Patent Application
20070163150
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to high-heel shoes and, more particularly, to an improved insole board for high-heel shoe.
2. Description of the Related Art
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,835,884, a prior art insole board assembly for a high-heel shoe is disclosed to provide the high-heel shoe having a smooth transition from the midfoot area to the forefoot area. The prior art insole board assembly has an insole board with a midportion divided into an upper layer and a lower layer. A shank member has a midfoot portion and a heel portion. The midfoot portion of the shank member is enclosed between the upper layer and the lower layer of the insole board.
The prior art insole board assembly suffers from a disadvantage that in constructing the assembly there need two step mold processes. The firs mold process is to form the shank member. The second mold process is to let the shank member closely conform to the insole board when it is enclosed therein. Such two step mold processes would increase the producing time and cost of the shoes.
In addition, the prior art insole board assembly has another disadvantage that for having the heel portion outside the insole board, the shank member is often snapped on the join of the midfoot portion and the heel portion due to the stress formed thereon.
In view of this and other disadvantages of the prior art, it is thus one object of the present invention to provide an improved insole board for high-heel shoe which can decrease the producing time and cost of the shoes.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved insole board for high-heel which has no snapping area due to the stress formed thereon.
Thus, an insole board for high-heel shoe, according to the idea of the present invention, comprises a board member having a forefoot portion, a midfoot portion and a heel portion to provide the shape and contour of the high-heel shoe. The midfoot portion and the heel portion of the board member are split into an upper layer and a lower layer to form a space therebetween.
The insole board further comprises a plastic molded member and a rigid supporting member. The plastic molded member is enclosed in the space of the board member. The rigid supporting member is embedded in the plastic molded member. The upper layer and the lower layer of the board member are respectively provided at least an injecting hole for injecting plastic materials to form the plastic molded member.
The plastic molded member includes a tapered fore-portion, an arched mid-portion and a recessed heel-portion. The arched mid-portion is shaped in such a way that a flexline is formed on the upper surface of the board member to match the underline of the foot of the wearer when the plastic molded member is enclosed in the space of the board member.
The recessed heel-portion is shaped in such a way that an arch surface is formed on the heel portion of the board member to match the heel of the foot of the wearer.
These and other more detailed and specific objectives, features, functions, and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reference to the following drawings and detailed description which illustrate, by way of example, but a few of the various forms of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.
Referring to the drawings, an insole board for high-heel shoe 10, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, includes a board member 12, a plastic molded member 14, and a rigid supporting member 16.
The board member 12 has a forefoot portion 20, a midfoot portion 22 and a heel portion 24. The midfoot portion 22 and the heel portion 24 are split into an upper layer 26 and a lower layer 28 to form a space 30 to enclose the plastic molded member 14.
The plastic molded member 14 has a tapered fore-portion 32, an arched mid-portion 34 and a recessed heel-portion 36. The arched mid-portion 34 has a thickness which is gradual decreased respectively from a top point X thereof to each end thereof to connect the tapered fore-portion 32 and the recessed heel-portion 36.
The contour of the plastic molded member 14 is designed to have a downward curve extended from the top point X to the tapered fore-portion 32 and a second downward curve extended from the top point X to the recessed heel-portion 36 so that when the plastic molded member 12 is enclosed in the space 30, a flexline is formed on the upper surface of the midfoot portion 22 of the board member 12 to match the underline of the foot of the wearer.
The recessed heel-portion 36 is shaped in such a way that when the plastic molded member 14 is enclosed in the space 30, an arched surface is formed on the heel portion 24 of the board member 12 to match the heel of the foot of the wearer.
For providing the basis for the necessary structural rigidity of the insole board 10, the rigid supporting member 16 is embedded in the plastic molded member 14. In producing, the board member 12 with the rigid supporting member 16 placed in the space 30 thereof is firstly placed in a mold, and then injecting plastic materials into the mold to form the plastic molded member 14 with the rigid supporting member 16 embedded therein. This provides for a secure and permanent attachment of the plastic molded member 14 and the rigid supporting member 16 to the space 30 of the board member 12.
The rigid supporting member 16 is generally made of metal, or any other materials, such as high strength plastics and fiber composite materials, are contemplated for use as a rigid supporting member. In the preferred embodiment, the rigid supporting member 16 is narrower measured transversely than the plastic molded member 14 and extends longitudinally along the central portion of the plastic molded member 14.
For injecting plastic materials to form the plastic molded member 14, the upper layer 26 and the lower layer 28 of the board member 12 are provided respectively a plurality of injecting holes 40 and 42. In this preferred embodiment, as shown in
As above described and illustrated, it should be readily appreciated that because the plastic molded member 14 with the rigid supporting member 16 embedded therein is produced by only one step molding process, the object of the present invention that the producing time and cost of the shoes can be decreased is achieved. In addition, for being wholly enclosed in the space of the board member, the plastic molded member does not have any snapping area due to the stress formed thereon.
