Removable shoe insert for corrective sizing

Abstract

A ball-of-foot type shoe insert has two regions with different compressibility characteristics, illustratively created by using polyurethane foam of difference densities, in a front region which, when the insert is positioned in a shoe, will underlie the toes of a wearer, and a rear region which, when positioned in a shoe, will underlie the ball of the foot. The front region is less compressible so that the toes in combination with the insert fill-up the toe box, thereby preventing the foot from sliding forward so that the anatomical heel of the wearer fits naturally in the heel of a shoe that is too big for the wearer.

Claims

1. A shoe insert comprising: a cover including a seam forming a front compartment and a rear compartment, the cover forming a front terminal end of the shoe insert and a rear terminal end of the shoe insert; a compressible first cellular polymer foam segment having a density and having top and bottom surfaces defined by a forward end, a rearward end and opposite side edges extending between the forward and rearward ends of the first cellular polymer foam segment, the first cellular polymer foam segment provided in the front compartment; a compressible second cellular polymer foam segment having a density and having top and bottom surfaces defined by a forward end, a rearward end and opposite side edges extending between the forward and rearward ends of the second cellular polymer foam segment, the second cellular polymer foam segment provided in the rear compartment, the forward end of the second cellular polymer foam segment being adjacent to the rearward end of the first cellular polymer foam segment, the rearward end of the second cellular polymer foam segment is spaced from the rearward end of the first cellular polymer foam segment, the density of the second cellular polymer foam segment is lower than the density of the first cellular polymer foam segment; wherein the first and second cellular polymer foam segments are compressed when engaged by a foot of a wearer, and wherein the first cellular polymer foam segment which, when positioned in a shoe, will underlie toes of the wearer and be positioned in front of the toes of the wearer to form a barrier between the toes of the wearer, and a toe box of the shoe, and the second cellular polymer foam segment which, when positioned in the shoe, will underlie a ball of the foot of the wearer, and wherein the rear terminal end does not extend past the ball of the foot of the wearer.

2. The shoe insert of claim 1, wherein the first cellular polymer foam segment is polyurethane and the second cellular polymer foam segment is polyurethane.

3. The shoe insert of claim 1, wherein the cover is formed of a knit material.

4. The shoe insert of claim 1, wherein the first and second cellular polymer foam segments are convex prior to engagement by the foot of the wearer, and the first and cellular polymer foam segments are compressed when engaged by the foot of the wearer.

5. The shoe insert of claim 4, wherein the cover covers the top and bottom surfaces of each of the first cellular polymer foam segment and the second cellular polymer foam segment.

6. The shoe insert of claim 1, wherein the cover covers the top and bottom surfaces of each of the first cellular polymer foam segment and the second cellular polymer foam segment.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) Comprehension of the invention is facilitated by reading the following detailed description, in conjunction with the annexed drawing, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is an isometric representation of a resilient compressible shoe insert constructed in accordance with the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-section of shoe insert of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is partially phantom and partially cross-sectional plan representation of a shoe insert in accordance with the present invention in use in a shoe with the foot of a wearer; and

(5) FIG. 4 is a partially phantom plan representation of a shoe with the foot of a wearer therein, but without the shoe insert of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) FIG. 1 is an isometric representation of a resilient compressible shoe insert 10 constructed in accordance with the invention. Shoe insert 10 is generically of the ball-of-foot type. That is, it is generally wedge-shaped and is configured to fit in the toe box of a shoe (not shown in this figure) underlying the area of the foot from the toes to the arch. The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is configured to fit into a pointed toe box, but it is within the contemplation of the invention to configure the insert to fit other toe box shapes, such as round toe and square toe. There is shown in this figure a convex body 13 having two distinct regions 11 and 12.

(7) FIG. 2 is cross-sectional representation of shoe insert 10 taken along longitudinal line 2-2′ of FIG. 1, and extending along both regions 11 and 12 of convex body 13. Elements of structure that have previously been discussed are similarly designated. As used herein, region 11 has a front portion 14 which, when positioned in a shoe (not shown in this figure), will underlie the toes (not shown in this figure). Region 12 has a rear portion 15 that will underlie the ball of the foot (not shown in this figure). As will be discussed below in connection with FIG. 3, regions 11 and 12 advantageously have, in accordance with the invention, different compression characteristics.

(8) In a specific illustrative embodiment, the shoe insert of the present invention is made from polyurethane foam. Polyurethane foam is readily available in a wide range of stiffness, hardness, and densities, and therefore, is an ideal material for use in the practice of the invention. However, it is to be understood that the insert can be fabricated from any other resilient and compressible material, such as other cellular polymer foams, that are known or developed in the art.

(9) The difference in compression characteristics of regions 11 and 12 result from the use of polyurethane foam segments of different densities in the two regions. Referring once again to FIG. 2, the polyurethane foam segments are housed within a unified body, or cover 17, that in this embodiment is a knit material, such as acrylic or nylon. The cover material preferably is stretchable so as to conform well to the shape of the insert irrespective of whether the insert is deformed, as in use, or not. In this specific embodiment, the unified body is divided into two chambers by stitching at a stitch line 16. The chamber defining region 12 contains a lower density foam segment 18, which is more flexible and compressible than the foam segment in region 11. The chamber defining region 11 contains a higher density foam segment 19 that is less compressible. Stitch line 16 is placed so that the chambers are separated from one another so that, in use, the region of higher density 19 will be positioned forward of the metatarsal region at the base of the toes (not shown in this figure).

(10) Referring to FIG. 3, it is seen that a shoe 20 includes a sole 21 and an upper 22. Sole 21 and upper 22 define the interior space of the shoe into which the foot inserted. The upper includes vamp 26 that overlies the top of the foot (above the toes). At the front 23 of the shoe, the sole and the vamp portion of the upper define the interior space of toe box 28. It is generally known that shoes are available with many toe box configurations, such as pointed, square, or rounded, and persons of skill in the art will readily understand that shoe insert 10 can be correspondingly configured. Rear portion 24 of shoe 20 includes, in this embodiment, a high heel 29 and a heel accommodation portion 31 that is configured to accommodate the back of the wearer's anatomical heel 33.

(11) Although a high heeled shoe is shown is this embodiment, it is contemplated that the shoe insert of the present invention would be useful for any type of closed-toe shoe, such as boots, pumps, flats, wedges, platforms, oxfords, athletic shoes, etc. The shoe insert of the present invention is particularly advantageous, however, for high heeled shoes where the foot tends to slide forward due to the elevation of the heel. This problem is illustrated in FIG. 4 which shows high heeled shoe 20 being worn by a person, whose foot and ankle bones are shown in phantom. In this depiction, shoe 20 is too large for the size of the wearer's foot and a gap 32 is formed between heel 31 of the shoe and anatomical heel 33 of the wearer. FIG. 4 also shows that the toes of the wearer have advanced forward into toe box 28, as represented by the arrow (not specifically designated).

(12) Referring once again to FIG. 3, insert 10 is shown in use in shoe 20. The insert underlies the ball of the foot (the metatarsal region) and the toes. Region 12, which underlies the ball (not specifically designated) of the foot, is flexible and compressible for comfort. The foot of the wearer is prevented from traveling forward into toe box 28 by insert 10, and specifically by denser region 11 which, in combination with the toes of the foot of the wearer, generally fills up the toe box. Advantageously, the force that is applied to keep the foot from sliding more deeply into the shoe is counteracted at the metatarsal region 35 rather than at the tips of the toes (not specifically designated). This is advantageous because the sliding weight of the wearer is supported by the rather robust metatarsal bones, in the region of the metatarsal-phalangeal joints, rather than the less robust phalanges. This results in greater comfort, and the foot is retained in a natural position so that heel 31 of the shoe is in natural alignment with anatomical heel 33 of the wearer. Thus, even though the shoe is too big for the wearer, there is no gap at the heel, such as that which is shown in FIG. 4, and the toes rest comfortably in the toe box.

(13) Although the invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments and applications, persons skilled in the art can, in light of this teaching, generate additional embodiments without exceeding the scope or departing from the spirit of the claimed invention. For example, the shoe-contacting surface of the insert can be coated with an adhesive to secure the insert in place. In the alternative, the shoe-contacting surface can be fabricated from a fabric, or other material, having a higher degree of friction than the foot-contacting surface of the insert. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the drawing and description in this disclosure are proffered to facilitate comprehension of the invention, and should not be construed to limit the scope thereof.