Multiplex sockliner system

Abstract

A sockliner for use in a shoe assembly designed to strategically distribute underfoot pressure and to facilitate air circulation within a shoe. The sockliner includes a base having a top face, a bottom face and a plurality of perforation holes positioned across the length of the base and extending therethrough. The sockliner further includes a plurality of ventilation grooves located along a peripheral edge of the sockliner designed to cooperate with the perforation holes to encourage air flow. The bottom face of the sockliner further includes a plurality of zones, each zone including a plurality of lugs which are strategically designed and located to support the weight of the wearer and provide cushioning to the wearer's foot.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates generally to a footwear construction and, more particularly, to a sockliner having ventilation grooves and perforation holes for promoting airflow, and having a plurality of zones for housing a network of lugs designed for facilitating foot movement, cushioning, breathability and flexibility.[0002]Numerous attempts have been made over the years to incorporate into footwear means for providing improved cushioning and support within a shoe's construction. Shoes, at their most fundamental level, are intended to provide protection and comfort to the human foot during the course of day-to-day activities. Footwear designs have varied greatly over time as well as from culture to culture, with the predominate focus relating to functionality. Typically, shoe interiors contain a variety of hard materials and / or low density foam and often include substantially flat surfaces which come into direct contact with the foot. Such materia...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]The present invention is directed to a sockliner which uses pressure distribution technology to adequately distribute an individual's weight and includes ventilation mechanisms to facilitate airflow around the foot. The present invention further involves the integration of the present sockliner into a shoe assembly. It is also generally recognized that the sockliner of the present invention is more resistant to “bottoming out” which, for purposes of this disclosure, means that the sockliner will not reach a threshold of force where the single density material will not further compress.

Problems solved by technology

While these types of materials may provide comfort in the short-term, such materials quickly compress, thus failing to provide sufficient support and / or cushioning over the course of an entire day.

Although many of these aftermarket insoles are marketed as a simple solution for increasing support and / or comfort, their use is often associated with fit problems and ultimately fail to deliver the improvements promised.

This is because the space and structural limitations of a variety of footwear interiors were not considered when these insoles were designed.

Furthermore, aftermarket insoles are typically a solid piece of foam which traps air, preventing air from flowing under and around the foot, creating an unpleasant environment within the shoe.

Oftentimes, individuals generally find footwear uncomfortable after a full day of wear, regardless of whether the individual is relying only on the support elements built within the shoe's structure or if they have added additional support in the form of a purchased aftermarket insole.

In particular, such current support elements fail to adequately distribute an individual's weight during footstrike and are constructed in a way that inhibits airflow around the foot.

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