Contoured Support Shoe Insole

Abstract

An insole having a top sheet and a base layer with three pieces that include a base layer, a forefoot pad and a midfoot-to-heel support cushion. The mid-foot / heel surface has a raised medial arch and longitudinal curvilinear indentations, a flattened mid-foot area with a metatarsal mid-foot tear-drop raised area, and a surrounding the heel pod that cups the exterior back by a heel cup. A heel pad opening goes through the entirety of the thickness of base layer of the insole body and a heel pad is affixed to the bottom surface of the base layer. There is also a supersoft heel dome and a metatarsal raised dome on the top (foot contact) surface of the insole which would be directly above the heel pod and the metatarsal midfoot area, respectively.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62 / 167,771 filed May 28, 2015, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62 / 182,060 filed Jun. 19, 2015, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62 / 234,212 filed Sep. 29, 2015.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]Not applicable.TECHNICAL FIELD[0003]The present invention relates in general to an improved shoe insole and more particularly to an insole providing improved cushioning and support to the foot of a wearer.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]Insoles are inserted in the shoes of a user to provide one or more advantages to the comfort of the wearer or the support of the foot. Insoles are generally sold in pairs and one of each pair is adapted for use in a right shoe and the other adapted for use in a left shoe of a user. It is advantageous to provide appropriate structure to an insole so that it serves the pur...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]In accordance with principles of the present invention, the shoe insole 100 has a bottom surface formed of three pieces including: (1) a base layer extending from heel-to-toe, (2) a forefoot pad positioned in a forefoot / toe indentation on a forefoot base area of the insole, and, (3) a midfoot to heel support cushion made of a soft polyurethane positioned in a midfoot to heel indentation. The forefoot pad and the midfoot / heel support cushion are secured adjacent to one another on the bottom surface of the base layer. In one preferred embodiment the base bottom surface has indentations dimensioned to receive cushioning pads. In an alternative embodiment the base bottom surface has cushions and pads molded into the base bottom surface. A thin layer of nylon fabric may be positioned in the forefoot pad indentation between the forefoot pad and the material of the base bottom surface to increase the adhesion of the forefoot pad to the base material when the forefoot pad and base bottom surface are made of differing materials.

[0014]There is a raised separation wall located on the base layer between the forefoot / toe layer and the midfoot / heel support cushion, which is located laterally across the width of the insole between the metatarsal and forefoot areas on the insole. The insole has a top sheet layer that extends from heel to toe over the top surface of the base layer. There is a heel dome on the top surface of the insole and a metatarsal dome raised on the top surface of the insole, each of which respectively improves the cushioning characteristics of the insole at or near high impact points on the insole. The forefoot pad has a diamond cube shaped groove pattern on its bottom surface to improve forefoot cushioning characteristics, and improve traction and adhesion of the insole inside and along the interior bottom surface of the user's shoe. In an alternate embodiment, the forefoot pad has a honeycomb-shaped pattern. In yet another embodiment, the forefoot pad has a texturized un-patterned surface.

[0018]In an alternate embodiment, the heel pad has a honeycomb-shaped pattern. In yet another embodiment, the heel pad has a texturized un-patterned surface, and a thin layer of nylon fabric may be positioned in the heel pad indentation between the heel pad and the material of the base bottom surface to increase the adhesion of the heel pad to the base material when the heel pad and base bottom surface are made of differing materials.

[0020]Overall, the above features appear to be novel characteristics for this insole, and seem to be patentably distinct from the other insoles. The method of construction of the present insole is also a unique and novel feature of the present invention. In accordance with principles of the present invention, a cushioning core or base is combined with a relatively stiff support cushion and a number of other pads to form an insole that provides greater cushioning, stability, and control than was conventionally known in the state of the art. The pads can have a different firmness than the base or the support cushion. The pads and support cushion assist with prevention of supination, and the supplemental heel pad assists with the prevention of pronation. The current invention is an insole that provides a balanced approach to improving longitudinal arch support, prevention of pronation and prevention of supination by incorporation of the combination of the above elements.

[0021]The characteristics of the components, their size and shape, and their position are selected to provide a desired blend of improved cushioning and control, and more specifically to achieve a desired biomechanical function. The size and compression characteristics of the pads can be adjusted to address issues of over / under pronation, over / under supination, and other problems related to foot motion, including altering the size, shape, and material properties of the pads. The firmness of the pads and support cushion can be adjusted to address issues of over / under pronation, over / under supination, and other problems related to foot motion by altering the size, shape, and material properties of the pads. The present invention accomplishes the goals to: (1) improve ankle and foot stability, (2) cushion the heel and forefoot during push-offs and landings, (3) help prevent over pronation and over supination conditions, and (4) provide enhanced cushioning features to the heel, midfoot, arch and forefoot areas. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the components of an insole are permanently affixed to each other to create an insole designed for an intended type or category of activity. Many different insole designs can be made to address a broad range of different activities.

Problems solved by technology

The human foot is a very complex biological mechanism.

Like most custom made items, custom insoles tend to be expensive because of the low volume and extensive time needed to make and fit them properly.

As such, it is not practical to make such custom made insoles for the general public.

However, for more strenuous or technically challenging activities, such as carrying a heavy backpack or traversing difficult terrain, a typical cushioning insole will not be adequate.

Under such conditions, a cushioning insole by itself would not provide enough support and control, and tends to bottom out during use by fully compressing the cushioning insole.

The rigid structure is good at controlling motion, but is not very forgiving.

As a result, when motion of the foot reaches a limit imposed by the rigid structure, the load on the foot tends to change abruptly and increases the load on the structures of the foot.

Because biological tissues such as tendons and ligaments are sensitive to the rate at which they are loaded, the abrupt change in load causes injury or damage to the foot, ankle or leg.

These prior art patents, however, do not address the problems of enhanced cushioning and stability, possible movement of the insole during shoe operation, or establishing enhanced cushioning characteristics to address running and walking usages.

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