WO2013027105A1

WO2013027105A1 - Ultra-thin shoe insert with active temperature compensation

Info

Publication number: WO2013027105A1
Application number: PCT/IB2012/001601
Authority: WO
Inventors: Claudia BERNET
Original assignee: Flawa Ag
Priority date: 2011-08-19
Filing date: 2012-08-20
Publication date: 2013-02-28
Also published as: WO2013027105A4; AT13332U1

Abstract

A heating insole (10) is provided that is ultra-thin and provides temperature compensation. The heating insole (10) has a layered structure. The individual layers are bonded together using pressure and temperature. The layers consist of at least one nonwoven cover (12), one nonwoven hot-melt (14), a core layer (16), and a blue final layer (20).

Description

ULTRA-THIN SHOE INSERT WITH ACTIVE TEMPERATURE

COMPENSATION

Reference to Related Applications

This patent application claims priority to US Provisional Patent Application No. 61/525,221 , filed on August 19, 201 1 , the content of which is incorporated by reference hereto.

Copyright and Legal Notice

Part of the disclosure of this patent contains material that is subject to copyright law. The copyright holder does not object to any reproduction of the patent or patent publication, by any parties whatsoever, as it appears in the patent file or in the records of the Patent and Trademark Office, but reserves all other rights under copyright law. Moreover, none of the reference to third-party patents or products are to be interpreted as an acknowledgment that the present invention is not entitled to predate such material based on an earlier invention.

Background of the Invention

This invention relates to a heating or winter insole comprising a plurality of layers. In particular, this invention relates to a heating or winter insole that is thin and temperature-compensating.

In the field of winter, thermal, and heating insoles, it is known to structure such insoles according to the principle that materials may be used alone or in combination that have good insulation properties or reflective properties, or are wooly, electrically heated, or react chemically in an exothermic manner. Such insoles are also structured in layers and usually are thick in order to ensure insulation from the cold. The thickness of the insoles has a negative influence on the fit of the shoe. Conventional winter insoles provide only passive heat insulation. Such insoles only insulate against the effects of cold and do not provide active temperature compensation. However, this is not suitable for everyday use in winter with changing conditions caused by outdoor and indoor (e.g., office) use. Electrically heated or chemically exothermic systems are more expensive to use and to handle, and are practical only in a cold environment.

What is needed is a winter insole that is effective, uncomplicated, and thin so as not to negatively affect the fit of the user's shoe.

Summary of the Invention

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a heating insole according to the invention.

It should be evident to those skilled in the art that elements in the figures are depicted for the sake of simplicity and better understanding and have not necessarily been rendered to scale. For example, the dimensions may be exaggerated relative to other elements in order to provide a better understanding of the invention and its design. Moreover, insofar as terms such as "first," "second," "third," and the like are used in this document, the intent of such use is to differentiate between similar elements and not necessarily to describe a continuous or chronological order. In addition, relative terms such as "front," "rear," "top," "bottom," and the like in the specification and/or in the claims are not necessarily used to describe an exclusive relative position. It is therefore known to persons skilled in the art that such terms are interchangeable with other terms and that the designs described here can work in other arrangements than those that are explicitly expressed or described in any other manner here.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

The description below is not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way because it is exemplary in nature and serves to describe the best functionality of the invention as it is known to the inventors as of the filing date of this document.

With reference to FIG. 1 , a winter insole 10 according to this invention is an ultra-thin shoe insert with active temperature compensation. The insole 10 has a layered structure. The individual layers are bonded together by pressure and temperature. The layers consist of at least one nonwoven cover 12, a nonwoven hot-melt 14, a core layer 16, and a final layer 20, which is preferably blue.

The nonwoven cover 12 is a fiber blend worked into a flat formation using the needling technique. The blend contains viscose fibers, polyester bi- component fibers, and "SMARTCELL"™ climate fibers. The technology of the "SMARTCELL"™ climate fibers is based on the technology of phase change material. A patent application, EP2089468A1 , has been filed for this fiber, and the contents of said patent application are hereby incorporated by reference. The "SMARTCELL"™ climate fiber is a viscose fiber that contains paraffin in its amorphous fiber regions. The paraffin is acquired from a renewable raw material and is incorporated into the fiber during the spinning process of the viscose. The entire nonwoven cover 12 provides a heat-compensating effect by virtue of the "SMARTCELL"™ climate fibers and a subjective feeling of warmth due to the soft, fleecy feel of its surface. Inside, the paraffin portions are melted by the heat of the feet, causing the paraffin to go from a solid state to a liquid one. Outside, when the feet cool, the paraffin resolidifies. The paraffin returns from a liquid to a solid state. The energy is transferred to the foot in the form of heat. This process is reversible.

The nonwoven hot-melt 14 is a spun-bonded fabric composed of co- polyamides. The nonwoven hot-melt 14 has the function of bonding the nonwoven cover 12 and the core layer 16 and to provide them with sufficient adhesion. The nonwoven hot-melt 14 is activated by pressure and temperature.

The core layer 6 is composed of a condensed fiber composite produced using cellulose fibers and polypropylene/polyethylene bi-component fibers. The internal stability of the fiber composite is supported by polyethylene powder. The core layer is highly absorbent and soft by virtue of its high cellulose content. The bi-component portions and the polyethylene powder are activated using pressure and temperature and contribute to the adhesion of the individual insole layers.

The blue final layer 20 is made of a spun-bonded fabric composed of blue spinneret-dyed polypropylene fibers. A hot melt is applied to the blue final layer 20 during the production process. This results in a non-slip coating 22 on the blue final layer 20 that prevents the insole 10 from slipping inside the shoe. The hot melt is made of a mixture of polyolefins.

The insole 10 compensates for the temperature of the feet both inside and outside. The insole 10 is treated with a hypoallergenic perfume and an antibacterial and anti-fungal agent. This gives the insole 10 a pleasant odor and keeps feet fresh for longer periods of time. The antibacterial and anti-fungal effect inhibits foot odor and foot fungus. The perfume is encased in cyclodextrin molecules, which are acquired from renewable raw materials. The moisture of the foot releases the perfume molecules from the cyclodextrin molecules, thus resulting in a pleasant odor. At the same time, the empty cyclodextrin molecules are able to incorporate perspiration molecules, thus contributing to the minimization of odors alongside the antibacterial agent.

By virtue of the high viscose content in the nonwoven cover 12 and the absorbent core layer, the insole 10 is able to absorb a large amount of moisture from the foot. The blue bottom of the insole 10 is equipped with a non-slip layer (patent 0555178/US5418037). This non-slip layer prevents the insole 10 from slipping inside the shoe. The insole 10 is placed in the shoe with the blue side down, i.e., the end layer 20 facing downwardly. The insole 10 is compressed during the production process, creating compression bars that act as air channels. This renders the insoles 10 breathable and air permeable.

One advantage of the invention is that the insole 10 has temperature- compensating properties.

Another advantage of the invention is that the insole 10 is ultra-thin.

Another advantage of the invention is that the insole 10 is antibacterially and antimicrobically treated, which keeps feet and shoes fresh for longer periods and inhibits foot fungus.

Another advantage is that the insole 10 encases foot moisture and perspiration molecules. Another advantage is that the insole 10 is treated with hypoallergenic fragrances.

Another advantage is that the insole 10 is able to actively store and emit heat.

Another advantage is that the insole 10 guarantees an optimal purchase in the shoe due to its non-slip coating on the blue final layer 20. Another advantage is that the insole 10 is predominately (up to 60%) made of renewable materials.

It should be evident that the corresponding implementations shown and described in this document are representative of the invention and its best functionality and are in no way intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It should be noted that, in a practical system, many alternative or additional functional interrelationships or physical connections may be present.

It should be evident that many uses may be formulated for the present invention.

Moreover, the use, sale, and/or distribution of any goods, services, or information having a functionality similar to that described in this document are conceivable according to the invention.

The patent and the figures are to be viewed in an illustrative sense and not in a limiting sense, and all modifications described in this document should be contained within the scope of the claimed invention, even if such has not been claimed upon filing of the application. Correspondingly, the scope of the invention should be established by the claims listed in the annex or modified or added at a later time, and the statutory equivalents thereof. For example, the layer may be designed in any desired order and are not limited to the special order discussed in any of the claims. Moreover, the elements and/or components that are listed in a particular configuration may be combined in many different arrangements or designed operatively in a different fashion in order to essentially produce the same result as the present invention. As a result, the invention is not limited to the particular embodiment discussed in the claims. Preferences, additional advantages, and solutions mentioned in this document are not to be interpreted as critical, necessary, or essential features or components of any or all claims.

For the purposes of this document, the terms "comprise," "comprising," or any variation thereof do not refer to an exclusive listing of elements such that any method, any product, and composition, or any device of the invention that comprises a list of elements does not contain only the elements listed, but may also contain other elements that are described in this patent. The use of the term "consist" or "consisting of" or "essentially consisting of" should not limit the scope of the invention to the subsequently listed elements, unless otherwise specified. Additional combinations and/or modifications of the elements, materials, or structures described above that are used in the application of the present invention may be modified or adapted to other embodiments by the person skilled in the art without departing from the general principles of the invention.

The patents and products listed above are hereby incorporated by reference into this document unless otherwise specified, insofar as they are not incompatible with this disclosure. Additional features and functionality of the invention are described in the claims listed in the annex.

In addition, the invention should be interpreted in such a way that it includes all possible combinations of all features described in the present patent, in the claims listed in the present annex, and/or the present drawings that can be viewed as novel, inventive, and industrially applicable.

The copyrights in any annex to this document may be the property of the inventor(s) or the legal successors thereof, and with regard to explicit licenses of rights to one or more of the claims listed herein, this document does not provide any sort of implicit license to the effect that the invention as defined in the remaining claims may be used. Moreover, no license either explicit or implied shall be granted to third parties, including the public, for reproduction, the creation of derivative works, the distribution of copies, the display, or any other use of this patent, including the annex to this document, with the exception of an annex to a subsequent granting of a patent.

A wide range of variations and modifications to the embodiments of the invention described in this document is possible. Although certain illustrative embodiments of the invention have been shown and described here, a broader range of modifications, alterations, and replacements is conceivable in the disclosure above. Although the specification above contains many precise statements, such statements should not be interpreted as limitations to the scope of the invention, but rather as exemplary explanation or one or another preferred embodiment thereof. In some cases, individual features o the present invention may be used without the corresponding use of other features. Therefore, it is useful for the specification above to be interpreted in a broader sense and understood to have been provided in only an illustrative and exemplary sense, with the spirit and scope o the invention being limited only by the claims provided at the end of this application.

List of Reference Characters

Winter insole 10

Nonwoven cover 12 Nonwoven hot-melt 14

Core layer 16

Final layer 20

Non-slip coating 22

Claims

1. Insole (10), having at least a layer (12), wherein the layer (12) comprises a phase change material.

2. Insole (10) according to claim 1 , having several layers (12, 16, 20), wherein a first layer (12) comprises a phase change material.

3. Insole (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the phase change material is paraffin.

4. Insole (10) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the first layer (12) is made of a fiber blend. 5. Insole (10) according to claim 4, wherein the fiber blend is made by means of a needling technique.

6. Insole (10) according to one of the claims 2 to 5, wherein the first layer (12) is selected from a group of fiber blends consisting of viscous fibers, polyester-bi- component fibers, and climate fibers. 7. Insole (10) according to claim 6, wherein the climate fibers are "SMARTCELL"™ climate fibers.

8. Insole (10) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the phase change material is disposed in amorphous fiber areas of the climate fibers.

9. Insole (10) according to one of the claims 6 to 8, wherein the phase change material is added during one of the spinning processes of the climate fibers.

10. Insole (10) according to one of the claims 2 to 9, wherein under normal use of the insole (10), the phase change material melts at room temperature through heat generated by the foot, wherein at a given lower temperature, the phase change material solidifies.

1 1. Insole (10) according to one of the claims 2 to 10, wherein the first layer (12) has a high viscous portion. 12. Insole (10) according to one of the claims 4 to 1 1 , wherein the first layer (12) is formed as a cover layer with a fluffy feel. 3. Insole (10) according to one of the claims 2 to 12, wherein a second layer (16) has a compressed fiber composite.

14. Insole (10) according to claim 13, wherein a non-woven hot-melt (14) binds the second layer (16) and the first layer (14).

15. Insole (10) according to claim 13, wherein the compressed fiber composite is made of cellulous fibers and/or of polypropylene/polyethylene bi-component fibers.

16. Insole (10) according to claim 13, 14 or 15, wherein the second layer (16) has a high cellulose composition.

17. Insole (10) according to one of the claims 13 to 16, wherein the second layer (16) is formed as an absorbent layer.

18. Insole (10) according to one of the claims 2 to 17, wherein the insole (10) has a third layer (20). 19. Insole (10) according to claim 18, wherein the third layer (20) has an anti-slip covering (22).

20. Insole (10) according to claim 19, wherein the antislip-covering (22) has a hot-melt adhesive coating.

21. Insole (10) according to claim 20, wherein the hot melt adhesive coating comprises a mixture of polyolefines.

22. Insole (10) according to one of the foregoing claims, wherein a, in particular, allergy free, perfumed and/or an anti-bacterial substance and/or an antifungal substance is applied to the insole (10).

23. Insole (10) according to claim 22, wherein the perfume is stored in Cyclodextrin molecules.

24. Insole (10) according to claim 23, wherein in normal use of the insole (10), perfume molecules of Cyclodextrin are dissolved through the moisture of the foot, wherein in empty Cyclodextrin molecules, perspiration molecules from the foot are stored.

25. Insole (10) according to one of the foregoing claims, wherein the insole (10) has compression bars which serve as air channels. 26. Insole (10) according to one of the claims 2 to 25, wherein the first layer (12) has a thickness of approximately 0.4 mm to approximately 0.6 mm.

27. Insole (10) according to one of the claims 2 to 26, wherein the second layer (16) has a thickness of approximately 0.75 mm to approximately 1.0 mm.

28. Insole (10) according to one of the claims 2 to 27, wherein the third layer (20) has a thickness of approximately 0.017 mm to approximately 0.02 mm.

29. Insole (10) according to one of the claims 1 to 28, wherein the insole (10) has a thickness of approximately 1.2 mm to approximately 1.6 mm.

30. Insole (10) according to one of the claims 17 to 29, wherein the layers (12, 16, 20), by the normal position of the insole (10) from top to bottom, are arranged in the following order, with or without layers interposed therebetween: first layer (12), second layer (16), and third layer (20). 31. Insole (10) according to one of the foregoing claims, wherein the insole (10) is temperature normalizing/balancing.

32. Insole (10) according to claim 31 , wherein by means of the insole (10), heat is actively stored and released.

33. Insole (10) according to one of the foregoing claims, wherein the insole (10) is made up of, in substantial part, renewable raw materials, wherein preferably the percentage of such renewable raw materials is approximately 60%.

34. Insole (10) according to one of the foregoing claims, wherein the insole (10) is formed either as an interchangeable shoe insert or as an integrated

component of a shoe. 35. Insole (10) according to one of the foregoing claims, wherein the insole (10) is a heating insole or a winter insole.