US20060174519A1

US20060174519A1 - Height enhancing device and height enhancing footwear

Info

Publication number: US20060174519A1
Application number: US11/051,231
Authority: US
Inventors: Young Kim; Yoo Hong
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-02-04
Filing date: 2005-02-04
Publication date: 2006-08-10

Abstract

A shoe comprising an enhanced inner sole that is positioned in the shoe, either as a separate insert or built-in, to thereby raise the position in which the foot rests inside the shoe.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a device that increases the apparent height of a person.
2. Related Art
Increased height has been a desired physical characteristic for a long time. It is often believed that persons having a large height are better looking, command more respect, and have more self-confidence. Shortly after the advent of footwear, shoes that give the appearance of increased height have been used. For example, shoes with elongated heels are well known. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,497,566 discloses a height raising inner sole 8 that is inserted into an ordinary shoe. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 2,200,493 discloses a shoe in which padding material 14 is arranged in the heel portion of the shoe (see FIGS. 1 and 2). However, with these devices, the amount that a person's height can be raised is limited to only a small amount.
Accordingly, there is a need for a device that can significantly increase the apparent height of a person while concealing the height-enhancement feature of the shoe, and without raising only the heel portion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a footwear device that effectively increases the apparent height of a person while maintaining the normal contour of the shoe, thereby concealing the height-enhancing aspect of the footwear device, and making the appearance of the footwear device more acceptable. The concealment of the height-enhancing aspect of footwear device is especially attractive to men.
Also, the present invention can be used as an orthopedic device to in order to compensate for uneven leg lengths.
One embodiment of the invention comprises an inner sole that is inserted into an ordinary shoe so as to raise the position in which the foot rests inside the shoe relative to the ground. Another embodiment of the invention comprises a shoe that has an elongated forefoot and an enhanced inner sole, and an inner sole insert that is positioned in the elongated shoe so to thereby raise the position in which the foot rests inside the shoe.
Other aspects of the invention aspects of the invention are disclosed infra.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in view of the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, of which:
FIGS. 1A and 1B show the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows an alternative application of the present invention.
FIGS. 3A and 3B show an alternative application of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT

The present invention will be described herein with reference to an illustrative embodiment.
The height enhancing device and footwear 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention is schematically illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B. FIG. 1A shows the shoe portion 20 of the device 10. As shown therein, the shoe portion 20 comprises a sole 30, a heel 40, and a collar 50. As shown in FIG. 1B, the device 10 includes a height-enhancing insole insert 60 positioned inside of the shoe portion 20. The height-enhancing insole 60 has a substantially constant thickness that generally follows the contour of the sole 30 and extends along substantially the entire length of the sole 30. Alternatively, the height of the height-enhancing insole can be tapered so as to decrease gradually from the heel portion to the forefoot.
The height-enhancing insole 60 can be built into the shoe portion 20, or can be a separate piece that is inserted into a regular shoe. The thickness of the height-enhancing insole 60 can be any desired height. A height of approximately one inch provides substantial height enhancement without substantially increasing the length or height of the shoe. In the tapered height-enhancing insole 60, the height of the height-enhancing insole 60 can decrease to approximately ¾ inches in the forefoot area. The height-enhancing insole 60 can be made of any soft material that can support the weight of the user without substantially losing its shape, such as rubber, foam, plastic, or cork. Ideally, the material is light, flexible, and shock-absorbent.
As shown in FIG. 1B, the length of the shoe 20 is slightly longer than the length of regular shoe size of the user of the device. In the above example, when the height-enhancing insole is approximately one inch, the length of the shoe 20 is approximately ¾ inch longer than the shoe size of the user of the device. Also, because the height-enhancing insole 60 raises the foot approximately one inch higher than the original insole of the shoe, the foot may have a tendency to slip out of the shoe. In order to prevent this, the collar 50 can be raised slightly, for example, by approximately ¼ inch.
FIG. 2 shows the present invention applied to a female shoe. As shown in FIG. 2, the shoe portion 120 of the height enhancing device and footwear 100 comprises a sole 130, a heel 140, and a collar 150. The device 100 also includes a height-enhancing insole insert 160 positioned inside of the shoe portion 120. The height-enhancing insole 160 has a substantially constant thickness that generally follows the contour of the sole 130 and extends along substantially the entire length of the sole 130. Alternatively, the height of the height-enhancing insole 160 can be tapered so as to decrease gradually from the heel portion to the forefoot. The height-enhancing insole 160 can be built into the shoe portion 120, or can be a separate piece that is inserted into a regular shoe.
The thickness of the height-enhancing insole 160 can be any desired height. A height of approximately one inch provides substantial height enhancement without substantially increasing the length or height of the shoe. In the tapered height-enhancing insole 160, the height of the height-enhancing insole 160 can decrease to approximately ¾ inches in the forefoot area.
Because the height-enhancing insole 160 raises the foot approximately one inch higher than the original insole of the shoe, the foot may have a tendency to slip out of the shoe. In order to prevent this, the collar 150 can be raised slightly, for example approximately ¼ inch.
The height-enhancing insole 160 can be made of any soft material that can support the weight of the user without substantially losing its shape, such as cork rubber, foam, plastic, or cork. Ideally, the material is light, flexible, and shock-absorbent.
As shown in FIG. 2, the length of the shoe 120 is slightly longer than the length of regular shoe size of the user of the device. In the above example, when the height-enhancing insole is approximately one inch, the length of the shoe 120 is approximately ¾ inch longer than the shoe size of the user of the device.
FIGS. 3A and 3B show the present invention applied to a male shoe. As shown in FIG. 3A, the shoe portion 220 of the height enhancing device and footwear 200 comprises a sole 230, a heel 240, and a collar 250. As shown in FIG. 3B, the device 200 includes a height-enhancing insole insert 260 positioned inside of the shoe portion 220. The height-enhancing insole 260 has a substantially constant thickness that generally follows the contour of the sole 230 and extends along substantially the entire length of the sole 230. Alternatively, the height of the height-enhancing insole 260 can be tapered so as to decrease gradually from the heel portion to the forefoot. The height-enhancing insole 260 can be built into the shoe portion 220, or can be a separate piece that is inserted into a regular shoe.
The thickness of the height-enhancing insole 260 can be any desired height. A height of approximately one inch provides substantial height enhancement without substantially increasing the length or height of the shoe. In the tapered height-enhancing insole 260, the height of the height-enhancing insole 260 can decrease to approximately ¾ inches in the forefoot area.
As shown in FIG. 3B, the length of the shoe 220 is slightly longer than the length of regular shoe size of the user of the device. In the above example, when the height-enhancing insole is approximately one inch, the length of the shoe 220 is approximately 1 inch longer than the shoe size of the user of the device.
Also, because the height-enhancing insole 260 raises the foot approximately one inch higher than the original insole of the shoe, the foot may have a tendency to slip out of the shoe 220. In order to prevent this, the collar 250 can be raised slightly, for example approximately ¼ inch.
The height-enhancing insole 260 can be made of any soft material that can support the weight of the user without substantially losing its shape, such as rubber, foam, plastic, or cork. Ideally, the material is light, flexible, and shock-absorbent.
Therefore, the present invention provides a device that effectively increases the apparent height of a person while maintaining the normal contour of the shoe, thereby concealing the height-enhancing aspect of the shoe, thereby making the appearance of the shoe more acceptable, especially to men. Also, the present invention can be used as an orthopedic device to compensate for uneven leg lengths. For example, the sums of the leg lengths and shoe heights for both legs are made approximately equal.
One embodiment of the invention comprises an inner sole that is inserted into an ordinary shoe so as to raise the position in which the foot rests inside the shoe relative to the ground. Another embodiment of the invention comprises a shoe that has an elongated forefoot and an enhanced inner sole, and an inner sole that is inserted into the enhanced shoe so to thereby raise the position in which the foot rests inside the shoe.
Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to exemplary embodiments thereof, various other changes, additions and omissions in the form and detail thereof may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A height enhancing device for a shoe comprising:

a height-enhancing insole that is insertable into footwear so as to raise the user of the footwear relative to the footwear, wherein the height of the height-enhancing insole follows the contour of a sole of the footwear, has a substantially constant thickness, and extends along substantially the entire length of the sole.

2. Footwear for height enhancement comprising:

a sole;

a heel;

a collar; and

a height-enhancing insole insert positioned inside of said footwear, wherein the height-enhancing insole has a substantially constant thickness, generally follows the contour of the sole, and extends along substantially the entire length of the sole.

3. The height-enhancing device of claim 1, wherein the height-enhancing insole is tapered so as to decrease gradually from the heel portion to the forefoot.

4. The footwear of claim 2, wherein the height-enhancing insole is tapered so as to decrease gradually from the heel portion to the forefoot.

5. The height-enhancing device of claim 1, wherein said height-enhancing insole is made of a material selected from the list comprising rubber, foam, plastic, and cork.

6. The footwear of claim 2, wherein said height-enhancing insole is made of a material selected from the list comprising rubber, foam, plastic, and cork.

7. The height-enhancing device of claim 1, wherein the height-enhancing insole is approximately one inch in height.

8. The footwear of claim 2, wherein the height-enhancing insole is approximately one inch in height.

9. The height-enhancing device of claim 1, wherein the height-enhancing insole is used as an orthopedic device in order to compensate for uneven leg lengths.

10. The footwear of claim 2, wherein the height-enhancing insole is used as an orthopedic device in order to compensate for uneven leg lengths.