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Shoe insertRelated Patent Categories: Boots, Shoes, And Leggings, Soles, Cushion, PneumaticShoe insert description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20050241185, Shoe insert. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application claims priority benefits of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/565,918, entitled "Improved Shoe Insert," which was filed Apr. 28, 2004, and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to shoe inserts, and more particularly, to shoe inserts having a fluid filled bladder. [0003] Typical shoe inserts are designed to cushion a foot during a gait cycle in order to reduce pressure on the foot. A normal gait cycle exerts pressure on the heel first, then the lateral portion of the foot, and then onto the metatarsal area of the foot. That is, when a person walks, the heel of the foot usually strikes the ground first. The natural progression of the gait then shifts the weight of the person from the heel area, to the lateral portion of the foot, and onto the metatarsal area of the foot. [0004] FIG. 1 illustrates a plan view of bones of a human foot 10 and exertion of force by the foot during a gait cycle. The foot 10 includes a medial heel area 12, a lateral heel area 14, a lateral midfoot area 16, a lateral metatarsal area 18, a medial metatarsal area 20, a toe area 22, and a medial midfoot area 24. When a person walks, the weight of the person is distributed over the plantar surface of the foot as shown by arrows A. That is, as a person walks, a supporting surface (such as a floor) is first contacted by the medial heel area 12. As the walk progresses, contact is transferred from the medial heel area 12 to the lateral heel area 14, to the lateral midfoot area 16, onto the lateral metatarsal area 18, to the medial metatarsal area 20, and up through the toe area 22. [0005] A need exists for an improved shoe insert that cushions and massages the plantar surface of the foot during the natural gait cycle. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a shoe insert including a fluid-filled central chamber, core, or bladder. The bladder includes a robust, fluid-tight membrane that defines an interior cavity, chamber, or the like that acts as a fluid circuit or track. The interior chamber is configured so that fluid contained therein is allowed to flow through the chamber. The shoe insert may be formed of solid, malleable silicone, rubber, elastomeric, foam, or other such cushioning materials. The fluid within the bladder may be liquid silicone, such as used with breast implants, water, saline, or various gelatinous materials mixed with a gas, such as air. [0007] The fluid is configured to flow within the bladder when pressure is exerted on the bladder. In general, the fluid within the bladder flows in the exact manner in which the human foot distributes the body's weight across the plantar (bottom) surface of the foot during a natural gait cycle. For example, the fluid may flow in a direction from the heel to the lateral portion of the foot, through the metatarsal area of the foot, and finally through the toes in a medial portion of the foot. The displacement of fluid within the bladder of the shoe insert reduces shearing and stress forces on the foot as a person walks, and provides a shock absorbing cushion across the bottom of the foot. [0008] Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a shoe insert configured to reduce the shear, stress and shock forces exerted on a human foot during a gait cycle. The insert includes a sealed bladder forming a chamber containing a mixture of liquid silicone and air. Optionally, the fluid may be any liquid, or semi-liquid material that is capable of flowing within the bladder. The bladder is shaped to directly correspond to the weight distribution pattern of the human foot. A central area or island of solid material may be positioned within the bladder that separates the medial portion of the foot from the lateral portion of the foot, and the heel portion from the metatarsal head area of the foot. The central area or island may be disposed within the bladder, or the bladder may be formed around the central area or island. Fluid flows from the heel portion, to the lateral portion, to the metatarsal head portion, to the medial portion, and back to the heel portion. The medial portion of the bladder may be expanded or widened to provide additional arch support to the foot. [0009] Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a shoe insert in which the heel portion of the bladder is circular in shape. Further, the metatarsal head area may be shaped as a semi-circle or rectangle. The lateral and medial portions of the bladder may be elongated tubes spanning from the heel portion to the metatarsal head portion. [0010] The shoe insert may be formed as a singular piece of material, such as solid, malleable silicone, foam, rubber, or the like, having the bladder formed therein. Optionally, the shoe insert may include a base member integrally formed with an upper cushioning member. The base member may be harder than the cushioning member. For example, the base member may be formed of solid silicone having a hardness of 50-75 durometer, while the cushioning member may have a hardness on the order of 10-25 durometer. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS [0011] FIG. 1 illustrates a plan view of bones of a human foot and exertion of force by the foot during a gait cycle. [0012] FIG. 2 illustrates an isometric view of a shoe insert, according to an embodiment of the present invention. [0013] FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a shoe insert along line 3-3 of FIG. 2, according to an embodiment of the present invention. [0014] FIG. 4 illustrates a plan view of a shoe insert, according to an embodiment of the present invention. [0015] FIG. 5 illustrates a plan view of a shoe insert, according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention. [0016] FIG. 6 illustrates a plan view of a shoe insert, according to another alternative embodiment of the present invention. [0017] FIG. 7 illustrates an isometric view of a heel wedge having an interior fluid bladder, according to an embodiment of the present invention. [0018] FIG. 8 illustrates a transverse cross-sectional view of a heel wedge along line 8-8 shown in FIG. 7. [0019] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of certain embodiments of the present invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings, certain embodiments. It should be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to the arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the attached drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Continue reading about Shoe insert... Full patent description for Shoe insert Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Shoe 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. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Shoe insert or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Shock resistant shoe Next Patent Application: Thermoplastic printed film innersole for shoes Industry Class: Boots, shoes, and leggings ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Shoe insert patent info. 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