U.S. patent application number 10/919085 was filed with the patent office on 2006-02-09 for insole.
This patent application is currently assigned to Schering Plough Healthcare Products Inc.. Invention is credited to Richard T. Avent, Bernard F. Grisoni, Philip C. Yang.
Application Number | 20060026865 10/919085 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35169701 |
Filed Date | 2006-02-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060026865 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Grisoni; Bernard F. ; et
al. |
February 9, 2006 |
Insole
Abstract
A removable full length insole for insertion into open style
footwear, includes a forefoot portion, a heel portion and a
mid-foot portion connecting together the forefoot portion and the
heel portion; a uniform thickness cushioning layer of a resilient
material extending through the forefoot portion, heel portion and
mid-foot portion; a substantially dome shaped pillow extending down
from the cushioning layer at the forefoot portion and heel portion;
and an arrangement for maintaining the insole in position in the
footwear during a gait.
Inventors: |
Grisoni; Bernard F.;
(Cordova, TN) ; Avent; Richard T.; (Memphis,
TN) ; Yang; Philip C.; (Memphis, TN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SCHERING-PLOUGH CORPORATION;PATENT DEPARTMENT (K-6-1, 1990)
2000 GALLOPING HILL ROAD
KENILWORTH
NJ
07033-0530
US
|
Assignee: |
Schering Plough Healthcare Products
Inc.
|
Family ID: |
35169701 |
Appl. No.: |
10/919085 |
Filed: |
August 16, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10912905 |
Aug 6, 2004 |
|
|
|
10919085 |
Aug 16, 2004 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/43 ; 36/28;
36/29 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 3/0057 20130101;
A43B 17/026 20130101; A43B 17/18 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
036/043 ;
036/029; 036/028 |
International
Class: |
A43B 13/18 20060101
A43B013/18; A43B 13/38 20060101 A43B013/38 |
Claims
1. An insole for insertion into footwear, comprising: a) at least
one of: i) a forefoot portion, and ii) a heel portion; b) at least
one of said forefoot portion and heel portion being formed by: i) a
cushioning layer of a resilient material which provides a
cushioning function, and ii) a substantially dome shaped pillow
extending down from said cushioning layer; and c) an arrangement
for maintaining said insole in position in said footwear during a
gait.
2. An insole according to claim 1, wherein said insole is a full or
3/4 length insole formed from said forefoot portion, said heel
portion and a mid-foot portion connecting together said forefoot
portion and said heel portion.
3. An insole according to claim 2, wherein said cushioning layer
extends through said forefoot portion, heel portion and mid-foot
portion, and each of said forefoot portion and heel portion
includes a said substantially dome shaped pillow extending down
from said cushioning layer thereat.
4. An insole according to claim 1, wherein said cushioning layer
and said pillow are formed from the same material as a unitary,
one-piece structure.
5. An insole according to claim 1, wherein said cushioning layer
and pillow are formed from a foam material.
6. An insole according to claim 5, wherein said arrangement for
maintaining said insole in position includes an adhesive at a lower
surface of the insole.
7. An insole according to claim 6, wherein said adhesive is a
release adhesive that permits removal of the insole from the
footwear and repositioning the insole in the footwear.
8. An insole according to claim 5, wherein said arrangement for 10
maintaining said insole in position includes a high friction lower
surface of the insole.
9. An insole according to claim 1, wherein said cushioning layer
and pillow are formed from a viscoelastic gel material.
10. An insole according to claim 9, wherein said arrangement for
maintaining said insole in position includes a tackifier added to
said gel material.
11. An insole according to claim 9, wherein said gel material is
formed by a plurality of spaced apart spring walls formed from said
viscoelastic gel, said spring walls extending from a lower surface
of said cushioning layer.
12. An insole according to claim 11, wherein said spring walls each
have a height which is greatest at a center of said pillow and
which tapers in height toward edges of said pillow.
13. An insole according to claim 11, wherein each of said spring
walls is formed in a generally sinusoidal wave shape.
14. An insole according to claim 1, wherein said cushioning layer
has a substantially uniform thickness of about 2 mm and said pillow
has a height less than about 3 mm.
15. An insole according to claim 1, wherein said cushioning layer
tapers in thickness toward a periphery of said insole.
16. An insole according to claim 1, further comprising a top cover
secured to an upper surface of said cushioning layer.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to shoe insoles or
inserts, and more particularly, to insoles particularly adapted to
be used with open style footwear.
[0002] Various types of insoles are known which fit within shoes in
order to correct various foot problems, alleviate pain and
otherwise provide more comfort to the wearer. Examples of such
insoles are those sold by the assignee of the present invention
under the trademark Dr. SCHOLL'S.RTM..
[0003] However, when wearing open style footwear where the
perimeter of the footwear is exposed, such as sandals, clogs,
slides, slingbacks and the like, the boundary of the footwear is
not sufficient to hold the insole in position during a normal gait.
As a result, such insoles cannot be used with open style
footwear.
[0004] Further, with conventional shoes, the wearer's foot is
restricted by the upper which is connected to the outer and/or
inner sole. As a result, any insole placed therein is also limited
by the same upper. This means that the edges of the insole can be
relatively thick, since the wearer will not notice such thickness
at the edges. However, this is not true with open style footwear in
which the wearer's foot is given greater freedom of movement. As a
result, the wearer may notice a step between the relatively thick
edge of the insole and the inner sole of the footwear, causing
discomfort to the wearer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
provide an insole that overcomes the problems with the
aforementioned prior art.
[0006] It is another object of the present invention to provide an
insole that can be worn with open style footwear.
[0007] It is still another object of the present invention to
provide an insole that remains in place in the open style footwear
during use.
[0008] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
an insole that provides cushioning at the forefoot and heel
areas.
[0009] It is a further object of the present invention to provide
an insole that tapers in thickness toward the peripheral edges
thereof.
[0010] It is a yet further object of the present invention to
provide an insole that is easy and economical to make and use.
[0011] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, an
insole for insertion into footwear, includes at least one of a
forefoot portion and a heel portion; at least one of the forefoot
portion and heel portion being formed by a cushioning layer of a
resilient material which provides a cushioning function, and a
substantially dome shaped pillow extending down from the cushioning
layer; and an arrangement for maintaining the insole in position in
the footwear during a gait.
[0012] Preferably, the insole is a full length insole formed from
the forefoot portion, the heel portion and a mid-foot portion
connecting together the forefoot portion and the heel portion. More
preferably, the cushioning layer extends through the forefoot
portion, heel portion and mid-foot portion, and each of the
forefoot portion and heel portion includes a substantially dome
shaped pillow extending down from the cushioning layer thereat.
[0013] The cushioning layer and the pillow are formed from the same
material as a unitary, one-piece structure.
[0014] In one embodiment, the cushioning layer and pillow are
formed from a foam material. In such case, the arrangement for
maintaining the insole in position can include either an adhesive
at a lower surface of the insole, or for example, a non-permanent
adhesive that permits removal of the insole from the footwear and
repositioning the insole in the footwear, or alternatively, a high
friction lower surface of the insole.
[0015] In another embodiment, the cushioning layer and pillow are
formed from a viscoelastic gel material. In such case, the
arrangement for maintaining the insole in position includes either
a non-permanent adhesive at the lower surface, or a tackifier added
to the gel material. Preferably, the gel material under the dome
shaped pillow is formed by a plurality of spaced apart spring walls
formed from the viscoelastic gel, the spring walls extending from a
lower surface of the cushioning layer. The spring walls each have a
height which is greatest at a center of the pillow and which tapers
in height toward edges of the pillow. Preferably, each of the
spring walls is formed in a generally sinusoidal wave shape.
[0016] Preferably, the cushioning layer has a substantially uniform
thickness of about 2 mm and the pillow has a height less than about
3 mm above the uniform layer, and the cushioning layer tapers in
thickness toward a periphery of the insole.
[0017] A top cover can also be secured to an upper surface of the
cushioning layer.
[0018] The above and other features of the invention will become
readily apparent from the following detailed description thereof
which is to be read in connection with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a left insole according to a
first embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the left insole;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the left insole according to
one embodiment;
[0022] FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the left insole FIG.
4;
[0023] FIG. 5 is a right side elevational view of the left
insole;
[0024] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the left insole, taken
along line 6-6 of FIG. 2;
[0025] FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of a left insole according to a
second embodiment of the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the left insole of FIG.
7, taken along line 8-8 thereof; and
[0027] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a portion of the left insole
of FIG. 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to FIGS.
1-6 thereof, a left insole 10 according to a first embodiment of
the present invention is adapted to be placed in an article of
footwear, as is well known. A right insole (not shown) is identical
to left insole 10 and is a mirror image thereof.
[0029] Insole 10 was designed to fit the shape of a human left foot
and therefore includes a curved toe or forefoot portion 12, a heel
portion 14, and a mid-foot portion 16 which connects forefoot
portion 12 and heel portion 14 together.
[0030] Insole 10 is formed by a generally planar cushioning layer
18, having a generally dome shaped, lower pillow 20 extending from
the lower surface of cushioning layer 18 at forefoot portion 12 and
a generally dome shaped, lower pillow 22 extending from the lower
surface of cushioning layer 18 at heel portion 14.
[0031] In one embodiment, layer 18 and pillows 20 and 22 are formed
as a unitary, one-piece layer of the same material, which is
preferably a polyurethane foam. Specifically, in the first
embodiment, insole 10 formed by cushioning layer 18 and pillows 20
and 22 is made from a resilient foam material that provides a
conventional cushioning function. In effect, cushioning layer 18
and pillows 20 and 22 are a typical foam mechanical spring, shock
absorption layer that cushions the foot, in order to decrease
pressure.
[0032] Cushioning layer 18 and pillows 20 and 22 can be made from
any suitable material including, but not limited to, any flexible
material which can cushion and absorb the shock from heel strike on
the insole. Suitable shock absorbing materials can include any
suitable foam, such as but not limited to, cross-linked
polyethylene, poly(ethylene-vinyl acetate), polyvinyl chloride,
synthetic and natural latex rubbers, neoprene, block polymer
elastomer of the acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene or
styrene-butadienestyrene type, thermoplastic elastomers,
ethylenepropylene rubbers, silicone elastomers, polystyrene,
polyurea or polyurethane; most preferably a polyurethane foam made
from flexible polyol chain and an isocyanate such as a monomeric or
prepolymerized diisocyanate based on 4,4'-diphenylmethane
diisocyanate (MDI) or toluene diisocyanate (TDI). Such foams can be
blown with freon, water, methylene chloride or other gas producing
agents, as well as by mechanically frothing to prepare the shock
absorbing resilient layer. Such foams advantageously can be molded
into the desired shape or geometry. Non-foam elastomers such as the
class of materials known as viscoelastic polymers, or silicone
gels, which show high levels of damping when tested by dynamic
mechanical analysis performed in the range of -50 degrees C. to 100
degrees C. may also be advantageously employed. A resilient
polyurethane can be prepared from diisocyanate prepolymer, polyol,
catalyst and stabilizers which provide a waterblown polyurethane
foam of the desired physical attributes. Suitable diisocyanate
prepolymer and polyol components include polymeric MDI M-10 (CAS
9016-87-9) and Polymeric MDI MM-103 (CAS 25686-28-6), both
available from BASF, Parsippany, N.J.; Pluracol 945 (CAS 9082-00-2)
and Pluracol 1003, both available from BASF, Parsippany, N.J.;
Multrinol 9200, available from Mobay, Pittsburgh, Pa.; MDI
diisocyanate prepolymer XAS 10971.02 and polyol blend XUS 18021.00
available from the Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Mich.; and Niax
34-28, available from Union Carbide, Danbury, Conn. These urethane
systems generally contain a surfactant, a blowing agent, and an
ultra-violet stabilizer and/or catalyst package. Suitable catalysts
include Dabco 33-LV (CAS 280-57-9,2526-71-8), Dabco X543 (CAS Trade
Secret), Dabco T-12 (CAS 77-58-7), and Dabco TAC (CAS 107-21-1) all
obtainable from Air Products Inc., Allentown, Pa.; Fomrez UL-38, a
stannous octoate, from the Witco Chemical Co., New York, N.Y. or
A-1 (CAS 3033-62-3) available from OSI Corp., Norcross, Ga.
Suitable stabilizers include Tinuvin 765 (CAS 41556-26-7), Tinuvin
328 (CAS 25973-55-1), Tinuvin 213 (CAS 104810-48-2), Irganox 1010
(CAS 6683-19-8), Irganox 245 (CAS 36443-68-2), all available from
the Ciba Geigy Corporation, Greensboro, N.C., or Givsorb UV-1 (CAS
057834-33-0) and Givsorb UV-2 (CAS 065816-20-8) from Givaudan
Corporation, Clifton, N.J. Suitable surfactants include DC-5169 (a
mixture), DC190 (CAS68037-64-9), DC197 (CAS69430-39-3), DC-5125
(CAS 68037-62-7) all available from Air Products Corp., Allentown
Pa. and L-5302 (CAS trade secret) from Union Carbide, Danbury Conn.
Alternatively, lower layer 18 can be a laminate construction, that
is, a multilayered composite of any of the above materials.
Multilayered composites are made from one or more of the above
materials such as a combination of polyethylene vinyl acetate and
polyethylene (two layers), a combination of polyurethane and
polyvinyl chloride (two layers) or a combination of ethylene
propylene rubber, polyurethane foam and ethylene vinyl acetate (3
layers).
[0033] Preferably, cushioning layer 18 and pillows 20 and 22 are
made from a urethane molded material, and more preferably, a
polyurethane elastomer material.
[0034] The materials of cushioning layer 18 and pillows 20 and 22
can be prepared by conventional methods such as heat sealing,
ultrasonic sealing, radio-frequency sealing, lamination,
thermoforming, reaction injection molding, and compression molding
and, if necessary, followed by secondary die-cutting or in-mold die
cutting. Representative methods are taught, for example, in U.S.
Pat. Nos. 3,489,594; 3,530,489 4,257,176; 4,185,402; 4,586,273, in
the Handbook of Plastics, Herber R. Simonds and Carleton Ellis,
1943, New York, N.Y., Reaction Injection Molding Machinery and
Processes, F. Melvin Sweeney, 1987, New York, N.Y., and Flexible
Polyurethane Foams, George Woods, 1982, New Jersey, whose
preparative teachings are incorporated herein by reference. For
example, the innersole can be prepared by a foam reaction molding
process such as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,694,589.
[0035] Pillows 20 and 22 extend downwardly below the lower surface
18a of cushioning layer 18 to provide extra cushioning at the ball
of the foot area of forefoot portion 12 and at heel portion 14.
Preferably, cushioning layer 18 has a constant thickness
throughout, although cushioning layer 18 preferably tapers in
thickness toward the peripheral edge 18b of insole 10 in order to
prevent a user from feeling an edge drop-off. For example,
cushioning layer 18 can have a thickness of about 2 mm which tapers
down to a thickness of about 1 mm at the peripheral edge 18b of
insole 10, and with the combined thickness of cushioning layer and
either pillow 20 or 22 having a thickness of about 5 mm.
[0036] A top cover layer 24 can be secured to the upper surface of
cushioning layer 18, although such a top cover layer 24 is not
required. In such case, top cover layer 24 can be made from any
suitable material including, but not limited to, fabrics, leather,
leatherboard, expanded vinyl foam, flocked vinyl film, coagulated
polyurethane, latex foam on scrim, supported polyurethane foam,
laminated polyurethane film or in-mold coatings such as
polyurethanes, styrene-butadiene-rubber, acrylonitrile-butadiene,
acrylonitrile terpolymers and copolymers, vinyls, or other
acrylics, as integral top covers. Desirable characteristics of top
cover layer 24 include good durability, stability and visual
appearance. It is also desirable that top cover layer 24 have good
flexibility, as indicated by a low modulus, in order to be easily
moldable. The bonding surface of top cover layer 24 should provide
an appropriate texture in order to achieve a suitable mechanical
bond to the upper surface of cushioning layer 18. Preferably, the
material of top cover layer 24 is a fabric, such as a brushed knit
laminate top cloth (brushed knit fabric/urethane film/non-woven
scrim cloth laminate) or a urethane knit laminate top cloth.
Preferably, top cover layer 24 is made from a polyester fabric
material, and preferably has a thickness of about 0.02 inch.
[0037] It will be appreciated that insole 10 is preferably a full
length insole, that is, extends along the entire foot. Typically,
insole 10 would be sized corresponding to shoe sizes and would be
provided in sized pairs. Alternatively, insole 10 may be trimmed to
the requirements of the user. In this regard, arcuate pattern trim
lines (not shown) may be formed on the lower surface of forefoot
portion 12 of insole 10, which are representative of various sizes
of the human foot. The pattern trim lines may be imprinted by
conventional printing techniques, silkscreening and the like. As an
alternative, the pattern trim lines may be formed as shallow
grooves, or be perforated, so that a smaller size insole may be
separated by tearing along the appropriate trim lines, which
tearing operation is facilitated by the inclusion of perforations.
Thus, forefoot portion 12 can be trimmed so that forefoot portion
12 fits within the toe portion of open style footwear.
[0038] Alternatively, a pattern trim line can be provided on the
lower surface of cushioning layer 18 to cut around the thong of
some types of open style footwear, if necessary.
[0039] Alternatively, insole 10 may be a 3/4 length insole designed
to fit a range of shoe sizes without the need of trimming. In this
regards, insole 10 extends along the approximately 3/4 of the foot,
from the heel to the ball of the foot.
[0040] In order to secure insole 10 to the open style footwear, an
area of adhesive 26, for example, by a double sided adhesive tape,
is formed along the length of the lower surface of cushioning layer
18, and is covered by a release sheet 28. In this manner, a user
merely removes release sheet 28 and adheres insole 10 to the
footwear. Adhesive 26 can be a permanent adhesive or a release
adhesive that permits removal and reapplying or repositioning of
insole 10 in the footwear.
[0041] Alternatively, lower surface 18a of cushioning layer 18 can
be provided as a high friction surface to maintain insole 10 in
position in the footwear. For example, synthetic rubber adhesive
coating (not shown) can be added to lower surface 18a of cushioning
layer 18 for this purpose.
[0042] Accordingly, with insole 10, cushioning pillows 20 and 22
are provided at the ball of the foot area of forefoot portion 12
and at heel portion 14 where most of the impact and forces occur
during a gait. Further, such insole 10 fits within open style
footwear, and will remain in position in such open style footwear
during wearing by the user. At the same time, however, the wearer,
because of the taper at the peripheral edge thereof, does not feel
any edge drop-off, thereby enhancing comfort to the wearer.
[0043] Referring now to FIGS. 7-9, a left insole 110 according to a
second embodiment of the present invention will now be described. A
right insole (not shown) is identical to left insole 110 and is a
mirror image thereof.
[0044] Insole 110 has the same shape as insole 10 of FIGS. 1-6, and
therefore includes a curved toe or forefoot portion 112, a heel
portion 114, and a mid-foot portion 116 which connects forefoot
portion 112 and heel portion 114 together.
[0045] Insole 110 is formed by a generally planar cushioning layer
118, having a generally dome shaped, lower pillow 120 extending
from the lower surface of cushioning layer 118 at forefoot portion
112 and a generally dome shaped, lower pillow 122 extending from
the lower surface of cushioning layer 118 at heel portion 114.
[0046] In this embodiment, layer 118 and pillows 120 and 122 are
formed as a unitary, one-piece layer of a gel material. The gel
material can be of the same general type described in U.S. Pat. No.
6,598,321 to the same assignee herein, and the entire disclosure of
which is incorporated herein by reference.
[0047] Thus, gel layer 118 and pillows 120 and 122 can be made from
a non-foam elastomer such as the class of materials known as
viscoelastic polymers or silicone gels, which show high levels of
damping when tested by dynamic mechanical analysis performed in the
range of -50 degree Celsius to 100 degrees Celsius. Because the
mechanical properties of the gel are more viscous than elastic, the
gel provides a high energy absorption. Gels that can be used
according to the present invention are thermoplastic elastomers
(elastomeric materials), such as materials made from many polymeric
families, including but not limited to the Kraton family of
styrene-olefin-rubber block copolymers, thermoplastic
polyurethanes, thermoset polyurethanes, thermoplastic poly olefins,
polyamides, polyureas, polyesters and other polymer materials that
reversibly soften as a function of temperature. The preferred
elastomers are a Kraton block copolymer of
styrene/ethylene-co-butylene/styrene or styrene/butadiene/styrene
with mineral oil incorporated into the matrix as a plasticizer, or
polyurethane gels.
[0048] Insole 110 can be secured to the open style footwear by
using the tack properties of the gel. In this regard, it is
preferred that the tack of the gel is enhanced by incorporating a
tackifier into the gel composition to increase the friction/tack of
the gel surface. Suitable tackifiers include a petroleum
hydrocarbon resin sold under the designation I-Mark V by Idemitsu
Kosan Co., Ltd. of Tokyo, Japan; the rosin sold under the trademark
ASYLVALITE.RTM. under designation RE 80 for SEBS gels; and
phenolsulfonic acid ester sold under the trademark AMESAMOLL.RTM.
for a polyurethane (PU) gel. The desired tack is preferably between
120 and 250 grams, as determined by a probe tack tester sold under
the trademark APOLYKEN.RTM., at one second contact time.
[0049] Preferably, dome shaped pillows 120 and 122 are formed by
thin and spaced apart elastic and resilient spring walls 130 and
132 which are formed integrally as one piece with cushioning layer
118 in a repeating order, extending down from the lower surface of
layer 118 at forefoot portion 112 and heel portion 114.
[0050] Thin spring walls 130 extend substantially in the lengthwise
direction of insole 110 from the forward end to the rearward end of
pillow 120. The height of spring walls 130 extends down such that
spring walls 130 located toward the center of pillow 120 have a
greater height than spring walls 130 located toward the edges of
pillow 120, with spring walls 130 therebetween tapering down, as
shown best in FIG. 7. In this manner, the lower ends of spring
walls 130 in pillow 120 form a substantially dome shape. The
overall thicknesses or heights of cushioning layer 118 and pillows
120 and 122 are similar to those of cushioning layer 18 and pillows
20 and 22, as described above. As a result, the height of spring
walls 130 at the center of each pillow can reach a height of about
2-3 mm above the uniform layer, and the constant or uniform
thickness or height of cushioning layer 118 can be about 2 mm.
[0051] In like manner, thin elastic and resilient spring walls 132
are formed in a V-shaped pattern in pillow 122 at heel portion 114.
Spring walls 132 are formed with the same varying height as spring
walls 130. Thus, the heights of spring walls 132 extend down such
that spring walls 132 located toward the center of pillow 122 have
a greater height than spring walls 132 located toward the edges of
pillow 122, with spring walls 132 therebetween tapering down. In
this manner, the lower ends of spring walls 132 in pillow 122 form
a substantially dome shape. The overall thicknesses or heights of
cushioning layer 118 and pillows 120 and 122 are similar to those
of cushioning layer 18 and pillows 20 and 22, as described above.
As a result, the heights of spring walls 132 at the center of each
pillow can reach a height of about 2-3 mm, and the constant or
uniform thickness or height of cushioning layer 118 can be about 2
mm.
[0052] In the embodiment of FIGS. 7-9, thin, spaced apart spring
walls 130 and 132 are formed as parallel, spaced apart, sinusoidal
shaped wave patterns. However, the present invention is not so
limited, and can be formed as any of the embodiments described in
U.S. Pat. No. 6,598,321. Further, the spacing between thin spring
walls 130, 132, the number of spring walls 130, 132, the pitch of
the sinusoidal wave patterns in the spring walls 130, 132, etc. may
also be varied.
[0053] As with cushioning layer 18, cushioning layer 118 preferably
tapers in thickness toward the peripheral edge 118b of insole 110
in order to prevent a user from feeling an edge drop-off. For
example, cushioning layer 118 can have a uniform thickness of 2 mm
which tapers down to a thickness of about 1 mm at the peripheral
edge 118b of insole 110.
[0054] A top cover layer (not shown), which is the same as top
cover layer 24, can be secured to the upper surface of cushioning
layer 118, although such a top cover layer is not required.
[0055] Although the present invention uses the term insole, it will
be appreciated that the use of other equivalent or similar terms
such as innersole or insert are considered to be synonymous and
interchangeable, and thereby covered by the present claimed
invention.
[0056] The present invention is also applicable to insoles other
than full length insoles, such as heel cushions and ball of foot
cushions.
[0057] Further, although the present invention has been discussed
in relation to a removable insole, it can be incorporated as a
permanent inner sole in footwear, such as a shoe or the like.
[0058] Having described specific preferred embodiments of the
invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be
appreciated that the present invention is not limited to those
precise embodiments and that various changes and modifications can
be effected therein by one of ordinary skill in the art without
departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined by
the appended claims.
* * * * *