US20180035750A1

US20180035750A1 - Sole Conditioning Device

Info

Publication number: US20180035750A1
Application number: US15/672,253
Authority: US
Inventors: Evaz Fanaian
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-08-08
Filing date: 2017-08-08
Publication date: 2018-02-08

Abstract

A envelope to be worn as a sock, sock liner, innersole, each of which may be worn inside a sneaker, shoe or otherwise as footwear sole wherein the envelope confines a plurality of naturally occurring elements used a sensory activators when supporting a person standing on the envelope.

Description

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/372,186 filed Aug. 8, 2016 which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to foot wear and apparel, more particularly to sock, liners, inner-soles to be worn by individuals in their home or for outside the home while wearing a sneaker or shoe, or shoes made with such inner soles to alleviate foot, back, or knee related problems and to rejuvenate one's health. In greater particularity the present invention relates to sock liners, inner soles, and socks wherein natural materials are contained in the product to support the foot and user. In even greater particularity, the present invention relates to the use of rocks, seeds, sand, grains, beans, wood, spices, leaves and other natural ingredients as a base upon which a wearer stands when utilizing the product.

BACKGROUND

Modern technology has utilized cushioning methods to support the foot. Some patented technologies utilize stimulating pads to engage the sole of the foot. Some embed objects into soles of sandals to provide pressure point relief, some provide ergonomically designed cushions. The efficacy of these products has not produced satisfactory results for the inventor. Thus, a need exists for a sole engaging structure utilizing natural components to be worn around the house and for casual walks outdoors to rejuvenate the health and the feet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings which are appended hereto and which form a portion of this disclosure, it may be seen that:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a shoe with my foot conditioning envelope therein;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the show shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A to FIG. 3H depict stitching patterns to hold the fill material in place;

FIG. 4A to FIG. 4d depict fill materials such as sand, nuts and seeds, and pebbles;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view along line 5-5 of FIG. 3; and,

FIG. 6 is another embodiment where in the envelope is attached to a sock.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One or more of the above objects can be achieved, at least in part, by providing naturally occurring products as sensory activators in an enclosed envelope forming a portion of a sock, an insole, a sock liner, or similar product. By naturally occurring products, I am referring to all types of elements including wood of various types, small pieces of wood in various shapes, grains, minerals, rocks, vegetable seeds, fruit seeds, berries, herbs, spices, sand. Included in the list but not limiting the products that may be used, are mung beans, pebbles, lentils, brown rice; lavender buds, ginger shavings, almonds peach pits, hazelnuts, acorns, macadamia nuts, coal, ashes, flower petals (rose), corn, sand and common dirt.
Referring to FIGS. 1 & 2, the envelope enclosing the activators may be used with virtually any shoe, however I have illustrated a slipper 10 of the type to be worn around the house. The product is not intended nor recommended for extended wear outside the home, but is intended for wear immediately after taking off one's usual footwear and for wear by the user for a duration determined by the user to stimulate the foot, legs and spinal alignment. The slipper 10 shown in FIGS. 1 & 2 is of a specialized design to accommodate the insertion of an insole in accordance with this disclosure. Slipper 10 includes and upper 11 and a sole 12 which may be made from any suitable material such as canvas or leather. A peripheral band 13 of material connects the sole 12 and upper. The material is elastic or stretchable in one direction but not the other, in this case stretchable vertically but not horizontally such that band 13 allows the upper 11 to move vertically relative to the sole when an users foot is inserted into slipper 10. The same or similar material makes up the spine 14 at the back of the heel of the slipper, but may be oriented to allow horizontal stretch. As noted, any shoe, sock or sandal may be utilized with the envelope, however, footwear having the elastic features of the shoe shown in FIGS. 1 & 2 may make using the envelope more comfortable as will be understood from a consideration of the envelope itself as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 and the activators as shown in FIG. 4.
Referring to FIG. 3A to 3H it will be noted that the product has the basic form of the sole of a foot and comprises at least one layer of cloth 22 made from a synthetic or natural material such as cotton or silk. The layer may be folded and formed as an envelope 21 or may be sewn to a second layer to create an envelope into which the naturally occurring activators listed above can be confined. In either form of construction the peripheral margin of the envelope is closed by stitching 23. The activators, shown in FIG. 4, are encased within the envelope, thus the envelope material needs to be capable of retaining the activator. In other words, a loose weave fabric may be suitable for an activator made of particles having a large physical volume, however, such a weave would not be suitable if the activator is sand. Further, the specific stitching 24 running across the sole or longitudinally of the sole will depend on the nature of the naturally occurring activators within the envelope 21 and may include different types of patterns and designs. By way of example and not limitation, FIG. 3A shows a diagonal stitch pattern for stitching 24 which may be suitable for larger activator materials and which would impart a diagonal activation to the bottom of the foot. FIG. 3B illustrates a transverse wave stitch pattern for stitching 24 which may be better suited for smaller diameter activators and provides a sinusoidal activation pattern transversely of the foot. FIG. 3C illustrates a complex stitch pattern for stitching 24 which may serve to confine activators of different size, for example large activators may be confined in the arch area where stitching 24 is linear and transverse, while smaller size activators may be captured in the crosshatch stitch pattern at the ball of the foot to insure the activators do not migrate. In FIG. 3D, diagonal linear stitching may accommodate medium sized activator particles. Referring to FIG. 3E, an irregular stitching pattern for stitching 24 prevents migration of the activators and provides a complex stimulation pattern to the foot akin to walking on an uneven surface. FIG. 3F depicts a stitching pattern for stitching 24 that accommodates the arch of the foot and FIGS. 3G and 3H illustrate linear stitching 24 in either a longitudinal direction or transverse direction which provides anti-migration properties and different sensory stimulation, with the longitudinal stitching providing lateral instability sensation and the transverse stitching providing stimulation progressively along the sole of the foot. FIG. 5 illustrates the compartmentalization required in the envelope to provide stability to the activator material and to prevent the material from migrating to one area of the envelope.
Referring to FIG. 4A to 4D, various activators from the above listing are confined within the envelope. In FIG. 4A, the activator material may be common dirt, sand, ground spices, plant leaves or any other granular or powder like substance. In FIG. 4B, the activator material may be vegetable seeds, fruit seeds, mung beans, almonds peach pits, hazelnuts, acorns, or macadamia nuts. In FIG. 4C, the activator material may be grains, vegetable seeds, fruit seeds, berries, lentils, brown rice; lavender buds. In FIG. 4 D, the activator material may be rocks, pebbles, minerals, and assorted rock like materials. The envelope material itself should be cotton, silk, polymer based manmade fibers, or the like with a weave commensurate with the activator, such that the activator is not able to readily migrate from the envelope and of a thickness such that the envelope material does not provide excessive padding, thereby diminishing the effect of the activators as the user stands or walks on the envelope. If additional padding is required for an individual, then it may be added.
It will be understood that an envelope 30 having the same features as envelope 21 may be sewn to the inside or outside of a sock 60 as shown in FIG. 6, for wear in a sneaker or shoe, may be incorporated into footwear as an inner sole for sneakers, shoes, boots, or sandals, or may be used as a mat for passive standing apart from being worn while walking around the home or for brief walks outside, such as taking the dog for a walk. As noted the product is intended to provide short term stimulation to the foot due to the weight of the body being supported on the envelope and the selected activation material, thus the product is not intended nor recommended for extended wear outside the home, but is intended for wear immediately after taking off one's usual footwear and for wear by the user for a duration determined by the user to stimulate the foot, legs and spinal alignment. However, depending on the activator material chosen, for example sand, leaves, or spices, the product may be suitable for wear over an extended period of time.
As may be noted, the nature of the activator material will determine the thickness of the product and the intensity of the stimulation. For some materials, the product may be simply used by loosening the laces or sandal straps of selected footwear to accommodate the thickness. Slippers may require the flexible material as set forth herein above. Accordingly, it is contemplated that the product can be used alone or in combination with traditional and non-traditional footwear.
While in the foregoing specification this invention has been described in relation to certain embodiments thereof, and many details have been put forth for the purpose of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is susceptible to additional embodiments and that certain of the details described herein can be varied considerably without departing from the basic principles of the invention.

Claims

What we claim is:

1. An envelope to be placed in contact with the sole of the foot to provide sensory activation, said envelope including one or more layers of confinement material for at least partially defining said envelope and retaining therein a number of activator elements selected from the group including wood of various types, small pieces of wood in various shapes, grains, minerals, rocks, vegetable seeds, fruit seeds, berries, herbs, spices, plant leaves, sand, mung beans, pebbles, lentils, brown rice; lavender buds, ginger shavings, almonds, peach pits, hazelnuts, acorns, macadamia nuts, coal, ashes, grains, corn, flower petals, and common dirt.

2. An envelope as described in claim 1, wherein said envelope is divided into a plurality of internal chambers for said activation material.

3. An envelope as described in claim 2 wherein said internal chambers extend diagonally across said envelope.

4. An envelope as described in claim 2 in which the internal chambers are formed by an irregular stitching pattern.

5. An envelope as described in claim 2 in which the internal chambers are formed by linear stitch rows.

6. An envelope as described in claim 2 placed within a shoe, wherein said shoe includes and upper and a sole and a strip of flexible material there between to allow said upper to move vertically relative to said sole to accommodate said envelope and a user's foot within said shoe.

7. An envelope as described in claim 2 formed as a sole of a sock.