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Footwear with removable insertRelated Patent Categories: Boots, Shoes, And Leggings, Soles, CushionFootwear with removable insert description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060053656, Footwear with removable insert. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention is directed to footwear and, more particularly, to a removable, disposable shoe insert for cushioning and absorbing shock, footwear embodying the same, and a method of making. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] Footwear on the market today is designed to reduce stress on the feet, legs and body of the wearer while providing comfort and flexibility. Unfortunately over time many materials footwear are made of breakdown and become harder reducing the ability of the footwear to provide shock absorption and comfort properties to the wearer. This holds true for most all types of footwear when standing, walking, running, or performing a work related task. To solve this issue three main components of footwear have been designed to provide comfort, cushion, and shock absorbing properties. [0005] The outsole of a shoe that comes in contact with the ground can be made of various types of materials. One typical material is a hardened carbon additive rubber outsole that provides durability, reduce wear, and extend the life of the product. Unfortunately if the outsole is made of a highly durable material, such as hardened rubber, its shock absorbing properties are sacrificed, and other parts of the shoe must be designed to provide shock absorption and cushion. In some applications footwear is designed with the outsole as the main component of the shoe, resulting in a hard and ridged shoe. This may be desirable for durability in a work environment, but it reduces the comfort level to the wearer. [0006] Another component of footwear is the insole, typically a piece designed to provide a barrier between the foot and the materials from which the footwear is manufactured. Typically an insole is made of a comfortable material that is not irritating to the skin. In order to extend the usefulness or improve the comfort of the footwear or both, improvements have been developed where the insole is replaced. Unfortunately the insole piece covers the complete contact area between the foot and the footwear, becoming costly to replace. The insole is not designed for shock absorption properties and is typically of thin design. To add shock absorption properties to the insole can make the insole thicker, thus changing the configuration and properties of the footwear. The relatively thin design of some aftermarket replacement insoles makes them susceptible to replacement in a fraction of the life span of the footwear. This may result in a costly endeavor due to the various sizes and shape of footwear. [0007] The main component of many types of footwear, including athletic footwear, that is designed to provide shock absorption and cushion is the midsole. Midsoles that are typically made of Ethyl-Vinyl-Acetate, rubber, polyethylene or other materials provide significant shock absorbing and cushioning properties initially, but they can break down after prolonged use. The midsole tends to lose its elasticity and will actually reduce in thickness due to standing or repeated compression from the impact of walking or running. Once these properties are lost, the footwear becomes less effective and obsolete. [0008] Typically, in the design of footwear the midsole is the focus for providing shock absorbing properties. It is estimated a good running shoe will perform well for 300 miles. At that point the midsole has broken down to a harder and thinner form of the original material and will not provide essential shock absorption. In the case of many average runners, this is less than a year. Other components of the shoe at this point may be in good shape but the midsole component is worn out. [0009] In some applications, such as work footwear, the product is designed with only an outsole and insole. The foregoing arguments hold true here as well. The outsole could be made of a more durable material, but it would not provide shock absorption or cushion for the wearer. If the outsole is made of more elastic material for better cushioning, its wear properties are sacrificed and the life of the product is short. [0010] The ideal material providing shock absorbing properties and wear that returns the midsole, outsole, or insole to its original size after repeated use has not yet been invented, and many have been issued trying to solve this problem and extend the useful life of footwear. [0011] Numerous patents have been issued describing various methods and architectures for providing interchangeable insoles and midsoles. These patents are summarized below. [0012] U.S. Pat. No. 4,897,936 describes inserts for the forefoot and heel. Inserts are inserted from the insole side and outsole side. Inserts are attached using rings to hold in place. This may prove to be costly for manufacturing and less durable than other options. [0013] U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,280 describes many interchangeable components with interlocking properties. The many parts and complexity of this arrangement may be costly to manufacture or replace. In addition wear and stability would be major concern. [0014] U.S. Pat. No. 6,023,857 describes a removable midsole. Disadvantage being the size of the insert taking away from the stability of the shoe, and cost of replacement for different size shoes. [0015] U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,023,859 and 5,799,417 describe a hinged part of the outsole to allow for a replaceable insert. The outsole requires two hinged mechanisms and locking devices to keep the outsole in place. This may prove to be costly during manufacturing and cumbersome for use. [0016] U.S. Pat. No. 4,942,677 describes an adjustable insert which may be primarily for medical rehabilitative purposes. This type of design incorporate single or multiple parts of wedge shaped design which may not be desirable under heavy use. [0017] U.S. Pat. No. 4,624,061 describes two insert components slotted and interconnected one from the inside, the other from the outside of the shoe. Again manufacturing cost may be high and replacement of insert may be complex or prove to be a disadvantage when not interlocking correctly. [0018] U.S. Pat. No. 6,543,158 describes an insole insert. Insole inserts are generally thin in design and would not provide the amount of shock absorption or comfort as an insert of significant depth. In addition an insole insert is typically manufactured of multiple materials and varying shoe sizes raising the cost of manufacturing. It is possible to standardize the shape, size or single material the heel insert is made of. This allows the insert to be a relatively inexpensive alternative in maintaining footwear characteristics over the life of a shoe. [0019] U.S. Pat. No. 6,745,499 describes a fluidic cushioning solution to improving shock absorption properties. Providing cushioning by fluid flow is one solution but does not address the problem with materials breaking down over time and repeated use. The manufacturing and overall cost may be a negative for this design. In addition the insert is independent of the forefoot area, reducing complexity of the design. [0020] U.S. Pat. No. 6,751,891 describes a complex springs and return assembly manufactured into the footwear. Expense of manufacturing would be an issue. The overall footwear may be heavier and noisy. In addition there may be a reduction in performance by the springs over time limiting the life span of the product. A removable insert eliminates the need for long term performance, material return characteristics by being removable. The insert can simply be replaced after it losses its ability to cushion impact which is determined by the wearer or a recommended time period based on wear, weight or size of shoe. The insert improves the shock absorbing properties of the overall shoe by not requiring durability as one of its main traits. No return system is required. [0021] U.S. Pat. No. 6,754,982 describes multiple cone system with a plate that can be used with any different number of pieces. The plate system adds rigidity, which is an undesirable effect while the cones are providing shock absorption, a desirable effect. With a single insert multiple pieces or additional parts are not required reducing replacement and manufacturing costs. [0022] U.S. Pat. No. 6,722,058 describes a cartridge that is "U" shaped with multiple pieces. These types of designs and others like it require multiple parts or plates increase manufacturing cost, weight and in some cases create side-to-side stability issues. In addition with multiple components the chance of failure is greater. An insert as described in this patent is a single component that is removable and replaced when the wearer determines the insert has reached its life. The insert can be manufactured out of inexpensive materials allowing the user to replace at their convenience. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Continue reading about Footwear with removable insert... Full patent description for Footwear with removable insert Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Footwear with removable insert patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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