Insole for an Item of Footwear and an Item of Footwear Comprising the Same

• US 20100000121A1
• Filed: 07/01/2008
• Published: 01/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Andrew Neil Brodie, Noel James Akers, Tariq Mirza
• Original Assignee: Andrew Neil Brodie, Noel James Akers, Tariq Mirza
• Inventors: Brodie, Andrew Neil, Akers, Noel James, Mirza, Tariq
• Application Number:
  US12/165,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20100000121A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/28
• 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: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/144 situated under the heel, i.e. the calcaneus bone
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/145 situated under the toes, i.e. the phalanges

Abstract

A shoe has a sole, at least a portion of the sole of the shoe comprising a compressible material, the material being such that the application of a pressure above a threshold pressure causes the electrical conductivity of the material to change. There is also provided a shoe comprising a sole; a display means operable by the wearer of the shoe to provide a display on the exterior surface of the shoe; wherein the sole of the shoe comprises a compressible material, the material being such that the application of pressure causes the electrical conductivity of the material to change, whereby the display means may be controlled by the application of pressure to the compressible material in the sole of the shoe. An insole for use in a shoe is also disclosed, the insole comprising a compressible material, the material being such that the application of a pressure above a threshold pressure causes the electrical conductivity of the material to change.

Claims

1. A shoe having a sole, at least a portion of the sole of the shoe comprising a compressible material, the material being such that the application of a pressure above a threshold pressure causes the electrical conductivity of the material to change.

3. The shoe according to either of claims 1 or 2, wherein the compressible material is non-conducting in the quiescent position and is caused to conduct electricity upon the application of pressure to the compressible material.

4. The shoe according to claim 3, wherein the compressible material becomes an electrical conductor above a threshold applied pressure.

5. The shoe according to any preceding claim, wherein the compressible material is a quantum tunneling composite (QTC).

6. The shoe according to any preceding claim, wherein the compressible material comprises a filler of conductive particles in a polymer matrix.

7. The shoe according to claim 6, wherein the filler comprises nickel, titanium, zirconium, copper or a mixture thereof.

8. The shoe according to either of claims 6 or 7, wherein the filler comprises a powder of a conductive element or material.

9. The shoe according to any of claims 6 to 8, wherein the filler comprises a layer of a conductive element or material on a carrier of powder, grains, fibres or other shaped forms.

10. The shoe according to any of claims 6 to 9, wherein the filler comprises granules of a conductive element or material.

11. The shoe according to any of claims 6 to 10, wherein the granules have a diameter of up to 2 mm, more preferably up to 1 mm, especially 0.04 to 0.2 mm.

12. The shoe according to any of claims 6 to 11, wherein the particles of conductive element or material are dendritic, filamentous or spiked in form.

13. The shoe according to any of claims 6 to 12, wherein the filler comprises granules of a conductive element or material coated in a polymer, in particular an elastomer.

14. The shoe according to any of claims 6 to 13, wherein the polymer matrix comprises an elastomer, in particular a silicone elastomer.

15. The shoe according to any of claims 6 to 14, wherein the compressible material further comprises a modifier to improve the elastic response of the material, in particular fumed silica.

16. The shoe according to any preceding claim, wherein the compressible material is in a layer having a thickness of from 0.5 to 3 mm, more preferably from 1 to 2 mm.

2. A shoe comprising:

a sole;

a display means operable by the wearer of the shoe to provide a display on the exterior surface of the shoe;

wherein the sole of the shoe comprises a compressible material, the material being such that the application of pressure causes the electrical conductivity of the material to change, whereby the display means may be controlled by the application of pressure to the compressible material in the sole of the shoe.

17. The shoe according to any preceding, wherein the sole comprises a plurality of discrete portions of compressible material.

18. The shoe according to claim 17, wherein each of the discrete portions has a different composition and/or property, to tailor the portion to its location with respect to the foot of the wearer of the shoe.

19. An insole for use in a shoe, the insole comprising a compressible material, the material being such that the application of a pressure above a threshold pressure causes the electrical conductivity of the material to change.

20. The insole according to claim 19, further comprising a connection to a display device.

21. The insole according to claim 20, wherein the display device is mounted on an insole extension extending from the insole such that, when the insole is in position in a shoe, the display device provides a display on the exterior of the shoe.

22. The insole according to any of claims 19 to 21, wherein the compressible material is non-conducting in the quiescent position and is caused to conduct electricity upon the application of pressure to the compressible material.

23. The insole according to claim 22, wherein the compressible material becomes an electrical conductor above a threshold applied pressure.

24. The insole according to any of claims 19 to 23, wherein the compressible material is a quantum tunneling composite (QTC).

25. The insole according to any of claims 19 to 24, wherein the compressible material comprises a filler of conductive particles in a polymer matrix.

26. The insole according to claim 25, wherein the filler comprises nickel, titanium, zirconium, copper or a mixture thereof.

27. The insole according to either of claims 25 or 26, wherein the filler comprises a powder of a conductive element or material.

28. The insole according to any of claims 25 to 27, wherein the filler comprises a layer of a conductive element or material on a carrier of powder, grains, fibres or other shaped forms.

29. The insole according to any of claims 25 to 28, wherein the filler comprises granules of a conductive element or material.

30. The insole according to any of claims 25 to 29, wherein the granules have a diameter of up to 2 mm, more preferably up to 1 mm, especially 0.04 to 0.2 mm.

31. The insole according to any of claims 25 to 30, wherein the particles of conductive element or material are dendritic, filamentous or spiked in form.

32. The insole according to any of claims 25 to 31, wherein the filler comprises granules of a conductive element or material coated in a polymer, in particular an elastomer.

33. The insole according to any of claims 25 to 32 wherein the polymer matrix comprises an elastomer, in particular a silicone elastomer.

34. The insole according to any of claims 25 to 33, wherein the compressible material further comprises a modifier to improve the elastic response of the material, in particular fumed silica.

35. The insole according to any of claims 19 to 34, wherein the compressible material is in a layer having a thickness of from 0.5 to 3 mm, more preferably from 1 to 2 mm.

36. The insole according to any of claims 19 to 35, wherein the sole comprises a plurality of discrete portions of compressible material.

37. The insole according to claim 36, wherein each of the discrete portions has a different composition and/or property, to tailor the portion to its location with respect to the foot of the wearer of the shoe.