Disposable Insole With Segmented Active Layers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing insoles fail to effectively manage foot sweat and odor control, leading to bacterial growth and unpleasant smells, despite various multi-layer designs and active ingredients.
Innovation Solution
A disposable insole with a two-layer base material comprising staple fiber fleece layers with bicomponent fibers and absorbent cellulose-based or hydrophilic synthetic fibers, featuring antimicrobial, odor-absorbing, and odor-masking active substances distributed across both layers to enhance liquid transport and odor management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a multi-layer insole structure with active ingredients is used, then odor control is improved, but liquid transport capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The insole is divided into multiple functional layers: a top layer with antimicrobial agents for odor control, a middle layer with high liquid transport capability, and a base layer with additional active ingredients. This segmentation allows each layer to specialize in one function, preventing the compromise that occurs when trying to combine multiple functions in a single layer.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the insole have different properties tailored to local needs. The top layer has high antimicrobial activity where it contacts the foot, the middle layer has enhanced porosity and hydrophilicity for rapid liquid transport, and the base layer provides additional odor control. This local optimization resolves the contradiction by providing odor control where needed without sacrificing overall liquid transport.
2Ease of operation
If absorbent fibers are increased to improve sweat absorption, then dry foot feeling is improved, but liquid transport speed deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The absorbent function is segmented from the transport function. The middle layer is designed with high porosity and hydrophilic properties specifically for rapid liquid transport, while the top and base layers contain the absorbent cellulose fibers that provide the dry foot feeling. This functional segmentation allows both requirements to be met simultaneously without compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
The middle layer acts as an intermediary between the foot-contacting top layer and the shoe-facing base layer. It rapidly transports liquid away from the foot while the top layer with absorbent fibers maintains the dry foot feeling. The intermediary layer enables the system to achieve both fast transport and comfortable absorbency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The insole achieves a dry foot feeling by rapid liquid absorption and transfer, while effectively controlling odor through antimicrobial action and odor masking, preventing bacterial growth and maintaining a hygienic environment.
Implementation Method 1
the bond is formed solely via the lower-melting-point component... The bicomponent fibers result in adhesive-point-like bonds between the fibers within and between the layers
Implementation Method 2
improving the transfer of fluid from the top layer to the base layer... use of absorbent cellulosic fibers and/or hydrophilic synthetic fibers... contributes advantageously to the adjustability of fluid attraction and binding properties
Implementation Method 3
at least two different active ingredient groups... selected from the group consisting of antimicrobial agents, odor absorbers, and odor-masking substances
Implementation Method 4
odor absorbers... effectively controlling odor through antimicrobial action and odor masking
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~3b
Figure 4a~4b
AI summary
The invention relates to an insole (100) for shoes, in particular as a disposable product, having a top layer (200) that comprises a two-ply basic material and faces the foot, and a base layer (202) that is connected to said top layer (200) and faces the shoe, and having a foot surface (104) that faces the foot and an opposite sole surface (102) that faces the shoe, wherein the top layer (200) and the base layer (202) consist of a staple-fibre nonwoven and bicomponent fibres and absorbent cellulose-based fibres and/or hydrophilic synthetic fibres are contained in the top layer and in the base layer, and wherein the insole has a combination comprising at least two different active-substance groups, the active-substance groups being selected from the group of antimicrobial active substance, odour absorbent and odour-masking substance, and both the base layer (202) and the top layer (200) being assigned at least one active-substance group.