Insole having a transparent portion and a sock liner portion

Insoles with sock liners are provided for shoes. An insole in accordance with the invention is most useful in a shoe that has a transparent portion in its sole, although it is not required to be used in that type of shoe. The insole is formed of at least two portions a window and a sock liner. In some embodiments the sock liner also acts as an insole board. In other embodiments the sock liner is in addition to the insole board.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to shoes and, more particularly, to sock liners for shoes having at least one transparent portion in the sole.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Shoes exist, which include transparent portions in their bottoms. An example of such a shoe can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,931,773 to Rosen. The purpose of the transparent portions are for better determining the fit of the shoe; particularly for children.

In the shoe disclosed in the Rosen patent, various insole embodiments are described. For example, an embodiment is described, which includes a transparent insole with a partially covering opaque sock. The transparent insole is essentially the shape and size of the shoe bottom. In other disclosed embodiments, the insole includes a layer of translucent slow recovery foam or gel for taking an imprint of the child's foot. In these embodiments the transparent insole is also essentially the shape and size of the shoe bottom.

It would be advantageous to provide, for a shoe having at least one transparent portion in the bottom, an insole having only a portion being transparent. It would also be advantageous to provide an insole having a shaped sock liner to provide orthodic support. It could be further advantageous to provide a transparent insole having a sprayed on sock liner. It could also be advantageous to have a transparent insole with a decorative sock liner silk screened to the insole. It could be still further advantageous to provide a transparent insole with stitching as the sock liner.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Many advantages of the invention will be determined and are attained by the invention, which in a broadest sense provides, for a shoe having at least one transparent portion in the bottom, an insole having at least a portion being transparent. Implementations of the invention may provide one or more of the following features.

An aspect of the invention provides an insole for a shoe. The shoe has an inside, a front toe portion and a rear heal portion. The insole includes a transparent window configured to fit within the shoe at a location that is proximal the toe portion. The transparent window also has a front side, rear side, top and bottom. The rear side is configured to face the rear heal portion of the shoe. The insole also includes an insole board connected to the rear side of the transparent window.

Another aspect of the invention provides an insole for a shoe that has an inside, a front toe portion, a rear heal portion, a sole and a clear portion within the sole. The insole includes a window configured to fit within the shoe at a position correlating to the clear portion of the sole. The window has a rear side facing the rear heal portion of the shoe. The insole also includes an insole board connected to the window at the rear side of the window.

In another aspect of the invention an insole is provided for a shoe. The shoe has an inside, a front toe portion, a rear heal portion, a sole and a clear portion within the sole. The insole includes a transparent insole board, which has a top portion is configured to fit within the shoe. The insole also includes a sock liner sprayed on to at least a portion of the top of the insole board.

In yet another aspect of the invention an insole is provided for a shoe. The shoe has an inside, a front toe portion, a rear heal portion, a sole and a clear portion within the sole. The insole includes a transparent insole board, which has a top portion is configured to fit within the shoe. The insole also includes a sock liner formed of stitching on at least a portion of the top of said insole board.

In still another aspect of the invention an insole is provided for a shoe. The shoe has an inside, a front toe portion, a rear heal portion, a sole and a clear portion within the sole. The insole includes a transparent insole board, which has a top portion is configured to fit within the shoe. The insole also includes a sock liner silk screened on to at least a portion of the top of said insole board.

In another aspect of the invention an insole is provided for a shoe. The shoe has an inside, a front toe portion, a rear heal portion, a sole and a clear portion within the sole. The insole includes a transparent insole board, which has a top portion is configured to fit within the shoe. The insole also includes a sock liner heat sealed to at least a portion of the top of said insole board, said sock liner including a plurality of polyurethane pods.

In another aspect of the invention, a method is provided of attaching an insole to a shoe, wherein the shoe includes an upper and the insole is formed by an insole board connected to a side of a transparent window element. The method includes stitching the window to the upper, and connecting the insole board to the upper.

The invention will next be described in connection with certain illustrated embodiments and practices. However, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that various modifications, additions and subtractions can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims.

The invention will next be described in connection with certain illustrated embodiments and practices. However, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that various modifications, additions, and subtractions can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like reference numerals identify like elements throughout the various figures, there is illustrated inFIGS. 1-15insoles for shoes with at least a portion of the bottom being transparent according to the invention. The principles and operations of the invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description.

The term “shoe,” is used herein in its broadest sense and shall refer to any shoe sneaker, boot, slipper or the like. The term “insole” is also being used in its broadest sense and is being used in accord with its ordinary dictionary meaning. The term “sock liner” is being used to mean a substance or material that provides added friction and/or comfort to the insole. The terms “clear” and “transparent” are being used in the broadest sense and include both see-through and partially see-though.

Embodiments of the invention provide insoles with sock liners for shoes. An insole in accordance with the invention is most useful in a shoe that has a transparent portion in its sole. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the insoles could be employed in any shoe and still fall within the scope of the invention.

FIG. 1illustrates a shoe having both a transparent portion50in its sole and an insole in accordance with the invention. WhileFIG. 1illustrates insole10as having two distinct portions30and40it will be seen from the following description of the various embodiments of the invention that insole10could also include a singular portion that runs the length of the shoe.

FIGS. 2 and 3illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention. As illustrated, in the embodiment ofFIGS. 2 and 3, insole10is formed from a sock liner30and a transparent window40, which is configured to coincide, either entirely or at least partially, with window50in the sole of the shoe. In this embodiment, sock liner30and window40each have the same thickness such that when they are connected they form a relatively planar upper surface and the combination of the two elements forms the entire insole. Preferably, sock liner30and window40are stroble stitched together, however, those skilled in the art will recognize that any method of connecting the two elements in such a way that they form a planar surface is intended to fall within the scope of the invention. Alternatively, as illustrated inFIG. 18, window40(41inFIG. 18) could be placed and sewn into a void in sock liner30. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 18could be constructed with an insole board having a void or a sock liner, having a void, acting as an insole board. In the event that the construction includes an insole board, it is considered within the scope of the invention to also employ a sock liner as described with regard to various other embodiments of the invention.

FIGS. 14 and 15illustrate a similar embodiment to that illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, wherein insole10is formed from a sock liner36and a transparent window40, which is configured to coincide, either entirely or at least partially, with window50in the sole of the shoe. In this embodiment, at least a portion of sock liner36and window40each have the same thickness such that when they are connected they form a relatively planar upper surface and the combination of the two elements forms the entire insole. The embodiment ofFIGS. 14 and 15differ from that ofFIGS. 1 and 2in that the sock liner36ofFIGS. 14 and 15includes a raised wall portion, which forms a support for the heal of a foot. While it has been illustrated as surrounding the entire perimeter of sock liner36, those skilled in the art will recognize that only a portion of the perimeter could be raised or just the sides or just the back could be raised without departing from the scope of the invention. While the embodiments described in relation toFIGS. 1-4and18all include a substantially flat sock liner30and clear window40, it is possible that either or both of these elements could be generally wedge shaped with a thickness that tapers towards the front or toe portion of the element(s). It is also possible that the sock liner in either or both of these embodiments could include a thick portion which acts as an arch support (not shown).

FIGS. 4-7illustrate alternative embodiments of the invention. In these embodiments, an insole board60is connected to transparent window40. At either the same location as the connection or proximal the same location a sock liner31(FIGS. 4 and 5) or32(FIGS. 6 and 7) is also connected. Preferably, sock line31or32is only connected by the leading or front edge such that when pressure is applied by a foot in the shoe, sock liner31or32contacts all (FIGS. 4 and 5) or part of (FIGS. 6 and 7) insole board60. Those skilled in the art will also recognize that sock liner31or32could be stitched to insole board60around the entire perimeter of sock liner31or32, portions of the perimeter, across the face of sock liner31or32, or all or part of sock liner31or32could be cemented/glued to insole board60and still fall within the scope of the invention.

The embodiments illustrated inFIGS. 8 and 9are similar to those ofFIGS. 4 and 5. In these embodiments, however, sock liner33includes a raised wall portion70, which forms a support for the heal of a foot. While wall portion70has been illustrated as surrounding the entire perimeter of sock liner33, those skilled in the art will recognize it could be contiguous or broken, could surround only a portion of the perimeter or the entire outer perimeter (as illustrated), or just the sides or just the back could be raised without departing from the scope of the invention. It is also possible that the sock liner illustrated in any or all ofFIGS. 4-9could include a thick portion which acts as an arch support (not shown).

In the embodiments illustrated inFIGS. 4-9, it is possible that sock liner31,32and/or33could include chamfered corners at one or both sides of the edge where the sock liner is connected to the insole board and/or clear window.

FIGS. 10-13illustrate embodiments of the invention that include an insole board41that is made of a clear material and is configured to be the same size as the bottom of the shoe. InFIG. 10, the sock liner32is made from a spray on flocking material. InFIG. 11, sock liner33is a heat embossed polyurethane pod or pods. Sock liner34ofFIG. 12is formed from a stitching pattern stitched to clear insole board41and sock liner35ofFIG. 13is silk screened to insole board41. Those skilled in the art will recognize that while insole board41illustrated inFIGS. 10-13are substantially flat, they could include an arch support (not shown) or a raised wall portion as illustrated for sock liner ofFIG. 8and still fall within the scope of the invention.

In any or all of the embodiments illustrated inFIGS. 1-15and18the entire insole is preferably stroble stitched to the upper of the shoe. In the embodiments ofFIGS. 4-9preferably the sock liner is not stroble stitched to the upper of the shoe. Those skilled in the art will recognize that in any or all of the embodiments the window portion40could be stroble stitched and the remaining insole board (whether formed from the sock liner or not) could be cemented or glued to the upper of the shoe as illustrated inFIGS. 16 and 17. In these figures, the upper is lasted70or formed around sock liner/insole board30with glue/cement. With this method it is preferable, but not required, that the insole board30be tacked to the last70to avoid the upper from slipping, then removing the tack prior to adding the sole. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other methods of gluing/cementing the insole board to the upper are possible and considered to fall within the scope of the invention.

While the above description is limited to a specific preferred example, the invention is not so limited. While stroble stitching has been disclosed, other forms of stitching or other methods of attachment could be employed without departing from the scope of the invention. While the attachment between the clear window and the sock liner/insole board has been illustrated as a straight connection, it could be curved or zig zagged or fit like two connecting puzzle pieces and still fall within the scope of the invention. Although particular embodiments have been disclosed herein in detail, this has been done for purposes of illustration only, and is not intended to be limiting with respect to the scope of the claims, which follow. In particular, it is contemplated by the inventors that various substitutions, alterations, and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims. Other aspects, advantages, and modifications are considered to be within the scope of the following claims. The claims presented are representative of the inventions disclosed herein. Other, unclaimed inventions are also contemplated. The inventors reserve the right to pursue such inventions in later claims.

It is accordingly intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative rather than in a limiting sense. It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention as described herein, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.