Dynamic Insole

Abstract

A dynamic insole that flexes and returns as the plantar fascia flex and return, comprising a medial first windlass-shaped front cutout for great toe phalanges and a lateral second diagonal-shaped front cutout for fourth and fifth toe phalanges, further comprising medial and lateral upwardly-curved side walls wherein a medial side wall comprises a lobe, and made from a first material having a hardness value between 40 Shore A and 90 Shore A.

Claims

1. A dynamic insole comprising an insole proximal end to be worn adjacent a wearer's leg, an insole distal end, an insole upper surface, an insole lower surface and insole thicknesses, and insole edges where the form-fitted insole upper surface and the insole lower surface meet, wherein the insole further comprises: a form-fitted insole upper surface that is fitted to contours of a wearer's foot; a first material having a hardness between 40 Shore A and 90 Shore A which enables the insole under a weight of a wearer's foot to deflect downwards from an original position and then return back to the original position; insole thicknesses tapering down into the insole edges; a medial arch support; a deep heel cup; a flat heel portion in the insole lower surface; a medial upwardly-curved side wall and a lateral upwardly-curved side wall for cradling a foot; a lobe for widening the insole, wherein the lobe extends from the medial upwardly-curved side wall; a first windlass-shaped cutout at the insole distal end that reveals metatarsal heads I and II; a second diagonal-shaped cutout for fourth and fifth toe phalanges that reveals metatarsal heads III, IV and V; and an insole distal end tongue between and formed by the first and second cutouts, the insole distal end tongue comprising a flat lower surface.

2. The insole of claim 1, wherein the first material is dual-density ethylene-vinyl acetate foam.

3. The insole of claim 1, wherein the first material has a hardness value of 45 Shore A.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0034] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the embodiments of the method will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claim and accompanying drawings where:

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a top plan view of an embodiment of the invention, left foot insole;

[0036] FIG. 2 shows a bottom plan view of an embodiment of the invention, left foot insole;

[0037] FIG. 3 shows a front elevation view of an embodiment of the invention, left foot insole;

[0038] FIG. 4 shows a rear elevation view of an embodiment of the invention, left foot insole;

[0039] FIG. 5 shows a right side elevation view of an embodiment of the invention, left foot insole;

[0040] FIG. 6 shows a left side elevation view of an embodiment of the invention, left foot insole;

[0041] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention from the top, left foot insole; and

[0042] FIG. 8 shows how the insole flexes or deflects downwards from a first position and then returns back to the first position.

REFERENCE NUMERALS FOR DRAWINGS

[0043] dynamic insole 10 [0044] insole lower surface 15 [0045] insole upper surface 20 [0046] medial arch support 25 [0047] deep heel cup 30 [0048] medial upwardly-curved side walls 35 [0049] lateral upwardly-curved side walls 40 [0050] lobe 45 [0051] flat heel portion 50 [0052] insole proximal end 55 [0053] insole distal end 60 [0054] first windlass-shaped front cutout for great toe phalanges 65 [0055] second diagonal-shaped front cutout for fourth and fifth toe phalanges 70 [0056] insole distal end tongue 75 [0057] insole distal end tongue flat lower surface 80

DESCRIPTION

Definitions

[0058] A form-fitting insole is an insole that tightly s the contours of the bottom and sides of the foot.

[0059] The toes are, from medial to lateral:

[0060] The first toe, also known as the hallux (big toe or great toe), the innermost toe;

[0061] The second toe, or long toe;

[0062] The third toe, or middle toe;

[0063] The fourth toe, or ring toe;

[0064] The fifth toe, little toe, pinky toe, or baby toe, the outermost toe.

[0065] The metatarsal bone can be divided into three parts; base, body and head. The base is the part closest to the ankle and the head is closest to the toe. The narrowed part in the middle is referred to as the body of the bone.

[0066] Metatarsal head I corresponds to the great toe and metatarsal head V corresponds to the little toe.

[0067] The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D2240 standard recognizes twelve different durometer scales. These scales are referred to as durometer types. A durometer type is specifically designed to determine a specific scale, and the scale does not exist separately from the durometer. The A scale is for softer plastics, while the D scale is for harder ones. However, the ASTM D2240-00 testing standard calls for a total of 12 scales, depending on the intended use; types A, B, C, D, DO, E, M, O, OO, OOO, OOO-S, and R. Each scale results in a value between 0 and 100, with higher values indicating a harder material. Thus a hardness value of 40 on the A scale is referred to as 40 Shore A.

[0068] Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) is a co-polymer of ethylene (C.sub.2H.sub.4) and vinyl acetate (CH.sub.3CO.sub.2CHCH.sub.2). EVA foam is almost as soft and flexible as many rubbers, but is easier to process and manipulate in manufacturing of different goods due to its thermoplastic properties.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT AND BEST MODE

[0069] As shown in the figures, the preferred embodiment and best mode of the present invention comprise a dynamic insole 10 comprising an insole proximal end 55 to be worn adjacent a wearer's leg, an insole distal end 60, an insole upper surface 20, an insole lower surface 15 and insole thicknesses, and insole edges where the form-fitted insole upper surface 20 and the insole lower surface 15 meet, wherein the insole further comprises:

[0070] a form-fitted insole upper surface 20 that is fitted to contours of a wearer's foot;

[0071] a first material having a hardness between 40 Shore A and 90 Shore A which enables the insole under a weight of a wearer's foot to deflect downwards from an original position and then return back to the original position;

[0072] insole thicknesses tapering down into the insole edges;

[0073] a medial arch support 25;

[0074] a deep heel cup 30;

[0075] a flat heel portion 50 in the insole lower surface 15;

[0076] a medial upwardly-curved side wall 35 and a lateral upwardly-curved side wall 40 for cradling a foot;

[0077] a lobe 45 for widening the insole, wherein the lobe 45 extends from the medial upwardly-curved side wall 35;

[0078] a first windlass-shaped cutout 65 at the insole distal end that reveals metatarsal heads I and II;

[0079] a second diagonal-shaped cutout 70 for fourth and fifth toe phalanges that reveals metatarsal heads III, IV and V; and

[0080] an insole distal end tongue 75 between and formed by the first and second cutouts, the insole distal end tongue comprising a flat lower surface 80.

[0081] Preferably, the first material is dual-density ethylene-vinyl acetate foam.

[0082] Preferably, the first material has a Shore hardness value of 45.

[0083] An insole having a Shore hardness value of 85-90 has the longest life. An insole having a Shore hardness value of 45 provides more cushion than higher values (46-90) but it breaks down faster.

[0084] The preferred material is foam EVA. Gel in contrast keeps its thickness but when it wears out it becomes less dense because the molecules disperse.

[0085] Some advantages of the embodiments of the apparatus were previously enumerated in the Summary section. Every advantageous feature does not need to be incorporated into every embodiment of the apparatus and/or methods.

[0086] Although these versions of the invention have been described in considerable detail, other versions are possible. For example, embodiments can comprise combinations of the features described herein, such as combinations of the dependent claims. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the versions contained therein.