Abstract
The invention relates to improvements in articles for foot care, for example foot care devices, footwear and insoles for footwear. A body of discrete operative members (30) is provided, the operative members (30) each having a tip portion (31) for interaction with a human or animal foot (40). In use, the operative members (30) can be resiliently deformed by engagement with the foot (40). The operative members (30) of the invention can thus provide cushioning and stimulation to a user.
Claims
1. An article for foot care comprising a body of discrete operative members, the operative members each having a tip portion for interaction with a human or animal foot, and the operative members being resiliently deformable on engagement by the foot.
2. An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the article is footwear.
3. An article as claimed claim 1, wherein the article is an insole.
4. An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tip portion is for interacting with the sole of the foot and the operative members are resiliently deformable under the weight of the foot.
5. An article as claimed in claim 1 for treating a wound, wherein the tip portion stimulates, in use, the wound bed of the wound.
6. An article as claimed in claim 5, wherein a dressing is provided between the wound bed and the operative member, and wherein the tip portion interacts, in use, with the dressing to stimulate the wound bed.
7. An article as claimed in claim 5, the tip portion interacts directly with the wound bed.
8. An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thickness and/or density of the operative members varies over different regions of the article.
9. An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the length of the operative members is less than 10 mm.
10. An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body of discrete operative members comprises both longer and shorter operative members.
11. An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operative members comprise support springs.
12. An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least some of the operative members are linear.
13. An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least some of the operative members are curved.
14. An article as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tip portion includes a recess.
15. An article as claimed in claim 14, wherein the operative member is hollow and the recess is defined by an open end portion of the operative member.
16. An article as claimed in claim 15, wherein the operative member is in fluid communication with an air reservoir, the air reservoir being reducible in volume, in use.
17. An article as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least some of the operative members project perpendicularly from a major surface of the article.
18. An article as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least some of the operative members project at an oblique angle from a major surface of the article.
19. An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operative members are arranged in a predetermined array.
20. An article as claimed in claim 17, wherein alignment direction of the operative members is variable in the predetermined array.
21. An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operative members are fibres.
22. An article as claimed in claim 21, wherein the fibres are microfibres.
23. An article as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a base layer and a top layer, wherein the body of discrete operative members provides the top layer of the article.
24. An article as claimed in claim 23, wherein the discrete operative members are threaded through the base layer.
25. An article as claimed in claim 23, further comprising a fibre mesh layer.
26. An article as claimed in claim 23, wherein the base layer comprises a visco-elastic material.
27. An article as claimed in claim 23, wherein the base layer comprises a viscous material.
28. An article as claimed in claim 23, further comprising a viscous material layer.
29. An article as claimed in claim 27, wherein the viscous material is a low density foam.
30. An article as claimed claim 27, wherein the viscous material is a granulated material.
31. An article as claimed in claim 27, wherein the viscous material is a slow rebound viscous material.
32. An article as claimed in claim 31, wherein the slow rebound viscous material has a rebound time of between 0.05 and 0.50 seconds.
33. An article as claimed in claim 28, wherein the viscosity of the viscous layer varies across the layer.
Description
[0056] Certain embodiments of the invention will be described in further detail below by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
[0057] FIG. 1 is a section view of an insole according to a first example of the invention;
[0058] FIG. 2 is a section view of the insole in use according to the first example of the invention;
[0059] FIG. 3 is a section view of the insole in use according to the first example of the invention;
[0060] FIG. 4 is a section view of an insole according to a second example of the invention;
[0061] FIG. 5 is a section view of an insole according to a third example of the invention;
[0062] FIG. 6 is a section view of an insole according to a fourth example of the invention;
[0063] FIG. 7 is a section view of an insole according to a fifth example of the invention;
[0064] FIGS. 8a to 8d are views of fibre structures according to examples of the invention.
[0065] FIGS. 9a to 9c are views of fibre structures according to further examples of the invention.
[0066] FIGS. 10a to 10f are views of fibre structures according to further examples of the invention.
[0067] FIGS. 11a to 11h are views of fibre structures according to further examples of the invention.
[0068] FIGS. 12a to 12c are views of fibre structures according to further examples of the invention.
[0069] FIGS. 13a to 13d are views of fibre structures according to further examples of the invention, where FIG. 13c is a cross-sectional view along the line XIII-XIII in FIG. 13b.
[0070] Referring firstly to FIG. 1, the insole comprises a base layer 10 and a viscous layer 20. Straight fibres 30 are woven through the base layer 10 and the viscous layer 20 and project substantially perpendicularly from the surface 22 of the viscous layer 20.
[0071] The base layer 10 is made of a rubber material and is approximately five millimetres thick. The viscous layer 20 is glued to the base layer. The viscous layer 20 is a low density foam and is also approximately five millimetres in thickness. The base layer 10 and viscous layer 20 provide a smooth flat surface which may deform under the weight of a foot in use.
[0072] The fibres 30 are arranged in a regular array. The fibres 30 are all approximately the same length and the length of the portion of the fibres 30 that are upstanding from the viscous layer 20 is approximately five millimetres.
[0073] FIGS. 2 and 3 show the insole in use, with FIG. 2 showing the insole during loading and FIG. 3 showing the insole during unloading. During loading, the foot 40 moves towards the insole in the direction of the arrow 42, and the fibres 30 bend under the weight of the foot. Air in the space between the sole of the foot 40 and the viscous layer 20 is pushed outwards in the direction of arrows 44, 45 as the space between the sole of the foot 40 and the viscous layer 10 gets smaller. As the fibres 30 buckle under the weight of the foot 40, cushioning is provided. The tips 31 of the fibres 30 maintain contact with the sole of the foot 40, to provide a physical interaction to increase perfusion and provide nerve stimulation. During unloading, as shown in FIG. 3, the foot 40 moves away from the insole, in the direction as shown by arrow 46. The fibres 30 recover towards their original straight shape. The space between the sole of the foot 40 and viscous layer 22 gets wider, and air is sucked in to the space as indicated by arrows 48, 49, which aerates the sole of the foot.
[0074] FIG. 4 shows a cross-section view of a second example of an insole. This insole comprises the base layer 10, viscous layer 20 and fibres 30 as shown in FIG. 1, but the insole also comprises a layer of fibre mesh 32 on the surface 22 of the viscous layer 20. The fibre mesh 32 provides further interaction with the sole of the foot when the fibres 30 are bent or compressed under the weight of the foot.
[0075] FIG. 5 shows a cross-section view of a third example of an insole. This insole comprises the base layer 10, the viscous layer 20 and the fibres 30, as shown in the example in FIG. 1, but the straight fibres 30 in this example comprise support springs 34 that surround each fibre 30. The support springs 34 provide increased cushioning capability of the fibres 30.
[0076] FIG. 6 shows a cross-section view of a fourth example of an insole, with a base layer 10 and viscous layer 20. In this insole, the fibres are woven through the base layer 10 and viscous layer 20 such that some fibres 30 project approximately perpendicularly from the viscous layer 20, whereas other fibres 36 project at an angle of approximately 15 from the normal to the surface of the viscous layer 20.
[0077] FIG. 7 shows a cross-section view of a fifth example of an insole. This insole comprises a base layer 10, a layer that comprises viscous granular material 24, and fibres 30 woven through the base layer 10 and layer of viscous granular material 24.
[0078] The fibres 30, 36 in FIGS. 1 to 7 are straight, however the fibres may also be curved. FIGS. 8a to 8d show examples of curved fibres 52, 54, 56, 58. The curved structures of the fibres may provide a more controlled collapse of the fibre when in contact with the sole of a foot.
[0079] In FIGS. 1 to 7, it is the ends of the straight fibres 30, 36 that contact the sole of the foot and thus constitute the tip portion 31 of each operative member. Similarly, in FIGS. 8a, 8b and 8d the free ends of the curved fibres 52, 54, 58 would generally contact the foot, and thus be considered the tip portions 51. In FIGS. 9a to 9c, however, the fibres 62, 64, 66 are curved or bent such that a curved portion 63, 65 or pointed portion 67 of the fibre may contact the sole of the foot in use. As such, in these examples the tip portion would be considered to be the curved or pointed portion 63, 65, 67. Equally, curved portions of fibres 52, 54, 56, 58 of FIGS. 8a to 8d may form discrete contact points with the sole of the foot when compressed, and could thus be considered tip portions. These curved portions may provide secondary interaction with the sole of the foot. As the operative members are compressed, the length of the curved tip portion that is in contact with the sole of the foot may increase.
[0080] The fibres 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78 shown in FIGS. 10a to 10f, as well as the fibre 58 in FIG. 8d, are structures in which each fibre splits into two end portions above the surface of the viscous layer 20. Such fibre structures may provide improved interaction with the foot due to an increase in the number of fibre tips in contact with the sole of a foot, in use. Such fibres structures may also provide enhanced function as the two end portions may act in a couple. Furthermore, the combination of a sharp tip portion which is the end of one end portion, and a blunt tip portion which is a curved portion of the other end portion, allows for simultaneous sharp and blunt interaction.
[0081] In FIGS. 11a to 11f, the fibres 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, comprise loop structures that are able to change shape on compression. Such loop structures provide an increased resistance to deforming under the weight of the foot, and therefore improve cushioning. Furthermore, these structures may provide staged interaction with the foot, wherein the tip portion that is the end of the fibre provides an initial interaction with the sole of the foot, and as the structure is compressed a curved tip portion provides a secondary interaction.
[0082] The fibres 30, 36 of FIGS. 1 to 7 are woven through the base layer and viscous layer such that both ends of each fibre 30, 36 may contact the sole of the foot. In FIGS. 12a to 12c, the fibres 96, 98, 100 are woven through the viscous layer such that both ends of each fibre are embedded in the viscous layer, and a pointed portion 97 or curved portion 99 or branch portion 101, generally in the middle of the length of each fibre, projects from the viscous layer to contact the sole of the foot in use. These fibre structures 96, 98, 100 may provide different levels of cushioning and interaction compared to straight fibres 30, 36.
[0083] Other examples of fibre structures are shown in FIGS. 13a and 13b. In FIG. 13a, the fibre 102 is a hollow, tubular fibre. In FIG. 13b, the fibre 104 is comprises a concave tip portion 105. For clarity, FIG. 13c shows a cross-sectional view of the fibre 104 of FIG. 13b.
[0084] The hollow fibre 102 may comprise an air reservoir 106, as shown in FIG. 13d. The air reservoir 106 comprises a cavity, the cavity being in fluid connection with the cavity of the hollow tubular fibre 102. The air reservoir 106 is located beneath the base of the hollow fibre, and in FIG. 13d is located beneath the viscous layer 20. In other example embodiments, the air reservoir may be located above the viscous layer 20. The air reservoir 106 in FIG. 13d comprises a bellows wall structure that is compressible on engagement with the sole of the foot. In other example embodiments, the air reservoir may comprise walls formed of an elastomeric material, such that it is compressible on engagement with the sole of the foot.
[0085] The advantage of the fibres 102, 104 being hollow or comprising a concave tip portion is that these structures may provide improved air flow and suctioning function. As the sole of a foot contacts the fibre 102, 104, the air is pushed out of the hollow region 103 of the fibre 102 or of the concave recess at the tip portion 105 of the fibre 104. Upon recovery, the hollow region 103 or the concave tip portion 105 provide a suctioning function to the sole of the foot. The air reservoir 106 acts as a pump, and enables a larger volume of air to be expelled from the fibre 102, as the sole of the foot contacts the fibre 102 and compresses the air reservoir 106. This may provide increased air flow and suction.
[0086] The examples above are given only to help explain the nature of the invention, and are not intended to limit the protection sought. Features described in relation to one example may be applied, where suitable, to another example. In particular, the angled fibres 36, shown in FIG. 6, could similarly be included in insoles comprising the fibre mesh layer 32 as shown in FIG. 4 or in insoles comprising the granulated viscous layer of FIG. 7. Equally, the spring supports 34 surrounding the fibres 30, shown in FIG. 5, could similarly surround the angled fibres 36 as shown in FIG. 6.
