Patent Application
20190289955
The present invention relates to footwear, and more particularly, to a removable cushion for shoes, for combating fatigue and enhancing comfort.
People who work on their feet in relatively confined spaces, such as staffing cashier stations, toll booths, and the like frequently experience fatigue of the legs or feet or related ailments. This may arise from ordinary general purpose footwear not having characteristics conducive to providing for effective support and comfort for the feet. In particular, repetitive impacts may take their toll on foot comfort.
There exists a need to improve ergonomic performance of general purpose footwear to enhance comfort for the legs and feet for those working on their feet, especially in confined spaces.
The present invention sets forth a removable cushion for supplementing footwear of a user to mitigate discomfort over prolonged periods during which people work on their feet in confined spaces. The removable cushion may include a resilient sole, a heel pocket, a closure encircling the footwear or body of the user proximate the heel pocket to retain the removable cushion on the footwear at the heel, and a front closure encircling the front of the foot to retain the removable cushion on the front of the footwear at the front of the foot. The closures may comprise encircling straps bearing hook and loop fastener.
The heel pocket provides support for the foot in that twisting or torsional movements of the foot will not dislodge the heel from the novel cushion. The resilient sole may have a low wall projecting upwardly at an open toe area and between the heel pocket and the front closure. These low walls may also act to prevent the footwear from sliding laterally along the novel cushion.
The resilient sole may comprise closed cell foam and may have treads and an elevated heel.
The present invention provides improved elements and arrangements thereof by apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.
These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
Referring to
It should be noted at this point that orientational terms such as above and upwardly refer to the subject drawing as viewed by an observer. The drawing figures depict their subject matter in orientations of normal use, which could obviously change with changes in posture and position of the foot and leg. Therefore, orientational terms must be understood to provide semantic basis for purposes of description, and do not limit the invention or its component parts in any particular way.
In cushion 100, front engagement element 110 may comprise a left strap 118 attached to resilient sole 102 at a left side of resilient sole 102, a right strap 120 attached to resilient sole 102 at a right side of resilient sole 102, and a second fastener having respective complementing parts 122, 124 on left strap 118 and on right strap 120. The second fastener may comprise hook and loop fastener. In this case, complementing parts 122, 124 will be miniature hooks (or loops) and miniature loops (or hooks).
Left strap 118 and right strap 120 are configured to overlap one another when the cushion is donned, to enable overlying mutual engagement of complementing parts 122, 124.
Unless otherwise indicated, the terms “first”, “second”, etc., are used herein merely as labels, and are not intended to impose ordinal, positional, or hierarchical requirements on the items to which these terms refer. Moreover, reference to, e.g., a “second” item does not either require or preclude the existence of, e.g., a “first” or lower-numbered item, and/or, e.g., a “third” or higher-numbered item.
The rear engagement element may comprise one and only one rear strap 126 projecting from heel pocket 114 and a first fastener having complementing parts 128, 130 on rear strap 126 and on heel pocket 114. The first fastener may comprises hook and loop fastener.
In alternatives to hook and loop material, connection of right and left straps 120, 118 of the front engagement element and of rear strap 126 of the rear engagement element may be permanent, such as incorporating stitching or a rivet, in two examples, or alternatively, may be manually removable and restorable, such as by incorporating snaps, buttons, hook and loop fastener, etc.
Cushion 100 may further comprise a first low wall 132 projecting upwardly from resilient sole 102 between heel pocket 114 and the front engagement element. First low wall 132 may for example project a quarter inch above resilient sole 102. First low wall may assist in preventing footwear 10 from sliding laterally along resilient sole 102, particularly when the user is pivoting on that foot. Although illustrated as being continuous between heel pocket 114 and left and right straps 118, 120, first low wall 132 may extend for a lesser distance.
The front engagement element may be open to expose a toe portion 134 of the user's footwear 10 at distal end 106 of resilient sole 102 when cushion 100 is donned. Cushion 100 may further comprise a second low wall 136 projecting upwardly from resilient sole 102 along exposed toe portion 134 of user's footwear 10, second low wall 136 promoting stability of footwear 10 relative to resilient sole 102.
Resilient sole 102 may comprises treads 138 on a bottom surface 140 thereof. Resilient sole 102 may include an elevated heel portion 142, elevated in that it projects from bottom surface 140 sufficiently to elevate a rear portion of resilient sole 102 above a front portion thereof. Constituency of resilient sole 102 may comprises either open or closed cell polymeric foam or PVC. Closed cell polymeric foam is preferred as closed cell construction deters entry of liquids into resilient sole 102.
Although resilient sole 102 is preferably fabricated from open or closed cell polymeric foam, other constructions are possible while still being resilient. Resiliency as used herein signifies that resilient sole yields to projections and objects being stepped on, and conforms readily to floor contours. This mitigates harshness of impacts and other unpleasant sensations to the sole of footwear 10, which could destabilize footing.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but is intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements which are possible.
