Cushioning device for footwear

• US 6,508,017 B1
• Filed: 02/20/2001
• Issued: 01/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Footwear Industries Pty Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Footwear Industries Pty Ltd.
• Inventors: Piggott, Brian John, DeBarro, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): KAVANAUGH, JOHN T
• Application Number:
  US09/763,322
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 36/28, 36/30.R, 36/31, 36/44
• US Class Current: 36/28
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/141 with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/188 Differential cushioning regions
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/40 with cushions
• 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 7/144 situated under the heel, i.e. the calcaneus bone

Abstract

A cushioning device for footwear that provides flexibility in the forepart area. The device having an insole with perforations in the forepart region and a first pad underlying the region. The device having a cutout in the heel region with an insert provided in the cutout.

Claims

1. Cushioning device for footwear comprising an insole;

a region at the forepart of said insole having perforations such that said region at the forepart of said insole has greater flexibility than the remainder of said insole to enable said region at the forepart of said insole to conform in response to compression imparted to said insole;

first pad means on the under-face of said insole underlying said region at the forepart of said insole, said first pad is of substantially the same shape and size as said region at the forepart of said insole;

a cutout opening in the heel region of said insole;

an insert provided in said cutout opening;

second pad on the under-face of said insole underlying said insert and

said first and second pad and said insert being substantially shock absorbing and resilient.

2. Cushioning device according to claim 1, wherein said region at the forepart of said insole substantially coincides with the first to fifth metatarsal heads and big toe of a person'"'"'s foot.

3. Cushioning device according to claim 1, wherein a cover is provided over said first pad on the under-face of said insole at said forepart of said insole.

4. Cushioning device according to claim 1, wherein said first pad is attached to said insole.

5. Cushioning device according to claim 1, wherein said second pad is attached to said insole and said insert.

6. Cushioning device according to claim 1, wherein a shank support is provided at substantially the mid region of said insole intermediate said forepart and said heel region thereof.

7. Cushioning device according to claim 6, wherein said shank support does not overlap with said first or second pad.

8. Cushioning device according to claim 6, wherein said shank support is substantially in the form of a strip of supportive material having greater rigidity than said insole.

9. Cushioning device according to claim 6, wherein said shank support is provided on said under-face of said insole.

10. Cushioning device according to claim 1, wherein said perforations at said region at the forepart of said insole have a diameter substantially in the range of 1 mm-2 mm.

11. Cushioning device according to claim 1, wherein said second pad is larger than said insert such that said second pad covers said insert and overlaps onto the surrounding portion of said insole.

12. Cushioning device according to claim 1, wherein said insole is a single piece of material.

13. Cushioning device according to claim 1, wherein said insole is made of non-woven textile material or fibreboard.

14. An item of footwear comprising a footwear upper, a cushioning device according to claim 1, and an outsole attached to said footwear upper, wherein said outsole covers said first and second pads and said under-face of said insole.

15. An item of footwear according to claim 14, wherein said footwear upper is provided with a lasting margin which substantially surrounds the periphery of said cushioning device and is attached to said cushioning device.

16. A method of making an item of footwear comprising providing a footwear upper, providing a cushioning device according to claim 1, covering said first and second pad and said under-face of said insole with an outsole, and attaching said outsole to said footwear upper.

27. A method according to claim 16, wherein it further comprises attaching a lasting margin to said cushioning device, said footwear upper provided with said lasting margin which substantially surrounds the periphery of said cushioning device.

28. A method according to claim 16, wherein it further comprises overlying said insole with an innersock.

17. A method of making a cushioning device for footwear comprising;

providing an insole;

perforating a region at the forepart of said insole such that said region at the forepart of said insole has greater flexibility than the remainder of said insole to enable said region at the forepart of said insole to conform in response to compression imparted to said insole;

underlying said region at the forepart of said insole with a first pad on the under-face of said insole, said first pad being substantially the same shape and size as said region at the forepart of said insole;

cutting out an opening in the heel region of said insole;

positioning an insert in said opening;

underlying said insert with a second pad on the under-face of said insole; and

said first and second pad and said insert being substantially shock absorbing and resilient.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein it further comprises providing said region at the forepart of said insole to substantially coincide with the first to fifth metatarsal heads and big toe of a person'"'"'s foot.

19. A method according to claim 17, wherein it further comprises covering said first pad at the forepart of said insole on the under-face of said insole.

20. A method according to claim 17, wherein it further comprises attaching said first pad to said insole.

21. A method according to claim 17, wherein it further comprises attaching said second pad to said insole and said insert.

22. A method according to claim 17, wherein it further comprises providing a shank support substantially at the mid region of said insole intermediate said forepart and said heel region thereof.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein it further comprises providing said shank support on the under-face of said insole.

24. A method of making an item of footwear comprising providing a footwear upper, making a cushioning device according to claim 17, covering said first and second pad and said under-face of said insole with an outsole, and attaching said outsole to said footwear upper.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein it further comprises attaching a lasting margin to said cushioning device, said footwear upper provided with said lasting margin which substantially surrounds the periphery of said cushioning device.

26. A method according to claim 24, wherein it further comprises overlying said insole with an innersock.