Patent Publication Number: US-2018035750-A1

Title: Sole Conditioning Device

Description:
This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/372,186 filed Aug. 8, 2016 which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates to foot wear and apparel, more particularly to sock, liners, inner-soles to be worn by individuals in their home or for outside the home while wearing a sneaker or shoe, or shoes made with such inner soles to alleviate foot, back, or knee related problems and to rejuvenate one&#39;s health. In greater particularity the present invention relates to sock liners, inner soles, and socks wherein natural materials are contained in the product to support the foot and user. In even greater particularity, the present invention relates to the use of rocks, seeds, sand, grains, beans, wood, spices, leaves and other natural ingredients as a base upon which a wearer stands when utilizing the product. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Modern technology has utilized cushioning methods to support the foot. Some patented technologies utilize stimulating pads to engage the sole of the foot. Some embed objects into soles of sandals to provide pressure point relief, some provide ergonomically designed cushions. The efficacy of these products has not produced satisfactory results for the inventor. Thus, a need exists for a sole engaging structure utilizing natural components to be worn around the house and for casual walks outdoors to rejuvenate the health and the feet. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Referring to the drawings which are appended hereto and which form a portion of this disclosure, it may be seen that: 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of a shoe with my foot conditioning envelope therein; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear elevational view of the show shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3A  to  FIG. 3H  depict stitching patterns to hold the fill material in place; 
         FIG. 4A  to  FIG. 4 d    depict fill materials such as sand, nuts and seeds, and pebbles; 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 ; and, 
         FIG. 6  is another embodiment where in the envelope is attached to a sock. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     One or more of the above objects can be achieved, at least in part, by providing naturally occurring products as sensory activators in an enclosed envelope forming a portion of a sock, an insole, a sock liner, or similar product. By naturally occurring products, I am referring to all types of elements including wood of various types, small pieces of wood in various shapes, grains, minerals, rocks, vegetable seeds, fruit seeds, berries, herbs, spices, sand. Included in the list but not limiting the products that may be used, are mung beans, pebbles, lentils, brown rice; lavender buds, ginger shavings, almonds peach pits, hazelnuts, acorns, macadamia nuts, coal, ashes, flower petals (rose), corn, sand and common dirt. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 &amp; 2 , the envelope enclosing the activators may be used with virtually any shoe, however I have illustrated a slipper  10  of the type to be worn around the house. The product is not intended nor recommended for extended wear outside the home, but is intended for wear immediately after taking off one&#39;s usual footwear and for wear by the user for a duration determined by the user to stimulate the foot, legs and spinal alignment. The slipper  10  shown in  FIGS. 1 &amp; 2  is of a specialized design to accommodate the insertion of an insole in accordance with this disclosure. Slipper  10  includes and upper  11  and a sole  12  which may be made from any suitable material such as canvas or leather. A peripheral band  13  of material connects the sole  12  and upper. The material is elastic or stretchable in one direction but not the other, in this case stretchable vertically but not horizontally such that band  13  allows the upper  11  to move vertically relative to the sole when an users foot is inserted into slipper  10 . The same or similar material makes up the spine  14  at the back of the heel of the slipper, but may be oriented to allow horizontal stretch. As noted, any shoe, sock or sandal may be utilized with the envelope, however, footwear having the elastic features of the shoe shown in  FIGS. 1 &amp; 2  may make using the envelope more comfortable as will be understood from a consideration of the envelope itself as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5  and the activators as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3A to 3H  it will be noted that the product has the basic form of the sole of a foot and comprises at least one layer of cloth  22  made from a synthetic or natural material such as cotton or silk. The layer may be folded and formed as an envelope  21  or may be sewn to a second layer to create an envelope into which the naturally occurring activators listed above can be confined. In either form of construction the peripheral margin of the envelope is closed by stitching  23 . The activators, shown in  FIG. 4 , are encased within the envelope, thus the envelope material needs to be capable of retaining the activator. In other words, a loose weave fabric may be suitable for an activator made of particles having a large physical volume, however, such a weave would not be suitable if the activator is sand. Further, the specific stitching  24  running across the sole or longitudinally of the sole will depend on the nature of the naturally occurring activators within the envelope  21  and may include different types of patterns and designs. By way of example and not limitation,  FIG. 3A  shows a diagonal stitch pattern for stitching  24  which may be suitable for larger activator materials and which would impart a diagonal activation to the bottom of the foot.  FIG. 3B  illustrates a transverse wave stitch pattern for stitching  24  which may be better suited for smaller diameter activators and provides a sinusoidal activation pattern transversely of the foot.  FIG. 3C  illustrates a complex stitch pattern for stitching  24  which may serve to confine activators of different size, for example large activators may be confined in the arch area where stitching  24  is linear and transverse, while smaller size activators may be captured in the crosshatch stitch pattern at the ball of the foot to insure the activators do not migrate. In  FIG. 3D , diagonal linear stitching may accommodate medium sized activator particles. Referring to  FIG. 3E , an irregular stitching pattern for stitching  24  prevents migration of the activators and provides a complex stimulation pattern to the foot akin to walking on an uneven surface.  FIG. 3F  depicts a stitching pattern for stitching  24  that accommodates the arch of the foot and  FIGS. 3G and 3H  illustrate linear stitching  24  in either a longitudinal direction or transverse direction which provides anti-migration properties and different sensory stimulation, with the longitudinal stitching providing lateral instability sensation and the transverse stitching providing stimulation progressively along the sole of the foot.  FIG. 5  illustrates the compartmentalization required in the envelope to provide stability to the activator material and to prevent the material from migrating to one area of the envelope. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4A to 4D , various activators from the above listing are confined within the envelope. In  FIG. 4A , the activator material may be common dirt, sand, ground spices, plant leaves or any other granular or powder like substance. In  FIG. 4B , the activator material may be vegetable seeds, fruit seeds, mung beans, almonds peach pits, hazelnuts, acorns, or macadamia nuts. In  FIG. 4C , the activator material may be grains, vegetable seeds, fruit seeds, berries, lentils, brown rice; lavender buds. In  FIG. 4  D, the activator material may be rocks, pebbles, minerals, and assorted rock like materials. The envelope material itself should be cotton, silk, polymer based manmade fibers, or the like with a weave commensurate with the activator, such that the activator is not able to readily migrate from the envelope and of a thickness such that the envelope material does not provide excessive padding, thereby diminishing the effect of the activators as the user stands or walks on the envelope. If additional padding is required for an individual, then it may be added. 
     It will be understood that an envelope  30  having the same features as envelope  21  may be sewn to the inside or outside of a sock  60  as shown in  FIG. 6 , for wear in a sneaker or shoe, may be incorporated into footwear as an inner sole for sneakers, shoes, boots, or sandals, or may be used as a mat for passive standing apart from being worn while walking around the home or for brief walks outside, such as taking the dog for a walk. As noted the product is intended to provide short term stimulation to the foot due to the weight of the body being supported on the envelope and the selected activation material, thus the product is not intended nor recommended for extended wear outside the home, but is intended for wear immediately after taking off one&#39;s usual footwear and for wear by the user for a duration determined by the user to stimulate the foot, legs and spinal alignment. However, depending on the activator material chosen, for example sand, leaves, or spices, the product may be suitable for wear over an extended period of time. 
     As may be noted, the nature of the activator material will determine the thickness of the product and the intensity of the stimulation. For some materials, the product may be simply used by loosening the laces or sandal straps of selected footwear to accommodate the thickness. Slippers may require the flexible material as set forth herein above. Accordingly, it is contemplated that the product can be used alone or in combination with traditional and non-traditional footwear. 
     While in the foregoing specification this invention has been described in relation to certain embodiments thereof, and many details have been put forth for the purpose of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is susceptible to additional embodiments and that certain of the details described herein can be varied considerably without departing from the basic principles of the invention.