Customizable Footwear Inserts and Methods For Using Same

• US 20170105482A1
• Filed: 10/17/2015
• Published: 04/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saluber S.R.L.
• Original Assignee: Saluber S.R.L.
• Inventors: Smaniotto, Ferruccio
• Granted Patent: US 10,441,031 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 17/003 characterised by the material made of wood A43B17/12, made of sponge, rubber or plastic materials A43B17/14
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 17/006 multilayered
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 17/18 Arrangements for attaching removable insoles to footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/1405 with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/1464 with adjustable pads to allow custom fit
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/28 Adapting the inner sole or the side of the upper of the shoe to the sole of the foot

Abstract

Systems and methods for customizable footwear inserts having a plurality of removable sections. Removable sections may be permanently bonded to adjacent layers of the inserts to eliminate or minimize the tendency of removable sections surrounding the removed sections to fall out or migrate into the cavity created by the removed sections. In some aspects, multiple layers are provided to increase the comfort, support, and/or fit provided to the wearer of the insert. Further, some embodiments include a removable backing that, when removed, exposes an adhesive that may be utilized to, inter alia, adhere an original insole of footwear to the top of the footwear insert such that the user'"'"'s foot is still in contact with the original insole when wearing the footwear.

Claims

1. A footwear insert comprising:

a first layer having a first layer upwardly facing surface and a first layer downwardly facing surface; and

at least one removable section, a removable section upwardly facing surface coupled to said first layer downwardly facing surface via a permanent bond.

2. A footwear insert according to claim 1, wherein said first layer is one of the group consisting of microfiber, a single-sided adhesive fabric with a backing, a single-sided adhesive fabric without a backing, a double-sided adhesive fabric with a backing, and a double-sided adhesive fabric without a backing

3. A footwear insert according to claim 1, wherein said at least one removable section is foam.

4. A footwear insert according to claim 3, wherein said at least one removable section is a memory-resistant polyurethane foam section.

5. A footwear insert according to claim 1, wherein said permanent bond is created via a reactive polyurethane and polychloroprene solvent-based adhesive system.

6. A footwear insert according to claim 1, wherein an exterior perimeter of said insert is shaped to approximate a standard footwear insole, is substantially oblong, or is shaped for custom sizing.

7. A footwear insert according to claim 1 wherein said at least one removable section is substantially a one-half inch square or portion thereof arranged in a grid pattern.

8. A footwear insert comprising:

a first layer having a first layer upwardly facing surface and a first layer downwardly facing surface;

a second layer having a second layer upwardly facing surface and a second layer downwardly facing surface, said second layer upwardly facing surface coupled to said first layer downwardly facing surface via a first bond;

a third layer having a third layer upwardly facing surface and a third layer downwardly facing surface, said third layer upwardly facing surface coupled to said second layer downwardly facing surface via a second bond; and

at least one removable section, a removable section upwardly facing surface coupled to said third layer downwardly facing surface via a third bond.

9. A footwear insert comprising:

a first layer having a first layer upwardly facing surface and a first layer downwardly facing surface;

a second layer having a second layer upwardly facing surface and a second layer downwardly facing surface, said second layer upwardly facing surface coupled to said first layer downwardly facing surface via a first bond;

a third layer having a third layer upwardly facing surface and a third layer downwardly facing surface, said third layer upwardly facing surface coupled to said second layer downwardly facing surface via a second bond; and

a fourth layer having a fourth layer upwardly facing surface and a fourth layer downwardly facing surface, said fourth layer upwardly facing surface coupled to said third layer downwardly facing surface via a third bond; and

at least one removable section, a removable section upwardly facing surface coupled to said fourth layer downwardly facing surface via a fourth bond.

10. A footwear insert according to claim 9 wherein at least one of the group consisting of said first bond, said second bond, said third bond, said fourth bond and combinations thereof is a permanent bond.

11. A footwear insert according to claim 10, wherein said permanent bond is created via a reactive polyurethane and polychloroprene solvent-based adhesive system.

12. A footwear insert according to claim 9, wherein said first layer has a thickness of approximately 0.5 mm, said second layer has a thickness of approximately 3 mm, said third layer has a thickness of approximately 2 mm, said fourth layer has a thickness of approximately 0.5 mm, and said at least one removable section has a thickness of approximately 9.5 mm.

13. A footwear insert according to claim 9, wherein said first layer is one of the group consisting of microfiber, a single-sided adhesive fabric with a backing, a single-sided adhesive fabric without a backing, a double-sided adhesive fabric with a backing, and a double-sided adhesive fabric without a backing

14. A footwear insert according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the group consisting of said second layer, said third layer, and said at least one removable section is made of foam.

15. A footwear insert according to claim 14, wherein said foam is memory-resistant polyurethane foam.

16. A footwear insert according to claim 9, wherein said fourth layer is fabric.

17. A footwear insert according to claim 9, wherein an exterior perimeter of said insert is shaped to approximate a standard footwear insole, is substantially oblong, or is shaped for custom sizing.

18. A footwear insert according to claim 9, wherein said at least one removable section is a substantially one-half inch square or portion thereof arranged in a grid pattern.

19. A method of using a footwear insert comprising the steps of:

creating a customized footwear insert by tearing at least one removable section of said footwear insert to remove a substantial portion of said at least one removable section from said footwear insert, said footwear insert including;

a first layer having a first layer upwardly facing surface and a first layer downwardly facing surface; and

at least one removable section, a removable section upwardly facing surface coupled to said first layer downwardly facing surface via a permanent bond; and

inserting said customized footwear insert into footwear.

20. A method according to claim 19 further comprising the step of:

removing an original insole from said footwear prior to said inserting.

21. A method according to claim 20 further comprising the step of:

reinserting said original insole atop a footwear insert upwardly facing surface.

22. A method according to claim 21 further comprising the steps of:

removing an adhesive backing from said footwear insert upwardly facing surface to expose an adhesive prior to said reinserting; and

adhering said original insole to said footwear insert upwardly facing surface via said adhesive.

23. A method according to claim 19 further comprising the step of:

cutting said footwear insert to a custom shape.