U.S. patent application number 11/753122 was filed with the patent office on 2008-11-27 for footwear.
This patent application is currently assigned to RASMUSSEN FOOTWEAR, LLC. Invention is credited to Juliu Horvath.
Application Number | 20080289217 11/753122 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40071070 |
Filed Date | 2008-11-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080289217 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Horvath; Juliu |
November 27, 2008 |
FOOTWEAR
Abstract
A sole assembly for footwear supporting a foot over a ground
surface. The sole assembly includes a sole made of insulating
material. The sole has a top surface configured to support the
foot, and a bottom surface opposite the top surface configured to
contact the ground surface. At least one contact extends between
the top and bottom surfaces and is generally surrounded by the
sole. The at least one contact has a conducting material that is
configured to allow a flow of electrical current between the foot
adjacent the top surface and the ground surface adjacent the bottom
surface.
Inventors: |
Horvath; Juliu; (Miami
Beach, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MICHAEL BEST & FRIEDRICH LLP
100 E WISCONSIN AVENUE, Suite 3300
MILWAUKEE
WI
53202
US
|
Assignee: |
RASMUSSEN FOOTWEAR, LLC
New Berlin
WI
|
Family ID: |
40071070 |
Appl. No.: |
11/753122 |
Filed: |
May 24, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/88 ;
36/25R |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 3/108 20130101;
A43B 3/128 20130101; A43B 7/36 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/88 ;
36/25.R |
International
Class: |
A43B 7/14 20060101
A43B007/14; A43B 13/00 20060101 A43B013/00 |
Claims
1. A sole assembly for footwear supporting a foot over a ground
surface, the sole assembly comprising: a sole made of insulating
material, the sole having a top surface configured to support the
foot and a bottom surface opposite the top surface and configured
to contact the ground surface; at least one contact extending
between the top and bottom surfaces and generally surrounded by the
sole, the at least one contact having a conducting material
configured to allow a flow of electrical current between the foot
adjacent the top surface and the ground surface adjacent the bottom
surface.
2. The sole of claim 1, wherein the insulating material includes a
polymer.
3. The sole of claim 1, wherein the at least one contact is a first
contact configured to be positioned adjacent an arch of the
foot.
4. The sole of claim 3, further comprising a second contact,
wherein the second contact is configured to be positioned adjacent
a heel of the foot.
5. The sole of claim 4, further comprising five additional
contacts, each additional contact of the five additional contacts
is configured to be positioned adjacent a respective toe of the
foot.
6. The sole of claim 4, further comprising a length of conductive
material positioned along the top surface to electrically connect
the first and second contacts.
7. A footwear assembly for supporting a foot over a ground surface,
the footwear assembly comprising: a sole made of insulating
material, the sole having a top surface configured to support the
foot, and a bottom surface opposite the top surface and configured
to contact the ground surface; and at least one contact extending
between the top and bottom surfaces and generally surrounded by the
sole, the at least one contact having conducting material
configured to allow flow of electrical current between the foot
adjacent the top surface and the ground surface adjacent the bottom
surface.
8. The footwear assembly of claim 7, wherein the insulating
material includes a polymer.
9. The footwear assembly of claim 7, wherein the at least one
contact is a first contact configured to be positioned adjacent an
arch of the foot.
10. The footwear assembly of claim 9, further comprising a second
contact configured to be positioned adjacent a heel of the
foot.
11. The footwear assembly of claim 10, further comprising a length
of conductive material positioned along the top surface to
electrically connect the first and second contacts.
12. The footwear assembly of claim 10, further comprising five
additional contacts, each additional contact of the five additional
contacts configured to be positioned adjacent a respective toe of
the foot.
13. The footwear assembly of claim 12, further comprising a length
of conductive material positioned along the length of the footwear
assembly to electrically connect the five additional contacts with
the first contact.
14. A method of transferring electrical energy through a sole
assembly of footwear, the method comprising; providing at least one
contact in a sole of the sole assembly, such that the contact
extends through the sole between top and bottom surfaces of the
sole; placing the bottom surface of the sole on a ground surface;
inserting a foot into the footwear adjacent the top surface of the
sole; supporting a foot with the sole; positioning at least a
portion of the foot adjacent the contact; resisting electrical
energy through the sole; and communicating electrical current
through the contact between the ground and the foot.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising inserting an
electrically conductive sock into the footwear between the foot and
the at least one contact.
16. The method of claim 14, wherein the contact is a first contact,
and wherein the method further comprises electrically connecting
the first contact and a second contact with a length of
electrically conductive material on the top surface.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising positioning the
first contact adjacent an arch of the foot.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising positioning the
second contact adjacent a heel of the foot.
19. The method of claim 18, further comprising positioning five
additional contacts adjacent respective toes of the foot.
20. The method of claim 18, further comprising electrically
connecting the first and second contacts and the five additional
contacts with electrically conductive material along the top
surface.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present invention relates to footwear, such as sandals,
shoes, boots, etc. More specifically, the present invention relates
to the construction of a sole assembly of the footwear.
SUMMARY
[0002] In one embodiment, the invention provides a sole assembly
for footwear supporting a foot over a ground surface. The sole
assembly includes a sole made of insulating material. The sole has
a top surface configured to support the foot, and a bottom surface
opposite the top surface configured to contact the ground surface.
At least one contact extends between the top and bottom surfaces
and is generally surrounded by the sole. The at least one contact
has a conducting material that is configured to allow a flow of
electrical current between the foot adjacent the top surface and
the ground surface adjacent the bottom surface.
[0003] In another embodiment, the invention provides a footwear
assembly for supporting a foot over a ground surface. The footwear
assembly includes a sole made of insulating material. The sole has
a top surface configured to support the foot and a bottom surface
opposite the top surface that is configured to contact the ground
surface. At least one contact extends between the top and bottom
surfaces and is generally surrounded by the sole. The at least one
contact has conducting material configured to allow flow of
electrical current between the foot adjacent the top surface and
the ground surface adjacent the bottom surface.
[0004] In another embodiment the invention provides a method of
transferring electrical energy through a sole assembly of footwear.
The method includes providing at least one contact in a sole of the
sole assembly, such that the contact extends completely through the
sole between top and bottom surfaces of the sole. The method
further includes placing the sole on a ground surface, inserting a
foot into the footwear, and supporting a foot with the sole. The
method further includes positioning at least a portion of the foot
adjacent the contact, resisting electrical energy through the sole,
and communicating electrical energy through the contact between the
ground and the foot.
[0005] Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by
consideration of the detailed description and accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a side view of a sandal according to one
embodiment of the invention.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a top view of the sole assembly of the sandal of
FIG. 1.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the sole assembly of FIG. 2.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a cross-section view of a contact of the sole
assembly of FIG. 2.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a side view of a sandal according to another
embodiment of the invention.
[0011] FIG. 6 is a side view of a shoe according to yet another
embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in
detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in
its application to the details of construction and the arrangement
of components set forth in the following description or illustrated
in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other
embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in
various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and
terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and
should not be regarded as limiting. The use of "including,"
"comprising," or "having" and variations thereof herein is meant to
encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as
well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise,
the terms "mounted," "connected," "supported," and "coupled" and
variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and
indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further,
"connected" and "coupled" are not restricted to physical or
mechanical connections or couplings.
[0013] FIG. 1 shows a foot 10 positioned in a sandal 12 that has a
sole 14 and a plurality of straps 16a-16c that secure the foot 10
against the sole 14. Although a sandal 12 is illustrated, other
footwear can also be used in other embodiments such as a shoe,
boot, slipper, "flip-flop", etc. The sole 14 has a top surface 18
that is shaped to support the foot 10 and a bottom surface 20
opposite the top surface 18 and configured to contact a ground
surface. The illustrated sole 14 comprises a polymer or other
similar resilient material. In other embodiments, other materials,
such as wood, cork, or other such materials can comprise the sole
14, in addition to or in lieu or a polymer.
[0014] The illustrated embodiment includes two top straps 16a, 16b
extending across the width of the foot 10 that connect to heel
strap 16c. The heel strap 16c is coupled to the sole 14 at the top
surface 18 and extends around the back of a heel 22 of the foot 10.
Other quantities and locations of straps 16 are possible on the
sandal 12, and are considered to be within the scope of the present
invention.
[0015] Two portions of the sole 14 are cutaway to reveal heel and
toe contacts 26, 28, that extend between the top and bottom
surfaces 18, 20. The contacts 26, 28 include contact top surfaces
30, 32, that are generally coplanar with the top surface 18 of the
sole 14 and contact bottom surfaces 34, 36, that are generally
coplanar with the bottom surface 20 of the sole 14. The heel
contact 26 illustrated in FIG. 1 is positioned adjacent to the heel
22. The heel contact top surface 30 is configured to abut against
the heel 22, and the heel contact bottom surface 34 is configured
to contact a ground surface. The toe contact 28 illustrated in FIG.
1 is positioned adjacent to one toe 24 of the foot 10. The toe
contact top surface 32 is configured to abut against the toe 24,
and the toe contact bottom surface 36 is configured to contact the
ground surface.
[0016] FIG. 2 illustrates the sole top surface 18 including the
heel contact 26 for contacting the heel 22 and five toe contacts
28a-28e for contacting respective toes 24 of the foot 10 of the
wearer. The toe contacts 28a, 28b, 28c, 28d, 28e are similar to
each other, but the illustrated contact 28a is the largest toe
contact 28 and is configured to engage the largest toe of the foot
10, whereas the contact 28e is the smallest toe contact 28 and is
configured to engage the smallest toe of the foot 10. The
illustrated toe contacts become smaller moving from 28a to 28e.
Other configurations are possible, such as making the toe contacts
28 to all be essentially the same size. In another embodiment, the
toe contacts 28c, 28d, and 28e are substantially the same size, but
toe contact 28b is larger than 28c, 28d, 28e and toe contact 28a is
larger than 28b, 28c, 28d, and 28e. In yet another embodiment, toe
contacts 28b, 28c, 28d and 28e are substantially the same size
whereas toe contact 28a is larger in size.
[0017] An arch contact 38 is configured to engage an arch 40 of the
foot 10 of the wearer. The arch contact 38 illustrated in FIG. 2
has a top surface 42 with a larger diameter than the top surfaces
30, 32 of the other contacts 26, 28a-28e. In the illustrated
embodiment, the arch contact 38 is positioned adjacent the top
surface 18 and does not extend through the sole 14 to the bottom
surface 20. In other, non-illustrated embodiments, the arch contact
38 is configured similarly to the other contacts 26, 28a-28e and
extends through the sole 14 to the bottom surface 20 to engage the
ground surface.
[0018] The sandal 12 further includes a first set of lengths of
electrically conductive material 44 positioned between the heel
contact 26 and the arch contact 38, and a second set of lengths of
electrically conductive material 46 between the toe contacts
28a-28e and the arch contact 38. The lengths of material 44, 46
electrically connect the various contacts 26 and 28a-28e to contact
38 on the top surface 18. In another embodiment, the lengths 44, 46
are positioned in the sole 14 between the sole top and bottom
surfaces 18 and 20, respectively. In yet another embodiment, the
lengths 44, 46 are positioned adjacent the sole bottom surface 20.
The material can comprise any conductive material, such as a metal.
Some examples include gold, silver, copper, platinum, titanium
etc.
[0019] FIG. 3 shows the sole bottom surface 20 that is configured
to contact a ground surface. The sole bottom surface 20 includes
the toe contact bottom surfaces 36a-36e. In the illustrated
embodiment, each toe contact bottom surface 36a-36e is generally in
alignment with the respective top surface 32a-32e. The illustrated
toe contact bottom surfaces 36a-36e have a smaller diameter than
the illustrated toe contact top surfaces 32a-32e. In another
embodiment, the toe contact top surfaces 32a-32e are similar in
size to the respective toe contact bottom surfaces 36a-36e. In yet
another embodiment, at least some of the toe contact bottom
surfaces 36a-36e are larger than the respective toe contact top
surfaces 32a-32e. The illustrated toe contact bottom surfaces
36a-36e are generally the same size as the other toe contact bottom
surfaces 32a-32e. In another embodiment, the toe contact bottom
surfaces 36a-36e are different sizes, for example, toe contact 32a
has the largest bottom surface 36a, whereas toe contact 32e has the
smallest bottom surface 36e. Other relative sizes and
configurations are possible and are considered to be within the
scope of the present invention. The heel contact bottom surface 34
is also illustrated in FIG. 3 and is smaller than the heel contact
top surface 30, but the relative sizes of the heel contact top and
bottom surfaces 30, 34 can be varied in different embodiments.
[0020] FIG. 4 shows one of the toe contacts 28 including the top
surface 32 and the bottom surface 36. A middle portion 48 extends
between the top and bottom surfaces 32, 36. The middle portion 48
includes a tubular portion 50, part of which is cutaway in FIG. 4.
The middle portion 48 further includes a conductive material 52
generally contained within the tubular portion 50 and electrically
coupling the top and bottom surfaces 32, 36. Some examples of
conductive material are gold, silver, copper, platinum, titanium
etc. In various embodiments, varying degrees of conductivity are
desired, so the conductive material is chosen to suit the desired
conductivity of each particular embodiment. The illustrated
conductive contact material 52 is arranged in a double helix
formation. Other arrangements and configurations of the conductive
material are possible, such as a single helix, a triple helix, a
straight line, etc.
[0021] The sole 14 and the contacts 26, 28, 38 are collectively
referred to as the sole assembly.
[0022] In one embodiment, the tubular portion 50 comprises the same
material as the top and bottom surfaces 32, 36, respectively. The
top surface 32 and the bottom surface 36 can comprise the same
material as the conductive material 52, or can comprise a different
conductive material. The tubular portion 50 can comprise the same
material as the conductive material 52, the top and bottom surfaces
32, 36, respectively. In another embodiment, the tubular portion 50
includes a first material, the top and bottom surfaces 32, 36,
respectively include a second material and the conductive material
52 includes a third material. A similar contact arrangement is
utilized for all of the toe contacts 28a-28e and for the heel
contact 26. For example, energy can flow from the arch 38 though
the conductive strips 44, 46 and out to the contacts 26, 28 where
the energy exits into the ground surface. In addition, energy can
flow from the heel 22 through the contact 26 to the ground surface
and the energy can flow from the toes 24 through the contacts 28 to
the ground surface.
[0023] A common Eastern medicine belief is that flow of energy into
and out of the body is accomplished at the head, hands and feet.
This flow of energy promotes blood flow and general health. Typical
footwear has insulating soles that block this flow of energy from
the feet. It is believed that allowing a flow of energy between the
feet and the earth will enhance blood flow and increase overall
health. The sole 14 and contacts 26, 28a-28e, and 38 of the present
invention allow energy to flow between the feet 10 and the
earth.
[0024] FIG. 5 illustrates a similar sandal configuration, with
items being represented in the one hundred series, (e.g. 110, 112
etc.). Unless otherwise indicated, item 10 is similar to item 110
and so on. Sandal 112 includes a first toe strap 154a positioned
adjacent at least one of the toes 124 of the foot 110 and a second
toe strap 154b positioned over the top of the foot 110. The toe
straps 154a, 154b are coupled to the sole 114 and to each other to
hold the foot 110 adjacent the sole 114. The sole 114 of FIG. 5 is
very similar to the sole 14 of FIGS. 1-3. The sole 114 includes a
plurality of contacts 126 and 128, shown here in cutaway portions
of the sole 114. The contacts 126 and 128 extend between the sole
top and bottom surfaces 118 and 120, respectively. The contacts 126
and 128 have contact top surfaces 130 and 132, respectively that
are configured to engage the respective heel 122 and toe 124 of the
foot 110. The contacts 126 and 128 further have respective bottom
surfaces 134 and 136 that are configured to engage the ground
surface.
[0025] FIG. 6 illustrates a tennis shoe or sneaker 256 that
utilizes the sole 214 and the contacts 226, 228 as previously
discussed. The shoe 256 is operable to receive the foot 210 and
hold the foot 210 adjacent the contacts 226, 228, through sock 258.
Adjacent is being used as indirect contact, allowing an intervening
member or members, such as a sock 258 to be positioned between
adjacent foot 210 and contacts 226, 228. The sock 258 includes a
material that conducts electricity between the contacts 226, 228
and the foot 210. The material can be interwoven with the sock 258,
infused into the sock 258, or otherwise integrated with the sock
258 to conduct electricity through the sock 258.
[0026] Various features and advantages of the invention are set
forth in the following claims.
* * * * *