METHOD OF CUSHIONING AND VENTILATING A FOOT, AND FOOTWEAR INCLUDING DISPOSABLE SLIPPERS AND INSOLES PRACTICING SUCH METHOD

摘要

METHOD OF CUSHIONING AND VENTILATING A FOOT, AND FOOTWEAR INCLUDING DISPOSABLE SLIPPERS AND INSOLES FOR PRACTICING SUCH METHOD A method of cushioning and ventilating a foot surface by providing footwear made from a cushioning and ventilating member which constitutes a new use for a known material sometimes called bubble wrap commonly used in shipping rooms for packaging. This material is of laminated construction, consisting of two very thin sheets of non-rubberlike, non-elastic plastics material such as polyethylene heat-sealed together, one of the sheets being formed with a plurality of separate and independent, spacedapart pockets providing a plurality of independent, closed, individually sealed air cells at atmospheric pressure. Two embodiments of footwear for practicing the invention are disclosed, one being a complete slipper, the other being a separable insole or bottom liner for an existing slipper or shoe. In each case, because the material itself is packaging material, of little value, the footwear is extremely low in cost, cheap enough to be discarded after one use or a few uses, yet strong enough and durable enough for extended use if necessary or desirable.