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.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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 § 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

1. Field of the Invention

The invention pertains to the field of insoles for use in footwear.

2. Description of Related Art

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.

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.

So I searched for some sort of a portable glucose system that doesn't require pockets and would be difficult to forget.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

FIG. 1 shows a top down view of the preferred embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the preferred embodiment.

FIGS. 3a and 3b show side views of an alternative embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of an alternative embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of an alternative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The insole of the invention addresses the shortcomings noted in prior art in the following ways:

First, and most importantly, it includes a consumable element which can be used to counter act low glucose episodes in people with diabetes.

Second, the insole is easily opened to allow access to the consumable element.

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

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.

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.