Footwear article

Abstract

A footwear article ( 200 a ) for providing for static discharge from the body of a user of the footwear article ( 200 a ) to a ground surface, said footwear article ( 200 a ) including an outsole ( 220 a ) having one or more apertures extending therethrough so as to provide a passage from an upper surface ( 224 a ) of the outsole ( 220 a ) to a ground surface; an upper ( 222 a ), said upper ( 222 a ) extending from at least a portion of periphery of the outsole ( 220 a ), and extending over at least a portion of the foot of the user, so as to affix the footwear to the foot of the user; an insole ( 250 a ) located above said outsole ( 220 a ); and an electrically conductive discharge element ( 242 a ) located within said passage of the outsole ( 220 a ) and extending between the outsole ( 220 a ) and the insole ( 250 a ) and in electrical communication between the ground surface and the foot of the user; wherein upon the body of the user having developed static charge therein, said static charge is at least partially discharged from charge flowing from the foot of the user to the discharge element ( 242 a ), and from the discharge element ( 242 a ) to the ground surface.

1 . A footwear article for providing for static discharge from the body of the user of the footwear article to a ground surface, said footwear article including:
 an outsole having one or more apertures extending therethrough so as to provide a passage from an upper surface of the outsole to a ground surface;   an upper, said upper extending from at least a portion of periphery of the outsole, and extending over at least a portion of the foot of a user, so as to affix the footwear to the foot of the user;   an insole located above said outsole; and   an electrically conductive discharge element located within said passage of the outsole and extending between the outsole and the insole and in electrical communication between the ground surface and the foot of a user;   wherein upon the body of the user having developed static charge therein, said static charge is at least partially discharged from charge flowing from the foot of the user to the discharge element, and from the discharge element to the ground surface.   
     
     
         2 . A footwear article according to  claim 1 , wherein said upper substantially encloses the foot of a user. 
     
     
         3 . A footwear article according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the upper and the outsole are integrally formed. 
     
     
         4 . A footwear article according to  claim 3 , wherein the upper and the outsole are formed from a polymeric material. 
     
     
         5 . A footwear article according to  claim 4 , wherein the polymeric material is an expandable polymeric material. 
     
     
         6 . A footwear article according to  claim 4  of  claim 5 , wherein said polymeric material is ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA). 
     
     
         7 . A footwear article according to any one of  claims 3  to  6 , wherein the footwear article is a molded footwear article. 
     
     
         8 . A footwear article according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the outsole and the upper are non-unitary formed. 
     
     
         9 . A footwear article according to  claim 8 , wherein the outsole and the upper are formed from different materials. 
     
     
         10 . A footwear article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the discharge element is in electrical communication with a lateral aspect of the foot of the user. 
     
     
         11 . A footwear article according to  claim 10 , wherein the discharge element includes a contact portion for contact with the lateral aspect of the foot of a user. 
     
     
         12 . A footwear article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the discharge element is in electrical communication with at least a portion of the peripheral side of the foot of a user. 
     
     
         13 . A footwear article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the discharge element is in electrical communication with the upper side of the foot of a user. 
     
     
         14 . A footwear article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper includes include material lining extending about at least a portion of the interior surface of the upper, wherein said material lining includes electrically conductive elements and said material lining is in electrical communication with said discharge element, and wherein the material lining provides contact and electrical communication with the foot of the user. 
     
     
         15 . A footwear article according to  claim 14 , wherein said material includes electrically conductive threads or yarn. 
     
     
         16 . A footwear article according to any one of  claims 1  to  9 , wherein the discharge element is in electrical communication with the underside of the foot of the user. 
     
     
         17 . A footwear article according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the discharge element includes a plug portion, wherein said plug portion is formed from a polymeric, rubberized or silicone material, and is engageable within said aperture of said outsole. 
     
     
         18 . A footwear article according to  claim 17 , wherein said plug portion is sealingly engageable with the outsole, so as to substantially prevent ingress of liquid through said aperture from below the outsole in use. 
     
     
         19 . A footwear article according to  claim 17  or  claim 18 , wherein said plug portion material includes a conductive material therein, so as to form an electrically conductive composite. 
     
     
         20 . A footwear article according to  claim 19 , wherein said conductive material is a carbon material. 
     
     
         21 . A footwear article according to  claim 20 , wherein carbon material is provided in fiber or particulate form. 
     
     
         22 . A footwear article according to any one of  claims 17  to  21 , wherein the discharge element includes a contact portion, for contact with the foot of a user. 
     
     
         23 . A footwear article according to  claim 22 , wherein the contact portion of the discharge element is unitary formed with the plug portion of the discharge element. 
     
     
         24 . A footwear article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the footwear article is a footwear article selected from the group including a surgical slipper, a sports shoe, a running shoe or a dress shoe. 
     
     
         25 . A footwear article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the insole of the footwear article is removeable and interchangeable. 
     
     
         26 . An electrically conductive discharge element for providing for static discharge from the body of the user of a footwear article to a ground surface;
 wherein said electrically conductive discharge element is locatable within a passage of the outsole of a footwear article which extends between the outsole and an insole of said footwear article;   wherein said electrically conductive discharge element provides electrical communication between the ground surface and the foot of a user wearing said footwear article; and   wherein upon the body of the user having developed static charge therein, said static charge is at least partially discharged from charge flowing from the foot of the user to the discharge element, and from the discharge element to the ground surface.   
     
     
         27 . An electrically conductive discharge element according to  claim 26 , wherein the discharge element includes a plug portion, wherein said plug portion is formed from a polymeric, rubberized or silicone material, and is engageable within said aperture of said outsole. 
     
     
         28 . An electrically conductive discharge element according to  claim 27 , wherein said plug portion is sealingly engageable with the outsole of a footwear article, so as to substantially prevent ingress of liquid through said aperture from below the outsole in use. 
     
     
         29 . An electrically conductive discharge element according to  claim 27  or  claim 28 , wherein said plug portion material includes a conductive material therein, so as to form an electrically conductive composite. 
     
     
         30 . An electrically conductive discharge element according to  claim 29 , wherein said conductive material is a carbon material. 
     
     
         31 . An electrically conductive discharge element according to  claim 30 , wherein carbon material is provided in fiber or particulate form, 
     
     
         32 . An electrically conductive discharge element according to any one of  claims 27  to  31 , wherein the discharge element includes a contact portion, for contact with the foot of a user. 
     
     
         33 . An electrically conductive discharge element according to  claim 32 , wherein the contact portion of the discharge element is unitary formed with the plug portion of the discharge element. 
     
     
         34 . An electrically conductive discharge element according to  claim 33 , wherein the discharge element and the plug portion are formed from a polymeric, rubberized or silicone material. 
     
     
         35 . An electrically conductive discharge element according to  claim 35 , wherein said conductive material is a carbon material. 
     
     
         36 . An electrically conductive discharge element according to  claim 35 , wherein carbon material is provided in fiber or particulate form. 
     
     
         37 . An electrically conductive discharge element according to any one of  claims 26  to  36 , wherein the electrically conductive discharge element is locatable within a passage of the outsole of a footwear article which extends between the outsole and an insole of said footwear article, wherein the footwear article is selected from the group including a surgical slipper, a sports shoe, a running shoe or a dress shoe.