U.S. patent application number 11/552188 was filed with the patent office on 2007-12-20 for insole with consumable element.
Invention is credited to David Scott Hansen.
Application Number | 20070289160 11/552188 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38860173 |
Filed Date | 2007-12-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070289160 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hansen; David Scott |
December 20, 2007 |
Insole With Consumable Element
Abstract
An insole containing a consumable element, ideally a glucose
gel, which serves a dual purpose of providing cushioning for the
feet as well as providing a sterile source of nutrition primarily
intended for counteracting low blood sugar levels in people with
insulin dependant diabetes. However, it can also be used by other
people desiring a non-bulky emergency source of nutrition on the
go.
Inventors: |
Hansen; David Scott;
(Ithaca, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BROWN & MICHAELS, PC;400 M & T BANK BUILDING
118 NORTH TIOGA ST
ITHACA
NY
14850
US
|
Family ID: |
38860173 |
Appl. No.: |
11/552188 |
Filed: |
October 24, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60805099 |
Jun 19, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
36/1 ; 36/43 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 17/026 20130101;
A43B 3/0031 20130101; A43B 7/147 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/1 ; 36/43 |
International
Class: |
A43B 3/00 20060101
A43B003/00; A43B 13/38 20060101 A43B013/38 |
Claims
1. A removable insole comprising: a body shaped and sized to fit
within an item of footwear, with at least one enclosed space within
the body, and a consumable element in the enclosed space, said body
being easily opened for consumption of the consumable element in
the body.
2. The insole of claim 1, in which the body comprises of two or
more layers surrounding the consumable element.
3. The insole of claim 1, in which the consumable element is a gel
or liquid.
4. The insole of claim 1, in which the consumable element is
comprised of a carbohydrate.
5. The insole of claim 4, in which the carbohydrate is a sugar.
6. The insole of claim 5, in which the sugar is glucose.
7. The insole of claim 1, in which the body of the insole does not
extend a full length of the footwear.
8. The insole of claim 1, further comprising a larger insole having
a recess, the insole fitting within the recess of the larger
insole.
9. The insole of claim 8, in which the insole is removable from the
recess of the larger insole.
10. The insole of claim 1, further comprising an article of
footwear having a recess, the insole fitting within the recess of
the article of footwear.
11. The insole of claim 10, in which the insole is removable from
the recess of the article of footwear.
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims an invention which was disclosed in
Provisional Application No. 60/805,099, filed Jun. 19, 2006,
entitled "Glucose Insole". The benefit under 35 USC .sctn. 119(e)
of the United States provisional application is hereby claimed, and
the aforementioned application is hereby incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention pertains to the field of insoles for use in
footwear.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] As a person with type 1 diabetes, I need to always carry a
glucose (sugar) source with me in order to counteract periodic and
acute episodes of "low glucose" that frequently accompany insulin
therapy. Without this glucose, I could go into a coma and die
within minutes.
[0006] However, I find that I often leave my home without my
glucose source either because I forget it, I don't have pockets, or
I assume that I will be near to glucose. Alternatively, I sometimes
adjust my insulin therapy so that my glucose is higher than normal
which leads to many long term complications such as foot nerve
damage. These are dangerous risks that many people take and it
leads to over 60,000 deaths per year. With the recent marketing of
continuous glucose monitors, it is likely that more people will be
maintaining relatively low glucose levels and will thus need to
carry a glucose source at all times.
[0007] So I searched for some sort of a portable glucose system
that doesn't require pockets and would be difficult to forget.
[0008] U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,148,822 and 6,024,093, display an insole
with imbedded minerals designed to provide structural support in
the treatment of disequilibrium. It is not designed to be opened
and it does not contain a consumable element and thus it does not
serve to aide in the treatment of low blood sugars.
[0009] U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,513,264, 6,481,120, 6,277,088, and
5,509,218 display an insole specifically targeted toward diabetic
patients using methods which minimizes shear forces on feet when a
step is taken. However, it is not designed to be opened, nor is any
consumable element included, and thus it does not serve to counter
act low blood sugar levels in diabetic patients.
[0010] U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,768,803 and 5,438,768 display an insole
with removable segments. However, this is intended to allow
insertion of various smaller insole pieces and it does not include
a consumable element to counteract low glucose levels.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 6,083,185 describes a boot like device for
diabetic patients incorporating a removable fluid filled sac for
cushioning. However, the fluid filled sac is not intended to be
opened and it does not contain a consumable element.
[0012] I am aware of a product called "Mega Foot", which is a candy
product like a "gummi bear" shaped like a life-size foot, available
from CandyDirect.com. While it might be theoretically possible to
use the "Mega Foot" as an insole, because it lacks any protection
for the sugar-containing substance, once actually inserted into a
shoe and worn the sugary material would be rendered inedible, and
quickly break down.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] A removable insole, comprised of a cushioning and consumable
gel enclosed in one or more layers of flexible polymers that serve
to keep the gel sterile and provide form for the insole. It is
designed to be inserted into a shoe or boot and during normal use
will provide extra cushioning of the feet which is particularly
relevant to people with diabetes who, due to high glucose
complications, suffer from increased incidence of foot related
problems. However, when someone with diabetes has a low glucose,
they can remove the insole from their shoe, remove the outer layer
of the insole, and suck the sterile gel out of the insole. The gel,
being consumable (and in the preferred embodiment, a rapidly
absorbable sugar substance), will provide nourishment to counteract
the effects of potentially lethal low glucose episodes.
[0014] Through this design, a portable glucose system is provided
which does not add extra bulk since it would simply replace the
insoles currently used in one's shoes. Furthermore, it provides the
useful function of cushioning the feet in addition to being
available in the event of a low glucose emergency. Finally, being
inserts which are left in the shoes until use, it will be harder to
forget to bring a glucose source.
[0015] This design, while targeted at people with diabetes, may
also be useful to long distance runners who may want to carry extra
nutrition to help them through a run.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0016] FIG. 1 shows a top down view of the preferred
embodiment.
[0017] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the preferred embodiment.
[0018] FIGS. 3a and 3b show side views of an alternative
embodiment.
[0019] FIG. 4 shows a top view of an alternative embodiment.
[0020] FIG. 5 shows a side view of an alternative embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] The insole of the invention is designed to overcome the
shortcomings described in the prior art. The preferred embodiment
displayed in FIGS. 1 and 2, is comprised of a consumable element
(5) which is ideally a rapidly absorbed glucose gel such that it
can effectively raise blood sugar levels once consumed. This gel is
surrounded by two protective layers, an inner layer (2) and an
outer layer (1). These layers provide form for the insole and serve
to protect the sterility of the consumable element. Ideally, the
protective layers will be made out of an elastic yet impermeable
polymer so that when worn the gel insole will be able to conform to
the feet for added comfort.
[0022] The outer layer has two notches (3) so that the outer layer
can be torn open easily. Likewise the inner layer has two notches
(4) for ease of opening. This is designed to allow easy access to
the consumable element.
[0023] Optionally, these notches can be excluded in favor of
alternative methods for easy opening of the insole, such as the
outer and/or inner layers having areas of weak bonding (6) such
that they can be peeled open as depicted in FIGS. 3a and 3b.
[0024] Optionally, the insole need not extend the full length of
the foot (such as depicted in FIG. 4), as long as there is
sufficient volume of gel to counteract a low glucose.
[0025] Optionally, as seen in FIG. 5, the insole can be an insert
into a compartment of a larger insole (7) or into a permanent
article of footwear.
[0026] The insole of the invention addresses the shortcomings noted
in prior art in the following ways:
[0027] First, and most importantly, it includes a consumable
element which can be used to counter act low glucose episodes in
people with diabetes.
[0028] Second, the insole is easily opened to allow access to the
consumable element.
[0029] Accordingly, it is to be understood that the embodiments of
the invention herein described are merely illustrative of the
application of the principles of the invention. Reference herein to
details of the illustrated embodiments is not intended to limit the
scope of the claims, which themselves recite those features
regarded as essential to the invention.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS
TABLE-US-00001 [0030] 1. Outer layer 2. Inner Layer 3. Notches in
Outer Layer 4. Notches in Inner Layer 5. Consumable Gel 6. Area of
weakly bonded Outer Layer 7. Receiving insole.
* * * * *