US20140082971A1

US20140082971A1 - Footwear with magnets systems

Info

Publication number: US20140082971A1
Application number: US13/769,750
Authority: US
Inventors: Alice Chang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-09-26
Filing date: 2013-02-18
Publication date: 2014-03-27
Also published as: US20140082970A1; US20140088338A1

Abstract

Footwear with magnets systems provides a comfortable way to undergo magnetic therapy. The system covers a foot with magnetic energy while enabling people to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, fight infection, support healing, reduce fluid retention, increase cellular oxygen, and a variety of other positive benefits. The system may be conveniently used for individuals who practice magnetic therapy; the therapeutic treatment via magnetostatic fields which are static in nature.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is related to and claims priority from prior provisional application Ser. No. 61/705,710, filed Sep. 26, 2012 which application is incorporated herein by reference.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention(s). It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art, or material, to the presently described or claimed inventions, or that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of footwear and more specifically relates to footwear with magnets.

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Footwear consists of garments worn on the feet, for fashion, protection against the environment, and adornment. Footwear may include various types of shoes, boots, sandals, sneakers, skates, slippers, and the like. Shoes and boots are intended to protect and comfort the human foot while doing various activities. Shoes and boots may be used for work or for fashion. Sandals are often worn for leisure. Many types of footwear may cause discomfort to wearers. Footwear generally is not traditionally multi-purpose in design. The human foot and ankle is a strong and complex mechanical structure containing exactly 26 bones, 33 joints (20 of which are actively articulated), and more than a hundred muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Many individuals suffer from foot ailments which may be very uncomfortable. It is desirable that footwear be comfortable and also helpful to any foot ailments that may be present.
A magnet is a material or object that produces a magnetic field. This magnetic field is invisible but is responsible for the most notable property of a magnet; a force that pulls on other ferromagnetic materials, such as iron, and attracts or repels other magnets. Magnets may serve many purposes. Magnetic therapy is an alternative medicine practice involving the use of static magnetic fields. Practitioners are under the assumption that subjecting certain parts of the body to magnetostatic fields produced by permanent magnets has beneficial health effects. Many people undergo magnetic therapy for a variety of different aliments and conditions. A convenient means by which magnetostatic fields can be introduced to human feet is desirable.
Various attempts have been made to solve the above-mentioned problems such as those found in U.S. Pat. and Pub. Nos. 2012/0316382; 2012/0317843; U.S. Pat. No. 7,802,381; 2012/0304500; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,258,020. This art is representative of footwear. None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the invention as claimed.
Ideally, footwear with magnets should provide convenient magnetic therapy means for use on feet and, yet would operate reliably and be manufactured at a modest expense. Thus, a need exists for a reliable footwear with magnets system to avoid the above-mentioned problems, one that may be worn on the feet of human wearers with ease over a duration.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known footwear art, the present invention provides a novel footwear with magnets system. The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail is to provide convenient magnetic therapy means for user-wearers feet.
The present invention provides people with an easy and comfortable way to undergo magnetic therapy. The footwear with magnets covers a large surface area of the user's foot (feet) with magnetic energy while enabling people to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, fight infection, support healing, reduce fluid retention, increase cellular oxygen, and a variety of other things, yet not impeding them from completing their everyday tasks. The present invention is not cumbersome and may be ideal for individuals who practice magnetic therapy and for those with pain, swelling or the like in their feet.
A footwear with magnets system is disclosed herein, in a preferred embodiment, comprising: a footwear garment assembly having an inner layer; an outer layer; a middle layer; and magnets. The inner layer, outer layer, and middle layer in combination form a garment for wear on feet of a wearer; wherein the magnets are interspersed in the middle layer (the middle layer located between the inner layer and the outer layer). The inner layer is such that it is located adjacent the foot (feet) of a wearer when the foot garment is worn and the outer layer serving as protection from the elements. The middle layer may also comprise insulating means such as fill.
The magnets don't physically touch the wearer (user) but are in relative proximity of the foot of the wearer when the foot garment (footwear) is worn, the magnets thereby able to positively affect the feet of the wearer. The magnets are embedded in the footwear garment assembly, with each North Pole of each magnet directly facing the foot of the wearer for maximum benefit. In certain embodiments the magnets are directly sewn into the middle layer. Strength of the magnets is preferably 3950 Gauss, and other strengths can also be used. Embedded magnet may be disc-shaped 3950 Gauss ceramic North facing permanent magnets made of rubber. It should be noted that other Gauss levels may be used as per a desired strength of embedded magnet. The foot garment and magnets in combination, as such, form the footwear garment assembly; wherein the footwear with magnets system serves to relieve pain when used. In this way the magnets are useful to promote (positively influence) the foot health of the wearer.
A method of use for footwear with magnets is also disclosed herein preferably comprising the steps of: donning at least one foot garment, each of foot garment(s) comprising a footwear garment assembly having magnets; wearing footwear garment assembly to induce therapeutic treatment via magnets to feet of a wearer; and removing footwear garment(s) after a wearer-defined duration.
The present invention holds significant improvements and serves as a footwear with magnets system. For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention, footwear with magnets system, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view illustrating footwear with magnets in an in-use condition according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an item of footwear (a shoe) of footwear with magnets system according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the shoe embodiment of footwear with magnets system illustrating magnets as used according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating other possible embodiments of the footwear with magnets system (boots, sandals and the like) according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of use for footwear with magnets according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIGS. 1-4.

The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a footwear device and more particularly to footwear with magnets as used to improve the conditions whereby magnetic therapy of feet can be achieved over an extended duration in relative comfort.
Generally speaking, footwear with magnets of the present invention preferably provides people with the convenience of simply wearing footwear to undergo magnetic therapy while worn. This innovative product may comprise a line of footwear with therapeutic magnets embedded or directly sewn into the footwear, with the magnet's North Pole directly facing the user's feet and portions thereof. The therapeutic magnets may be embedded evenly through the entire footwear device or the therapeutic magnets may be embedded only on the insole of the footwear with magnets.
The line of footwear may include a variety of items, such as shoes, boots, sandals, sneakers, skates, slippers, and the like. Other footwear items may also be included within the scope of the present invention. The footwear can be made from natural fabrics, such as leather, fabric, and rubber, natural rubber, plastic, polyurethane, or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) compounds, as well as synthetic fabrics, such as polyester and nylon and other suitable equivalents. The therapeutic magnets used may include ceramic magnets, neodymium magnets, samarium cobalt magnets, and flexible rubber magnets and other forms of magnets. Each of the magnets are placed at least about 1 inch (up to 2 inches) away from another adjacent magnet (diagonally and non-diagonally spaced) throughout the (entirety of) the foot garment such that the foot is able to be therapeutically treated via magnetostatic fields which are static in nature, the magnetostatic fields created by the magnets are used to improve the foot health of the user. Those with ordinary skill in the art will now appreciate that upon reading this specification and by their understanding the art of magnetostatic fields as described herein, methods of therapy using static magnets will be understood by those knowledgeable in such art.
Turning now to discussing the feet of the wearer: The human foot and ankle is a strong and complex mechanical structure containing exactly 26 bones, 33 joints (20 of which are actively articulated), and more than a hundred muscles, tendons, and ligaments, as previously mentioned. The foot can be subdivided into the hindfoot, the midfoot, and the forefoot: the hindfoot is composed of the talus (or ankle bone) and the calcaneus (or heel bone). The two long bones of the lower leg, the tibia and fibula, are connected to the top of the talus to form the ankle. Connected to the talus at the subtalar joint, the calcaneus, the largest bone of the foot, is cushioned inferiorly by a layer of fat. The five irregular bones of the midfoot, the cuboid, navicular, and three cuneiform bones, form the arches of the foot which serves as a shock absorber. The midfoot is connected to the hind- and fore-foot by muscles and the plantar fascia. The forefoot is comprised of five toes and the corresponding five proximal long bones forming the metatarsus. Similar to the fingers of the hand, the bones of the toes are called phalanges and the big toe has two phalanges while the other four toes have three phalanges. The joints between the phalanges are called interphalangeal and those between the metatarsus and phalanges are called metatarsophalangeal (MTP). Both the midfoot and forefoot constitute the dorsum (the area facing upwards while standing) and the planum (the area facing downwards while standing). The instep is the arched part of the top of the foot between the toes and the ankle. The complexity of the foot leads to many problems, as previously mentioned.
Due to their position and function, feet are exposed to a variety of potential infections and injuries, including athlete's foot, bunions, ingrown toenails, Morton's neuroma, plantar fasciitis, plantar warts and stress fractures. This leaves humans vulnerable to medical problems that are caused by poor leg and foot alignments; these problems may be addressed by podiatry; however this may prove expensive and the individual may experience pain, swelling despite treatment. Thus, the present invention looks to solve these problems.
Types of Magnets that may be used for magnetic therapy as disclosed herein; Gauss readings vary within each type according to the magnet's weight, size and shape: Ceramic #5 and Ceramic #8 (Manufacturer's rating 3950 and 4000 Gauss) Actual readings with a Gauss meter will range from 300 to 1200 Gauss. Made by mixing ceramic clay and iron powder. Flexible magnetic rubber (Manufacturer's rating 700 Gauss) Actual readings with a Gauss meter will range from 120 to 260 Gauss. Made by mixing iron powder with rubber. Neodymium (Manufacturer's rating 10200 to 12300 Gauss). Actual readings with a Gauss meter will range from 1700 to 2300 Gauss. A very costly magnet made from a combination of neodymium, iron and boron. Samarium Cobalt (Manufacturer's rating 8700 to 1100 Gauss). Actual readings with a Gauss meter range from 1000 to 2000 Gauss. Made from a combination of samarium and cobalt. Magnet strength is measured in units called Gauss. For comparison, the natural magnetic field of the Earth is about ½ of 1 gauss. The average “refrigerator” magnet is about 10 gauss. Magnets used in therapeutic products may vary from about 100 gauss to 2,500 gauss. The strength of a magnet is dependent on the size, weight and shape of the magnet.
North-Negative Effects are used provides the following: has a counter-clockwise rotation; inhibits; relieves pain; reduces inflammation; produces an alkaline effect; reduces symptoms; rights infections; supports healing; reduces fluid retention; increases cellular oxygen; encourages deep restorative sleep; produces a bright mental effect; reduces fatty deposits; establishes healing polarity; stimulates melatonin production; and normalizes natural alkaline pH.
Referring now to the drawings more specifically by numerals of reference there is shown in FIGS. 1-4 perspective views illustrating footwear with magnets 100 in an in-use condition 150 and various foot garments 104 with magnets 130 that may be employed for use with the present invention.
Footwear with magnets system 100 comprises at least one footwear garment assembly 110 having inner layer 120; a middle layer 122; outer layer 124 (respectively from inside to outside of foot garment 104); and magnets 130; wherein inner layer 120, outer layer 124, and middle layer 122 in combination form foot garment 104 for wear. More layers may be used if desired. Magnets 130 are preferably interspersed in middle layer 122; middle layer 122 located between inner layer 120 and outer layer 124; wherein inner layer 120 is located adjacent the body of wearer 102 when the garment is worn, as shown in FIG. 1.
Foot garment 104 comprises sole 140 which is located at the bottom; insole 142 located at the interior bottom; outsole 144 (the layer in direct contact with the ground); optionally midsole 146; heel 148 (bottom rear part); upper 138 (may comprise vamp and throat in certain embodiments); toe cap 136; (optionally) tongue 134; fastening member 118 such as laces that may be laced through eyelets; optionally pull tab; and toe box. Certain embodiments may comprise foxing, collars and other features. Magnets 130 are not only imbedded in sole(s) 140 of foot garment 104, but also within the linings (in middle layer 122 between inner layer 120 and outer layer 124) of the entire foot garment 104, and magnets 130 are preferably not imbedded in pods, and/or air pockets so that their position is maintained with accuracy. For footwear with magnets system 100, magnets 130 are ideally placed about 1 to 2 inches away from each other, with North Pole 132 of magnets 130 directly facing the user's body (foot 106 of wearer 102). The distances described give optimum therapeutic coverage and the fact that magnets 130 surround (each) foot 106 provide for greater healing potential.
Magnets 130 are held in relative proximity of wearer 102 when the garment is worn; magnets 130 thereby able to affect the body of wearer 102. Magnets 130 are preferably embedded in footwear garment assembly 110, with each North Pole 132 of magnets 130 directly facing foot 106 of wearer 102, as mentioned previously and indicated in FIG. 2. In this way garment and magnets 130 in combination form footwear garment assembly 110; wherein magnets 130 are useful to promote the health of foot 106 of wearer 102 during in-use condition 150, as shown in FIG. 1.
As such, footwear with magnets system 100 serves to relieve pain in foot 106 for wearer 102 when used, to reduce inflammation, to fight infection to support healing, to reduce fluid retention, and to increase cellular oxygen.
Foot garment(s) 104 may comprise shoe(s) 160; boot(s) 162; sandal(s) 164; (various versions thereof) and other footwear items. Magnets 130 may be directly sewn into middle layer in preferred embodiments. Other fastening means may be used such as adhesive. Certain embodiments may use closable pockets or the like such that magnets 130 may be moved from their relative positioning, removed or replaced.
Magnets 130 of footwear with magnets system 100 are therapeutic magnets selected from the group consisting of ceramic magnets, neodymium magnets, samarium cobalt magnets, and flexible rubber magnets. Footwear garment 104 material may be selected from the group consisting of natural fabrics, such as cotton, linen, wool, down, and rubber, as well as synthetic fabrics, such as polyester and nylon. Other fabrics and materials may be used within the scope of the present invention.
Footwear with magnets system 100 may be sold as kit 440 including foot garment 104 for comprising a footwear-line including: at least one (pair of) shoe(s) 160; at least one (pair of) boot(s) 162; at least one (pair of) sandal(s) 164; magnets 130 of various strengths; or combination thereof and at least one set of user instructions. Other garments may be included. Footwear with magnets system 100 may be manufactured and provided for sale in a wide variety of sizes and shapes for a wide assortment of applications. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other kit contents or arrangements such as, for example, including more or less components, customized parts, different color combinations, parts may be sold separately, etc., may be sufficient.
Referring now to FIG. 5, a flowchart 550 illustrating a method of use 500 for footwear with magnets 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIGS. 1-4.
Method of using (method of use 500 for) footwear with magnets comprises the steps of: step one 501 donning at least one foot garment 104, each of foot garment(s) 104 comprising footwear garment assembly 110 having magnets 130; step two 502 wearing footwear garment assembly 110 to induce therapeutic treatment via magnets 130; and step three 503 removing foot garment(s) 104 after a wearer-defined duration.
It should be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶6. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods of use arrangements such as, for example, different orders within above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps, including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc., may be sufficient.
The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.

Claims

What is claimed is new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:

1. A footwear with magnets system comprising:

a footwear garment assembly having;

a sole;

an inner layer;

an outer layer forming an outsole and an upper;

a middle layer; and

magnets;

wherein said inner layer, said outer layer, and said middle layer in combination form a foot garment for wear;

wherein said sole provides cushioning for a foot when wearing said foot garment;

wherein said magnets are interspersed in said sole and in said middle layer, said middle layer located between said inner layer and said outer layer;

wherein said inner layer is located adjacent said foot of a wearer when said foot garment is worn;

wherein said magnets are in relative proximity of said wearer when said foot garment is worn, said magnets able to effect said foot of said wearer;

wherein said magnets are embedded in said footwear garment assembly, with each north pole of said magnets directly facing said foot of said wearer;

wherein each of said magnets are placed at least about 1 inch away from another adjacent said magnet throughout said foot garment such that said foot is able to be therapeutically treated via magnetostatic fields which are static, said magnetostatic fields created by said magnets;

wherein said foot garment and said magnets in combination form said footwear garment assembly; and

wherein said magnets are useful to promote health of said foot of said wearer.

2. The footwear with magnets system of claim 1 wherein said footwear with magnets system serves to relieve pain when used.

3. The footwear with magnets system of claim 2 wherein said footwear with magnets system serves to reduce inflammation when used.

4. The footwear with magnets system of claim 2 wherein said footwear with magnets system serves to fight infection when used.

5. The footwear with magnets system of claim 2 wherein said footwear with magnets system serves to support healing when used.

6. The footwear with magnets system of claim 2 wherein said footwear with magnets system serves to reduce fluid retention when used.

7. The footwear with magnets system of claim 2 wherein said footwear with magnets system serves to increase cellular oxygen when used.

8. The footwear with magnets system of claim 2 wherein said magnets are able to be placed up to two inches away from another adjacent said magnet throughout said foot garment.

9. The footwear with magnets system of claim 2 wherein said foot garment comprises at least one sandal.

10. The footwear with magnets system of claim 2 wherein said foot garment comprises at least one boot.

11. The footwear with magnets system of claim 2 wherein said foot garment comprises at least one shoe.

12. The footwear with magnets system of claim 11 wherein said footwear garment assembly further comprises a tongue.

13. The footwear with magnets system of claim 12 wherein said footwear garment assembly further comprises a midsole comprising a plurality of said magnets.

14. The footwear with magnets system of claim 13 wherein said footwear garment assembly further comprises a pull tab having at least one said magnet located therein.

15. The footwear with magnets system of claim 14 wherein said magnets are not imbedded in pods such that positioning of said magnets is maintained with accuracy relative to said foot.

16. The footwear with magnets system of claim 15 wherein said magnets are not imbedded in air-pockets such that positioning of said magnets is maintained with accuracy relative to said foot.

17. A footwear with magnets system comprising:

a footwear garment assembly having;

a sole;

an inner layer;

an outer layer forming an outsole and an upper;

a middle layer; and

magnets;

wherein each of said magnets are placed an 1 inch away from another adjacent said magnet throughout said foot garment such that said foot is able to be therapeutically treated via magnetostatic fields which are static, said magnetostatic fields created by said magnets;

wherein said footwear with magnets system serves to relieve pain when used;

wherein said footwear with magnets system serves to reduce inflammation when used;

wherein said footwear with magnets system serves to fight infection when used;

wherein said footwear with magnets system serves to support healing when used;

wherein said footwear with magnets system serves to reduce fluid retention when used;

wherein said footwear with magnets system serves to increase cellular oxygen when used;

wherein said foot garment and said magnets in combination form said footwear garment assembly;

wherein said footwear garment assembly further comprises a midsole comprising a plurality of said magnets;

wherein said footwear garment assembly further comprises a pull tab having at least one said magnet located therein;

wherein said foot garment comprises at least one shoe;

wherein said magnets are not imbedded in pods such that positioning of said magnets is maintained with accuracy relative to said foot;

wherein said magnets are not imbedded in air-pockets such that positioning of said magnets is maintained with accuracy relative to said foot; and

wherein said magnets are useful to promote health of said foot of said wearer.

18. The footwear with magnets system of claim 17 wherein said footwear garment material is selected from the group consisting of natural fabrics of leather, fabric, and rubber.

19. The footwear with magnets system of claim 17 wherein said magnets are therapeutic said magnets selected from the group consisting of ceramic said magnets, neodymium said magnets, samarium cobalt said magnets, and flexible rubber said magnets.

20. A method of using footwear with magnets comprising the steps of:

donning at least one foot garment, each of said foot garment(s) comprising a footwear garment assembly having magnets;

wearing said footwear garment assembly to induce therapeutic treatment via said magnets, said therapeutic treatment via magnetostatic fields which are static in nature; and

removing said foot garment(s) after a wearer-defined duration.