Abstract
A customizable arch support system for use in fashionable high heeled shoes, designed to provide superior configurability and comfort for the wearer. More particularly, the system provides configurability so that it will provide superior support and comfort for the wearer, while maintaining minimal cross section profile which causes less limitations for the shoe designer.
Claims
1. A customizable arch support system integrated into a shoe comprising: at least one shoe insole, at least one arch support insert, wherein said arch support insert is removably attached to said shoe insole using at least one fastening means.
2. A customizable arch support system integrated into a shoe as in claim 1, wherein said fastening means is comprised of at least one snap.
3. A customizable arch support system integrated into a shoe as in claim 1, wherein said fastening means is comprised of a hook and loop fastening system.
4. A customizable arch support system integrated into a shoe as in claim 1, further comprising: at least one shank, wherein said shank is encompassed within said shoe insole.
5. A customizable arch support system integrated into a show as in claim 4, wherein said shank is comprised of a rectangular metal bar.
6. A customizable arch support system integrated into a shoe as in claim 1, further comprising: at least one cover, wherein said cover is placed over said arch support insert.
7. A customizable arch support system integrated into a shoe as in claim 6, wherein said cover is comprised of a sheet of leather.
8. A customizable arch support system integrated into a shoe as in claim 6, wherein said cover is comprised of a sheet of synthetic fabric.
9. A customizable arch support system integrated into a shoe as in claim 1, further comprising: at least one cupped portion located under a wearer's heel.
10. A customizable arch support system integrated into a shoe as in claim 9, wherein said cupped portion is comprised of a polymer material.
11. A customizable arch support system integrated into a shoe as in claim 9, wherein said cupped portion is comprised of a gel material.
12. A customizable arch support system integrated into a shoe as in claim 1, further comprising at least one cushioning means under a ball of a wearer's foot.
13. A customizable arch support system integrated into a shoe as in claim 12, wherein said cushioning means is comprised of a gel material.
14. A customizable arch support system integrated into a shoe as in claim 12, wherein said cushioning means is comprised of a urethane foam material.
15. A customizable arch support system integrated into a shoe as in claim 12, wherein said cushioning means is comprised of a a combination of a gel material and a urethane foam material
16. A method of customizing the arch support in a shoe comprising the steps of: selecting an arch support insert closely matching a wearer's midfoot arch, fastening said arch support insert into the wearer's shoe, and placing a cover over the arch support insert.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The particular objects and features of the invention as well as the advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
[0022] FIG. 1 shows a top view of the shoe insole of the customizable arch support system.
[0023] FIG. 2 shows a top view of the cover or sock lining exposing the female snap-type fasteners attached to the insole of the customizable arch support system.
[0024] FIG. 3A is a top view of the arch support insert of the customizable arch support system.
[0025] FIG. 3B is a bottom view of the arch support insert of the customizable arch support system.
[0026] FIG. 3C is a side view of the arch support insert of the customizable arch support system.
[0027] FIG. 3D is an alternate side view of the arch support insert of the customizable arch support system.
[0028] FIG. 4 is a top view of the customizable arch support insert system with the arch support insert fastened to the shoe insole.
[0029] FIG. 5 is a cross section of the customizable arch support system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF BEST MODE AND PREFERED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0030] The foregoing and other objectives, features, and advantages of the invention will be more readily understood upon consideration of the following description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
[0031] Now referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a top view of one preferred embodiment of the shoe insole 100 of the customizable arch support system without an arch support insert attached, where the shoe insole 100 comprises at least one shank 108, where the shank 108 is encompassed within the shoe insole 100. The shank 108 is preferably configured and arranged so that it is imbedded and sandwiched between the layers of the shoe insole 100 of the customizable arch support system. Preferably the shank 108 is constructed from a metallic material, such as steel. Alternately preferably, the shank 108 may be constructed from aluminum. Alternately preferably, the shank 108 may be constructed form carbon fiber. Alternately preferably, the shank 108 may be constructed from reinforced fiberglass. Alternately preferably, the shank 108 may be constructed from injected molded plastic. Alternate material choices for the shank will be obvious to those skilled in the art.
[0032] The shoe insole 100 preferably has a cushioning material 102 affixed at the cushioning material's edges with beveled foam and adhesive 104 to the upper surface and positioned and configured so that it will be located under the ball of the wearer's foot when the shoe is on the wearer. Alternately preferably, the cushioning material 102 may be integrated into the customizable arch support system by sandwiching the cushioning material 102 between the layers that make up the shoe insole 100 of the customizable arch support system. Alternate cushioning materials will be obvious to those skilled in the art.
[0033] As further shown in FIG. 1, the shoe insole 100 of the customizable arch support system preferably further comprises an attachment means, preferably female half of snap fasteners 106 configured and arranged such that they are located under the arch area of the wearer's foot. Alternately preferably, the attachment means may be the male half of snap fasteners. Alternately preferably, the attachment means may be the loop half of a hook and loop fastener system, such as Velcro. Alternately preferably, the attachment means may be the hook half of a hook and loop fastener system, such as Velcro. Alternate attachment means will be obvious to those skilled in the art.
[0034] As further shown in FIG. 1, the shoe insole 100 of the customizable arch support system preferably further comprises at least one cupped portion 110 located under a wearer's heel. In this preferred embodiment said cupped portion 110 is comprised of a cushioning plastic or polymer material. In this preferred embodiment, said customizable arch support system further comprises at least one cushioning means 102 under a ball of a wearer's foot. In this preferred embodiment, said cushioning means 102 is comprised of a gel material. The cupped portion 110 preferably comprises a cupped heel segment having an upper area and a contoured section 112, which transitions between the upper area and the upper surface located under the wearer's heel. Preferably, the cupped portion 110 is constructed using gel or urethane foam. Alternately preferably, the cupped portion 110 is constructed using injection molded plastic material. Alternate material choices for the cupped portion 110 will be obvious to those skilled in the art.
[0035] As shown in FIG. 2, the shoe insole 200 of the customizable arch support system comprises a sock lining cover cut to expose the female half of the snap fasteners, but without an arch support insert attached. In this preferred embodiment, the lower surface of the female half of snap fasteners 206 are configured and arranged such that they are located under the arch area of the wearer's foot, and further extend from the upper surface to the lower surface of the shoe insole 200 of the customizable arch support system. Alternately preferably, the arch support insert can also be attached directly to the insole with the sock lining covering the arch support insert.
[0036] As further shown in FIG. 2, a shaped and contoured edge portion 214 is configured and arranged so that the shoe insole 200 of the customizable arch support system may have a tight fit, with low tolerances, within the wearer's shoe, so that the shoe insole 200 of the customizable arch support system does not easily slide or move within the wearer's shoe.
[0037] As shown in FIG. 3A through FIG. 3D, four different views of the arch support insert 352 which attaches to the shoe insole 100 of the customizable arch support system. The arch support insert 352 has an upper surface 354 preferably contoured to match the arch of the wearer's foot. The preferable curve of the upper surface 354 of the arch support insert 352 can be observed more clearly from either side, as in FIG. 3C and FIG. 3D. The lower surface 356 of the arch support insert 352 is preferably contoured to match the inner shape of the wearer's shoe and the upper surface of the shoe insole 100 of the customizable arch support system.
[0038] The male half of snap fasteners 358 are shown in FIG. 3B configured and arranged on the lower surface 356 of the arch support insert 352 so that they can be removably attached to the female half of snap fasteners 106 on the upper surface of the shoe insole 100 of the customizable arch support system.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 4, the customizable arch support system comprises at least one shoe insole 400, an arch support insert 452, where the arch support insert 452 is removably attached to the shoe insole 400 using at least one fastening means. In this preferred embodiment, the fastening means is preferably comprised of at least one connected snap 460. The connected snaps 460 shown in FIG. 4 are comprised of the fastened pair of snaps, being the male half of snap fasteners 358 as shown in FIG. 3B and the female half of snap fasteners 106 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 further illustrates the shaped and contoured edge portion 414 which is configured and arranged on the lower surface of the shoe insole 400. Alternately preferably, the fastening means is comprised of a hook and loop fastening system.
[0040] As shown in FIG. 5, the customizable arch support system further comprises at least one cover 570, where the cover 570 is placed over the arch support insert 552. Alternately preferably, the cover 570 envelopes the arch support insert 552. In this preferred embodiment, the cover 570 is preferably comprised of a sheet of leather. Alternately preferably, the cover 570 may be made of a sheet of light weight synthetic material. Alternate material choices for the cover 570 will be obvious to those skilled in the art.
[0041] As further shown in FIG. 5, the lower layer is comprised of the shoe insole 500, further comprising a shank 508, a cupped heel portion 510, and a cushioning portion 502. The arch support insert 552 is removably attached to the shoe insole 500 by a fastening means. The fastening means used to removably attach the shoe insole 500 to the arch support insert 552 is preferably comprised of a snap mechanism 560. The arch support insert 552 is preferably comprised of two bonded layers, a lower layer 576 made from a compressible material with high density and low compressibility, and an upper layer 574 made from a compressible material with low density and high compressibility. Alternately preferably, the arch support insert 552 can also made of one layer of compressible material. Alternately preferably, the arch support insert 552 can be fabricated using additive manufacturing and 3D scanning technology to customize an arch support insert 552 to exactly match a wearer's mid-foot arch.
[0042] In other preferred embodiments, the compressibility of the upper and lower layers of the arch support insert 552 may be reversed, wherein the upper layer 574 is less compressible than the lower layer 576. In another preferred embodiment, the arch support insert 552 may have an upper layer 574 made from urethane foam and a lower layer 576 made from a polymer material. In another preferred embodiment, the shoe insole 500 may be made from fiberboard. In another preferred embodiment, the shoe insole 500 may be constructed using an additive manufacturing process, commonly referred to as 3D printing, using a combination of shock-absorbing materials. In another preferred embodiment, the snap mechanism 560 may be affixed to the arch support insert 552 using synthetic tape. Alternate material choices for components of the customizable arch support insole system will be obvious to those skilled in the art.
[0043] Further, the present invention relates to a method of customizing the arch support in a heeled shoe preferably comprising the steps of: selecting an arch support insert closely matching a wearer's mid-foot arch 352, fastening the arch support insert into the wearer's shoe, and placing a cover 570 over the arch support insert. Alternately preferably, the arch support insert is positioned inside the cover prior to fastening the arch support insert into the wearer's shoe.
