Patent Application
20240260715
The present technology relates to orthopedic devices and, more specifically, to customizable footwear insoles designed for alleviating foot pain by off-weighting pressure on foot bumps or protuberances.
This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
Foot pain is a common ailment that affects a significant portion of the population, with many adults reporting that such discomfort can limit their daily activities. Ailments may include calluses, cysts, and warts, for example, and many other lumps, bumps, and protuberances. The prevalence of foot pain has led to the development of various solutions aimed at addressing the myriad of underlying causes. Traditional approaches to foot pain relief have included a range of options, from over-the-counter products to medical interventions.
One of the primary challenges in treating foot pain is the “one size fits all” approach adopted by certain products. Many of these products don't allow for user customization and, as a result, do not fit properly with respect to the user's footwear and/or the user's foot. Such products often fail to address the unique and varied anatomical needs of individuals, particularly when pain is caused by specific foot bumps or protuberances that can occur anywhere on the bottom of the foot. The lack of customization in these solutions means that they may not provide adequate relief or may even exacerbate the discomfort for some users.
Other methods for alleviating foot pain involve medical procedures, including surgery or physician-prescribed interventions. While these approaches can be effective, they are not without drawbacks. The costs associated with medical treatments can be prohibitive for many individuals, and the time required for recovery can be extensive. Additionally, the trial-and-error nature of finding the right medical solution can be a frustrating and lengthy process for patients seeking relief.
The market has also seen attempts to introduce customized solutions for foot pain relief. However, these often fall short due to their “mass market” production approach, which may not truly cater to the individualized nature of foot pain. More specifically, products may focus on a general region of a foot, such as a ball of a foot, in order to appeal to a larger audience, rather than a specific area, such as a precise location on a ball of a foot, that may be selected by a user. The customization process can be cumbersome and expensive, making it inaccessible to a broad segment of those suffering from foot pain.
Accordingly, there is a need for an innovative solution that can provide personalized relief from foot pain caused by bumps or protuberances. Desirably, such a solution would ideally be cost-effective, easy to use, and capable of addressing the specific pain points of each individual user without the need for medical intervention or a lengthy customization process.
In concordance with the instant disclosure, an innovative solution that can provide personalized relief from foot pain caused by bumps or protuberances, and which is cost-effective, easy to use, and capable of addressing the specific pain points of each individual user without the need for medical intervention or a lengthy customization process, has surprisingly been discovered.
The present technology includes articles of manufacture, systems, and processes that relate to footwear insoles designed to provide customizable relief for foot pain caused by bumps or protuberances on the bottom of the foot. These insoles are uniquely engineered to allow users to selectively remove portions of the insole material, creating apertures that accommodate and offload pressure from painful areas. This innovative approach enables a personalized fit that can adapt to the varying shapes and sizes of foot protrusions, offering a tailored solution that aims to alleviate discomfort during weight-bearing activities. The technology encompasses a variety of features to enhance user comfort and meet diverse consumer needs.
In certain embodiments, an insole is provided that can be configured to conform to a footwear sole, where the insole may include an insert body having a generally elongated shape with an outer perimeter designed to substantially conform to the footwear sole. The insert body may have a top surface and a bottom surface, and may include a plurality of perforated cutouts formed within the insert body. Each of these perforated cutouts may be configured to be selectively removed from the insert body to form an aperture, thereby allowing for customization to relieve pressure points on the foot.
In certain embodiments, a method for using an insole configured to conform to a footwear sole to relieve pain from a protrusion on a foot may include providing an insole that has an insert body with a generally elongated shape and an outer perimeter configured to substantially conform to the footwear sole. The insert body may include a top surface and a bottom surface, and may have a plurality of perforated cutouts. The method may include the steps of aligning the insole with the footwear insole, modifying the insole to fit in the footwear insole, aligning the insole to the foot of a user, identifying a selected area of the insole that corresponds with the protrusion on the foot, and removing the perforated cutouts disposed in the selected are of the insole.
In certain embodiments, an insole may be configured to conform to a footwear sole. The insole may include an insert body having a plurality of perforated cutouts formed on the insert body. The insert body may have a generally elongated shape with an outer perimeter configured to substantially conform to the footwear sole. Each of the plurality of perforated cutouts may be configured to be selectively removed from the insert body to form an aperture in the insert body. The perforated cutouts may be formed such that the perforated cutouts may extend through the insert body. Where the perforated cutout is pushed through the insert body, an aperture may be formed therein.
The insert body may be a generally elongated shape with an outer perimeter configured to substantially conform to a sole of footwear. The perforated cutout may be formed as part of the insert body and removal therefrom along the perforations may form the aperture in the insert body. The perforated cutout may be disposed within the aperture and may be configured to be selectively removed from the aperture.
The insole may be formed with perforated holes disposed in the insole. The length and width of the surface of the insole may be covered with the perforated cutouts. When the cutout is pushed out of the insert body, the aperture may be open on the insert body to allow for a protrusion on the foot bump to comfortably fit into the insert body and sit suspended “in air” thereby militating against the protrusion from touching the bottom of the footwear as force is applied when walking.
The perforated cutouts may be circles of uniform size. However, the perforated cutouts and corresponding apertures may be any size or shape to allow for a protrusion on a foot to fit into the aperture. Additionally, the cutouts and apertures on a single insert body may vary in shape and size.
The insole may be scented or non-scented. Advantageously, this may allow for the user to alleviate foot pain while also combating foot odor. Additionally, the insole may be varied in size. For example, the insole may be a full-size insole to accommodate the entire foot surface or the insole may be a half-size insole to accommodate a portion of the surface of the foot.
In certain embodiments, a method for using an insert for footwear to relieve pain from a protrusion on a foot may include a first step of providing an insole for footwear. In a second step, the insert body may be aligned with the foot to determine which of the plurality of perforated cutouts aligns with the protrusion on the foot and should, therefore, be removed from the aperture to alleviate pressure on the protrusion. A third step may include selecting a cutout to remove. In additional steps, the perforated cutout may be removed from the aperture on the insert body, the insert body may be placed into the footwear, and the foot may be placed into the footwear.
Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The following description of technology is merely exemplary in nature of the subject matter, manufacture and use of one or more inventions, and is not intended to limit the scope, application, or uses of any specific invention claimed in this application or in such other applications as may be filed claiming priority to this application, or patents issuing therefrom. Regarding methods disclosed, the order of the steps presented is exemplary in nature, and thus, the order of the steps can be different in various embodiments, including where certain steps can be simultaneously performed, unless expressly stated otherwise. “A” and “an” as used herein indicate “at least one” of the item is present; a plurality of such items may be present, when possible. Except where otherwise expressly indicated, all numerical quantities in this description are to be understood as modified by the word “about” and all geometric and spatial descriptors are to be understood as modified by the word “substantially” in describing the broadest scope of the technology. “About” when applied to numerical values indicates that the calculation or the measurement allows some slight imprecision in the value (with some approach to exactness in the value; approximately or reasonably close to the value; nearly). If, for some reason, the imprecision provided by “about” and/or “substantially” is not otherwise understood in the art with this ordinary meaning, then “about” and/or “substantially” as used herein indicates at least variations that may arise from ordinary methods of measuring or using such parameters.
Although the open-ended term “comprising,” as a synonym of non-restrictive terms such as including, containing, or having, is used herein to describe and claim embodiments of the present technology, embodiments may alternatively be described using more limiting terms such as “consisting of” or “consisting essentially of.” Thus, for any given embodiment reciting materials, components, or process steps, the present technology also specifically includes embodiments consisting of, or consisting essentially of, such materials, components, or process steps excluding additional materials, components or processes (for consisting of) and excluding additional materials, components or processes affecting the significant properties of the embodiment (for consisting essentially of), even though such additional materials, components or processes are not explicitly recited in this application. For example, recitation of a composition or process reciting elements A, B and C specifically envisions embodiments consisting of, and consisting essentially of, A, B and C, excluding an element D that may be recited in the art, even though element D is not explicitly described as being excluded herein.
As referred to herein, disclosures of ranges are, unless specified otherwise, inclusive of endpoints and include all distinct values and further divided ranges within the entire range. Thus, for example, a range of “from A to B” or “from about A to about B” is inclusive of A and of B. Disclosure of values and ranges of values for specific parameters (such as amounts, weight percentages, etc.) are not exclusive of other values and ranges of values useful herein. It is envisioned that two or more specific exemplified values for a given parameter may define endpoints for a range of values that may be claimed for the parameter. For example, if Parameter X is exemplified herein to have value A and also exemplified to have value Z, it is envisioned that Parameter X may have a range of values from about A to about Z. Similarly, it is envisioned that disclosure of two or more ranges of values for a parameter (whether such ranges are nested, overlapping or distinct) subsume all possible combination of ranges for the value that might be claimed using endpoints of the disclosed ranges. For example, if Parameter X is exemplified herein to have values in the range of 1-10, or 2-9, or 3-8, it is also envisioned that Parameter X may have other ranges of values including 1-9, 1-8, 1-3, 1-2, 2-10, 2-8, 2-3, 3-10, 3-9, and so on.
When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.
Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
The present technology improves upon existing foot pain relief solutions by introducing a customizable insole that allows for selective removal of material to accommodate and relieve pressure from foot bumps or protuberances, thereby offering a personalized and customizable approach to mitigating discomfort in a cost-effective and user-friendly manner. Articles of manufacture, systems, and processes are provided that allow a user to selectively remove portions of the insole material, creating apertures that accommodate and offload pressure from one or more painful areas of the user's foot. The approach can adapt to varying shapes and sizes of foot protrusions, offering a tailored solution that aims to alleviate discomfort during weight-bearing activities. In one embodiment of the present technology, a user suffering from foot pain due to a prominent bump or protuberance on the bottom of the user's foot may seek relief through use of the insole. The insole may be constructed from any malleable, form-fitting, padded material, such as ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), capable of providing cushion during use. The insole may have an elongated shape with an outer perimeter that is designed to conform to the interior dimensions of a wide range of footwear styles and sizes.
Upon obtaining the insole, the user may observe that the top surface includes a thin polymeric overlay with printed outlines corresponding to various footwear. The overlay may also contain alignment markings to assist the user in determining a precise location where the insole should be modified to accommodate a specific foot bump or protrusion. The user may align their foot with the insole, using the markings to identify the exact position of the bump relative to the array of perforated cutouts disposed in the insole.
Once the problematic area is identified, the user may apply pressure to the selected perforated cutouts with their thumb or finger, thereby tearing the appropriate tearaway strips and easily removing the selected perforated cutouts. As such, one or more apertures are formed in the insert body. The user may then use the insole to offload pressure from the foot bump, effectively creating a non-weight bearing surface that minimizes or eliminates pain-causing pressure.
The user may trim the insole, if necessary, to fit their specific footwear. The bottom surface of the insole may include a non-slip texture to prevent movement within the footwear, while the top surface may feature a moisture-wicking material to enhance comfort during wear. Additionally, the insole may be treated with an antimicrobial agent to reduce the growth of bacteria and control odor.
After customizing and inserting the insole into their footwear, the user may experience immediate relief from pressure that was previously exerted on the foot bump with each step. The tailored aperture may allow the bump to rest comfortably “in air,” without contact with the insole of the footwear. This example demonstrates the effectiveness of the present technology in providing a customizable, adaptable, and cost-efficient solution for foot pain relief and addressing the unique challenges associated with various foot conditions.
As shown in
The insert body 102 may be fabricated using any suitable supportive, cushioning material or combination of materials, as determined by a skilled artisan. A gel or a polymeric foam such as ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), polyurethane foam, or latex foam, as non-limiting examples, may be used. In certain embodiments, the insert body 102 may include more than one layer of supportive, cushioning material. The insert body 102 may be generally shaped like a foot or a footwear insole, according to certain embodiments, and configured to conform to a footwear insole. It should be appreciated that any desirable materials, shape, and configuration may be used for the insole 100.
A length 114 of the insert body 102 may be any suitable measurement, such as between 10 inches and 13 inches, as non-limiting examples. In more particular embodiments, the length 114 of the insert body 102 may be 11.5 inches. Likewise, the insert body 102 may have a maximum width 116 and a minimum width 118. The maximum width 116 may be any suitable length, such as between 3 inches and 5 inches, as non-limiting examples, and the minimum width 118 may be any suitable length such as between 2 inches and 4 inches, as non-limiting examples. In more particular embodiments, the maximum width 116 of the insert body 102 may be about 3.75 inches, and the minimum width 118 of the insert body 102 may be about 2.75 inches.
A thickness 120 of the insert body 102 may be any suitable measurement such as between 0.2 inches and 0.3 inches, as non-limiting examples. In more particular embodiments, the thickness 120 of the insert body 102 may be about 0.25 inches. The thickness 120 of the insert body 102 may be uniform throughout the insert body 102 or may be variable. The insert body 102 may be available in more than one thickness 120 to accommodate users having different body types as well as different needs and preferences. The thickness 120 of the insert body 102 may be adjustable by removing one or more layers (not shown) of the insert body 102, according to certain embodiments. A skilled artisan may select any suitable length 114, maximum width 116, minimum width 118, and thickness 120, as desired.
The plurality of perforated cutouts 110 may be integrally formed in the insert body 102. Each perforated cutout 110 may be circular in shape, as shown in
The perforated cutouts 110 may be arranged in the insert body 102 in rows and columns, as shown in
The insert body 102 may include a top section 124 and a bottom section 126. The top section 124 and the bottom section 126 may not include perforated cutouts 110. Advantageously, the top section 124 and the bottom section 126 may be designed to maintain the strength of the insole 100 in areas such as the heel and toe. In certain embodiments, the top section 124 may have a length 125 and the bottom section 126 may have a length 127 between about 1.35 inches and 1.65 inches. In more particular embodiments, each of the top section 124 length 125 and the bottom section 126 length 127 may be about 1.5 inches. As such, the perforated cutouts 110 may be centrally located between the top section 124 and bottom section 126 of the insert body 102.
The top surface 106 of the insert body 102 may include an overlay 128 (e.g.,
The insert body 102 may further include alignment markings (not shown) that allow a user to accurately identify and remove one or more perforated cutouts 110 corresponding with a specific location on the user's foot. It should be appreciated that the overlay 128 including the printed design 130 may be fabricated using any material or combination of materials capable of withstanding wear and fading. The overlay 128 may be disposed on an entirety of the top surface 106 or a portion of the top surface 106, as determined by one of skill in the art. The perforated cutouts 110 may extend through the overlay 128 of the top surface 106.
The bottom surface 108 of the insert body 102 may include a layer 134 configured to secure the perforated cutouts 110 in place with respect to the insert body 102 before and during use. The layer 134 may be a fabric layer 134, in one non-limiting example. However, it should be appreciated that any material of combination of materials capable of providing structural support to the insert body 102 and securing the perforated cutouts 110 may be used for the layer 134. The layer 134 may be permanently coupled to the insert body 102, removably coupled to the insert body 102, or a combination of permanently and removably coupled to the insert body 102.
The perforated cutouts 110 may extend through the layer 134 of the bottom surface 108. As shown in
In certain more particular embodiments, the tearaway strips 136 may be sections of the layer 134 that are not perforated and that are not adhered to the insert body 102. The tearaway strips may extend from the first section 138 of the layer 134 disposed on a perforated cutout 110 to the second section 140 of the layer 134 disposed on a portion of the insert body 102 that does not include a perforated cutout 110, as shown in
Additional features of the insole 100 may include a non-slip texture on the bottom surface 108 to prevent shifting within footwear, a moisture-wicking material on the top surface 106 for enhanced comfort, an antimicrobial treatment to inhibit bacterial growth and odor, and additional support layers such as foam insert layers or gel insert layers, as non-limiting examples. The insole 100 may also be color-coded to aid a user with identifying one or more perforated cutouts 110 adjacent to a desired location of the user's foot. A heel cup and/or a metatarsal pad, as non-limiting examples, may be included in the insert body 102 for additional support. Additional features may include gradient density foam for optimized support, built-in arch support, shock-absorbing gel layers, moisture-absorbing layers, dynamic contouring systems, phase change materials for temperature regulation, deodorizing systems, and detachable heel pads, as non-limiting examples. A skilled artisan may include any features directed to optimizing the comfort of the insole 100 for the user within the scope of the disclosure.
Advantageously, the user may modify the outer perimeter 104 of the insert body 102 to fit any size and type of footwear, as needed, thereby ensuring a snug and comfortable fit within the footwear insole. The printed design 130 on the overlay 128 may be used to accurately modify and customize the insert body 102. The array of perforated cutouts 110 located centrally between a top section 124 and a bottom section 126 of the insert body 102 may provide a customizable region for pressure relief while maintaining structural integrity in the heel and toe regions of the insole 100. Multiple apertures 112 in close proximity and/or spaced apart may be formed without compromising the overall structure of the insert body 102 using select perforated cutout 110 chosen by the user. The perforated cutouts 110 that extend through the overlay 128 and the layer 134 may allow for easy removal of the perforated cutouts 110, as needed. The layer 134 may provide structural support and the tearaway strips 136 may militate against perforated cutouts 110 becoming detached from the insert body 102 before or during use. The tearaway strips 136 may further allow for easy removal of select perforated cutouts 110. The insole 100 may include features allowing a user to personalize and customize the overall size and shape of the insole 100, as well as the any areas of the insole 100 that correspond with the user's foot bumps 142 and protuberances by removing select perforated cutout 110, as needed.
A method 200 for using the insole 100 to relieve foot pain, as shown in
It should be appreciated that the selected area may be identified before the insole 100 is modified to fit the footwear insole. In certain embodiments, the method 200 may further include the steps of providing footwear, placing a user's foot into the footwear, further customizing the insole 100, and any other suitable steps, as determined by one of skill in the art. One or more steps included in the method may be repeated, omitted, or performed in any desirable alternative order, as needed.
Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms, and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail. Equivalent changes, modifications and variations of some embodiments, materials, compositions and methods can be made within the scope of the present technology, with substantially similar results.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/483,815, filed on Feb. 8, 2023. The entire disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63483815 | Feb 2023 | US |
