Inner soles for shoes

• US 4,167,824 A
• Filed: 03/20/1978
• Issued: 09/18/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mark E. Wolpa
• Original Assignee: Mark E. Wolpa
• Inventors: Wolpa, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kee Chi, James
• Application Number:
  US05/888,282
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 36/44, 36/43, 428/310, 428/311, 428/315, 128/595
• US Class Current: 36/44
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/38 Built-in insoles joined to uppers during the manufacturing process, e.g. structural insoles; Insoles glued to shoes during the manufacturing process
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 17/14 made of sponge, rubber, or plastic materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249977 Specified thickness of void-containing component [absolute or relative], numerical cell dimension or density
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249981 Plural void-containing components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249985 Composition of adhesive or bonding component specified

Abstract

An inner sole insert is disclosed which comprises an open cell foam base capable of conforming to and substantially retaining the shape of compressive forces applied thereto, an elastic closed cell foam layer having a maximum compression set of less than 50% and a stretch fabric bonded to one face of the closed cell foam layer. The inner sole can be used in athletic shoes and other environments for substantially reducing blisters and callouses and can accommodate the individual foot by molding thereto.

Claims

1. An inner sole insert which comprises

(1) an open cell foam base capable of conforming to and substantially retaining the shape of compressive forces applied thereto,

(2) an elastic closed cell foam layer having a maximum compression set of less than 50 percent and a two-way linear elongation which allows one face of said closed cell foam layer to shift laterally 1/8 to 1/2 inch with respect to the other face when a lateral force is applied to said one face, and

(3) a stretch fabric bonded to one face of said closed cell foam layer with a rubbery adhesive.

2. The inner sole insert of claim 1 wherein said open cell foam base is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene and ethylene vinyl acetate.

3. The inner sole insert of claim 1 wherein said closed cell foam layer is neoprene.

4. The inner sole insert of claim 1 wherein said stretch fabric is elastic nylon.

5. The inner sole insert of claim 2 wherein said open cell foam base is foamed cross-linked polyethylene.

6. The inner sole insert of claim 1 wherein said open cell foam base is approximately 1/8 to 1/2 inches thick.

7. The inner sole insert of claim 1 wherein said cell foam layer is approximately 1/16 to 3/16 inches thick.