Insert for rockered foot bed of footwear

Abstract

A molded insert, and methods for forming same, for a rockered foot bed of a boot, such as, but not limited to ice skating boots, or a rockered foot bed of a shoe, such as, but not limited to exercise, therapeutic, or physiological footwear, is described. The molded insert can be formed of any moldable material that is substantially firm when cured or dried. The moldable material can be used to fill in the concave portion of the rockered foot bed to form a substantially flat or level surface for the bottom of the wearer's foot, especially in the area corresponding from the beginning of the heel portion of the foot to the beginning of the ball of the foot (e.g., the mid-foot), thus providing adequate support for the foot's arch during typical ice skating maneuvers.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]The instant application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 169,346, filed Apr. 15, 2009, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 169,350, filed Apr. 15, 2009, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 169,493, filed Apr. 15, 2009, the entire specifications of all of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates generally to inserts for footwear, such as shoes or boots, and, more specifically to a molded insert, and methods for forming same, for a rockered foot bed of a boot, such as, but not limited to ice skating boots, or a rockered foot bed of a shoe, such as, but not limited to exercise, therapeutic, or physiological footwear.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Referring to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, conventional boots 10 (as well as shoes) are typically constructed with at least a slightly rockered or curved foot bed 12 and / or sole 1...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]In accordance with the general teachings of the present invention, a new and improved molded insert for a rockered foot bed of a boot, such as, but not limited to ice skating boots, or a rockered foot bed of a shoe, such as, but not limited to exercise, therapeutic, or physiological footwear, is provided. The molded insert can be formed of any moldable material that is substantially firm when cured or dried. The moldable material can be used to fill in the concave portion of the rockered foot bed to form a substantially flat or level surface for the bottom of the wearer's foot, especially in the area corresponding from the beginning of the heel portion of the foot to the beginning of the ball of the foot (e.g., the mid-foot), thus providing adequate support for the foot's arch during typical ice skating maneuvers.

[0010]In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the insert can be formed of a material that is shaped rather than molded. By way of a non-limiting example, the material can be formed of compressed materials (e.g., sawdust / resin mixtures and / or the like), shaped materials (e.g., cork and / or the like), and / or the like. That is, the shape of the insert can be determined in any way, and the insert cut or otherwise shaped to an appropriate form, e.g., outside of the boot or shoe. However, the shaped insert would nonetheless still need to fill the concave portion of the rockered foot bed and provide a substantially flat or level surface for the bottom of the wearer's foot, especially in the area corresponding from the beginning of the heel portion of the foot to the beginning of the ball of the foot (e.g., the mid-foot), thus providing adequate support for the foot's arch during typical ice skating maneuvers.

[0013]In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided for forming an insert for an area defining a depression formed in a foot bed of a piece of footwear, comprising: (1) placing an amount of moldable material onto the depression; (2) causing a substantially planar top surface to be formed on the moldable material; and (3) allowing the moldable material to cure or harden.

Problems solved by technology

Because of these different mechanical conditions being present, the ice skater's foot has constant pressure on the arch, and, with a concave gap formed in the rockered foot bed, the muscles, bones, tendons and ligaments of the foot (especially in proximity to the arch) can become stressed and / or injured as the foot (especially the arch) repeatedly collapses (or attempts to collapse) into this space.

Additionally, individuals with pre-existing arch problems may find walking in the afore-mentioned exercise, therapeutic, or physiological footwear difficult or painful for at least the same reasons discussed in the preceding paragraph.

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