Friction reducing barrier

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a device for reducing friction, caused due to contact or rubbing of the rear portion of a foot heel with the inner portion of footwear. The device is composed of a thin, smooth, and flexible material with a low coefficient of friction. The material of the device is molded into different shapes and sizes to fit different portions of a shoe of any shape and size. The device may be attached temporarily or embedded permanently to the inner heel portion of the shoes, or socks of the user. The device may also be used in any article of clothing or protective covering to reduce the effects of friction. Disclosed herein are various methods of attaching or affixing the device to the inner heel portion of the shoes, socks, and any other article of clothing or protective covering. Also, disclosed is a method to hold the device in place without using any kind of adhesive material on the device itself. The device avoids formation of blisters, calluses, and other irritations caused due to friction between any external garment or surface such as a shoe and the part of the body such surfaces come in contact with. In addition to reducing the effects of friction, this device also acts as a very tough yet comfortable physical barrier between the body and an external garment or surface such as a shoe; doing so this device protects the skin from any physical irritants, e.g. sharp edges and points in the shoe.

Description

[0001]This non-provisional patent application has been derived from a previously filed provisional application, filed on Jun. 08 2007; application number: 60 / 933,867CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0002]Not ApplicableSTATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0003]Not ApplicableREFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX[0004]Not ApplicableBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0005]This invention in general relates to footwear and in particular relates to a device composed of a material with a low coefficient of friction and used for reducing friction between rear portion of a foot heel and the inner surface of footwear. However, this device may be used in different parts of any article of clothing or protective covering to reduce the effects of friction. In addition to reducing the effects of friction, this device serves as a tough, yet very comfortable physical, protective barrier between the friction causing surfac...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0023]The invention helps to prevent blisters, abrasions, calluses, and other irritations, which occur when two or more irritating surfaces come in contact with each other. The invention achieves this not only by reducing the friction between the two or more surfaces but also by acting as a tough yet very comfortable physical barrier, preventing the surfaces to come in direct contact with each other. Also, this invention reduces friction not only by its smooth surface and slippery nature but also by the way it covers a particular surface and thus eliminating any irregularities, unevenness, curves, gaps or fissures etc.

[0024]Similarly, this invention reduces the wear and tear of the article of clothing, such as socks that covers the user's feet, as well as to reduce the wear and tear of the inner surface of a shoe.

[0025]The material with a low coefficient of friction used in the device can belong to any group of plastics or any other material as long as the material can be transformed into a thin, smooth, slippery, and flexible form. The use of “sleeves” provides a very easy and reliable way of securing this device in place without using any kind of adhesive on the device. Further, the material with low coefficient of friction used in different embodiments of the device can be painted with a very thin layer of a low coefficient of friction paint to further enhance its function.

Problems solved by technology

Blisters, abrasions, calluses, and other irritations of feet may be caused due to friction occurring between footwear and the feet during intense activities such as walking, running, jogging, etc.

Further, the friction between the inner surface of the footwear and an outer fabric covering the feet, such as socks, may induce faster wear and tear of the fabric as well as the inner surface of the footwear.

Such existing techniques may not particularly address the need for reducing blisters, abrasions, calluses, etc., for example on back of the foot heel, caused due to friction.

This device is not only very flexible but also very tough; it will last much longer.

This device can also be thick but then it cannot easily be bent, in this case the device has to be molded according to area of use.

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