Footwear insole insert

• US 6,195,917 B1
• Filed: 07/07/1999
• Issued: 03/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Walk Easy Manufacturing, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Walk Easy Manufacturing, Inc.
• Inventors: Dieckhaus, Wayne R.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATTERSON, MARIE D
• Application Number:
  US09/349,207
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 36/43, 36/44, 36/93, 361/54
• US Class Current: 36/44
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/026 Composites, e.g. carbon fibre or aramid fibre; the sole, one or more sole layers or sole part being made of a composite
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/12 Soles with several layers of different materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/141 having an anatomical or curved form
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/30 Protecting the ball-joint against pressure while standing

Abstract

An insole insert for application into a shoe, and which is formed as a laminar material of various layers of paper, polymer, stranded thermoplastic or thermosetting material, foams of select consistencies and texture, in addition to a felt or microfiber type of upper layer, to add to the cushioning and softness of the insert, when applied. The insert, when subjected to heat and pressure, particularly pressure applied by the foot, conforms to the contours of the foot, and sustains such, even after prolonged usage after application into a shoe.

Claims

1. An insert for a shoe including at least one layer of thermosetting polymeric material, said polymeric material capable of being deformed and molded when subjected to heat and pressure through thermosetting at least once when the temperature of said polymeric material is raised to a temperature greater than that of ambient temperature, said insert including a bottom layer, said bottom layer formed of at least one of paper and polymer composition, and having a shape conforming to that of an insert for a shoe, a second layer of material comprising a closed cell foam of polymer, having impact resistance, an intermediate layer between the closed cell foam and the bottom layer, said intermediate layer comprising a strand woven fabric of thermoplastic material which when subjected to heat and pressure of the foot under takes the particular configuration and shape of the foot as the molding component applied thereto during application, a further layer of urethane foam, having the configuration of the insert, and applied to the top of the closed cell foam layer of the insert, and a top layer applied to the urethane foam layer of the insert, said top layer formed of a soft fabric material to add cushioning and softness to the insert during usage and application.

2. The insert of claim 1 wherein said polymeric material includes a layer of foamed polymer, and a contiguous layer of woven strands of polymeric material forming the thermosetting material of the insert.

3. The insert of claim 1 and wherein said polymeric material capable of thermosetting when subjected to heat in the range of 130°

F. to 190°

F.

4. The insert of claim 1 wherein said second layer of material comprising a sponge foam capable of compressing under an applied load, said foam also capable of substantially returning to its original shape in the absence of an applied load, and said foam providing shock absorption to said user during application of the applied load.