Shoe with integrated decontamination unit

Abstract

Shoe with integrated decontamination device characterized in that a storage chamber 2a with a channel 3 in the sole of the shoe 1 is located in the direction of the ball of the foot and / or the channel 3 has at least one outlet opening to the sole of the foot and / or a channel to the cross strap 6 is connected to this channel 3, wherein this channel to the cross strap 6 has at least one outlet opening 7 in the cross strap 5 and / or at least one outlet opening in the bridge for connecting the sole of the shoe with the cross strap 4.

Description

The invention relates to a device for disinfecting the inside of shoes or feet to eliminate potentially introduced unwanted pathogens or germs such as bacteria, viruses or also foot and nail fungus spores and associated unpleasant odors. The invention specified in claim 1 is based on the problem of enabling on-demand disinfection, in particular of the sole of the foot and toe area, after every possible foot contact without a shoe, immediately after putting the shoe back on. This problem is solved by the features listed in claim 1 and in the following dependent claims. Bacteria and germs, primarily found on the floor, are spread by shoes and / or by walking barefoot, particularly after entering hospitals, doctors' offices, public buildings, hotels, and especially the sanitary facilities of public and commercial buildings, as well as swimming pools, saunas, and spas. This risk is considered particularly significant due to potential infections such as influenza, coughs, colds, and fungal diseases (hereinafter referred to as the contamination risk), as infection and transmission problems have increased considerably. An additional problem is that damp shoes can be susceptible to infection-related fungal diseases, and the use of chemicals for drying and disinfecting shoes often places further environmental burdens on the environment.The germicidal effect of UV-C radiation at wavelengths of 245 to 285 nm for the disinfection of microorganisms is known from the prior art, as is the use of UV LEDs as radiation sources that emit UV-C radiation for disinfection in conjunction with optical components made of glass, since the glass exhibits high transmission in the UV-C wavelength range, particularly in the range of approximately 250 nm to approximately 280 nm. German patent application DE 10 2009 015 088 B4 describes a light source with more than one LED that emits light in the UV-C range, in conjunction with pressed optical components made of fluorine-containing phosphate glasses for the disinfection of, for example, instruments, air conditioning systems, or water to kill bacteria, viruses, or other pathogens.From DE 295 02 189 U1, a drying and deodorizing device for shoes is known, in which a temperature-controlled airflow is blown into the shoe and the inner surface of the shoe is irradiated by ultraviolet lamps. DE 103 58 042 B3 describes a device for drying shoes, clothing, and the like for disinfection, with a device for generating ozone by means of one or more light-emitting diodes that emit in the UV wavelength range and thereby generate ozone for odor neutralization and also for disinfection.DE 20 2018 106 196 U1 describes a shoe cabinet that includes an ozone release device for releasing ozone to eliminate bacteria and odors inside the cabinet. DE 20 2019 101 965 U1 describes a shoe cabinet that includes a control system and a sterilization device at the top of the cabinet's interior, as well as a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a UV sterilization lamp, and an ozone generator for a clean and odor-free interior. DE 295 02 189.6 further discloses a drying and deodorizing device for shoes, comprising two shoe racks, each consisting of two parts, with a pair of ultraviolet lamps for deodorization at the bottom of each rack. Publication US 2010 / 0102253A1 discloses a sterilization device for textiles and shoes. The sterilization device of the invention comprises an organizational element for housing the textile or shoes. The sterilization device of the invention further comprises a light sterilization device and / or a drying method for sterilizing or drying the textile or shoes. US patent 10,307,037 B2 discloses a shoe deodorizing, disinfecting, and dehumidifying device comprising a housing, a main control circuit installed within the housing, a fan, and an ozonator. The housing is detachable from the shoes and is shaped to be inserted into and removed from the shoe compartment. The housing is equipped with an air inlet and an air outlet. The ozonator is used to generate ozone for sterilization within the shoe compartment. The fan serves to force air into the housing's air inlet and exhaust it through the air outlet to promote ventilation within the shoe compartment. The shoe deodorizing, disinfecting, and dehumidifying device can be removed from a shoe and reused. Utility model DE 20 2006 003 089 U1 describes a shoe bag which is a shoe insert that fills the inside of the shoe and can be inserted into the inside of the shoe, especially a sports shoe, when the shoe is not in use. The invention is based on the objective of creating a simple, universally applicable device permanently integrated into the shoe for the on-demand disinfection of shoes and / or feet in order to significantly reduce the risk of contamination and associated unpleasant odors. According to the invention, a reservoir for the introduction of decontamination agent is provided in the area of ​​the shoe sole for the decontamination of shoes and / or feet. This reservoir includes a non-return valve facing outwards within the sole for filling. Openings and / or channels are provided in the reservoir for the decontamination agent to exit onto the sole of the foot and / or via the transverse strap to the toes within the shoe sole and / or the transverse strap. This reservoir is elastically deformable and integrated into the shoe sole. The activatable volume of the decontamination agent that can exit through the openings and / or channels onto the inside of the shoe and / or the foot depends on the elasticity of the sole material and / or a metering valve.By shifting weight onto one foot, for example by standing on one foot, activation occurs – in addition to the possible release of the decontamination agent via a metering valve – as a result of the elastic reduction in volume of the reservoir due to compression of the shoe sole thickness. This causes some of the decontamination agent to reach the inside of the shoe and / or the foot through the openings and / or channels, thereby eliminating unwanted contamination and odors. This design of the shoe sole for shoe and foot decontamination allows for controlled application of the decontamination agent, for example, after putting the shoe back on after a period without any foot protection.This ensures that the wearer of the shoes triggers the release of the decontamination agent onto the foot and / or the inside of the shoe by briefly shifting their weight, thereby increasing the pressure on the reservoir. This causes the decontamination agent to be released through the openings and / or channels, and / or by electrically generated release via an activation sensor in conjunction with a metering valve. The duration of the weight shift or the opening time of the metering valve controls the amount of decontamination agent dispensed.Furthermore, the storage room for the decontamination agent is designed in such a way that the decontamination agent can be refilled at any time via a check valve using a filling device with a refilling device in the form of a hand-operated piston in a cylinder with an interface suitable for the check valve and / or with a pressure vessel containing decontamination agent. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims. The further development according to the dependent claims enables a safe and uniform dispensing of decontamination agent while continuously monitoring the fill level in the storage compartment. This allows parents to monitor the safe operation, particularly for children's shoes. An embodiment of the invention is shown in drawing 1 and is described in more detail below. Figure 1 shows a schematic longitudinal section of a bathing shoe for load-bearing activation and dosing of the decontamination agent. Figure 2 shows a partial section of the underside of a bathing shoe. Figure 3 shows a version with computer-controlled decontamination agent dosing for a bathing shoe. Figure 1 schematically shows a longitudinal section through a shoe sole 1. In the heel area, there is a reservoir 2a, which, due to the elastic properties of the shoe sole 1, is deformable down to the size of the emptied reservoir 2b shown. The reservoir 2a is connected to a channel 3 located in the shoe sole 1, extending towards the ball of the foot. A channel to the transverse strap 6 connects to this channel 3. This channel to the transverse strap 6 is connected to at least one outlet opening 7 in the transverse strap 5. The bridge connecting the shoe sole to the transverse strap 4 forms the connection between the shoe sole 1 and the transverse strap 5. Figure 2 schematically shows a partial section of the underside of the shoe sole 1. The refill opening for the contaminant 8 is located in the heel area of ​​the shoe sole 1. A fluid-tight check valve for the reservoir 9 is integrated into the refill opening for the contaminant 8. This prevents the contaminant from escaping to the outside and also allows the contaminant to be refilled into the reservoir 2a by means of a pressurized refilling device (not shown). Figure 3 schematically illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention as a longitudinal section of the shoe sole. In the heel area, there is a reservoir with a spring-loaded membrane 2. A pressure-tight membrane in reservoir 15 pressurizes the contaminant in reservoir 16 with the aid of a permanently introduced, pre-pressurized gas. The reservoir with the spring-loaded membrane 2 is connected to a channel 3 located in the shoe sole 1, extending towards the ball of the foot. A channel to the transverse strap 6 connects to this channel 3. This channel to the transverse strap 6 is connected to at least one outlet opening 7 in the transverse strap 5. The bridge connecting the shoe sole to the transverse strap 4 forms the connection between the shoe sole 1 and the transverse strap 5. An energy and logic unit 13 is integrated into the shoe sole 1. This unit consists of a power source and a circuit board with logic circuits and interfaces (not shown).In the area of ​​the reservoir with spring-loaded membrane 2, a level sensor for reservoir 12 is located in the sole of the shoe. This sensor is connected to the power and logic unit 13 and transmits a pressure or displacement signal from the reservoir with spring-loaded membrane 2, corresponding to the amount of contaminant present in the reservoir with spring-loaded membrane 2. A pressure-tight metering valve 11 is integrated into the channel to the cross belt 6 and is connected to the power and logic unit 13. An activation sensor 10 is integrated into the sole of the shoe 1 in the area of ​​the ball of the foot. This sensor is connected to the power and logic unit 13. A communication module 14 is integrated into the outer toe area of ​​the sole of the shoe 1 and is connected to the power and logic unit 13. The mode of operation of an alternative embodiment of the invention according to Fig. 3 is such that sufficient contaminant is present in the reservoir with spring-loaded membrane 2. This contaminant is held in place by a pressure-tight membrane in reservoir 15, against which a pressurized gas in reservoir 16 is drawn up to the metering valve 11. The activation sensor 10, by means of the energy and logic unit 13, activates the metering valve 11 through thermal and / or pressurization. As a result, contaminant exits the reservoir with spring-loaded membrane 2 via channel 3 and the channel to the cross strap 6, exiting through the outlet opening 7 and reaching the inside of the shoe or the foot. The communication unit 14 is connected to the energy and logic unit 13 and transmits a signal wirelessly to a receiving device. This receiving device is preferably a smartphone.The signal contains information regarding the status of the contaminant determined by the sensor for level measurement of storage space 12 and / or the charge level of the energy source of the energy and logic unit 13 and / or the function of the metering valve 11. Reference symbol list 1 Shoe sole 2 Storage chamber with spring-loaded membrane 2a Storage chamber with decontamination agent 2b Storage chamber with emptied decontamination agent 3 Channel 4 Bridge for connecting shoe sole to cross strap 5 Cross strap 6 Channel to cross strap 7 Outlet opening 8 Refill opening for decontamination agent 9 Check valve, storage chamber 10 Activation sensor 11 Metering valve 12 Sensor for level measurement, storage chamber 13 Power and logic unit 14 Communication unit 15 Pressure-tight membrane in storage chamber 16 Pre-pressurized gas in storage chamber

Claims

Shoe with integrated decontamination device characterized in that a storage space 2a with a channel 3 in the sole of the shoe 1 is located in the direction of the ball of the foot and / or the channel 3 has at least one outlet opening to the sole of the foot and / or a channel to the cross strap 6 is connected to this channel 3, wherein this channel to the cross strap 6 has at least one outlet opening 7 in the cross strap 5 and / or at least one outlet opening in the bridge for connecting the sole of the shoe with the cross strap 4. Shoe with integrated decontamination device according to claim 1, characterized in that a pressure-tight membrane in the storage chamber 15 separates the contaminating agent in the storage chamber 2 from a pre-pressurized gas in the storage chamber 16. Shoe with integrated decontamination device according to claim 1, characterized in that a fluid-tight non-return valve reservoir 9 is provided in a refill opening for contamination agent 8. Shoe with integrated decontamination device according to claim 1, characterized in that an energy and logic unit 13 is incorporated into the shoe sole 1 and this energy and logic unit 13 is connected to a sensor for level measurement of storage space 12 and / or a metering valve 11 and / or an activation sensor 10 and / or a communication unit 14. Shoe with integrated decontamination device according to claim 1, characterized in that an energy and logic unit 13 contains a rechargeable battery, wherein an electrical connection for charging the battery is incorporated into the shoe sole 1 and the connection for charging the battery has a waterproof sealing element which is located in the shoe sole 1. Shoe with integrated decontamination device according to claim 1, characterized in that a communication unit emits 14 radio signals.

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