Abstract:
This application discloses shoe inserts which are configured such that a user may expose one or more adhesive layers while the cushioning shoe insert is maintained at an optimal location within a shoe, thereby securing the cushioning shoe inserts precisely at the optimal location. Moreover, this application discloses shoe inserts which are designed to distribute necessary support forces, e.g. through a foot chock, thereby mitigating or eliminating uncomfortable levels of localized pressure.

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates generally to the field of shoe inserts and methods of use thereof. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a cushioning shoe insert configured such that a user may expose one or more adhesive layers while the cushioning shoe insert is maintained at an optimal location within a shoe, thereby securing the cushioning shoe inserts precisely at the optimal location. The cushioning shoe inserts are also designed to distribute necessary support forces, thereby mitigating or eliminating uncomfortable levels of localized pressure. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art. 
         [0003]    There is an ever growing need for cushioning shoe inserts, and methods of use and optimal placement thereof, which provide greater comfort to shoe wearers. The women&#39;s fashion shoe industry, for example, often weighs aesthetic factors more heavily than factors regarding comfort when designing shoes. Rather often, the result is women&#39;s fashion shoes which are quite uncomfortable and unsuitable for long durations of use. This problem is exacerbated in shoes having either a sharply pointed toe-region, a high heel causing a steep slope, or both because these features, although quite popular, tend to increase the pressure exerted on the toes or feet. Therefore, reducing the level of uncomfortable pressure experienced by shoe wearers is of great importance, and resultantly, several types of shoe inserts with various features attempt to mitigate or eliminate this issue. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,827,707 B2 to Davis, dated Nov. 9, 2010, and fully incorporated by reference herein, discloses shoe inserts designed to provide enhanced comfort to shoe wearers. The Davis patent describes shoe inserts which are to be located within the toe region of a shoe and wherein the insert comprises a proximal toe-engaging face that is positioned to be compressed by at least some of the toes of the wearer. Moreover, the Davis patent discloses that the shoe insert is preferably formed of heat sensitive, viscoelastic, closed-cell polyuthethane memory foam material. 
         [0005]    Whereas some shoe inserts rely on compressive forces of the shoe wearer&#39;s toes to maintain the shoe insert at an optimal location, e.g. the inner distal portion of a pointed shoe normally unoccupied by the shoe wearer&#39;s toes, some other shoe inserts are designed such that maintaining the shoe insert in an optimal location requires various attachment means, such as adhesive strips. For example, U.S. Pat. Appl. Pub. No. 2009/0260263 A1 filed by Beard, published on Oct. 22, 2009, and fully incorporated by reference herein, discloses a toe cover having a foam member, two fabric members, an adhesive strip and a nonstick cover wherein the adhesive strip secures the toes cover to a shoe. Moreover, a nonstick cover covers the adhesive strip to protect it and to prevent unintended bonding of the toe cover. The nonstick cover is removed and the toe cover is then inserted into a shoe and adhered to a surface of the shoe. 
         [0006]    While inserting a shoe insert (or toe cover) into a shoe with an adhesive layer exposed, i.e. with any nonstick cover previously covering the adhesive already removed thereby exposing the adhesive, the user inserting the shoe insert must exercise caution not to inadvertently contact an inner surface of the shoe while the shoe insert is not at an optimal location within the shoe. Otherwise, the adhesive layer may adhere the shoe insert to an inner surface of the shoe at a less than optimal location, therefore requiring the user to remove and reattempt to adhere the shoe insert at an optimal location. Thus, a shoe insert which is capable of being inserted into, adjusted within, and even worn with a user&#39;s foot, prior to exposing any adhesive layer is desirable. 
         [0007]    The inclusion of steep slopes within shoe designs, as previously mentioned, exacerbates the problem of uncomfortable levels of pressure being exerted on the toes or feet of shoe wearers. As a general matter, the more steeply inclined the shoe the more the plantar region of the shoe wearer&#39;s foot tends to slide down the slope thereby pushing into the distal region of the shoe. This typically results in yet another cause of increased pressure experienced by the shoe wearer because the entirety of all forces necessary to support the shoe wearer&#39;s body weight are localized in a relatively small area. Thus, shoe inserts designed to apply forces to various predetermined optimal regions of the user&#39;s foot, e.g. the metatarsal head region of a shoe wearer&#39;s foot, such that the necessary forces can be spread out to a sufficient area to decrease pressures are desirable. 
         [0008]    The various attempts at providing greater comfort to shoe wearers, through either shoe inserts or methods of use thereof, suffer from any or all of: being quite difficult to adhere to an actual optimal location within a shoe, e.g. various shoe inserts require any nonstick cover to be removed prior to placement within an optimal location; and failing to adequately disperse necessary support forces over an adequate area such that a shoe wearer does not experience uncomfortable levels of pressure in localized regions of the toes or feet, e.g. allowing for the slope of a shoe to cause the user&#39;s foot to slide down and forward into a front region of a shoe resulting in high exerted pressures. 
         [0009]    Accordingly, this application discloses shoe inserts which are configured such that a user may expose one or more adhesive layers while the cushioning shoe insert is maintained at an optimal location within a shoe, thereby securing the cushioning shoe inserts precisely at the optimal location. Moreover, this application discloses shoe inserts which are designed to distribute necessary support forces, e.g. through a foot chock, thereby mitigating or eliminating uncomfortable levels of localized pressure. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0010]    This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and it is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features. The following embodiments and descriptions are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the cushioning shoe insert. Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. 
         [0011]    This application discloses shoe inserts which are configured such that a user may expose one or more adhesive layers while the cushioning shoe insert is maintained at an optimal location within a shoe, thereby securing the cushioning shoe inserts precisely at the optimal location. It is an intended purpose of the cushioning shoe insert, due to the importance of optimally placing any cushioning shoe insert within an inner portion of a shoe, to enable a user to insert the cushioning shoe insert into an inner portion of a shoe while the layers of adhesive are each covered by a flexible nonstick cover. A user is then able to actually insert a foot into the cushioning shoe insert such that at least a portion of the user&#39;s foot or toes comes into contact with the inner surface of the pad. At this point the user may adjust both their foot and the cushioning shoe insert until the cushioning shoe insert is located at an optimal location, e.g. a location where the maximum cushioning of the user&#39;s foot is achieved. Finally, and while maintaining the cushioning shoe insert at the desired optimal location, the user grasps and pulls upon one or more tab(s) in order to peel off any flexible nonstick covers thereby exposing the layers of adhesive. An advantage of this capability over existing shoe inserts wherein adhesive layers are exposed prior to insertion into a shoe is that such shoe inserts tend to immediately adhere to the first surface on which contact is made and, generally, the location which such shoe inserts are initially adhered are less than optimal for maximizing comfort. 
         [0012]    Moreover, this application discloses shoe inserts which are designed to distribute necessary support forces, e.g. through a foot chock, thereby mitigating or eliminating uncomfortable levels of localized pressure. In a preferred embodiment, the shoe insert includes a foot chock located just forward of the metatarsal heads of the foot such that support is provided directly to the metatarsal heads thereby reducing the pressure on the toe region of the foot. Due to the already discussed problem of a shoe wearer&#39;s toes often being jammed into the inner portion of a shoe, it is easily recognizable that the foot chock, by supporting the foot at a location more proximal to the body than the toes, will reduce the pressure and discomfort experienced by a shoe wearer. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings. The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments, i.e. not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a cushioning shoe insert prior to insertion into a shoe, in accordance with a first embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the cushioning shoe insert, in accordance with the first embodiment, wherein the cushioning shoe insert is inserted into a shoe. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of the cushioning shoe insert, in accordance with the first embodiment, wherein a shoe wearer&#39;s foot is inserted into the cushioning shoe insert within a shoe. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  illustrates a side cross-sectional side view taken along the line A-A of  FIG. 2 , in accordance with the first embodiment of the cushioning shoe insert, illustrating various features. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  illustrates an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of  FIG. 2 , in accordance with the first embodiment of the cushioning shoe insert, illustrating various features. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of a cushioning shoe insert, in accordance with a second embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the cushioning shoe insert is inserted into a shoe. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of the cushioning shoe insert, in accordance with the second embodiment, wherein a shoe wearer&#39;s foot is inserted into the cushioning shoe insert within a shoe. 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  illustrates a side cross-sectional side view taken along the line B-B of  FIG. 6 , in accordance with the second embodiment of the cushioning shoe insert, illustrating various features. 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  illustrates a plan view of a cushioning shoe insert, in accordance with a third embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the cushioning shoe insert is manufactured from a flat sheet of material. 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  illustrates a perspective view of the cushioning shoe insert, in accordance with the third embodiment, wherein the cushioning shoe insert is formed for insertion into a shoe. 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  illustrates a perspective view of the cushioning shoe insert, in accordance with the third embodiment, wherein the cushioning shoe insert is inserted into a shoe. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    Following is a description by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings of a manner of constructing and using the cushioning shoe inserts. Example embodiments are provided to fully convey the scope of this disclosure to those skilled in the art. The present disclosure may have additional embodiments, may be practiced without one or more of the details described for any particular described embodiment, or may have any detail described for one particular embodiment practiced with any other detail described for another embodiment. Numerous specific details are set forth as examples and are intended to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will apparent to one skilled in the art that these specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms, and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail. 
         [0026]    Referring now to the drawings,  FIGS. 1-5  illustrate various views of a cushioning shoe insert  10  in accordance with a first embodiment of the present disclosure. The cushioning shoe insert  10  includes a pad  12  having an inner surface  14  and an outer surface  16 . The cushioning shoe insert  10  may include one or more layers of adhesive  18  disposed over at least a portion of the outer surface  16  wherein the adhesive layers  18  are each covered by a flexible nonstick cover  20  having a tab  22  attached thereto. In some embodiments, there may be a single tab  22  attached to one or more flexible nonstick covers  20  whereas in other embodiments there may be one tab  22  for each flexible nonstick cover  20 . The tab(s)  22  is (are) configured to protrude from an inner portion of a shoe  21  such that a user may pull upon the tab(s)  22  thereby exposing the layers of adhesive  18  while the cushioning shoe insert, and more particularly the pad  12 , is maintained at an optimal location. The pad  12  may be made of low-resilience polyurethane, heat sensitive viscoelastic closed-cell polyurethane, any other type of foam or memory foam, gel, or any another suitable material for use as a cushioning shoe insert. Preferably, the pad  12  is memory foam. The pad may further comprise one or more antimicrobial agents and one or more absorbent layers such as, for example, nonwoven fabric. If such an absorbent layer is included in any particular embodiment, it is preferably adhered to the inner surface  14  of the pad  12  as a lining element for increased comfort. 
         [0027]    As can be seen in  FIGS. 2-5 , it is an intended purpose of the shoe insert disclosed herein to enable a user to insert the shoe insert into a shoe prior to exposing the layers of adhesive  18 . Enabling a user to insert the shoe insert  10  into a shoe prior to exposing the layers of adhesive  18  quite clearly will enable the user to insert and remove the shoe insert  10  any number of times without compromising the integrity or adhesive capabilities of the layers of adhesive  18 . Thus, a user is empowered with the ability to place the shoe insert  10  into an inner portion of a shoe  21  along with one of the user&#39;s feet in order to determine what, if any, customization of the shoe insert  10  will be needed. For example, a user may wear the shoe insert  10  as she normally would with the exception of the layers of adhesive  18  being non-exposed, and then adjust the shoe insert  10  until it is in an optimal location, and then mark one or more portions of the shoe insert  10 , e.g. the pad  12 , for trimming, and subsequently remove the shoe insert  10  from the inner portion of the shoe  21  and trim the pad  12 . Continuing with this example, the user may then re-insert the shoe insert  10  into the shoe, with the layers of adhesive remaining non-exposed (i.e. covered by the flexible nonstick covers  20 ), re-adjust the shoe insert  10  into an optimal location, and finally pull upon each tab  22  thereby peeling off the flexible nonstick cover  20  from the layers of adhesive  18 .  FIG. 3  illustrates the first embodiment of the shoe insert  10  after the user has removed one of two flexible nonstick covers  20  exposing the layer of adhesive  18  which thus adheres the shoe insert  10  to the inner portion  21  of the depicted shoe. 
         [0028]    With particular reference to  FIGS. 4-5 , the side cross-sectional views taken along the line A-A of  FIG. 2  illustrates various features of the cushioning shoe insert  10  and, more particularly, illustrates the preferred embodiment for attaching the tab(s)  22  to the flexible nonstick covers  20 . As used herein, distal refers to further from the body and proximal refers to closer to the body. As can be seen, the tab(s)  22  attach to the flexible nonstick cover(s)  20  at generally the distal most region of the flexible nonstick cover  20 . As the user pulls upon the tab  22 , the flexible nonstick cover  20  is peeled off generally along a fold region  28  which moves generally in the direction of distal to proximal (as indicated by the arrow labeled  29  in  FIG. 5 ) until the nonstick cover  20  is completely removed and can be discarded appropriately. As can be seen with particular clarity in  FIG. 5 , in some embodiments the tab  22  and flexible nonstick cover  20  features are comprised within a single material, e.g. a single sheet of peel off backing may be used to as accomplish both features. In such embodiments, the material may be folded such that a single continuous surface of the material comes into contact with itself thereby defining the boundary between the flexible nonstick cover  20 , which is the portion of the peel off backing in contact with any portion of a layer of adhesive  18 , and the tab  22 . Suitable peel off backing materials will be sufficiently tear resistant to allow for the user to remove the material notwithstanding the material being essentially squeezed between the inner portion of the shoe and the pad  12 . The suitable peel off backing materials will be one or more flexible sheets  23  which preferably comprise at least one release surface (not labeled in FIGS.). The release surface may comprise either silicone or polytetrafluoroethylene or any other suitable material, many of which are well known in many arts. As used herein, the term release surface intended to refer merely to the topology of the flexible sheet and is not to be interpreted as requiring discrete layer over the flexible sheet material. While in a preferred embodiment the flexible sheet  23  is coated with silicone, in other embodiments the material of the flexible sheet itself comprises sufficient topological characteristics to serve independently as the non-stick layer. 
         [0029]    In preferred embodiments, the pad  12  includes at least a lower portion  30  for cushioning a plantar region of a foot, a front region  32  for cushioning a distal region of a foot; and an upper portion  34  for cushioning a dorsal region of a foot. Most preferably, the pad  12  additionally includes an inner portion  31  for cushioning a medial region of a foot and an outer portion  33  for cushioning a lateral portion of a foot. As used herein, medial means towards the center line of the body and lateral means away from the center line of the body. In some embodiments, the lower portion  30  extends generally from past a distal most portion  36  of a user&#39;s foot to slightly more proximal than a metatarsal region  38  of a user&#39;s foot and is intended to generally spread out vertical forces over the plantar region of a foot. In some embodiments, the front portion  32  generally fills in inner portion  21  of a shoe, wherein the inner portion  21  would otherwise be left generally void in the absence of the cushioning shoe insert  10 . For example, typically when a woman wears pointed women&#39;s fashion shoes her toes do not fill the entire front inner portion  21  of the shoe which results in a relatively small area of the woman&#39;s foot coming into contact with the top line  44  of the shoe. Moreover, a typical women&#39;s fashion shoe includes a high heel  46  causing a steep slope  48  down which the user&#39;s foot tends to slide thereby causing the relatively small area of the woman&#39;s foot in contact with the top line  44  to experience high pressures which often result in blistering or bunions or both. With the inclusion of the front portion  32  the forces normally concentrated along the top line  44  are transferred, at least partially, to the portion of the user&#39;s foot contacting the inner surface  14  of the front portion  32 . The upper portion  34  is preferable for similar reasons to the front portion  32  in that both reduce the amount of pressure concentrated along the top line  44 . 
         [0030]    Referring particularly to  FIGS. 2-3 , it can be seen here that although the pad  12  does not extend past the top line  44  of the shoe in the illustration the tabs  22  are sized such that a user would easily be capable of scribing the outer surface of the pad  12  adjacent to the top line  44  such that the pad  12  can be accurately customized for a specific shoe if such customization were needed, e.g. if the pad  12  extended past the top line  44  over the users foot. In some embodiments, the tabs  22  comprise an accordion like sequential fold structure allowing the entire tab  22  to be folded down flat without protruding out of the inner portion of the shoe  21  whilst a user scribes the outer surface of the pad  12 . In other embodiments, including the one shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , a user may also simply fold the tab forward over the front or distal region of the foot as opposed to backward such that the tab does not block the user from scribing any portion of the outer surface of the pad. 
         [0031]    Referring particularly to  FIGS. 4-5 , it can be seen that the upper portion  34  for cushioning a dorsal region of a foot is of generally constant thickness. However, in many embodiments the thickness of this portion will vary substantially. Preferably, the most distal part of the upper portion  34  will have a larger thickness than the more proximal part of the upper portion  34 . Most preferably, the upper portion comprises a maximum thickness generally above the toes region which then tapers into a thinner constant thickness area over the top of the foot proximal of the toes. The constant thickness area is preferably between roughly 1-3 millimeters so that this area can be trimmed just distal from the top line  44  without created a visible gap between the upper foot and the top line  44 . 
         [0032]    A second embodiment of the shoe insert  60  is illustrated in  FIGS. 6-8 . This embodiment comprises a pad  62  having an inner surface  64  configured for cushioning a foot and an outer surface  66  for attachment to an inner portion of a shoe  68 . Moreover, this embodiment comprises one or more layers of adhesive (not shown) covered by one or more flexible nonstick covers (not shown) and a means (not shown)for removing the flexible nonstick cover while the pad  62  is compressed against the inner portion of the shoe  68 . The means (not shown) may comprise a peel off backing material in accordance with the first embodiment. Alternatively, it may comprise a solution in which the nonstick cover is not folded but rather slides off of the adhesive when pulled upon. 
         [0033]    The second illustrated embodiment, preferably, comprises a foot chock  76  which protrudes generally upwardly from the inner surface  64  and provides support to a metatarsal region of a foot. As used herein, metatarsal refers generally to the region of the foot below the metatarsal bones or just distal of the metatarsal bones. In the preferred embodiment, the foot chock  76  is located just forward of the metatarsal heads of the foot such that support is provided directly to the metatarsal heads from the foot chock  76  thereby reducing the pressure on the toe region of the foot at or near the opening of the shoe. The principle of the foot chock  76  is similar to that of the commonly known tire chock which is simply a wedge or block placed against a tire object to prevent it from moving. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the foot chock  76  may be configured to generally fill the volume  79  under the location where a user&#39;s toes meet the rest of the foot. Due to the already discussed problem of a shoe wearer&#39;s toes often being jammed into the inner portion of a shoe, it is easily recognizable that the foot chock  76 , by supporting the foot at a location more proximal than the toes, will reduce the pressure and discomfort experienced by a shoe wearer. Especially when a type of shoe or activity causes the user&#39;s foot to be forced toward or into the front of the shoe, e.g. sliding down a high heel and being jammed into the front of the shoe. 
         [0034]    A third embodiment of the shoe insert  80  is illustrated in  FIGS. 9-11 . This embodiment comprises a pad  82  having an inner surface  84  and an outer surface  86 . As illustrated, the pad  82  of this embodiment might not comprise an inner portion for cushioning a medial region of a foot and an outer portion for cushioning a lateral portion of a foot. There are at least two reasons why the shoe insert  80  might exclude an inner portion and an outer portion. First, this enables the shoe insert  80  to be constructed simply by cutting a shape out from a flat sheet of pad material and then fold the flat shape into a shoe insert shape  80  so as to create at least a lower portion  88  for cushioning a plantar region of a foot, a front portion  90  for cushioning a distal region of a foot; and an upper portion  92  for cushioning a dorsal region of a foot.  FIG. 9  illustrates a “blank” of such a material having been cut out from a flat sheet of material. Second, because many shoes, and especially women&#39;s fashion shoes, have pointed toe regions and therefore narrow toe regions, it may be preferable to maximize space around the sides of the user&#39;s foot to decrease pressures. This third embodiment may also comprise one or more layers of adhesive  94  disposed over at least a portion of the outer surface  86  of the shoe inset  80 , the adhesive  94  being covered by a nonstick cover  96 . As in other embodiment, the nonstick cover  96  is easily removed by pulling upon a tab  98 . The nonstick cover may be exposed while the shoe insert is within an inner portion of a shoe  100  with or without a user&#39;s foot. 
         [0035]    While preferred and alternate embodiments have been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the cushioning shoe insert. Accordingly, the scope of the cushioning shoe insert is not limited by the disclosure of these preferred and alternate embodiments. Instead, the scope of the cushioning shoe insert should be determined entirely by reference to the claims.