Foot Membrane

Abstract

The present invention is a non-woven foot membrane that helps provide comfort and support for the foot during high-heel or regular shoe wear. The device comprises a self-supporting membrane that flexes, stretches and conforms to the shape of the foot, or the portion of the foot in contact with the membrane, when worn. The device has different thicknesses throughout its structure. Preferably, the parts of the invention at and around the major points of contact on the bottom of the foot when wearing a shoe such as a high-heel, that is, the parts of the invention under the big toe, metatarsal heads of the forefoot, and the heel, are thicker than the other portions of the device. The device also has different frictional properties at the inner / upper surface and outer / lower surface as well as a curvilinear form that each work to cup and grip the foot as well as prevent slippage in the shoe. The increased thicknesses throughout various parts of the structure of the device as well as the opposing frictional properties and curvilinear shape all work to counteract the stresses experienced by the plantar soft-tissue during shoe wear.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This non-provisional utility patent application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 13 / 630,993, filed on Sep. 28, 2012, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 626,541, filed on Sep. 28, 2011, each, which is expressly incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The invention relates to the field of foot orthotics, shoe inserts, foot insoles, cushioning pads, and protective garments for the foot in the form of hosiery, socks, self-adhering membranes, and shoe inserts. The invention relates to foot care products that improve shoe comfort, skin protection, and provide performance enhancement. The invention also relates to gelatenous materials and high performance polymer-based textiles / materials and the processes used to fabricate such materials. The invention relates to silicone materials, including a single layered silicone material having different c...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is a thin, see-through device that helps improve the comfort and support of high-heeled shoes, but it can also be used with other footwear like regular shoes and sneakers.

Problems solved by technology

Adverse effects of high-heel shoe wear are commonly experienced by people, typically women, in the form of general pain and discomfort and more prevalent foot problems.

Regular high-heeled shoe wear is a known cause to common foot problems such as, for example, skin irritation, blisters, skin stiffening, calluses, plantar forefoot pain at the forefoot, and metatarsalgia.

The Ko et. al. study concludes that the force that the ST endures at a state of maximum compressibility cannot be properly distributed by the natural plantar ST cushioning systems of the foot and can possibly lead to internal, plantar ST strain and damage.

Thus, the shear displacement of the plantar ST between the fourth and fifth metatarsal heads may lead to the callused skin typically found at a women's lateral forefoot and while the reduction of pressure forces are the main concern for the comfort of the medial forefoot, the lateral forefoot at the fourth and fifth metatarsal heads could be more vulnerable to increased shear forces.

Athletic socks provide performance features not found in hosiery but are too bulky, thick, and opaque to be a viable, functional solution for use with a form-fitting high-heeled shoe.

While there are some commercial uses of polymer-based membrane / film products existing for transparent medical wound dressings, none of those products are utilized for footwear products nor are they readily adaptable for use as footwear products.

Production of nanofibers in a basic laboratory setting with a single nozzle / needle is slow and the materials / membranes made are often non-uniform.

The current technologies, machines, and processes for making nanofibers are unproven and significantly, none have yet to be applied to the commercial textile industry in a cost-efficient, time-effective manner.

None of the existing technologies provide for a durable, light-weight, non-woven nanofiber textile for wide spread use as a stand-alone, three dimensional, nanofiber textile material and / or as a protective three dimensional coating on an existing woven fabric or fiber.

None of the existing technologies are proven for use in making nanofiber materials / membranes in 3D form.

Similarly, none of the existing technologies for polymer-based membranes provide for a durable, lightweight, non-woven textile for use as a stand-alone, three-dimensional, self-supporting membrane.

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