Abstract:
The present invention relates to a shoe insert which is inflatable or otherwise conformable to the interior of the shoe and provides protection against the shoe collapsing during transport or shipment. The shoe insert can be provided with branding and other merchandising information.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/216,171 filed Sep. 9, 2015 which is incorporated by herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a shoe insert for various types of footwear; men&#39;s, women&#39;s, children&#39;s, athletic, formal, casual, boots and the like as well as other apparel accessories that may include an interior space that could become damaged during transportation, storage or handling. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a shoe insert that is made of one or more layers of plastic material such as polyethylene or polypropylene, and sealed along the end and side edges in such a manner as to allow inflation by various means. 
         [0003]    Typically, all types of footwear are transported from the manufacturing country of origin to a retail store globally. During transport, damage to the footwear&#39;s integrity and/or shoe structure can occur, that is a shoe can become deformed by crushing or other forces encountered during shipment. However, shoe manufacturers cannot bulk up or add additional packaging to the footwear, as manufacturers must meet packaging reduction requirements in various global geographies, and provide supply chain cost savings. If footwear is crushed or otherwise deformed during shipment, the aesthetic appeal of the footwear could be diminished thereby making the footwear less saleable. 
         [0004]    it would be desirable to have a shoe insert that provides the following benefits: (1) provide protection for the shoe structure and integrity during the transportation from manufacturing country of origin to retail store globally, and (2) meet or exceed packaging reduction requirements in various global geographies, and (3) provide supply chain costing savings through handling and waste disposal efficiencies. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, the present invention discloses a shoe insert that is made of one or more layers of plastic material such as polyethylene or polypropylene, and sealed in such a manner as to allow inflation by various means. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The embodiments of the present invention described below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may appreciate and understand the principles and practices of the present invention. 
         [0007]    In one exemplary embodiment, a shoe insert, is described and includes a first section, central section and a back section, sized and configured to fit within a shoe. The shoe insert is further described as a polyethylene or polypropylene film extruded, printed, heat sealed and die cut in one single piece to match specific shoe styles and sizes as described above. The insert is sealed along its edges in a nearly continuous fashion other than one area where a self sealing inflation valve is provided. The inflation valve permits air or other gas to be inserted into the interior of the insert so as to fully inflate the insert. 
         [0008]    In a further exemplary embodiment, the shoe insert will be provided with a re-closable inflation valve allowing the shoe insert to form fit the shoe. Additionally, a branding or customer facing capability can be printed on the inside or outside of the shoe insert. Other indicia can be provided including instructions for recycling or other marketing, promotional or use details. 
         [0009]    In a further exemplary embodiment, a shoe insert is provided and includes an extruded material, printed and die cut to configurations to fit within various styles of shoes, the extruded material is sealed substantially, completely around end edges. The at least one sealed area is created within an inner area of the die cut to create separation zones between each of a first, central and back sections. 
         [0010]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. It is to be understood, however, that the detailed description of the various embodiments and specific examples, while indicating preferred and other embodiments of the present invention, are given by way of illustration and not limitation. Many changes and modifications within the scope of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    These, as well as other objects and advantages of this invention, will be more completely understood and appreciated by referring to the following detailed description of the presently preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, of which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  depicts a top view of the shoe insert intermediate; 
           [0013]      FIG. 1 a    shows a top view of the shoe insert intermediate with a portion of the matrix removed to illustrate the shoe insert configuration; 
           [0014]      FIG. 1 b    provides an illustration of the removed matrix; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  illustrates a top view of the shoe insert in a die cut configuration in the shape of a shoe; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  provides a side elevation showing the insert in an inflated condition; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  shows the insert disposed within a shoe. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    The apparatuses and methods disclosed in this document are described in detail by way of examples and with reference to the figures and images. Unless otherwise specified, like numbers in the figures indicate references to the same, similar, or corresponding elements throughout the figures/images. It will be appreciated that modifications to disclosed and described examples, arrangements, configurations, components, elements, apparatuses, methods, materials, etc. can be made and may be desired for a specific application. In this disclosure, any identification of specific shapes, materials, techniques, arrangements, etc. are either related to a specific example presented or are merely a general description of such shape, material, technique, arrangement, etc. Identification of specific details or examples are not intended to be, and should not be, construed as mandatory or limiting unless specifically designated as such. Selected examples of apparatuses and methods are hereinafter disclosed and described in detail with reference made to FIGURES. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  generally shows a non-inflated insert  8  for a shoe. The shoe insert  8  has a front section  10  or that portion which will fit in the “toe box”, a central section  12  and a back section  14 . The shoe insert  8  also has an inflatable bladder to provide for form fitting to the shoe which is actuated by a valve  16 . The shoe insert  8  is made from extruded polyethylene or polypropylene film, or any other suitable material as is known in the art. Typically, the shoe insert  8  is made with 100% virgin polyethylene and nylon resins which are recyclable materials. Thus, the shoe insert  8  is recyclable. The insert may also be made from recycled materials. 
         [0020]    While consisting of  3  sections, front  10 , central  12 , and back  14 , the shoe insert  8  is a single piece that when inflated provides support for the shoe structure and integrity. The front section  10  is rounded to fit into the toe box area to help in support of this section of the shoe. The front section  10  is generally larger and bulbous in shape. The central and back sections are more narrow than the front portion. 
         [0021]    The central section  12  contains heat seal “dot” components  18  that force air out and up during the inflation process providing support for the shoe in the vamp and laces area. These “dot” components  18  are inserted during the die cutting process and act to direct air flow as the shoe insert  8  is being inflated via the inflation valve  16 . One or more of these dots may be used to direct the orientation of the shoe insert so that the insert forms a left or right orientation upon inflation. The toe box or front section  12  can be pivoted about one or more of the dots  18  to change the orientation to a left or right shoe so that the insert fits within a shoe. Alternatively, the dots can be positioned on one side or the other of a center line of the insert so that the insert will automatically divert in the left or right orientation upon inflation of the insert. 
         [0022]    The back section  14  is cylindrical in shape to fit within the heel box and provides support for this section of the shoe. The back section  14  also contains the one-way inflation valve  16 , or any other suitable valve as is known in the art. A user would manually inflate the inflation valve  16  or a machine could inflate the valve  16 . Once inflated, the shoe insert  8  will be held in the inflated state  90  days or longer. 
         [0023]    Typically, the shoe inserts  8  are inflated after insertion into the shoes, however they can be inflated before insertion as well. If they are inflated before insertion, the waste  20  around the shoe insert  8  is torn off before or after inflation. The waste  20  is only present due to the tooling required to produce the shapes of the shoe insert  8  and does not impact inflation. If the shoe inserts  8  are produced in sheets of material, the entire sheet would be inflated at the same time and then the inflated shoe inserts  8  would be removed from the sheet and inserted into the shoes. 
         [0024]    Additionally, customer facing or branded graphics, artwork, and/or messages can be printed on the inside or outside of the shoe insert  8 , depending on the needs and wants of the manufacturer. 
         [0025]    The benefits of the shoe insert  8  are to (1) provide protection for the shoe structure and integrity during the transportation from manufacturing country of origin to retail store globally, and (2) meet or exceed packaging reduction requirements in various global geographies, and (3) provide supply chain costing savings through handling and waste disposal efficiencies. 
         [0026]    The parts are a single piece of polyethylene or polypropylene film, die cut to an identified size and shape not dissimilar to the shape of the inside of a shoe cavity, and a one-way inflation valve inserted in the heel portion. The inside of the film can be printed for branding and graphics by the brand. 
         [0027]      FIG. 1 a    illustrates the shoe insert  8  in its intermediate condition with a portion of the matrix  26  pulled away from the die cut shape of the insert. The matrix is removable via a series of ties or perforations which easily separate from the die cut area of the shoe insert  8 . The edge  13  of the shoe insert  8  is heat seal, that is two layer of plastic are sealed together to form a package that will retain the air or gas once the insert is inflated. 
         [0028]      FIG. 1 b    shows the matrix  26  fully removed from the shoe insert. Area or opening designated by reference numeral  28  illustrates were the valve assembly is positioned in the matrix and creates an open end for use in inflating the insert. 
         [0029]    Attention is now directed to  FIG. 2  in which the shoe insert  8  is shown removed from the matrix. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the insert  8  has “dot” components  18  which are used to seal portions of the insert together so that the shoe insert  8  will form a right or left shoe insert due to the position or offsetting of the dots. By offsetting the dots from center one can change the orientation of the shoe insert to left or right. Alternatively, if the dot is disposed centrally of the insert the toe box or front portion of the insert can be pivoted or shifted around the dot to form a left or right orientation. Other than the side edges  13  the dots  18  are the only other areas of the insert that are sealed together. 
         [0030]    Turning now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a view of the inflated shoe insert  8 . In this illustration, one heat seal dot  18  is used to direct the front portion  10  of the shoe insert  8  to a right foot configuration.  FIG. 3  also shows the valve  16 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 4  shows the show insert  8 , in an inflated configuration disposed within a shoe  30 . The insert prevents the shoe from being crushed during transit and substantially fills the interior volume  32  of the shoe. 
         [0032]    In order to use the present invention, the insert  18  is removed from the matrix  26  at the production line. The insert can either be inserted into the shoe and then inflated via the valve  16  or in the alternative, the insert can be inflated first and then inserted into the shoe. 
         [0033]    The shoe insert of the present invention provides protection for the toe box and the shape of the shoe during transportation, shipping and handling and prevents the shoe from becoming wrinkled or collapsing during the shipment such that the shoe arrives at its intended retail destination and can be displayed for the retail consumer. 
         [0034]    The shoe insert of the present invention can be created in any number of sizes or styles, for men&#39;s, women&#39;s or children&#39;s shoes, boots or other footwear. 
         [0035]    It will thus be seen according to the present invention a highly advantageous shoe insert has been provided. While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, and that many modifications and equivalent arrangements may be made thereof within the scope of the invention, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation of appended claims so as to encompass all equivalent structures and products. 
         [0036]    The inventors hereby state their intent to rely on the Doctrine of Equivalents to determine and assess the reasonably fair scope of their invention as it pertains to any apparatus, system, method or article not materially departing from but outside the literal scope of the invention as set out in the following claims.