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  Insole for footwearUSPTO Application #: 20060053657Title: Insole for footwear Abstract: An insole for footwear that is capable of providing a protective layer between a plantar surface of a human foot and an upper surface of a sole of the footwear. The insole can have a first portion positioned in a rearfoot region of the insole and a second portion positioned at a forefoot portion of the insole, wherein the second portion can be more flexible than the first portion. The insole may further include a toe piece positioned in a toe region of the insole and a footbed that overlays the first portion of the insole, the second portion of the insole, and the toe piece of the insole. (end of abstract) Agent: William R. Gustavson - Dallas, TX, US Inventors: James H. Ailey, Glenn H. Middleton, John G. Pearce, Sharon L. Moure, Wallace McNeil, Hans Hansen USPTO Applicaton #: 20060053657 - Class: 036044000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Boots, Shoes, And Leggings, Insoles, Laminated The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060053657. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to an insole for footwear, and the footwear incorporating the insole. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Conventional footwear are generally provided with an insole positioned on the upper surface of the sole of the footwear. The insole is generally affixed to the upper surface of the sole of the footwear and provide a protective layer of material between the foot of the user and the upper surface of the sole of the footwear. [0003] Conventionally, the insoles used in the footwear are formed of a surface lining and a harder and more rigid lining below the surface lining. The surface lining is generally adhesively secured to the more rigid lining, and the combination layer of the surface lining and the rigid lining is secured to the upper surface of the sole of the footwear by adhesives, sewing, nailing, or other conventional methods of attaching the insole to the surface of the sole of the footwear. [0004] Conventional footwear construction incorporating insoles, as described above, fail to provide both sufficient cushioning and adequate flexibility. More specifically, because the insoles are constructed to primarily provide separation and a protective layer between a wearer's foot and the upper sole of the footwear device, the insoles are generally constructed with very little or no cushioning, and further, due to the rigidity of the materials that form the insole layer, flexibility is limited. [0005] Furthermore, in a ball-to-ball, or 3/4 welt, footwear construction, in particular, conventional insoles fail to provide cushioning to comfortably support the entire plantar surface of a human foot. More specifically, in the construction of ball-to-ball footwear, a shank portion, or the region of the footwear and the corresponding region of the insole forward of the heel area and rearward of the forefoot area, is narrowed in comparison to a full welt footwear construction. According to such construction, the insole is stitched to an outsole of the footwear from an area corresponding to a ball area of a foot at a medial side of the footwear, to an area corresponding to a ball area of the foot at a lateral side of the footwear, around the periphery of the outsole of the footwear. It is also customary to secure the shank portion of the insole on the inner surface of the sole of the footwear by using holding members, for example, nails or staples, which are generally driven upwardly from the outer sole of the footwear. [0006] Due to the previously described construction, it is necessary for the insole to be formed of a material that is capable of retaining the holding member. Thus, materials that are rigid and which resist flexibility are used to retain the holding members. According to such construction, however, cushioning is omitted from the footwear in order to provide a layer that can retain the holding members. As a result, such footwear construction fails to provide sufficient cushion and comfort to a user. [0007] Accordingly, conventional insoles have been unable to meet both the construction requirements and the comfort requirements necessary to provide both a sturdy construction as well as adequate comfort for a wearer. Thus, there exists a need for an insole that is capable of providing both comfort and flexibility. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] Accordingly, the present invention provides an insole that provides sufficient cushioning and flexibility. [0009] In one aspect of the invention, an insole having a rearfoot region and a forefoot region, and bounded by a periphery having a medial edge, a lateral edge, a rearward edge, and a forward edge, comprises a base strip that has a first portion positioned at the rearfoot region of the insole and a second portion positioned at the forefoot region of the insole, wherein the second portion is more flexible than the first portion. [0010] In another aspect of the invention, an insole is bounded by a periphery having a medial edge, a lateral edge, a rearward edge, and a forward edge and corresponds substantially to a plantar surface of a human foot. The insole further has a rearfoot region, a forefoot region, and a toe region and comprises a base strip having a first portion positioned at the rearfoot region of the insole, and a second portion positioned at the forefoot region of the insole, and a toe piece positioned at the toe region of the insole, wherein the second portion of the base strip is more flexible than the first portion of the base strip. [0011] In another aspect of the invention, an insole is bounded by a periphery having a medial edge, a lateral edge, a rearward edge, and a forward edge and corresponds substantially to a plantar surface of a human foot. The insole has a rearfoot region, a forefoot region, and a toe region and comprises a base strip which has a first portion that can be positioned at the rearfoot region of the insole and a second portion that can be positioned at the forefoot region of the insole, a toe piece that can be positioned at the toe region of the insole, and a footbed that is positioned on each of the base strip and the toe piece, wherein the second portion of the base strip is more flexible than the first portion of the base strip. Further, a third portion having a shape corresponding substantially to the shape of the first portion is positioned in contact with the first portion and forms, with the second portion and the toe piece, the bottom surface of the insole. [0012] In a further aspect of the invention, a footwear comprises a sole, a footwear upper portion attached to the sole to form a foot receiving member capable of retaining a human foot, and an insole positioned on an inner surface of the sole and having a rearfoot region and a forefoot region, and bounded by a periphery having a medial edge, a lateral edge, a rearward edge, and a forward edge. The insole further comprises a base strip having a first portion that can be positioned at the rearfoot region of the insole and a second portion that can be positioned at the forefoot region of the insole, wherein the second portion is more flexible than the first portion. [0013] In another aspect of the invention, because a footbed of an insole is formed substantially of the same material throughout its entirety, the positioning of different portions of a strip underlaying the footbed will determine which portions of the insole will be more flexible relative to other portions of the insole. [0014] In another aspect of the invention an inosole comprises a base strip provided in a rearfoot region of the insole and a forefoot region of the insole, wherein the base strip can control flexibility in the rearfoot region and the forefoot region of the insole. [0015] In another aspect of the invention an insole comprises a footbed having a rearfoot region, a forefoot region, and a toe region and bounded by a periphery having a medial edge, a lateral edge, a rearward edge, and a forward edge, and a strip underlaying at least a portion of the footbed, wherein the strip can control flexibility in the rearfoot region, the forefoot region, and the toe region of the insole. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0016] Other advantages and features of the invention will become more apparent with reference to the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiment thereof in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numbers have been applied to like elements, in which: [0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an upper surface of an insole according to an embodiment of the present invention; [0018] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the insole taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, [0019] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a lower surface of the insole of FIG. 1; [0020] FIG. 4 is a top view of the lower regions of the insole of FIG. 1; Continue reading... Full patent description for Insole for footwear Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Insole for footwear 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. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Insole for footwear or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Footwear with removable insert Next Patent Application: Unique systems and methods for fastening footwear Industry Class: Boots, shoes, and leggings ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Insole for footwear patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 6.90688 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Novartis , Pfizer , Philips , Polaroid , Procter & Gamble , |
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