GB2331226A

GB2331226A - Footwear with deodorant

Info

Publication number: GB2331226A
Application number: GB9723851A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Neil Scott Duncan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-11-13
Filing date: 1997-11-13
Publication date: 1999-05-19
Also published as: GB2331226A9; GB9723851D0

Abstract

An item of footwear 1 comprises a sole 2 and an upper 3, a housing 4 in the footwear 1, a container (5, Fig. 3) in the footwear 1, said container (5) holding a deodorising substance and having an exit port and control means for releasing the deodorising substance from the exit port, and at least one channel 8A-8E leading from the exit port into the item of footwear 1, whereby the control means is adapted to be used to place the deodorising substance into the item of footwear 1. Typically, the control means is a valve which may deliver a measured amount of the deodorising substance. The deodorising substance is preferably held under pressure within the container (5). The housing 4 may be a cavity and may be provided in the sole 2. The or each channel 8A-8E may be a conduit leading from the cavity to the top of the sole 2.

Description

2331226 The present invention relates to an item of footwear, and more

particularly to an item of footwear with a deodorising device.

Many people find that their feet sweat inside footwear causing the footwear to give off an 0 unpleasant odour. Th.Js is a particular problem with trainers or other sports shoes, even if they are made of "breathable" material. The invention seeks to provide a solution to this problem.

According to the present invention there is provided an item of footwear 11,119th a deodorising device comprising: a) a footwear sole and upper, b) a housing in the footwear c) a container holding deodonising substance in the housing, said container having an exit port and control means for expelling deodorising substance ftom the container exit port, and d) at least one channel leading ftom the container e>jt port into the shoe, in use the wearer can place deodorising substance into the shoe to combat foot odours using said control means.

In one embodiment the container is a canister holding deodorising substance under pressure. The control means may be a valve. The valve may deliver a metered dose of deodorising substance.

1) The housing may be a cavity, and may be provided in the footwear sole. Preferably the or each channel is a conduit in the sole leading from the cavity to the top of the sole to expel deodorising substance inside the shoe.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which.Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a trainer, Figure 2 shows a schematic cross section view of the trainer of figure 1, and Figure 3 shows a schematic plan view of the bottom of the trainer sole.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a trainer 1 having a footwear sole 2 and a foot wear upper 3, the general construction of which is well known in the art.

In accordance with the invention, the sole 2 has a housing in the form of a cavity 4 leading into the sole frorn the outside of the sole base. Cavity 4 supports a container in the form of a canister 5 holding a deodorising substance under pressure, e.g. an aerosol. Canister 5 includes a base SA which is generally flush with the suffice of the sole.

At the end of-canister 5 remote ftom base SA is a control means in the form of a valve 6 having a head 6A and valve stem 6B leading into the canister 5. Head 6A includes a pair 0 exit ports 7A,713 through which deodorising substance can be expelled. Valve 6 may be of the type used in aerosols such that when valve stern 613 is depressed into the canister 5, deodorising substance is delivered. Valve 6 could be designed to deliver a metered dose of deodorising substance.

Inside the sole 2 are channels in the form of five conduits 8A,8B,8C,81), 8E. Each conduit has one end at the cavity adjacent the exit ports 7A,7B and leads to the other end at to the top of the sole to expel deodorising substance inside the shoe. A porous fabn"c (not shown), e.g an insole, may cover the said other end of each conduit to prevent blockage of the conduit by any debris.

In use, the wearer of the trainer can deodorise odours in the trainer by pushing the base SA inwards into the sole 2. This pushes the canister 5 towards the head 6A supported in the sole depressing valve stern 6B. Deodorising substance is ejected under pressure from the exit ports 7A,7B and travels along the conduits SA,8B,8C,81) into trainer.

It is envisaged that the canister 5 can be replaced once empty simply by removing the empty canister frorn the cavity 4 and reinserting a full canister.

4 The deodorising substance may be of any type well known In the art. It may be desirable for canisters with different fragrances of deodorising substance to be produced.

Instead of the deodorising substance container being in the sole, it could be mounted in a housing on another part of the shoe. One or more channels could also lead from the container to the shoe upper instead of or in addition to the sole.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the ail without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An item of footwear comprising a footwear sole and upper, a housing in the footwear, a container in the footwear, said container holding a deodorising substance and having an exit port, and control means for releasing the deodorising substance from the container exit port, and at least one channel leading from the exit port into the item of footwear, whereby the control means can be used to place deodorising substance into the item of footwear.

2. An item of footwear as claimed in claim 1, in which container holds the deodorising substance under pressure.

3. An item of footwear as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the control means is a valve.

4. An item of footwear as claimed in claim 3, in which the valve delivers a metered amount of deodorising substance.

5. An item of footwear as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the housing is a cavity.

6. An item of footwear as claimed in claim 5, in which the cavity is provided in the sole.

7. An item of footwear as claimed in claim 6, in which the or each channel is a conduit leading from cavity to the top of the sole.

8. An item of footwear substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.