Shoe having a multilayered insole

• US 20040181970A1
• Filed: 03/18/2003
• Published: 09/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Columbia Insurance Company (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Columbia Insurance Company (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Covatch, Charles E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,948,263 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/30R
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/12 Soles with several layers of different materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/14 characterised by the constructive form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/40 with cushions
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 17/00 Insoles for insertion, e.g. footbeds or inlays, for attachment to the shoe after the upper has been joined
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 17/02 wedge-like or resilient
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 21/26 Resilient heels
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/1425 situated under the ball of the foot, i.e. the joint between the first metatarsal and first phalange
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/144 situated under the heel, i.e. the calcaneus bone
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/1445 situated under the midfoot, i.e. the second, third or fourth metatarsal

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing a shoe with a footbed, an insole having a first layer and a second layer, where the first layer includes a top surface, a bottom surface, and a hole extending from the top surface to the bottom surface. The second layer includes a top surface, a bottom location, and a hole extending from the top surface to the bottom location. Additionally, the shoe includes a protrusion extending from the footbed through the first layer to the bottom location of the second layer.

Claims

1. A shoe, comprising:

a footbed;

an insole having a first layer and a second layer;

said first layer having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a hole extending from said top surface to said bottom surface;

said second layer having a top surface, a bottom location, and a hole extending from said top surface to said bottom location; and

a protrusion extending from said footbed through said first layer to said bottom location of said second layer.

2. The shoe in accordance with claim 1, wherein said insole further comprises at least one middle layer placed between said first and second layers and having a top surface and a bottom surface and a hole extending from said top surface to said bottom surface of said at least one middle layer.

3. The shoe in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a sole having a top surface, a bottom point, and a recess extending from said top surface to said bottom point.

4. The shoe in accordance with claim 3, wherein said protrusion extends from said footbed through said first and second layers to said bottom point of said sole.

5. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein said hole in said first layer has a periphery approximately a same size as a periphery of said protrusion.

6. The shoe in accordance with claim 1, wherein said protrusion is located in at least one localized area of said insole.

7. A method for providing a shoe, comprising the steps of:

providing a footbed;

providing an insole having a first layer and a second layer, wherein the first layer has a top surface and a bottom surface and the second layer has a top surface and a bottom location;

extending a hole from the top surface to the bottom surface of the first layer;

extending a hole from the top surface to the bottom location of the second layer; and

extending a protrusion from the footbed through the first layer to the bottom location of the second layer.

8. The method in accordance with claim 7, further comprising the step of placing at least one middle layer between the first and second layers and having a top surface and a bottom surface and extending a hole from the top surface to the bottom surface of the at least one middle layer.

9. The method in accordance with claim 7, further comprising the step of providing a sole having a top surface and a bottom point and extending a recess from the top surface to the bottom point of the sole.

10. The method in accordance with claim 9, further comprising the step of extending the protrusion from the footbed through the first and second layers to the bottom point of the sole.