U.S. patent application number 12/095864 was filed with the patent office on 2008-12-11 for insole.
Invention is credited to Sang-Do Lee.
Application Number | 20080301979 12/095864 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38092466 |
Filed Date | 2008-12-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080301979 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lee; Sang-Do |
December 11, 2008 |
Insole
Abstract
Disclosed is a insole arranged on an upper surface of an
innersole in a shoe. The insole includes: an intermediate
supporting portion 41 coming into close contact with a center
portion of a foot sole, including an arch, and having a plurality
of elastic protrusions P formed on a lower surface of grids L
defining grid-type thru-holes; and a rear supporting portion 42
extending from the rear end of the intermediate supporting portion
11 to a heel of the foot in order to make close contact with a rear
portion of the foot sole, and having a plurality of stationary
protrusions P' formed on the lower surface of the rear supporting
portion 42 to protrude downward. The insole can improve air
permeability through the thru-holes, and in addition always makes
close contact with the foot sole through elastic protrusions formed
on the lower surface thereof so as to buffer impact on the shoe.
Further, the stationary protrusions formed on the lower surface of
the insole are stuck in the innersole, thereby preventing movement
of the insole inserted in the shoe.
Inventors: |
Lee; Sang-Do; (Busan,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
IPLA P.A.
3580 WILSHIRE BLVD., 17TH FLOOR
LOS ANGELES
CA
90010
US
|
Family ID: |
38092466 |
Appl. No.: |
12/095864 |
Filed: |
December 2, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
December 2, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR06/05162 |
371 Date: |
June 2, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/3B ; 36/3R;
36/44 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 17/02 20130101;
A43B 17/08 20130101; A43B 7/141 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/3.B ; 36/3.R;
36/44 |
International
Class: |
A43B 7/06 20060101
A43B007/06; A43B 13/38 20060101 A43B013/38 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 2, 2005 |
KR |
20-2005-0034031 |
Claims
1. A insole to be stacked on the upper surface of an innersole of
the shoe, on the upper surface of an outer sole, or on the upper
surface of a slip-sole, the insole comprising: an intermediate
supporting portion 41 coming into close contact with a center
portion of a foot sole, including an arch, and having a plurality
of elastic protrusions P formed on a lower surface of grids L
defining grid-type thru-holes: and a rear supporting portion 42
extending from a rear end of the intermediate supporting portion 11
to a heel of the foot to make close contact with a rear portion of
the foot sole, and having a plurality of stationary protrusions P'
formed on the lower surface of the rear supporting portion 42 to
protrude downward.
2. The insole as claimed in claim 1, wherein a thru-hole 11 is
formed at a center portion of the rear supporting portion 42.
3. The insole as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastic
protrusions P are longer than the stationary protrusions P'.
4. The insole as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distance between
the outermost stationary protrusions P' and the rear end of the
rear supporting portion 42 is about 20.about.40 nm.
5. The insole as claimed in claim 1, wherein the intermediate
supporting portion 41, in which the thru-holes h are formed, is
thinner than the rear supporting portion 42.
6. The insole as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper surfaces of
the intermediate supporting portion 41 and the rear supporting
portion 42 are arranged on the same plane, and the lower surface of
the intermediate supporting portion 41, in which the thru-holes h
are formed, is higher than the lower surface of the rear supporting
portion 42.
7. The insole as claimed in claim 1, wherein an upper cover 43,
made of any one selected from EVA resin, leather, and polyurethane,
is attached to the entire upper surface of the intermediate
supporting portion 41 and the rear supporting portion 42.
8. The insole as claimed in claim 1, wherein a front supporting
portion 44 is additionally formed at and extends from a front end
of the intermediate supporting portion 41 to form the shape of the
foot sole, a plurality of thru-holes h are formed in the front
supporting portion 41 and the rear supporting portion 42 to have a
grid shape, and a plurality of elastic protrusions P are formed on
a lower surface of grids L defining the thru-holes.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a insole stacked on an
inner sole of a shoe, and more particularly to a insole which
includes an intermediate supporting portion making close contact
with and supporting a center portion of the sole of the foot
including arch, and a rear supporting portion extending from a rear
end of the intermediate supporting portion so as to make close
contact with and support a rear portion of the sole of the foot,
and wherein the intermediate supporting portion has grids defining
a plurality of thru-holes, and the rear supporting portion has a
plurality of protrusions protruding from a bottom surface thereof,
thereby improving air permeability of the insole and supporting the
sole of the foot flexibly and elastically, as well as preventing a
change of position of the insole.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Since human being begun walking, shoes initially have
functioned to protect user's feet from damage while providing
comfort in walking. However, with improvement of living standards
and development of technology of manufacturing shoes, various kinds
of shoes have been developed for walking, climbing, and correcting
purposes.
[0003] Recently, as interest in health increases, concern about the
health of feet on which the weight of the body concentrates has
increased. Hence, necessity for shoes having specific functions as
well as a function in protecting feet has increased more and
more.
[0004] For example, shoes have functions of cushioning for
buffering impact on a foot sole, air permeability for ventilating
air in uppers enclosing a foot, reinforcement of a specific portion
of a shoe depending on the use of the shoes, as well as a function
of protecting feet which shoes basically have.
[0005] Cushioning is an essential function of decreasing fatigue of
feet in which a user's weight concentrates while a user stands, and
impact transferring to the brain through the feet. A cushion has
been developed to concentrate in an outer sole of a shoe. The
cushioning of the conventional shoe will be described in brief.
[0006] As shown in FIG. 1, first, the sole of the conventional shoe
includes an outer sole 11 having a lower surface contacting with
the ground, a slip-sole 12 stacked on the upper surface of the
outer sole 11 to provide cushioning, and an innersole 13 stacked on
the upper surface of the slip-sole 12 so that the upper surface
thereof makes contact with a foot sole.
[0007] At this time, the outer sole 11 somewhat has cushioning.
However, the outer sole 11 must have abrasion resistance rather
than the cushioning in its characteristic. Therefore, the outer
sole 11 lacks cushioning. As a result, the sufficient cushioning is
provided in the slip-sole 12. The slip-sole 12 is made of synthetic
resin material having an excellent elastic restoring force, or is
manufactured to have a structure in which an elastic body such as
an air pocket or a spring is installed.
[0008] The slip-sole 12 of the shoe in which the cushioning is
reinforced plays the role of buffering impact on the foot. However,
since the slip-sole centered on cushioning is manufactured,
irregular prominence and depressions are formed on the upper
surface of the slip-sole 12. Further, the slip-sole 12 has a bad
appearance. The sole is finished by stacking the innersole 13 on
the upper surface of the slip-sole 12.
[0009] In other words, the innersole 13 functions as a finishing
material for the sole.
[0010] However, as being formed to substantially have a flat shape,
the conventional innersole 13 cannot make close contact with the
foot sole, especially the arch, with small and large bends, and
cannot buffer impact on the foot sole. Further, there is a problem
in that the conventional innersole 13 causes a flat-foot of the
foot sole when a user wears the shoe with the innersole for a long
time.
[0011] In order to support the arch of the foot sole more stably
and to improve the cushioning, as shown in FIG. 2, an improved
innersole 21 with a convex portion A has been developed which can
make close contact with the arch of the foot sole.
[0012] The convex portion A making close contact with the arch as
described above has an advantage of buffering impact applied to the
foot sole, and especially the arch, so as to relax fatigue of the
foot during walking. However, since the innersoles are
mass-manufactured with a standardized structure having the convex
portion A in a single shape, the arch of the foot sole may not be
matched with the convex portion according to users. In accordance
with cases, the convex portion can provide pressure to the arch, or
cannot support the arch correctly.
[0013] Further, the conventional innersole 13 or the improved
innersole 21 has degraded cushioning as a user wears the shoe for a
long time. Furthermore, the arch-type convex portion is gradually
flatted by weight repeatedly applied thereto, so as not to support
the arch of the foot sole correctly.
[0014] In addition, since the elastic restoring force of the
innersole is remarkably degraded, the innersole cannot make close
contact with and support the foot sole with small and large bends.
As a result, fatigue of the foot increases. Especially, in the case
of a person walking for a long time or having a flat-foot, it is
impossible to stably supporting the arch using only the
innersole.
[0015] Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a
insole has been developed, which is made of a material with high
elasticity and is stacked on the upper surface of the innersole so
as to effectively support the arch of the foot sole. As shown in
FIG. 3, the insole 30 includes an intermediate supporting portion
31 for supporting a center portion of the foot sole having an arch
excepting for a front portion from a front end of the foot sole to
the arch, and a rear supporting portion 32 for supporting a rear
portion from the arch to the rear end of the foot sole.
[0016] The insole 30 includes a convex portion A formed to be
convex upwardly and making contact with the arch of the foot sole
to support the arch. The convex portion A may be made of a high
elastic material which can be deformed elastically, or a material
which is hardly deformed elastically, so as to endure user's weight
and to support the arch sufficiently. Further, the insole 30 can
support the arch to prevent the foot from bearing flat-footed.
However, in the characteristic of high elastic material, the insole
can feel hard due to lack of flexibility. In addition, the insole
has a problem of rather increasing fatigue of the foot sole when a
user uses the insole for a long time.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Technical Solution
[0017] Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve
the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art so as to
compensate the defect of shoe sole, and it is an object of the
present invention to provide a insole which can effectively support
an arch with curvature, and can adjust its elasticity based on a
user's weight, as well as improve air permeability, thereby
efficiently reducing impact on the foot and fatigue induced by the
impact, and preventing the foot from being subjected to force while
the shoe is used for a long time.
Advantageous Effects
[0018] The insole of the present invention can improve air
permeability through the thru-holes formed in the intermediate
supporting portion that come into close contact with and support
the intermediate portion of the foot sole. In addition, the insole
can effectively absorb external impact in such a manner that the
bending of the elastic protrusions protruding on the lower surface
of the insole is changed. Further, the insole has an advantage in
that the stationary protrusions can minimize movement of the insole
occurring during the walking.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0020] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the
conventional shoe soles;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the conventional shoe
innersole;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the conventional
insole;
[0023] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a insole according to
the first embodiment of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the insole in a view
from the bottom according to the first embodiment of the present
invention;
[0025] FIG. 6 is a side view showing the insole according to the
first embodiment of the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a insole according to the
second embodiment of the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the insole in a view
from the bottom according to the second embodiment of the present
invention;
[0028] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a insole according to
the third embodiment of the present invention; and
[0029] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a insole according to
the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
MODE FOR THE INVENTION
[0030] The object of the present invention will be accomplished by
a plurality of thru-holes defined by grids formed at an
intermediate supporting portion of an insole supporting the arch of
the foot sole, and a plurality of protrusions protruding downward
from the bottom surface of the insole including the intermediate
supporting portion.
[0031] The insole of the present invention makes close contact with
the foot sole from the arch to the heel, and includes an
intermediate supporting portion coming into close contact with and
supporting a center portion of the foot sole including the arch,
and a rear supporting portion coming into close contact with and
supporting a rear portion of the foot sole from a rear end of the
intermediate supporting portion to the heel. The structure and
function of each portion will be described below.
[0032] The intermediate supporting portion is a portion making
close contact with the center portion of the foot sole, including
the arch. Especially, the intermediate supporting portion has a
plate shape with an upwardly convex portion that makes close
contact with the arch of the foot sole.
[0033] Meanwhile, the convex portion has a plurality of thru-holes
formed in grids. These thru-holes are defined by a plurality of
grids parallel with and intersecting with one another. Further, the
convex portion has a structure in that a plurality of elastic
protrusions is formed on the lower surface of the grids. The
intermediate supporting portion has elastic force decreased by
means of the thru-holes, while having increased flexibility. Hence,
it is possible to remove the hard feeling sensed by the arch, and
simultaneously to improve air permeability in the shoe.
[0034] However, the elastic force of the intermediate supporting
portion is reduced, so as to not support the arch appropriately.
The elastic protrusions formed on the lower surface of the grids
defining the thru-holes function to compensate the reduced elastic
force.
[0035] Specifically, the lower surface of the upwardly convex
portion of the intermediate supporting portion is spaced from the
upper surface of the innersole of the shoe, while the upper surface
of the convex portion makes close contact with the arch of the foot
sole. Since the elastic force of the convex portion is reduced by
the thru-holes, the convex portion comes into close contact with
the upper surface of the innersole so as to hardly support the arch
of the foot sole correctly even though the arch applies a small
amount of force to the convex portion. At this time, the convex
portion is supported by the elastic protrusions protruding from the
lower surface of the grids. At a result, the arch of the foot sole
makes close contact with the intermediate supporting portion, and
is supported by means of the convex portion.
[0036] When force applied to the intermediate supporting portion by
means of the arch increases, the elastic protrusions are bent
elastically to absorb the force, so that the intermediate
supporting portion can support the arch elastically.
[0037] As described above, the intermediate supporting portion,
which has the elastic force relatively reduced by a plurality of
thru-holes formed in a grid shape, has a structure in which the
protrusions can change the amount of the elastic deformation of the
convex portion according to load or impact applied to the convex
portion, or the foot of each user with different bends of the foot
sole.
[0038] The intermediate supporting portion makes close contact with
and supports the center portion of the foot sole elastically in
such a manner that the convex portion, having flexibility increased
by the thru-holes, is subjected to the first elastic deformation,
and the elastic protrusions formed on the lower surface of the
intermediate supporting portion are bent and subjected to the
second elastic deformation.
[0039] The rear supporting portion extending from the rear end of
the intermediate supporting portion is a portion supporting the
rear portion of the foot sole, i.e. from the arch to the heel of
the foot, and has a structure in which a plurality of stationary
protrusions having the same shape as that of the elastic
protrusions is formed on the lower surface. The lower end of the
stationary protrusions tightly presses the upper surface of the
innersole, thereby preventing the insole of the present invention
from moving in the shoe when a user walks.
[0040] At this time, the stationary protrusions are preferably
formed at a portion spaced from the rear end of the insole of the
present invention toward the front end.
[0041] Specifically, as being spaced from the outermost stationary
protrusions, the rear end of the insole may be elastically deformed
upward and downward by using the outermost stationary protrusions
as a point of application, resulting in the improvement of the
cushioning of the insole.
[0042] The insole of the present invention as described above can
be used as a slip-sole stacked on the upper surface of an outer
sole, as innersole stacked on the upper surface of the slip-sole,
as well as an insole stacked on the upper surface of the innersole
of the shoe.
[0043] Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of the present
invention will be described in detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
[0044] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a insole according to
the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a
perspective view showing the insole in a view from the bottom
according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and
FIG. 6 is a side view showing the insole according to the first
embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing
a insole according to the second embodiment of the present
invention, FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the insole in a
view from the bottom according to the second embodiment of the
present invention, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a
insole according to the third embodiment of the present
invention.
[0045] As shown in drawings, the insole according to the present
invention has an intermediate supporting portion 41 formed in a
plate shape corresponding to the foot sole, excepting for a front
portion before an arch, which has a convex portion A rising so as
to come into close contact with a center portion of the foot sole
including the arch, a plurality of thru-holes H defined by grids L,
and a plurality of elastic protrusions P protruding downward from a
bottom surface of the grids L, and a rear supporting portion 42
extending from the rear end of the intermediate supporting portion
41 to a heel, so as to make close contact with the foot sole and
having a plurality of stationary protrusions P' protruding downward
from the bottom surface thereof.
[0046] At this time, the intermediate supporting portion 41 and the
rear supporting portion 42 have upper surfaces located in the same
plan. The intermediate supporting portion 41 has a thickness
thinner than that of the rear supporting portion 42, excepting for
an edge thereof. Assuming that there are no protrusions, the edge
of the intermediate supporting portion 41 and the bottom surface of
the rear supporting portion 42 come into contact with the upper
surface of the inner sole, but the bottom surface of the
intermediate supporting portion 41 excepting the edge is spaced
apart from the upper surface of the inner sole.
[0047] Further, the bottom surface of the intermediate supporting
portion 41 on which the convex portion A rises is spaced from the
upper surface of the inner sole to be located at a position higher
than that of another bottom surface. Hence, the bottom surface of
the intermediate supporting portion 41, especially, the bottom
surface of the convex portion A, has great elastic deformation,
resulting in an increase of the impact absorption range of the
insole.
[0048] In this state, the elastic protrusions P, protruding from
the bottom surface of the intermediate supporting portion 41, and
the stationary protrusions P', protruding from the bottom surface
of the rear supporting portion, make contact with the upper surface
of the inner sole. The elastic protrusions P are formed to be
longer than the stationary protrusions P'. Among the elastic
protrusions P, the elastic protrusions P protruding from the bottom
surface of the convex portion A have lengths longer than that of
others.
[0049] At this time, the stationary protrusions P' are preferably
formed to possibly be short and thick, so as not to be subjected to
elastic deformation caused by external force. On the other hand,
the elastic protrusions P preferably have lengths enough to be
elastically bent by external force.
[0050] In addition, the stationary protrusions P' have rigidity
necessary for functioning as an anchor, so that the lower end of
each protrusion p' comes into close contact with the upper surface
of the inner sole to prevent the insole of the present invention
from moving in the shoe. On the other hand, the elastic protrusions
P preferably have a protrusion structure as described above in
order to elastically support the intermediate supporting portion
41, which is thin and has a small rigidity, i.e. elasticity due to
a plurality of thru-holes H.
[0051] At this time, the stationary protrusions P' are preferably
formed on a lower surface of the rear supporting portion 42, which
is spaced by 20.about.40 mm apart from the rear end of the rear
supporting portion 42, rather than the lower surface of the rear
end of the rear supporting portion 42. This causes the rear end,
extending from the insole where the outermost stationary
protrusions P' are located, to be elastically flexible using the
outermost stationary protrusions P' as point of application. Such
elastic deformation of the rear end induces the improvement of
cushioning of the insole.
[0052] However, when a distance d between the outermost stationary
protrusions P' and the rear end is shorter than 20 mm, it is
difficult to induce the elastic deformation of the rear end.
Further, it cannot be expected to improve cushioning of the insole
because of the amount of the elastic deformation of the rear end.
On the other hand, when a distance d between the outermost
stationary protrusions P' and the rear end exceeds 40 mm, the rear
end extending from the outermost stationary protrusions P' has an
unnecessarily longer length causing the degradation of the
elasticity, thereby reducing the cushioning property. Hence, it is
impossible to obtain an effect on improvement of the appropriate
cushioning property.
[0053] It is preferred to form the elastic protrusions P on grids L
defining thru-holes h and lower surfaces of the intersections
between the grids L, in view of supporting the intermediate
supporting portion 41. The rear supporting portion 12 is a portion
which makes contact with a rear portion of the foot sole, and is
subjected to the largest pressure. Therefore, it is preferred to
form a thru-hole H penetrating the center of the rear supporting
portion 12 from the upper surface to the lower surface of the
insole, as shown in FIG. 7. This causes the rear portion of the
foot sole to come into direct contact with the upper surface of the
inner sole through the thru-hole H, thereby improving the air
permeability of the rear portion of the shoe, and simultaneously
increasing the cushioning property in the rear portion of the foot
sole.
[0054] At this time, as shown in FIG. 8, it is preferred to form
the stationary protrusions P' on the lower surface of the rear
supporting portion 42 to be adjacent to the thru-holes H. This
causes the stationary protrusions P' to endure a greater load,
thereby minimizing movement of the rear supporting portion 42.
[0055] As described above, the insole according to the present
invention is preferably made of a material with high elasticity in
order to maintain elastic contact with the foot sole. If the insole
is made of a highly elastic material having a relatively solid
surface and suitable rigidity, the foot sole can feel stiff, i.e.
uncomfortable.
[0056] Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned
disadvantage, as shown in FIG. 9, it also is preferred to attach an
upper cover 43 made of a soft and good cushioning material such as
EVA resin, leather, or polyurethane on an upper surface of the
insole of the present invention.
[0057] At this time, the upper cover 43 may be made of a material,
such as cotton fabrics or cotton blends, which has an excellent
absorbency.
[0058] As shown in FIG. 10, the insole of the present invention may
be made such that a front supporting portion 44 extends from a
front end of the intermediate supporting portion 41. Hence, the
insole may have a shape similar to that of the foot sole.
[0059] At this time, the grid-type thru-holes h are preferably
formed in the front supporting portion 44 and the rear supporting
portion 42, as well as the intermediate supporting portion 41. In
addition, a plurality of elastic protrusions P are formed on the
lower surface of the grids defining the thru-holes h, so that the
insole has the structure of supporting the entire foot sole.
[0060] If the insole is formed to have the above-mentioned
structure, the entire foot sole makes contact with the insole,
thereby making it possible to improve air permeability, and
further, to uniformly buffer impact on the entire foot sole through
the elastic protrusions P.
[0061] Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has
been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art
will appreciate that various modifications, additions and
substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and
spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying
claims.
* * * * *