Patent Application
20190037958
Embodiments of the present invention relate to disposable inserts for controlling odor and perspiration of articles in contact with the human body.
The desire for clean, fresh smelling feet and shoes is an ongoing continuous battle. Feet, like hands, face and body, sweat and shed dead skin which enables bacteria to multiply in the moist shoe, producing odor. Those who wear shoes without socks are even more familiar with the problem of odor and moisture because sockless bare feet in shoes produce more sweat than feet with socks.
Foot and shoe care products currently available are either carbon shoe inserts cut to length, placed in the shoe for long periods of time, or foot powders sprinkled in the shoe when needed. The disadvantages of these long-term inserts and powders are immediately evident to the sockless shoe wearer: the carbon-filled cut-to-length inserts become slippery with a sockless barefoot, and sweat is dried and remains in the shoe or on the insert for months. Such inserts often have multiple layers of different materials, but such layers of material add to the expense of the insert, require alteration to fit particular shoe sizes, cause damage to the inside of the shoe due to the use of adhesives and can be uncomfortable. Due to their materials, construction, and ingredients, long-term inserts and deodorizing products are expensive and inconvenient. Any insert that is intended to be used longer than a day itself develops an odor or becomes dirty. Deodorizing powders are not convenient to carry around or remember to use, thus leading back to a smelly foot and shoe due to non-use. Deodorizing powders also make a mess because the powder is distributed into the shoe or on the person's body all at once, rather than over time gradually with use.
What is needed is a deodorizing shoe insert that is disposable, moisture-absorbing, deodorizing, convenient and cost effective.
Embodiments of the present invention comprise a towelette-like insert coated and/or impregnated with deodorizing antiperspirant powder, sized and shaped to fit within a shoe, and of a material capable of absorbing moisture.
An article insert according to the present invention comprises a single-layered sheet sized to fit at least partially within an article, the sheet comprising flexible moisture-absorbing material and comprising a deodorizing and moisture-absorbing composition. The flexible moisture-absorbing material preferably comprises non-woven fabric comprising cellulose and polypropylene. Preferably, the deodorizing and moisture-absorbing composition comprises a powder. Embodiments of the deodorizing and moisture-absorbing composition comprise baking powder, baking soda, kaolin powder, and/or essential oil. Embodiments in which the deodorizing and moisture-absorbing composition comprises all those ingredients preferably comprise about one part baking powder, about one part baking soda, about one-eighth part kaolin powder, and about one thirty-second part essential oil. Preferably, the deodorizing and moisture-absorbing composition is gradually released by the sheet upon contact with a person's body. Additionally, the sheet preferably comprises at least one perforation to allow the user to size the sheet to their needs.
An article insert according to the present invention comprises a sheet formed entirely of non-woven fabric sized to fit at least partially within an article and a deodorizing and moisture-absorbing composition on or in the sheet, the composition comprising baking powder, baking soda, kaolin powder and essential oil. Preferably, the deodorizing and moisture-absorbing composition is gradually released by the sheet upon contact with a person's body. Preferably, the deodorizing and moisture-absorbing composition comprises about one part baking powder, about one part baking soda, about one-eighth part kaolin powder, and about one thirty-second part essential oil. Additionally, the sheet preferably comprises at least one perforation to allow the user to size the sheet to their needs.
A method of manufacturing an article insert according to the present invention comprises forming a single-layered sheet comprising flexible moisture-absorbing material, sizing the sheet to fit at least partially within an article, and impregnating the sheet with a deodorizing and moisture-absorbing composition. Additionally, embodiments of the method comprise placing the sized and impregnated sheet at least partially within an article. Embodiments of the method further comprise gradually releasing the deodorizing and moisture-absorbing composition from the sheet upon contact with a user's body. Embodiments of the method further comprise disposing the sheet after one day of use in the article. Preferably, the deodorizing and moisture-absorbing composition comprises baking powder, baking soda, kaolin powder and essential oil.
Objects, advantages and novel features, and further scope of applicability of the present invention will be set forth in part in the detailed description to follow, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the invention.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form a part of the specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating one or more embodiments of the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. In the drawings:
Referring to the figures, an embodiment of the present invention preferably comprises insert 100 of a shape, length and width appropriate to fit entirely or at least partially within an article such as a shoe, sock, glove, mitten, hat, earmuff, wristband, headband, etc. (all referred to herein as “article”). To permit ease and rapidity of use, in one embodiment, insert 100 is preferably shaped such that it does not require a specific orientation within the article (there is no right, left, up, down, top or bottom). In the embodiments illustrated in in
Some embodiments of insert 100 are manufactured of certain sizes to accommodate different sized articles without the user's alteration. For example, insert 100 can be pre-sized to fit certain sized articles. Additionally, embodiments of insert 100 comprise perforations 130 that allow the user to easily tear insert 100 into smaller pieces. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in
Preferably, insert 100 is formed of a flexible moisture-absorbing material such as a non-woven fabric material. Non-woven fabric material is preferred as the structural material for insert 100 because it is durable enough that insert 100 does not tear apart in pieces when in regular use within an article; flexible enough such that insert 100 can be folded to fit the user's particular article and to fit into packaging; soft enough to not cause discomfort during use; absorbs moisture; is easy to insert into articles; is low-cost; safely and economically disposable; and attracts debris away from the human body or article. For example, in one embodiment, a non-woven fabric material is used comprising a fiberblend material made from modified cellulose and comprising polypropylene in which the fibers are interlaced to create space between the fibers. The modified cellulose fibers absorb moisture and the polypropylene fibers are soft to touch and flexible.
Inserts formed of multiple layers of material interfere with the insert's movement within the article, can damage the article, and/or must be sized specifically to particular sizes of the particular article. To avoid such problems, preferably insert 100 is formed of a single layer of a single material. This provides a consistent feel to insert 100 and ensures that it can move around or bunch up within the article as it is used. Furthermore, it is preferable that insert 100 does not comprise any material or agent that would interfere with the movement of insert 100 within the article or otherwise increase the amount of friction already inherent to the material of insert 100 and its relation to the article and/or person's body. Such materials or agents that might add unwanted friction include adhesives, non-slip coatings, rubber, latex, combinations thereof, and the like.
The thickness of insert 100 also affects its freedom of movement within the article. While the thickness of insert 100 can vary according to the material used and the desired moisture absorption, preferably the thickness of insert 100 fabricated of a non-woven fabric material, measured in weight by industry standard, is within the range of about 40 to 320 grams per meter, and most preferably about 80 grams per meter. Some embodiments of insert 100 comprise any combination of different non-woven fabric materials, comprise other types of materials that are not non-woven fabrics, comprise multiple layers of the same material, comprise multiple layers of different materials, and can be of varying thicknesses, as can be adapted for any particular article.
By using a single layer of flexible moisture absorbing material such as the material described above, insert 100 can be placed within an article on a disposable basis. As illustrated in
Preferably, insert 100 is coated and/or impregnated with a deodorizing, antiperspirant composition 120, as illustrated in
Preferably composition 120 comprises ingredients that are all natural. For example, in one embodiment, composition 120 comprises baking powder, baking soda, kaolin powder and essential oils. The baking powder absorbs moisture, the baking soda reduces or eliminates odor, the kaolin powder smoothes out the texture of the composition and helps insert 100 move around in the article (reduces friction), and the essential oil adds fragrance. Preferably, composition 120 comprises about one part baking powder, about one part baking soda, about one-eighth part kaolin powder, and about one thirty-second part essential oil or other fragrances.
Embodiments of insert 100 are packaged for ease of transport and use. Preferably, insert 100 is packaged in a travel-size and single-pair plastic packaging. Some embodiments may be packaged in multiple pairs. Packaging may comprise a sealable hole or slit to allow the user's access to insert 100.
The present invention is further illustrated by the following non-limiting example of a disposable insert according to an embodiment of the present invention for use in shoes.
A shoe insert was manufactured of a spunlace modified cellulose and polypropylene fiber blend fabric having the dimensions of ten inches in length and six inches in width to accommodate shoes for an adult, and a thickness/weight of 80 grams per square meter. The shoe insert was coated and/or impregnated with a deodorizing, antiperspirant shoe powder with fragrance. The powder contained baking powder, baking soda, kaolin powder and an essential oil that was fragrant of citrus, the proportions being about one part baking powder, about one part baking soda, about one-eighth part kaolin powder, and about one thirty-second part essential oil or other fragrances. A number of shoe inserts were packaged by folding and layering each shoe insert and surrounding them with plastic such that single shoe inserts were accessed through a sealable seam or hole in the plastic.
A user carried the travel-sized packaging of shoe inserts with them in a purse or gym bag. The user accessed each shoe insert from an openable hole in the packaging, inserted the shoe insert into each shoe by laying it flat over the sole of the shoe, and placed their foot into the shoe over the shoe insert, thereby depositing a layer of the deodorizing antiperspirant powder from the shoe insert onto the shoe insole and to the user's foot. As the user continued their day, the shoe insert continued to release the deodorizing antiperspirant shoe powder to the foot and shoe and the user's foot perspiration was absorbed by the fabric of the shoe insert along with any dirt or debris from the user's foot. At the end of the user's day, the user took their foot out of the shoe and removed and discarded the shoe insert. The next day, the user repeated the same routine with a fresh shoe insert from the package.
Note that in the specification and claims, “about” or “approximately” means within twenty percent (20%) of the numerical amount cited.
Although the invention has been described in detail with particular reference to these embodiments, other embodiments can achieve the same results. Variations and modifications of the present invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art and it is intended to cover all such modifications and equivalents. The entire disclosures of all patents and publications cited above are hereby incorporated by reference.
This application claims priority to and the benefit of the filing of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/540,810, entitled “Disposable Shoe Insert”, filed on Aug. 3, 2017, and the specifications and claims thereof are incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62540810 | Aug 2017 | US |
