Patent Application
20230270209
The present invention relates generally to insoles for footwear.
Insoles for footwear have long been known and used. The insole is the inside part of the shoe above the sole that runs underneath and supports the bottom of an individual’s foot. Insoles are usually easily removed and therefore, easily replaced. Insoles are often used to make a shoe more comfortable, control odor, and cushion the foot. For health-related reasons, orthotic insoles can better position and support the foot. Currently, insoles are typically fabricated of thermoplastic material, a plastic polymer that is heated and molded to the shape of the foot, providing comfort and arch support. Feet take a lot of stress, and when that stress isn’t properly absorbed it can cause injury and pain in ankles, knees and hips. Insoles are typically used to absorb shock, evenly distribute weight and provide arch support.
While generally effective for providing support, insoles do not adequately address moisture accumulation. When walking, running or otherwise moving around, people’s feet often sweat, resulting in a warm and moist environment inside the footwear. The accumulation of moisture around the feet can be detrimental to health and comfort. Control of moisture is often attempted using powders and the like.
It would be highly advantageous, therefore, to remedy the foregoing and other deficiencies inherent in the prior art.
According to the principle of the invention, a footwear insole includes a base layer having a top surface, a bottom surface and a perimetric edge, the base layer configured to overlie a sole of an article of footwear, a moisture permeable layer having a top surface, a bottom surface and a perimetric edge, the moisture permeable layer overlying the base layer, and an airgap structure having a top surface, a bottom surface and a perimetric edge, the airgap structure captured between the base layer and the moisture permeable layer with the top surface of the airgap structure adjacent to the bottom surface of the moisture permeable layer and the bottom surface of the airgap structure adjacent to the top surface of the base layer. The perimetric edges of the base layer, the airgap structure and the moisture permeable layer are aligned to form an insole perimetric edge. In a specific aspect, stitching is spaced from and parallel to the insole perimetric edge, fastening together the base layer, the airgap layer and the moisture permeable layer. The airgap structure includes multiple layers of a mesh material, each layer having crossing strands defining apertures therethrough.
Specific objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:
Turning now to the drawings in which like reference characters indicating corresponding elements throughout the several views, attention is directed to
Referring now to
Moisture permeable layer 24 is positioned adjacent the foot of a wearer, has a top surface 33, a bottom surface 35 and a perimetric edge 34, and allows moisture from a wearers foot to pass through toward airgap structure 26. Moisture permeable layer 24 can provide a moisture wicking characteristic, pulling moisture away from the adjacent foot, or can simply be permeable to allow quick drying. Natural and/or synthetic fibers can be used for moisture permeable layer 24, such as cotton, nylon cloth, wool cloth, mixtures and the like.
Airgap structure 26 is captured between base layer 22 and moisture permeable layer 24, and includes a perimetric edge 36, a top surface 37 and a bottom surface 38. Top surface 37 of airgap structure 26 is adjacent to bottom surface 35 of moisture permeable layer 24 and bottom surface 38 of airgap structure 26 is adjacent to top surface 30 of base layer 22. Airgap structure 26 includes a plurality of apertures through which air can circulate. Insole 20 has an insole perimetric edge 38 including vertically aligned perimetric edges 32, 34, and 36 of base layer 22, moisture permeable layer 34, and airgap structure 36, respectively. As can be seen with reference back to
Turning to
As stated previously, perimetric edges 32, 34 and 36 of base layer 22, moisture permeable layer 24 and airgap structure 26, respectively, are fastened together to form insole perimetric edge 38. Fastening is accomplished using stitches 40 spaced from and parallel to perimetric edge 38. Stitching is employed, rather than using heat bonding or adhesives, to prevent clogging of apertures 45, particularly at perimetric edge 36 of airgap structure 26.
The present invention is described above with reference to illustrative embodiments. Those skilled in the art will recognize that changes and modifications may be made in the described embodiments without departing from the nature and scope of the present invention. Various changes and modifications to the embodiments herein chosen for purposes of illustration will readily occur to those skilled in the art. To the extent that such modifications and variations do not depart from the spirit of the invention, they are intended to be included within the scope thereof.
