Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
212~4~ 1
esi~nation: Footpad of a shoe as a separate footpad
insert or as a footpad part connected to
a shoe
The invention relates to a footpad acco-r~ing to the
preamble of patent claim 1. It is concerned with a
footpad of the individual inner movement space in a shoe
in the form either of a separate footpad insert or a
footpad part connected to a shoe which is made of a
supple to hard-rubber elastic material and which provides
a generally smooth surface adapted to the human foot sole
and which guarantees~for blood circulation to take place
axound the foot, especially in the area of the toes, in
order to thus allow~ for metabolism processes to take
place, general ones as well as specific ones, as well as
their respective mechanisms to proceed. Based on
individual body we~ight and individual body statics, such
footpad~ takes on the impression of the individual user's
foot and maintains it so as to obtain a positive effect
on~general and specific metabolism~processes in the most
individually adapted and best targeted way possible (see
figure~7 of DE-A-39~02 207). The invention is based on a
renewed and continued phylogenetic-energetic discussion
of the~;subject ;"Walking" on ~a cultural and historic
F~otpads of shoes ~such as the footpad of the kind as
mentioned above, are generally provided with a smooth
surface which is adapted more or less perfectly to the
shape of a human foot sole. They serve to support the
:foot as evenly as possible over the~entire surface of the
footpad, but also to provide a certain guidance and thus
~a supporting maintenance for the foot. A footpad insert
made of a supple material can actually participate in the
rolling-off process of the foot in each single step, it
can attenuate or intercept impact energies and convert
excessive kinetic energy into other forms of energy, or
degrade them. Thus, the still existing potential in
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motional energy or kinetic energy can be evenly
distributed over the foot in a well-targeted way so as to
be able to make good use of it for the preparation of the
next step. In this process, the parts of the foot sole
which lean on are supported. Footpads made of rigid
material would not allow for such use; here, at least the
heel of a foot lifts off at each step ta~en and then
returns to touch down on the footpad. In the case of
footpads of the kind as mentioned above, the steady
contact between foot sole and footpad depends on the
degree of adaptation of said footpad~
The term "shoe" here stands for foot wear in its most
general form, such as~for example street shoes, sneakers,
boots, sandals,~ house shoes, gymnastic shoes, etc.
Usually, a foot pad for~a shoe is provided in one piece
and extends from~ the~heel to the toes; however, it is
also possible, to~subdivide the~ footpad into two or
several sections,~one~of~which couId for exam~le support
the ~e~l, another one ~the ~oes' area and so forth. The
;footpad~can be exchangeable or it can be firmly connected
to~the~shoe. ~
From~the documents US-A-4 109 661, GB-A-1 553 415 and GB-
A-2 ~046~79, footpads of the abo~e~ mentioned kind are
known~which in ~seleGted parts of~ the~surace provide
proj~ection~. They`~are~ assigned to vital parts of the sole
of;~a~ fo:ot. Fur~hermore, from the~ DE-A-39 02 207, a
ootpad of the~kind~as mentioned in the beginning of the
present text is~ known, the generally smooth surface of
~; ~ which provides at least one local impression which is
formed like a dimple and stands back against the (non-
structured~ surface~, and which gradually, with a smooth
rounding along its entire border, grades into the
surface, and which provides a basis, situated a few
millimeters below said non-structured surface. A knob
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~ ~ projects from this basis, the free cap of which lies
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substantially in the course of the ~non-structured)
surface.
In this known arrangement (DE-A-39 02 207), a partial
area (neglectable in terms of surface area) of the human
foot sole is left without any footpad support. The
impression is fashioned in such a way that due to the
smoothly rounded-of border a gradual txansition from
supported area to non-supported area takes place which
inhibits, respectively avoids the motional energy or
kinetic energy to be upset so that it is available for
well-targeted power development, power deployment and
power conservation. By means o said knob, a well~defined
pregiven point, respectively small surface in the foot
sole is influenced by pressure, which fact causes a
stimulation, respectively a positive motivation of
metabolism processes to take place through a massaging of
main~ nerves. The~ area~ of the foot sole supported by the
knob~is~ subjec~to~substantially constant pressure while
standin~ on it ~which leads to continuous and natural
ahanges~ of posture.~stimulation is repeated while walking
or~running.~
By-~means of the~;footpad as mentioned~in~the beginning, a
desired individual reaction of the user is obtained, for
example~a localized ~elevation in temperature. Such
te~perature elevations preferably occur;~ in~ areas in which
thé~ foot~sole;;is~stimulated by me~ans of~projections, as
for~example by~ knobs as described. However, o~Jerheating
;can~also occur~in other places, due to individual givens.
Overly pronounced localized temperature elevations caused
for example by a rise în temperature due to individual
overmodulation, released by metabolism processes, can
deteriorate well-being when using~ the footpad and the
user's wearing impression changes. Such effects, in turn,
can have an influence on a targeted treatment of parts of
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212942~
the oot sole due to the latter's special fashio~ing and
form.
Localized temperature elevation only occurs a certain
time after putting on a shoe equipped with a ootpad as
mentioned in the beginning of this text. Based on the
targeted motivation of specific foot-sole~ areas, and
based on the desired dissolution of energy blocks~energy
upsettings, the restitution and maintenance of the flow
of kinetic energy, motional energy, is guaranteed. The
user feels a gradual transition from a normal temperature
at first, to a localized heating. Localized heatings can
occur principally due to contact of the foot with the
footpad, for example when standing, or, possibly only
after starting to walk, run or the like. Local heating
can be detected on the basis of a temperature elevation
of the foot sole in the foot-sole areas concerned.
This is, where the invention finds its purpose. Its
o~ject is to further develop a footpad as mentioned in
the beginning of the present text in such a way that
loca~lly occurring temperature elevations to a degree
exceeding body temperature, which occur some time after
putting on the shoe equipped with such footpad, will be
eliminate~
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On ~he basis of the~-~ootpad of the kind as mentioned in
the beginning of the present text, this object is
ob~ained by providing said footpad with a reservoir
container to h~ld a substance which generates a cooling
(coldness), by a connection of said reservoir container
to an outlet valve via a line, which outlet val~e
provides its discharge opening into the surface of said
footpad, and by providing a valve in said line, to which
a control member is assigned, which is disposed at the
surface of said footpad in such a way that it is in
contact with the foot sole of a foot and which opens said
" 2129~24 5
valve for a short period of time, when a pregiven
temperature-threshold value is exceeded.
~hus, a well-targeted cooling of particular areas of the
human foot sole is carried out in the inventive footpad.
Cooling occurs only when the control member of said valve
detects a temperature level in a first partial area of
the foot sole which lies above a threshold value. Thus,
when such temperature level is detected, a localized
temperature elevation is present; the control organ opens
the valve for a short period of time, and a small amount
of cooling substance emerges at the opening of the line~
This prompts a localized cooling, which fact is
signalized to the organ concerned via the central nervous
system where the~ information is processed, used
converted and controlled accordingly.
:
The discharge opening of the line can be disposed either
remotely from or in the immediate vicinity of the control
membe~r. At any rate,~ the place at which the foot-sole
temperature is detected by means of said control member,
is in close relation to the place of the footpad which is
situated above the opening and which is cooled actively
when the valve opens fQr a short period of time.
The~invention IS based on the ~enerally known idea that
to each-partial~area of the human foot sole, one organ
can be associated. This fact constitutes the basis of
foot-zone-reflex massage, for example. Here, the object
to~ be obtained- is to dissolve energy blocks and to
achieve an optimum~ circulation within the organ through
the best possible processing or through stimuli and
in~ormation and thus to promote a free flow of vital
energy, motional energy and kinetic energy. By avoiding
localized temperature elevations, heat upsets and
overheating of parts of the foot sole, the particular
status can be maintained for the user, which was present
at the very beginning of said wearing process ~f the
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footpad. ~hus, no excessive heating of parts of the
footsole will occur, the symmetry breaking processes of
kinetic energy are not impaired but rather enhanced.
Consequently, natural bone metabolism takes place without
impediment, which in turn guarantees power developing,
power deploying and power conserving processes to take
place. The first impression, as perceived by the user in
the very beqinning of wearing said footpad, can
substantially be maintained.
A combination of the inventive cooling arrangement with
the teaching according to the applicant's DE-A-39 02 20
has proven particularly advantageous. The content of the
disclosure in said patent, and of the disclosure in the
present application belong closely together. Accordingly,
the individual footpad provides a local impression which
provides a knob projecting from it. It has proven to be
of advantage to dispose the control member for the valve
in the cap of said projection. The opening of the line
from which the substance which generates coldness can be
discharged, is to be disposed advantageously in said
impression, and thus in the vicinity of said knob,
however, it can also be disposed at a different place of
the ootpad, for example in another impression.
The~ reservoir container for said substance is situated
pre~erably in the sole itself and, if emptied, can be
exchanged together ~with said substance. In a preferred
embodiment, the reservoir contain~er provides transparent,
flexible walls; it can be made for example of a
degradable (environmentally compatible) transparent
plastic film. The substance itself provides a coloring or
is slightly dyed. The reservoir container is at least
pa;rtly visible, preferably it is embedded in the bottom
side of the footpad. Thus, it is possible at any time to
check whether the reservoir container is still full or
whether it is empty. If the reservoir container is empty,
-" 212942~L
the footpad (in the form o~ an insert sole) or at least
the cooling device is to be exchanged.
The substance responsible for generating coldness
consists of one or two components. In the case of a one-
component substance, a substantially chemically neutral
composition with a low boiling point is ~selected, for
example difluorine~dichlorine-methane or difluorine-
chlorine-methane. In the case of a two-component
substance, the two components are fed to the valve under
pressure, and mingle in the valve. Thereupon they flow to
the opening via the remaining common part of the line~
Here, coldness is maintained thrQugh a chemical reaction
between the two components and/or through vaporization
heat. The~pressure can either be generated by means of
the substance, respectively component itself, or by means
of a sponging ~agent and/or by loading the reservoir
container with the user's weight.
The~ line between reservoir container and opening is
selected to be so narrow, respectively the passage
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through the valve~provides such small dimensions that at
sach opening of the valve, which alwa~s occur for only a
short period ~of time, only a small amount of the
substance, however~ sufficient for cooling, can emerge at
the~ opening.~eservoir aontainer, line~and valve are
onnected so permanently tight ~o each other that under
normal operating~conditions, no~leakages can occur. A
separate refilling or exchange of the reservoir container
is not provided~for.
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~' An especially advantageous arrangement has proven to
fashion the valve as a dosage valve;or portioning valve.
Each time the ~alve is released by the control organ, a
;~ dosed amount of substance (or substance mixture) is
; ~ discharged. For this purpose, valves can be used which
are designed for example as a vane-cell pump or a gear
pump etc. Here it is ensured that the valve normally
-` 212942~ 8
locks in direction towards the opening so that the
su~stance can neither evaporize nor react chemically, as
long as the valve is closed. Only upon opening of the
valve, a pregiven amount of the substance is released
towards the opening.
Further advantages and features of the invention can be
derived from the remainin~ claims and from the following
description of an embodiment, explained in more detail
with reference to the figures; this example, however, is
not meant to have any limiting character.
1~
Fig. 1 is a perspective representation or the
footpad of a shoe provided with the inventive cooling
~~device which footpad here, for the purpose of greater
clarity, is made of completely transparent material.
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Fig.2 is a perspective representation of a cooling
device as used in the embodiment according to fig. 1 and
Fig~3 is a perspective representation of a cooling
;device e~uipped with two reservoir containers.
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The ~ootpad according to fig. 1 is shown in a completely
transpar~nt representation for the purpose of greater
;clarity~ and for a better understanding of the cooling
device which will be explained in more detail in the
ollowing. In general, footpads ~ are not made of
transparent material, they rather ~consist of leather,
rubber, a non-transparent plastic material, or the like.
The construction of a footpad is basically known and such
principle is not modified by the present invention. For a
description of the footpad, reference is made for example
to ~he DE-A-39 02 207, already mentioned in the beginning
of the present text.
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` 2129~2~ 9
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In the heel area of the body of the footpad, according to
the embodiment shown in fig. 1, a reservoir container 20
is embedded fashioned as an insert sole. As can be seen
in fig. 1, it is substantially shaped like a pillow with
almost square dimensions of approximately 45mm by 45mm.
The reservoir container is made of flexible plastic film
which, by bending over and welding, forms a sealed-off
and water-tight container. The reservoir container 20 is
filled with a substance providing a high evaporation heat
and/or which, when emerging, reacts endothermally with a
second substance from another reservoir container (see
fig. 3) or from the environment (air, sweat). The
reservoir container 20 is integrated either permanently
(fig. 1) into the footpad or exchangeably together with
the complete ~ooling device ~fig. 2) in such a way that
at least one part of its surface facing towards the
bottom remains visible. The substance either provides a
color or is slightly dyed. By looking at the bottom
surface of the footpad, a check can be carried out as to
whether or not the reservoir container 20 is still
filled.
:
Since the footpad is~ made of an elastic material andJor
since the reservoir container 20 projects downwards
against ~he bottom surface of the footpad, pressure is
exerted onto the reservoir container 20 when the footpad
is being used. This pressure can occur constantly, when
standing, or it can also occur periodically, for example
when walking or running. Thus, it is ensured that the
substance in said reservoir container 20 only comes under
under pressure, when the footpad is actually in use.
In another embodiment, the reservoir container 20 is
constantly under pressure, for example under the pressure
of the substance or of an additional sponging agent. In
this caser the footpad can also be fashioned
substantially rigidly, and it is not necessary that the
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212~42~ o
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reservoir container 20 project downwards, as against the
lower surface of the footpad.
A line 22 is permanently connected to said reservoir
container 20, which line provides relatively small
dimensions; its inner cross~section for example lies
below 2 mm2. It is made of a supple plastic material. A
material similar to the material for the reservoir
container 20 is used.
Into the line 22, a valve 24 is integrated. This valve 24
is actuated via a control organ 26. Such control organ 2~
1s substantially a heat detector. If a pregiven
temperature-threshold value is exceeded, for example 3B
C~ said heat detector delivers a control command to the
valve 24 mechanically (preferably) or in another way, for
example electrically, upon which command said valve opens
and closes and a p~eset amount of the substance is
allowèd to pass through.
In~ a preferred embodiment, the control member 26 is
fashioned similarly to the control members o radiator-
thermostate ~alves. In this case the Gontrol member 26
consists of a small expansion tank which is connected to
the valve 24 via~a (flexible) duct. In the expansion tank
and in~ the duct a li~uid with a high thermal coefficient
of~expansion is disposed, to where the coefficient of
expansion of expansion tank and duct are as low as
possible. The liquid column is directly effective upon
said valve 24. If the temperature of the li~uid reaches a
pre~iven threshold value, an expansion is caused which
causes the valve 24 to be actuated.
The valve 24 is fashioned as a portioning valve. It is
actuated for a short period of time by said control
member 26. The valve provides for example a tappet which
is guided tightly in a sleeve. The tapped provides a
radial recess. In closed position, the tappet is drawn
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21294~
far enough towards the line on the side of -the reservoir
container that the recess projects from the sleeve and
that it is surrounded by the substance supply. Due to the
tight guidance of the tappet within the sleeve, no
substance can pass through the valve. When the valve is
released, the tappet shif~s through the sleeve until the
recess reaches the other end of the sleeve; now the
substance contained in it can flow off, respectively
react. After a certain period of time, the length of
which depends on how long it takes for the substance to
flow out of the recess, respectively to evaporate, the
tappet is retreated~ Thus, the recess can be refille~
with substance which in turn will be released in a new
discharging operation.
In a further embodiment, the valve is equipped either
with an impeller wheel provided with a few chambers which
are turned successively from an inlet to an outlet, or
with a gearwheel.
The valve 24 is actuated by the pressure exerted by the
substance contained in the reservoir container 20. It is
released by the control member 26. In another embodiment,
the energy for actuating the valve is also delivered by
said control member 26, for example in the case of the
above described embodiment of said control member 26 with
a liquid.
The control member 26 is disposed in the area of said
surface 28 of the footpad in such a way that a user's
foot will come into contact with said control member 26.
Thus, said control member 26 can detect a user's foot-
sole temperature at a pregiven point.
In an especially preferred embodiment which, however,
does not involve any limiting effect, said control member
26 is disposed in the area of the free cap of a kno~ 30
which projects centrally from within a local impression
212942~ 12
32 which in turn stands back as against the non-
structured surface of said footpad. In this context,
reference is made to the already menationed DE-A-39 02
207. The cap of said knob 30 is substantially situated in
the course of said non-structured surface of said
footpad.
.....
In a further embodiment, the control member 26 is
embedded in the surface of said footpad without a
impression being provided in its vicinity.
The material of the footpad provides low therma~
condu~tivity; it is made for example of an electrically
isolating material. This counteracts a fast temperature
equalization within said footpad; the control member 26
detects locally the temperature prevailing in a specific
area of a user's foot sole.
At the other end of the line 22 an opening 34 is
disposed. It is provided in the surface of the foo~pad
and faces in upward direction, towards a user's foot. In
the embodiment according to fig. 1, a small impression is
~provided in the surface of said footpad in the area of
the discharge opening, so as to enlarge the outlet of the
line in a funnel-like shape.
In another embodiment, the discharge opening 34 is either
provided in the cap of a knob 30 which is surrounded ~y a
.
inpression 32 in the above explained way, or in the
impression 32 itself.
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Fig. 2 shows the described cooling device. The reservoir
container 20 is equipped with flexible walls and, when
emptied, is completely flat and thus does not provide any
inner volume any more. The line 22 provided on both sides
of the valve 24 has an optional length and is connected
permanently to said valve 24, respectively to said
2 1 2 9~ 2l1 13
reservoir container 20, for example through welding or
glueing. Said valve 24 is formed as small as possible.
As soon as said reservoir container 20 is exhausted,
normally the entire insert sole is to be discarded and
needs to be replaced by a new one. However, another
possibilîty is to provide the cooling device according to
fig. 2 separably from said insert sole, for example by
pressing down an undercut recess provided with an elastic
border in the bottom face o~ the insert sole. In such
case, a replacement including the body of the footpad is
not necessary.
Fig. 3., finally~ shows an arrangement including two
reservoir containers 20, 21. They are connected to a
valve 24 via one line associated to each of them
respectively. This is ~fashioned in such a way that the
substances contained in the two reservoir containers 20,
21~only come into~contact with each ~other downstream of
the~valve 24. The valve provides for example two sleeves
and~two tappets~of~the kind~as described above. The two
ubstances react~with~eachother downst}eam of said valve
2~4~in the tWQ rsservoir aontainers 20,~21, and they form
a~ mix~ture with~ high evaporation heat and/or with
endothermal characteristics. ~
Furthermore, it ~is~possible to couple in parallel several
reservoir~containers 20 accordin~ to the embodiment as
shown~in figures 1 ~and 2; said reservoir containers do
not nècessarily provide a volume zero~when emptied; this
holds especially true when the filling aonsists of a
propellant which is harmful to the environment.
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