U.S. patent number RE29,501 [Application Number 05/734,185] was granted by the patent office on 1977-12-27 for deodorizer sheet material and insole.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Combe Incorporated. Invention is credited to Herbert Lapidus.
United States Patent |
RE29,501 |
Lapidus |
December 27, 1977 |
Deodorizer sheet material and insole
Abstract
.Iadd.A deodorizing latex sheet material, insoles for use in
reducing foot odor, and methods of making these products.
.Iaddend.Shoe inserts are produced comprising a sole-shaped sheet
or the like of foamed latex impregnated with activated charcoal.
When such a shaped sheet is used as a shoe insert or insole it is
found to substantially reduce or even eliminate foot odors
frequently associated with perspiring feet.
Inventors: |
Lapidus; Herbert (Ridgefield,
CT) |
Assignee: |
Combe Incorporated (White
Plains, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
23273574 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/734,185 |
Filed: |
October 20, 1976 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
Reissue of: |
326757 |
Jan 26, 1973 |
03842519 |
Oct 22, 1974 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
36/44; 428/317.9;
428/318.8 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B
1/0045 (20130101); A43B 17/10 (20130101); Y10T
428/249986 (20150401); Y10T 428/249989 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
A43B
17/10 (20060101); A43B 17/00 (20060101); A43B
013/38 () |
Field of
Search: |
;36/43,44 ;428/306,311
;260/2.5AK |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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1,937,373 |
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Jan 1970 |
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DT |
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168,725 |
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Sep 1921 |
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UK |
|
728,075 |
|
Apr 1965 |
|
UK |
|
1,270,809 |
|
Apr 1972 |
|
UK |
|
Primary Examiner: Guest; Alfred R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Bryan & Bollo
Claims
I claim:
1. A shoe insert for absorbing odors resulting from perspiring feet
comprising a cured sheet of .[.opencelled.]. .Iadd.open-celled
.Iaddend.foam, at least one side of the sheet having a relatively
smooth skin formed during curing which is impervious to passage of
charcoal particles, said foam containing homogeneously distributed
through the solid part thereof finely divided activated charcoal
particles in an amount effective to absorb odors when said sheet is
subjected to contact with foot perspiration and to passage of
odor-filled air through interstitial spaces within said foam, said
charcoal particles having been incorporated prior to frothing and
curing of said foam.
2. The article of claim 1 wherein the charcoal is present in the
amount of about 10.2 to 35 percent.
3. The article of claim 1 wherein the other side has a backing
layer of a material which is pervious to passage of air, at least
the outer surface of said layer being free of finely divided
activated charcoal.
4. The product of claim 1 wherein said foam is formed of latex.
5. The product of claim .[.2.]. .Iadd.3 .Iaddend.wherein said
material is a textile.
6. The product of claim 1 wherein said foam is selected from the
group consisting of latex foams, polyurethane foams, and vinyl
chloride plastisol foams. .Iadd. 7. An effective deodorizer sheet
material, said sheet material having interstitial spaces therein
allowing for the passage of air therethrough, said sheet material
comprising:
a. an open-celled latex foam through the open cells of which air
can pass; and
b. finely ground activated charcoal for deodorizing, said charcoal
being homogeneously dispersed throughout the latex material
comprising said foam. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 8. A deodorizer sheet
material according to claim 7, wherein said finely ground activated
charcoal is present in an amount up to about 35 percent.
.Iaddend..Iadd. 9. A deodorizer sheet material according to claim
7, wherein said sheet material comprises a backing material.
.Iaddend..Iadd. 10. A deodorizer sheet material according to claim
9, wherein said backing material is impregnated with said sheet
material. .Iaddend..Iadd. 11. An effective deodorizer sheet
material, said sheet material having interstitial spaces therein
allowing for the passage of air therethrough, said sheet material
comprising:
a. an open-celled latex foam through the open cells of which air
can pass; and
b. at least about 10.2 percent finely ground activated charcoal for
deodorizing, said charcoal being homogeneously dispersed throughout
the latex material comprising said foam. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 12. A
deodorizer sheet material according to claim 11, wherein said sheet
material comprises a backing material. .Iaddend..Iadd. 13. A
deodorizer sheet material according to claim 12, wherein said
backing material is impregnated with said sheet material.
.Iaddend..Iadd. 14. An effective deodorizer sheet material, said
sheet material having interstitial spaces therein allowing for the
passage of air therethrough, said sheet material comprising:
a. an open-celled latex foam through the open cells of which air
can pass; and
b. from at least about 10.2 percent to about 35 percent finely
ground activated charcoal for deodorizing, said charcoal being
homogeneously dispersed throughout the latex material comprising
said foam. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 15. A deodorizer sheet material
according to claim 14, wherein said backing material is impregnated
with said sheet material. .Iaddend..Iadd. 16. An effective
deodorizer sheet material, said sheet material having interstitial
spaces therein allowing for the passage of air therethrough, said
sheet material comprising:
a. an open-celled latex foam through the open cells of which air
can pass;
b. from at least about 10.2 percent to about 35 percent finely
ground activated charcoal for deodorizing, said charcoal being
homogeneously dispersed throughout the latex material comprising
said foam; and
c. a backing material. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 17. An effective
foot-deodorizing insole, said insole being shaped to conform to the
basic outline of a foot, adapted for insertion into a shoe and
having interstitial spaces therein allowing for the passage of air
therethrough, said insole comprising:
a. an open-celled foam through the open cells of which air can
pass; and
b. finely ground activated charcoal for deodorizing, said charcoal
being homogeneously dispersed throughout the material comprising
said foam. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 18. An insole according to claim 17,
wherein said foam comprises latex. .Iaddend..Iadd. 19. An insole
according to claim 17, wherein said foam comprises polyurethane.
.Iaddend..Iadd. 20. An insole according to claim 17, wherein said
foam comprises vinyl chloride. .Iaddend..Iadd. 21. An insole
according to claim 17, wherein said finely ground activated
charcoal is present in an amount up to about 35 percent.
.Iaddend..Iadd. 22. An insole according to claim 17, wherein said
insole comprises a backing material. .Iaddend..Iadd. 23. An insole
according to claim 22, wherein said backing material is impregnated
with said foam. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 24. An effective foot-deodorizing
insole, said insole being shaped to conform to the basic outline of
a foot, adapted for insertion into a shoe and having interstitial
spaces therein allowing for the passage of air therethrough, said
insole comprising:
a. an open-celled foam through the open cells of which air can
pass; and
b. at least about 10.2 percent finely ground activated charcoal for
deodorizing, said charcoal being homogeneously dispersed throughout
the material comprising said foam. .Iaddend..Iadd. 25. An insole
according to claim 24, wherein said foam comprises latex.
.Iaddend..Iadd. 26. An insole according to claim 24, wherein said
foam comprises polyurethane. .Iaddend..Iadd. 27. An insole
according to claim 24, wherein said foam comprises vinyl chloride.
.Iaddend. .Iadd. 28. An insole according to claim 24, wherein said
insole comprises a backing material. .Iaddend..Iadd. 29. An insole
according to claim 28, wherein said backing material is impregnated
with said foam. .Iaddend..Iadd. 30. An effective foot-deodorizing
insole, said insole being shaped to conform to the basic outline of
a foot, adapted for insertion into a shoe and having interstitial
spaces therein allowing for the passage of air therethrough, said
insole comprising:
a. an open-celled foam through the open cells of which air can
pass; and
b. from at least about 10.2 percent to about 35 percent finely
ground activated charcoal for deodorizing, said charcoal being
homogeneously dispersed throughout the material comprising said
foam. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 31. An insole according to claim 30, wherein
said foam comprises latex. .Iaddend..Iadd. 32. An insole according
to claim 30, wherein said foam comprises polyurethane.
.Iaddend..Iadd. 33. An insole according to claim 30, wherein said
foam comprises vinyl chloride. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 34. An effective
foot-deodorizing insole, said insole being shaped to conform to the
basic outline of a foot, adapted for insertion into a shoe and
having interstitial spaces therein allowing for the passage of air
therethrough, said insole comprising:
a. an open-celled foam through the open cells of which air can
pass;
b. from at least about 10.2 percent to about 35 percent finely
ground activated charcoal for deodorizing, said charcoal being
homogeneously dispersed throughout the material comprising said
foam; and
c. a backing material. .Iaddend..Iadd. 35. An insole according to
claim 34, wherein said backing material is impregnated with said
foam. .Iaddend..Iadd. 36. An effective foot-deodorizing insole,
said insole being shaped to conform to the basic outline of a foot,
adapted for insertion into a shoe and having interstitial spaces
therein allowing for the passage of air therethrough, said insole
comprising:
a. an open-celled foam, comprising at least one member of the group
consisting of latex and polyurethane foams, through the open cells
of which air can pass;
b. at least about 10.2 percent finely ground activated charcoal for
deodorizing, said charcoal being homogeneously dispersed throughout
the material comprising said foam; and
c. a backing material. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 37. An effective
foot-deodorizing insole, said insole being shaped to conform to the
basic outline of a foot, adapted for insertion into a shoe and
having interstitial spaces therein allowing for the passage of air
therethrough, said insole comprising:
a. an open-celled latex foam through the open cells of which air
can pass;
b. at least about 10.2 percent finely ground activated charcoal for
deodorizing, said charcoal being homogeneously dispersed throughout
the material comprising said foam; and
c. a backing material. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 38. A sheet for absorbing
odors resulting from a perspiring portion of a human body
comprising a cured sheet of open-celled foam, said foam containing
homogeneously distributed through the solid part thereof finely
divided activated charcoal particles in an amount effective to
absorb odors when said sheet is subjected to contact with body
perspiration and to passage of odor-filled air through interstitial
spaces within said foam, said charcoal particles having been
incorporated prior to frothing and curing of said foam.
.Iaddend..Iadd. 39. The article of claim 38 wherein the charcoal is
present in the amount of about 10.2 to 35 percent. .Iaddend..Iadd.
40. The article of claim 38 wherein the other side has a backing
layer of a material which is pervious to passage of air, at least
the outer surface of said layer being free of finely divided
activated charcoal. .Iaddend..Iadd. 41. The product of claim 38
wherein said foam is formed of latex. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 42. The
product of claim 40 wherein said material is a textile.
.Iaddend..Iadd. 43. The product of claim 38 wherein said foam is
selected from the group consisting of latex foams, polyurethane
foams, and vinyl chloride plastisol foams. .Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Activated charcoal has long been used as a filter aid with both
liquids and gases for the purpose of clarifying liquids and
deodorizing liquids and gases.
In recent times it has been proposed as for example in British
Specification No. 1,270,809 to incorporate activated charcoal into
a fibre web or mat, the web or mat being supported by a backing
material such as cloth obtained from natural sources as cotton, or
formed of a synthetic such as nylon, and shaped so that the
resulting web fits into and covers the inner sole of a shoe. It has
also been proposed to attach a layer or coating of a foam material
such as polyurethane foam to such a web for the purpose of
providing increased strength and springiness.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
My invention is directed to a unique shoe insert, or insole, which
effectively and economically minimizes odors which are often
associated with feet and which occur in conjunction with or as a
result of perspiration. In general, my shoe insert comprises a
foamed material, conveniently in the form of a sheet which has been
cut or otherwise shaped to conform to the basic outline of a foot,
and is adapted for insertion into a shoe. The shoe insert formed by
incorporating activated charcoal into a chemical mix used to
produce an open-celled foam through whose interstitial spaces air
can pass.
After incorporation of the charcoal into a latex-containing
chemical mix, the material is homogenized and spread uniformly into
a web of cloth or the like, and then passed under a doctor blade to
produce a desired thickness. The resulting product is then heat
processed in order to produce a latex foam which is bonded to the
web.
The resulting latex-foam sheets, containing charcoal dispersed
therethrough, are then cut into such sizes as are appropriate for
fitting comfortably into shoes, male or female. In use the insole
is inserted into the shoe with the impregnated latex facing
downward in the shoe to thereby permit contact of the web or
backing material with the foot, and with the sock covering it.
The especially excellent effectiveness of my shoe insert seems to
result from the circulation of air and vapors through and around
the highly absorbable carbon particles, which occurs when the shoe
containing such insert is worn.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
So that my invention may be fully understood I shall hereinafter
describe a specific example illustrating the practice of my
invention. This illustration is for that purpose only, and is not
intended to either limit the scope of the invention or of the
claims appended hereto.
EXAMPLE I ______________________________________ Ingredients Dry
Weight ______________________________________ GR-S Latex 100.0 lbs.
Sulfur 1.5 lbs. Zinc Oxide 4.0-5.0 lbs. Surfactant 9.0 lbs. Filler
100.0 lbs. Activated Charcoal 25.0-32.0 lbs. Antioxidant 1.2 lbs.
Accelerator 2.5 lbs. ______________________________________
.Iadd.
Where "percent" is taken as the amount of a given component over
the weight of the chemical mix producing the foam (dry basis),
multiplied by 100, activated charcoal is present in the above
compositions in the amount of about 10.2 (10.22) to about 12.8
(12.78) percent. .Iaddend.
The GR-S latex, a synthetic cold-type
styrene-.[.butodiene.]..Iadd.butadiene .Iaddend.manufactured by the
Goodyear Company of Akron, Ohio, is used in the form of an aqueous
slurry (143.0 lbs.). And the activated charcoal, available under
the tradename Nu-Char, is also used in the form of an aqueous
slurry (150.0 lbs.).
The procedure used is as follows: The latex slurry is weighed out
into a suitable mixing vessel and there is then added 9.0 lbs. of
the surfactant, dioctyl-sodium-sulfo-succinate, available from the
American Cyanamid Company of New York, under the trade name of
Aerosol OT. There is then added 2.5 lbs. of .[.potassium persulfate
as the.]. .Iadd.a suitable .Iaddend.accelerator, .Iadd.such as 1.25
lbs. each Zetax (a zinc salt of mercapto benzothiazole) and Ethyl
Zimate (zinc diethyldithiocarbamate), .Iaddend.followed by
additions of 1.5 lbs. of rubber makers grade sulfur, 4.0 to 5.0
lbs. of zinc oxide (American Process) and 1.2 lbs. of .[.dioctyl.].
.Iadd.trioctyl .Iaddend.phosphite antioxidant.
Silica flour filler (100.0 lbs.) is then added, followed by
addition of the activated charcoal aqueous slurry (.[.143.].
.Iadd.25-32 .Iaddend.lbs. of which is Nu-Char).
If it is desired to increase the viscosity of the foregoing mix, a
suitable thickener, e.g., Methocel may be added.
The above components are then mixed to form a homogeneous mass,
.[.and.]. .Iadd.which .Iaddend.is then fed into a hopper, thence
into a homogenizer, preferably an .[.Oaks.]. .Iadd.Oakes
.Iaddend.mixer, which is a rotor stator type homogenizer.
.[.Preferable.]. .Iadd.Preferably .Iaddend.two mixers are used in
series. At the first mixer (called a prefrother) air is injected to
control the pour density of the product. The base weight of the
finished product is controlled by regulation of this air.
The material is then pumped into the second mixer, also a
homogenizer, where the froth is refined, controlling the cell
structure size.
After the mix leaves the second mixer and onto a flat surface (belt
or table) covered with a layer of fabric which serves as a backing
for the finished insert the thickness of the flow is controlled by
a doctor blade set to give a finished foam guage of 80/1000
inch.
Instead of applying the mix onto a flat surface covered with a
layer of fabric, as described above, the latex mix may be applied
to a transfer paper instead. In other words, my sheet material can
be produced with or without a fabric laminate.
Cup weights are taken after the mix leaves the second mixer; cup
weights between 85 and 90 grams are acceptable, 87 grams being
preferred. The tare weight (cup) is 24 grams.
The resulting material is then cured and dried in a forced hot air
oven at temperatures ranging from 310.degree. F to 350.degree. F,
with approximately 3 minutes of dwell time. .Iadd.
When a sheet material according to the invention is made by the
general method described herein, there inherently results a product
with at least one side of the sheet having a relatively smooth skin
formed during curing which is impervious to passage of charcoal
particles. .Iaddend.
It will be understood, of course, by those skilled in the art that
variations in the exact amounts and precise kinds of ingredients
used in producing my charcoal-loaded latex foam are possible. Thus
the levels of finely ground activated charcoal used may be varied
rather widely, for example 35 percent or higher, by weight of the
chemical mix producing the latex foam (dry basis) may be used,
limited of course by the difficulty of incorporation into the latex
mix, economic considerations, appearance and the like.
And though one specific latex foam formulation has been set forth
in the foregoing example, those persons skilled in the art will
understood that other foam formulations may be used, preferably
those which can be processed to form an open-celled foam which
breathes and allows for the passage of air through its interstitial
spaces.
While it is presently preferred that the open-celled foam in sheet
form comprising my invention be produced using latex, it is also
contemplated, and is within the broad concept of my invention, that
other open-celled foams may be used, such as polyurethane foams and
vinyl chloride plastisol foams, especially where a slightly more
.[.rigid.]. .Iadd.firm .Iaddend.product is desired.
* * * * *