WO2002063987A1

WO2002063987A1 - Thermoformed sandwich insole for footwear

Info

Publication number: WO2002063987A1
Application number: PCT/ES2001/000489
Authority: WO
Inventors: Abraham Garcia Ruiz; Jorge Garcia Ruiz; Francisco Antonio Garcia Ruiz
Original assignee: Abraham Garcia Ruiz; Jorge Garcia Ruiz; Francisco Antonio Garcia Ruiz
Priority date: 2001-02-15
Filing date: 2001-12-18
Publication date: 2002-08-22
Also published as: ES1048350Y; ES1048350U

Abstract

The invention relates to a thermoformed sandwich insole to be positioned inside a shoe for foot care and hygiene purposes. The configuration of said insole increases foot transpiration and provides improved adhesion to the shoe. The section of the inventive insole comprises three stacked layers which are stuck together. The purpose of the lowest of said layers, which is perforated and has an incorporated antibacterial product, is to adhere to the shoe. The intermediary layer is made from microporous materials that are compatible with those adjacent and is provided with comfort and transpiration characteristics by means of thermoforming at predetermined temperatures. The upper layer is made from leather or fabric in order to guarantee the desired level of transpiration. The insole is preferably provided with a slightly-elevated perimeter edge portion that helps adapt the insole to the shoe.

Description

SANDWICH THERMOCONFORMED TEMPLATE FOR FOOTWEAR

DESCRIPTION

Object of the Invention

The present invention relates to a thermoformed sandwich footwear insole, which provides essential novelty characteristics and notable advantages over known means and used for the same purposes in the current state of the art.

More particularly, the invention proposes the development of a footwear insole, of the type that is housed inside a piece of footwear and is in direct contact with the user's foot, which has been provided with features widely increased in terms of maintaining foot hygiene. The template has been developed based on a body in which several layers, intimately related to each other, are built based on different materials depending on the position occupied by each of those layers, and that after heat treatment at predetermined temperatures , the template is provided with texture and shape properties that adapt better to the foot and make its use more comfortable. In addition, a memory effect can be achieved that makes the template always return to its original form regardless of the time it may have been folded, folded or with any other configuration.

The scope of the invention is obviously included within the industrial sector dedicated to the manufacture of footwear in general. Background and Summary of the Invention

It is known by all in general the existence of template elements intended to be used inside the footwear pieces. Such insoles, generally configured with the shape of the internal cavity of the shoe, serve as a means of supporting the user's foot, and usually fulfill the double mission of providing, on the one hand, a more comfortable use of the shoe, and serving, on the other hand, as an effective means that allows adequate foot perspiration, for the best hygiene of the foot, especially when it comes to cases with heavy sweating or some other problem.

The most common templates usually consist of a body formed by a single layer of a predetermined material. The quality of the materials used in its manufacture, and therefore the quality of the resulting insoles, can vary widely depending on the quality and nature of the footwear in which they will be incorporated.

Other types of templates are also known in which the joint intervenes, generally by gluing, of three superimposed layers, but which in practice, by virtue of the quality of the materials used and their composition, present significant drawbacks for the user, since they do not achieve optimal adhesion in the footwear, and also, in many cases, promote the proliferation of bacteria that produce bad odors, and also cause chafing on the user's foot. Taking into account the disadvantages of the currently existing footwear insoles, the present invention has as a main objective the fact of developing a new template that provides effective solutions for the disadvantages of the current insoles. This objective has been fully achieved with the template that will be described in the following, composed of a body conceived as a sandwich in which two or three different layers intervene, superimposed and firmly joined together, but constructed with such materials that give the template the desired advantageous characteristics, such as, for example, better adhesion with the shoe, the incorporation of an antibacterial agent that prevents the proliferation of fungi and bacteria, an increased perspiration characteristics, and also a improved comfort and flexibility of use. Depending on the materials chosen, the template can also be washable.

As an additional feature, the materials chosen for the manufacture of the template of the invention can also give it a memory effect, by virtue of which it is possible that the template always recovers its usual form, regardless of the time it may have been in any other position. forced. This is also an important aspect for the use of the template, since this avoids unwanted folds and folds that could lead, as in many cases today, to certain inconveniences in the use of the template. Brief Description of the Drawings

These and other features and advantages of the invention will become more clearly apparent from the detailed description that follows in a preferred embodiment, given solely by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the drawings that They are accompanied, in which: Figure 1 shows a general perspective view of a template constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan representation of the same template that appears in Figure 1, and

Figure 3 illustrates a section made in the template of Figure 1, according to the longitudinal axis thereof, and by which it can be seen that it is a three-layer template.

Description of a Preferred Embodiment

The detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention will be carried out, as mentioned above, based on the attached drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a template constructed in accordance with this invention. As can be seen, Figures 1 and 2 show general views in which the conventional flattened configuration adopted by said template can be seen, and indicated with the global numerical reference 1. The template has a slightly elevated perimeter portion, in order to adapt better to the shape of the footwear and help keep it in its position. In the embodiment shown, as shown in Figure 2, the template has at its bottom a multiplicity of holes 2, distributed throughout the surface more or less regularly, in order to provide a better breathability for the foot. According to this embodiment, the template shows three layers 3 to 5, of which a lower layer 3 is made so that it is resistant and has good adhesion with the footwear. The material used in the formation of the lower layer 3, can be, for example, a fabric, and incorporate an antibacterial product that prevents the proliferation of fungi and bacteria that produce bad odors. Preferably, and as stated in relation to Figure 2, this layer will be perforated over its entire surface. In any case, in the formation material of said lower layer 3, it may be different from that mentioned, any other one having the desired characteristics of adhesion to the shoe and resistance to friction can be used, and is also capable of incorporating the aforementioned antibacterial substance; Examples of usable materials are, in addition to the fabric, polyethylene, other plastics, etc.

The central layer 4 is extremely important in the manufacturing of the template, since it has a significant impact on the final result obtained. The manufacturing material of said intermediate layer has to be chosen in such a way that it shows characteristics of perspiration, comfort and flexibility, and to that effect the material known in the art as "eva", other microporous materials, etc. can be mentioned. In addition, the material of this layer is also required to be compatible with the materials of the adjacent layers that cover it. The contribution of this layer to the set is that of a comfortable look and feel, softness and perspiration. In addition, ecological materials are preferred for the manufacture of this layer. In any case, with the effect of temperature, this layer has a completely different texture and shape than conventional templates.

Finally, the upper layer 5 constitutes the support plane of the user's foot, so, depending on the quality that is desired to be provided to the finished template, it can consist of skins or fabrics. Logically, the use of skin provides a much more pleasant touch and also a characteristic of increased perspiration compared to other materials.

In accordance with the above, the templates obtained are waterproof, which gives them an antistatic effect, comfort of use, are washable when using skin, absorb impacts due to the incorporation of a greater volume of material at the points where it is exerted more pressure, and they are also light.

According to an alternative embodiment, the invention also provides for the formation of a template with shape memory, so that it is capable of always recovering its usual shape regardless of the time during which it has been subjected to any shape change, by folding, folding or other, so that it always looks for the shape of the foot and its adaptation to the latter. The general characteristics of the template correspond to those described in relation to the Figures of the drawings, although it corresponds to a two-layer embodiment, such as an upper layer 5 and a lower layer equivalent to intermediate 4 of the Figure 3. In this case, said upper layer 5 is made of leather, and may have some perforations in the areas where, due to the support of the foot, there is a greater sweating, while the lower layer, constructed with polyethylene or similar, has multiple holes that help achieve desired perspiration and adhesion. Under these conditions, a thermoformed view, a template with 100% breathability characteristics is obtained, which does not deform with heat, and that when using waterproof materials, it is guaranteed that sweat does not impregnate the template and that the latter Always stay dry.

It is not considered necessary to make the content of this description more extensive so that a person skilled in the art can understand its scope and the advantages derived from the invention, as well as develop and put into practice the object thereof.

However, it should be understood that the invention has been described according to a preferred embodiment thereof, whereby it may be susceptible to modifications without implying any alteration of the basis of said invention, such modifications may affect, in particular, the form , the size and / or the choice of materials used in the manufacture of the template, depending on the final characteristics provided for it.

Claims

1.- Thermoformed footwear insole for footwear, of the type that is available inside the footwear for foot care and hygiene, through which increased characteristics of perspiration of the user's foot and better adhesion to the footwear are provided, characterized in that, in its preferred embodiment, it is composed of a thermoformed body (1), with a slightly raised perimeter edge portion that increases the adaptation effect of the shoe piece, and in which they are distinguished, in section , three layers (3, 4, 5) superimposed, intimately linked together, of which a lower layer (3) consists of a resistant material, such as a fabric, polyethylene or other plastic capable of guaranteeing the degree of adhesion with the desired footwear, and that incorporates in its structure an antibacterial product to prevent the proliferation of fungi and bacteria that cause odors, being also perforated throughout its surface to improve the effectiveness of perspiration; an intermediate layer (4), constructed from materials compatible with those of adjacent layers (3, 5), such as "eva" or other microporous materials, and with increased comfort, softness and perspiration characteristics, whose texture and shape they are obtained by thermoforming at predetermined temperatures; and an upper layer (5), obtained based on skins, fabrics or the like for the provision of the desired degree of breathability.

2. Template according to claim 1, characterized in that, in an alternative form, the body (1) can be formed by two unique layers, of which an upper layer (5) consists of a material such as skin or the like , possibly perforated in predetermined areas to increase the efficiency of perspiration, and a lower layer (4) consisting of polyethylene or similar, with good adhesion characteristics to footwear, said template being configured by thermoforming, and equipped with memory in a way that allows its recovery from any state and therefore its best adaptation to the user's foot.