SAFE AND HYGIENIC SOLE

Abstract

The present invention discloses a safer sole against slippage while worn wet, and one which is pleasant to wear, practical to use, and economical to manufacture. The invention discloses a footwear sole through an innovative means of allowing water to clear from a foot, and under a footwear. It is also the purpose of this invention to provide for an aerating sole via open through and through channels for improving foot hygiene while maintaining the safety of a foot from being poked or pricked if stepping on pointy objects.

Claims

1. A sole for use in footwear, characterized in that said sole has a plurality of layers traversed by a plurality of channels, comprising: a top layer comprising openings, a bottom layer comprising corresponding openings to said openings of said top layer, open channels traversing said top and bottom layers wherein said channels connect said openings of said top layer with the corresponding said openings of said bottom layer; wherein said channels are angled so that the openings at either ends of said channels are connected at an angle which prevents solid materials from penetrating through said channel.

2. The sole according to claim 1, wherein: said openings on the top layer may be of any size, shape and form, said corresponding openings on the bottom layer may be any size, shape and form, said open channels provide for a direct open communication between the said upper and lower openings, wherein said channels may be of any size, shape and form.

3. The sole according to claim 1, wherein the channels located on the back of the sole, are preferably angled forward, towards the middle of sole.

4. The sole according to claim 1, wherein the channels located on the front of the sole are preferably angled backwards, towards the middle of the sole.

5. The sole according to claim 1, wherein the channels located in the middle of the sole are preferably angled sideways and crisscross.

6. The sole according to claim 1, comprising an additional layer, wherein said additional layer may be added on the bottom, in the middle or on top of said sole.

7. The sole according to claim 6, wherein said additional layer consists of a mesh-like structure.

8. The sole according to claim 1, wherein said bottom sole further comprises ridges.

9. The sole according to claim 8, wherein said ridges traverse said corresponding openings on said bottom of said sole.

10. A sole according to claim 1 for use in: evacuating accumulated or draining water on a foot or footwear, aerating a foot wearing said sole, providing protection from slipping.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] FIG. 1 represents a top view of a sole of the disclosed invention clearly showing the openings of the upper side of the channels through which water is evacuated and aeration is exchanged.

[0023] FIG. 2 represents the bottom of a sole of the disclosed invention clearly showing the openings of the lower side of the channels through which the water evacuates away from the foot and aeration is enabled. The figure also represents ridges on the bottom of the sole to assist water evacuation towards the perimeter of the sole and away from the bottom of the footwear.

[0024] FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal cross section of the sole with the embodiment of the open channels angled and in a conical shape.

[0025] FIG. 4 shows another longitudinal cross-section of the sole with the embodiment of an additional layer, in this case on top of the sole.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] In one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a sole (100) with a plurality of openings (104) on the upper side (101) of said sole, a plurality of corresponding openings (204) on the bottom side (202) of said sole, and wherein said upper openings (104) form direct open channels (308) with said lower openings (204), wherein said open channels (308) travel through the thickness of said sole (103).

[0027] In a preferred embodiment, the said open channels (308) traverse the sole at an angle which is optimized to safeguard the foot of the wearer from material on the ground which may prick the bottom of the foot. In said embodiment, the open channels may traverse the sole at any angle, just as long as the said channel is not perpendicular to the ground and offers the required protection against lengthy objects penetrating across the plurality of layers forming said sole.

[0028] In a further embodiment, the said angled open channel is provided for in a conical open shape to ensure that water evacuation is preferentially made in one direction. The conical shape disclosed in FIG. 3 (308) is designed to allow water drainage in one direction, downwards, and hinders or prevents water from going back up to the top of the sole (301).

[0029] In yet a preferred embodiment, the said angled traversing open channels (308) have an opening on the top part of the sole (305) and a corresponding opening (306) on the bottom part of the sole, wherein the two openings are connected yet are displaced from each other in such a manner wherein there is not a direct vertical opening between them as shown in FIG. 3. The two openings are connected but not in planar parallel alignment to each other and there is no straight vertical line of sight between them.

[0030] In a preferred embodiment, the direction of the open channels, from top to bottom, is angled inwards for those channels towards the front part of the sole (303). In a similar manner, the direction of the open channels, from top to bottom, is angled inwards for those channels towards the back part of the sole (304). With these embodiments, it is submitted that with lifting of the foot in a normal walking movement, these preferred angles further ensure the increase of water drainage and prevents water from traveling back up said channels.

[0031] In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the bottom of the sole comprises ridges (205), wherein said ridges (205) traverse the openings of the lower part of the channels (204) on the bottom of the sole (202). The ridges (205) act as further evacuation channels for driving the evacuated water towards the outer perimeter of the bottom of the sole (202).

[0032] In a general embodiment, the number and size of said upper openings (104) and the number and size of said corresponding lower openings (204) may vary as function of the size and use of the sole. In addition, the number of direct channels (308) is determined and only limited by the size and intended use of the sole in order to provide the required function and protection and is equivalent to the number and size of said upper openings (104) and said lower openings (204). Furthermore, the number of ridges (205) on the bottom of the sole is also provided for in relation to the number and in alignment with the number of openings on the bottom of the sole. The size, shape or volume of the channels may also be variable depending on the size of the sole and its use in the type of footwear.

[0033] In a preferred embodiment, whereas the openings (104) on the top of the sole (101) are preferably circular in shape but are not limited to being circular except for the purposes of ease of manufacturing, the openings (204) on the bottom of the sole (202) preferably have a non-circular shape. It is submitted herein, and for the purposes of explanation, a teardrop shape is adopted as shown in FIG. 2 (204). The innovation behind this shape resides in the smaller opening pointing towards the back of the sole. It is submitted herein that for the peeling effect of the sole during walking, such a shape prevents the slipping and suction effect experienced in the absence of this backwards pointing shape.

[0034] As a further explanation, and again using the said teardrop shape merely for the purposes of illustration, the said teardrop design opening at the bottom surface is made to counteract the pealing forces with a wet ground (tile surface or other) by reducing first point peal surface from back to front, thus eliminating the suction induced by the “suction cup” effect of a cup-like opening on a humid surface. In addition, such a shape will also act on noise reduction made from possible suction points on wet surfaces when lifting a foot.

[0035] In a further embodiment, the sole may be divided into a plurality of layers instead of the thickness being one uniform layer. For the purposes of a clearer explanation, an example of a 2-layered sole will be further defined as per FIG. 4. In this particular embodiment, and for illustrative purposes only, an additional layer (403) rests on top of the sole. The said additional layer (403) may be composed of a mesh-like material of different material including but not limited to material which may enhance comfort, drainage, hygiene and further prevent backflow of water from bottom to top, as explained in preceding paragraphs as the objective of the herein innovative sole.

[0036] In a further embodiment, there may be one or more protection valve(s) or protrusion(s) angled downwards towards the ground within the direct open channels (not represented). In such a manner, the flow of water is preferentially enhanced to be uni-directional, and to be more precise, from the top of the sole towards the bottom of the sole. The evacuated water or water found on the ground is preferentially obstructed or prevented from being sucked or absorbed back up through the channels and towards the upper part of the sole.

[0037] This solution ensures correct permeation as well as an effective exchange of water and/or water vapor between the environment on the upper part of the sole or inside of the footwear (inner environment) and the outside environment, at the same time ensuring the necessary impermeability with respect to external moisture and water.

[0038] Furthermore, this solution ensures less water accumulation between said sole and the sole of the foot, regardless of sole material and design, which implies less foot slippage and more protection.

[0039] The described embodiments also provide for faster water drainage, faster water evaporation through the improved aeration effect, dryer foot soles, more comfortable wear, and improved foot hygiene. With regards to the hygiene component, it is well known for a person skilled in the art that foot aeration minimizes sweat accumulation between footwear sole and foot sole, when walking or when the foot is lifted from the ground. Less sweaty feet imply less chance of slipping, improved hygiene and more comfortable and pleasant wear.

[0040] In a test example, and for illustration purposes only, one of a pair of flip-flops underwent preparation of creating channels throughout its surface as described herein above in the various embodiments and through the sole. For ease of demonstration, the channels were circular in shape. The channels were perforated from top to bottom with diameters of between 3 to 6 mm. The channels were punched at an angle wherein said angle directs the channels as described above. The other flip-flop of the said pair was kept as is. The flip-flops were worn by a person. The person went under a shower to soak himself and immediately upon shutting off the water, went for a walk in a locker room.

[0041] The observations were as follows: after taking only a few steps, the foot which had the innovative sole had remarkably less water lodged between the foot and the flip-flop thus the foot was not slipping in or on the flip-flop. In contrast, the other foot with the unmodified flip-flop on was amassing water under the sole of the feet which caused the foot to slip. The flip-flop of the invention clearly successfully did its function of evacuating the water rapidly and making walking safer.

[0042] In addition, it was also noticed that the innovative sole was more pleasant to wear and walk around with, and more practical to use. The foot with the innovative sole is dryer and requires less wiping with a towel if any.

[0043] After taking a number of additional steps, the foot with the innovative flip-flop was almost dry whereas the other foot with the unmodified flip-flop was still very wet.

[0044] On another occasion, the experiment was repeated on a humid hot summer day walking outside. After a number of steps, the bottom of the foot with the traditional flip-flop started to sweat and slip on the flip-flop. The other foot, with the innovative sole, was aerated by the channels and did not sweat.

[0045] In conclusion from the test performed herein, the innovative sole evacuated water efficiently and rapidly, provided for a safer walking experience, caused less sweating which provides for a more hygienic environment for the foot.

[0046] The embodiments described herein while defined for a clearer understanding to slippers or sandals, may very well be applicable to all types of footwear and activities. The open direct channel “sole unit” can be custom-designed and applied to any footwear sole to provide for direct aeration while maintaining protection. This added aeration provides for enhanced footwear comfort and hygiene.