U.S. patent application number 11/401644 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-09 for scented shoe and shoe packaging system.
Invention is credited to Merrick Jones.
Application Number | 20060249417 11/401644 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37393126 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060249417 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jones; Merrick |
November 9, 2006 |
Scented shoe and shoe packaging system
Abstract
Shoes and shoe package assemblies include a scent-generating
material for emitting a scent unusual to footwear, e.g., for
attracting consumers and/or creating an impact in marketing.
Inventors: |
Jones; Merrick; (Needham,
MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FISH & RICHARDSON PC
P.O. BOX 1022
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55440-1022
US
|
Family ID: |
37393126 |
Appl. No.: |
11/401644 |
Filed: |
April 11, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60673586 |
Apr 21, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/524.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 85/187 20130101;
B65D 2203/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/524.1 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/84 20060101
B65D085/84 |
Claims
1. A shoe having a sole comprising a resilient material having a
scent-generating material therein, the scent-generating material
emitting a scent unusual to footwear.
2. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the sole comprises an outsole.
3. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the resilient material comprises a
thermoset material.
4. The shoe of claim 3, wherein the thermoset material is selected
from the group consisting of cured butadiene rubber, cured isoprene
rubber, cured styrene-butadiene rubber, cured natural rubber, and
mixtures thereof.
5. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the resilient material comprises a
thermoplastic elastomer.
6. The shoe of claim 5, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer is
selected from the group consisting of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA),
styrenic block copolymers, hydrogenated styrenic block copolymers,
styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymers, thermoplastic
polyurethanes, polyesters, polyamides, polyvinyl chlorides,
polyolefins, polyethylenes, polypropylenes, and mixture
thereof.
7. The shoe of claim 5, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer
comprises a foam.
8. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the scent-generating material is
selected to emit a scent from the group consisting of chocolate,
cookies & cream, peppermint, cherry, peach, strawberry, lime,
spearmint, cinnamon, anise, basil, bergamot, black pepper, camphor,
cedarwood, chamomile, citronella, eucalyptus, pine, fir, geranium,
ginger, grapefruit, jasmine, juniperberry, lavender, lemon,
mandarin, marjoram, musk, myrhh, orange, patchouli, rose, rosemary,
sage, sandalwood, tea tree, thyme, wintergreen, ylang ylang,
vanilla, new car, money, and mixtures thereof.
9. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the scent-generating material is
directly compounded into the resilient material as an oil.
10. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the scent-generating material
resides at least partially encased within a micro-sphere.
11. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the scent-generating material is
adsorbed on a carrier.
12. The shoe of claim 11, wherein the carrier is selected from the
group consisting of clays, silicas, aluminas, cylcodextrins,
starches, and mixtures thereof.
13. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the resilient material includes a
filler.
14. The shoe of claim 13, wherein the filler is selected from the
group consisting of calcium carbonate, kaolin clay, dicalcium
phosphate, sodium metaphosphate, magnesium orthophosphate,
hydroxyapatites, synthetic apatites, aluminas, silicas, and
mixtures thereof.
15. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the resilient material includes an
antioxidant.
16. A shoe comprising a scent-generating material for emitting a
scent unusual to footwear.
17. The shoe of claim 16, wherein the scent-generating material is
disposed on a sole of the shoe.
18. The shoe of claim 16, wherein the scent-generating material is
disposed in a sole of the shoe.
19. The shoe of claim 16, wherein the scent-generating material is
disposed on an upper of the shoe.
20. The shoe of claim 16, wherein the scent-generating material is
disposed in an upper of the shoe.
21. The shoe of claim 20, wherein the upper comprises leather or a
synthetic material.
22. A shoe package assembly comprising a shoe contained within a
package, the package assembly comprising a scent-generating
material emitting a scent unusual to footwear.
23. The shoe package assembly of claim 22, wherein the package is
in the form of a box.
24. The shoe package assembly of claim 22, wherein the
scent-generating material is disposed on an internal surface of the
package.
25. The shoe package assembly of claim 22, wherein the package
includes an absorbent material, and wherein the scent-generating
material is absorbed on the absorbent material.
26. The shoe package assembly of claim 25, wherein the absorbent
material comprises tissue paper.
27. A system for presenting a shoe to a consumer, comprising: a
package comprising a scent-generating material for emitting a scent
unusual to footwear; and a shoe within the package.
28. The system of claim 27, wherein the scent-generating material
is on an interior surface of the package.
29. The package of claim 27, wherein the package includes an
absorbent material, and wherein the scent-generating material is
absorbed on the absorbent material.
30. The system of claim 27, wherein the shoe also includes a
scent-generating material.
31. The system of claim 27, further comprising a lid covering the
package.
32. The system of claim 31, further comprising a vapor barrier
encapsulating the lidded package.
33. A shoe comprising a least one scent-emitting element, the
scent-emitting element comprising a scent-emitting material that
emits a scent when manipulated.
34. The shoe of clam 33, wherein the scent emitting element is in
the form of a polymeric disk, and wherein the scent emitting
element is disposed on the vamp of the shoe.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 60/673,586, filed on Apr. 21, 2005,
which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This disclosure relates to scented shoes and/or packaging
systems.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Shoes can provide more than protection for a wearer. For
example, shoes allow the wearer to make a statement about their
personality. For adults, shoes often identify a group to which the
wearer belongs. For children, shoes are often integrally connected
with their development and stage of life. Shoes for children often
provide many forms of sensual stimulation, e.g., in the form of
visually stimulating patterns and colors.
[0004] Methods of deodorizing shoes have been disclosed in, e.g.,
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,378,224, 6,227,458, 6,202,324, 5,732,485,
5,399,404, 5,167,564, 4,864,740 and 4,682,715; and in U.S.
Published Patent Application Nos. 2004/0076694, 2003/0228338,
2003/0091465, 2003/0029477 and 2002/0066209.
SUMMARY
[0005] In general, the disclosure relates scented shoes. For
example, a scent-generating material can be included in and/or on a
sole or an upper, e.g., a leather upper. In implementations, the
scented shoe includes materials that generate a scent that is
unnatural, unusual or unexpected in footwear, e.g., cherry,
chocolate, cookies & cream, strawberry, and lime.
[0006] In one aspect, the disclosure features a shoe having a sole
including a resilient material. The resilient material includes a
scent-generating material.
[0007] Scents, e.g., scents unnatural, unusual and/or unexpected to
the shoe, include chocolate, cookies & cream, peppermint,
cherry, peach, strawberry, lime, spearmint, cinnamon, vanilla, new
car, money, anise, basil, bergamot, black pepper, camphor,
cedarwood, chamomile, citronella, eucalyptus, pine, fir, geranium,
ginger, grapefruit, jasmine, juniperberry, lavender, lemon,
mandarin, marjoram, musk, myrhh, orange, patchouli, rose, rosemary,
sage, sandalwood, tea tree, thyme, wintergreen, ylang ylang or
mixtures of these scents and more. Mixtures of scents are commonly
referred to as perfumes.
[0008] In another aspect, the disclosure features a shoe having a
scent not usual to footwear. The scent can be emitted by a
scent-generating material disposed on a material of a sole of the
shoe or in the material of the sole of the shoe. Alternatively, or
in addition to, the scent-generating material can be disposed on
and/or in the material of the upper of the shoe.
[0009] In another aspect, the disclosure features a package for a
shoe possessed of a scent unusual, unexpected and/or unnatural in
footwear.
[0010] In another aspect, the disclosure features a system or
assembly for presenting a shoe to a consumer in a package, the
system or assembly having a scent unusual to footwear. For example,
a scent-generating material can be on an interior surface of the
package and/or the package can include an absorbent material, e.g.,
tissue paper, having a scent-generating material therein or
thereon. The system can further include a lid covering the package.
In implementations, the system further includes a vapor barrier
encapsulating the lidded package, e.g., to contain the scent to
prevent evaporation of the scent-generating material or to prevent
overwhelming the retailer with the scent.
[0011] In another aspect, the disclosure features a shoe and/or
package that includes a least one scent-emitting element. The
scent-emitting element includes a scent-emitting material that
emits a scent when manipulated, e.g., by squeezing and/or
scratching.
[0012] Implementations may include any one or combination of the
following advantages. The scented shoes allow a wearer to customize
their wardrobe and to make a statement about a group to which they
belong. The scented footwear can stir interest and fun at a point
of purchase for a consumer. Scents allow for unusual branding and
marketing opportunities.
[0013] All publications, patent applications, patents, and other
references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their
entirety.
[0014] The details of one or more implementations are set forth in
the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other
features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the
description and drawings, and from the claims.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a side view of a shoe having a scent unusual to
footwear.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a shoebox having a scent
unusual to footwear.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a shoebox having a tissue to
which a scent-generating material has been applied.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a shoebox sealed with a
vapor barrier.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] Referring to FIG. 1, a shoe 10 has an upper 12, e.g., a
leather upper or a man-made upper formed from a polymeric material,
that includes a plurality of ventilation apertures 14 and a sole
20. Sole 20 includes a midsole 16 and an outsole 18 that is formed
from a resilient material, e.g., a cured synthetic rubber or a
thermoplastic. The resilient material has a scent-generating
material thereon and/or therein.
[0020] Examples of scents generated by the scent-generating
material include chocolate, cookies & cream, peppermint,
cherry, strawberry, peach, lime, spearmint, cinnamon, anise, basil,
bergamot, black pepper, camphor, cedarwood, chamomile, citronella,
eucalyptus, pine, fir, geranium, ginger, grapefruit, jasmine,
juniperberry, lavender, lemon, mandarin, marjoram, musk, myrhh,
orange, patchouli, rose, rosemary, sage, sandalwood, tea tree,
thyme, wintergreen, ylang ylang, vanilla, new car, money or
mixtures of these scents. Mixtures of scents are commonly known as
perfumes.
[0021] Smell is a powerful human sense. Scented shoes can, e.g.,
stir interest at the point of purchase for the consumer, drawing
consumers to the brand emitting the scent. This can, e.g., be
particularly so when the shoe emits a scent not usual to a shoe,
e.g., cherry, chocolate, cookies & cream, peach, strawberry or
lime. For example, the scent can convey an impression of
"freshness," "playfulness," or even "rebellion" to the
consumer.
[0022] In some implementations, the scent-generating material is
compounded directly into the resilient material or a precursor of
the resilient material as an oil. For example, the oil can be
compounded into the resilient material or the precursor to the
resilient material, e.g., an un-vulcanized rubber, using a roll
mill, a Banbury.RTM. mixer or an extruder, e.g., a twin-screw
extruder with counter-rotating screws. An example of a Banbury.RTM.
mixer is the F-Series Banbury.RTM. mixer, manufactured by Farrel.
An example of a twin-screw extruder is the WP ZSK 50
MEGAcompunder.TM., manufactured by Krupp Werner & Pfleiderer.
After compounding, the scent-generating resilient material or
precursor to the resilient material can be directly molded, or the
scent-generating material can be, e.g., converted into pellets and
used as a concentrate to be molded at latter time. The resilient
material can be formed into outsole 18 by, e.g., compression or
injection molding.
[0023] In some implementations, the resilient material includes
between about 0.15 percent and about 5.5 percent by weight
scent-generating material, e.g., from about 0.25 percent to about
5.2 percent by weight scent or from about 0.30 percent to about 2.0
percent by weight scent-generating material.
[0024] Examples of resilient materials include natural rubbers or
synthetic rubbers, e.g., isoprene rubber, butadiene rubber or
styrenic rubbers, e.g., styrene butadiene rubbers. The resilient
material can be crosslinked or un-crosslinked. Examples of
un-crosslinked resilient materials include thermoplastic
elastomers, e.g., ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), hydrogenated
styrenic block copolymers, e.g., styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene
block copolymers, thermoplastic polyurethanes, e.g., polyether or
polyester polyurethanes, polyesters, polyamides, e.g., polyether
block polyamides, polyvinyl chlorides, polyolefins, e.g.,
polypropylene or polyethylenes, e.g., those containing varying
amounts of a C.sub.4-C.sub.12 alpha olefin, e.g., those available
from Dow Plastics under the tradenames ENGAGE.TM. and AFFIMTY.TM..
Thermoplastic polyurethanes are available from Dow under the
tradename Pellethane.RTM. and from Dupont under the tradename
Hylene.RTM.. Thermoplastic elastomer polyesters are available from
Dupont under the tradename Hytrel.RTM..
[0025] Alternatively, master batches of a desired scent-generating
material are available commercially from International Flavors and
Fragrances, under the tradename PolyIff.TM. or from the RTP
Company. These scent-generating materials can be used to impart a
scent upon the resilient material.
[0026] Rather than compounding the scent-generating material
directly into a resilient material or a precursor to the resilient
material, a scent-generating material can be adsorbed onto solid
carriers, e.g., silicas, aluminas, starches or cyclodextrins, and
then the adsorbed scent-generating material can be compounded into
the resilient material or precursor to the resilient material.
Adsorbing the scent-generating material onto a carrier can improve,
e.g., the thermal stability of the scent. In addition, the
scent-generating material can be added to the resilient material or
a precursor to the resilient material in encapsulated form as
particles, e.g., to thermally stabilize the scents and/or to
provide controlled release of the scents from the resilient
material. Such particles can be made by numerous methods, including
solvent evaporation methods, with or without a surface active agent
as necessary; coacervation in all its various forms; pan coating;
air-suspension coating; press coating; spray-drying; rotational
suspension-separation techniques; melt coating methods; interfacial
polymerization; and melt-granulation processes. Particle-making
methods and techniques are described in Pharmaceutical Technology,
pp. 86-91 (Burgess Pub. Co. 1970); Microencapsulation and Related
Drug Procedures, pp. 1-60 (Marcel Dekker, Inc. 1984); J. Controlled
Release, 20 (1992):237-246; Nature, v. 367 (1994):258-60; Pharm.
Pharmacol. Lett. v. 3 (1993):67-70; and Drug Delivery Systems
(Oxford University Press 1980). Encapsulants can be made of, e.g.,
a degradable material or a non-degradable material. Examples of
degradable encapsulants include polycaprolactone, polydecalactone,
poly(sebacic anhydride), sebacic
acid-co-1,3-bis(carboxyphenoxypropane), sebacic
acid-co-1,6-bis(carboxyphenoxyhexane),
dedecanoic-co-1,3-bis(carboxyphenoxypropane),
dedecanoic-co-1,6-bis(carboxyphenoxyhexane), albumin and
derivatives, gelatin and derivatives, starch and derivatives, gum
arabic, cellulose and derivatives, polysorbate and derivatives,
agarose, lectins, galactose, functionalized nylons (e.g.
benzylated), proteins (synthetic and natural), polyorthoesters,
polyorthoformate, polyureas, polyurethanes, poly(amide-enamine)s,
polyvinylalcohol, polyenolketone (PEK), polyHema, functionalized
polyHema, ethylene-vinylacetate copolymers, functionalized polymers
and copolymers of lactic and glycolic acid, lactic acid
homopolymer, glycolic acid copolymer, copolymers of lactic acid and
glycolic acid, polyhydroxybutyrate, poly(esterimides),
functionalized silicones, poly(anhydrides), poly(malic acid), and
polyhydroxyalkanoic acid, liposomes, glycolipids, fatty acids,
glycerides, phospholipids or mixtures of these.
[0027] The particles, e.g., spherically-shaped particles, can have
a maximum dimension of from about 0.05 micron to about 100 micron,
e.g., from about 1 micron to about 75 micron or from about 5
microns to about 50 microns.
[0028] Antioxidants can be added during the compounding, e.g., to
reduce thermal degradation of the scent-generating material.
Examples of thermal stabilizers include phenolic antioxidants,
e.g., butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), phosphite antioxidants, e.g.,
di-tertiary butyl phenyl phosphite, Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol),
amine antioxidants, e.g., di-octylated diphenylamine,
sulfur-containing aminic antioxidants or mixtures of these
antioxidants. Antioxidants are available from Ciba.RTM. under the
tradename IRGANOX.RTM..
[0029] The resilient material can optionally include a filler.
Examples of fillers include calcium carbonate; clay, e.g.,
aragonite clay, orthorhombic clay, calcite clay, rhombohedral clay
or kaolin clay; dicalcium phosphate; sodium metaphosphate;
magnesium orthophosphate; hydroxyapatites; synthetic apatites;
aluminas; silicas; or mixtures of these fillers.
[0030] The resilient material can be foamed, e.g., with a chemical
foaming agent during its forming into outsole 18. The foams can
include open or closed cells. Open cells can, e.g., aid in the
release of fragrance from interior portions of outsole 18.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 2, a shoebox 40, e.g., made of fiberboard,
for shoe 10 described above can also have a scent-generating
material thereon and/or therein. For example, a material generating
a scent not usual to box 40 or shoe 10, e.g., cherry, chocolate,
cookies & cream, peach, strawberry or lime, can be applied to
an internal surface of the package, e.g., sidewall 43.
[0032] Referring to FIG. 3, rather than shoebox 40 having the
scent-generating material therein and/or thereon, the package can
include a tissue 48 or other absorbent material to which the
scent-generating material has been applied. Such a packaging
configuration can, e.g., provide an additional sensory impact
("wow") of the scent when the consumer first opens the package to
remove new shoes, and can also reduce the amount of
scent-generating material needed in or on a portion of shoe 10 for
a desired impact. In some implementations, from about 0.001 g to
about to 0.025 g, or about 0.002 g to about 0.010 g of concentrated
scent oil is placed directly on the shoebox 40 or tissue 48.
[0033] Referring now to FIG. 4, box 40 can be sealed with a
polymeric membrane 50 that encapsulates box 40 closed with lid 52.
Sealing can, e.g., prevent depletion of the scent-generating
material by evaporation before the consumer opens the package.
[0034] Polymeric membranes can be, e.g., one, two, three, five or
seven layers polymeric films. Such films can include, e.g.,
polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinylalcohol, polyamides or mixtures
of these materials.
EXAMPLE
[0035] The disclosure is further described in the following
example, which does not limit the scope of the disclosure or the
claims.
[0036] Chocolate scent generating material was obtained from
International Flavors and Fragrances was added as un-diluted oil to
un-cured rubber in a Banbury.RTM. mixer. The uncured rubber was a
mixture of butadiene rubber (62 weight percent), isoprene rubber
(25 weight percent), styrene-butadiene rubber (6.5 weight percent)
and natural rubber (6.5 weight percent). To the rubber with the
chocolate scent was added sulfur, silica, zinc oxide and
methyl-N-tert-butyl-2-benzothiazole sulfonamide (a cross-linking
accelerant). After thoroughly mixing the rubber and additives, the
un-cured mixture was discharged from the Banbury.RTM. mixer. The
resulting un-cured mixture was compression molded at 115.degree. C.
for 90 seconds to produce a cured outsole.
[0037] For additional impact ("wow"), to each shoebox was added a
piece of tissue paper weighting 0.018 g that was sprayed with 0.003
g of the un-diluted chocolate scent-generating oil.
Other Implementations
[0038] A number of implementations have been described.
Nevertheless, other implementations are within the scope of the
following claims. For example, rather than the outsole material
emitting the scent, the scent-generating material can be compounded
into the midsole. The scent-generating material can be in both the
outsole and the midsole. In some implementations, sole 20 is formed
of a unitary piece and does not include midsole and an outsole. A
pheromone can be used in place of the scent-generating material.
The scent-generating material can be applied to any surface of the
shoe, e.g., an exterior surface, by spraying. The upper can include
the scent-generating material. For example, the upper can be a
leather upper, a woven upper or a non-woven upper that has be
sprayed or soaked in the scent-generating material. The box can be
made of materials other than fiberboard, e.g., plastic, and can
take on a variety of additional shapes. The box can have
scent-generating material applied to an exterior surface. The
fiberboard of box 40 and/or lid 50 can be impregnated with the
scent-generating material. Rather than, or in addition to, tissue
48, another absorbent material can be used, e.g., a cellular
material, e.g., a foam or a sponge.
[0039] In some implementations, shoes include a scent-emitting
element, e.g., a disk-shaped polymeric element that emits a scent.
For example, the scent-emitting element can emit a scent when
squeezed, scratched and/or manipulated. The scent-emitting element
can be inside the shoe, outside and/or within the shoe. For
example, an outside location is on the vamp of the shoe.
[0040] Still other implementations are within the scope of the
following claims.
* * * * *