Patent Abstract:
A toe engaging apparatus or shoe insert includes one or more layers. Each layer is removably held to a neighboring planar layer. Each of the layers have a thickness, a longitudinal length, and a height; the height being such that the layers fits against a front wall of a target shoe. The layers are sized and shaped such that when affixed to the front wall area of the target shoe, the layers reduce the internal length of the target shoe, thereby effectively decreasing the size of the target shoe. The toe engaging apparatus optionally includes a mechanism for holding the plurality of layers against the front wall of the target shoe.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a non-provisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 61/670,651, filed Jul. 12, 2012, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     FIELD 
     This invention relates to the field of footwear and, more particularly, to a shoe insert for installation in the front portion of a shoe to adjust the amount of interior distance between the wearer&#39;s toes and a forward and/or side surface of the shoe. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Footwear differs in type and style including dress shoes, casual shoes, athletic shoes, work shoes, boots, dance shoes, and the like. Although there are standards for footwear sizing, footwear is produced by a wide array of domestic and international manufacturers creating substantial inconsistencies in the sizing between similar footwear styles. Materials used in the construction of footwear also provide varying degrees of stretching and size shifting throughout the life of the footwear. 
     In addition to the production and wear variances in footwear, the wearer of footwear creates many additional sizing challenges. Such challenges include the typical uniqueness and size variation between a wearer&#39;s left and right foot, changes in body weight, disease or injury, and the wearers&#39; walking/running habits. The growth of the children, infant&#39;s, and teen&#39;s feet requires sizing changes at a higher frequency than that of an adult. 
     What is needed is a shoe insert that adjusts the size of footwear to match the size of the wearer&#39;s foot. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, a shoe insert or toe engaging apparatus is disclosed including several layers. Each layer is removably held to a neighboring layer. Each of the layers have a thickness, a longitudinal length, and a height; the height being such that the layers fits against a front wall of a target shoe. The layers are sized and shaped such that when affixed to the front wall of the target shoe, the layers reduce the internal length (and optionally width) of the target shoe, thereby effectively decreasing the size of the target shoe. The toe engaging apparatus includes a mechanism for holding the plurality of layers against the front wall of the target shoe. 
     In another embodiment, a method of reducing a size of a target shoe is disclosed including providing a target shoe, the target shoe having a front area wall; and providing a toe engaging apparatus having several layers. Each layer is removably held to a neighboring layer by punches. Each of the layers have a thickness, a longitudinal length, and a height; the height being such that the layers fits against a front wall of a target shoe. The layers are sized and shaped such that when affixed to the front wall of the target shoe, the layers reduce the internal length (and optionally width) of the target shoe, thereby effectively decreasing the size of the target shoe. A number of the layers needed to properly reduce the size of the target shoe to a desired size is determined and one or more of the layers is removed until the number of remaining layers is equal to the number of layers needed to properly reduce the size of the target shoe to the desired size. The toe engagement apparatus is then installed against the front wall of the target shoe, thereby reducing the effective size of the target shoe without vertically cramping a user&#39;s foot. 
     In another embodiment, a toe engaging apparatus is disclosed including a single layer. The single layer has a thickness, a longitudinal length, and a height; the height being such that the single layer fits against a front wall of a target shoe. The layer is sized and shaped such that when affixed to the front wall of the target shoe, the layer reduces the internal length (and optionally width) of the target shoe, thereby effectively decreasing the size of the target shoe. An adhesive coating is on a surface of the layer for holding the layer to the front wall of the target shoe. 
     In another embodiment, a toe engaging apparatus is disclosed having either singular or multiple layers and connected to an insole or floor member. Each layer is removably held to a neighboring layer. Each of the layers have a thickness, a longitudinal length, and a height; the height being such that the layers fits against a front wall of a target shoe. The layers are sized and shaped such that when affixed to the front wall of the target shoe, the layers reduce the internal length (and optionally width) of the target shoe, thereby effectively decreasing the size of the target shoe. The toe engaging apparatus includes a mechanism for holding the plurality of layers against the front wall of the target shoe. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a footwear and foot of the wearer of the footwear with a shoe insert that has been inserted into the front portion of the footwear. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the layers of the exemplary shoe insert. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of a shoe insert within footwear and the relationship between the shoe insert, the footwear, and foot of the wearer of the footwear. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of the footwear, the foot of the wearer of the footwear, and the shoe insert. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of the layers of the shoe insert such that the shoe insert layers are readily separated and removed. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of a footwear and foot of the wearer of the footwear with a shoe insert that has been inserted into the front portion of the footwear, the shoe insert having a sole-interface surface. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of a single layer, non-separable monolithic shoe insert. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures. Throughout this description, the term footwear refers to any type, style, mode of footwear, including, but not limited to: shoes, dress shoes, casual shoes, athletic shoes, work shoes, boots, dance shoes, sandals, running shoes, work boots, etc. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of a shoe  10  and foot  12  of the wearer of the footwear with a shoe insert  20  that has been inserted into the front portion of the footwear  10  is shown. In all examples, the front portion  16  and sole  18  of the footwear are shown for clarity reasons. 
     Often, footwear  10  is manufactured and sold in incremental sizes, the larger size for a larger foot. Each integer size is approximately ⅓ of an inch longer than the next lower size. Some footwear  16 / 18  are manufactured in half-sizes such as 9½, but often, the larger sizes come only in whole number sizes, not in half-size increments. Due to different manufacturers and types of footwear, there are many sizing inconsistencies. 
     There are many reasons why particular footwear  10  is not the correct size for the individual&#39;s feet  12 . In the case of children, infants, and teens, often shortly after buying new shoes, the foot has outgrown the shoes. In the case of adults, often one foot is of a different length (and optionally a different width) than the other foot, or the desired footwear  10  is not available in the size needed or is not available in a needed half-size. To adjust for these variances, the toe engagement apparatus, or shoe insert  20  is placed inside the toe area of the footwear  10 , engaging with the wearer&#39;s toes and effectively shortening the interior length of the footwear  10  and, optionally, reducing the width of the toe area of the footwear  10 . The shoe insert  20  is placed against a front wall  16  of the footwear  10 , thereby effectively shortening the interior length (and optionally width) of the footwear  10 . By such placement, the shoe insert  20  changes the effective length (and optionally width of the footwear  10 , and does not vertically lift or cramp the user&#39;s toes  14 . In this embodiment, the shoe insert  20  only interfaces to the inside of the toe area of the footwear  10  without raising the sole area  18 . 
     In some embodiments, the shoe insert  20  is preferably made of layers  22 / 24 / 26  of one or more pliable materials. In such, many configurations of layers  22 / 24 / 26  are anticipated. For example, in some embodiments, the layer  22  closest to the user&#39;s toes  14  is made of a cushion material for comfort while one or more intermediate layers  24  are made from, for example, foam, fabric, rubber, leather, gel, carbon, plastic, paper, cork, metal, etc. In some embodiments, an adhesive layer  26  interfaces with the inner surface  16  of the footwear  10  and holds the shoe insert  20  against the inner surface  16 , though in other embodiments, the shoe insert  20  is press-fit or held against any surface of the footwear  10 , with or without an adhesive. 
     In some embodiments, the shoe insert  20  is integrated into the footwear  10  during manufacture of the footwear  10  and the shoe insert  20  is manufactured as part of the footwear  10  or added to the footwear  10  in any way known. Thereby, in these embodiments, one purchases the footwear  10  with the shoe insert  20  already installed in the toe area of the footwear  10  and, if the footwear  10  is too small, the purchaser removes one or mover layers  24  until the footwear  10  fits properly. 
     Even though the shoe insert  20  is shown in a curved configuration in the drawings, it is anticipated that the shoe insert be provided in any configuration, including a linear configuration, then bent to match the curvature and contour of the front walls of the target shoe. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a perspective view of the layers  22 / 24 / 26  of the exemplary shoe insert  20  is shown. The shoe insert  20  is preferably made of layers  22 / 24 / 26 . In such, many configurations of layers  22 / 24 / 26  are anticipated. For example, in some embodiments, the layer  22  closest to the user&#39;s toes  14  is made of a cushion material for comfort while one or more intermediate layers  24  are made from, for example, foam, fabric, rubber, leather, gel, carbon, plastic, paper, cork, metal, cork, or any similar singular or blended material, etc. As another example, the first layer is a cloth material and/or cushion material, and the subsequent layers are foam, fabric, rubber, leather, gel, plastic, paper, cork, metal, etc. In the later example, it is anticipated to include carbon (e.g. charcoal) in the first layer to reduce odor. 
     In some embodiments, an adhesive layer  26  is included for holding the shoe insert against, for example, the inner surface  16  of the footwear  10 , thereby holding the shoe insert  20  against the inner surface  16 . In some embodiments, all sizing layers  22 / 24  are made of the same material such as foam, fabric, rubber, leather, gel, carbon, plastic, paper, cork, metal, etc. 
     The layers  22 / 24  are preferably removably or peelably held to each other by any way known in the industry such as static bond, a weak adhesive material, perforations, hook-and-loop material, fasteners, sewn, magnets, fasteners, Velcro, zippers, etc. In the latter, perforations are made through the layers  22 / 24  and the material of one layer  22 / 24  encroaches into the perforations of the next layer  22 / 24 , therefore, holding the adjacent layers  22 / 24  to each other until one layer  22 / 24  is peeled from the adjacent layer  22 / 24 . In embodiments in which the outer layer  22 / 24 / 26  (the layer  22 / 24 / 26  that interfaces with the inside toe area  16  of the footwear  10 ) is an adhesive layer  26 , it is anticipated that the adhesive layer  26  has a protective cover (not shown) to prevent unwanted adhesion. It is also anticipated that each subsequent removable layer  24  includes an adhesive on an outside surface so that as one layer  24  is peeled from the subsequent layer  24 , the outside surface of the subsequent layer  24  has an adhesive to bond to the inside toe area  16  of the footwear  10 . 
     To facilitate peeling of the layers  24 , in a preferred embodiment, the layer ends  28  are staggered (as shown), providing easy access to the desired number of layers  24  that need to be peeled off. 
     In one embodiment, the sides of the insert  20  contain perforations allowing the insert length to be adjusted by removing sections of the insert  20 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a top view ( FIG. 3 ) and side view ( FIG. 4 ) of a shoe insert  20  within footwear  10  and the relationship between the shoe insert  20 , the footwear  10 , and foot  12  and toes  14  of the wearer of the footwear is shown. In this, the shoe insert  20  shortens the length of the footwear  10  by approximately the overall width of the shoe insert  20 . In some embodiments, depending on the linear length of the shoe insert  20 , the shoe insert  20  also reduces the width of the footwear  10 . Note that, as shown in  FIG. 4 , some embodiments of the shoe insert  20  are void above and below the user&#39;s foot  12  and toes  14  and, therefore, do not reduce clearance above the user&#39;s foot  12  and toes  14 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a perspective view of the layers  22 / 24 / 26  of the shoe insert  20  such that the shoe insert layers  22 / 24 / 26  are readily separated and removed is shown. In this embodiment, the layer  22  closest to the user&#39;s toes  14  is made of a cushion material for comfort while one or more intermediate layers  24  are made from, for example, foam, fabric, rubber, leather, etc. An adhesive layer  26  interfaces with the inner surface  16  of the footwear  10  and holds the shoe insert  20  against the inner surface  16 . In some embodiments, all sizing layers  22 / 24  are made of the same material such as foam, fabric, rubber, leather, gel, plastic, paper, cork, metal, etc. The layers  22 / 24  are preferably removably or peelably held to each other by any way known in the industry such as static bond, a weak adhesive material, perforations, etc. In the latter, perforations are made through the layers  22 / 24  and the material of one layer  22 / 24  encroaches into the perforations of the next layer  22 / 24 , therefore, holding the adjacent layers  22 / 24  to each other until one layer  22 / 24  is peeled from the adjacent layer  22 / 24 . In embodiments in which the outer layer  22 / 24 / 26  (the layer  22 / 24 / 26  that interfaces with the inside toe area  16  of the footwear  10 ) is an adhesive layer  26 , it is anticipated that the adhesive layer  26  has a protective cover (not shown) to prevent unwanted adhesion. It is also anticipated that each subsequent removable layer  24  includes an adhesive on an outside surface so that as one layer  24  is peeled from the subsequent layer  24 , the outside surface of the subsequent layer  24  has an adhesive to bond to the inside toe area  16  of the footwear  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the layer ends  28  are staggered (as shown), providing easy access to removal of the desired number of layers  24  that need to be peeled off. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , a perspective view of a footwear and foot of the wearer of the footwear with a shoe insert that has been inserted into the front portion of the footwear, the shoe insert having a sole-interface surface is shown. 
     In this embodiment, the shoe insert  20  includes a floor member  40  that simplifies installation. In such, the layers  22 / 24 / 26  are connected/formed to a thin insole or floor member  40  improving the process of installing which is performed in a similar manner as one would install a typical shoe insole. Since the layers  22 / 24 / 26  are held in place against the toe area wall  16  of the footwear  10  by the floor member  40  (e.g. similar to an insole or partial insole), in some embodiments, there is no adhesive outer layer  26 . Once placed inside the toe area of the footwear  10 , the layers  22 / 24  effectively shortening the interior length and/or width of the footwear  10 . The shoe insert  20  only changes the effective length and/or width of the footwear  10 , and does not vertically lift or cramp the user&#39;s toes  14  being that the floor member  40  is fabricated of a thin material such as plastic, paper, cork, paper, foam, rubber, etc. 
     In some embodiments, a bottom surface of the floor member  40  is coated with an adhesive to adhere the floor member  40  to the inner sole of the target footwear  10 . In some embodiments, the floor member  40  is made of a cushion material such as foam, therefore providing additional cushioning the wearer&#39;s foot as would a cushioned insole. In some embodiments, the floor member  40  is made of or includes a form of carbon (e.g., charcoal), or other odor absorbing materials to absorb foot odor. 
     Although not required, the shoe insert  20  of this embodiment is preferably made of layers  22 / 24 / 26 . In such, many configurations of layers  22 / 24 / 26  are anticipated. For example, in some embodiments, the layer  22  closest to the user&#39;s toes  14  is made of a cushion or fabric material for comfort while one or more intermediate layers  24  are made from, for example, foam, fabric, rubber, leather, gel, carbon, plastic, paper, cork, metal, etc. In some embodiments, an adhesive layer  26  interfaces with the inner surface  16  of the footwear  10  and holds the shoe insert  20 , for example, against the inner surface  16  of the footwear  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , a perspective view of a single non-separable monolithic layer  24  of the exemplary shoe insert  10 A is shown. In such, many configurations of the layer  24 A are anticipated. For example, in some embodiments, the layer  24 A is non-separable and is made of a blended material with a cushion material for comfort closest to the toes  14  and additional materials made from, for example, foam, fabric, rubber, leather, gel, carbon, plastic, paper, cork, metal, cork, or any similar singular or blended material, etc. As another example, the layer  24 A is a non-separable layer composed of fabric material closest to the toes  14 , followed by charcoal and other materials such as foam, fabric, rubber, leather, gel, plastic, paper, cork, metal, etc. 
     In some embodiments, an adhesive is added to the singular or blended material and holds the shoe insert  20 A against the inner surface  16  of the footwear  10 . 
     Although the present invention has been discussed in relation to a removable shoe insert or toe engaging apparatus, it can be incorporated as a permanent front layer or layers in footwear, such as a shoe or the like, for later removal by the consumer after purchase. 
     Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same result. 
     It is believed that the system and method as described and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes. 
     It will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to foregoing embodiments and that various changes and modifications can be effected therein by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0