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BR-112021022301-B1 - INSOLE FOR INSERTION IN SHOES

BR112021022301B1BR 112021022301 B1BR112021022301 B1BR 112021022301B1BR-112021022301-B1

Abstract

FLEXIBLE ARCH SUPPORT FOR FOOTWEAR. An insole for insertion into footwear includes a base, and an arch support located on a lower side of the base layer, the arch support including a frame forming at least a portion of a perimeter of the arch support, and multiple projections extending from the frame to a second side of the frame, wherein a first set of projections is raised relative to a second set of projections.

Inventors

  • Alexander Fromholtz
  • DANIEL L. MIRANDA
  • HAROLD A. HOWLETT

Assignees

  • SCHOLL'S WELLNESS COMPANY LLC

Dates

Publication Date
20260310
Application Date
20200508
Priority Date
20190508

Claims (18)

  1. 1. Insole (200) for insertion into footwear, CHARACTERIZED in that it comprises: a base (202); a plantar arch support (100) located on a lower side of the base (202), the plantar arch support (100) comprising: a frame (116) forming at least a portion of a perimeter of the plantar arch support (100), a first side of the frame (116) configured to support a median side of a user's foot and a second side of the frame (116) configured to support a lateral side of the user's foot, and a plurality of projections (110) extending from a first side of the frame (116) to the second side of the frame (116), wherein a first set of projections (112) is raised relative to a second set of projections (114), and wherein the first set of projections (112) is positioned entirely between the second set of projections (114) to form an alternating arrangement of opposing independent leaf spring-shaped projections configured to to move toward each other in response to the application of force by the user's foot.
  2. 2. Insole (200), according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the first set of protrusions (112) makes contact with the underside of the base (202).
  3. 3. Insole (200), according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that at least a portion of an upper side of the second set of protrusions (114) is smaller than at least a portion of the lower side of the first set of protrusions (112).
  4. 4. Insole (200), according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that a lower portion of at least one helix of the second set of helices (114) is located towards a median side of the insole (200).
  5. 5. Insole (200), according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that a central longitudinal portion of at least one helix of the second set of helices (114) has uniform height.
  6. 6. Insole (200), according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the arch support (100) is made of a different material from the base material (202).
  7. 7. Insole (200), according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the arch support (100) is made of a more rigid material than that of the base (202).
  8. 8. Insole (200), according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the plurality of bumps (110) are spaced apart.
  9. 9. Insole (200), according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the frame (116) and the plurality of protrusions (110) are formed of the same material.
  10. 10. Insole (200), according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the base (202) comprises a recess and the arch support (100) is located in the recess.
  11. 11. Insole (200), according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the frame (116) is leveled with a bottom of the base (202) around a perimeter of the frame (116).
  12. 12. Insole (200), according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that at least one end of at least one protrusion of the second set of protrusions (114) curves downwards.
  13. 13. Insole (200), according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that a bottom surface of at least one protrusion of the second set of protrusions (114) makes contact with a planar surface when a bottom side of the insole (200) is placed on the planar surface.
  14. 14. Insole (200), according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that at least one protrusion of the second set of protrusions (114) has a uniform thickness from a first end of at least one protrusion of the second set of protrusions (114) to a second end of at least one protrusion of the second set of protrusions (114).
  15. 15. Insole (200), according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that at least one protrusion of the first set of protrusions (112) has a uniform thickness from a first end of at least one protrusion of the first set of protrusions (112) to a second end of at least one protrusion of the first set of protrusions (112).
  16. 16. Insole (200), according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the base (202) is formed of a foam or a gel.
  17. 17. Insole (200), according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the insole (200) comprises a heel portion.
  18. 18. Insole (200), according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the insole (200) comprises an anterior portion of the foot.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE OF RELATED ORDERS [001] This application claims the benefit of priority under U.S.A. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/845,102, filed May 8, 2019, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [002] This invention relates generally to footwear inserts and, more specifically, to arch support inserts for footwear. FUNDAMENTALS OF THE INVENTION [003] Modern footwear is designed to suit a wide variety of applications. Footwear is evaluated based on its appearance (shape), how well it performs its intended application (function), and how well it accommodates the user's foot (fit). Footwear designers balance these parameters to meet user expectations. This balance is important to achieve complete comfort while reducing the occurrence of foot pain and/or the development of foot diseases. For example, a running shoe might be designed to attenuate the impact of the ground while ensuring cushioning during ground contact and energy return to propel the runner forward. The designer can adjust the aesthetics of the shoe to please its user while also providing the structural elements to meet the requirements of foot length, width, and arch type. Consequently, running shoes can be attractive, function as intended, and fit the user's foot appropriately. Unfortunately, some shoes do not have (or cannot have) an appropriate balance of shape, function, and fitability. In fact, the purpose of some footwear, such as high-end footwear, is aesthetic appeal, which results in a large overlap between form and function that can compromise the shoe's ability to comfortably fit the user's foot and help reduce the occurrence of pain and/or illness. [004] High-heeled shoes, for example, have a heel-to-toe slope of between two and five inches, with a rigid central column supporting the shoe's structure. This configuration intentionally shifts the wearer's foot into a more rigid arch structure while transferring the loads observed during walking from the heel and midfoot to the forefoot. This manifests as reduced arch flexibility and an increasing wave of pressure on the feet, which can cause the wearer acute and chronic pain after prolonged use. Ballet flats are another example of high-end footwear that prioritizes form and function while sacrificing fit and comfort. Like high-heeled shoes, ballet flats are commonly designed for a comfortable fit, but they are also built to be flexible and move with the wearer's foot. This sock-like form and function compromises the shoes' ability to provide arch support or adequate cushioning. This compromise can manifest as acute and chronic pain after prolonged use. [005] Traditionally, replacement insoles and orthotics are designed to extend the function of some footwear in order to provide the user with a better fit. A design engineer may use a combination of malleable and rigid materials to ensure cushioning of the entire foot and support of the heel and arch during walking. These components help stabilize foot movement while distributing the load over a larger area of the foot during walking. This can help improve footwear comfort as well as reduce the incidence of acute and chronic foot pain. Unfortunately, high-end footwear, such as high heels and ballet flats, often does not accommodate many conventional replacement insoles and orthotics. Arch support is especially difficult to implement in these styles of footwear because they consist of rigid or semi-rigid structures that lack the flexibility needed to accommodate the various contours of all heel heights or flex and move with a ballet flat during walking. As a result, arch support is either omitted or created using a malleable material construction that adds bulk and, in many cases, further reduces the perfect fit and comfort of the footwear. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [006] According to some embodiments, a shoe insole includes a flexible, yet supportive, arch support that may be incorporated into the insole to improve the comfort and adjustability of a wide range of footwear. The flexible arch support includes a plurality of spring-like blade-like ridges located at different heights. A first set of ridges is configured to form a base of the arch portion of the insole, and a second set of ridges is elevated relative to the first set. Gaps between ridges increase the flexibility of the arch in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the ridges, so that the arch support can more easily contour to adapt and move with different types of footwear. The ridges may extend from a frame that forms the perimeter of the arch support. [007] According to some embodiments, an insole for insertion into footwear includes a base; and an arch support located on a lower side of the base layer, the arch support including a frame that forms at least part of a perimeter of the arch support, and multiple projections extending from a first side of the frame to a second side of