US20100251568A1 - Footwear insert - Google Patents
Footwear insert Download PDFInfo
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- US20100251568A1 US20100251568A1 US12/753,025 US75302510A US2010251568A1 US 20100251568 A1 US20100251568 A1 US 20100251568A1 US 75302510 A US75302510 A US 75302510A US 2010251568 A1 US2010251568 A1 US 2010251568A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- footwear
- foot
- brace
- metatarsal
- insert
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B17/00—Insoles for insertion, e.g. footbeds or inlays, for attachment to the shoe after the upper has been joined
- A43B17/18—Arrangements for attaching removable insoles to footwear
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B1/00—Footwear characterised by the material
- A43B1/0045—Footwear characterised by the material made at least partially of deodorant means
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B17/00—Insoles for insertion, e.g. footbeds or inlays, for attachment to the shoe after the upper has been joined
- A43B17/10—Insoles for insertion, e.g. footbeds or inlays, for attachment to the shoe after the upper has been joined specially adapted for sweaty feet; waterproof
- A43B17/102—Moisture absorbing socks; Moisture dissipating socks
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
- A43B7/14—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
- A43B7/14—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts
- A43B7/1405—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form
- A43B7/1415—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot
- A43B7/1445—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot situated under the midfoot, i.e. the second, third or fourth metatarsal
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
- A43B7/14—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts
- A43B7/1405—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form
- A43B7/1415—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot
- A43B7/145—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot situated under the toes, i.e. the phalanges
Definitions
- Embodiments herein relate to the field of footwear, and, more specifically, to orthotic insoles for use as footwear inserts.
- Footwear comes in a wide variety of sizes and shapes.
- footwear is widest where the ball of the foot rests and includes a generally tapered section ending in a rounded, pointed, or open-toed portion at the front of the footwear.
- the tapered section and/or the front portion may produce an unwanted effect on the foot of a user.
- the foot will have a tendency to slide forward. This tendency may be resisted by a wedging effect of the user's foot into the tapered section of the footwear or by contact with the front of the footwear. This wedging effect and/or contact may force the tarsals, metatarsals, and/or phalanges of the user out of alignment and result in pain or discomfort. Additionally, such a wedging effect may result in higher impulsive loads on the musculoskeletal system due a majority of a user's weight being supported by a smaller surface area of the foot. User actions may also result in or contribute to misalignment. For example, running, walking, jumping, or other means of movement may force the foot into the front portion of the footwear.
- FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a shoe insert, in accordance with various embodiments
- FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of a shoe insert, in accordance with various embodiments
- FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of a shoe insert, in accordance with various embodiments
- FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of a shoe insert, in accordance with various embodiments.
- FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of a shoe insert, in accordance with various embodiments.
- Coupled may mean that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact. However, “coupled” may also mean that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other, but yet still cooperate or interact with each other.
- a phrase in the form “A/B” or in the form “A and/or B” means (A), (B), or (A and B).
- a phrase in the form “at least one of A, B, and C” means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B and C).
- a phrase in the form “(A)B” means (B) or (AB) that is, A is an optional element.
- the footwear insert may include a brace portion that comprises a first side configured to engage a side wall of the footwear to generate a brace force, and a metatarsal portion coupled to the brace portion via a bridge, wherein the metatarsal portion is configured to transfer the brace force to a metatarsal edge of a foot to reduce a tendency of the foot to move toward a front portion of the footwear.
- an insole may be endowed with one or more components of the disclosed apparatuses and may be employed to perform one or more methods as disclosed herein.
- FIG. 1 provides a diagram of a user's foot 102 having toes 104 placed in assembly 100 , which comprises footwear 106 and insert 108 .
- footwear 106 is illustrated as a high-heeled shoe, however, the invention is not to be limited in this regard.
- the teachings of this disclosure may be practiced with a wide variety of footwear, for example, a sandal as illustrated in FIG. 4 .
- the term shoe or footwear may be utilized throughout the remainder of this disclosure. The two terms may be used interchangeably and are not meant to be construed in a limiting fashion.
- a shoe may be used to refer to a boot, a high-heel, a tennis shoe, or any other footwear.
- the assembly 100 further includes a shoe insert 108 , in accordance with various embodiments.
- the shoe insert 108 may have multiple sections including, but not limited to, a brace portion 110 , a bridge portion 114 , and a metatarsal pad 112 .
- shoe insert 108 may comprise fewer sections.
- shoe insert 108 may consist merely of a metatarsal pad 112 configured to couple to shoe 106 and provide support.
- the metatarsal pad 112 may be configured with a width that enables the metatarsal pad 112 to generate a bracing force via engagement with one or more sidewalls of the shoe.
- the metatarsal pad may include an adhesive or other means for generating a bracing force that generally resists a tendency of a user's foot to move toward a forward portion of the shoe.
- the shoe insert 108 may be integral to footwear 108 , such that the footwear is manufactured with the shoe insert fixedly attached. In other embodiments, the shoe insert 108 may be manufactured independent of footwear and configured to couple to footwear 106 as will be discussed in further detail below.
- Shoe insert 300 may consist of a variety of materials suitable for use as a shoe insert.
- shoe insert 300 may comprise silicon, foam, rubber, or other resilient materials capable of providing flexible support under pressure for various periods of time.
- shoe insert 300 may comprise rigid materials including various plastics.
- shoe insert 300 may comprise more than one material.
- brace portion 310 may comprise a first material
- bridge portion 314 may comprise a second material
- metatarsal pad 312 may comprise a third material.
- the metatarsal pad 312 and the brace portion 310 may comprise the same material while the bridge portion 314 comprises a different material.
- assembly 300 may be configured to interact interchangeably with right and left feet, or include one or more curvatures configured to interact with either a right or a left foot of a user, thereby requiring two distinct footwear insoles.
- a curvature of brace portion 310 and metatarsal pad 312 may be configured to follow a natural curvature of a user's left foot.
- a curvature of brace portion 110 and metatarsal pad 112 may be configured in such a manner as to be used in either a shoe configured for a right foot or alternatively configured for a left foot. In various embodiments this may entail having a curvature of substantially constant radius.
- the curvature may comprise a varying radius while still enabling interchangeable use, or include a generally consistent radius, but be capable of conforming to a user's right or left foot based on pressure.
- assembly 300 includes a brace portion 310 .
- brace portion 310 may include a first side and a second side.
- the first side may be configured to engage a side wall of the footwear, and the second side may be configured to engage one or more toes of the foot.
- the first side may be configured to interact with a tapered portion and/or a front portion of footwear. Such contact is illustrated in FIG. 2 with shoe insert 108 disposed within shoe 106 such that the first side or front of brace portion 110 contacts the forward most portion of shoe 106 .
- the first side of the brace portion 110 may work in conjunction with another side to generate a wedging effect.
- the wedging effect may be the brace force utilized to prevent or reduce the tendency of the foot to slide towards the front portion of the footwear. This may be utilized, for example, in shoes that do not include a forward portion, such as open-toed high heels or sandals.
- the brace force may be generated by the brace portion 110 wedged between a right side and a left side wall of the footwear 106 .
- the brace portion 110 may be configured to span a width of the footwear 106 to engage the left and right side of the footwear.
- the brace portion 110 may conform to the shape of the footwear 106 .
- the brace portion 310 may have a height that enables contact with an upper roof portion of the footwear. Interaction of the brace portion 310 with the upper roof portion of the footwear may increase the brace force generated by the brace portion.
- the first side brace portion 310 may be configured to substantially imitate a curvature of a front portion of footwear.
- the front side of brace portion 310 may be configured with no curvature such that brace portion 310 relies on contact with the side of the inner walls of shoe 106 for correct positioning.
- the front side of brace portion 310 may be a malleable material capable of shaping to the front portion of footwear by pressure. In other words, the front side of brace portion 310 may form to the front portion of footwear via applied pressure.
- the brace portion 310 may also include a second side configured to engage one or more toes of a user.
- the second side, or bridge side of brace portion 310 may comprise a curvature configured for the foot of a user.
- the second side or bridge side of brace portion 310 denoting the side of brace portion 310 proximate to bridge portion 314 .
- the curved portion may be configured to provide room for a natural curvature of a user's foot. In various embodiments this may entail a curvature of constant radius, while in other embodiments the curvature may have a non-constant radius.
- the second side of brace portion 310 may be configured with individual indentations for a user's toes. Those of ordinary skill in the art will readily understand that various other embodiments are possible and contemplated.
- assembly 300 may also include bridge portion 314 .
- bridge portion 314 may be configured to couple the brace portion 310 to metatarsal pad 312 .
- bridge portion 314 may be a non-flexible material configured to provide a constant spacing between brace portion 310 to metatarsal pad 312 .
- the bridge portion may comprise a flexible material that serves merely to couple the brace portion 310 to metatarsal pad 312 .
- a flexible bridge portion 314 may be configured to stretch and shrink. Accordingly, the bridge portion 314 may be configured to adjust the spacing between the brace portion 310 and the metatarsal pad 312 .
- the bridge portion 314 may comprise, leather, cloth, silicon, or other materials, and be configured to engage a bottom wall of the shoe.
- the bridge portion 314 may include an adhesive configured to engage the bottom wall of the footwear.
- Assembly 300 may also include a metatarsal portion 312 , in accordance with various embodiments.
- Metatarsal portion 312 may be configured to provide support to a user's foot in one or more directions.
- metatarsal portion 312 may prevent a user's foot from sliding or moving into a front portion of shoe 106 by providing a brace against the ball of a user's foot.
- the brace against the ball of the user's foot may be in the form of a crest that conforms to the metatarsal edge of a user's foot and provides support to one or more toes of the user.
- the metatarsal portion 312 may provide support for a user's foot by conforming to a natural arch of the metatarsal bones.
- metatarsal portion 312 may comprise a curvature of constant radius, or alternatively of non-constant radius.
- the curvature of the metatarsal pad 312 may be designed for specific users.
- the curvature and/or placement of the metatarsal portion 312 may be configured to facilitate support of a user's foot.
- the metatarsal portion 312 may also provide support to one or more toes of the user.
- the crest may facilitate support for a natural curvature of a user's phalanges and/or include one or more indentations 318 configured for the toes of the user.
- each portion, 310 , 314 , and 312 may be varied to account for different footwear, users, or activities.
- the length of bridge portion 314 may be varied to account for shoes which are larger than desired. In one example, this may enable the purchase of shoes that are larger than necessary, thereby allowing a user to grow into the shoes without the need for repetitive purchases.
- assembly 300 may include odor absorbent, moisture absorbent, and/or materials impregnated with anti-bacterial compounds.
- an apparatus comprising a metatarsal pad configured to resist movement of a user's foot into a tapered portion of footwear has been shown and described.
Abstract
In accordance with various embodiments, a footwear insert is disclosed. The footwear insert may include one or more portions configured to generally prevent a foot of a user from sliding or moving toward a forward portion of the footwear. The one or more portions may be endowed with one or more characteristics that benefit the foot of a user.
Description
- The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/166,199, filed Apr. 2, 2009, the entire specification of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes, except for those sections, if any, that are inconsistent with this specification.
- Embodiments herein relate to the field of footwear, and, more specifically, to orthotic insoles for use as footwear inserts.
- Footwear comes in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. Typically, footwear is widest where the ball of the foot rests and includes a generally tapered section ending in a rounded, pointed, or open-toed portion at the front of the footwear. Depending upon the various characteristics of a particular piece of footwear or the actions performed in the footwear, the tapered section and/or the front portion may produce an unwanted effect on the foot of a user.
- For example, by raising the heel of a user higher than that of their natural foot angle, in the case of a high-heel or boot, the foot will have a tendency to slide forward. This tendency may be resisted by a wedging effect of the user's foot into the tapered section of the footwear or by contact with the front of the footwear. This wedging effect and/or contact may force the tarsals, metatarsals, and/or phalanges of the user out of alignment and result in pain or discomfort. Additionally, such a wedging effect may result in higher impulsive loads on the musculoskeletal system due a majority of a user's weight being supported by a smaller surface area of the foot. User actions may also result in or contribute to misalignment. For example, running, walking, jumping, or other means of movement may force the foot into the front portion of the footwear.
- Thus, it has been found that many of the issues relating to footwear and discomfort result from contact of a user's foot with a tapered portion or front portion of footwear.
- Embodiments will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings.
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FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a shoe insert, in accordance with various embodiments; -
FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of a shoe insert, in accordance with various embodiments; -
FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of a shoe insert, in accordance with various embodiments -
FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of a shoe insert, in accordance with various embodiments; and -
FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of a shoe insert, in accordance with various embodiments. - In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration embodiments that may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of embodiments is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
- Various operations may be described as multiple discrete operations in turn, in a manner that may be helpful in understanding embodiments; however, the order of description should not be construed to imply that these operations are order dependent.
- The description may use perspective-based descriptions such as up/down, back/front, and top/bottom. Such descriptions are merely used to facilitate the discussion and are not intended to restrict the application of disclosed embodiments.
- The terms “coupled” and “connected,” along with their derivatives, may be used. It should be understood that these terms are not intended as synonyms for each other. Rather, in particular embodiments, “connected” may be used to indicate that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact with each other. “Coupled” may mean that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact. However, “coupled” may also mean that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other, but yet still cooperate or interact with each other.
- For the purposes of the description, a phrase in the form “A/B” or in the form “A and/or B” means (A), (B), or (A and B). For the purposes of the description, a phrase in the form “at least one of A, B, and C” means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B and C). For the purposes of the description, a phrase in the form “(A)B” means (B) or (AB) that is, A is an optional element.
- The description may use the terms “embodiment” or “embodiments,” which may each refer to one or more of the same or different embodiments. Furthermore, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like, as used with respect to embodiments, are synonymous.
- In various embodiments, methods, apparatuses, and systems for preventing the overcrowding of feet within footwear are provided. In one embodiment, the footwear insert may include a brace portion that comprises a first side configured to engage a side wall of the footwear to generate a brace force, and a metatarsal portion coupled to the brace portion via a bridge, wherein the metatarsal portion is configured to transfer the brace force to a metatarsal edge of a foot to reduce a tendency of the foot to move toward a front portion of the footwear. In exemplary embodiments, an insole may be endowed with one or more components of the disclosed apparatuses and may be employed to perform one or more methods as disclosed herein.
- Reference is made to
FIG. 1 , which provides a diagram of a user'sfoot 102 havingtoes 104 placed inassembly 100, which comprisesfootwear 106 andinsert 108. In the embodiment,footwear 106 is illustrated as a high-heeled shoe, however, the invention is not to be limited in this regard. Those of ordinary skill in the art will readily understand that the teachings of this disclosure may be practiced with a wide variety of footwear, for example, a sandal as illustrated inFIG. 4 . Additionally, the term shoe or footwear may be utilized throughout the remainder of this disclosure. The two terms may be used interchangeably and are not meant to be construed in a limiting fashion. For example, a shoe may be used to refer to a boot, a high-heel, a tennis shoe, or any other footwear. - Referring back to
FIGS. 1 and 4 , theassembly 100 further includes ashoe insert 108, in accordance with various embodiments. Theshoe insert 108 may have multiple sections including, but not limited to, abrace portion 110, abridge portion 114, and ametatarsal pad 112. In various other embodiments,shoe insert 108 may comprise fewer sections. In one embodiment,shoe insert 108 may consist merely of ametatarsal pad 112 configured to couple toshoe 106 and provide support. Themetatarsal pad 112 may be configured with a width that enables themetatarsal pad 112 to generate a bracing force via engagement with one or more sidewalls of the shoe. Alternatively, the metatarsal pad may include an adhesive or other means for generating a bracing force that generally resists a tendency of a user's foot to move toward a forward portion of the shoe. - In various embodiments, the
shoe insert 108 may be integral tofootwear 108, such that the footwear is manufactured with the shoe insert fixedly attached. In other embodiments, theshoe insert 108 may be manufactured independent of footwear and configured to couple tofootwear 106 as will be discussed in further detail below. - With reference to
FIG. 3 , ashoe insert 300 is illustrated, in accordance with various embodiments.Shoe insert 300 may consist of a variety of materials suitable for use as a shoe insert. In various embodiments,shoe insert 300 may comprise silicon, foam, rubber, or other resilient materials capable of providing flexible support under pressure for various periods of time. In other embodiments,shoe insert 300 may comprise rigid materials including various plastics. In various other embodiments,shoe insert 300 may comprise more than one material. For example and with reference toFIG. 3 ,brace portion 310 may comprise a first material, bridge portion 314 may comprise a second material, andmetatarsal pad 312 may comprise a third material. Alternatively, themetatarsal pad 312 and thebrace portion 310 may comprise the same material while the bridge portion 314 comprises a different material. - In various embodiments,
assembly 300 may be configured to interact interchangeably with right and left feet, or include one or more curvatures configured to interact with either a right or a left foot of a user, thereby requiring two distinct footwear insoles. For example and with reference toFIG. 3 , a curvature ofbrace portion 310 andmetatarsal pad 312 may be configured to follow a natural curvature of a user's left foot. Alternatively, in various other embodiments, a curvature ofbrace portion 110 andmetatarsal pad 112 may be configured in such a manner as to be used in either a shoe configured for a right foot or alternatively configured for a left foot. In various embodiments this may entail having a curvature of substantially constant radius. In other embodiments the curvature may comprise a varying radius while still enabling interchangeable use, or include a generally consistent radius, but be capable of conforming to a user's right or left foot based on pressure. - As illustrated in
FIG. 3 ,assembly 300 includes abrace portion 310. In various embodiments,brace portion 310 may include a first side and a second side. The first side may be configured to engage a side wall of the footwear, and the second side may be configured to engage one or more toes of the foot. For example, the first side may be configured to interact with a tapered portion and/or a front portion of footwear. Such contact is illustrated inFIG. 2 withshoe insert 108 disposed withinshoe 106 such that the first side or front ofbrace portion 110 contacts the forward most portion ofshoe 106. - Referring to
FIGS. 4 and 5 , embodiments are illustrated in which the first side of thebrace portion 110 may work in conjunction with another side to generate a wedging effect. The wedging effect may be the brace force utilized to prevent or reduce the tendency of the foot to slide towards the front portion of the footwear. This may be utilized, for example, in shoes that do not include a forward portion, such as open-toed high heels or sandals. Thus, in various embodiments, the brace force may be generated by thebrace portion 110 wedged between a right side and a left side wall of thefootwear 106. Thebrace portion 110 may be configured to span a width of thefootwear 106 to engage the left and right side of the footwear. In various embodiments, thebrace portion 110 may conform to the shape of thefootwear 106. - Referring back to
FIG. 3 , in various embodiments, thebrace portion 310 may have a height that enables contact with an upper roof portion of the footwear. Interaction of thebrace portion 310 with the upper roof portion of the footwear may increase the brace force generated by the brace portion. In various embodiments, the firstside brace portion 310 may be configured to substantially imitate a curvature of a front portion of footwear. In other embodiments, the front side ofbrace portion 310 may be configured with no curvature such thatbrace portion 310 relies on contact with the side of the inner walls ofshoe 106 for correct positioning. In still other embodiments, the front side ofbrace portion 310 may be a malleable material capable of shaping to the front portion of footwear by pressure. In other words, the front side ofbrace portion 310 may form to the front portion of footwear via applied pressure. - In various embodiments, the
brace portion 310 may also include a second side configured to engage one or more toes of a user. The second side, or bridge side ofbrace portion 310 may comprise a curvature configured for the foot of a user. The second side or bridge side ofbrace portion 310 denoting the side ofbrace portion 310 proximate to bridge portion 314. In various embodiments, the curved portion may be configured to provide room for a natural curvature of a user's foot. In various embodiments this may entail a curvature of constant radius, while in other embodiments the curvature may have a non-constant radius. In various embodiments, the second side ofbrace portion 310 may be configured with individual indentations for a user's toes. Those of ordinary skill in the art will readily understand that various other embodiments are possible and contemplated. - Referring again to
FIG. 3 ,assembly 300 may also include bridge portion 314. In various embodiments, bridge portion 314 may be configured to couple thebrace portion 310 tometatarsal pad 312. In various embodiments, bridge portion 314 may be a non-flexible material configured to provide a constant spacing betweenbrace portion 310 tometatarsal pad 312. In other embodiments, the bridge portion may comprise a flexible material that serves merely to couple thebrace portion 310 tometatarsal pad 312. A flexible bridge portion 314 may be configured to stretch and shrink. Accordingly, the bridge portion 314 may be configured to adjust the spacing between thebrace portion 310 and themetatarsal pad 312. In various embodiments, the bridge portion 314 may comprise, leather, cloth, silicon, or other materials, and be configured to engage a bottom wall of the shoe. In various embodiments, the bridge portion 314 may include an adhesive configured to engage the bottom wall of the footwear. -
Assembly 300 may also include ametatarsal portion 312, in accordance with various embodiments.Metatarsal portion 312 may be configured to provide support to a user's foot in one or more directions. For example, in one embodiment,metatarsal portion 312 may prevent a user's foot from sliding or moving into a front portion ofshoe 106 by providing a brace against the ball of a user's foot. The brace against the ball of the user's foot may be in the form of a crest that conforms to the metatarsal edge of a user's foot and provides support to one or more toes of the user. For example, themetatarsal portion 312 may provide support for a user's foot by conforming to a natural arch of the metatarsal bones. In various embodiments,metatarsal portion 312 may comprise a curvature of constant radius, or alternatively of non-constant radius. In various embodiments, the curvature of themetatarsal pad 312 may be designed for specific users. In various embodiments, the curvature and/or placement of themetatarsal portion 312 may be configured to facilitate support of a user's foot. In various embodiments, themetatarsal portion 312 may also provide support to one or more toes of the user. For example, the crest may facilitate support for a natural curvature of a user's phalanges and/or include one ormore indentations 318 configured for the toes of the user. - With reference to
FIG. 3 andassembly 300, it is noted that various design characteristics of shoe insert may be varied without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In various embodiments, the length, height, and width of each portion, 310, 314, and 312 may be varied to account for different footwear, users, or activities. For example, the length of bridge portion 314 may be varied to account for shoes which are larger than desired. In one example, this may enable the purchase of shoes that are larger than necessary, thereby allowing a user to grow into the shoes without the need for repetitive purchases. - Other characteristics are also contemplated. For example, in various embodiments,
assembly 300 may include odor absorbent, moisture absorbent, and/or materials impregnated with anti-bacterial compounds. - Therefore, in various embodiments, an apparatus comprising a metatarsal pad configured to resist movement of a user's foot into a tapered portion of footwear has been shown and described.
- Although certain embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a wide variety of alternate and/or equivalent embodiments or implementations calculated to achieve the same purposes may be substituted for the embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope. Those with skill in the art will readily appreciate that embodiments may be implemented in a very wide variety of ways. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that embodiments be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.
Claims (12)
1. A footwear insert, comprising:
a brace portion that comprises a first side configured to engage a side wall of the footwear to generate a brace force; and
a metatarsal portion coupled to the brace portion via a bridge, wherein the metatarsal portion is configured to transfer the brace force to a metatarsal edge of a foot to reduce a tendency of the foot to move toward a front portion of the footwear.
2. The footwear insert of claim 1 , wherein the brace portion includes a second side configured to engage one or more toes of the foot.
3. The footwear insert of claim 1 , wherein the foot is a right foot or a left foot, and the brace portion further comprises a second side that has a curvature configured for the foot.
4. The footwear insert of claim 1 , wherein the side wall of the footwear is a forward portion of the footwear.
5. The footwear insert of claim 1 , wherein the brace force is generated by the brace portion wedged between a right side wall and a left side wall of the footwear.
6. The footwear insert of claim 1 , wherein the metatarsal portion is further configured to conform to the metatarsal edge of the foot.
7. The footwear insert of claim 1 , wherein the metatarsal portion includes one or more indentations configured to mate with one or more toes of the foot.
8. The footwear insert of claim 1 , wherein the bridge includes an adhesive configured to engage a bottom wall of the footwear.
9. The footwear insert of claim 1 wherein the bridge comprises a rigid material configured to provide a constant spacing between the brace portion and the metatarsal portion.
10. The footwear insert of claim 1 , wherein a length of the bridge is adjustable.
11. The footwear insert of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the brace portion, the metatarsal portion, or the bridge comprise an anti-bacterial compound.
12. The footwear insert of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the brace portion, the metatarsal portion, or the bridge include a moisture absorbent material.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US12/753,025 US20100251568A1 (en) | 2009-04-02 | 2010-04-01 | Footwear insert |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US16619909P | 2009-04-02 | 2009-04-02 | |
US12/753,025 US20100251568A1 (en) | 2009-04-02 | 2010-04-01 | Footwear insert |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20100251568A1 true US20100251568A1 (en) | 2010-10-07 |
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Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US12/753,025 Abandoned US20100251568A1 (en) | 2009-04-02 | 2010-04-01 | Footwear insert |
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Cited By (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP2013240644A (en) * | 2013-07-18 | 2013-12-05 | Murai:Kk | Forward slip preventive insole |
US20140068967A1 (en) * | 2012-09-10 | 2014-03-13 | Todd Jones | Footwear insert with foot stop |
US20140259754A1 (en) * | 2013-03-15 | 2014-09-18 | Cara Lustik | Removable Shoe Insert for Corrective Sizing |
US20150135553A1 (en) * | 2013-11-15 | 2015-05-21 | Mark Sturgis | Toe protection insert for an athletic shoe |
US9380833B2 (en) | 2012-07-12 | 2016-07-05 | Diana Irving | Shoe insert |
USD822970S1 (en) | 2013-05-13 | 2018-07-17 | Diana Irving | Shoe insert |
US10206457B2 (en) * | 2015-02-25 | 2019-02-19 | Christine Marie Reicker Dorosin | One-piece shoe insert for preserving and restoring the shape of pointed toe boxes |
US10595589B2 (en) | 2015-10-13 | 2020-03-24 | Stinaa & J Fashion Ab | Insole for high-heeled footwear |
US20210330021A1 (en) * | 2020-04-24 | 2021-10-28 | Ian Kenton Engelman | Foot Orthosis Having Sulcus Support and Methods for Making Same |
US20220378151A1 (en) * | 2021-05-31 | 2022-12-01 | Chadrian T. Johnson | Breathable ergonomic shoe insole |
US20230052232A1 (en) * | 2020-01-27 | 2023-02-16 | Spiral Turn Co., Ltd | Insole |
US11612215B1 (en) * | 2019-08-09 | 2023-03-28 | Diana Irving | Shoe insert assembly and related methods |
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US20070283598A1 (en) * | 2006-06-09 | 2007-12-13 | Kevin Levin Gray | Cushioning foot insert |
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US2810214A (en) * | 1955-11-17 | 1957-10-22 | Sheemon A Wolfe | Toe shield |
US5261169A (en) * | 1991-10-11 | 1993-11-16 | Advanced Polymer Systems, Inc. | System and method for deodorant delivery in footwear |
US6865759B2 (en) * | 1996-02-14 | 2005-03-15 | Edizone, Inc. | Cushions with non-intersecting-columnar elastomeric members exhibiting compression instability |
US5791069A (en) * | 1997-03-18 | 1998-08-11 | Oradesky; Walter Odysseus | Pointed toe shoe construction |
US20040103558A1 (en) * | 2001-03-26 | 2004-06-03 | Manfred Everz | Insole for shoes |
US6810603B1 (en) * | 2001-04-10 | 2004-11-02 | Anthony Cosentino | Toe pad for ballet dancers |
US7159342B2 (en) * | 2003-08-18 | 2007-01-09 | Schering-Plough Healthcare Products, Inc. | Ball of foot shoe inserts |
US7219448B2 (en) * | 2004-05-25 | 2007-05-22 | Taiwan Paiho Limited | Health promoting insole |
US20060210751A1 (en) * | 2005-03-17 | 2006-09-21 | Kathleen Cunningham | Adhesive pads for footwear |
US7827707B2 (en) * | 2006-04-05 | 2010-11-09 | Kdd Enterprises, Inc. | Memory foam shoe insert |
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Cited By (15)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US9380833B2 (en) | 2012-07-12 | 2016-07-05 | Diana Irving | Shoe insert |
US9974354B1 (en) | 2012-07-12 | 2018-05-22 | Diana Irving | Shoe insert |
US20140068967A1 (en) * | 2012-09-10 | 2014-03-13 | Todd Jones | Footwear insert with foot stop |
US20140259754A1 (en) * | 2013-03-15 | 2014-09-18 | Cara Lustik | Removable Shoe Insert for Corrective Sizing |
US9737111B2 (en) * | 2013-03-15 | 2017-08-22 | Cara Lustik | Removable shoe insert for corrective sizing |
USD822970S1 (en) | 2013-05-13 | 2018-07-17 | Diana Irving | Shoe insert |
JP2013240644A (en) * | 2013-07-18 | 2013-12-05 | Murai:Kk | Forward slip preventive insole |
US20150135553A1 (en) * | 2013-11-15 | 2015-05-21 | Mark Sturgis | Toe protection insert for an athletic shoe |
US10206457B2 (en) * | 2015-02-25 | 2019-02-19 | Christine Marie Reicker Dorosin | One-piece shoe insert for preserving and restoring the shape of pointed toe boxes |
US10595589B2 (en) | 2015-10-13 | 2020-03-24 | Stinaa & J Fashion Ab | Insole for high-heeled footwear |
US11612215B1 (en) * | 2019-08-09 | 2023-03-28 | Diana Irving | Shoe insert assembly and related methods |
US20230052232A1 (en) * | 2020-01-27 | 2023-02-16 | Spiral Turn Co., Ltd | Insole |
US20210330021A1 (en) * | 2020-04-24 | 2021-10-28 | Ian Kenton Engelman | Foot Orthosis Having Sulcus Support and Methods for Making Same |
US11758971B2 (en) * | 2020-04-24 | 2023-09-19 | Ian Kenton Engelman | Foot orthosis having sulcus support and methods for making same |
US20220378151A1 (en) * | 2021-05-31 | 2022-12-01 | Chadrian T. Johnson | Breathable ergonomic shoe insole |
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Legal Events
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STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
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