Method and apparatus for pressure relief insole for footwear and natural shaped toebox for footwear

Abstract

A shoe having an insole with pressure relief rings for cushioning the metatarsal heads of the human foot and inhibiting the forward slide of the foot into the toebox. The pressure relief rings are made from a low-density foam will the surrounding material of the insole are mad with a high-density foam. In various embodiments the pressure relief rings are hollow, solid like a disc, or have a depression into the low-density foam. The shoe is also provided with a natural toebox, in which the point of the toe is shifted to the inside of the foot to have a more natural fit for the asymmetry of the human foot.

Description

PCT / US24 / 30651 07 August 2024 (07.08.2024)REPLACEMENT SHEETMETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRESSURE RELIEF INSOLE FOR FOOTWEAR AND NATURAL SHAPED TOEBOX FOR FOOTWEARCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001 j This application claims priority in U.S. Patent Application Serial No.5 63 / 503,660, filed May 22, 2023, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND1. Field of the Disclosed Subject Matter[0002| The field of the invention relates to devices and methods to increase the10 comfort and enhance the functionality of footwear, and more particularly to pressure relief apparatuses for footwear.2. Background[0003| The human foot is an amazing biomechanical design, and many efforts have been made over the centuries to protect the foot and even enhance its function and enhance how it influences the human body’s overall performance and appearance. One of the more dramatic enhancements is the addition of a heel to a shoe providing both esthetic and functional enhancement. Perhaps the most dramatic of these is the high-heel shoe, which is generally directed more toward esthetics than functionality. Many devices have been developed and utilized over the years to improve the function20 of heeled shoes and increase their comfort for the wearer; however, these shoe designs, while providing some minimal incremental improvements, have not addressed overall issues of footwear and the accentuation of those issues by introducing a raised heel into the shoe.[0004[ In any shoe, large forces are placed on the metatarsal heads of the25 metatarsal bones, which are the most prominent bone landmark of the human foot. During normal day to day activities such as walking and running, large forces arePCT / US24 / 30651 07 August 2024 (07.08.2024) placed on the metatarsal heads, and forward forces tend to pinch (cause adduction) of the toes in the toebox. These large forces and potential adverse effects therefrom are accentuated when the shoes have raised heels, such as in women’s high heeled shoes. Specifically, during normal motion, the foot tends to move forward in the shoe placing5 pressure on the phalanges bones and placing the phalanges into adduction, which compresses the phalanges / toes toward the midline of the foot. This creates discomfort for the wearer and can lead to both acute and chronic foot problems and pain. Presently available shoes and insoles fail to adequately address these problems. Therefore, there is a need for improved shoes and improved insoles for use in shoes.10 SUMMARY

[0005] An insole having pressure relief rings providing pressure relief to metatarsal head bones of a wearer. In various embodiments, the rings have a hollow center, are made from low-density foam, have a depressed center, of low-density foam, and are a flat disk of low-density foam. In another embodiment the rings are inclined from the heel to the toe of a shoe.

[0006] A shoe having an insole with pressure relief rings providing pressure relief to metatarsal head bones of a wearer. In various embodiments, the rings have a hollow center, are made from low-density foam, have a depressed center, of low- density foam, and are a flat disk of low-density foam. In another embodiment the20 rings are inclined from the heel to the toe of a shoe. The insole is otherwise formed with high-density foam.

[0007] A shoe having a natural toebox. The point of the toebox is positioned to the medial (inner) side of the center axes of the shoe forming a more natural shape for the asymmetry of the human foot.25 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The present disclosed subject matter is described herein with reference to the following drawing figures, with greater emphasis being placed on clarity ratherPCT / US24 / 30651 07 August 2024 (07.08.2024) than scale:[0009| FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an insole according to the present invention;[0010| FIG. 2A is an isometric view of a metatarsal cushioning ring according to the present invention;5 [OOllj FIG. 2B is a side plan view of an alternate metatarsal cushioning ring according to the present invention;[0012| FIG. 3 is an isometric view illustrating an insole of the present invention inserted in a shoe with a human foot also being inserted in the shoe on top of the insole;10 [0013| FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the metatarsal cushioning rings according to the present invention;[0014| FIG. 5 is a partial isometric view of the insole with metatarsal cushioning rings;[0015| FIG. 6 is a partial isometric view of the insole with metatarsal cushioning 15 rings for use in a high heeled shoe, and[0016| FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a shoe having a natural shaped toebox according to the present invention.PCT / US24 / 30651 07 August 2024 (07.08.2024)DETAILED DESCRIPTION|0017[ Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. For example, up, down, top, bottom, front, back, rear, right, left, forward, rearward, upward, and downward refer5 to the disclosed subject matter as orientated in the view being referred to, or in reference to such terminology designating the characteristics of an assembly as described in this description. Such terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof, and words of similar meaning.[0018| Referring to Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 an insole 20 is illustrated for use in a shoe10 generally having a heel portion, toe portion, a toebox adjacent the toe portion, a sole, and an upper, which are not numbered due to common knowledge of these components. In an embodiment shown, the invention is illustrated in a high heel shoe, traditionally worn by women. However, the invention may be used in any shoe or other type of footwear with or without a raised heal. In an embodiment, the insole 20 is removably inserted into a shoe 38 (Fig. 3). As such it may be customized to fit into a particular shoe or other type of footwear. In another embodiment, the insole 20 is generally permanently installed in the shoe 38 either at manufacture of the shoe or later by a user. Such generally permanent installation is by mechanical means, adhesion, and / or other available methods to fix the insole in the interior of a shoe.20 [0019| Referring to Figs. 1 through 3, the insole is provided with between one to five cushioning rings 22. In an embodiment, the main body 24 of the insole is comprised of high-density foam, and there are five cushioning rings 22 A, 22B, 22C, 22D, and 22E which are held by the main body 24 of the insole. Each of the plurality of the cushioning rings 22 corresponds to, and is designed to cushion one of the five25 metatarsal bones of the human foot. As such the rings 22 form pressure relief rings for the metatarsal heads. Preferably, the rings 22 are positioned in the insole and hence in the shoe to cushion the head of the metatarsal bones. In an embodiment, the rings 22 are inserted into the high-density body 24, and in an alternate embodimentPCT / US24 / 30651 07 August 2024 (07.08.2024) the rings 22 are formed integrally in the high-density body 24. In one embodiment, the rings 22 are made of low-density foam, and include a hollow center 28 to receive the respective metatarsal head. Further, the rings 22 may be sized to match the intended metatarsal bone head with larger rings being more medial, that is toward the5 center of the foot.[0020| Referring to Fig. 4 through Fig. 6, In another embodiment the rings 22 are solid, and because the foam is of lower density, the metatarsal heads still recess down into the insole 20 thereby cushioning the metatarsal head of the bone. Because the heads of the five metatarsal bones are cushioned by the rings 22 or discs causing the10 metatarsal heads to recess into the insole, there is a force created by the high-density foam area 26 in the toe of the insole, which resists the forward movement of the foot relative to the shoe. In an embodiment, the area 30 (Fig. 5) of the insole directly around the rings is made of a higher density foam than the rest of the surrounding insole to provide further relief for the metatarsal heads and further resistance forward forces on the foot within the shoe.[0021 j In another embodiment of the rings 22, the center 28 is depressed and not entirely hollow. The combination of low-density foam forming the ring 22 and the additional negative space created by the depression or dip in the ring cushions the metatarsal heads of the wearer’s foot. Further, depending on the specific design of20 the rings of any embodiment, there is complete non-contact with the insole and shoe sole at the metatarsal heads. Other design parameters lead to semi-direct contact.[0022| Referring to Fig. 2B, to provide additional force resisting the forward motion of the foot into the toe box, the ring or disc 32 is inclined from its proximal / heel side 34 to its distal / toe side 36. In an embodiment, the toe region 26 of25 the sole 20 is also inclined to match and continue the incline of the ring 32 generating additional resistance to the forward movement of the toes into the toebox.|0023| Referring to Fig. 3, the sole is positioned inside a shoe 38, and the humanPCT / US24 / 30651 07 August 2024 (07.08.2024) foot 40 is placed inside the shoe on top of the insole 20. As illustrated the rings 22 align with the heads of the metatarsals to cushion same.[0024| Therefore, in each embodiment, less force is placed on the toes to resist the tendency of forward movement alleviating stress on the toes and inhibiting adduction of the toes by the toebox. While the illustrated rings are generally circular, other shapes and configurations, ovals, ellipses, etc. are also contemplated by the invention. Each embodiment of the rings 22 creates a negative space around the metatarsal heads to create pressure relief for the foot by more evenly distributing pressure around the foot. This minimizes direct contact between and the amount of pressure between the metatarsal heads and the sole of the shoe. Further, in an alternate embodiment there is a single low density foam area extending laterally across the insole to cushion the metatarsal heads. The size of the rings 22 may also be customized based on the size of the shoe and anticipated size of the wearer. Further still the depth of the insole and the depth of the rings 22 are customizable for different users.[0025J Referring to Fig. 7, a natural toebox 42 of a shoe 44 is illustrated to relieve discomfort from pinching, squeezing, adduction of the toes. In the natural toebox the shape is adjusted to the natural asymmetry of the human foot. Thus, the tip 46 of the toebox 42 is shifted medially, that is toward the inside of the foot, making the toebox a more natural fit for the human foot. This feature alone helps relieve discomfort in the human foot, ankle, and toes. In combination with the low-density rings 22, the shoe 44 creates better foot posture, pressure relief, allowing increased wear time.[0026|

Claims

PCT / US24 / 30651 07 August 2024 (07.08.2024)CLAIMSHaving described the disclosed subject matter, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An insole for insertion in a shoe, the insole comprising:5 a main body formed of high-density foam, and having a toe portion; at least one pressure relief ring formed in the main body proximate to the toe portion, and wherein the pressure relief ring comprises a low-density foam and is positioned to engage a metatarsal bone of a human wearer.

2. The insole of claim 1, wherein pressure relief ring is hollow.

3. The insole of claim 1, wherein pressure relief ring comprises a center depression.

4. The insole of claim 1, wherein the pressure relief ring comprises a solid disc of low-15 density foam.

5. The insole of claim 1, further comprising five pressure relief rings formed in the main body and each pressure relief ring being positioned to engage a metatarsal head bone of a wearer.

6. The insole of claim 1, wherein the pressure relief ring is inclined from a proximal / heel direction toward a distal / toe portion direction.

7. The insole of claim 6, wherein the toe portion is inclined from the proximal / heel direction toward the distal / toe portion direction.

258. A shoe for wearing by a wearer, the shoe comprising: a sole having a toe portion and a heel portion; an insole positioned on top of the sole and having a plurality cushioning rings positioned near the toe portion for engaging metatarsal head bones of a wearer.PCT / US24 / 30651 07 August 2024 (07.08.2024)9. The shoe of claim 8, wherein the cushioning rings comprise low density foam and define a central opening for pressure relief for metatarsal head bones of a wearer.

10. The shoe of claim 8, further comprising: a toebox having a point, and the toebox comprising a natural toe box wherein the point is positioned medially of the center line of the foot to match the asymmetry of a human foot.

11. The shoe of claim 8 wherein the insole slides into place relative to the sole.

12. The shoe of claim 8 wherein the insole is integrally formed with the sole.

13. The shoe of claim 8 wherein the insole is adhered to the sole.

14. A shoe for wearing by a wearer, the shoe comprising: a sole having a heel portion and a toe portion; a toebox adjacent the toe portion and wherein the toebox has a point, positioned medially of the centerline of the shoe forming a natural toe box to match the asymmetry of a wearer’s foot.

15. The shoe of claim 11 further comprising an insole, and the insole including a plurality of pressure relief rings positioned on the insole to engage metatarsal head bones of a wearer.

Images