Articles for foot care

Abstract

The invention relates to improvements in articles for foot care, for example foot care devices, footwear and insoles for footwear. A body of discrete operative members ( 30 ) is provided, the operative members ( 30 ) each having a tip portion ( 31 ) for interaction with a human or animal foot ( 40 ). In use, the operative members ( 30 ) can be resiliently deformed by engagement with the foot ( 40 ). The operative members ( 30 ) of the invention can thus provide cushioning and stimulation to a user.

1 . An article for foot care comprising a body of discrete operative members, the operative members each having a tip portion for interaction with a human or animal foot, and the operative members being resiliently deformable on engagement by the foot. 
     
     
         2 . An article as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the article is footwear. 
     
     
         3 . An article as claimed  claim 1 , wherein the article is an insole. 
     
     
         4 . An article as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tip portion is for interacting with the sole of the foot and the operative members are resiliently deformable under the weight of the foot. 
     
     
         5 . An article as claimed in  claim 1  for treating a wound, wherein the tip portion stimulates, in use, the wound bed of the wound. 
     
     
         6 . An article as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein a dressing is provided between the wound bed and the operative member, and wherein the tip portion interacts, in use, with the dressing to stimulate the wound bed. 
     
     
         7 . An article as claimed in  claim 5 , the tip portion interacts directly with the wound bed. 
     
     
         8 . An article as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the thickness and/or density of the operative members varies over different regions of the article. 
     
     
         9 . An article as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the length of the operative members is less than 10 mm. 
     
     
         10 . An article as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the body of discrete operative members comprises both longer and shorter operative members. 
     
     
         11 . An article as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the operative members comprise support springs. 
     
     
         12 . An article as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the operative members are linear. 
     
     
         13 . An article as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the operative members are curved. 
     
     
         14 . An article as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the tip portion includes a recess. 
     
     
         15 . An article as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the operative member is hollow and the recess is defined by an open end portion of the operative member. 
     
     
         16 . An article as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the operative member is in fluid communication with an air reservoir, the air reservoir being reducible in volume, in use. 
     
     
         17 . An article as claimed in  claim 1  wherein at least some of the operative members project perpendicularly from a major surface of the article. 
     
     
         18 . An article as claimed in  claim 1  wherein at least some of the operative members project at an oblique angle from a major surface of the article. 
     
     
         19 . An article as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the operative members are arranged in a predetermined array. 
     
     
         20 . An article as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein alignment direction of the operative members is variable in the predetermined array. 
     
     
         21 . An article as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the operative members are fibres. 
     
     
         22 . An article as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the fibres are microfibres. 
     
     
         23 . An article as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a base layer and a top layer, wherein the body of discrete operative members provides the top layer of the article. 
     
     
         24 . An article as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the discrete operative members are threaded through the base layer. 
     
     
         25 . An article as claimed in  claim 23 , further comprising a fibre mesh layer. 
     
     
         26 . An article as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the base layer comprises a visco-elastic material. 
     
     
         27 . An article as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the base layer comprises a viscous material. 
     
     
         28 . An article as claimed in  claim 23 , further comprising a viscous material layer. 
     
     
         29 . An article as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the viscous material is a low density foam. 
     
     
         30 . An article as claimed  claim 27 , wherein the viscous material is a granulated material. 
     
     
         31 . An article as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the viscous material is a slow rebound viscous material. 
     
     
         32 . An article as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the slow rebound viscous material has a rebound time of between 0.05 and 0.50 seconds. 
     
     
         33 . An article as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the viscosity of the viscous layer varies across the layer.