced in a special pattern providing comfortable enhanced support and special massaging effect on the foot sole

Info

Publication number: US20040118015A1
Application number: US10/328,381
Authority: US
Inventors: Kwong-Tung Lai
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-12-24
Filing date: 2002-12-24
Publication date: 2004-06-24

Abstract

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a slipper having good draining functions so that perspiration, water, sand, and dirt will not accumulate in the slipper and to provide comfortable enhanced support with a special massaging effect on the foot sole of the user with respect to the user's motion and wear.

In keeping with the principle of the present invention, the foregoing objective of the present invention is attained by a slipper consisting of an outsole, an upper strap fastened through the outsole to receive the user's foot, and an insole made with thousands of flexible variable length bristles spaced in a special pattern for comfort and drainage for air, water, and sand.

The foregoing objective, features, functions, and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood upon a thoughtful deliberation of the following detailed description of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to footwear, and more particularly to a slipper that has good draining functions and thousands of flexible variable length bristles spaced in a special pattern providing comfortable enhanced support and special massaging effect on the user's foot sole.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are two main types of soles for conventional slippers. In the first type, a covering is provided on the top face of the sole of the slipper. The covering may be made of leather or cloth, and the user's foot steps on the covering. The cover's purpose is to provide softness and comfort during use. The common problem for this type of conventional slipper is that if the slipper is immersed in water during the use, the covering will absorb water and accumulate. The water does not drain and does not dry quickly thus allowing bacteria to breed and not hygienic, thus can cause various skin disorders of the foot. The covering could also absorb the user's perspiration and develop odors. In the second type, there is no cover on the sole of the slipper, and the user's sole steps on the top surface of the outsole. There is no cushioning barrier between the user's sole and the outsole and does not provide comfortable enhanced support to the user's foot. Some of this type may have some protrusions on the surface to provide some massaging effect, but they are rigid and not flexible, thus painful, and uncomfortable to the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which, [0003]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; [0004]
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; [0005]
FIG. 3 is a perspective exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; [0006]
FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the present invention in use; [0007]
FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken of broken line box of FIG. 3 of special pattern of flexible variable length bristles with special spacing arrangements.[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, a preferred embodiment of a slipper having good draining function and thousands of flexible variable length bristles spaced in a special pattern providing comfortable enhanced-support and special massaging effect on the user's feet according to the present invention consists of an [0009] outsole 10, an insole 20, and an upper thong 30.
The [0010] outsole 10 is made from flexible materials. A raised wall 11 extends upwardly from a top face of the outsole 10 along its periphery. The top face of the outsole 10 within the raised wall 11 forms a top surface 12 which is depressed below periphery edge raised wall 11.
The [0011] insole 20 is a structure formed by thousands of flexible plastic bristles 21 of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) of varying lengths and arranged in a special pattern 22 as shown in FIG. 4. The flexible filaments 21 flex and bend to the weight of the user, enabling all the curves of the foot sole to be in contact with the bristles 21 as shown in FIG. 4. Each bristle 21 presses and brush the surface of the user's foot sole as he/she walks, thus providing a special massaging effect to the foot sole. The spaces between the bristles 21 allow the free flow of air, water, and moisture to keep the user's feet dry and help reduce foot perspiration and odor. Any dirt, sand, or particles between the bristles 21 can be brushed or flushed away with water. The insole 20 is attached to the upper side top surface 12 of the outsole 10. The insole 20 is surrounded by the raised periphery wall 11 of the outsole 10.
The upper may be in any form and is not restricted to the ones shown in the accompanying drawings. The [0012] upper thong 30 as in FIG. 1 is of a Y-shaped construction and is composed on three retaining portions 31, which are securely retained in three retaining holes of 13 of the outsole 10. The upper 30 may, as shown in the drawings, have connecting portions that extend through the insole 20.
As shown in FIG. 2, an upper [0013] 40 of the second preferred embodiment of a slipper having good, draining function and thousands of flexible variable length bristles spaced in a special pattern providing comfortable enhanced support and special massaging effect on the user's feet according to the present invention consists of an outsole 10, an insole 20, and an upper strap 40. The upper strap 40 is of an arch-like construction and is secured at both ends is to the outsole so as to form an arching receiving space adapted to receive the foot of the user. If the upper has a form other than the ones as shown (such as that commonly seen in slippers on the market), the upper may be directly secured to the periphery of the outsole 10 and may be secured through the; insole 20.
The present invention has the following advantages in actual use: [0014]
1. The spacing of the flexible bristles of the insole provides good ventilation and draining effects, allowing free flowing of water and air. When the user wears the pair of slippers in wet environments such as the shower or poolside or wades across water, according to the present invention, the water in the [0015] insole 20 will flow around-the bristles 21 and out over the periphery wall 11 and will not accumulate between the user's sole and the outsole 10, keeping the user's feet relatively dry.
2. As the [0016] insole 20 allows good air ventilation, water moisture will evaporate quickly. As the present invention has good draining effects, water and the user's perspiration will not accumulate. Furthermore, the special pattern of the varying length bristles 11 and spacing arrangement will facilitate the washing away of any dirt, or sand and would not be trapped as in conventional insoles with interwoven filaments.
3. As the thousands of [0017] flexible bristles 11 are arranged in a special pattern of varying lengths and specific spacing, the insole 20 adjusts to the contours of the user's foot providing comfort and prolonged painless wearing unlike conventional massaging foot beds currently in the marketplace.
4. As the thousands of [0018] flexible bristles 11 are arranged in a special pattern of varying lengths and specific spacing, the bristles provide a special massaging effect to the foot sole.
5. As the [0019] insole 20 can provide suitable friction to the user's foot to lessen skidding in accelerated movement in the slippers.
Although the present invention has been illustrated and described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it should be understood that it is in no way limited to the details of such embodiment but is capable of numerous modifications within the scope of the appended claims. [0020]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A slipper having good draining functions and thousands of flexible variable length bristles spaced in a special pattern providing comfortable enhanced support and special massaging effect on the foot sole and comprising:

an outsole;

a strap of a Y-shaped construction securely retained to the outsole and through the insole for securing a foot;

an insole attached to the upper surface of the said outsole and made with thousands of flexible plastic bristles of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) of varying lengths and arranged in a special pattern on the upper surface of the said insole. The flexible filaments flex and bend to the weight of the user, enabling all the curves of the foot sole to be in contact with the bristles. Each bristle presses and brush the surface of the user's foot sole as he/she walks, thus providing a special massaging effect to stimulate the foot sole. The space between the bristles allow the free flow of air, water, and moisture to keep the user's feet dry and reduce foot perspiration. Any dirt, sand, or particles between the bristles can be brushed or flushed away with water.

2. A slipper having good draining functions and thousands of flexible variable length bristles spaced in a special pattern providing comfortable enhanced support and special massaging effect on the foot sole and comprising:

an outsole;

a strap of an arch-like construction securely retained to the outsole and for securing a foot;

an insole attached to the upper surface of the said outsole and made with thousands of flexible plastic bristles of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) of varying lengths and arranged in a special pattern on the upper surface of the said insole. The flexible filaments flex and bend to the weight of the user, enabling all the curves of the foot sole to be in contact with the bristles. Each bristle presses and brush the surface of the user's foot sole as he/she walks, thus providing a special massaging effect to the foot sole. The spaces between the bristles allow the free flow of air, water, and moisture to keep the user's feet dry and reduce foot perspiration. Any dirt, sand, or particles between the bristles can be brushed or flushed away with water.