INSULATIVE FOOTWEAR INSERT
A footwear insert for insulating a wearer's toes against ambient cold. The insert comprises a deformable outer casing, preferably composed of a fabric such as nylon, the outer casing defining an interior space containing a plurality of insulative beads, such as Styrofoam micro-beads. The insert is configured for insertion into the toe of the footwear, and the wearer's toes are pressed into the insert, thus providing an insulative material adjacent the wearer's toes.
The present invention relates to techniques for insulating feet against ambient cold, and specifically to such techniques involving footwear modifications.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIt is known in locations having relatively cold climates for at least a portion of the year that feet can become cold even in footwear specifically designed for the climate. Whether the footwear comprises ice skates, ski boots or outdoor work boots, it is known that spending time in cold conditions can result in feet becoming undesirably or even dangerously cold. Toes in particular may be susceptible to symptoms such as frostbite.
Various methods and techniques are commonly employed to address this situation, such as wearing thicker socks or inserting heating pads into the footwear, or even modifying the footwear to include thicker insulative layers.
However, disadvantages of such conventional solutions are known. For example, the footwear interior may not accommodate thicker socks, heating pads or additional insulative layers. Heating pads also have a limited functional life. While additional insulative layers may have some use with given footwear, they are generally not suitable for use in diverse footwear (e.g. both work boots and ice skates). In addition, conventional solutions may not be useful in keeping the wearer's toes insulated, with the result that the more vulnerable part of the foot may be at risk.
What is needed, therefore, is a simple product capable of insulating the wearer's toes, and that can be transferred to diverse footwear as desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention therefore seeks to provide an insert for use in cold-weather footwear, the insert comprising insulative material for positioning adjacent the toes of the wearer.
According to a broad aspect of the present invention there is provided a footwear insert comprising:
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- a deformable outer casing, the outer casing defining an interior space; and
- a plurality of insulative beads within the interior space;
- the insert configured for insertion in the toe region of the footwear.
The outer casing is preferably but not necessarily composed of a fabric such as nylon. The outer casing should be deformable to conform to the toes of the wearer when the wearer's foot is inserted into the footwear.
The insulative beads may be composed of any suitable material, but may be expanded polystyrene or Styrofoam™ micro-beads. The size of the insulative beads will depend in part on the interior toe space of the footwear, but may be for one non-limiting example 1-2 mm in diameter. The percentage of the interior space to be filled with the insulative beads can also vary, but may be for one non-limiting example 50-80%.
The insert is configured for insertion into the interior toe space of the footwear, and the wearer's toes are pressed into the insert, thus providing an insulative material adjacent the wearer's toes.
A detailed description of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is given in the following. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not to be construed as being limited to this embodiment.
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the present invention:
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTThroughout the following description specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding to persons skilled in the art. However, well known elements may not have been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the disclosure. The following description of an example of the invention is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms of any exemplary embodiment. Accordingly, the description and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative, rather than a restrictive, sense.
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The triangular shape of the insert 10 is not necessarily inherent to all embodiments of the present invention. Rather, it is the result of the method of construction of the exemplary embodiment. As can be seen in
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Once filled with the micro-beads 20, the insert 10 will have a padded appearance, as can be seen in
Turning now to
With the toes 28 partially pressed into the insert 10 and partially pressed under the insert 10, the toes 28 are provided with desirable insulation against ambient cold conditions.
There are thus numerous advantages inherent in one or more embodiments of the present invention. For example, the wearer need not rely on thicker socks or heating pads, which may not fit in the footwear interior. Unlike heating pads, inserts in accordance with the present invention could be used and re-used for a long period of time. Also, unlike additional insulative layers, inserts in accordance with the present invention may be used with diverse footwear, as they can be deformed to fit different sizes and shapes of footwear interiors. In addition, inserts in accordance with the current invention are particularly well-suited for use in keeping the wearer's vulnerable toes insulated.
As will be clear from the above, those skilled in the art would be readily able to determine obvious variants capable of providing the described functionality, and all such variants and functional equivalents are intended to fall within the scope of the present invention.
Specific examples have been described herein for purposes of illustration. These are only examples. The technology provided herein can be applied to contexts other than the exemplary contexts described above. Many alterations, modifications, additions, omissions and permutations are possible within the practice of this invention. This invention includes variations on described embodiments that would be apparent to the skilled person, including variations obtained by: replacing features, elements and/or acts with equivalent features, elements and/or acts; mixing and matching of features, elements and/or acts from different embodiments; combining features, elements and/or acts from embodiments as described herein with features, elements and/or acts of other technology; and/or omitting combining features, elements and/or acts from described embodiments.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. The scope of the claims should not be limited by the exemplary embodiment set forth in the foregoing, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the specification as a whole.
Claims
1. A footwear insert for insertion in a toe region of a footwear, the footwear insert comprising:
- a deformable outer casing, the outer casing defining an interior space; and
- a plurality of insulative beads within the interior space;
- wherein the insert is configured for insertion in the toe region of the footwear.
2. The footwear insert of claim 1 wherein the deformable outer casing is composed of nylon.
3. The footwear insert of claim 1 wherein the deformable outer casing is deformable to conform to toes of a wearer when the wearer's foot is inserted into the footwear.
4. The footwear insert of claim 1 where the plurality of insulative beads is composed of expanded polystyrene or Styrofoam™ micro-beads.
5. The footwear insert of claim 1 wherein the percentage of the interior space to be filled with the insulative beads is 50-80%.
6. The footwear insert of claim 1 wherein the deformable outer casing is substantially triangular in shape.
7. A method for providing a footwear insert for insertion in a toe region of a footwear, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a square flat outer easing;
- folding in half the square flat outer casing along a fold line positioned diagonally between two diagonally opposed corners of the outer casing, producing a substantially triangular outer casing;
- partially stitching edges of the folded outer casing to form an interior space within the substantially triangular outer casing;
- inserting a plurality of insulative beads into the interior space; and
- completing stitching of the edges to seal the interior space.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the insulative beads are selected to be of a volume sufficient to maintain a desirable flexibility and deformability of the footwear insert.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 16, 2015
Publication Date: Jun 23, 2016
Inventor: Chester Lee Ryan (Saskatoon)
Application Number: 14/971,833