1. Field of the Invention
An adjustable fit insole system for shoes includes an insole member formed of flexible, resilient cushioning material that is removably inserted within the foot-receiving chamber of a shoe, the insole member and the shoe having corresponding heel, arch, ball and toe portions. In order to vary the internal width and girth dimensions of the ball portion of the chamber, a width adjustment pad of a desired thickness and/or hardness is removably connected with the bottom surface of the ball portion of the insole member, thereby to permit the user to customize the fit of the shoe.
2. Description of Related Art
Various constructions and method have been proposed in the prior art for customizing the fit of a shoe by the user. In the Antell U.S. Pat. No. 3,442,031, a shoe construction is disclosed wherein one or more removable auxiliary sole members are provided beneath the sock liner layer of a shoe for varying the width and girth dimensions of the shoe. The Boisvert et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,157 discloses an adjustable shoe insole system wherein removable pad layers are provided for specific adjustment of the thickness of various insole areas of the insole, particularly, the arch area, for best fit of the foot inside the shoe. The Sarkozi U.S. Pat. No. 5,138,774 teaches an insole with removable arch and heel pads in the separate areas of the heel and arch portions of the foot, thereby to provide variable height by the user, and the Bauerfeind U.S. Pat. No. 5,438,768 discloses an sole insert having a plurality of recesses for receiving replaceable elastic inserts, thereby to exercise a greater or lesser pressure at the places of the inserts. In the Dalton et al published application No. US 2004/0118017 A1, an insole having improved cushioning and anatomical centering means contains directional air ports for facilitating airflow above and below the insole. Two anatomical centering devices serve to direct the foot into proper position over cushioning pads provides in the insole. A ventilating system is also provided in the cushioned ladies shoe of the Castro U.S. Pat. No. 5,699,627.
The present invention was developed to provide an improved user-friendly removable cushioning insole construction that affords improved width adjustment means with comfort and ease of use.
Accordingly, a primary object of the invention is to provide a cushioning insole member that is adapted for removable mounting within a shoe or boot, the lower surface of the ball portion of the insole member being provided with a removable width adjusting pad for varying the effective width and girth of the shoe. The insole member is formed from polyurethane or other suitable cushioning material that demonstrates superior shock absorbency, excellent cushioning return, and extended durability. The width adjustment pad, which is removably connected with the insole by a simple hook and loop fastener arrangement, adjusts the overall girth measurement by adjusting the displacement of the cushioning material within the ball area of the shoe. The thickness dimension and/or the coefficient of hardness of the width adjusting pad may be varied to customize the shoe in accordance with the requirements and tastes of the user.
A further object of the invention is to provide the insole member with a bellows arrangement that not only produces the flow of air between the top and bottom surfaces of the insole member, but also provides flexibility adjacent the arch portion of the user's foot. The air channels and perforation holes, which are the foundation of the air flow system, create a bellows effect to force a self-generated airflow for the user's foot, thereby to produce a cooling moisture—managing and odor—reducing result.
According to another object of the invention, the upper surface of the insole member is contoured to accommodate the user's foot, and slip-resistant means are provided beneath the heel portion of the insole member, thereby to prevent displacement of the insole member within the foot-receiving chamber, and to insure positioning of the width adjusting pad beneath the ball portion of the user's foot. Integral heel knobs or nubs provide consistent fit and cooling airflow within the shank area of the shoe.
The width and girth adjustment is very easy and consumer friendly. In the case where the removable insole is initially sold together with the shoe or boot, the consumer can easily and quickly—and without lengthy instruction, tools, glue or other element—remove the insole member from the shoe, remove or substitute another width adjustment pad, and reinsert the insole member in the foot chamber of the shoe. When the insole member is sold in a package separate from the shoe, width adjusting pads of different thicknesses and/or coefficients of hardness may be provided which permit ready customization of the shoe.
The present invention provides to a broader consumer audience greater personal comfort and fit, together with lower shoe inventories. The insole member is suitable for use with all types of men's, women's and children's footwear, including dress, casual, school, work, service and military footwear. The adjustable fit system affords superior shock absorption, excellent durability, and is washable and anti-microbial.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, when viewed in the light of the accompanying drawing, in which:
Referring first more particularly to
The bottom surface of the heel portion of the insole member is provided with a plurality of integral downwardly extending nubs 20, which serve to stabilize the heel portion of the insole member relative to the heel portion of the associated shoe.
In accordance with another important feature of the invention, the arch portion 6 of the insole member is provided with ventilating means 22 that provide a flow of air between the bottom and top surfaces of the insole member adjacent the arch portion of the insole member. More particularly, the bottom surface of the insole member contains a plurality of transversely extending longitudinally spaced grooves 24 that are alternately arranged between corresponding flexure ribs 26. Perforations or apertures 28 are provided in the bottom walls of the grooves 24 and extend completely through the insole member.
Referring now to
As shown in
Referring now to
Furthermore, in accordance with an important advantage of the invention, the adjustable width pads may have different coefficients of hardness, whereby a softer or harder pad may be substituted for an original pad. Thus, if desired, a pad formed from a suitable gel material could be substituted for a pad formed of ethylene vinyl acetate or similar synthetic plastic material.
It is to be noted that in addition to providing a certain degree of flexibility at the inside arch portion of the insole assembly, the flexure ribs 26 and associated grooves 24 define a bellows for pumping air between the bottom and top surfaces of the insole member during normal walking operation by the user. This has the advantage of circulating air within the foot chamber of the shoe, particularly adjacent the inside arch region of the shoe chamber.
While in accordance with the provisions of the Patent Statutes the preferred forms and embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made without deviating from the invention described above.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20070204484 A1 | Sep 2007 | US |