Disposable shoe liner

• US 7,037,571 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2001
• Issued: 05/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Agarwal, Naveen, Fish, Jeffrey E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Loney, Donald J.
• Application Number:
  US10/029,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20020092199A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,594 Days
• Field of Search: 428/68, 428/71, 428/72, 428/76, 428/178, 428/172, 428/166, 428/217, 428/218, 36/43, 36/47, 36/49, 36/71, 36/37
• US Class Current: 428/166
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/02 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/12 Soles with several layers of different materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/186 Differential cushioning region, e.g. cushioning located under the ball of the foot resilient heel not included in the sole A43B21/26; resilient supports for the heel of the foot A43B21/32
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 17/00 Insoles for insertion, e.g. footbeds or inlays, for attachment to the shoe after the upper has been joined
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24562 Interlaminar spaces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24612 Composite web or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24661 Forming, or cooperating to form cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24983 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24992 Density or compression of components

Abstract

A disposable shoe liner that is formed from a first substrate, a second substrate, and discrete regions of a functional material sandwiched therebetween is provided. In particular, the first and second substrates contain are fused together at certain portions such that fused portions and unfused portions are formed. The unfused portions form pockets that contain the functional material. In some embodiments, for example, the pockets contain activated carbon granules to provide comfort to the foot and to absorb odors exuded therefrom.

Claims

1. A disposable shoe liner comprising:

a laminate structure shaped to approximate the contours of a foot, said laminate structure comprising a first substrate containing a thermoplastic polymer and a second substrate containing a thermoplastic polymer, at least one of said substrates comprising a nonwoven web, wherein the thermoplastic polymer of said first substrate is fused together with the thermoplastic polymer of said second substrate to form fused portions and unfused portions located between said fused portions, said unfused portions defining pockets containing discrete regions of a functional material that is capable of providing comfort to the foot of a user, wherein said functional material has a hardness that is greater than the hardness of said first substrate and said second substrate.

2. A disposable shoe liner as defined in claim 1, wherein said functional material contains particles.

3. A disposable shoe liner as defined in claim 1, wherein said functional material contains a fragrance, an odor absorbent, a liquid absorbent, a germicidal material, or mixtures thereof.

4. A disposable shoe liner as defined in claim 1, wherein said functional material contains an odor absorbent.

5. A disposable shoe liner as defined in claim 4, wherein said odor absorbent includes activated carbon granules.

6. A disposable shoe liner as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said substrates contains a film.

7. A disposable shoe liner as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said substrates contains an elastomeric component.

8. A disposable shoe liner comprising:

a laminate structure shaped to approximate the contours of a foot, said laminate structure comprising a first substrate containing a thermoplastic polymer and a second substrate containing a thermoplastic polymer, at least one of said substrates comprising a nonwoven web, wherein the thermoplastic polymer of said first substrate is fused together with the thermoplastic polymer of said second substrate to form fused portions and unfused portions located between said fused portions, said unfused portions defining pockets containing discrete regions of a functional material that is capable of providing comfort to the foot of a user, wherein the functional material contained within a first group of said pockets has a packing density that is greater than the packing density of the functional material contained within a second group of said pockets.

9. A disposable shoe liner as defined in claim 8, wherein said functional material contains particles.

10. A disposable shoe liner as defined in claim 8, wherein said functional material contains a fragrance, an odor absorbent, a liquid absorbent, a germicidal material, or mixtures thereof.

11. A disposable shoe liner as defined in claim 8, wherein said functional material contains an odor absorbent.

12. A disposable shoe liner as defined in claim 11, wherein said odor absorbent includes activated carbon granules.

13. A disposable shoe liner as defined in claim 8, wherein at least one of said substrates contains a film.

14. A disposable shoe liner as defined in claim 8, wherein at least one of said substrates contains an elastomeric component.