WEARABLE SHOE INSOLE

Abstract

There is a footwear combination system that has a wearable insole and an article of footwear. The wearable insole has an upper portion and a sole or inner sole, and the article of footwear has an outer sole and an upper covering. The article of footwear also lacks an inner sole, which is provided by the wearable insole. The wearable insole is sized to fit within the article of footwear to be worn in conjunction with the article of footwear. However, the wearable insole can also be worn on its own. When worn together, the sole of the wearable insole acts as the sole for the article of footwear, and functions as an inner sole/outer sole when worn without the article of footwear. The article of footwear may be any type of footwear including boots, athletic shoes, dress shoes, and high heels.

Description

FIELD OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The field of the invention and its embodiments relate to articles of footwear, namely articles of footwear that can be worn singularly or in conjunction with another article of footwear.

BACKGROUND OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Typically articles of footwear are designed with a specific purpose in mind whether it be for use in sports, dancing, fashion, hiking, swimming, working, or comfort. The specialized nature of many articles of footwear require people to often own many different pairs and types of footwear to accommodate their interests and travels in their daily lives.

This need for different footwear for different occasions or activities requires individuals to have a change of footwear with them or nearby to change into afterwards or to look out of place at a particular function. This is inconvenient for a number of reasons. First, it is not desirable to have to carry extra footwear around in order to accomplish a number of tasks. Often, it can be difficult or impossible to find a place to adequately store the footwear while it is not being worn. In other instances, it can end up costing money for storage or for the supervision of such personal items.

Further, if the person has no adequate footwear, then they will run the risk of looking out of place at a particular function. It is often said that the first thing people notice about others is their footwear, and certainly one does not want to be noticed for the wrong reasons. Additionally, when footwear is appropriate for one activity, while out of place for another may be unsightly, it can often be very uncomfortable to the wearer.

Many times footwear has strategically placed padding to help alleviate potential discomfort associated with the footwear. This can cause blisters or sores to emerge when such footwear has to be worn for activities or occasions where it would not preferably be worn. Thus, it would be desirable to have footwear that can be worn singularly or in conjunction with other footwear to alleviate such issues.

For example, when on an airplane or long car trip many people prefer to take off their shoes to be more comfortable. However, it may be unsanitary to simply remove one's footwear. Additionally, this action may cause the feet to become cold or dirty if one is forced to walk without their footwear. Thus, there is a need for an article of footwear that can be worn with or without an outer covering, giving the user the preference to wear one style of footwear or the other. The present invention and its embodiments meets and exceeds these objectives. Review of related technology:

U.S. Pat. No. 7,591,084 pertains to an article of footwear having an outer sole that houses a removable inner sole. The interchangeable nature allows different uses, appearances, and configurations. The outer sole can be used as a shoe itself (e.g. a sandal) or as the sole for other transformations. Various types of footwear elements can be inserted into/over the outer sole, allowing conversion of the footwear into a sports, formal, sandal, water, slipper, dress, ornamented shoe or other footwear.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,392 pertains to an interchangeable shoe and slipper combination that includes an upper having a front upper portion secured on a sole and a rear upper portion. A slide fastener couples or uncouples the front upper portion and the rear upper portion so as to assemble a shoe, or form a slipper by separating the rear upper portion from the front upper portion. A detachable heel is fixed under the sole, which includes several heel sections selectively fixed under the sole for adjusting the heel height of the shoe.

U.S. Patent Application 2012/0227281 pertains to a shoe-slipper combination. The shoe-slipper combination includes a shoe, wherein the shoe is configured to be worn by a wearer. The shoe-slipper combination also includes a slipper. The slipper is configured to fit on the foot of the wearer and fit at least partially within the shoe.

Various devices are known in the art. However, their structure and means of operation are substantially different from the present disclosure. In turn, the other inventions fail to solve all the problems taught by the present disclosure. At least one embodiment of this invention is presented in the drawings below and will be described in more detail herein.

Summary of the Embodiments

Generally, the present invention is a footwear system that provides flexibility to a wearer in terms of the versatility of the footwear. Additionally, the footwear system resolves the need to transport or carry additional articles of footwear when traveling or moving between different functions or activities. A wearable insole and article of footwear combines to give the user the desired flexibility and fashion appeal.

The wearable insole is a comfortable, lightweight article to be worn on a user's foot. The wearable insole has an insole/outsole combination allowing it to be worn on its own. The outside surface of the insole can function as an outsole and the inside surface of the insole can function as an insole. The wearable insole can be worn inside an article of footwear such as an athletic shoe, boot, high heel, and the like. The wearable insole functions to provide comfort to the wearer when worn inside the article of footwear. For example, the insole of the wearable insole doubles as an insole of the article of footwear, which lacks its own insole.

In some instances, the wearable insole is in a limited friction fit with the article of footwear, whereas in others a coupling mechanism is present on an outer surface of the wearable insole. A complementary coupling mechanism is present on the interior of the article of footwear, thus allowing for a secure, yet removable, joining of the two components of the footwear system.

In one embodiment, a footwear combination system is described and taught having a wearable insole with an upper portion and a sole, the upper portion being attached to the sole; and an article of footwear having an outer sole and an upper covering, wherein the article of footwear is adapted to be worn on a foot; wherein the wearable insole fits at least partially within the article of footwear; and wherein the sole of the wearable insole acts as an inner sole of the article of footwear.

In another embodiment of the present invention there is a footwear combination system having a wearable insole with an upper portion and a sole defining a cavity therebetween, the upper portion being attached to the sole along a perimeter of the sole; and an article of footwear having an outer sole and an upper covering, wherein the article of footwear lacks an inner sole; wherein the article of footwear is adapted to be worn on a foot; wherein the wearable insole fits at least partially within the article of footwear; and wherein the sole of the wearable insole acts as an inner sole of the article of footwear.

In general, the present invention succeeds in conferring the following, and others not mentioned, benefits and objectives.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an article of footwear that has a removable inner article of footwear.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an article of footwear that can be worn in multiple environments and/or scenarios.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an article of footwear that is lightweight and comfortable.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an article of footwear that reduces the need to carry or store multiple articles of footwear.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an article of footwear that provides ergonomic support and traction.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an article of footwear that is suited for multiple types of activity.

It is another object of the present invention to provide footwear combination that only requires one insole for both articles of footwear.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wearable insole of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cutaway side view of an article of footwear of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cutaway side view of one example of an insole-shoe combination of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view of another embodiment of the wearable insole.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of another embodiment of the wearable insole.

FIG. 6 is a front view of another embodiment of the wearable insole.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Identical elements in the various figures are identified with the same reference numerals.

Reference will now be made in detail to each embodiment of the present invention. Such embodiments are provided by way of explanation of the present invention, which is not intended to be limited thereto. In fact, those of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate upon reading the present specification and viewing the present drawings that various modifications and variations can be made thereto.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is a perspective view of a wearable insole 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The wearable insole 100 generally has an upper portion 105, a sole 110, and an opening 115. The wearable insole 100 may further have elastic 120, treading 125 (see FIG. 5), and a number of coupling mechanisms 130 disposed on the covering 105.

The wearable insole 100 has an upper portion or a covering 105 made preferably of, either wholly or in part, a breathable, lightweight material and should generally cover the toes, the top of the foot, the sides of the foot, and the back of the heel. The upper portion 105 is attached to the sole 110 of the wearable insole 100. Materials comprising the upper portion 105 may include animal products, woven or unwoven fabric, cloth, terrycloth, flax, cotton, bamboo, hemp, lyocell, and/or yarn, and synthetic textile such as microfibers, nylon, polyester, aramid fibers, olefins, and/or acrylic, or any combinations thereof. Preferable materials may include woven or unwoven fabrics, leather, satin, suede, canvas, meshes, and various combinations thereof. However, any suitable material including those not named herein can be used as well.

The upper portion 105 has an elastic opening or collar 120 near the top of the upper portion 105 where one can insert their foot into the wearable insole 100. The opening 115 may be surrounded by an elastic opening or collar 120 to provide comfort and further aid in securing the wearable insole 100 to the user's foot. The collar 120 may be arranged in a number of fashions and include a tongue or provide for areas of expansion (e.g. zippers, lacing, etc.). For example, the collar 120 may surround the opening 115 and there may also be an elastic area that emanates downward towards the sole 110 from the opening 115 to provide one with an ease of removal and placing of the wearable insole 100 on the foot. In some instances, the collar 120 has fur, faux fur, or other soft fabrics located thereon. In other embodiments, this material is disposed throughout the interior of the wearable insole 100. Other such variations may include the addition of a fleece or other material to provide warmth in the colder months.

The sole 110 needs to function as both as outsole, such as when the wearable insole 100 is worn singularly, and as an insole, such as when the wearable insole 100 is worn in conjunction with the article of footwear 200 (see FIG. 3). Thus, the sole 110 should have an upper portion or top surface that conforms to a user's foot and may have a varied topography and shape to support users with varying shaped arches and other characteristics of their feet.

Preferably, the sole 110 is comprised of at least two layers and in some instances may have three or more layers. These layers provide comfort to the user's foot internally in the wearable insole 100, but further enables outer layer(s) to be rugged enough to prevent transfer of forces from the ground (i.e. unevenness, rocks, etc.) to the user's foot. In some instances, at least one layer is a gel-like layer that provides cushioning and comfort to a wearer. The outer layer or bottom surface of the sole 110, or the layer that contacts the ground, may be a rubber, plastic, silicone, etc. There may further be a tread 125, as shown in FIG. 5, on this layer to provide grip and stability, however, the bottom of the sole 110 may also be smooth and flexible to prevent discomfort when worn with the article of footwear and to act as a natural insole when worn in such a configuration.

Coupling mechanisms 130 may further reside on at least an outer surface of the wearable insole 100, such as the upper portion 105 of the wearable insole 100. The coupling mechanism 130 may be any type of snap, fastener, clasp, hook and loop material, etc., that can provide further support to the wearable insole 100 when worn in conjunction with an article of footwear. This helps to prevent separation of the two items when worn and other such non-desirable situations from occurring. The coupling mechanisms 130 may be present around the entire periphery of the wearable insole 100 or may be located at strategic points, such as the heel, medial side, lateral side, toe area, or any combination thereof, to help prevent separation. The coupling mechanism 130 should further provide for easy separation of the wearable insole 100 and the article of footwear when so desired by a wearer.

In FIG. 2, there is a cut away side view of an article of footwear 200. The article of footwear 200 generally has an upper covering 210, outsole 205, opening or collar 215, and a securement mechanism such as lacing.

The article of footwear 200 may generally be virtually any type of footwear including athletic shoes, dress shoes, high heeled shoes, boots, clogs, sandals, boat shoes, slippers, flats, sling backs, slip-ons, and the like. The article of footwear 200 as described may be fit for male, female, child, and unisex styles of footwear.

The upper covering 210 may be comprised of materials that may include animal products, woven or unwoven fabric, cloth, terrycloth, flax, cotton, bamboo, hemp, lyocell, and/or yarn, and synthetic textile including microfibers, nylon, polyester, aramid fibers, olefins, and/or acrylic, or any combinations thereof. Preferable materials may include woven or unwoven fabrics, leather, satin, suede, canvas, meshes, and various combinations thereof, however, any suitable material including those not named herein can be used.

The upper covering 210 has an opening 215 near the top of the upper covering 210 where one can insert their foot into the article of footwear 200. The opening 215 may be partially or wholly surrounded by a securement mechanism, such as laces or a hook and loop fastener, to provide comfort and further aid in securing the article of footwear 200 to the user's foot.

The outsole 205 is preferably made of a number of materials including leather, resin, synthetic rubber, natural rubber or polymers such as polyurethane. The outsole 205 may be constructed to be more rigid and rugged than the sole 110 previously described in FIG. 1. The outsole 205 preferably has any number of grip inducing features such as spikes, cleats, treading and the like. In other embodiments, the outsole 205 is flexible and may have a smooth surface. In yet other embodiments, there may be combinations of features from varying embodiments.

Further, the article of footwear 200 may have any number of coupling mechanisms 220 residing on an inner surface of the upper covering 210. The coupling mechanism(s) 220 may be any type of snap, fastener, clasp, hook and loop material, etc. that can provide further support to the article of footwear 200 when worn in conjunction with the wearable insole as previously described. This helps to prevent separation of the two items when worn and other such non-desirable situations from occurring.

The coupling mechanisms 220 should be complementary in design to operate in conjunction with the coupling mechanisms of the wearable insole as previously described. Thus, if the wearable insole employs hook and loop fasteners it is desirable that the article of footwear 200 contain the required hook or loop fastener in the corresponding location. It is preferable, although not required, that the number of coupling mechanisms between the article of footwear and the wearable insole are consistent with one another. However, as long as at least one aligns with one another than the two components may be able to be retained as desired. The coupling mechanism 220 should be of a nature to provide easy separation of the wearable insole and the article of footwear when so desired by a wearer.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is a cut away side view of the article of footwear demonstrating the wearable insole 100 and article of footwear 200 combination. As described, the article of footwear 200 lacks an insole (or has been removed by the user) which is, in turn, provided by the upper surface of the wearable insole 100. The article of footwear 200 contributes an outsole 200 only. The sole 110 is shaped to comfortably reside within the article of footwear 200 in an ergonomic fashion. The user preferably places their foot 150 into the wearable insole 100 which is then placed within the cavity 140 of the article of footwear 200. In some instances, the wearable insole 100 can be positioned within the article of footwear 200 and then the foot 150 positioned therein.

The coupling mechanism 130 may not be used in all embodiments of wearable insole 100 but when used may be selected to best interact with the coupling mechanism 220 of the particular article of footwear 200. For example, in some scenarios it may be preferential to ensure the footwear 200 and wearable insole 100 are not easily separable and therefore snaps are used on the outside of the wearable insole 100 and on the inside of the article of footwear 200. However, in other scenarios with may be more preferential to have a coupling mechanism 130, such as a hook and loop fastener swatch, on the outside of the wearable insole 100 only. This will assist in retaining of the article of footwear 200 whilst permitting the wearable insole 100 and article of footwear 200 to be readily separable. In yet other scenarios, the no coupling mechanism is present and the wearable insole is sized to have a friction fit within the article of footwear 200 thus enabling the interaction between the two components.

In FIGS. 4-6 there is a front view, bottom view, and top view, respectively, of another embodiment of the wearable insole 100. This is but one design that the wearable insole 100 may have and other designs would be contained under the purview of the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the top view generally shows the features of the wearable insole 100 which include the upper portion 105, sole 110, opening 115, elastic 120, and coupling mechanism(s) 130. The components the materials of the wearable insole 100 are as previously described. Note, here that the toe is open allowing for a more “free” or sandal like footwear.

In FIG. 5, the bottom of the wearable insole 100 is shown having a covering or upper portion 105 coupled to the sole 110. The sole 110 may have treading 125 thereon, and the treading may have various patterns, textures, and designs therein. For example, the treading 125 could have zig-zags or swirls throughout the bottom of the sole 110. The general design should conform to a foot and may be shaped to adhere to a desired fit. For example, people typically have an arch on the inside of their foot and the wearable insole 100 may be shaped to best accommodate a human foot. As noted above, the sole 110 may also be smooth or substantially devoid of texture.

The front view, as shown in FIG. 6, exhibits a rounded upper portion or covering 105 for the toe area of the wearable insole. The sole 110 (or outsole if being worn singularly) is partially visible and may cover all or some of the front of the toe area.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of illustration and that numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A footwear combination system comprising: a wearable insole having an upper portion and a sole, the upper portion being attached to the sole; andan article of footwear having an outer sole and an upper covering, wherein the article of footwear is adapted to be worn on a foot;wherein the wearable insole fits at least partially within the article of footwear; and wherein the upper portion of the wearable insole serves as an insole of the article of footwear when the wearable insole is positioned within the article of footwear.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the wearable insole and article of footwear are sized such the wearable insole is in a limited to the article of footwear thereby substantially holding the wearable insole within the article of footwear.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the upper portion of the wearable insole is concealed by the article of footwear.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the article of footwear and the wearable insole are each capable of being worn individually or in conjunction with one another.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the article of footwear is an athletic shoe, boot, high heel, rain boot, dress shoe, or any combination thereof.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a coupling mechanism on an outer surface of the upper portion of the wearable insole.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein there is a complementary coupling mechanism on an inner surface of the upper covering of the article of footwear.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the wearable insole is waterproof.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the sole of the wearable insole has treading on a surface thereof.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the wearable insole is a slipper.

11. A footwear combination system comprising: a wearable insole having an upper portion and a sole defining a cavity therebetween, the upper portion being attached to the sole along a perimeter of the sole; andan article of footwear consisting of an outer sole, an upper covering, and a fastening mechanism;wherein the wearable insole fits at least partially within the article of footwear; andwherein the sole of the wearable insole acts as an inner sole of the article of footwear when worn within the article of footwear.

12. The system of claim 12 wherein a bottom surface of the sole of the wearable insole bears a complimentary shape to an upper surface of the outer sole of the article of footwear.

13. A footwear combination system comprising: a wearable insole having an upper portion and a sole defining a cavity therebetween,the upper portion being attached to the sole along a perimeter of the sole, wherein there is treading on a bottom surface of the sole, andwherein there is at least one coupling mechanism disposed on an outer surface of the upper portion; andan article of footwear consisting of an outer sole, an upper covering and a fastening mechanism, wherein the article of footwear has at least one complementary coupling mechanism disposed on an inner surface of the upper covering and configured to be aligned with the coupling mechanism disposed on the outer surface of the upper portion of the wearable insole;wherein the wearable insole fits at least partially within the article of footwear; andwherein the sole of the wearable insole serves as an inner sole of the article of footwear when worn within the article of footwear.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the coupling mechanism and the complementary coupling mechanism comprises at least one a hook and loop fastener.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein an outer surface of the sole is shaped to be complementary to a top surface of the outer sole.