Device attachable to item of clothing for dispensing material for enhancing gripping properties of shoe sole

Abstract

A wiping device may be a friable layer or an absorbent pad made of a material that can absorb and retain a fluid composition and can be attached or is attached to an item of clothing, such as a sock, shoe, compression sleeve, etc. The device is impregnated with an adhesive-type tacky substance that is released when a shoe sole is wiped against it to clean the shoe sole and allow surface dust and debris to be removed from the shoe sole. The deposited substance also forms a film or coating that remains adhered to the surface of the shoe sole to improve traction by imparting tackiness to the shoe sole.

1 . A device for enhancing the gripping properties of shoe sole comprising:
 a patch having front and rear surfaces;   attachment means for attaching said patch to a surface if an item of clothing such that said rear surface of said patch abuts against said surface of said item of clothing and exposes said front surface of said patch, said front surface of said patch being arranged to allow wiping or rubbing same against the bottom surface of a shoe sole and application of a thin film or coating of a material that enhances the tackiness between the shoe sole and a hard playing surface.   
     
     
         2 . A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said patch is in the form of an absorbent pad. 
     
     
         3 . A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said attachment means comprises stitching. 
     
     
         4 . A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said attachment means comprises adhesive. 
     
     
         5 . A device as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said adhesive is a central adhesive layer within the periphery of said patch. 
     
     
         6 . A device as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said adhesive is a strip of adhesive extending about said periphery of said patch. 
     
     
         7 . A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said patch comprises a layer of friable material. 
     
     
         8 . A device as defined in  claim 7 , wherein said patch is formed of a semi-solid material to enhance friability. 
     
     
         9 . A device as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a release liner removably attached to said front surface of said patch to protect said front surface prior to use. 
     
     
         10 . A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said patch includes a layer for containing a material that is fluid and can be selectively released through said front surface. 
     
     
         11 . A device as defined in  claim 10 , further comprising control means for controlling the degree to which said material can be dispensed through said front surface when an object such as a shoe sole is brushed or wiped against said front surface. 
     
     
         12 . A device as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said control means comprises a semi-permeable membrane. 
     
     
         13 . A device as defined in  claim 12 , further comprising a removable pull out strip of non-permeable material between said front surface and said semi-permeable membrane to prevent disposal of said fluid material through said semi-permeable membrane prior to use. 
     
     
         14 . A device as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said strip includes at least one tab that extends beyond the periphery of said patch that can be gripped and pulled out to allow said fluid material to be dispensed through said semi-permeable membrane. 
     
     
         15 . A device as defined in  claim 10 , wherein said patch layer comprises an absorbent layer. 
     
     
         16 . A device as defined in  claim 10 , wherein said patch layer comprises a compartment for receiving and retaining said fluid material. 
     
     
         17 . A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said coating material dispensed by said patch comprises:
 a film former;   an adhesive;   a tackifier; and   a solvent for separating said film former, adhesive and tackifier prior to application to the shoe sole surface and causing same to bond into a tacky film after application and evaporation of said solvent.   
     
     
         18 . A device as defined in  claim 17 , wherein said coating material further comprises nano-sized particles comprising organic emulsion polymerized cross-linked polymer. 
     
     
         19 . A device as defined in  claim 17 , wherein said adhesive is a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA). 
     
     
         20 . A device as defined in  claim 17 , wherein said film former comprises a melting rosin having a melting point selected to be within a temperature range of 65-125° F.