1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to shoes, and more particularly, to a waterproof and breathable insole.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various waterproof shoes are commercially available. A waterproof shoe generally has a shoe lining and an insole. The shoe lining and the insole are stitched together. In order to provide the desired waterproof effect, the bottom wall of the insole is coated with layer of waterproof glue. This layer of waterproof glue has a certain hardness and does not breaths. Therefore, a waterproof shoe of this design has a poor breathing effect. If a flexible layer of breathable glue is used for the insole of a shoe, the shoe does not have a waterproof characteristic.
The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. The object of the present invention is to provide a waterproof and breathable insole for shoe, which has waterproof and breathable characteristics.
To achieve this object of the present invention, the waterproof and breathable insole comprises a shoe lining, which has two bottom side edges respectively curved inwards, an insole, which is mounted inside the shoe lining and, which has a flat elongated insole body fitting the toes, transverse arch and plantar arch of the user's foot and peripherally stitched to said shoe lining, a rear heel portion extending backwards from the flat elongated insole body, and two projections longitudinally arranged at two sides respectively attached to the bottom side of the bottom side edges of the shoe lining and defining with the bottom side edges of the shoe lining a plurality of gaps for ventilation, and a pad, which has a layer of waterproof and breathable material and is bonded to the whole area of the outside wall of the insole and a part of the shoe lining with a layer of glue.
Referring to
The shoe lining 10 can be made of any of a variety of materials such as cloth, genuine leather, synthetic leather, or synthetic fibers.
The insole 20 has a flat elongated insole body 21, and a rear heel portion 22 extending backwards from the flat elongated insole body 21 on the same plane. The flat elongated insole body 21 of the insole 20 fits the toes, transverse arch and plantar arch of the user's foot, and is peripherally stitched to the bottom edge of the shoe lining 10. The insole 20 further has two projections 23 disposed at two opposite lateral sides and respectively forwardly or backwardly extending along the two opposite side edges of the rear part of the flat elongated insole body 21 and the two opposite side edges of the rear heal portion 22. The rear part of the bottom edge of the shoe lining 10 is turned inwards and closely attached to the bottom side of the projections 23 of the insole 20 but not directly stitched to the insole 20. Therefore, gaps are left between the shoe lining 10 and the insole 20 around the projections 23 for ventilation. Further, the rear end of the real heal portion 22 is directly stitched to the rear part of the shoe lining 10.
The pad 30 is bonded to the whole area of the outside wall of the insole 20 with a layer of breathable glue 31 that is not waterproof. The pad 30 fits the configuration of the sole of the foot of a human being, and is relatively greater in size than the insole 20. The protruding part of the pad 30 over the border of the insole 20 is bonded to the shoe lining 10, keeping the bottom edge of the shoe lining 10 curved inwards and secured to the bottom side of the insole 20. The pad 30 is formed of a layer of non-woven fabric and a layer of waterproof and breathable material.
Because the pad 30 is formed of a layer of non-woven fabric and a layer of waterproof and breathable material, a soft bonding medium, i.e., a layer of non-waterproof and breathable glue 31 can be used to seal the pad 30 to the insole 20 and the shoe lining 10. Further, because the insole 20 around the two projections 23 is neither stitched nor bonded to the shoe lining 10, gaps are left in between the insole 20 and the shoe lining 10 for ventilation. Further, the bottom edge of the rear part of the shoe lining 10 is turned inwards and closely attached to the bottom side of the projections 23 of the insole 20. According to this design, the user's heel is only stepped on the insole far from the stitches between the pad 10 and the insole 20 and the stitches are not heavily stretched when the user is walking. Therefore, the service life of the shoe is greatly prolonged.
In the aforesaid design, the bottom edge of the rear part of the shoe lining 10 is turned inwards and closely attached to the bottom side of the projections 23 of the insole 20. However, this design is not a limitation.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20070186444 A1 | Aug 2007 | US |