Multilayered footwear

• US 7,685,741 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2006
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Totes Isotoner Corporation (Totes Isotoner Holdings Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Grandoe Corporation
• Inventors: Friedman, Eric D.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATTERSON, MARIE D
• Application Number:
  US11/633,818
• Publication Number:
  US 20070124960A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,211 Days
• Field of Search: 36/30.R, 36/25.R, 36/28, 36/35.R, 36/37
• US Class Current: 36/25.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0009 made at least partially of alveolar or honeycomb material
• 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 13/189 filled with a non-compressible fluid, e.g. gel, water
• 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 13/386 multilayered
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 17/006 multilayered
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 21/265 filled with a non-compressible fluid, e.g. gel, water
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/144 situated under the heel, i.e. the calcaneus bone

Abstract

A shoe comprising a foot retaining portion having a heel area and having an interior side, the interior side sized and shaped to hold a foot and including an upper portion, the upper portion optionally lined with a pliable material; a first exterior insole layer having therein a cut-out adjacent the heel area of the foot retaining portion, the first exterior inside layer having an interior surface forming the bottom of the foot retaining portion and that is lined with pliable material; a second exterior insole layer having a heel strike pad sized and shaped to fit within the cut-out of the first exterior insole layer, the heel strike pad comprised of a material that absorbs and disperses heel strike forces; a third exterior insole layer sized to fit the foot retaining portion and having therein a cut-out adjacent the heel area of the foot retaining portion, the third exterior insole layer comprised of a material that provides foot cushioning; a fourth exterior insole layer adjacent the third exterior insole layer comprised of a material that provides foot tactile stimulation when foot pressure is applied thereto; an outsole layer adjacent the fourth exterior insole layer comprised of a material that provides outsole flexibility and skid resistance, the outsole layer having a heel with an optional depression therein; and an optional heel strike pad sized and shaped to fit within the depression of the heel of the outsole layer and comprised of a material that absorbs and disperses heel strike forces.

Claims

1. An article of footwear comprising:

a foot retaining portion having a heel area and having an interior side, the interior side sized and shaped to hold a foot and including an upper portion, the upper portion optionally lined with a pliable material;

a first exterior insole layer having therein a cut-out adjacent the heel area of the foot retaining portion, the first exterior insole layer having an interior surface forming the bottom of the foot retaining portion that is lined with a pliable material;

a second exterior insole layer having a heel strike pad sized and shaped to fit within the cut-out of the first exterior insole layer, the heel strike pad comprised of a material that absorbs and disperses heel strike forces;

a third exterior insole layer sized to fit the foot retaining portion and having therein a cut-out adjacent the heel area of the foot retaining portion in alignment with the cut-out of the first exterior insole layer, the third exterior insole layer comprised of a material that provides foot cushioning;

a fourth exterior insole layer adjacent the third exterior insole layer comprised of a material that provides foot tactile stimulation when foot pressure is applied thereto; and

an outsole layer adjacent the fourth exterior insole layer comprised of a material that provides outsole flexibility and skid resistance, the outsole layer having a heel with a depression therein.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1 wherein the pliable material lining the upper portion of the foot retaining portion and the interior surface of the first exterior insole layer is at least one of leather or a leather-like synthetic material and further including providing a depression in a heel area of the outside layer with a heel strike pad sized and shaped to fit within the depression.

3. The article of footwear of claim 1 wherein the heel strike pad of the second exterior insole layer is comprised of a synthetic gel.

4. The article of footwear of claim 3 wherein the synthetic gel is latex.

5. The article of footwear of claim 1 wherein the third exterior insole layer is comprised of non-liquid foam.

6. The article of footwear of claim 5 wherein the non-liquid foam is comprised of closed cell polyurethane foam.

7. The article of footwear of claim 1 wherein fourth exterior insole layer is comprised of a high density, material having a honey comb-like structure.

8. The article of footwear of claim 7 wherein the high density, material is thermal plastic rubber.

9. The article of footwear of claim 1 wherein the outsole layer is comprised of a material that includes ethylene, propylene and rubber.

10. The article of footwear of claim 2 wherein the heel strike pad sized and shaped to fit within the depression of the heel of the outsole layer is comprised of a synthetic gel.

11. The article of footwear of claim 10 wherein the synthetic gel is latex.

12. An article of footwear comprising:

a foot retaining portion having a heel area and having an interior side, the interior side sized and shaped to hold a foot and including an upper portion, the upper portion lined with a pliable material wherein the pliable material lining the upper portion of the foot retaining portion is at least one of leather or a leather-like synthetic material;

a first exterior insole layer having therein a cut-out adjacent the heel area of the foot retaining portion, the first exterior insole layer having an interior surface forming the bottom of the foot retaining portion and that is lined with a pliable material that is made from one of leather or a leather-like synthetic material;

a second exterior insole layer having a heel strike pad sized and shaped to fit within the cut-out of the first exterior insole layer, the heel strike pad comprised of a material that absorbs and disperses heel strike forces wherein the heel strike pad of the second exterior insole layer is comprised of a synthetic gel;

a third exterior insole layer sized to fit the foot retaining portion and having therein a cut-out adjacent the heel area of the foot retaining portion in alignment with the cut-out of the first exterior insole layer, the third exterior insole layer comprised of a material that provides foot cushioning wherein the third exterior insole layer is comprised of non-liquid foam;

a fourth exterior insole layer adjacent the third exterior insole layer comprised of a material that provides foot tactile stimulation when foot pressure is applied thereto wherein fourth exterior insole layer is comprised of a high density, material having a honey comb-like structure; and

an outsole layer adjacent the fourth exterior insole layer comprised of a material that provides outsole flexibility and skid resistance, the outsole layer comprised of a material that includes ethylene, propylene and rubber.

13. The article of footwear of claim 12 wherein the synthetic gel of the heel strike pad of the second exterior insole layer is latex.

14. The article of footwear of claim 12 wherein the non-liquid foam of the third exterior insole layer is latex.

15. The article of footwear of claim 12 wherein the high density, material of the fourth exterior insole layer is thermal plastic rubber.

16. The article of footwear of claim 12 wherein there is further provided a synthetic gel heel strike pad sized and shaped to fit within a depression provided in the heel of the outsole layer.

17. An article of footwear comprising:

a foot retaining portion having a heel area and having an interior side, the interior side sized and shaped to hold a foot and including an upper portion, the upper portion lined with a pliable material wherein the pliable material lining the upper portion of the foot retaining portion is comprised of leather or leather-like synthetic material;

a first exterior insole layer having therein a cut-out adjacent the heel area of the foot retaining portion, the first exterior insole layer having an interior surface forming the bottom of the foot retaining portion that is lined with a pliable material that is comprised of leather or leather-like synthetic material;

a second exterior insole layer having a heel strike pad sized and shaped to fit within the cut-out of the first exterior insole layer, the heel strike pad comprised of a material that absorbs and disperses heel strike forces wherein the heel strike pad of the second exterior insole layer is comprised of a latex gel;

a third exterior insole layer sized to fit the foot retaining portion and having therein a cut-out adjacent the heel area of the foot retaining portion in alignment with the cut-out of the first exterior insole layer, the third exterior insole layer comprised of a material that provides foot cushioning wherein the third exterior insole layer is comprised of non-liquid foam;

a fourth exterior insole layer adjacent the third exterior insole layer comprised of a material that provides foot tactile stimulation when foot pressure is applied thereto wherein fourth exterior insole layer is comprised of a high density, material having a honey comb-like structure;

an outsole layer adjacent the fourth exterior insole layer comprised of a material that provides outsole flexibility and skid resistance, the outsole layer having a heel with an depression therein wherein the outsole layer is comprised of a material that includes ethylene, propylene and rubber; and

an heel strike pad sized and shaped to fit within the depression of the heel of the outsole layer and comprised of a material that absorbs and disperses heel strike forces wherein the heel strike pad sized and shaped to fit within the depression of the heel of the outsole layer is comprised of a latex gel.