Static dissipation modifications for shoes

Abstract

Disclosed are improved designs for incorporating static dissipative qualities into footwear. A novel static dissipative shoe may be made by incorporating a conductive layer or element that spans the exposed side surface of the sole on the outside of the finished shoe, in at least one location along the perimeter of the sole. A unique advantage is that static dissipative qualities may be incorporated into many existing shoe designs with no tooling changes, by adding a step to the manufacturing process, such as a pad printing step, for instance. Another advantage is that static dissipative qualities may be included at a lower cost, because fewer conductive parts and less conductive material are required, as compared to prior art. Yet another advantage is that, unlike for prior art, most embodiments have a negligible effect upon basic shoe performance characteristics, such as shock absorption, support, or wear resistance.