One-piece shoe insert for preserving and restoring the shape of pointed toe boxes

Abstract

A one-piece, triangular shoe insert for use in pointed-toe shoes where the toe box extends beyond the tips of the toes. The insert is small enough to fit into a toe box of a pointed toe shoe and not cram the toes. The insert is large enough so that the insert remains in place within a pointed toe box due to friction. The insert is made of a dense but resilient material, so that it also remains in place within a toe box due to expansion of the material against the surface of the interior, curved underside of the toe box. The insert may remain in a shoe for the life of a shoe, or it may be removed by wedging one's index finger or a blunt object such as a flat-edge screwdriver underneath the insert and pulling it out. Upon removal from a shoe, the resilient material from which the one-piece insert is made springs back to its original shape, and the one-piece insert may be reused.

Claims

1. A one-piece shoe insert comprising: a pre-sized and substantially triangular body formed of foam, said body having a convex topside, an underside, and a base which is vertical to said underside, said underside having a width of about 3.00 cm, said base having a height of about 1.75 cm, said convex topside having a length of about 2.25 cm, the body formed to fit within the distal toe region of a pointed-toe shoe.

2. The one-piece shoe insert of claim 1, said foam having a durometer. of between 25 and 50 Shore C.

3. The one-piece shoe insert of claim 2, said foam having a durometer of 37 Shore C.

4. The one-piece shoe insert of claim 1, said convex topside having a rounded tip.

5. The one-piece shoe insert of claim 2, said body preserves the shape of said distal toe region of a pointed-toe shoe.

6. The one-piece shoe insert of claim 2, said body restores the shape of said distal toe region of a pointed-toe shoe.

Description

DRAWINGSFIGURES

(1) FIG. 1 is a top view perspective of a pointed-toe shoe with a one-piece shoe insert and the toes shown in phantom inside the toe box.

(2) FIG. 2 is an interior perspective of a shoe that shows the base of the insert when an insert is in place in the toe box section of a shoe.

(3) FIGS. 3a and 3b show a top and side view, respectively, of the insert where the base is straight in accordance with one embodiment.

(4) FIGS. 4a and 4b show a top and side view, respectively, of the insert where the base is concave in accordance with another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(5) FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment (top view of shoe with insert and toes shown in phantom). The insert (11) remains in place within the shoe due to friction and expansion of the material against the interior of toe box (13). The embodiment in this figure has a flat (straight) base (12). The insert (11) fills the toe box (13) cavity but is small enough so that it does not crowd the toes. If the distal part of the toes (14) do come into contact with the base of the insert (11), the insert can be trimmed with scissors.

(6) FIG. 2 is an interior perspective of the toe box (13) which shows the base of the insert (12) when the insert fills the toe box (13). The top of the insert (12) is slightly rounded where it comes into contact with the inside upper portion and sides of the toe box (13).

(7) OperationFIGS. 1 and 2

(8) To place the insert into the toe box of a pointed toe shoe, one can choose either the left or right shoe to begin. Because the pointed toe box of a shoe extends beyond the toes, it is not designed or manufactured to fit the contours of either the right or left foot. The one-piece pointed toe shoe shape preserver and restorer is shaped to fit into this section of a pointed toe shoe, so it follows that the pair of inserts would be identical in shape and size.

(9) The user takes in one hand a pointed toe shoe and holds the toe box section so that the underside of that portion of the shoe sits in the palm of the hand. One firmly grasps the toe box and squeezes it so the toe box opens up and the top of the shoe becomes convex. One then picks up an insert with the opposite hand, lightly holding it between the thumb and index finger. Holding the insert so that the flat underside of the insert that is to come into contact with the bottom interior of a shoe faces this part of a shoe, one directs the curved pointed end of the insert into the pointed end of the toe box. Because the insert is meant to stay in place within the toe box due to friction and the expansion of the resilient material of which it is made, the user pushes against the base of the inert; this action facilitates its moving up into the toe box as far as it can be pushed. One continues to squeeze the toe box open until the insert cannot be pushed up any further into the toe box. At this point, the user stops squeezing the toe box, and the insert is in place.

(10) If a shoe has been previously worn, and the toe box had become deformed, the insert will now be exerting slight pressure outward, pushing the once deformed, flattened, or bent material of the shoe in the toe box area up and outward, restoring the full, rounded shape that the pointed toe box had upon purchase. If the leather or other material of which the shoe was worn so often that creases formed in the pointed to section, the line that creases form might remain after an insert is wedged into the shoe, but the section where the crease is will no longer be bent; it will be full and more aesthetically pleasing.

(11) The insert will remain in the shoe until it is manually removed. To remove the insert, one grasps the toe box of the shoe as one did when inserting it. Simultaneously squeezing the toe box to open it up and shaking the shoe on a vertical plane might be enough to shake the insert out of the toe box. If the insert remains inside of the toe box, one can continue to squeeze the toe box open and either remove the insert by wedging one's index finger underneath the insert at its base and pulling it out. The user can also use a small, blunt instrument such as a flat edge screwdriver to perform this same action. A used pair of inserts can be used in another pair of shoes.

(12) FIGS. 3a and 3b show one embodiment of the insert (11) from two perspectives: FIG. 3a shows a top view of the insert (11), and FIG. 3b shows a side view of the insert (11). In this embodiment, the widest end of the insert (12) is straight across. The topside of the insert (15), FIG. 3b, is a rounded triangular shape and gradually increases in height from the slightly rounded tip to the top of the base (12) where it comes into contact with the curved interior of the toe box. The underside of the insert (16), FIG. 3b, is flat. The length of the topside from tip to base (12) measures roughly 2.25 cm. The width of the underside of the insert (11) at its widest part measures roughly 3.00 cm. The height of the insert at its base (12) the measures roughly 1.75 cm.

(13) These measurements allow the insert to squeeze far enough into a the toe box so that it remains in place due to friction and to be far enough up into the toe box so that the user's toes are not crammed against the insert (11). That said, the measurements of the base (12) could be slightly smaller so that no trimming of the insert (11) is needed. Likewise, the inserts could be made slightly longer and wider in order to accommodate shoes with larger pointed toe boxes.

(14) In one embodiment, the insert is made of open cell polyurethane foam. Compared to other foams, open cell polyurethane foam is resilient, energy absorbing, and high strength. Polyurethane foam is an elastomer. Elastomers are elastic, which means they can be stretched or compressed but will return to their original shape.

(15) The polyurethane foam base material is an off-white color; therefore, it can be mixed with pigments or dyes so that the inserts are made in aesthetically pleasing colors when sold in commerce. The foam base material and pigment are mixed in a Reaction Injection Molding (RIM) machine. Then the mixture is injected into the cavities of a solid mold wherein each cavity forms the shape of the insert (11). The polyurethane foam is allowed to cure (harden). The solid mold would then be dismantled, and the inserts either fall out of the mold or are pulled out of the mold cavities if necessary. The polyurethane foam forms a thin skin as it is curing, which gives the insert a nice, aesthetic sheen. Also, the insert is smooth and does not visibly contain holes as some foams do. Furthermore, the insert is one-piece, and the material is homogenous throughout. At this point, the insert (11) is immediately usable and ready for sale.

(16) The cured polyurethane foam is dense enough so that the insert (11) can be compressed within the toe box (13) of a shoe and remain in place due to friction and the expansion of the material against the interior of the toe box. Therefore, adhesives on any surface of the insert are not required. Also, the density of the material allows the insert to withhold the full shape that the toe box has when a shoe is new; likewise, it can restore the shape of already worn and deformed shoes. If the tips of the toes come into contact with the insert, the insert can be trimmed with scissors. The cured polyurethane foam, using a Shore C scale, has a durometer of 25-30 C to roughly 35-40 C or slightly less than 45-50 C. An insert with the durometer measurement of 45-50 C or higher may not be suitable because if the toes do come into contact with it while the user is walking, it does not yield and may cram the toes. That said, an insert (11) with a durometer of 45-50 C can be cut with scissors.

(17) Polyurethane foam with Shore durometer readings from 25-30 C to roughly 35-40 C or slightly less than 45-50 C is not malleable, nor does it permanently take on the shape of whatever it is compressed against. When removed from a shoe, the one-piece insert (11) would have the same shape it had upon purchase, although it might look worn or be marked with color from leather dye. The ability of the insert (11) to perform its function will not have been impaired. Thus, a pair of used inserts could be used in another pair of shoes.

(18) Another material from which the one-piece insert (11) can be made is a neoprene blend closed cell foam. A neoprene blend with a durometer of Shore C of roughly 15-20 C would be resilient, non-malleable, and dense enough to withhold the shape of the pointed toe box for the life of a pair of shoes. Likewise, one-piece insert made of a silicone gel with a Shore 00 durometer of 30 could be cut with scissors, yield to the toes if contact between the insert and the toes occurs, and would remain in place within a pointed toe box when the measurements are such that the insert is at least as large as the toe box it is going to support.

(19) It is understood that other materials that provide adequate resilience, density, ability to be trimmed with scissors, and supportive function can also be used such as such as foam rubber, rubber, and soft plastics.

(20) FIGS. 4a and 4b illustrate another embodiment where the base (12) of the insert (11) is concave. FIG. 4a is a top view of the one-piece insert (11), and FIG. 4b is an angled side view of the insert (11). Both figures show the concave base. A concave base (12) would provide slightly more space between the tips of the toes and the base (12) of the insert than would an insert with a flat base (FIG. 3a). However, this concave shape at the base (12) would not affect the supportive function of the insert because the loss of material is not significant. Also, because more room for the toes exists within the toe box, there would probably be no need to trim the insert with scissors.

(21) FIG. 4b shows the increase in height of the topside (15) from tip to base (12). FIG. 4b also shows that the underside (16) is flat.

(22) Advantages

(23) From the description above, a number of advantages of the embodiments of my one-piece shoe insert become evident: a) The rough measurements enable the insert to be held in place within a toe box of a pointed toe shoe by friction. b) The density and resiliency of the material allow the one-piece insert to remain in place within a toe box due to compression of the material against the interior, curved portion of a pointed toe box. c) Because the insert is held in place by friction and compression against the interior of the distal end of the toe box, it does not require adhesives to hold it in place. d) The insert can be removed by squeezing the toe box or by inserting a blunt instrument or one's index finger under the base (12). Therefore, a tab or similar addition to the insert that the user would pull on to remove the insert does not need to be manufactured or designed into the insert. e) The material is resilient enough so that even when it is housed within a toe box and compressed upon when the user walks, upon removal from a shoe, the insert springs back into its original dimensions and can be reused. f) The insert is dense enough so that it preserves the aesthetic shape a pointed toe box had upon purchase without the incorporation of reinforcing materials to ensure that it performs its function. g) The insert is made in using one mold, which keeps the cost of what should be an inexpensive purchase low.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

(24) Accordingly, the reader will see that my one-piece shoe insert of several embodiments is easy to insert into and remove from a shoe, does not crowd the toes, can remain in a shoe for its life and continue to fulfill its function, and if removed from one pair of shoes, can be used in another pair.

(25) Furthermore, my one-piece shoe insert has additional advantages: The material is resilient enough so that it springs back into its original shape upon removal from a shoe even if the insert has been housed within a toe box and been compressed upon when a user walks; The insert is dense enough to withhold and support the aesthetic shape a toe box had upon purchase, or it can fill out a deformed toe box on an already worn shoe; The material can be mixed with pigments to make the one-piece insert aesthetically pleasing; The insert can be trimmed with scissors; The insert is made uniformly from one material and from one mold, thus reducing manufacturing costs; The insert remains in place within a shoe due to friction and expansion of the material against interior of the toe box and without adhesives.

(26) Although the description above contains several specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments. For example, the insert can have other shapes, such as rounded to fit into round-toed shoes, or square or rectangular to fit into square-toed shoes.

(27) Thus the scope of the embodiments should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.