Abstract:
A shoe or footwear insert pad is configured to fit over at least part of the forward portion of the sole, extending under the toes and ball of a wearer&#39;s foot. The pad has an upper face, a lower face, a forward edge, a rear edge, and inner and outer edges, with the inner and outer edges conforming to the shape of corresponding inner and outer edges of the sole of the footwear. A foot stop bar or rib on the inner face of the pad extends in a selected, at least partially curved path from the inner edge to the outer edge configured to match the curve of the space at the base of a wearer&#39;s toes where the toes meet the remainder of the foot. In one example, the position of the foot stop bar on the pad is adjustable for wearers&#39; having different foot sole topographies.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates generally to footwear, and is particularly concerned with inserts such as insoles or partial insoles designed to be placed onto the sole of footwear such as shoes, sandals, and the like. 
         [0003]    2. Related Art 
         [0004]    Cushioned insert pads or insoles for shoes are well known, and are typically designed for comfort or support, for alleviating foot pain, or for correcting various deformities, physical impairments, abnormal walking patterns, or the like. Such insert pads may have raised areas for engaging the arch of the foot, for example. 
         [0005]    High heeled footwear can be uncomfortable for the wearer due to the tendency for the user&#39;s feet to slide forward in such footwear as a result of the forwardly inclined angle of the foot. The foot slides towards the toe end of the footwear which is typically narrower, constricting the toes and causing discomfort. This discomfort typically increases with height of the heel, to the extent that some women choose not to wear very high heeled shoes or sandals. There may also be a tendency for the foot to slide forwards in other types of footwear under certain conditions, for example in work boots or hiking boots, or in boots or shoes used in various types of sport such as soccer, tennis, squash, or climbing, causing discomfort as a result of the toes being pressed against a forward end of the shoe. 
         [0006]    There is therefore a need for a device which resists the tendency of a foot to slide forward in a shoe. There is also a need for a device that is adjustable relative to the sole bed to conform to individual foot shapes and has a minimal impact on overall shoe fit. 
       SUMMARY  
       [0007]    According to one aspect, a footwear insert or insole of flexible material is configured to fit over at least part of the forward portion of the sole of the footwear, extending under at least part of the toes and ball of a wearer&#39;s foot. The insole comprises a pad having a rib or stop bar extending in a predetermined path across a lower face which engages the sole of the footwear. The pad has a forward edge, a rear edge, an inner edge, and an outer edge, with the inner and outer edges at least substantially conforming to the shape of corresponding inner and outer edges of the forward sole of the footwear. The foot stop bar or raised rib on the lower face of the pad extends in an at least partially curved path from the inner edge to the outer edge configured such that the bar or pad is located in the space under the base of a user&#39;s toes and in front of the ball of the foot when the pad is placed in the footwear and a user&#39;s foot is placed into the footwear. When the pad is positioned in a shoe or sandal with the inner surface engaging the sole, the foot stop bar produces a raised bump in front of the ball of the foot which resists or prevents the foot from sliding forward. 
         [0008]    In one embodiment, the pad and stop bar or rib may be formed of a rubber-like elastomeric material which has a tendency to stick to other surfaces, such as the sole of a shoe. The stop bar or rib may be formed separately from the pad and then adhered to the pad at the desired location so that it is in the proper position for resisting sliding of the foot when the pad is placed in the sole of the footwear. This allows for individual adjustment by the wearer of the footwear depending on their foot sole dimensions and topography. Guidance lines may be provided on the surface of the pad in this case to assist the user in adhering the stop bar or rib to the pad. Alternatively, the bar or rib may be formed integrally with the pad and the pad position in the sole of the shoe may be adjusted to place the bar or rib at the desired location. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0009]    The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, may be gleaned in part by study of the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1A  is bottom plan view of one embodiment of a right partial insole or insert for placing onto the sole of footwear such as a right shoe or sandal; 
           [0011]      FIG. 1B  is a bottom plan view of a corresponding left partial insole or footwear insert for placing into a left shoe or sandal; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the left insert of  FIG. 1B ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the footwear insert of  FIGS. 1 and 2  prior to adhering the insert at the appropriate location in the sole of the footwear; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of the footwear insert similar to  FIG. 3  but with the insert adhered to an underlying sole of the footwear; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of a high heeled shoe or sandal with the footwear insert of  FIGS. 1 to 4  adhered to a forward portion of the sole of the shoe or sandal; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of part of the shoe or sandal of  FIG. 5 , illustrating the position of the footwear insert relative to the sole of the shoe; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a side elevation view similar to  FIG. 5  but with the forward portion of a foot engaging in the footwear over the footwear insert; 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a top plan view of the right insole or insert of  FIG. 1A  with an optional marker strip to assist in positioning the insole in the footwear; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8A  is a top plan view of the marker strip of  FIG. 8 ; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a bottom plan view of the insole and marker strip of  FIG. 8 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0021]    Certain embodiments as disclosed herein provide for a footwear insert or partial insole adapted for positioning in the sole of the footwear under a forward portion of the foot of a wearer such that a raised bump or stop is located in front of the ball of the foot and in the space under the base of the wearer&#39;s toes where the toes join to the remainder of the foot. The raised bump or stop resists forward sliding movement of the foot in the footwear. 
         [0022]    After reading this description it will become apparent to one skilled in the art how to implement the invention in various alternative embodiments and alternative applications. However, although various embodiments of the present invention will be described herein, it is understood that these embodiments are presented by way of example only, and not limitation. 
         [0023]      FIGS. 1 to 7  illustrate one embodiment of a footwear insert or insole  10  designed to fit in a forward portion of footwear such as a shoe or sandal. As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1A to 4 , the insole  10  basically comprises a pad  11  of flexible material having an upper surface  12 , a lower surface  14 , a forward edge  15 , a rear edge  16 , an inner edge  18 , and an outer edge  19 , with a rib or stop bar  20  of the same material as the pad extending across the inner surface of the pad from a location close to the inner edge to a location adjacent the outer edge.  FIG. 1A  illustrates a right insole for fitting in a right shoe, while  FIGS. 1B and 2  illustrate a left insole for fitting in a left shoe. The rib or stop bar  20  may be formed integrally with the pad  11 , or may be formed separately and adhered at the appropriate position on the inner surface of pad  11  prior to insertion of the insole into the footwear. 
         [0024]    In one embodiment, both the pad and rib or stop bar  20  are formed of a rubber-like elastomeric material which has a sticky surface so that the rib  20  can be easily adhered to the lower surface  14  of pad  11  at a desired position and orientation. Elastomeric material such as polyurethane in a hardness range of 40 to 50 Durometer has the ability to stick or adhere temporarily to surfaces of various types, or other pieces of the same material, and may be used to manufacture the pad and stop bar of insert  10 . One suitable material for the insert is sorbothane, which is a synthetic viscoelastic polyurethane which is used for cushioning in shoe soles. 
         [0025]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the rib  20  extends from the inner edge  18  at the forward portion of the pad in a path which is initially straight, and then curves rearward to a location close to the outer edge  19  of the pad. A series of spaced marker lines  22  may be provided on the inner surface of the pad so that a user can readily position the rib to extend in the correct path, and can re-position the rib up or down to follow any marker line based on their own foot anatomy, so that it extends under the space below the user&#39;s toes when installed in footwear, as described in more detail below. As noted above, the rib and the pad are of sticky material so that the rib can be pressed down to adhere temporarily to the surface of the pad when in the proper position. The rib or stop bar in the illustrated embodiment is of rectangular cross-sectional shape, but may alternatively be of cylindrical or other cross-sectional shapes in alternative embodiments. 
         [0026]    In one embodiment, the thickness of pad  11  is around ¼ inch. The rib is of similar thickness or height, and has a width of around ½ inch. The insert is of peripheral shape and dimensions designed for fitting into a forward portion of the sole  24  of footwear such as high heeled shoe or sandal  31 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , with the forward edge  15  spaced slightly rearward from the toe end  26  of the shoe and the rear edge  16  positioned in front of the arch portion  28  such that it is rear of the ball of the foot when the shoe is worn. The inner and outer edges are of shape approximately following the shape of the corresponding contours of the inner and outer edges of the sole of the foot or footwear in which the pad is inserted. The pad may be made in different widths to accommodate different widths and styles of shoe. 
         [0027]    Once the rib is properly positioned on pad  11  as in  FIG. 1A  or  1 B, the appropriate left or right insole or insert  10  is inserted onto the forward portion of the sole  30  of footwear  31  with the inner or lower surface  14  facing downward, and then pressed onto the surface of the sole so that it adheres to the surface, as best illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The raised rib or stop bar  20  on the lower or inner surface forms a raised, rounded bump or ridge  32  on the upper surface of pad  11  which follows the desired path from the inner to the outer edge of the sole  30 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . When a user inserts their foot  34  into the footwear, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the bump  32  should be located just in front of the ball  35  of the foot, in the space  36  under the toes  38  where the bases of the toes join the remainder of the foot. This space extends in a path similar to that chosen for rib  20 , i.e. in a straight path under the big toe on the inner side of the foot and under the next toe, and then curving rearwardly to the little toe at the outer side of the foot. 
         [0028]    The rib or stop bar  11  is positioned so that the ball of the foot is located immediately behind bump  32 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . If properly located, the bump or ridge  32  acts as a stop resisting the tendency of the foot to slide forward in the shoe. This is often a problem in shoes with high heels  40  as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 to 7 . With a standard sole of footwear with a raised heel, the foot tends to slide forward, causing pressure and discomfort in both high heeled sandals and closed toe shoes. The insert  10  alleviates this problem. 
         [0029]    Due to different foot anatomies and toe lengths, space  36  and the ball  35  of the foot may not be at the same location in the footwear for every individual. Thus, insole  10  is designed to allow adjustment of the rib position to accommodate different foot anatomies, customizing the insole for the individual user. In order to position the insole, the user first places the insert at the appropriate position in the footwear, and inserts their foot to check the location of stop bar  20 . If it is not located under the toes immediately in front of the ball of the foot, they can remove the pad and shift the rib or bar  20  up or down, using the lines  22  for re-positioning purposes. Alternatively, the entire pad can be moved forward or back in the shoe to re-position stop bar  20 . 
         [0030]      FIGS. 8 ,  8 A and  9  illustrate an adhesive marker or decal strip  42  which may be used to assist in positioning the rib or stop bar  20  at the appropriate location in the footwear. The insole may be provided to a user with strip  42  temporarily adhered to the upper surface of pad  11 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . The strip has a marker scale starting at zero in the center of the strip, and with equally spaced scale marks or lines from 1 to 7 extending in opposite directions on one side of the strip. The strip is initially positioned so that the zero line or mark is aligned on the rear edge  16  of pad  11 . In this case, the guide lines  22  for positioning bar or rib  20  have similar scale markings. The insole is inserted in the footwear with the stop bar  20  at the line  22  marked 0 and the inner or lower face of pad  11  downward, and the user then inserts their foot onto the insole to check whether or not the ridge  32  is in the correct position in space  36  under their toes and immediately in front of the ball of the foot. The pressure will stick strip  42  to the sole of the shoe. The user then removes the insole, leaving the strip in place. If the stop bar was initially at the wrong position, the user moves the insole backwards or forwards in the shoe (depending on whether the stop bar was located rear of the toes or too far forward initially), sticks it back down over the marker strip, and tries again. The rear edge  16  is now aligned over a different marker line on the strip, for example +1, +2 . . . if it is moved forward, or −1, −2, . . . if it is moved rearward. Once the ideal position is found, the user checks the number on the scale which is aligned with the rear edge of the strip. If it is +1, for example, the user removes the insole and adjusts the position of the bar or rib  20  to match the line  22  marked as +1 on the pad  11 . They then remove decal strip  42  and re-insert the insole at the proper position in the sole of the footwear. The bump or ridge is now located at the correct position to fit into the space under the wearer&#39;s toes and immediately in front of the ball of the foot. 
         [0031]    The use of insole  10  in high heeled sandals can allow such footwear to be designed without tight straps across the lower part of the shoe, which often makes it difficult to fit such sandals to the wearer&#39;s feet. The straps on sandals are normally used to locate the forward portion of a wearer&#39;s foot and position the foot correctly in the sandal, and therefore have to fit fairly closely over the wearer&#39;s foot. However, since the insole with raised bump or ridge  32  resists the tendency for the foot to slide forward and also locates the foot correctly, sandals using this insole could be made with more comfortable cross straps, including elasticated straps, while the foot still is held in the sandal and does not slide off the front of the sandal. The insole is also useful for high heeled shoes with closed toes, in resisting the tendency for the foot to slide forwards and crush the toes against the closed forward tip of the shoe, which is often quite narrow in fashionable high heeled footwear. 
         [0032]    Insole  10  can be designed so that it is not visible on open-toed or open-sided shoes. This is a major advantage to those who wish comfort when wearing shoes of this design. 
         [0033]    Although insole  10  is primarily intended to alleviate discomfort of users wearing high heeled shoes or sandals, by resisting the tendency of the feet to slide forwards in such shoes, it may also be used to provide a foot stop in other types of footwear where foot sliding problems might occur, such as hiking shoes or boots, work boots, soccer boots, or shoes and boots used in other sports or activities. 
         [0034]    The above description of the disclosed embodiment is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the invention. Various modifications to this embodiment will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein can be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.