DEVICE FOR DEODORIZING AND DRYING PORTION BETWEEN TOES

Abstract: A device (A) adapted to be put between the toes for deodorizing and drying a portion between the toes, characterized by flexible fibrous layers (1) formed of a large number of fibers put in order in the longitudinal direction and bundled in a rod-like shape, said layers being vertically spaced from each other to form a suitable interval therebetween, an air- and water-permeable flexible shell member (2) wound around said flexible fibrous layers to form a cavity portion (3) between the upper and lower fibrous layers, and particulate substances (a) having a hygro­ scopic function and being housed in said cavity portion in a quantity corresponding to a part of the volume of said cavity portion.

Description: The present invention relates to a device for deodorizing and drying a portion between toes which, when it is put between the toes, is capable of keeping the toes under a dry and clean condition so as to inhibit the occurrence of the bad smell and/or ringworm. Conventional devices of this type are disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 48-59692, Sho 52-134280, Sho 60-81524, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. Sho 55-168324, Sho 60- 49815 and the like. For example, (1) cotton and sponge are formed in a round rod-like shape or a flat rod-like shape to be put between toes; (2) hygroscopic powders are housed in a cylindrical member formed of urethane foam; (3) a bag, in which activated carbon and the like are housed, is mounted on a ring member, through which a toe is passed, to put said bag in the vicinity of a root of the toe under such a condition that a portion between the toes is expanded by the ring member; and the like. Since these devices are all used in that way that they are put in the portion between the toes where a bad smell and a ringworm are most likely to be generated, it seems that they are more effective than devices for deodorizing and drying which are formed as an insole. Nevertheless, the former devices have many problems. Accordingly, no practically useful device has been discovered. For example, in the case (1), the device for deodorizing and drying is pressed by the toes from both sides to be deformed in the flat shape, whereby the toes are brought into almost close contact to each other, under the condition that the device for deodorizing and drying formed of cotton or sponge is put between the toes. Accordingly, the ventilation through the portion between the toes occupied by the device for deodorizing and drying is possible only in the up and down direction, but cotton and sponge do not show this orientation in ventilation, so that the ventilation is remarkably reduced under the condition that the device is surrounded by the toes. In the case of the device for deodorizing and drying comprising the cylindrical member filled with the hygroscopic substance, such as (2), if the hygroscopic substance is filled-in in a great quantity, when the device is put between the toes, the compactly filled hygroscopic substance leads to a sense of incongruity. On the other hand, if the hygroscopic substance is filled-in in a small quantity, it is gathered on the bottom (i.e. the side of the back of the foot) of the cylindrical member, so that the portion between the toes can not be effectively deodorized and dried. In the case of the device for deodorizing and drying using a hard ring member, such as (3), not only the sense of incongruity is felt between the toes but also there is the possibility that the toes are injured due to the breakage and the like of the ring member. In view of the above described disadvantages of the prior art devices, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for deodorizing and drying a portion between toes superior in safety and capable of keeping a superior ventilation in the up and down direction, even under the condition that the device is put between the toes and deformed in a flat shape, and of effectively dehumidifying and deodorizing the vicinity of the root of toe, although only a small quantity of the hygroscopic substance is used, without giving a sense of incongruity when the device is put directly between the toes. In order to achieve the above described object, the present invention provides a device with the technical features indicated in the claim. In use, the device for deodorizing and drying having the above described construction is put between the toes and covered with socks and the like. Under the condition that the device for deodorizing and drying is put between the toes, the cavity portion forming an intermediate layer between the upper and lower fibrous layers is positioned just in the vicinity of the root of toe, whereby the dehumidification and deodorization by the particulate substances housed in the cavity portion can be effectively conducted. In addition, immediately after the device for deodorizing and drying was put between the toes the sense of inconguity is slightly felt, but the intermediate layer is formed by the cavity portion and the particulate substances are housed in said cavity portion in the suitable quantity, i.e. in the quantity corresponding to a part of the volume of the cavity portion with remaining spaces, so that the intermediate layer is easy to be deformed to a flat shape and the intermediate layer and the upper and lower fibrous layers are gradually compressed from both sides by the toes. As a result, the device for deodorizing and drying is plastically deformed in an almost hand drum-shape in section as a whole, so that the sense of incongruity can be eliminated. Moreover, even though the device for deodorizing and drying is plastically deformed in an almost hand drum-shape in the above described manner, whereby the toes are brought into almost close contact, the fibers forming said fibrous layers are all longitudinally orientated in the upper and lower fibrous layers, so that the ventilation in the up and down direction is remarkably improved. The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a device for deodorizing and drying a portion between toes packed with 8 pieces thereof as one set; Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a device for deodorizing and drying a portion between toes, in which a part of a shell member is anwound; Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing a device for deodorizing and drying a portion between toes; Fig. 4 is a diagram showing how to use the device; and Figs. 5, 6 are diagrams showing the operation of the device. Referring now to the drawings, A designates a device for deodorizing a portion between toes according to the present invention and B designates a set of eight devices A for deodorizing and drying packed in a gas barrier transparent film. Said device A for deodorizing and drying a portion between toes has a three-layer structure, comprising two flexible fibrous layers 1,1 formed of a large number of fibers put in order in the longitudinal direction and bundled in a rod-like shape, the layers 1,1 being vertically spaced to form a suitable interval therebetween, an air- and water-permeable flexible shell member 2 being wound around said flexible fibrous layers 1,1 to form a cavity portion 3 as an intermediate layer between the upper and lower fibrous layers 1,1, and particulate substances a having a hygroscopic function and being housed in said cavity portion 3 in a quantity corresponding to a part (for example about one half) of the volume of said cavity portion 3. The particulate substances a having a hygroscopic function may include substances having also an adsorptive function, such as activated carbon, sepiolite and zeolite, in addition to substances, such as silica gel, having merely the hygroscopic function. The may be used in combination. In particular, sepiolite and zeolite are preferable from the viewpoint of deodorization due to the adsorptive function for ammonia thereof. Acetic acid series of fiber, such as acetate fiber, are used as the fiber of said respective fibrous layers 1. The fibrous layer 1 my be held in it's rod-like shape by the shell member 2 wound therearound, but in this preferred embodiment the shell layer 1 is molded in a rod-like shape before the shell member is wound therearound. Concretely speaking, it is produced by a method similar to a method of producing a cigarette filter, that is, solvents, such as triacetylene, are added to acetic acid series of fiber and the softened fibers are spot-welded among themselves at contact portions to mold in a rod-like shape with the fibers intertwined with each other, the fibers being orientated along an axis shaft line. For example, a waterproof paper and the like are preferably used as the shell member 2, but every other flexible material having an air- and water-permeability may be used. The above described device A for deodorizing and drying a portion between toes is disposable. For example, every morning a package bag formed of the gas barrier transparent film is broken to take out the new device A for deodorizing and drying and then the taken-out new device A is directly put between the toes C and then covered with socks and the like, as shown in Fig. 4. Said device A for deodorizing and drying is flexible and the cavity portion 3 forming the intermediate layer and the upper and lower fibrous layers 1,1 are compressed from both sides by the toes C soon after the device A is fitted and are then plastically deformed so as to show an almost hand drum-like shape in section as a whole, as shown in Figs. 5,6, so that the sense of incongruity is eliminated and the device A is securely held in position between the toes C. Since the fibers forming the upper and lower fibrous layers 1,1 are orientated in the up and down direction, respectively, the ventilation exhibits the same orientation, that is, the ventilation in the up and down direction is more notable than that in the lateral direction. Accordingly, the superior ventilation in the up and down direction (in the direction shown by an arrow in Fig. 6) can be maintained even under the condition that the device A for deodorizing and drying is deformed in an almost hand drum-shape in section and the toes C are nearly brought into close contact with each other, so that the device A for deodorizing and drying is surrounded by the toes C. In addition, since said particulate substances a are housed in the cavity portion 3 forming the intermediate layer, the particulate substances a are positioned in the vicinity of the roots of the toes C to efficiently carry out the dehumidification. This leads to the increased deodorizing effect and the effective prevention of ringworm. In addition, although the device A for deodorizing and drying is formed in a circular shape in section in the above described preferred embodiment, various sectional shapes, such as square shape and rectangular shape, can be used. Since the present invention has the above described construction, the following effects can be exhibited. (1) Immediately after the device for deodorizing and drying was put between the toes the sense of incongruity is slightly feld but the intermediate layer is formed by the cavity portion and the particulate substances are housed in said cavity portion in the suitable quantity, i.e. in a quantity corresponding to a part of the volume of the cavity portion with remaining spaces, so that the intermediate layer is easily deformed into a flat shape and the intermediate layer and the upper and lower fibrous layers are gradually compressed from both sides by the toes. As a result, the device for deodorizing and drying is plastically deformed in an almost hand drum-shape in section as a whole, so that the sense of incongruity can be eliminated and there is not the possiblity that the toes are injured. (2) Since the fibers forming the upper and lower fibrous layers are orientated in the up and down direction, respectively, the ventilation exhibits the same orientation, that is, the ventilation in the up and down direction is more notable than that in the lateral direction. Accordingly, the superior ventilation in the up and down direction can be maintained even under the condition that the device for deodorizing and drying is deformed in an almost hand drum-shape in section and surrounded by the toes. In addition, since said particulate substances are housed in the cavity portion forming the intermediate layer, the particulate substances are positioned in the vicinity of the roots of the toes to efficiently carry out the dehumidification. This leads to the increased drying and deodorizing effect in cooperation with the superior ventilation in the up and down direction.

Claims: 1. A device (A) adapted to be put between the toes (C) for deodorizing and drying a portion between the toes, characterized by flexible fibrous layers (1) formed of a large number of fibers put in order in the longitudinal direction and bundled in a rod-like shape, said layers being spaced from each other in said longitudinal direction to form a suitable interval therebetween, an air- and water-permeable flexible shell member (2) wound around said flexible fibrous layers to form a cavity portion (3) between the upper and lower fibrous layers, and particulate substances (a) having a hygroscopic function and being housed in said cavity portion in a quantity corresponding to a part of the volume of said cavity portion.

Inventors: IKEBE, TAKASHI, TAKIGAWA, MASUHIKO
Applicants: TAKIGAWA, MASUHIKO
Application year: 1988
Main classification: A61F13
IPC codes: A61F5, A61F13