U.S. patent application number 12/760652 was filed with the patent office on 2010-10-21 for moldable arch support for footwear.
Invention is credited to MARIE SMIRMAN.
Application Number | 20100263232 12/760652 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42979885 |
Filed Date | 2010-10-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100263232 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SMIRMAN; MARIE |
October 21, 2010 |
MOLDABLE ARCH SUPPORT FOR FOOTWEAR
Abstract
A molded insert, and methods for forming same, for an arch
cavity of a boot, such as, but not limited to ice skating boots, or
an arch cavity of a shoe, such as, but not limited to exercise,
therapeutic, or physiological footwear, is described. The molded
insert can be formed of any moldable material that is substantially
firm, yet comfortable, when cured or dried. The moldable material
can be used to fill in the arch cavity to form a substantially
firm, yet comfortable, surface to support the arch of the wearer's
foot, especially in the area corresponding from the beginning of
the heel portion of the foot to the beginning of the ball of the
foot (e.g., the mid-foot) and includes a vertically extending side
portion along the side of the foot's arch, thus providing adequate
support for the foot's arch during typical ice skating
maneuvers.
Inventors: |
SMIRMAN; MARIE; (Rochester
Hills, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SMIRMAN IP LAW, PLLC
P.O. BOX 80364
ROCHESTER
MI
48308
US
|
Family ID: |
42979885 |
Appl. No.: |
12/760652 |
Filed: |
April 15, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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61169346 |
Apr 15, 2009 |
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|
61169350 |
Apr 15, 2009 |
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61169493 |
Apr 15, 2009 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
36/43 ; 12/146M;
36/145 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 7/24 20130101; A43B
5/1641 20130101; A43B 7/14 20130101; A43B 7/143 20130101; A43B
7/142 20130101; B29D 35/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/43 ; 12/146.M;
36/145 |
International
Class: |
A43B 13/38 20060101
A43B013/38; A43B 7/14 20060101 A43B007/14 |
Claims
1. A method for forming an insert for an arch cavity defined as an
area between an interior surface of a piece of footwear and an arch
portion of a foot, comprising: placing an amount of moldable
material in proximity to the arch cavity; causing the moldable
material to substantially fill the volume of the arch cavity; and
allowing the moldable material to cure or harden.
2. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the piece of
footwear is selected from the group consisting of shoes, boots, and
combinations thereof.
3. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the piece of
footwear is selected from the group consisting of figure skating
boots, hockey boots, and combinations thereof.
4. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the arch cavity
extends along an area proximate to an internal side portion or a
foot bed portion of the piece of footwear.
5. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the arch cavity
extends along an area proximate to a mid-foot area or a foot bed
portion of the piece of footwear.
6. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the arch cavity
extends from between about the heel portion to about the fore-foot
portion of the piece of footwear.
7. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the moldable
material is manipulated so as to substantially fill the volume of
the arch cavity.
9. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the insert extends
along the mid-foot area of the piece of footwear.
10. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the insert extends
from between about the heel portion to about the fore-foot portion
of the foot bed.
11. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the insert
substantially fills the entire volume of the arch cavity.
12. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the insert includes
a substantially planar top surface portion.
13. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the insert includes
a curved bottom surface.
14. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the insert includes
at least one lip portion extending along a side surface
thereof.
15. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the insert includes
two spaced and opposed lip portions extending along side surfaces
thereof.
16. A method for forming an insert for an area defining an arch
cavity formed in a piece of footwear, wherein the arch cavity
extends along an area proximate to an internal side portion or a
foot bed portion of the piece of footwear, comprising: placing an
amount of moldable material in proximity to the arch cavity;
causing the moldable material to substantially fill the volume of
the arch cavity by inserting a foot into the piece of footwear such
that the foot contacts and presses against the moldable material;
and allowing the moldable material to cure or harden.
17. The invention according to claim 16, wherein the insert
includes at least one lip portion extending along a side surface
thereof, wherein the at least one lip portion substantially fills
the volume of the arch cavity.
18. An insert for filling in an area defining an arch cavity formed
in a piece of footwear, wherein the arch cavity extends along an
area proximate to an internal side portion or a foot bed portion of
the piece of footwear, wherein the piece of footwear is selected
from the group consisting of shoes, boots, and combinations
thereof.
19. The invention according to claim 17, wherein the insert
substantially fills the entire volume of the arch cavity
20. The invention according to claim 18, wherein the insert
includes a substantially planar top surface portion, a curved
bottom surface, or at least one lip portion extending along a side
surface thereof.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The instant application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 61/169,346, filed Apr. 15, 2009, U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/169,350, filed Apr. 15,
2009, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/169,493,
filed Apr. 15, 2009, the entire specifications of all of which are
expressly incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to inserts for
footwear, such as shoes or boots, and, more specifically to a
molded insert, and methods for forming same, for an internal arch
cavity of a boot, such as, but not limited to ice skating boots, or
an internal arch cavity of a shoe, such as, but not limited to
exercise, therapeutic, or physiological footwear.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Referring to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, conventional boots 10 (or
shoes 20) are typically constructed with relatively straight or
slightly curved arch portions 12. The arch portion 12 thus defines
an arch cavity 14 relative to the wearer's foot 16, especially in
proximity to the foot's arch 18. The presence of the arch cavity 14
is typically not a problem for individuals with normal arches or
even fallen arches (e.g., "flat feet") skating or walking in
conventional boots 10.
[0004] Referring specifically to FIG. 2, the shoes 20 can include
exercise, therapeutic, or physiological footwear (e.g., MBT brand
shoes, which are readily commercially available from Swiss Masai
Marketing GmbH, St. Gallerstrasse 72, 9325 Roggwil TG,
Switzerland), wherein the arch portion 22 may also define an arch
cavity 24 relative to the wearer's foot 16, especially in proximity
to the foot's arch 18 (e.g., similar to FIG. 4). As with
conventional boots, the presence of the arch cavity 24 in these
types of shoes is typically not a problem for individuals with
normal arches or even fallen arches (e.g., "flat feet"). These
types of exercise, therapeutic, or physiological footwear, which
require the wearer to balance across a line extending through the
center of the width of the sole, generally include those types of
shoes that supposedly have a number of positive effects not only on
the foot but on the whole body, including toning of various muscle
groups and/or alleviating stress on various joints.
[0005] Because typical ice skating maneuvers with ice skating boots
require the foot to be able to balance on a point of a rockered
skating blade, it is important for the wearer's foot to have
constant arch support. This is a special concern for those skaters
that have one or both feet that have high arches. The presence of
arch cavities in boots cause the skater's foot to collapse into the
arch cavity due to the foot's high arch. Needless to say, skating
performance would be expected to significantly suffer under these
circumstances.
[0006] The problem of arch cavities may be due to the trend of
conventional skating boots being made from shoe or boot last shapes
that are fairly straight or only slightly curved (as opposed to
substantially curved) through the arch portion of the foot bed or
sole. Because of these different mechanical conditions being
present, the ice skater's foot needs constant support against the
arch, and, with an arch cavity being present, the muscles, bones,
tendons and ligaments of the foot (especially in proximity to the
arch) can become stressed and/or injured as the foot (especially
the arch) repeatedly collapses (or attempts to collapse) into this
cavity.
[0007] Additionally, shoes having arch cavities can be painful for
individuals with highly arched feet to walk in, as the foot
constantly wants to "roll over" or pronate. For example,
individuals with high arches may find walking in the
afore-mentioned exercise, therapeutic, or physiological footwear
difficult or painful, despite the purported health benefits.
[0008] Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide a new and
improved molded insert, and methods for forming same, for an arch
cavity of a boot, such as, but not limited to ice skating boots, or
an arch cavity of a shoe, such as, but not limited to exercise,
therapeutic, or physiological footwear, that overcomes at least one
of the aforementioned problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] In accordance with the general teachings of the present
invention, a new and improved molded insert is provided for an arch
cavity of a boot, such as, but not limited to ice skating boots, or
an arch cavity of a shoe, such as, but not limited to exercise,
therapeutic, or physiological footwear. The molded insert can be
formed of any moldable material that is substantially firm, yet
comfortable, when cured or dried. The moldable material can be used
to fill in the arch cavity of the boot or shoe to form a
substantially firm, yet comfortable, surface to support the arch of
the wearer's foot, especially in the area corresponding from the
beginning of the heel portion of the foot to the beginning of the
ball of the foot (e.g., the mid-foot) and including a vertically
extending side portion along the side of the foot's arch, thus
providing adequate support for the foot's arch during typical ice
skating maneuvers.
[0010] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a
sufficient amount of the moldable material (e.g., in the uncured or
unhardened form) can be placed onto the arch cavity area of the
empty ice skating boot or shoe, as the case may be. The wearer's
foot can then be inserted into the boot or shoe and contacts the
moldable material so as to cause the moldable material to
substantially fill the arch cavity of the boot or shoe. The
moldable material can also optionally migrate into areas adjacent
to the arch cavity, including but not limited to the foot bed of
the boot or shoe, as well as up along the side of the arch area
where there may be a gap between the wearer's foot and the interior
surface of the boot or shoe. The moldable material can then form a
substantially firm, yet comfortable, surface for supporting the
arch of the wearer's foot, especially in the area corresponding
from the beginning of the heel portion of the foot to the beginning
of the ball of the foot (e.g., the mid-foot), thus providing
adequate support for the foot's arch during typical ice skating
maneuvers. The moldable material can then be allowed to
sufficiently cure or harden, thus forming the finished insert of
the present invention.
[0011] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
the insert can be formed of a material that is shaped rather than
molded. By way of a non-limiting example, the material can be
formed of compressed materials (e.g., sawdust/resin mixtures and/or
the like), shaped materials (e.g., cork and/or the like), and/or
the like. That is, the shape of the insert can be determined in any
way, and the insert cut or otherwise shaped to an appropriate form,
e.g., outside of the boot or shoe. However, the shaped insert would
nonetheless still need to fill the arch cavity of the boot or shoe
and provide a substantially firm, yet comfortable, surface for
supporting the arch of the wearer's foot, especially in the area
corresponding from the beginning of the heel portion of the foot to
the beginning of the ball of the foot (e.g., the mid-foot), thus
providing adequate support for the foot's arch during typical ice
skating maneuvers.
[0012] In accordance with still another aspect of the present
invention, the insert can be provided later on an after-market
basis, e.g., as a kit.
[0013] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention,
a method is provided for forming an insert for an arch cavity
defined as an area between an interior surface of a piece of
footwear and an arch portion of a foot, comprising: (1) placing an
amount of moldable material in proximity to the arch cavity; (2)
causing the moldable material to substantially fill the volume of
the arch cavity; and (3) allowing the moldable material to cure or
harden.
[0014] In accordance with another embodiment of the present
invention, a method is provided for forming an insert for an area
defining an arch cavity formed in a piece of footwear, wherein the
arch cavity extends along an area proximate to an internal side
portion or a foot bed portion of the piece of footwear, comprising:
(1) placing an amount of moldable material in proximity to the arch
cavity; (2) causing the moldable material to substantially fill the
volume of the arch cavity by inserting a foot into the piece of
footwear such that the foot contacts and presses against the
moldable material; and (3) allowing the moldable material to cure
or harden.
[0015] In accordance with still another embodiment of the present
invention, an insert is provided for filling in an area defining an
arch cavity formed in a piece of footwear, wherein the arch cavity
extends along an area proximate to an internal side portion or a
foot bed portion of the piece of footwear, wherein the piece of
footwear is selected from the group consisting of shoes, boots, and
combinations thereof.
[0016] Further areas of applicability of the present invention will
become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter.
It should be understood that the detailed description and specific
examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the
invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are
not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] Other advantages of the present invention will be readily
appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to
the following detailed description when considered in connection
with the accompanying drawings wherein:
[0018] FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a boot, in accordance with
the prior art;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a broken away elevational view of a shoe, in
accordance with the prior art;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1,
in accordance with the prior art;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1,
in accordance with the prior art;
[0022] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a moldable material being
placed onto the arch cavity area of a piece of footwear, in
accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a wearer's foot about to be
inserted into the piece of footwear having the moldable material on
the arch cavity area of the piece of footwear, in accordance with a
second embodiment of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a wearer's foot inserted into
the piece of footwear and contacting the moldable material on the
arch cavity area of the piece of footwear, in accordance with a
third embodiment of the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the insert formed in the arch
cavity area of the piece of footwear, in accordance with a fourth
embodiment of the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8,
in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention;
and
[0027] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the insert, in accordance
with a sixth embodiment of the present invention.
[0028] The same reference numerals refer to the same parts
throughout the various Figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0029] The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is
merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the
invention, or uses.
[0030] Referring to FIGS. 5-10, a new and improved molded insert 30
is provided for an arch cavity 32 of a piece of footwear, e.g., a
boot 34, such as, but not limited to ice skating boots, or an arch
cavity 36 of a shoe 37, such as, but not limited to exercise,
therapeutic, or physiological footwear. By "arch cavity," as that
phrase is used herein, it is meant any cavity, space, volume and/or
the like adjacent to and/or proximate to the arch of the foot when
it is placed in a piece of footwear.
[0031] The molded insert 30 can be formed of any moldable material
that is substantially firm, yet comfortable, when cured or dried.
The moldable material can be used to fill in, at least
substantially, the volume of the arch cavity 32, 36 to form a
substantially firm, yet comfortable, surface 40 for supporting the
arch 42 of the wearer's foot 44, especially in the area
corresponding from the beginning 46 (e.g., see FIG. 3) of the heel
portion 48 (e.g., see FIG. 3) of the foot 44 to the beginning 50
(e.g., see FIG. 3) of the ball portion 52 (e.g., see FIG. 3) of the
foot 44 and includes a vertically extending side portion along the
side of the foot's arch, thus providing adequate support for the
foot's arch 42 during typical ice skating maneuvers. By "arch," as
that term is used herein, it is meant to include, without
limitation, any area including the arch itself and/or areas
proximate to the arch.
[0032] The resulting insert 30 can have a substantially triangular
or wedge-shaped arch portion 52 (for supporting the major portion
of the arch) and an optional sole portion 54, e.g., integrally
formed therewith. The optional sole portion 54 may include a top
surface that is substantially planar. By including the optional
sole portion 54, the insert 30 can easily be placed into and
removed from the piece of footwear without having to tape, glue or
otherwise secure the arch portion 52 in place against the interior
side of the piece of footwear proximate to the arch cavity 32, 36.
Additionally, the optional sole portion 54 can potentially remedy
any defects or problems in the foot bed 56 of the piece of
footwear, e.g., depressions formed therein. Furthermore, an
optional upturned lip portion 58 (e.g., corresponding to the other
side of the wearer's foot) may be formed on the far side surface of
the insert 30. In this manner, the insert 30 can be held securely
in place against the wearer's foot 44, especially in the mid-foot
area. Accordingly, use of the insert 30 can provide the wearer's
foot with a "custom fit" to the boot 34 or shoe 37.
[0033] The insert 30 can also be formed of a material that is
shaped, e.g., by hand, rather than molded in place. By way of a
non-limiting example, the material can be formed of compressed
materials (e.g., sawdust/resin mixtures and/or the like), shaped
materials (e.g., cork and/or the like), and/or the like, that are
shaped by hand (e.g., pressing, cutting, shaving, and/or the like).
That is, the shape of the insert 30 can be determined in any way
(e.g., trial and error), and the insert 30 shaped to an appropriate
form, e.g., outside of the boot or shoe. However, the shaped insert
30 would nonetheless still need to fill the arch cavity 32, 36 to
form a substantially firm, yet comfortable, surface 40 for
supporting the arch 42 of the wearer's foot 44, especially in the
area corresponding from the beginning 46 of the heel portion 48 of
the foot 44 to the beginning 50 of the ball 52 of the foot 44, thus
providing adequate support for the foot's arch 54 during typical
ice skating maneuvers, for example.
[0034] With respect to forming the insert 30, one illustrative
method includes placing a sufficient amount of the moldable
material 60 (e.g., in the uncured or unhardened form) onto the arch
cavity 32, 36 of the empty ice skating boot or shoe, as the case
may be. The material 60 can be any type of moldable material, such
as but not limited to plastics (e.g., thermoplastics, thermosets,
and/or the like), foams (e.g., open cell, closed cell, and/or the
like), gels, and/or the like, that is substantially moldable in an
uncured or unhardened state, and is substantially firm, yet
comfortable, in a cured or hardened state. By way of a non-limiting
example, the moldable material 60 can be comprised of various
silicones, urethanes, epoxies, and/or the like. By way of another
non-limiting example, a two part silicone composition, such as but
not limited to a mixture (e.g., 1:1 by volume) of platinum silicone
putty (Part A) such as EQUINOX.TM. Series (Smooth-On, Inc. Easton,
Pa.), e.g., a mixture of polyorganosiloxanes, amorphous silica,
platinum-siloxane complex, and mineral oil, and platinum silicone
putty (Part B) such as EQUINOX.TM. 40 Slow (Smooth-On, Inc. Easton,
Pa.), e.g., a mixture of polyorganosiloxanes, amorphous silica, and
mineral oil. The pot times, cure times, and demold times can vary
depending, in part, on the particular materials selected. By way of
a non-limiting example, the resulting hardness of the cured or
hardened moldable material can be in the range of about 10 Shore A
to about 50 Shore A, although it should be appreciated that
hardness's outside of this range can also be used in the practice
of the present invention.
[0035] The moldable material should be sufficiently viscous to
prevent excessiveness "runniness" when it is placed into the
particular piece of footwear. If the moldable material has a
tendency to excessively migrate when placed into the footwear, it
can be first placed into a pouch or bag (either sealed or partially
open), with the pouch or bag then being placed onto the arch cavity
32, 36 of the empty ice skating boot or shoe, as the case may be. A
moldable material having a "putty-like" consistency would be
preferred as it can be molded into the desired general shape and
placed fairly precisely into the arch cavity 32, 36 of the empty
ice skating boot or shoe. It should also be noted that even viscous
materials can be first placed into a pouch or bag (either sealed or
partially open), with the pouch or bag then being placed onto the
arch cavity 32, 36 of the empty ice skating boot or shoe, e.g., for
sanitary reasons.
[0036] Once the moldable material 60 is appropriately placed, the
wearer's foot 44 can then be placed into the empty ice skating boot
or shoe and presses against the moldable material 60 so as to force
the moldable material 60 into the arch cavity 32, 36 so as to
provide a substantially firm, yet comfortable, surface 40 for the
arch 42 of the wearer's foot 44, especially in the area
corresponding from the beginning 46 of the heel portion 48 of the
foot 44 to the beginning 50 of the ball 52 of the foot 44, thus
providing adequate support for the foot's arch 54 during typical
ice skating maneuvers. The wearer's foot 44 can also be first
placed into a pouch or bag (either sealed or partially open) e.g.,
for sanitary reasons.
[0037] Optionally, some of the moldable material 60 (or additional
moldable material can be initially placed into the boot or shoe)
can be caused to flow, or otherwise be disposed, under the wearer's
foot 44 so as to form the optional sole portion 54 and/or the
optional upturned lip portion 58. The moldable material 60 can also
optionally migrate into other areas adjacent to the arch cavity 32,
36, including but not limited to up along the side of the arch area
where there may be a gap between the wearer's foot 44 and the
interior surface of the boot or shoe.
[0038] The moldable material 60 can then be allowed to sufficiently
cure or harden, thus forming the finished insert 30 the present
invention.
[0039] It should be noted that the insert 30 can be made to correct
deficiencies in already produced boots or shoes that include arch
cavities formed in the boots or shoes. By way of a non-limiting
example, appropriate materials and instructions for the use thereof
can be provided in a kit form, allowing wearers of these boots and
shoes to form inserts to overcome the afore-mentioned problems.
[0040] Although the present invention has been described primarily
in reference to ice skating boots (e.g., figure skating boots,
hockey boots, and/or the like) and exercise, therapeutic, or
physiological footwear, it should be noted that the present
invention can be used with any type of footwear, especially those
that include arch cavities formed therein, wherein the presence of
the arch cavity causes the wearer foot problems as a result.
[0041] While the invention has been described with reference to an
exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the
art that various changes can be made and equivalents can be
substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope
of the invention. In addition, many modifications can be made to
adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the
invention without departing from the essential scope thereof.
Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the
particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for
carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include
all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended
claims.
* * * * *