WO2022259038A1

WO2022259038A1 - A footwear for accommodating feet of two different size

Info

Publication number: WO2022259038A1
Application number: PCT/IB2021/061440
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sanchit Kundra
Original assignee: Sanchit Kundra
Priority date: 2021-06-07
Filing date: 2021-12-08
Publication date: 2022-12-15
Also published as: GB202318229D0; GB2621291A

Abstract

The present invention discloses a footwear (100) for accommodating feet of two different size. The footwear (100) includes a body having a top structural layer(102) to contact upper portion of a foot of a user and bottom structural layer(104), attached to the top structural layer(102). The footwear (100) also includes an insole assembly in the body of the footwear (100). The insole assembly has a first insole (108) and a second insole (110) is removably placed on the first insole (108).

Description

A FOOTWEAR FOR ACCOMMODATING FEET OF TWO DIFFERENT SIZE

TECHNICAL FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a footwear and more particularly, to a footwear for accommodating feet of two different size.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION [0002] A footwear is used to protect foot of a user from external environment by encapsulating the foot completely and forming a layer to restrict direct interaction between the skin of the foot and the external environment. Since each person has a different size of the foot and the foot is completely encapsulated by the footwear, a user always purchases footwear corresponding to their size of the foot. Thus, when the size of the foot of the user varies, the user is forced to discard the footwear of smaller size and move to the footwear of a larger size, irrespective of the fact if the footwear still is comfortable and structurally intact. For example, size of feet of growing children vary at a very high rate and the parents are forced to purchase new footwear after every few months, amounting to not only wastage of the old footwear, but increased inconvenience to spend effort, time and money on footwear frequently. Similarly, feet of some people swell up due to variation in weather or a medical condition temporarily and then the feet go back to previous size after change in conditions. For such people, it is highly inconvenient to both wear footwear of smaller size and to purchase footwear of the larger size for a temporary condition.

[0003] Hence, there is a need for a footwear that accommodates feet of two different sizes in order to address the aforementioned issues.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, a footwear for accommodating feet of two different size is disclosed. The footwear comprising: a body having: a top structural layer to contact upper portion of a foot of a user; and bottom structural layer, attached to the top structural layer. The footwear also comprising: an insole assembly in the body of the footwear, the insole assembly having: a first insole; and a second insole is removably placed on the first insole.

[0005] The attachment of the top structural layer with the bottom structural layer provides a cavity for housing the foot of a user. The body further comprising side walls to attach the top structural layer to the bottom structural layer.

[0006] The second insole includes a plurality of protrusions formed on lower side, such that when the second insole is placed on the first insole the plurality of protrusions contact with the upper surface of the first insole. Further, the second insole has a non-uniform thickness along length of the second insole, such that thickness of the second insole is higher near toe region and heal area of the footwear (100) and lower elsewhere.

[0007] The second insole have arc corresponding to shape of foot to provide support to foot of the user. [0008] The footwear also has a memory foam layer attached to the bottom structural layer, such that one surface of the memory foam layer is in contact with the bottom structural layer and the other surface is in contact with the first insole.

[0009] When the second insole is in the footwear, the footwear accommodates a foot of a first size and when the second insole is removed from the footwear, the footwear accommodates a foot of a second size. The foot of second size is larger than the foot of the first size in length and thickness and the removal of the second insole increases the volume of the footwear for accommodation of the foot of the second size.

[0010] Thus, the footwear disclosed in the present invention accommodates feet of two different sizes, as the second insole facilitates variation in length and height of the internal region of the footwear, amounting to variation of the volume of the footwear and accommodating feet of adjacent sizes. Further, the plurality of protrusions on the lower surface of the second insole provide a friction between the first insole and the second insole and prevents sliding of the second insole when the user wears the footwear, removes the footwear or walks with the footwear. Furthermore, the memory foam layer provides additional cushion, comfort and support to the foot of the user, irrespective of the presence of the second insole in the footwear.

[0011] To further clarify the advantages and features of the present disclosure, a more particular description of the disclosure will follow by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which are illustrated in the appended figures. It is to be appreciated that these figures depict only typical embodiments of the disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting in scope. The disclosure will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the appended figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying figures in which:

[0012] Figures 1(a) and 1(b) are schematic representation of a footwear in accordance with embodiment of the present invention;

[0013] Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a second insole having protrusions in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; [0014] Figure 3 is a schematic representation of the second insole illustrating variation in thickness of the second insole along its length in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0015] Figure 4 illustrates a side view of the arcs in the second insole in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and [0016] Figure 5 illustrates a top view of the arcs in the second insole in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. [0017] Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and may not have necessarily been drawn to scale. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the figures by conventional symbols, and the figures may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the figures with details that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION [0018] For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the figures and specific language will be used to describe them. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. Such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the disclosure as would normally occur to those skilled in the art are to be construed as being within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0019] The terms "comprises", "comprising", or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process or method that comprises a list of steps does not include only those steps but may include other steps not expressly listed or inherent to such a process or method. Similarly, one or more devices or sub- systems or elements or structures or components preceded by "comprises... a" does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other devices, sub-systems, elements, structures, components, additional devices, additional sub-systems, additional elements, additional structures or additional components. Appearances of the phrase "in an embodiment", "in another embodiment" and similar language throughout this specification may, but not necessarily do, all refer to the same embodiment. [0020] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this disclosure belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are only illustrative and not intended to be limiting.

[0021] In the following specification and the claims, reference will be made to a number of terms, which shall be defined to have the following meanings. The singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0022] Figures 1(a) and 1(b) are schematic representation of a footwear (100) in accordance with embodiment of the present invention. Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a footwear (100) for accommodating feet of two different size. The footwear (100) includes a body and an insole assembly in the body of the footwear (100). The body of the footwear (100) defines inner volume of the footwear (100) for accommodating foot of a user. Further, the insole assembly provides support to the foot of the user when the foot is in the footwear (100). Furthermore, the insole assembly may be varied to vary the volume of the footwear (100), such that when volume of the footwear (100) increases a foot of bigger size can be accommodated in the same footwear (100) that accommodates foot of smaller size.

[0023] In an embodiment of the present invention, the footwear (100) may, without any limitation, be shoes, sleepers, boots, sneakers, flip-flops, Earth shoes, sandals and cleats. Further, the body of the footwear (100) may be made of a top structural layer (102), a bottom structural layer (104) and side walls (106). The top structural layer (102), the bottom structural layer (104) and the side walls (106) may be attached to each other to form the footwear (100), such that the top structural layer (102) may contact upper portion of a foot of a user, the side walls (106) may contact lateral perimeter of the foot and the bottom structural layer (104) may contact with the external environment. Thus, the top structural layer (102) and the bottom structural layer (104) may be horizontal members connected via the vertical member i.e. the side walls (106). In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the top structural layer (102) may have extension members for attaching to the bottom structural layer (104) directly without the requirement of the side walls (106). It may be obvious to a person skilled in the art that the structure and attachment of the top structural layer (102), the bottom structural layer (104) and the side walls (106) explained in the present disclosure is an embodiment only and other structure and attachment may be possible for the same. Further, the attachment of the top structural layer (102) with the bottom structural layer (104), with or without the side walls (106), may provide a cavity for housing of the foot of a user. The length and the height of the cavity may be understood as a volume of the footwear (100) that corresponds to size of foot of the user.

[0024] In an embodiment of the present invention, the footwear (100) may include the insole assembly. The insole assembly may be placed in the body of the footwear (100). Further, the insole assembly may include a first insole (108) and a second insole (110), such that the second insole (110) may be removably placed on the first insole (108). In an embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in Figure 2, the second insole(l 10) may include a plurality of protmsions(202) formed on lower side, such that when the second insole(llO) is placed on the first insole(108) the plurality of protmsions(202) contact with the upper surface of the first insole (108). The plurality of the protrusions (202) may provide friction between the first insole (108) and the second insole (110), so that when a user wears or removes the footwear (100) the second insole (110) does not slide over the first insole (108). The insole may be understood as support structure for the foot of the user onto which the foot may rest.

[0025] The first insole (108) and the second insole (110) may each have a length corresponding to the length of the bottom structural layer (104), a width corresponding to the width of the width of the bottom structural layer (104) and a thickness. The thickness of the first insole (108) and the second insole (110) may determine the cushion effect provide by each one of the insole for the foot of the user. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first insole (108) may have uniform thickness across the length and the width of the first insole (108). Further, the second insole (110) may have a non-uniform thickness along length of the second insole (110), such that thickness of the second insole (110) is higher near toe region of the footwear (100) and lower elsewhere, as illustrated in Figure 3. [0026] Further, the second insole (110) may have arcs corresponding to the shape of the foot of a user to provide support to the foot of the user. Thus, the shape of the second insole (110) may have arcs to support the medial longitudinal arc of the foot, lateral arc of the foot and anterior transverse arc of the foot. Figure 4 illustrates a side view of the arcs in the second insole (110) and Figure 5 illustrates a top view of the arcs in the second insole (110). It may be obvious to a person skilled in the art that the first insole (108) and the second insole (110) may have complementary shape and dimensions to provide support and comfort to the foot of the user.

[0027] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the footwear (100) may include a memory foam (112) layer attached to the bottom structural layer (104), such that one surface of the memory foam (112) layer is in contact with the bottom structural layer (104) and the other surface is in contact with the first insole (108). The memory foam (112) layer may provide additional cushion and support to the foot of the user. Thus, the memory foam (112) layer enhances the comfort of the footwear (100) and is permanently present in the footwear (100), irrespective of the placement of the second insole (110) on the first insole (108).

[0028] In operation, when the second insole (110) is removably placed on the first insole (108) the footwear (100) may accommodate a foot of a first size, as illustrated in Figure 1 (a). Specifically, as the thickness of the second insole (110) is greater in the toe region of the footwear (100), though externally the size of the footwear (100) may appear non-variant, the internal volume of the footwear (100) may reduce as the increased thickness reduces the internal length (LI) of the footwear (100). Thus, due to the increased thickness of the second insole (110) in the toe region a foot of the first size having a first length (LI) and first height (HI) only may fit in the footwear (100), as the toes of user may not be able to accommodate the region between the top structural layer (102) and the thickened toe region of the second insole (110).

[0029] Further, when the second insole (110) is removed from the footwear (100) the external size of the footwear (100) shall still remain invariant, as shown in Figure 1(b). Further, with the removal of the second insole (110) the internal volume of the footwear (100) may increase as the thickness occupied by the second insole (110) is now available for the foot of the user, thus providing additional area to the internal region of the footwear (100) for accommodating a foot with higher thickness. Additionally, with the removal of the second insole (110) the space of the footwear (100) occupied by the second insole (110) having higher thickness in the toe region is also vacated, such that the foot with higher length (L2) and higher height (H2) may easy occupy the vacated area. Accordingly, upon removal of the second insole (110) a foot of a second size may be accommodated in the footwear (100). Thus, the footwear (100) accommodates foot of two different size i.e. the foot of second size which is larger than the foot of the first size in length and thickness, as the removal of the second insole (110) increases the volume of the footwear (100) for accommodation of the foot of the second size. Accordingly, upon removal of the second insole (110) the internal length of the footwear increases from first length (LI) to second length (L2) and the internal height changes from first height (HI) to second height (H2).

[0030] Thus, the footwear (100) disclosed in the present invention accommodates feet of two different sizes, as the second insole (110) facilitates variation in length and height of the internal region of the footwear (100), amounting to variation of the volume of the footwear (100) and accommodating feet of adjacent sizes. Further, the plurality of protrusions(202) on the lower surface of the second insole(HO) provide a friction between the first insole(108) and the second insole(HO) and prevents sliding of the second insole(HO) when the user wears the footwear (100), removes the footwear (100) or walks with the footwear (100). Furthermore, the memory foam (112) layer provides additional cushion, comfort and support to the foot of the user, irrespective of the presence of the second insole (110) in the footwear (100).

[0031] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory of the disclosure and are not intended to be restrictive thereof.

[0032] While specific language has been used to describe the disclosure, any limitations arising on account of the same are not intended. As would be apparent to a person skilled in the art, various working modifications may be made to the method in order to implement the inventive concept as taught herein. [0033] The figures and the foregoing description give examples of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another embodiment. For example, the order of processes described herein may be changed and are not limited to the manner described herein. Moreover, the actions of any flow diagram need not be implemented in the order shown; nor do all of the acts need to be necessarily performed. Also, those acts that are not dependent on other acts may be performed in parallel with the other acts. The scope of embodiments is by no means limited by these specific examples.

Claims

im:

1. A footwear (100) for accommodating feet of two different size, the footwear (100) comprising: a body having: a top structural layer (102) to contact upper portion of a foot of a user; bottom structural layer (104), attached to the top structural layer

(102); an insole assembly in the body of the footwear (100), the insole assembly having: a first insole (108); and a second insole (110) is removably placed on the first insole (108).

2. The footwear (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attachment of the top structural layer (102) with the bottom structural layer (104) provides a cavity for housing the foot of a user.

3. The footwear (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body further comprising side walls (106) to attach the top structural layer (102) to the bottom structural layer (104).

4. The footwear (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second insole (110) includes a plurality of protrusions (202) formed on lower side, such that when the second insole (110) is placed on the first insole (108) the plurality of protrusions (202) contact with the upper surface of the first insole (108).

5. The footwear (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second insole (110) has a non-uniform thickness along length (LI) of the second insole (110), such that

11 thickness of the second insole (110) is higher near toe region of the footwear (100) and lower elsewhere.

6. The footwear (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second insole(HO) have arcs corresponding to shape of foot to provide support to foot of the user. 7. The footwear (100) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a memory foam(112) layer attached to the bottom structural layer(104), such that one surface of the memory foam(112) layer is in contact with the bottom structural layer(104) and the other surface is in contact with the first insole(108).

8. The footwear (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the second insole (110) is in the footwear (100), the footwear (100) accommodates a foot of a first size and when the second insole (110) is removed from the footwear (100), the footwear (100) accommodates a foot of a second size.

9. The footwear (100) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the foot of second size is larger than the foot of the first size in length and thickness and the removal of the second insole (110) increases the volume of the footwear (100) for accommodation of the foot of the second size.