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  ShoesUSPTO Application #: 20060048414Title: Shoes Abstract: Footwear includes an upper leather member and a shoe sole bonded at an upper portion thereof to the upper leather. The upper leather member is shaped to enclose the instep of a foot, and has a bottom opening rim closely corresponding to the outer shape of the sole of the foot. An insole is bonded to the front portion of the bottom opening rim of the upper leather member. The front portion of the upper leather member is configured in the shape of a bag to enclose a toe. In the insole, a shock absorber including a gel is provided. (end of abstract) Agent: Okada C/o Keating & Bennett, LLP - Mclean, VA, US Inventor: Ken'ichi Takada USPTO Applicaton #: 20060048414 - Class: 036093000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Boots, Shoes, And Leggings, Boots And Shoes, Foot-supporting Or Foot-conforming Feature, Form-fitting Interior The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060048414. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to footwear that absorbs impacts on a foot during walking. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] An exemplary conventional shoe includes a leather upper portion 501 and a shoe sole 502 that is separate from the leather upper portion 501. In the shoe sole 502, a shock absorber 503 such as a sponge is provided, as shown in FIG. 6, (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-85108, and Japanese Utility-Model Laid-Open Publications Nos. Hei 6-7506 and Hei 6-77506). In this structure, the shock absorber 503 within the shoe sole absorbs an impact on a foot when the foot comes into contact with the ground during walking, thereby reducing fatigue of the foot. [0005] However, because the shoe includes two parts, i.e., the shoe sole 502 including an outer sole, a midsole, and the like, and the leather upper portion 501 bonded to the shoe sole 502 to enclose the instep of the foot, the shoe sole 502 cannot easily conform to the movement of the foot during walking. Therefore, it is difficult for the aforementioned structure to efficiently absorb an impact on the foot. [0006] More specifically, during walking, the shoe changes shape because of the movement of the foot. Thus, the shoe sole 502 cannot easily conform to the movement of the foot while fitting the sole of the foot. Therefore, the shock absorber 503 provided within the shoe sole 502 cannot sufficiently absorb an impact on the foot. [0007] Especially, in shoes with heels, such as a pair of pumps, the center of gravity moves toward a toe. Thus, it is likely that the toe receives a greater impact. Moreover, since the movement of the toe is greater than that of the other portion, the fit is insufficient on the toe and an impact on the toe is not sufficiently absorbed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] To overcome the problems described above, preferred embodiments of the present invention provide footwear that easily conforms to movement of a toe during walking and that sufficiently absorbs an impact on the toe. [0009] Footwear according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes an insole provided in a front portion of a surface of an outer sole of the footwear, the surface being in contact with a sole of a foot. The insole is provided with a shock absorber that is in contact with a front portion of the sole of the foot to absorb an impact. [0010] According to the structure described above, the shock absorber is stably located at a toe because the shock absorber is provided in the insole. [0011] Footwear according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention includes an upper leather member and a shoe sole bonded at its upper portion to the upper leather member, the upper leather member being configured to enclose an instep of the foot and having a bottom opening rim closely resembling an outer shape of the sole of the foot, an insole bonded to a front portion of the bottom opening rim of the upper leather member so that a front portion of the upper leather member is configured in the shape of a bag to enclose a toe, and the insole is provided with a shock absorber. [0012] According to this structure, the insole is bonded to the front portion of the bottom opening rim of the upper leather such that the front portion of the upper leather member is configured in a shape of a bag to enclose the toe. Therefore, the ability of the footwear to conform to the movement of the toe during walking is improved. Moreover, the shock absorber is stably located at the toe because the shock absorber is provided insole. [0013] In the footwear according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the shock absorber preferably includes a gel. [0014] By making the shock absorber of a gel, deterioration of the shock absorber in which the shock absorber cannot recover from a compressed state because of long-term compression is greatly reduced, unlike a shock absorber made of a sponge. Thus, deterioration of the insole caused by deterioration of the shock absorber because of long-term use is prevented, such that a large change of the width of the footwear cannot occur. In addition, a gel does not suffer hydrolysis caused by absorbed moisture, such as sweat, unlike a sponge, and therefore degradation of a shock-absorbing property caused by hydrolysis is prevented. [0015] In the footwear according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the shock absorber preferably has an Asker F hardness in the range of about 30 to about 90. This ensures a good fit between the toe and the footwear and sufficient absorption of an impact on the toe. When the Asker F hardness is less that about 30, the shock absorber is too soft and cannot maintain the shape of the insole. This permits excessive movement of the toe in the footwear, and degrades the fit of the footwear. On the other hand, when the Asker F hardness is greater than about 90, the shock absorber is too hard and prevents sufficient shock absorption by the insole. [0016] In the footwear according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the shock absorber preferably has an Asker F hardness in the range of about 30 to about 90 and an Asker C hardness in the range of about 10 to about 25. [0017] In this case, the shock absorber feels relatively hard when being compressed over an area approximately the same size as a palm. However, the shock absorber feels relatively soft when being compressed over an area approximately the size of a finger. Therefore, the shock absorber firmly supports the entire toe and softly supports protruding portions of the toe, by changing its shape in accordance with the shapes of the protruding portions. Thus, it is possible to provide an improved fit and to sufficiently absorb an impact, especially on the protruding portions of the toe. [0018] In other words, when the Asker F hardness is in the range of about 30 to about 90, the fit between the toe and the footwear is outstanding, and the shock absorber sufficiently absorbs an impact on the toe like. [0019] When the Asker C hardness is in the range of about 10 to about 25, the shock absorber appropriately changes its shape in accordance with the protruding portions of the toe. Therefore, the fit and the shock absorbing property is further improved. When the Asker C hardness is less than about 10, the shock absorber is too soft and permits the protruding portions of the wearer's toe to compress the shock absorber too much. This degrades the fit of the footwear. On the other hand, when the Asker C hardness is greater than about 25, the change of the shape of the shock absorber in accordance with the protruding portions of the wearer's toe is not sufficient, although sufficient shock absorption is achieved. [0020] In the footwear according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, each of the insole and the shock absorber is preferably configured to have a length and a width corresponding to those of a region of the sole of the foot from the tip of the toe to a front end of an arch. [0021] This makes it possible to absorb an impact on the entire front portion of the sole of the foot. [0022] According to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the shock absorber is stably located at the toe during walking. Thus, it is possible to absorb a large impact on the toe and greatly reduce fatigue, pains, and other stresses of the foot. Continue reading... Full patent description for Shoes Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Shoes 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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