Patent Application
20180235836
This invention relates to sleep aids and more particularly a garment used to apply a constant concentrated pressure to a heel of a wearer to induce sleep and alleviate insomnia.
Many individuals experience insomnia-like symptoms that include waking without feeling refreshed, having trouble staying asleep and not being able to fall asleep quickly. The shimien pressure point is known as the insomnia pressure point and is found on the bottom of the foot on the heel. Applying physical pressure to the shimien pressure point is known to relax an individual and alleviate insomnia. However, although physical pressure can be applied by the individual rubbing his or her own feet or having another person rub his or her own feet, such does not provide a constant concentrated pressure being applied to the shimien pressure point throughout the night.
Therefore, a need exists for a garment used to apply a constant concentrated pressure to a heel of a wearer to induce sleep and alleviate insomnia.
The relevant prior art includes the following references:
The primary object of the present invention is to provide a garment used to apply a constant concentrated pressure to a heel of a wearer to induce sleep and alleviate insomnia.
The present invention fulfills the above and other objects by providing a sock having a projection located in a heel portion thereof that applies pressure to the shimien, which is the pressure point located on the heel of an individual's foot, to alleviate insomnia.
The projection may be integrated into the fabric of the sock by being sewn onto the fabric, woven into the fabric, adhered to the fabric or so forth in a position that is permanent.
The projection may also be attached to the sock via one or more straps secured to an upper portion of the sock. The one or more straps allow the projection to be moved into various positions. For example, the projection may be positioned under the wearer's heel when the wearer is lying down or pulled back behind the heel when the wearer needs to walk, thereby allowing the wearer to walk without the projection being located on the bottom of the foot. In addition, the one or more straps allow the projection to be tightened or loosened against the heel of the wearer via at least one length adjusting mechanism, such as a slide. Non-slip material, such as silicone, may be located on an interior surface of the sock to hold the sock in position on the wearer's foot.
Alternatively, the projection may be secured to one or more straps that are worn without a sock, under a sock and/or over a sock. The one or more straps preferably create a loop that encircles the ankle of the wearer's foot and has a strap that extends downward under the heel of the wearer's foot and holds the projection against the heel.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention should become even more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention.
In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which:
For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the terminology used in reference to the numbered accessories in the drawings is as follows:
1. pressure point sleep garment, generally
2. shimien pressure point
3. foot
4. heel
5. sock
6. interior surface of sock
7. exterior surface of sock
8. toe of sock
9. heel of sock
10. arch of sock
11. bottom surface of sock
12. top surface of sock
13. upper portion of sock
14. cuff of sock
15. projection
16. non-slip material
17. strap
18. slide
19. ankle strap
20. ankle
21. heel strap
With reference to
With reference to
The projection 15 extends upward from the interior surface 6 a predetermined distance so that when the pressure point sleep garment 1 is stretched over the foot 3 the projection 15 will apply pressure to the shimien pressure point 2 to help insomnia. As illustrated here the projection 15 is spherically-shaped, however, the projection 15 may be any other geometric shape that extends upward and applies a concentrated pressure on the shimien pressure point 2.
Non-slip material 16, such as silicone, may be located on the interior surface 6 or on the 13 of the pressure point sleep garment 1 to hold the pressure point sleep garment 1 in position on the wearer's foot 3, which in turn maintains a constant concentrated pressure on the shimien pressure point 2 by the projection 15. Alternatively, the cuff 14 may have an elastic and/or adjustable strap to tighten the cuff in place on above the wearer's foot 3.
With reference to
With reference to
It is to be understood that while a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and drawings.
