Conformable shoe insert with a support layer

• US 6,247,250 B1
• Filed: 08/24/1999
• Issued: 06/19/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John P. Hauser
• Original Assignee: John P. Hauser
• Inventors: Hauser, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): KAVANAUGH, JOHN T
• Application Number:
  US09/382,104
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 36/91, 36/71, 36/80, 361/45, 361/54, 361/66, 361/73, 361/74, 361/80, 361/81, 36/44
• US Class Current: 36/44
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 17/14 made of sponge, rubber, or plastic materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/142 situated under the medial arch, i.e. under the navicular or cuneiform bones
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/143 situated under the lateral arch, i.e. the cuboid bone
• 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
• 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

A shoe insert includes a support layer having a bottom surface and a top surface opposing the bottom surface. The shoe insert further includes a cushion layer fixedly superposed onto the top surface of the support layer. The bottom surface includes a generally planar distal portion, a proximal portion and a medial portion interconnecting the distal portion and the proximal portion. The distal portion cushions the toes and the ball of the foot. The proximal portion supports the heel of the foot and has a centrally disposed depression concave and a generally planar border located posteriorly with respect to the centrally disposed concave depression. The centrally disposed concave depression and border together produce a medial and lateral wedging effect against the heel of the foot. The medial portion supports the mid-region of the foot. The medial portion includes a centrally disposed, generally planar raised portion, a first depression for supporting the medial arch of the foot, a second depression for supporting the lateral arch of the foot, and a third depression for supporting the metatarsal arch of the foot. In use, natural foot warmth causes the support layer to conform to the shape of the foot sole. The contours of the bottom surface of the support layer project to the top surface of the support layer, providing a custom molded shoe insert that supports, cushions and conforms to the foot of the wearer.

Claims

1. A shoe insert that conforms to the contours of the sole of a wearer'"'"'s foot during use, said shoe insert comprising:

a support layer having a perimeter that encompasses the foot, said support layer comprising;

a generally planar distal portion for cushioning the toes and the ball of the foot;

a proximal portion for supporting the heel of the foot, said proximal portion comprising;

a concave depression having an outer edge and a generally planar apex, said concave depression centrally disposed within said proximal portion; and

a generally planar border posteriorly located with respect to said centrally disposed concave depression; and

a medial portion interconnecting said distal portion and said proximal portion for supporting the mid-region of the foot, said medial portion comprising;

a generally planar raised portion centrally disposed within said medial portion;

a first depression for supporting the medial arch of the foot, said first depression medially located with respect to said raised portion;

a second depression for supporting the lateral arch of the foot, said second depression laterally located with respect to said raised portion;

a third depression for supporting the transverse arch of the foot, said third depression anteriorly located with respect to said raised portion; and

a fourth depression interconnecting said planar raised portion and said centrally disposed concave depression, said fourth depression also interconnecting said generally planar border and said centrally disposed concave depression.

2. A shoe insert according to claim 1 further comprising:

a cushion layer fixedly superposed onto said support layer, said cushion layer having a perimeter that encompasses the foot.

3. A shoe insert according to claim 2 further comprising a cloth layer fixedly superposed onto said cushion layer, wherein said cloth layer is breathable and wicks moisture away from the foot.

4. A shoe insert according to claim 1 wherein said support layer is made of a semi-rigid heat moldable polyethylene/ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) co-polymer foam.

5. A shoe insert according to claim 1 wherein said medial portion is about twice as thick as said distal portion.

6. A shoe insert according to claim 1 wherein said generally planar border of said proximal portion is coplanar with and about the same thickness as said generally planar raised portion of said medial portion.