Adjustable insole for support of painful foot areas

• US 5,768,803 A
• Filed: 05/15/1996
• Issued: 06/23/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dodd M. Levy
• Original Assignee: Dodd M. Levy
• Inventors: Levy, Dodd M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kavanaugh, Ted
• Application Number:
  US08/647,678
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 36/43, 36/44, 36/140
• US Class Current: 36/43
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 17/02 wedge-like or resilient
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 17/03 filled with a gas, e.g. air
• 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 7/1435 situated under the joint between the fifth phalange and the fifth metatarsal bone
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/1445 situated under the midfoot, i.e. the second, third or fourth metatarsal
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/1463 with removable pads to allow custom fit
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/1464 with adjustable pads to allow custom fit

Abstract

In a first embodiment of the invention, an adjustable support insole system is provided for use in a shoe. The system includes a bottom inside layer including a plurality of segments removably attached to a bottom surface of an insole layer, e.g. the top layer. At least one of the sections may be removed to create an empty space directly beneath a corresponding painful area of a foot. Suitable means are provided for removably attaching the removable sections. In a second embodiment of the invention, a first foot-shaped layer is provided together with a second foot shaped layer spaced from the first foot-shaped layer such that a sleeve type arrangement is formed between said first and second foot-shaped layers. An insert having a plurality of fluid filled sacs is provided for insertion into the sleeve arrangement. The individual sacs can be deflated such that the deflated sac is positioned directly beneath a corresponding painful area on the foot and the remaining fluid filled sacs provide support to the surrounding foot areas.

Claims

1. An adjustable support insole system for a foot for use in a shoe, comprising:

an insole layer;

a bottom layer which is attached to a bottom surface of said insole layer, said bottom layer including a plurality of removable sections, at least one of said sections being removable to create an empty space directly beneath a corresponding painful area of a foot; and

means for removably attaching said removable sections to said bottom surface of said insole layer,

whereby at least one of said sections can be removed to eliminate a support provided thereby and wherein the insole system has a substantially continuous top surface for contact with the foot before and after removal of at least one said section,

wherein said removable sections each have first indicia including at least one of alpha numeric and color indicia for individually identifying each of said plurality of removable sections; and

further comprising second indicia including at least one of alpha numeric and color indicia provided on said top surface so as to correspond to said first indicia of said purality of removable sections.

2. An adjustable support insole system for a foot for use in a shoe as recited in claim 1 wherein said removable sections directly correspond to the metatarsal region of a foot.

3. An adjustable support insole system for a foot for use in a shoe as recited in claim 1 wherein said insole layer is foot-shaped.

4. An adjustable support insole for a foot for a shoe as recited in claim 1 wherein said removable attachment means is an adhesive material.

5. An adjustable support insole for a foot for use in a shoe as recited in claim 1 wherein said attachment means is a hook and loop material.

6. An adjustable support insole system for a foot for use in a shoe as recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of removable sections extend substantially transversely to said insole layer.

7. An adjustable support insole system for a foot for use in a shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said removable sections are of different sizes.

8. An adjustable support insole system for a foot for use in a shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of generally rectilinear segments disposed generally transversely of and a plurality of generally rectilinear segments disposed generally longitudinally of the insole layer, said segments being disposed in substantially side by side, parallel relation.

9. The insole system according to claim 1, in combination with a patch component having an adhesive layer for selective temporary attachment to an area of the foot and carrying a marking agent for selectively marking the upper surface of the insole system.

10. An insole system as in claim 9, further comprising further indicia including at least one alpha numeric and color indicia provided on the bottom surface of said insole member so as to correspond to said indicia on said top surface.

11. An insole for a shoe that supports a foot disposed in the shoe, the insole comprising:

a generally planer insole member having a top and a bottom surface and adapted to be inserted into the shoe, the insole member having a plurality of segments defined one of therein and thereon, each section being constructed and arranged to support a portion of a corresponding section of the foot, wherein the support provided by at least one of said segments can be selectively eliminated whereby support for a painful portion of the foot is substantially eliminated and remaining portions of the foot are supported by segments disposed adjacent said at least one segment,

wherein said segments are remote from said top surface, said top surface defining a substantially smooth, continuous surface for receiving the foot,

further comprising indicia including at least one of alpha numeric and color indicia provided on said top surface of said insole, said indicia individually identifying a location of each of said segment.

12. The insole according to claim 11, wherein at least some of said segments are detachably secured to a reminder of said insole member, removal of said at least one segment eliminating the support provided thereby.

13. The insole according to claim 11, wherein at least some of said segments are fluid filled compartments, substantial removal of the fluid of at least one said compartment eliminating the support provided thereby.

14. The insole according to claim 13, wherein said fluid is a gas.

15. The insole system according to claim 11, in combination with a patch component having an adhesive layer for selective temporary attachment to an area of the foot and carrying a marking agent for selectively marking the upper surface of the insole system.