Abstract:
A footwear insole including a ventilation mechanism for helping to reduce moisture, increase comfort, and/or reduce odor inside the footwear.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    An insole is typically placed inside the upper of an article of footwear (such as shoes, boots, and so forth) and atop the outsole of the footwear. Footwear insoles can provide comfort and/or orthopedic support to the user of the footwear. 
         [0002]    There is a need for insoles that provide additional benefits to footwear users. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    In general terms, this disclosure is directed to a footwear insole that includes a compressible element. 
         [0004]    In one aspect, a footwear insole includes a compressible element that absorbs shock occasioned by walking, jogging or running. 
         [0005]    In another aspect, a footwear insole includes an embedded compressible element that produces air flow within the insole upon compression of the compressible element by the user of the footwear. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a top view of an example footwear insole in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is schematic, perspective cross-sectional view of the footwear insole of  FIG. 1  along the line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an example compressible element embeddable in a footwear insert in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an alternative example of a compressible element embeddable in a footwear insole in accordance with the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    The present disclosure is directed towards a footwear insole. Various embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views. Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the claims attached hereto. Additionally, any examples set forth in this specification are not intended to be limiting and merely set forth some of the many possible embodiments for the appended claims. 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a top view of an example footwear insole  100  in accordance with the present disclosure.  FIG. 2  is a schematic perspective cross-sectional view of the footwear insole  100  of  FIG. 1  along the line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an example compressible element  122  embeddable in a footwear insole in accordance with the present disclosure, such as the footwear insole  100  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0012]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the footwear insole  100  includes a top  102 , a bottom  104 , a front  106 , a back  108 , a heel portion  110 , an arch portion  112 , a front portion  114 , a top layer  116 , a channel  118 , a bottom layer  120  and a compressible element  122 . With reference to  FIG. 3 , the compressible element  122  includes a shell  124  having an open end  126  and an interior cavity  128 . Although a left foot insole  100  is shown in the figures, it should be appreciated that the principles of this disclosure apply equally to right foot insoles and insoles that can be used for both right and left feet. 
         [0013]    The top  102  faces upwards when placed in an article of footwear providing a surface for contact with the user&#39;s foot. The bottom  104  abuts the top of the outsole of the footwear, with the front  106  disposed toward the front of the footwear and the back  108  disposed toward the back of the footwear. The heel portion  110  provides a surface for contact with the user&#39;s heel. The arch portion  112  is disposed beneath the arch of the user&#39;s foot. The front portion  114  is disposed beneath the ball and toes of the user&#39;s foot. 
         [0014]    The top layer  116  consists of a cushioning material, such as foam, rubber, leather, or the like such that the top layer  116  provides comfort and/or shock absorption to the user of the footwear. In some examples, the top layer  116  is porous (e.g., a nylon mesh structure) and/or allows air from below the top layer  116  to reach the foot of the user. The bottom layer  120  consists of any suitable material for a footwear insole and can be compressible or alternatively incompressible. Example materials for the bottom layer  120  include foam, rubber, leather, plastic, and so forth. In some examples the bottom layer material is nonporous and/or does not permit airflow therethrough. 
         [0015]    In some examples the top layer  116  and the bottom layer  120  are coupled together (e.g., by weaving, stitching, staples, nails, or other fastening means) about the entire perimeter of the footwear insole  100 , creating the channel  118  therebetween, and such that the compressible element  122  can be housed (e.g., embedded) between the top layer  116  and the bottom layer  120 . In other examples, along one or more sections of the perimeter of the footwear insole  100  (e.g., around the heel portion  110 ), there is no coupling between the top layer  116  and the bottom layer  120 . For example, an uncoupled heel portion  110  can allow easy access to the compressible element  122  to remove and/or replace the compressible element  122 . In some examples the entire footwear insole  100  is removable from the footwear and replaceable. 
         [0016]    The channel  118  is disposed between the bottom layer  120  and the top layer  116 . The channel  118  allows for air flow therethrough. The channel  118  may be hollow. In alternative examples  118 , the channel includes one or more materials that allow airflow therethrough. 
         [0017]    The compressible element  122  is disposed in the channel  118 , above the bottom layer  120  and below the top layer  116 . In the example shown in  FIG. 2 , the compressible element  122  is disposed in the heel portion  110  of the footwear insole  100  such that downward force by the heel of the user compresses the compressible element  122 . In alternative examples, the compressible element can be disposed in, e.g., the arch portion  112  or the front portion  114  of the insole  100 , and is compressible when the middle or front part of the user&#39;s foot, respectively, applies a downward force thereon. 
         [0018]    In the example shown, the compressible element  122  is disposed in the heel portion  110  of the insole  100 , with the open end  126  of the compressible element  122  facing towards the front portion  114  of the insole  100 . The shell  124  is made of a reversibly deformable, resilient material such as foam, rubber, silicone, other flexible material, or the like. Thus, in some examples, the compressible element  122  provides shock absorption to the user, absorbing and/or distributing the shock occasioned by walking, jogging, or running as the compressible element is deformed. In the example shown in  FIG. 3 , the shell  124  forms a pocket structure defined by the open end  126  and a closed or sealed end opposing the open end  126 , and having the interior cavity  128 . 
         [0019]    The compressible element  122  has a relaxed state, in which the user&#39;s foot does not apply pressure thereon; and a deformed state, in which force from the user&#39;s foot deforms the compressible element  122 . The compressible element  122  is configured to return to its relaxed state following release of the user&#39;s foot pressure. 
         [0020]    The shell  124  defines the interior cavity  128 . In the relaxed state, the cavity contains air. As the user steps, applying downward force on the compressible element  122 , the compressible element  122  deforms, forcing air out of the interior cavity  128  through the open end  126 . In the configuration shown in  FIG. 2 , when the compressible element  122  is deformed, air is directed forwardly down the channel  118  towards the front portion  114  of the insole. Some or all of this air passes into and/or through the top layer  116 , the air flow reaching the user&#39;s foot, thereby ventilating the user&#39;s foot. Such ventilation can provide numerous benefits, including but not limited to additional comfort, improved dryness, and reduced odor. When the user releases pressure from the compressible element  122 , the compressible element  122  returns to the relaxed state, taking in air into the interior cavity  128 , so that the ventilation cycle may commence again with a subsequent step taken by the user. 
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an alternative example of a compressible element  140  embeddable in a footwear insole in accordance with the present disclosure. The compressible element  140  includes a shell  142  having two interior cavities  144 , each of the interior cavities  144  having an open end  146 . 
         [0022]    In some examples, the compressible element  140  is disposed in the heel portion  110  of the insole  100  (see  FIG. 2 ), with the open end  146  of the compressible element  140  facing towards the front portion  114  of the insole  100  (see  FIG. 2 ). The shell  142  is made of a reversibly deformable, resilient material such as foam, rubber, silicone, or the like. Thus, in some examples, the compressible element  140  provides shock absorption to the user, absorbing and/or distributing the shock occasioned by walking, jogging, or running as the compressible element is deformed. The shell  142  forms a double pocket structure defined by the open ends  146  and a closed or sealed end opposing the open ends  146 , and having the interior cavities  144 . 
         [0023]    The compressible element  140  has a relaxed state, in which the user&#39;s foot does not apply pressure thereon; and a deformed state, in which force from the user&#39;s foot deforms the compressible element  140 . The compressible element  140  is configured to return to its relaxed state following release of the user&#39;s foot pressure. 
         [0024]    The shell  142  defines the interior cavities  144 . In the relaxed state, the interior cavities  144  contain air. As the user steps, applying downward force on the compressible element  140 , the compressible element  140  deforms, forcing air out of the interior cavities  144  through the open ends  146 . When the compressible element  140  replaces the compressible element in the shoe sole configuration of  FIG. 2 , upon deformation of the compressible element  122 , air is directed forwardly down the channel  118  towards the front portion  114  of the insole. Some of this air passes into and/or through the top layer  116 , the air flow reaching the user&#39;s foot, thereby ventilating the user&#39;s foot. Such ventilation can provide numerous benefits as described above. When the user releases pressure from the compressible element  140 , the compressible element  140  returns to the relaxed state, taking in air into the interior cavities  144 , so that the ventilation cycle may commence again with a subsequent step taken by the user. 
         [0025]    Other suitable configurations for the compressible element are also possible, such as compressible elements containing three or more air filled interior cavities (e.g., foam blocks) that release air when compressed. In addition, the position and orientation of the compressible element can vary. For example, the compressible element can be placed in the front portion  114  of the footwear insole  100  ( FIG. 2 ) and oriented to release air towards the heel portion  110  upon compression by the ball or toes of the user&#39;s foot. 
         [0026]    In alternative examples, the footwear insole of the present disclosure can be truncated (e.g., a heel portion of an insole only), such that upon compression of the compressible element air passes along the bottom of the user&#39;s foot without traveling first through a channel or the upper layer of the footwear insole. 
         [0027]    Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.