Soaking shoes

Abstract

A pair of shoes that a person with corns or callous skin on their feet can wear and receive the same benefits as soaking his feet in a bowl of water, yet the person is not restricted to one place during the soaking treatment. The present soaking shoes include an inner sole that holds a small amount of water and allows the water to contact the bottoms of the wearer's feet. The inner sole holds water at a higher concentration than that of the wearer's feet. Thus, water molecules enter the skin of the wearer's feet through osmosis, just as if the wearer had soaked his feet in a bowl of water. The present shoes are comfortable to wear and can be provided with reinforced soles or porous uppers for ventilation.

Description

The present invention was originally disclosed in U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/506,485 filed on Sep. 29, 2003, and priority is claimed to this provisional patent application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of therapeutic equipment and more specifically to a pair of shoes that aid in the removal of corns and callous skin on the feet.

Corns are thickened areas of skin that form in response to excessive pressure and friction. They are the result of the body's attempt to protect the skin and the structures beneath it. Corns are usually hard and circular, with a polished or translucent center, like a kernel of corn. They may become painfully inflamed in response to persistent, excessive pressure or friction and ulcerated when two corns rub against each other. Callus occurs due to hyperkeratosis. Hyperkeratosis is the thickening of the skin due to pressure. Callus can occur over a bony prominence, such as the ball of the foot or on the heel. Callus often occurs due to prolonged standing and may result in chronic pain. Heel corn or callus is a thickened cornified skin in the pressure points. Heel corns and calluses are a well-known problems suffered by many people. Cracked heels, often referred to as fissures, are commonly caused by dry skin. For most people this is a nuisance and a cosmetic problem but when the fissures are deep, the skin can bleed easily and cause great pain.

In attempts to combat the above problems, some home remedies have become well known, such as using a sharp blade or razor to shave off the hardened skin. However, this treatment is dangerous and can cause other injuries to the patient. Diabetics and other individuals with poor circulation should never use any chemical agents or a sharp blade to remove corns. A traditional treatment that is preferable is to use a pumice stone or callous file to remove dead, cracked and dry skin. This remedy is rough on the patients foot and often leads to too much skin being removed, causing yet another problem. Soaking the feet in a bowl of water is the preferred treatment for softening hardened skin on the feet and thereby making it easier to remove the hardened skin. However, a bowl of water is not always available, and even when a bowl of water is available the user must remain stationary for up to an hour or more. Many patients that would benefit from soaking their feet in water simply do not have the patience or luxury to sit in one place for so long. There are many products commercially available for getting rid of heel callous, some use natural ingredients and others use man made chemicals. Many creams use silicone to soften or reduce corns. The best treatment however remains, regularly soaking the feet in water, which allows exfoliation of unwanted tissue with gentle rubbing, such as with a wet washcloth.

The scientific basis of osmosis depends on diffusion of ions from areas of high water concentration in a solution to areas of low water concentration. Water molecules diffuse from areas of high water concentration (low osmotic pressure) to areas of low water concentration (high osmotic pressure). When water diffuses through membranes such as those around cells (called semi-permeable membranes because they are nearly impermeable to ions but very permeable to water), this diffusion of water is called osmosis. It should also be noted that salt added to water lowers the water concentration of the resulting solution. Osmosis is the reason that the skin on our hands wrinkles into “prune fingers” when we stay too long in the bath or shower. Water diffuses from the higher water concentration (but low salt concentration) of the fresh water in the bath into the lower water concentration (but higher salt concentration) of our skin, causing it to swell and form wrinkles. The exact opposite happens when we immerse ourselves in seawater at the beach and our skin, particularly on our hands and faces, shrinks by osmosis and feels tight.

What is needed in the field is a device that allows a person to gain the benefits of soaking -their feet in a basin of water yet does not restrict the person to one stationary place during the soaking process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A therapeutic shoe that is adapted to be worn on the foot of a person. The shoe has the ability to soften hardened skin on the bottom of the person's foot when a small amount of water is added and the person wears the shoe. The shoe is comprised of an outer shell that has the general shape of a high top house slipper. A sole portion of the outer shell impacts the ground when worn. An upper portion of the shell completely covers the remaining portions of the person's foot. An opening at the top of the outer shell is provided for insertion and removal of the person's foot. Inside the shoe and on top of the sole portion of the shell is an inner sole that makes contact with the bottom of the person's foot when worn. The inner sole is made of an absorbent material that holds water at a higher water concentration than that of the human body and more importantly higher than that of the human foot. Thus, when a sufficient amount of water, as little as two ounces, is added to the inner sole the water is encouraged by osmosis to enter the skin on the person's foot. Any hardened skin on the person's foot is thereby softened and can then be buffed off of the foot with a wet washcloth. The therapeutic shoe may of course be provided with a second shoe so that the person may wear a pair of the present therapeutic shoes on their feet.

In an alternative embodiment, the sole portion of the outer shell is reinforced on its exterior with a durable sole portion that allows the person to walk around while wearing the present shoe. The durable sole portion can be made of any durable material including leather, nylon and rubber. In another embodiment, the sole portion of the outer shell extends upward from the ground a specified distance and the upper portion of the outer shell is made of a porous material that allows for ventilation of the shoe. The extended sole portion prevents unwanted leaking of the water from within the shoe. The ventilation provided by the porous upper allows the shoes to be worn for extended periods of time, which may be required with extreme cases of hardened skin on the person's foot.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a person with the benefits of soaking their feet in a bowl of water, yet allow them the freedom to walk around at the same time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention of the present application will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, given only by way of example, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the exterior of preferred embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional side view of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 3 is side view of the exterior of an alternative embodiment; and,

FIG. 4 is an exterior view of another alternative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a pair of shoes that a person with hardened skin on their feet can wear and thereby receive the benefits of soaking his feet in a bowl of water, yet not be restricted to one place during the soaking treatment. The present soaking shoes include an inner sole that holds a small amount of water and allows the water to contact the bottoms of the wearer's feet. The inner sole holds water at a higher concentration than that of the wearer's feet. Thus, water molecules enter the skin of the wearer's feet through osmosis, just as if the wearer soaked his feet in a bowl of water.

FIG. 1 shows the exterior of the preferred one piece embodiment of the present soaking shoe 100. The present therapeutic shoe is designed in the shape and style of a high top house slipper. A VELCRO® (hook and loop type) fastening strap 105 is provided at the neck of the shoe and is the only fastening or securing means on the shoe. In other words, no laces, zippers or buttons are used on the shoe 100 so that leaking is prevented. The upper portion 110 of the shoe 100 is made of a flexible, highly water-resistant or waterproof material such as plastic, rubber or a specially treated tightly woven cloth. The sole portion 115 of the shoe 100 is made from the same material as the upper so that the entire shoe 100 can be created from the same sheet of material. The exterior of the sole portion 115 however can be reinforced with a second layer of material such as plastic, rubber or leather to provide durability to the bottom of the shoe 100.

FIG. 2 shows the interior portion 120 of the preferred embodiment of the present soaking shoe 100. The interior portion 120, or interior layer of the shell, of the shoe 100 is preferably made of a soft material, such as cotton, so that the shoes are comfortable to wear. At the bottom, or along the sole, of the shoe is an inner sole with a top layer 125 of absorbent spongy material that is capable of holding water at a concentration that is higher than the water concentration of a person's foot. Other absorbent materials such as cotton can be used in the inner sole of alternative embodiments. The inner sole also preferably includes a second or bottom layer 130. The bottom layer 130 is made from a waterproof material that helps prevent water from leaking out of the shoe 100.

FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment in which the upper portion 310 and the sole portion 315 of shoe the 300 are each made from different materials. In this embodiment, the upper portion 310 is made of a porous material that allows for ventilation within the shoe 300. A woven material, as shown in FIG. 3, is preferred however, other breathable materials including cotton and other fabrics may be used. The sole portion 315 of the shoe 300 is made out of a waterproof material that keeps the water within the shoe from leaking out, as long as the person is standing or sitting upright. The sole portion 315 extends up the sides of the shoe 300 to a pre-selected distance 320, which may change of course. As intended, some of the water in the shoe 300 will evaporate through the porous upper material 310.

FIG. 4 shows a therapeutic soaking shoe 400 with a reinforced sole. The sole portion 415 of the outer shell 410 has been completely covered with a layer of durable material 420. The layer of durable material 420, which may be made from leather, plastic, rubber or a combination of these, impacts the ground when the person is walking. The exterior reinforcing material 420 makes the present shoe more comfortable to wearer and also extends the life of the shoe 400.

The present soaking shoes are intended for home use and are extremely comfortable to wear. The interiors of the shoes are primarily made of a soft material like cloth, which fits to the contour of the foot. The bottom, or inner sole, of each shoe includes at least two layers, the top layer being an absorbent sponge or cotton fiber material. VELCRO® is preferably used as the only fastening device and is provided around the neck of the shoe to prevent any water from leaking out of the shoe. The inner sole of the shoe not only holds the water but also provides a comfortable foot bed for the wearer's foot. The shoes are machine washable and can be washed after each use. The shoes advantageously do not use laces or zipper so as to prevent leakage and making the shoes fast and easy to slip on.

Results may be expected within a couple days, depending on the depth of the callus. After using the soaking shoes, a gentle rubbing action with a wet washcloth is sufficient to gradually exfoliate callous tissue, including heel fissures. With regular use, calluses can be easily managed. Even with heel calluses that are so thick that they have cracked and formed fissures. Applying the wet shoes for several times the thickness will be reduced to normal and the fissures will eventually completely heal. It is important to note that only a small amount of water is added to the shoes, since only a thin layer of water on the skin is required for osmosis to occur.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept. Therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology of terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Claims

1. A therapeutic shoe that is adapted to be worn on a foot of a person, the shoe having an ability to soften any hard skin on the foot of the person when the shoe is worn for a period of time, the shoe comprising:

an outer shell made of a water-resistant material, the outer shell having a general shape of a high top house slipper, wherein the outer shell has a sole portion that impacts a ground when worn, an upper portion that completely covers a top and sides of the person's foot, wherein the upper portion and the sole portion are seamlessly connected, and an opening at a top of the outer shell, the opening being adapted for insertion and removal of the person's foot, the opening having a fastener that is capable of securely closing the top of the outer shell after the person's foot is inserted into the shoe; and,

an inner sole, wherein the inner sole has a top layer that makes contact with a bottom of the person's foot, the top layer of the inner sole being made of an absorbent material that has an ability to hold water at a water concentration that is higher than a water concentration of the foot of the person, and a bottom layer that is made of a waterproof material;

wherein when a sufficient amount of water is added to the inner sole and the shoe is worn by the person the water is encouraged by osmosis to enter the skin on the bottom of the person's foot.

2. The therapeutic shoe of claim 1, wherein two therapeutic shoes are provided so that the person may wear a pair of therapeutic shoes on their feet.

3. The therapeutic shoe of claim 1, wherein the sole portion of the outer shell is reinforced with a second sole portion on an exterior of the outer shell, the second sole portion being made of a durable material including leather, nylon and rubber that adds durability to a bottom of the shoe.

4. The therapeutic shoe of claim 1, wherein the sole portion and the upper portion of the outer shell are each made of different materials that are physically connected together, wherein the sole portion is made of a waterproof material that extends upward from the ground a specified distance and the upper portion is made of a porous material that allows for ventilation of the shoe.

5. The therapeutic shoe of claim 1, wherein the fastener is a hook and loop type fastener that is adapted to secure the opening around an ankle of the person.

6. The therapeutic shoe of claim 1, wherein the period of time is 15 minutes to 1 hour and wherein the shoe can be worn more than once a day.

7. The therapeutic shoe of claim 1, wherein the amount of water is 1-3 ounces, depending on a size of the shoe.

8. The therapeutic shoe of claim 1, wherein the absorbent material of the inner sole is a sponge or cotton fiber material.

9. The therapeutic shoe of claim 1, wherein the shoe is machine washable.

10. The therapeutic shoe of claim 1, wherein the outer shell comprises an inner layer and an outer layer, wherein the inner layer is made of a soft material, including cotton, and the outer layer is made of a water-resistant material, including a proof material.