Patent Application
20090282705
The present invention relates to the field of footwear enhancements. More specifically, the invention relates to disposable, naturally absorbing and cushioning footpads.
Shoes are not inherently perfect. They are usually mass produced to provide some sort of covering for our feet in many different environments and situations in order to achieve varied results and serve a wide variety of functions. Unsurprisingly, a large number of enhancements have been devised to overcome the disadvantages of a diverse group of footwear. These began with the basic sock, which provided a slight layer of protection and cushioning over the entire foot. Beyond this, some devices have attempted to improve the size differential between a standard-sized shoe and a unique, individual foot. Other devices have gone one step further to improve the overall orthotics for correct foot positioning within a shoe. Still other devices provide a partial covering to protect tender spots of the metatarsal.
For instance, one example of an orthotic device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,779,282 and describes an insole with a number of fluid filled containers. The amount of fluid in the containers can be controlled by a user wearing the device. A change in the amount of fluid in each container will likewise change the pressure being exerted on each part of the foot. In sum, this disclosure provides a rather complex solution to an orthopaedic problem and clearly lacks simplicity and the advantage of being disposable.
As another example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,207,961 discloses a medical apparatus that can be worn by diabetics to cover the feet. This device involves an ankle length sock that would be visible when worn in conjunction with a typical shoe and also requires a hard coating at the bottom, which could preclude the device completely from being worn with a typical shoe. This device mainly serves a medical function targeting people with ulcers and lesions of the foot. As such, it is made to be a more permanent solution similar in nature to the previous disclosure.
In contrast, U.S. Pat. No. 7,037,571 discloses a disposable shoe liner that uses a laminate material. The described structure involves creating a liner from three distinct layers which include a functional material as the middle layer. However, similar to the last disclosure, the use of artificial materials does not offer an environmentally conscious solution. Also, although possibly disposable, the use of three layers most likely would be too bulky to achieve the presently desired results.
Still, other patent disclosures have attempted to suggest footwear enhancements which use elastic members as fasteners, contain multiple layers of cushioning or meshed fabrics, and even include deodorants, drying agents such as talcum powder, medications and antibacterial substances.
However, many types of footwear are incompatible with all of the foregoing because they are made to be worn without socks or other bulkier enhancements. Furthermore, in some instances, where more of the foot is visible, it is desirable to wear an enhancement that can not be seen at all. Yet, in these instances, it still may be important to use an enhancement that can provide some degree of cushioning, absorb moisture, possibly due to perspiration, keep the foot sanitary from dirt and debris, and protect tissues of the foot sole from friction that may cause blisters, calluses and other irritations or injuries. This enhancement should be able to keep its form and positioning while in use. It should also be capable of being removed for washing or disposal and be constructed from a breathable material. Finally, this footwear enhancement may be capable of being used in conjunction with other enhancements, whether known or unknown at the time of this disclosure.
The present invention provides for a specific footpad which overcomes all of the foregoing problems and other difficulties which have been known in the art for some time. Additionally, the presently disclosed footpad offers solutions that none of the previous enhancements have suggested and up until this point in time have not been able to solve.
A moisture and shock absorbing footpad is disclosed which wicks moisture away from the feet while reducing the friction produced by any additional footwear that is worn in conjunction with the footpad. The footpad is especially beneficial when used with skimmers, ballet flats and other stylish footwear trends. The footpad also proves beneficial when worn with open-toed shoes due to its minimalist appearance. In order to achieve environmental consciousness, its fabrication is simple enough to be hand-stitched and constructed from one hundred percent natural cotton fiber. The footpad also acts to line the bottom of shoes that often get filled with debris and possibly grow mold spores or fungi. In this manner, it can protect the feet from calluses, blisters, and infection, but generally serves to keep the user clean and comfortable. In one embodiment, the footpad comprises a pull tab in the form of a loop of material that is sewn onto the heel portion, which provides stability when inserting one's foot.
These and other objectives of the claimed invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.
In the following description of the various embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration various embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may still be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.
Referring to
Now referring to
Now referring to
Still referring to
Now referring to
Still referring to
The present invention includes any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein either explicitly or any generalization thereof. While the invention has been described with respect to specific examples including presently preferred modes of carrying out the invention, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variations and permutations of the above described apparatus. Thus, the spirit and scope of the invention should be construed broadly as set forth in the appended claims.
