AN INSOLE WITH FABRIC

Abstract: The invention relates to an insole for footwear. The insole comprises a top foil (1) and a bottom foil (2) in between which a number of cavities (4) are formed containing liquid or gel. The top foil (1) and/or the bottom foil (2) are equipped with fabric (6, 7) which in the plane of the fabric has a tensile strength that is higher than the tensile strength of the top (1) and/or the bottom foil (2). Thereby, the fabric (6, 7) prevents creep of the plastic of which the top foil (1) and/or the bottom foil (2) usually are made. Preferentially, the fabric (6, 7) is joined with the foil (1, 2) such that the fabric (6, 7) extend on the outside or at least to the outside the foil (1, 2). Thereby, the fabric (6, 7) constitutes a layer between the sole and the bottom of the footwear and, respectively, between the sole and the foot or the sock/stocking on the foot. Thereby, it is possible to select the frictional conditions such that the sole lies firmly in the footwear and such that the foot slides easily on the sole in order to reduce the formation of heat to the foot as a result of friction.

Description: An insole with fabric Background of the invention The present invention relates to an insole for footwear comprising a top foil and a bottom foil and one or more cavities, which are formed between the top foil and the bottom foil and filled with liquid or gel, and where the top foil and the bottom foil are impermeable with respect to the liquid and are joined together at least along the edge region. The soles are intended for the relief of the foot, in particular the sole of the foot, by pressure equalisation, as pain in the foot and the sole of the foot is most cases is caused by concentration of pressure. Known soles use liquid contained in one or more cavities. The pressure of the contained liquid is approximately constant, and the soles will then allocate the pressure from the foot over a larger area, whereby pain in the foot or the sole of the foot is reduced. However, it is known that many kinds of material during constant load even below the yield point show permanent cold flow or creep. The soles also have the disadvantage, that they cold flow or creep due to the continue- ing load, to which the soles are exposed. Thereby, the inner volume of the cavities increases so that the pressure-equalising effect is reduced and, along with that, the pain relieving effect. Furthermore, the temperature in footwear is between 20°C and 40°C, in which temperature range, the used plastic foils show a relatively large coefficient of expension for heat and a relatively large change of elasticity. As a result, the relief decreases as the sole gets warmer. DE 40 01 542 describes such a sole, where the cavities are filled with a gas. By using a gas, a higher degree of shock absorption and/or continueing pressure equalisation is obtained, but the gas is more volatile than a liquid. Therfore, it is important that those foils which are used in such a sole have a sufficient low permeability for the used gas. To decrease the permeability and at the same time to increase the strength with regard to creep, the possibility of incorporating a film of, for example, polyethylene or polyu- rethane in the foils forming the cavities is described. This increases partly the impermeability of the foils and partly the strength with regard to creep. The strength with regard to creep comes about by formation of a chemical coupling between the plastic making up the foil and the film contained in the foils. It is a disadvantage that it is necessary to enclose the film in the foils, and for cavities filled with gas, diffusion of the gas is a much bigger problem than creep. The selection of material for the film and the way the film is enclosed in the foils is, therefore, primarily directed towards the purpose of increasing the impermeability rather than in- creasing the strength with regard to creep. This influences the selection of material, the selection of technique for joining the film and the foil, and the choice that the film is enclosed in the foils. It is the object of the present invention to provide an insole that is primarily intended for cavities filled with liquid, and where the strength with regard to creep of the foils is essentially higher than for known soles, irrespective of whether they are intended for liquids, gasses or gels. This object is accomplished with an insole that is characterised in that at least the top foil is equipped with a fabric, that the fabric extends to the whole of the extend of the foil between the regions where the topfoil is joined with the bottom foil, that the fabric extends parallel with the foil, preferentially extends outside the outer side of the foil, and that the fabric is joined with the foil by mechanical joining. The object is also accomplished with an insole that is characterised in that at least the bottom foil is equipped with a fabric, that the fabric extends to the whole of the extend of the foil between the regions where the topfoil is joined with the bottom foil, that the fabric extends parallel with the foil, preferentially extends outside the outer side of the foil, and that the fabric is joined with the foil by mechanical joining. In a preferred embodiment, the insole is characterised in that the top foil as well as the bottom foil are equipped with a fabric, that the fabric which is joined with the topfoil as well as the fabric which is joined with the bottom foil extend to the whole of the extend of the foil between the regions where the topfoil is joined with the bottom foil. An insole, where the foils are equipped with a fabric instead of discrete fibres and where the joining is done mechanically, implies that it is possible to undertake a precise increment of the mechanical strength of the foils by selection of specific materials and specific textures of the fabric, and also by selection of a certain orientation of the fabric in connection with the foil and in connection with the finally fabricated sole. The selection of fabric depends primarily on the tensile strength of the fibres in the fabric because the strength of the foil joined with the fabric among other factors depends on the tensile strength of the fibres. The selection of the fabric can also, or together with, depend on the want to increase the friction between the sole and the inside of the footwear and the want to decrease the friction between the sole and the foot in the footwear. Increase of the friction between the fabric on the bottom foil and the inside of the footwear results in a much better securing of the sole in the footwear than if the friction was due to the bottom foil and the footwear. Decrease of the friction between the fabric on the top foil and the foot results in an easier gliding of the foot on the sole, which reduces the frictional heat, which arises from running or walking. Description of the drawing The invention will hereafter be described more detailed with reference to the accompanying drawing that shows a sectional view of an embodiment of an insole according to the invention. The sole comprises a top foil 1 and a bottom foil 2. The top foil 1 and the bottom foil 2 are joined along the edge region 3, and between the top foil and the bottom foil a cavity 4 is formed. The cavity is filled with liquid 5, for example water. The cavity 4 can also be filled with a gel, and also other liquids than water can be contained in the cavity 4. In the shown embodiment, the top foil 1 as well as the bottom foil 2 are equipped with fabrics 6, 7. The fabrics 6, 7 are joined with the foils 1, 2 so that the fabrics 6, 7 extend on an outer side 8, 9 of the foils 1, 2. Underneath the sole, the bot- torn 10 of a footwear is shown, and above the sole, a foot 11 with a sock 12 or a stocking is shown. The fabrics 6, 7 are joined with the foils 1, 2, preferentially with the fibres 13, 14 in the fabrics 6, 7 situated outside an outer side of the foils. The fabrics 6, 7 are in the shown embodiment joined with the foils 1, 2 by placing a film adhesive between the outer side of the foils 1, 2 and the fabrics 6, 7. The joining is done before the foils 1, 2 are joined to form the sole. The joining can also be done in a way that the fabrics 6, 7 are partly enclosed in the foils 6, 7. The fabrics 6, 7 are, thus, joined with the foils 1, 2 by heating the foils 1, 2 whereafter the fabrics 6, 7 are pressed partly into the foils 1, 2. In an alternative embodiment, however, the fabrics 6, 7 can be joined such that the fabrics are entirely enclosed in the foils 1, 2. The fabrics are, thus, joined with the foils 1, 2 by heating the foils 1, 2 whereafter the fabrics 6, 7 are pressed entirely into the foils 1, 2. The foils 1 , 2 are made from plastic. Joining of the foils 1 , 2 along the edge region is accomplished by hot welding or high frequency welding where the top foil 1 and the bottom foil 2 are pressed together along the edge region 3 at the same time. By the welding, a bead 15 is formed extending inwards into the cavity 4. The bead 15 is formed because the material floats inwards at the location where the welding and the pressing takes place. When liquid 5 or gel subsequently is filled in between the top foil 1 and the bottom foil 2, the cavity 4 is formed. By the formation of the cavity 4, the top foil 1 gets stretched. The thickness t of the material along that part of the top foil 1, which extend in the near vicinity of and from the welding has a thickness which is smaller than the thickness T of the material in the remaining part of the top foil 1. Under load, there is, along that part of the top foil which is stretched, a risk for breakage as a result of creep that can occur in that part, where the strength of the top foil is decreased because of the smaller material thickness t. The fabrics 6, 7 can be of any kind of fabric with fibres 13, 14. The fabrics 6, 7 can be made of synthetic materials as polyester or of natural materials as cotton, or a mixture of fibres of different materials. Furthermore, the fabrics 6, 7 can be woven fabrics, knitted fabrics, or non-woven fabrics. As mentioned, the fabrics 6, 7, extend outside the outer sides 8, 9 of the foils 1, 2. The fabrics 6, 7 are selected due to given mechanical and physical characteristics. Primarily, it is important that the fibres 13, 14 in the fabrics 6, 7 and the fabrics 6, 7 themselves in the plane of the fabrics 6, 7 have a tensile strength which is higher than the comparable tensile strength of the foils 1, 2 so to ensure a reduction or elimination of creep. Secondarily, the fabrics 6, 7 are selected to make allowance for needs and wants for friction, moisture absorption and other factors in connection with comfort for the foot. Thus, the fabric 14 in the bottom foil 2 is selected secondarily to provide a high frictional coefficient between that part of the fabric that extends outside the bottom foil 2 and the bottom 10 of the foot wear. The fabric 13 in the top foil 2 on the other hand is selected secondarily to provide a low frictional coefficient between that part of the fabric 13 which extends outside the topfoil 1 and the foot 11. The foot 11 is normally furnished with an article clothing as, for example, a cotton sock or a nylon. The fabric 13 and the material of which the fabric 13 is made is, therefore, selected based on the want of a low frictional coefficient in connection with conventional textile used for socks and stockings. Furthermore, the fabric 13 on the top foil 1 can be impregnated with a fungicide to reduce the risk for epidermophytosis. The invention is described above with reference to a sectional view of a sole according to the invention. The sectionel view is only a schematic picture of a section through a sole in as much as other soles according to the invention could look different depending on where in the sole the section is made. Also, the configuration of the cavity 4 and the distribution of eventual further cavities can imply that the sectional view is different at other locations in the sole or in other soles. Furthermore, it can occur for some sections, that there is no cavity along that section, which also is dependent on, where in the sole the section is located. It is also possible to produce soles with one or more intermediate foils placed between the top foil and the bottom foil and eventually provided with fabrics. It is possible to provide only the top foil, only the intermediate foil, or only the bottom foil with fabric. Furthermore, it is possible to provide the foils 1, 2 with several fabrics with different mechanical and physical characteristics to selectively make allowance for primarily the strength of the fibres 13, 14 and the fabrics 6, 7 and secondarily the frictional coefficient between the fibres, the fabrics, the bottom of the footwear, the sock and/or the foot. This can imply that at least two fabrics with different fibres or different weaves are used in the same foil or, respectively, in the top foil or bottom foil. In this case, one fabric completely contained in the foil can be provided causing strength and a second fabric, which, as shown, is found at the outer side 8, 9, of the foils or is only partly contained in the foils 1, 2, concerns the frictional coefficient at the bottom of the footwear, respectivley the foot, eventually with sock or stocking.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An insole for footwear comprising a top foil (1) and a bottom foil (2) and one or more cavities (4), which are formed between the top foil (1) and the bottom foil (2) and filled with a liquid or a gel, and where the top foil (1) and the bottom foil (2) are impermeable with respect to the liquid (5) and are joined together at least along the edge region (3), characterised in that the top foil (1) as well as the bottom foil (2) are equipped with a fabric (6, 7), that the fabric (6, 7) extends to the whole of the extend of the foil between the regions (3) where the topfoil (1) is joined with the bot- torn foil (2), that the fabric (6, 7) extends parallel with the foil (1, 2), preferentially extends outside the outer side of the foil (1, 2), and that the fabric (6, 7) is joined with the foil (1, 2) by mechanical joining. 2. An insole as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the foil (1 , 2) is made from plastic, that the fabric (6, 7) is joined with the foil (1, 2) by glueing, where initially an adhesive film is placed between the foil (1,2) and the fabric (6, 7), where the fabric (6, 7) and the foils (1,2) thereafter are pressed together against the adhesive film, and where the adhesive film finally is hardened, whereby the fabric (6, 7) is glued on the outside (8, 9) of the foil. 3. An insole as claimed in claim l or2characterised in that the foil (1, 2) is made of plastic, that the fabric (6, 7) is joined with the foil (1, 2) by enclosure in the foil, where the foil (1,2) initially is heated up, where the fabric (6, 7) subsequently is pressed partly or totally into the foil (1,2), where the foil (1,2) finally is cooled down, whereby that part of the fabric (6, 7), which is pressed into the foil (1,2), is enclosed in the foil (1,2). 4. An insole as claimed in any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the bottom foil (2) is equipped with a fabric (7) which with respect to an substan- tially smooth surface in the bottom of a footwear has a frictional coefficient which is larger than the frictional coefficient of the bottom foil (2) with respect to the substantially smooth surface in the bottom (10) of the footwear. 5. An insole as claimed in any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the top foil (1) is equipped with a fabric (6) which with respect to textile (12) as cotton, polyester or nylon has a frictional coefficient which is lower than the frictional coefficient for the top foil (2) with respect to the textile. 6. An insole as claimed in any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the fabric (6, 7) is made of fibers and is woven such that the fabric (6, 7) in every direction in the plane of the fabric (6, 7) has a tensile strength that is higher than the tensile strength for the foil (1 , 2) in any direction planar with the foil. 7. An insole as claimed in any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the fabric (6) which is joined with the top foil (1) is impregnated with a fungicide.

Inventors: VINDRIIS SOEREN, VINDRIIS, SOEREN
Applicants: VINDRIIS SOEREN, VINDRIIS, SOEREN
Application year: 1999
Main classification: A43B13
IPC codes: A43B13, A43B17