2. PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION | COMPLETE
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
The present invention relates to Antistatic / Sterilizable (Autoclave able) Clogs (Shoes). More particularly, the invention relates to seamless, joint less, autoclavable / sterlizable Clogs. The Clogs having ventilation ports are for working in dry area & the Clogs without ventilation ports are for working in the wet areas. The Clogs of the present invention are ideally designed and suited for use in high sterile zones in Hospitals like Operation theatres/ I.C.U / Blood Banks etc. for the Doctors, Nurses, Ward boys and other technical and supporting staff who are working these zones. In pharmaceutical industry having high sterile zones & other allied industries.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
One typical area where such products are extensively used is in the operating rooms where the operating room personnel must maintain maximum sterility to prevent contamination & infection.
The two most commonly used footwears in India in operation theatres, are rubber slippers and canvas shoes. However, in all developed countries only Clogs are used in sterile zones.
In an operation theatre accidental spillage of blood/fluid/soiled swab or instruments falling on the feet of Doctors, nurses or other theatre staff is not uncommon. Further, with increasing risk of spread of many fatal diseases likes HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis "B" and Hepatitis "C" which are spread through contact of contaminated blood, risk of the Doctors, nurses and other theatre staff assisting the doctor during operation in operation theatre getting infected by these diseases has increased manifold. Two most commonly used footwears in operation theatre are rubber slippers and canvas shoes.
Wearing a slipper in operation theatre is not recommended, as it does not cover the feet of the Doctors, nurses or other staff and thereby is associated with the risks involved as explained herein before. Slippers are also not recommended due to the reasons that they are very unhygienic because slippers are made up of two parts, a sole and strap on the top to hold the foot in the slipper. It is in the joints of the slippers that bacterium grows. Even covers offer minimal protection because these are porous and become soggy after some times. Another option is to wear full boots with long necks like firemen. But these fireman type boots would be too heavy to handle.
Therefore, Clogs are the best suited for the purposes as explained above, as Clogs are made up of single piece thereby reducing the risk of bacterium growth in the joints, cover the maximum part of the feet, they are not too heavy to wear and they offer protection from the risks as explained above.
Another factor why sterlizable Clogs are required is that before entering the operation theatre, Doctors, nurses and other theatre staff change their clothes and wear a sterile gown, use sterilized gloves and head caps and face mask. These are generally either sterilized or disposed off after the single use. Thus the only article, which is neither sterilized or disinfected nor disposed off, is the footwear.
Another disadvantage of the slippers making them unhygienic for the purposes is that slippers, being heat sensitive, thus neither can be disinfected by putting them in washer/disinfector because of the hot water or steam cycle in the machine nor can be sterilized . Therefore, Clogs are the first choice foot wears in side the operation theatre.
Use of modern and sophisticated electrical equipments has been increasing day by day. In modern operation theatres, Doctors and other staff members handle a large number of electrical/ electronics equipments, which in turn increase, the static energy in the body. But in foot wears which do not have antistatic properties, this energy is not neutralized and may result into electric shock to a person using this equipment or the patient. According to British standard 5451, conducting footwear should have a maximum
resistance of 1.5 X 105 ohm, whereas, for anti-static footwear, a resistance in the range 5 X 104 to 5. X 107 ohm is required.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
Accordingly present invention relates to Clogs which are antistatic & sterlizable and can be used in High sterile zones in the hospitals, pharmaceutical industry etc. The Clogs of the present invention are a seamless, joint less, autocleavable, sterlizable footwear having antistatic properties with and without ventilation ports for use in the operation theatres & other high sterile zones. The said Clogs are made from synthetic material having antistatic properties and resistance to the chemicals commonly used for sterilizing. The Clogs of the present invention can be autoclaved / sterilized at 134° C or 121° C (as per the need & requirement of the particular sterile zone). Can also be disinfected in the washer/disinfector & further can also be sterilized by Gamma radiations. The Clogs of the present invention do not have any joints or seams and is in a single piece.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION:
The present invention relates to Clogs, which are seamless, joint less, autoclavable,
sterlizable, antistatic i.e. it negates (discharges) the static charge built up in the body of the user. Test result have shown that Clogs of the present invention has antistatic properties (Insulation Resistance at 500 V.D.C.) of 8x10 ohm and heat tolerance (Steam at 121° C for 25 minutes & at 134° C for 5 minutes ) showing no deterioration.
The Clogs of the present invention provide a number of advantages, which have been lacking in the prior art. The seamless and joint less structure of the Clogs of the invention eliminates the chances of growth and development of bacteria in the joints and it also reduces the chances of contamination of the operation theatre and also protects the feet from coming into contact with the contaminated blood or being injured by any object falling on the feet.
The Clogs of the present invention are made up of single piece of the flexible material. The flexible material having antistatic properties has been molded in the
shoe-shaped structure. The Clogs of the present invention are made up of a single piece molded structure and do not have any joint or seam.
In one of the preferred embodiments, the Clogs are made up of an anti static material, which ensures the discharge of any static energy built up in the body of the user. The Clogs of the present invention comprises of a sole and a upper covering. The sole and the upper covering portion are made up of the same material and are molded in a single piece, shoe-shaped structure. Outer surface of the sole, facing the earth, has small tooth/bristle like protrusions to offer a better grip on the floor while moving on the smooth floor of the operation theatre.
The upper portion of the shoe-shaped Clogs have a uniform, joint less covering layer forming upper surface of the Clogs. This upper portion of the Clogs has no joints or gaps in between and is a uniform structure, which is closed from the front side. The upper portion of the shoe-shaped Clogs is attached to the sole from three sides including front and both, left & right sides. The back portion of the clogs is open in order to facilitate the wearing and use of the Clogs. The Clogs can be worn and removed from the feet by stepping in and out of the Clogs from the back open section.
The clogs of the present invention can be autoclaved / sterilized at 134° C or 121° C (as per the need & requirement of the particular sterile zone). & can also be disinfected in washers and disinfectors having hot water or steam cycle.
The Clogs of the present invention can also be sterilized using Gamma radiations. The material used in the Clogs of the present invention is resistant to the chemicals commonly used for sterilizing.
Clogs of the present invention are very durable because the Clogs suffer less wear and tear because the wear and tear of a product happens when one material / substance comes in contact with another material/substance, the "friction" (amounting to generation of heat) is created. The material / substance which is less heat resistance than the other material / substance would be consumed faster i.e. is more prone to wear and tear. Therefore, it is the friction i.e. "heat" which causes the wear and tear. Clogs of the present invention withstand heat of 134° C or 121° C and thereby they
offer a longer life as compared to the slippers and conventional foot wear.
The Clogs of the present invention do not have ventilation ports as Clogs are mainly
worn in Air Conditioned environment therefore ventilation ports / holes are not
necessary. But if required, the desired ports /holes for ventilation can be incorporated.
However, Clogs with ports / holes would restrict their use in only dry areas & not wet
areas
Scientifically designed shape and structure of the Clogs of the present invention offer
comfort while wearing and therefore can be worn for a longer period of time.
The Clogs of the present invention can be used but not limited to hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, dental clinics, pathology labs, biological labs, blood banks, pharmaceutical labs, chemical labs, biotechnology labs, research and development labs, telecom and computer industry.

I CLAIM:
1. A seamless, jointless, autoclavable and sterlizable, antistatic Clogs
comprising:
i). a single piece shoe-shaped structure, said single piece shoe-shaped Clog
having a lower sole section and an upper covering section joined to said lower
section;
ii) said lower sole section extending in an upward direction to form covering
of the foot of the wearer;
iii) said lower sole section having tooth / bristle like protrusions on the outer
surface facing the floor of the earth;
iv). Said upper section having a uniform structure covering the upper portion
of the feet,
v) said upper section of the clog being attached to the lower sole section from
three sides,
vi) said upper section being open at the rear/back section of the clog to enable
the wearer step in and out of the Clogs;
vii) said upper section and lower sole sections jointly forming a closed
structure open only from the rear/back portion of the Clogs.
2. Clogs as claimed in claim 1, wherein the Clogs are made from synthetic material having antistatic properties.
3. Clogs as claimed in claim 1, wherein the Clogs have Insulation Resistance at 500V.D.C. of 8xl09ohm.
4. Clogs as claimed in claim 1, wherein the Clogs are heat tolerated in steam at 121°C. & 134° C.
5. Clogs as claimed in claim 1, wherein the Clogs are autoclavable and sterlizable at a temperature of 121° C. & 134° C.
6. Clogs as claimed in claim 1, wherein the Clogs are sterlizable by Gamma radiation.
7. Clogs as claimed in claims 1, which are chemical resistant.
8. Clogs as claimed in claim 1, which do not have ventilation ports for use in the dry areas & with ventilation ports for use in the wet areas.
9. A Clogs as claimed in claim 1, which are used in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, dental clinics, pathology labs, biological labs, blood banks, pharmaceutical labs, chemical labs, biotechnology labs, research and development labs, telecom and computer industry.