Abstract:
A shoe insert for maintaining the shape and structure of a shoe. When placed in a shoe, the shoe insert applies pressure to the walls of the shoe, preventing the shape of the shoe from deteriorating over time. The shoe insert is made from a compressible form-fitting material that allows the shoe insert to form itself to the contours of a variety of shapes and sizes of shoes.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/963,350 filed 3 Aug. 2007, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a shoe insert, and in particular to a malleable form-fitting shoe insert that can adjust to fit various sizes and styles of shoes. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Shoetrees and shoe inserts have been used to maintain the shape of footwear for many years. When shoes sit idle without a firm foot substitute in place, they will naturally begin to fall out of shape and often become ruffled and wrinkled. Generally, a shoe insert solves this problem by occupying the front tip of the shoe to support the structure of the shoe. As such, a shoe insert is important for the long term care of the shoe, as it serves to reduce the amount of creases in the fabric of the shoe and helps to maintain the shoe&#39;s overall shape after continued wear. 
         [0004]    As footwear designs have become more plentiful, so has the range of designs of shoetrees and shoe inserts available to support them. The market contains an assortment of shoetrees and shoe inserts of various shapes and materials, each typically designed for use with a specific shoe type. Among those materials are plastic, recycled formed paperboard, wood and/or plastic with spacer bar compositions, and molded tissue paper. Each of these materials have some disadvantages. 
         [0005]    A shortfall of many currently used shoe inserts is that they are not capable of supporting a variety of shoe shapes and sizes. For example, recycled formed paperboard and plastic inserts are rigid and offer no compression that would allow them to form to the shape of a shoe. Pre-formed shoe inserts are custom molded and thus generally only fit the style of shoe they were packaged with. Wood and spacer bar shoe inserts are capable of achieving varying lengths, however the toe member they use for engaging the front portion of the shoe is fixed and has no compression to accommodate different toe boxes. Additionally wood and spacer bar shoe inserts require mechanical embodiments that are not easily engaged in the shoe and generally only accommodate loafer-style shoes and cannot be used with heels, flats, boots or sandals. 
         [0006]    Another shortfall of many currently used shoe inserts is that they are not durable. For example, molded tissue paper inserts are made from thin tissue paper that decomposes rapidly after repeated insertion into a shoe. Recycled formed paperboard inserts are rigid and break easily. Likewise, hollow plastic inserts offer some compression but are prone to breakage after repeated use. 
         [0007]    What is needed therefore is a shoe insert capable of use with a wide variety of shoe types. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0008]    It is the objective of the present invention to provide a shoe insert that will accommodate shoes of a variety of shapes and sizes. It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a shoe insert that is both durable and reusable. 
         [0009]    In one embodiment a shoe insert in accordance with the present invention includes a moldable, malleable, compressible, form-fitting material that allows the shoe insert to take on the shape of interior portions of a variety of shoes of different shapes and sizes. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment the shoe insert includes a toe portion, a vamp portion and a rear portion that can be inserted into the toe portion of a shoe. 
         [0011]    In another embodiment, the shoe insert includes a toe portion, a vamp portion and a heel portion, that create a malleable foot shape. 
         [0012]    In a further embodiment, the shoe insert includes a toe portion, a vamp portion, a heel portion and a vertical portion in the shape of a foot and lower leg. The toe portion, vamp portion, and heel portion are made of a malleable material. 
         [0013]    The features, functions, and advantages of the present invention will be readily understood upon a thoughtful deliberation of the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The present invention can best be understood in connection with the accompanying drawings. However, no unnecessary limitations are to be construed by the terms used or illustrations depicted, beyond what is shown in the prior art, since the terms and illustrations are exemplary only, and are not meant to limit the scope of the present invention. 
           [0015]    It is noted that the invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in drawings, in which: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1A  shows a perspective view of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 1B  shows a top view of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 1C  shows a sectional schematic view of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2A  shows a perspective view of a shoe, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2B  shows top view of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2C  shows a sectional view of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  shows a sectional view of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 4A  shows a perspective view of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4B  shows a sectional view of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of a shoe, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 6A  shows a perspective view of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 6B  shows a top view of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 6C  shows a sectional view of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 7  shows a sectional view of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 8A  shows a perspective view of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0031]      FIG. 8B  shows a sectional of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 8C  shows a sectional of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 9  shows a sectional view of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 10A  shows a top view of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0035]      FIG. 10B  shows a sectional view of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0036]      FIG. 11A  shows a side view of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0037]      FIG. 11B  shows a side view of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0038]      FIG. 12  shows a sectional view of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0039]      FIG. 13A  shows a sectional view of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0040]      FIG. 13B  shows a sectional view of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0041]    The following exemplary embodiments disclose shoe inserts that feature the use of a compressible, malleable, moldable form-fitting material. Polyurethane, polyurethane foam, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), thermo moldable foam, memory foam, rubber, a fabric sack filled with beads, PVC foam (polyvinyl chloride), EPE foam (polyethylene), latex foam, silicon gel, an antimicrobial material such as polyolefin, or some combination of these materials may be used to constitute the compressible, moldable material. The aforementioned list is merely illustrative, as other compressible, moldable materials are known and would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art. Likewise, the present invention is directed towards a shoe insert, and the word “shoe” is understood to refer to all footwear, including, but not limited to, dress shoes, casual shoes, pumps, flats, high heels, sneaker boots, sandals, wedge sandals, platform shoes, loafers, boat shoes, boots, slippers, sneakers, golf shoes, ballet shoes, and ballroom shoes. 
         [0042]    Referring now in detail to the figures, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the several views, one exemplary embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , which illustrates a shoe insert  100 . The shoe insert  100  includes a vamp portion  104  that is connected to both a toe portion  102  and a rear portion  106 . The shoe insert  100  is made of a unitary construction of a compressible, malleable, moldable form-fitting material, which allows the shoe insert  100  to occupy a toe portion of a range of shapes and sizes of shoes by forming to the contours it encounters. As shown in  FIG. 1C , once the shoe insert  100  is inserted into the toe portion of a shoe, the toe portion  102  engages the toe portion of the shoe, and the vamp portion  104  engages the vamp portion of the shoe, allowing the shoe insert  100  to exert pressure on the walls of the shoe, maintaining the shape of the shoe. The rear portion  106  may have either a planar or an indented face. In exemplary embodiments, the shoe insert  100  may contain either a fragrance and/or an antibacterial. 
         [0043]    Turning now to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , which also illustrate that the shoe insert&#39;s  100  moldable, form-fitting material allow the shoe insert  100  to take on a variety of shapes.  FIG. 2C  further illustrates that the shoe insert  100  can accommodate a shoe of different shapes and sizes.  FIG. 1C  and  FIG. 2C  show that the shoe insert  100  is useful for, although not limited to, shoes with heels, as it can form to pointed toe shoes such as that shown in  FIG. 1C , or rounded toe shoe, such as that shown in  FIG. 2C , and is in neither case obstructed by the rising heel of the shoe. 
         [0044]    Another exemplary embodiment is depicted in  FIG. 3 , which shows a shoe insert  300  that includes a vamp portion  304  that is connected to a toe portion  302  and a rear portion  306 . The vamp portion  304 , the toe portion  302  and the rear portion  306  are all made of a compressible, malleable, moldable form-fitting material, that collectively encompass a rigid member  308 , which may have generally the same shape as the shoe insert  300 . The rigid member  308  may be made of any solid material, including, but not limited to, metal, wood, plastic, cardboard, or stone. The combination of the compression provided by the vamp portion  304 , the toe portion  302  and the rear portion  306 , combined with the stability provided by the rigid member  308  allow the shoe insert  300  to be more sturdily inserted into the toe portion of a shoe, while maintaining a high degree of compressibility. 
         [0045]    Another exemplary embodiment is depicted in  FIGS. 4A and 4B  which show a shoe insert  400  that includes a vamp portion  404  that is connected to a toe portion  402  and a rear portion  406 . The vamp portion  404 , the toe portion  402  and the rear portion  406  are all made of a compressible, malleable, moldable form-fitting material. The rear portion  406  includes a first aperture  200  that extends towards the toe portion  402 . The first aperture  200  is joined by a second aperture  202 , which extends from an upper surface of the first aperture  200 , towards the vamp portion  404 . These two apertures are useful in allowing a user to insert their finger into the shoe insert  400  to both push it into a shoe, and pull it out of a shoe. In an alternative exemplary embodiment, a single continuous aperture could be utilized. In yet another exemplary embodiment, a multitude of apertures could be utilized, allowing the user to grip the shoe insert  400  with multiple fingers. 
         [0046]    Another exemplary embodiment is depicted in  FIG. 5 , which shows a shoe insert  500  that includes a vamp portion  504  that is connected to a toe portion  502  and a rear portion  506 . The vamp portion  504 , the toe portion  502  and the rear portion  506  are all made of a compressible, malleable, moldable form-fitting material. The shoe insert  500  also includes a rigid member  508  that extends outwardly from the rear portion  506 , generally in a direction that is opposite to the toe portion  502 . The rigid member  508  can serve as a rigid handle that allows for easier, more forceful insertion and removal of the shoe insert  500 . The rigid member can be made of any on of a number of rigid materials, including, but not limited to metal, wood, plastic, cardboard, or stone. The rigid member  508  can be formed in many shapes, including, but not limited to a cylindrical rod, a rectangular rod, or any form that is designed to be easily gripped by a hand. 
         [0047]    Another exemplary embodiment is depicted in  FIGS. 6A ,  6 B and  6 C. These figures show a shoe insert  600  that includes a vamp member  604  that is connected to both a toe member  602  and a heel member  606 . Shoe insert  600  is made of a unitary construction of a compressible, malleable, moldable form-fitting material, which allows the shoe insert  600  to occupy the toe portion and heel portion of a range of shapes and sizes of shoes, by forming to the contours it encounters. As shown in  FIG. 6C , once the shoe insert  600  is inserted into a shoe, the toe member  602  engages the toe portion of the shoe, the vamp member  604  engages the vamp portion of the shoe, and the heel member  606  engages the heel portion of the shoe, allowing the shoe insert  600  to exert pressure on the walls of the shoe, maintaining its shape. As depicted by  FIG. 6C , shoe insert  600  is useful for maintaining the shape of shoes that have a heel, such as loafers, pumps and running shoes. 
         [0048]    Another exemplary embodiment is depicted in  FIG. 7 , which shows a shoe insert  700  that includes a vamp member  704  that is connected to a toe member  702  and a heel member  706 . The vamp member  704 , the toe member  702  and the heel member  706  are all made of a compressible, malleable, moldable form-fitting material, that collectively encompass a rigid member  708 , which may have generally the same shape as the shoe insert  700 . The rigid member  708  may be made of any solid material, including, but not limited to, metal, wood, plastic, cardboard, or stone. The combination of the compression provided by the vamp member  704 , the toe member  702  and the heel member  706 , combined with the stability provided by the rigid member  708  allow the shoe insert  700  to be more sturdily inserted into a shoe, while maintaining a high degree of compressibility. 
         [0049]    Another exemplary embodiment is depicted in  FIGS. 8A ,  8 B and  8 C, which show a shoe insert  800  that includes a vamp member  804 , a toe member  802 , a heel member  806  and an extension member  808 . The vamp member  804 , the toe member  802  and the heel member  806  are all made of a compressible, malleable, moldable form-fitting material. The extension member  808  may be made of any rigid material, including, but not limited to metal, wood, plastic, cardboard, or stone. The toe member  802  is directly connected to the vamp member  804  which form a front member  803 . The front member  803  is connected to the heel member  806  through the extension member  808 . When inserted into a shoe, the front member  803  of the shoe insert  800  will engage the toe portion of a shoe, while the heel member  806  of the shoe insert  800  will engage the heel portion of a shoe. Since the front member  803  and heel member  806  are both made from a form-fitting material, the shoe insert  800  is useful for, but not limited to, a variety of shoes with heels. 
         [0050]    In another exemplary embodiment, the extension member  808  is movably affixed to the front member  803 . The connection between the front member and the extension member may be a ball and socket joint, a hinge, or any other joint that allows for movement, such connections would be known to those skilled in the art. When the extension member  808  is free to move relative to the front member  803 , it allows the heel member  806  to take adopt different vertical and horizontal positions as depicted by  FIGS. 8B and 8C . This allows shoe insert  800  to accommodate a greater range of shoes, from flat-bottomed to heeled shoes. 
         [0051]    Another exemplary embodiment is depicted in  FIG. 9 , which shows a shoe insert  900  that includes a vamp member  904  that is connected to a toe member  902  and a heel member  906 . The vamp member  904 , the toe member  902  and the heel member  906  are all made of a compressible, malleable, moldable form-fitting material, that collectively encompass a rigid member  908 . Rigid member  908  is generally the shape of the collective form of the toe member  902  and the vamp member  904 . The rigid member  908  may be made of any solid material, including, but not limited to, metal, wood, plastic, cardboard, or stone. Since the rigid member  908  resides in the toe/vamp portion of the shoe insert  900 , it allows the shoe insert  900  to be anchored in the toe portion of a shoe, while leaving the heel member  906  in a position to be flexible. As such, the shoe insert  900  can be used to accommodate both flat-heeled and rising-heeled shoes. 
         [0052]    Another exemplary embodiment is depicted in  FIGS. 10A and 10B , which show a shoe insert  010  that includes a vamp member  014  that is connected to both a toe member  012  and a heel member  016 . Shoe insert  010  is made of a unitary construction of a compressible, malleable, moldable form-fitting material. The heel member  016  includes an aperture  018 . The aperture  018  facilitates the insertion and removal of the shoe insert  010  by providing a channel for air to flow, and by providing a grip for the user. In another exemplary embodiment the heel member may includes a plurality of apertures  018 . 
         [0053]    Another exemplary embodiment is depicted in  FIGS. 11A and 11B , which show a shoe insert  110  that includes a vamp member  114  that is connected to a toe member  112 , a heel member  116 , and a vertical member  118 . Shoe insert  110  is made of a unitary construction of a compressible, malleable, moldable form-fitting material, which allows the shoe insert  110  to occupy the toe portion, heel portion and lower leg portion of a range of shapes and sizes of shoes, by forming to the contours it encounters. As shown in  FIG. 11B , once the shoe insert  110  is inserted into a shoe, the toe member  112  engages the toe portion of the shoe, the vamp member  114  engages the vamp portion of the shoe, the heel member  116  engages the heel portion of the shoe, and the vertical member  118  engages the lower leg portion of the shoe, allowing the shoe insert  110  to exert pressure on the walls of the shoe, maintaining its shape. As depicted by  FIG. 11B , shoe insert  110  is useful for maintaining the shape of shoes that have a raised throat, such as boots or high-tops. 
         [0054]    Another exemplary embodiment is depicted in  FIG. 12 , which shows a shoe insert  120  that includes a vamp member  124  that is connected to a toe member  122 , a heel member  126  and a vertical member  128 . The vamp member  124 , toe member  122 , heel member  126  and vertical member  128  are all made of a compressible, malleable, moldable form-fitting material, that collectively encompass a rigid member  204  that is of roughly the same shape as the shoe insert  120 . The rigid member  204  may be made of any solid material, including, but not limited to, metal, wood, plastic, cardboard, or stone. 
         [0055]    Yet another exemplary embodiment is depicted in  FIG. 13A and 13B , which show a shoe insert  130  that includes a vamp member  134 , a toe member  132 , a heel member  136 , a vertical member  138  and a collapsible extension member  206 . The vamp member  134 , toe member  132 , heel member  136  and vertical member  138  are all made of a compressible, malleable, moldable form-fitting material. The extension member  206  may be made of any rigid material, including, but not limited to metal, wood, plastic, cardboard, or stone. The toe member  132  is directly connected to the vamp member  134  which form a front member  133 . The heel member  136  is directly connected to the vertical member  138  which form a rear member  137 . The front member  133  and rear member  137  are connected by the collapsible extension member  206 , which provides support between the front member  133  and rear member  137  when the shoe insert  130  is inserted into a shoe. The collapsible extension member  206  may include the use of a spring-loaded rod contained in a hollow rod, a bracketed adjustable rod such as present in conventional umbrellas, or any other method of constructing a collapsible member that would be known to those skilled in the art. As depicted in  FIGS. 13A and 13B , the collapsible nature of the extension member  206  will allow the user to adjust the distance between the front member  133  and the rear member  137 . The capability to adjust the distance between the two pieces will allow the shoe insert  130  to fit a greater range of shoes. In another embodiment, the front member  133  and the rear member  137  would not be connected with anything and would remain as two distinct pieces, capable of separate insertion into a shoe. 
         [0056]    Numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of structure and function. While the invention has been disclosed in several forms, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications, additions, and deletions, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts, can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and its equivalents as set forth in the following claims. Therefore, other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.