U.S. patent application number 13/826326 was filed with the patent office on 2014-09-18 for footwear, insoles, inserts, kits and methods.
The applicant listed for this patent is Daniel D. Feldman. Invention is credited to Daniel D. Feldman.
Application Number | 20140259752 13/826326 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50634709 |
Filed Date | 2014-09-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140259752 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Feldman; Daniel D. |
September 18, 2014 |
Footwear, Insoles, Inserts, Kits and Methods
Abstract
Footwear, insoles, inserts, kits and methods effective for
acclimating a user's foot to a different heel-toe ramp and/or foot
strike pattern are provided. Footwear, insoles, inserts and kits of
the present disclosure have a region of adjustable thickness which
allows the user to gradually change the heel-toe ramp of the user's
foot, and/or gradually adapt to a new foot-strike pattern. Regions
of adjustable thickness may include a layered pad, inserts of
varying thicknesses which may be used with the footwear or insert,
or a material having a thickness which changes with the rate of
applied force.
Inventors: |
Feldman; Daniel D.;
(Brookly, NY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Feldman; Daniel D. |
Brookly |
NY |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
50634709 |
Appl. No.: |
13/826326 |
Filed: |
March 14, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/43 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 7/1465 20130101;
A43B 7/1435 20130101; A43B 1/0081 20130101; A43B 7/1425 20130101;
A43B 7/144 20130101; A43B 7/1445 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/43 |
International
Class: |
A43B 13/40 20060101
A43B013/40 |
Claims
1. A footwear insole having an adjustable thickness, comprising: a
top surface for receiving a bottom of a user's foot, and a bottom
surface opposite the top surface; the insole configured to extend
along a portion of the user's foot; wherein at least one portion of
the insole is a region of adjustable thickness.
2. The insole of claim 1 wherein the insole comprises a heel
region.
3. The insole of claim 2 wherein the insole extends from the heel
region to a non-heel region comprising at least a portion of an
arch region.
4. The insole of claim 3 wherein the insole further comprises a
metatarsal region.
5. The insole of claim 1, further comprising: a heel end and a toe
end on opposite ends of the insole; and a heel region adjacent to
the heel end and a metatarsal region adjacent to the toe end;
wherein at least a portion of at least one of the heel region and
the metatarsal region is a region of adjustable thickness.
6. The insole of claim 5 comprising two regions of adjustable
thickness, wherein the heel region comprises one region of
adjustable thickness and the non-heel region comprises the second
region of adjustable thickness.
7. The insole of claim 1, wherein the region of adjustable
thickness comprises a layered pad, the layered pad extending from
the bottom surface of the insole, the layered pad comprising a
plurality of padding layers disposed in contact with each other,
the padding layers having a layer of adhesive therebetween.
8. The insole of claim 1, wherein the region of adjustable
thickness comprises a bracket for receiving an insert, the bracket
configured to slidably engage the insert.
9. A kit for acclimating a user's foot to a desired heel-toe ramp,
comprising the insole of claim 8 and one or more inserts of varying
thickness.
10. The insole of claim 1, wherein the region of adjustable
thickness comprises a cavity within a heel region of the insole,
the cavity configured to receive an insert.
11. A kit for acclimating a user's foot to a desired heel-toe ramp,
comprising the insole of claim 10 and one or more inserts of
varying thickness.
12. The insole of claim 1, wherein the region of adjustable
thickness has a thickness which can be adjusted from between 12 mm
to 0 mm in 2 mm increments.
13. The insole of claim 1 wherein the region of adjustable
thickness is adapted to adjust in response to a rate of force
applied, such that a lower rate of force applied results in more
compression of the region of adjustable thickness and a higher rate
of force applied results in less compression of the region of
adjustable thickness.
14. The insole of claim 13 further comprising a recessed region and
an insert, wherein the region of adjustable thickness is an insert
disposed within the recessed region.
15. A method for acclimating a user's foot to a target heel-toe
ramp, the method comprising: providing an insole with a top surface
for receiving a bottom of a user's foot and a bottom surface
opposite the top surface, the insole extending along a portion of
the user's foot, at least a portion of the insole having a region
of adjustable thickness; and gradually adjusting the heel-toe ramp
of the insole from a starting heel-toe ramp to a target heel-toe
ramp.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the insole has a heel end and a
toe end on opposite ends of the insole, a heel region adjacent to
the heel, end and a metatarsal region adjacent to the toe end;
wherein at least one of a portion of the heel region and a portion
of the metatarsal region is the region of adjustable thickness.
17. The method of claim 16 comprising two regions of adjustable
thickness, wherein the heel region comprises one region of
adjustable thickness and the non-heel region comprises the second
region of adjustable thickness.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein the region of adjustable
thickness comprises a layered pad, the layered pad extending from
the bottom surface of the insole, the layered pad comprising a
plurality of padding layers disposed in contact with each other,
the padding layers having a layer of adhesive therebetween.
19. The method of claim 15 wherein the region of adjustable
thickness comprises a deformable bracket for receiving an insert,
the bracket configured to slidably engage an insert.
20. The method of claim 15 wherein the region of adjustable
thickness comprises a cavity within the heel region of the insole,
the cavity configured to receive an insert.
21. The method of claim 15 wherein the heel-toe ramp angle is
adjustable from 12 mm to 0 mm in 2 mm increments.
22. The method of claim 15 wherein the region of adjustable
thickness is adapted to adjust in response to a rate of force
applied, such that a lower rate of force applied results in more
compression of the region of adjustable thickness and a higher rate
of force applied results in less compression of the region of
adjustable thickness.
23. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of gradually adjusting
the heel-toe ramp angle comprises: adjusting a thickness of the
region of adjustable thickness to provide a first desired heel-toe
ramp angle; using the insole with footwear for a first duration of
time sufficient for a user's foot to acclimate to the first desired
heel-toe ramp angle; adjusting the thickness of the region of
adjustable thickness to provide for a second desired heel-toe ramp
angle different from the first desired heel-toe ramp angle; and
using the insole with footwear for a second duration of time
sufficient for a user's foot to acclimate to the second desired
heel-toe ramp angle.
24. A method for acclimating a user's foot from a first foot-strike
pattern to a second foot-strike pattern, the method comprising:
providing an insole with a top surface for receiving a bottom of a
user's foot, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, a heel end
and a toe end on opposite ends of the insole, a heel region
adjacent to the heel end, and a metatarsal region adjacent to the
toe end; wherein at least one of a portion of the heel region and a
portion of the metatarsal region is a region of adjustable
thickness, the region of adjustable thickness is adapted to adjust
in response to a rate of force applied, such that a lower rate of
force applied results in more compression of the region of
adjustable thickness and a higher rate of force applied results in
less compression of the region of adjustable thickness, the region
of adjustable thickness being located at a first location where the
foot first strikes the ground during a first foot-strike pattern;
and using the insole with footwear for a first duration of time
sufficient for a user's foot to acclimate to a second foot-strike
pattern having a second location where the foot first strikes the
ground.
25. The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of: removing
the region of adjustable thickness from its first location to the
second location when the user's foot has acclimated to the second
foot-strike pattern.
26. The method of claim 24 further comprising removing the insole
from the footwear once the user has acclimated to the second
foot-strike pattern.
27. The method of claim 24 wherein the first foot strike pattern is
a pattern wherein the heel strikes the ground first, and the second
foot-strike pattern is a pattern where the mid-foot strikes the
ground first.
28. Footwear, comprising: an insole having a top surface for
receiving a bottom of a user's foot, and a bottom surface opposite
the top surface; a heel end and a toe end on opposite ends of the
insole; a heel region adjacent to the heel end and a metatarsal
region adjacent to the toe end; a recessed region in at least one
of the heel region and the metatarsal region; and an insert
disposed within the at least one recessed region, wherein the
insert comprises a non-Newtonian material.
Description
FIELD
[0001] The field generally relates to footwear, and more
particularly to insoles, kits, and methods for use with
footwear.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Insoles, inserts, and other types of cushioning mechanisms
are just a few of the products on the market directed to the
well-being of the human foot. The human foot experiences repetitive
stresses from bearing the weight of the human body on a daily
basis, during a variety of activities, including walking, climbing,
kicking, running, dancing and jumping.
[0003] The repetitive stresses experienced by the foot may lead to
injury of the bones, joints, and the hundreds of muscles, tendons
and ligaments present in the human foot, leg and/or back.
III-fitting shoes, obesity, diseases such as arthritis or diabetes
can lead to bone fractures, tissue inflammation and other injuries.
Foot injuries can occur in any part of the foot including the heel,
toes, metatarsal joints and arch. Treatment for, and prevention of,
foot injuries or foot discomfort can benefit from the use of
padding or cushioning systems. Padding or cushioning systems may be
a part of the footwear design, or may be provided by the use of
supplemental insoles or inserts.
[0004] For example, some shoes, such as shoes for athletes,
frequently have cushioning in the heel to absorb the impact of the
heel strike during running, and to otherwise minimize the stress on
the heel. Additionally, supplemental insoles or inserts may be used
with training shoes or other footwear to target particular areas of
the foot to provide the desired padding, cushioning, alignment,
and/or support of the foot. Various inserts and insoles are
available to provide arch, heel, ball and toe support, to minimize
pronation, and to address issues that arise from medical
conditions.
[0005] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,774,883 is directed to
orthopedic insoles which prevent the foot from bending excessively
at the metatarsal joints. This configuration attempts to minimize
stretching, cracking or other damage to the skin which may be slow
to heal and may lead to painful wounds in people with diabetes.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,788,826 is directed to a dynamic shock attenuation
system which produces a proportional response to a wide range of
impact forces. Despite the advances in the art, further advances
are possible and desired.
SUMMARY
[0006] Disclosed herein are embodiments for footwear, removable
insoles, inserts, kits and methods to configure and/or modulate the
effective elevation of a user's heel relative to the elevation of
the user's ball of foot and/or toe region. The desired elevation
can be achieved during periods of load, such as standing, walking,
running, and the like. In some embodiments, a footwear insole of
adjustable thickness between a heel region and a non-heel region
(such as a metatarsal, ball-of-foot, toe, and/or arch regions and
the like) can be provided. The present embodiments can allow at
least one of a portion of the heel region or a portion of the
non-heel region (preferably the ball of foot/metatarsal region) to
be configured to a desired elevation during such load events and
even at rest.
[0007] Footwear and/or insoles and inserts having a region of
adjustable thickness may be provided in some embodiments to at
least a portion of the heel region, at least a portion of the
metatarsal region, or both. In one approach, a region of adjustable
thickness can comprise a layered pad with a plurality of padding
layers, wherein removal or addition of a padding layer alters the
thickness of the layered pad. The pads can be configured to be on
either side of a base insole or insert, namely the side adjacent to
or away from a user's foot. In another embodiment, the region of
adjustable thickness can comprise a bracket for receiving inserts
of varying thicknesses. An insert of a particular thickness may be
interchanged with an insert of a different thickness in the bracket
to change the thickness of the region of adjustable thickness. In
yet another embodiment, the region of adjustable thickness can
comprise a cavity within the insole. The cavity can be configured
to receive inserts of varying thicknesses. An insert of a
particular thickness may be interchanged with an insert of a
different thickness in the cavity to change the thickness of the
region of adjustable thickness. It is noted that the footwear
itself may be configured to receive the layered pads, or the
inserts of varying thickness by configuring the footwear with a
bracket or cavity to receive the inserts of varying thickness.
[0008] A footwear kit for acclimating a user's foot to a desired
heel-toe ramp is also provided. In one approach, the kit can have
an insole or insert having at least one bracket, and at least one
insert or a set of a plurality of inserts of varying thicknesses,
which removably engage with the bracket. The inserts may be
interchanged in a stepwise fashion to incrementally adjust the
thickness of the region comprising the brackets. In another aspect,
the kit can have an insole having at least one cavity, and at least
one insert or a set of inserts of varying thicknesses which may be
removably disposed within the cavity. The inserts can be
interchanged in a stepwise fashion to incrementally adjust the
thickness of the region comprising the cavity. By adjusting the
thickness of various portions of the insole or insert, the user can
adjust the effective heel-toe/ball of foot ramp during load. In
other approaches, the footwear kit comprises footwear configured
with at least one bracket or cavity to receive at least one insert
or a plurality of inserts of varying thicknesses.
[0009] Also provided by the present disclosure is a method for
acclimating a user's foot to a target heel-toe ramp, comprising the
step of gradually adjusting the heel-toe ramp of an insole from a
starting heel-toe ramp to a target heel-toe ramp. This adjustment
can be made, for example, by varying the thickness of the insole in
gradually decreasing or increasing increments. The incremental
percentage change in thickness may, for example, be in ten percent
increments. In other embodiments, the change in thickness may be,
for example, in 2 mm increments. The gradual adjustment of the
heel-toe ramp angle can include providing an insole having a heel
region and/or a metatarsal region wherein the thickness of at least
one of a portion of the heel region or a portion of the metatarsal
region is adjustable in thickness. The thickness of the portion of
the heel region or the portion of the metatarsal region can be
adjusted to provide for a first desired heel-toe ramp. The insole
or insert is then used with footwear for a first duration of time
sufficient for the user's foot to acclimate to the first desired
heel-toe ramp. The thickness of the portion of the heel region or
the portion of the metatarsal region is again adjusted to provide
for a second desired heel-toe ramp different from the first desired
heel-toe ramp. The insole is then used with the footwear for a
second duration of time sufficient for the user's foot to acclimate
to the second desired heel-toe ramp. Each adjustment may be an
incremental adjustment in a direction towards the target heel-toe
ramp. In other approaches, the method for acclimating a user's foot
to a target heel-toe ramp comprises gradually adjusting the
heel-toe ramp of footwear from a starting heel-toe ramp to a target
heel-toe ramp using any of the adjustment mechanisms described
above.
[0010] Also provided by the present disclosure is a method for
acclimating a user's foot from a first foot-strike pattern to a
second foot-strike pattern comprising providing an insole with a
heel region and a metatarsal region wherein at least a portion of
the heel region of a portion of the metatarsal region is a region
of adjustable thickness having a thickness which changes in
response to the rate of force applied. The region of adjustable
thickness is located at a first location where the foot first
strikes the ground during the first foot-strike pattern. The user
uses the insole with footwear for a first duration of time
sufficient for a user's foot to acclimate to a second foot-strike
pattern having a second location where the foot first strikes the
ground.
[0011] Numerous other advantages and features of the present
disclosure will be become readily apparent from the following
detailed description and the embodiments therein, from the claims
and from the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of an insole according
to one exemplary embodiment;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 which illustrates an
adjustment of the thickness of the insole of FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of an insole according
to another embodiment;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of components of a kit
including the insole of FIG. 3;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of an insole according
to another embodiment;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a sectional side view of the insole of FIG. 5
taken along lines VI-VI;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of components of a kit
including the insole of FIG. 5;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of a heel insert
according to a one exemplary embodiment.
[0020] FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view of a % insole according
to one embodiment;
[0021] FIG. 10 is a bottom perspective view of an insole according
to yet another embodiment;
[0022] FIG. 11 is a sectional side view of the insole of FIG. 10
taken along lines XI-XI; and
[0023] FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of an insole according to
another embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] There is growing interest the biomechanics of the movement
of the human feet and body during barefoot running or running with
footwear having little or no heel-toe ramp angle relative to the
surface on which the runner is running or otherwise ambulating. In
these minimalist conditions there is less or no cushioning of the
feet and the body to the ground surface during standing or
ambulation (such as running and walking) compared to a typical
training shoe, which has more cushioning and heel elevation. For
example, a typical training shoe has a heel-toe ramp resulting from
heel-toe drops of between 12 mm to 15 mm, or sometimes even more.
It is noted that herein the heel-toe ramp is defined as the change
in elevation of footwear from at least a portion of the heel to at
least a portion of a non-heel region, with and/or without a load.
The non-heel region can include any portion of the foot that is
distal to the heel, such as the arch, metatarsus, ball-of-foot,
toes, and the like and combinations thereof. A load can include the
stationary weight of a user, or effective weight applied to the
footwear during a user's foot strike (ambulation), such as when
running and/or walking and the like. In some embodiments the heel
and non-heel portion elevation change can be measured where a
center of load from the human heel and the center of load from the
ball of the human foot occur.
[0025] Running with minimal or reduced heel cushioning (compared to
the heel cushioning provided by more traditional training shoes)
allows for a lower heel-to-toe ramp. Studies have shown that the
lower heel-toe ramp allows the foot to move more naturally and to
provide a more efficient running posture. Such studies emphasize
the benefits of running minimally and have caused an increase in
the popularity of minimalist shoes, which have decreased cushioning
and/or heel elevation. However, transitioning from more traditional
training shoes with heel-toe ramps of up to 15 mm to minimalist
running shoes with a lower heel-toe ramp or even no heel-toe ramp
may be challenging or problematic for some users, and pose the
potential for injury.
[0026] For example, with a higher heel-toe ramp (e.g., 12-15 mm),
the user's Achilles tendons and calf muscles are in a shortened
position compared to the Achilles tendon and calf muscles with
minimalist shoes, which are in a stretched or elongated position.
This can cause problems as a user transitions the high heel-toe
ramp downwards due to the increased stretching of the Achilles
tendon and calf muscles. Furthermore, due to the different
biomechanics of minimalist (or even barefoot) running, the
distribution of stress during running in a minimalist shoe is also
different from the distribution of stress during running in a
traditional shoe. As the heel cushion/elevation no longer exists
(or exists minimally) to absorb the shock of a strike during
running, certain parts of the body, such as the ankle, calf, hip
flexor muscles may experience increased stress from an increased
load than to which they are accustomed. With the resultant
decreased heel elevation, the user is also encouraged or tends to
strike the ground mid-foot.
[0027] When transitioning from a heel strike to a mid-foot strike
(e.g., ball-of-foot, metatarsus region) and particularly during
high impact activities such as running, the user's mid-foot and/or
metatarsal region may require a period of gradual adjustment to
acclimate to the new stress experienced in that region. When a user
initially transitions from a traditional running shoe to a
minimalist type running shoe, the user may still be used to running
by striking the ground heel first. However, the minimalist shoe may
not have sufficient support or impact resistance in the heel
region. Accordingly, due to the change in dynamics and stress of
the foot when transitioning from a traditional running shoe (with a
high heel-toe ramp angle) to a minimalist type shoe (with little or
no heel-toe ramp angle), a gradual transition over a period of time
such as a few weeks or months to adapt to minimalist type shoes may
be beneficial. The present disclosure is directed to footwear,
insoles, inserts, kits and methods which can be used to transition
from footwear with a high heel-toe ramp of about 12 to about 15 mm
(preferably 12-15 mm), to footwear with a lower (preferably 0 to
about 4 mm or 4 mm) or no heel-toe ramp.
[0028] Prior art insoles have a fixed configuration targeted to
specific areas of the foot rather than addressing the need for an
insole which transitions the user to adapt to different footwear
styles. With prior art insoles, a user may be forced to make
multiple footwear insole purchases in order to transition to a
desired heel-toe ramp angle. The present disclosure is also
directed to insoles which can assist in providing support to areas
of the foot that may receive increased stress due to a different
movement of the foot, such as during barefoot or minimalist
running. Prior art insoles have not taken into consideration
acclimating a user's foot to varying stress impacts, such as when
transitioning from a heel strike, to a mid-foot strike, which
places additional stress previously not imposed on the mid-foot
region. The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure allow
the user to maintain a more natural movement, yet also allowing
transition to footwear which changes the high impact regions of the
foot.
[0029] In one aspect, the present disclosure provides footwear,
insoles and inserts having a region of adjustable thickness. It is
noted that for the most part each instance of reference to an
insole is also equally directed to embodiments of footwear and
inserts. Accordingly, the insole may be a full insole, or a portion
thereof, preferably having at least a heel region. The region of
adjustable thickness may be at least a portion of the heel region,
or at least a portion of the metatarsal region, or both. The region
of adjustable thickness can be oriented on the surface side of the
insole directed to the user's foot (not shown), but is preferably
oriented to the surface side of the insole opposite to the side
oriented to the user's foot (i.e., directed toward the running
surface). By adjusting the thickness of one or more regions of the
insole, the heel-toe ramp or relative elevation of the heel to
non-heel portions of the foot, such as the toe region, can be
adjusted to allow for changes in relative elevation of about 15 mm
to about 2 mm. For example, a user may have an initial heel
elevation (relative to the non-heel elevation) of about 15 mm,
about 12 mm, or about 4 mm, from which the user wishes to
transition to a target heel elevation (relative to the non-heel
elevation) of about 4 mm, about 2 mm, and even 0 mm. The adjustment
in elevation can be achieved by varying the thickness or number of
a plurality of interchangeable inserts in the region of adjustable
thickness or by using a material which can vary the elevation of
the heel-toe ramp angle based on load, such as by using a material
that can vary the elevation of specific parts of the insole as a
function of load applied by a user. It is noted that while reducing
the heel-toe ramp elevation is preferred, the present embodiments
can also be used in reverse sequence to increase heel-toe ramp.
This may occur if a user is using a minimalist elevation and wants
to transition to a more traditional heel-toe elevation.
[0030] Again, while the term heel-toe ramp is used herein, it is
noted that the term can equally mean the elevation difference
between the user's heel and any non-heel portion of his foot.
Further, the heel-toe ramp elevation is described for an unloaded
insole for ease of understanding. It is noted that in some
instances, the insole may be subject to some amount of compression
that reduces the effective elevation differential while under load.
This reduction in elevation can even vary by the variance in the
load placed on the insole by the user. Reduction in elevation can
also vary by the materials used in the insole. For example
closed-cell foam, polyurethane, polyethylene, gels, thermoplastic
rubber, and the like would compress less than an open foam
composition. Accordingly, the disclosed elevation variance can be
described as either the loaded (effective) or unloaded heel-toe
variance, though herein the "effective" variance is considered in
the dimensions provided herein.
[0031] Turning now to the figures, FIG. 1 illustrates one
embodiment of a footwear insole 120 having an adjustable thickness
feature which allows for an adjustment in the heel-toe ramp by
changing the relative elevation of the heel and toe. Insole 120 has
a top surface (see, 150 in FIG. 6) for receiving the bottom of a
user's foot, and a bottom surface 130 opposite the top surface 150.
It is noted that the insole 120 can include footwear or any of a
variety of devices for placement within footwear, such as insoles,
inserts, heel inserts, three-fourth length insoles, metatarsal
inserts and the like. In other embodiments, the region of
adjustable thickness of the insole 120 may be affixed to an
existing shoe insole (not shown). As shown in FIG. 1, the insole
120 can have a first end (heel end) 124 and a second end 122 distal
to the heel end 124 along a user's foot (e.g., a toe end, a
metatarsal end, or a heel end), in FIG. 1, a toe end 122. A heel
region 132 is adjacent to the first (heel) end 124 and a non-heel
region 134 is adjacent to the second end (toe end) 122. The heel
region 132 corresponds to region of the insole 120 that receives
the weight load of the user from the back of the human foot below
the ankle and behind the arch. The non-heel region 134 corresponds
to the region extending distally beyond the heel region 132, for
example, a metatarsal region. In the embodiment illustrated in
FIGS. 1 and 2, both the heel region 132 and the metatarsal region
134 comprise a region of adjustable thickness, though as noted
before, the region of adjustable thickness may be on either one of
the heel region 132 or metatarsal region 134, or both, as shown in
FIGS. 1-2. Heel toe ramp/elevation is preferably configured at the
points of impact of the user's foot during ambulation, rather than
at rest. The insole 120 can also have an interior edge 152 and
exterior edge 154, wherein the interior edge 152 is configured to
correspond to a user's arch region and the exterior edge 154
corresponds to an outside edge of a user's foot.
[0032] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the region of adjustable
thickness of the insole 120 may have one or more layered pads 126,
128 with, for example, multiple padding layers 140a, 140b, 140c,
140d as illustrated in FIG. 2. The padding layers 140a, 140b, 140c,
140d can be releasably joined by, for example, an adhesive 148 on
one side of each respective padding layer 140a, 140b, 140c, 140d.
The adhesive 148 can be any type of adhesive that adheres the
layers 140a, 140b, 140c, 140d together and peels away only with an
effort greater than found in normal use and does not leave a
residue on the newly exposed layer. For example, a pressure
sensitive adhesive with a release layer on the opposing side of the
next layer can be used. It is also noted that other potential means
of binding the padding layers may be considered, including for
example, molecular attraction, static forces, surface tension,
mechanical fasteners, such as hook and loop fasteners (such as
those sold under the trade name VELCRO), and the like and
combinations thereof. In some embodiments the inherent adhesiveness
of the materials, such as some gels, may be used to hold the
layered pads in place.
[0033] As shown, the layered pads 126, 128 have a top surface (not
shown) affixed to the bottom surface 130 of the insole 120, and a
bottom surface 142a opposite the top surface. The bottom-most
padding layer 140a provides the bottom surface 142a. It is again
noted that the layered pads 126, 128 could optionally be affixed to
the top surface 150 of the insole 120 such that they are on the
side of the insole 120 in contact with the foot. In embodiments
where layered pads are configured to be on the top surface, an
optional cover layer could be placed over each layered pad and the
top surface (not shown) of the insole 120. When the bottom-most
padding layer 140a is removed from the layered pad 126, 128 as
illustrated in FIG. 2, a new bottom-most padding layer 140b is
revealed and provides a new bottom surface 142b of the now thinner
layered pad 126 and/or 128.
[0034] The bottom-most padding layer 140a may be removed from or
added to the layered pad 126, 128 as desired by peeling the
bottom-most padding layer 140a away from the padding layer 140b
adjacent to the bottom-most padding layer 140a. One or more padding
layers 140b, 140c may also be removed along with the bottom-most
padding layer 140a. The number of padding layers to be removed
depends on the thickness of each of the padding layers 140a, 140b,
140c, 140d, and the desired heel-toe ramp/elevation variation. The
multiple layers of padding 140a, 140b, 140c, 140d may be the same
thickness, or may be different in thickness. In one embodiment, the
region of adjustable thickness of the insole 120 may be a single
layer of padding joined to the bottom surface 130 of the insole 120
by an adhesive 148. The layer of padding may be removed to change
the thickness of the region of adjustable thickness. In one
embodiment, each layer can be about 2 mm in thickness and formed
from a non-compressible material (preferably about 0.5 to about 2.5
mm in thickness such as 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm). Thus for illustration,
where the padding layers 140a, 140b, 140c, 140d are
non-compressible, 6 padding layers can be included in the heel
region to reduce the insole from a 12 mm ramp elevation difference
between the heel and the metatarsal area of an unloaded insole to a
neutral or equal elevation. As a further embodiment, each layer can
represent a drop from the highest to the lowest ramp elevation in
the range of 1 to 25 percent of the difference, and preferably 10
to 20 percent of the difference. Thus if each padding layer 140a,
140b, 140c, 140d represents 20 percent of the difference between
the starting ramp elevation and the target elevation, then 5
padding layers would be indicated. Where the padding layers 140a,
140b, 140c, 140d are compressible, the thickness can be accordingly
adjusted so that the effective layer thickness under anticipated
load achieves the same dimensions as an unloaded non-compressible
layer.
[0035] The multiple layers of padding may be joined by an adhesive
148 disposed between the padding layers 140a, 140b, 140c, 140d. The
adhesive 148 may be a pressure sensitive adhesive or any other
suitable adhesive known to one skilled in the art that can provide
for adhesion between two padding layers, which can also be
separated. In other embodiments, the multiple layers of padding may
be formed from materials that provide adhesive or frictional
properties to maintain the padding layers in contact with each
other, yet provide for ease of separation from one another when
needed. The padding layers may be formed from silicone, rubber,
polyurethane, polyethylene, gels, closed cell foam, open cell foam,
and the like with an adhesive and release layer disposed between
the pads.
[0036] In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, the insole 120
comprising one or more layered pads is a full insole extending from
a heel end 124 to a toe end 122. The region of adjustable thickness
of the insole 120 may be the heel region 132, the non-heel region
134 (here, the metatarsal region), or both, in which case only the
heel region 132, only the metatarsal region 134, or both,
respectively, would comprise one or more of the layered pads. In
other embodiments, the insole 120 can be configured to extend
across only a portion of the foot. Exemplary insoles can be only
for the heel portion (e.g., insole 820 of FIG. 8), a partial
extension beyond the heel portion such as a three-fourth insole
(insole 920 of FIG. 9), or only for the metatarsal portion (not
shown). The heel portion insole 820, or the metatarsal portion
insole 920, may comprise one or more layered pads, a cavity, or a
non-Newtonian material (described in more detail below).
[0037] In another embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the
region of adjustable thickness of insole 220 comprises deformable
brackets 222, 224 for receiving inserts 234a, 232a. Brackets 222,
224 are preferably disposed on the bottom surface 230 of the insole
220, and are configured in any suitable size or shape to removably
engage the inserts 234a, 232a. The brackets 222, 224 may be formed
as a unitary piece with the insole 220, or may be separately
attached to the bottom surface 230 of the insole 220. The brackets
222, 224 may be made from the same or different material as the
insole 220. Preferably, the brackets 222, 224 are of sufficient
flexibility to accommodate inserts of varying thicknesses.
Alternately, the inserts 234a and 232a may each have a peripheral
lip 238 corresponding to the dimension of interior edge 240 of
brackets 222 and 224. The brackets 222, 224 can range from rigid,
e.g., no more than about 20 percent bending under a running load,
or flexible to conform to the flexing of the user's foot during
ambulation.
[0038] Inserts of varying thicknesses may be used in conjunction
with the brackets 222, 224 to adjust the thickness of the region of
adjustable thickness of the insole 220. A set of inserts 234a,
234b, 234c, 232a, 232b, 232c having thicknesses "a," "b," "c" as
illustrated in FIG. 4 may be combined in a kit 236 with the insole
220. The user may then adjust the thickness of the metatarsal
region 226, the heel region 228, or both, as desired. In one
embodiment, the set of inserts 234a, 234b, 234c for the metatarsal
region 226 and the set of inserts 232a, 232b, 232c for the heel
region 228 have the same corresponding increments in thickness such
that inserts 234a and 232a are of the same thickness "a," inserts
234b and 232b are of the same thickness "b," and so forth . . . ,
wherein "a" is greater than "b" which is greater than "c." In other
embodiments, the set of inserts 234a, 234b, 234c for the metatarsal
region 226 and the set of inserts 232a, 232b, 232c for the heel
region 228 may have different thicknesses. Any combination of
thicknesses for the inserts 234a, 234b, 234c metatarsal region 226
and the inserts 232a, 232b, 232c for the heel region 228 can be
used to provide a desired heel-toe ramp and the desired degree of
gradual progression of heel-toe ramp.
[0039] In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 3-4, the insole 220
comprising brackets 222, 224 is a full insole extending from a heel
end 124 to a toe end 122. The region of adjustable thickness of the
insole 220 may be the heel region 228, the metatarsal region 226,
or both, in which case only the heel region 228, only the
metatarsal region 226, or both, respectively, would comprise the
bracket for receiving an insert.
[0040] In other embodiments, an insole 820 extends along a portion
of the foot, such as only along the heel portion as shown in FIG.
8, a three-fourth insole 920 extends along an extended heel portion
as shown in FIG. 9, or an insole extends only along the metatarsal
portion (not shown). The heel portion only, or the metatarsal
portion only, may comprise a bracket for receiving an insert.
[0041] In yet another embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5-7, the
region of adjustable thickness of an insole 320 comprises a cavity
350 within the insole 320. The cavity 350 within the insole 320 has
been shown in the heel region 328 only, but may be disposed within
the metatarsal region 326 only (not shown), or within the
metatarsal region 326 instead of or in addition to a cavity within
the heel region 328. The cavity 350 is configured to receive an
insert 352.
[0042] Inserts of varying thicknesses may be used in conjunction
with the cavity 350 to adjust the thickness of the region of
adjustable thickness of the insole 320. A set of inserts 352a,
352b, 352c having thicknesses "a," "b," "c" as illustrated in FIG.
7 may be combined in a kit 336 with the insole 320 to permit a user
to adjust the thickness of the region comprising the cavity 360, as
desired. In one embodiment, the set of inserts 352a, 352b, 352c
have thicknesses "a," "b," and "c," wherein "a" is greater than "b"
which is greater than "c." In other embodiments, the insole 320 may
comprise a cavity 360 in both the metatarsal region and the heel
region. A set of inserts for the metatarsal region 326 and the heel
region 328 may be combined with the insole 320 to form a kit. Any
combination of thicknesses for the metatarsal region inserts and
the heel region inserts can be used to provide a desired heel-toe
ramp/elevation and the desired degree of gradual progression of
heel-toe ramp angles. The inserts 352a, 352b, 352c can be rigid or
semi-rigid as described above and can be non-compressible under
user load during ambulation. It is also noted that the coefficient
of friction for some materials, such as gels, will inherently be
held in place while inserted into cavity 350.
[0043] In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 5-7, the insole 320
comprising a cavity 360 is a full insole extending from a heel end
324 to a toe end 322. The region of adjustable thickness of the
insole 320 may be the heel region 328, the metatarsal region 326,
or both, in which case only the heel region 328, only the
metatarsal region 326, or both, respectively, would comprise the
cavity 360. In other embodiments, the insole 320 may extend for a
portion of the foot, such as only for the heel portion as shown in
FIG. 8, an extended heel portion such as a three-fourth insole as
shown in FIG. 9, or only for the metatarsal portion (not shown).
The heel portion only, or the metatarsal portion only, may comprise
the cavity 360. In some embodiments, when the cavity 360 is empty,
the top and bottom surfaces of the cavity 360 are in contact with
each other such that the cavity 360 is substantially closed. The
cavity 360 is sufficiently elastic and flexible, and/or
compressible to accept inserts of vary thicknesses and to conform
to movement of the foot.
[0044] In another embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, a
footwear insole 420 comprises a top surface (not shown) for
receiving the bottom of a user's foot, a bottom surface 430
opposite the top surface, a heel end 424 and a toe end 422 on
opposite ends of the insole 420. A heel region 432 is adjacent to
the heel end 424 and a metatarsal region 434 is adjacent to the toe
end 422. The metatarsal region 434 comprises a recessed region 436.
An insert 460 of adjustable thickness 460 is disposed within the
recessed region 430. The thickness of the insert 460 may be
adjusted by using a material which varies in thickness in response
to the rate of force applied. Such material which varies in
thickness in response to the rate of force applied exhibit
non-Newtonian characteristics.
[0045] Non-Newtonian materials are materials that exhibit
non-linear stiffness in response to a strain rate. In other words,
the non-Newtonian material can be flexible and compressible during
periods of a first load such as a user walking or standing. In
response to an increase strain from, for example from the increased
load caused by a user running, the material can stiffen and have
reduced or no-compressibility. The non-Newtonian material has a
compressibility which changes in response to the rate of force
applied, such that a lower application of force results in more
compression of the region of adjustable thickness, resulting in a
thinner material, and a higher application of force results in less
compression of the region of adjustable thickness, resulting in a
thicker material.
[0046] A non-Newtonian material may be a fluid, a gel, or a
gel-like solid. Non-Newtonian materials may comprise polymers, such
as silicone based polymers, which may be formed using siloxane, or
poly-vinyl alcohol. Non-Newtonian materials may comprise lubricants
materials such as oil, waxes, or grease. A non-Newtonian material
may also include a filler type material used in combination with
one or more of a polymeric material and lubricant, such as
described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,701,529. One type of non-Newtonian
material is known commercially as PORON XRD. The insert 460 can be
flush or elevated beyond with the bottom surface 430 of the insole
420. In some embodiments, the insert 460 may protrude from the
bottom surface 430 of the insole 420 such that the metatarsal
region is thicker than the heel region. The insert 460 may be
uniform in thickness, or may vary in thickness across the insert
460. The insert 460 may be any configuration, such as a
discontinuous area, such as a series of concentric circles, for
example, or a set of individual regions.
[0047] Accordingly, an insole having a non-Newtonian material can
be used to provide cushioning and comfort during lower impact
activities such as walking or standing. However, when a user
engages in higher impact activity, the non-Newtonian nature of the
insert provides the desired stiffness for more impact resistance.
When running in a minimal-drop shoe with a lower heel, the foot
becomes more naturally inclined to strike at the mid-foot region.
Thus, the use of a metatarsal insert of a non-Newtonian material
can provide the user with the impact resistance needed while the
user is acclimating the metatarsal region to the new positioning of
the foot in the minimal-drop shoe. For example, in FIG. 11, heel
elevation 450 can be greater than the non-heel elevation 452 under
a standing or walking load. The difference in the heel elevation
450 to non-heel elevation 452 can be reduced by increasing a
dimension 454 if a user increases the load, such as by running, of
the non-Newtonian insert 460, as described in more detail below.
Thus, an insole comprising a non-Newtonian material in the
metatarsal region provides the user with impact resistance during a
foot-strike pattern wherein the foot strikes the ground first
mid-foot, while still being able to maintain a relatively neutral
heel-toe ramp/relative elevation due to the non-Newtonian material
being compressible at low impacts.
[0048] The insole may also comprise a non-Newtonian insert in the
heel region to assist the user in transitioning to a minimal-drop
running shoe, wherein the user may still be inclined to strike the
ground heel first, as is customary with traditional running shoes.
Because the minimal-drop running shoe provides less cushioning in
the heel, a user who has not acclimated to minimal-drop shoes and
is still accustomed to a heel-strike would benefit from an insole
having a non-Newtonian material in the heel which can provide the
impact resistance needed for protection, yet without the need for
thicker cushioning material which contributes to the steeper
heel-toe ramp/relative elevation in more traditional shoes. In some
embodiments, the non-Newtonian material in the heel is an insert or
layer which may be removed once the user has acclimated to
minimal-drop running shoes, and is no longer as inclined to strike
heel first. The removal of the non-Newtonian material from the heel
region allows the user to enjoy the remaining benefits of the
insole without having to purchase a separate insole. Once the user
has acclimated to a minimalist shoe, the user is less inclined to
strike heel first and has developed a foot-strike pattern wherein
the foot tends to strike mid-foot first. In other embodiments, the
heel insert comprising a non-Newtonian material may be removed and
transferred to the metatarsal region once the user has acclimated
to minimal-drop running shoes, and is no longer as inclined to
strike heel first. Thus, the placement of the non-Newtonian
material in the metatarsal region provides support to the user in
the region of higher impact now that the user has a mid-foot strike
foot-strike pattern. The transfer of the non-Newtonian heel insert
from the heel region to the metatarsal region may coincide with
removing a Newtonian material from the metatarsal region and
disposing the Newtonian material in the heel region such that the
non-Newtonian and Newtonian inserts are interchangeable within the
insole to accommodate the impact resistance needs of different
foot-strike patterns.
[0049] In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the insole
520 can be formed from a non-Newtonian material in only the
non-heel region 534. As shown in FIG. 12, a side view of an insole
520 is shown having a non-Newtonian non-heel region 534 and a
semi-rigid and semi-compressible heel region 532 such as, for
example, a polyurethane gel. In use, the insole 520 could have a
heel elevation dimension 550 (corresponding to the thickness of the
heel region 532) that is greater than the dimension 552 of the
non-heel region 534 (which can represent the elevation of the
non-heel region 534 due to the amount of compression of the
non-Newtonian material during standing or walking). During periods
of high impact, such as running, which causes the non-heel region
534 to stiffen, the non-heel elevation can increase to a dimension
554, which is greater than the dimension 552, thus reducing the
heel-toe ramp angle. For illustrative purposes only, during a
standing load wherein the force on the insert is applied at a lower
rate, (indicated at 540) the dimension 550 could be 12 mm and the
dimension 552 could be 4 mm indicating a heel to non-heel elevation
difference of 8 mm. If the user starts to run, the load (indicated
at 560) could result in the heel maintaining a 12 mm elevation, but
the higher rate of load applied to the non-heel region 534 will
cause stiffening of the non-heel region, and compress the non-heel
region less, such as to 10 mm instead of the 4 mm at standing
loads. This effectively would reduce the heel to non-heel elevation
variance to only 2 mm. Thus, the insole 520 could provide a
heel-toe ramp typical of traditional shoes under lower rates of
load, but convert to characteristics of a `minimalist` shoe during
higher rates of load, such as when running.
[0050] In some embodiments, the use of a non-Newtonian insert may
be combined with any other embodiment to provide a region of
adjustable thickness. In one approach, the regions of adjustable
thicknesses can comprise non-Newtonian materials. In embodiments
where the region of adjustable thickness comprises layered pads
126, 128 as illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 1 and 2, one or more
layers of a layered pad, or a portion thereof, can comprise
non-Newtonian materials. In other embodiments where the region of
adjustable thickness comprises deformable brackets 222, 224 for
receiving inserts 234a, 232a as illustrated, for example, in FIGS.
3 and 4, one or more of the inserts, or portions thereof, may
comprise a Non-Newtonian material. In yet another embodiment where
the region of adjustable thickness comprises a cavity 350 within
the insole 320 configured to receive an insert 352, such as
illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 5-7, one or more of the inserts
352, or portions thereof, can comprise non-Newtonian materials.
[0051] The present disclosure also provides a method for
acclimating a user's foot to a target heel-toe ramp or relative
elevation. One approach can involve the step of gradually adjusting
the heel-toe ramp/relative elevation of an insole from a starting
heel-toe ramp to a target heel-toe ramp. A gradual adjustment of
the heel-toe incline can provide an insole with a top surface for
receiving the bottom of a user's feet, a bottom surface opposite
the top surface, a heel end and a toe end on opposite ends of the
insole. A heel region is adjacent to the heel end and a metatarsal
region is adjacent to the toe end. At least one of a portion of the
heel region or a portion of the metatarsal region is a region
adjustable in thickness. The thickness of at least one of a portion
of the heel region or a portion of the metatarsal region is
adjusted to provide for a first desired heel-toe ramp angle. The
insole is used with footwear for a first duration of time
sufficient for a user's foot to acclimate to the first desired
heel-toe ramp angle. The thickness of at least one of a portion of
the heel region or a portion of the metatarsal region is adjusted
again to provide for a second desired heel-toe ramp angle different
from the first desired heel-toe ramp angle. The insole is then used
with footwear for a second duration of time sufficient for a user's
foot to acclimate to the second desired heel-toe ramp angle.
[0052] The adjustment of the region of adjustable thickness to
acclimate a user's foot to a target heel-toe ramp angle may be by
any of the adjustment mechanisms described above with respect to
FIGS. 1-7. The gradual adjustment of the heel-toe ramp angle to
acclimate a user's foot to a target heel-toe ramp angle may also
comprise providing an insole which extends for a portion of the
foot, such as the heel portion, an extended heel portion, or a
metatarsal portion. The partial insoles, as shown, for example, in
FIGS. 8 and 9, comprise a region of adjustable thickness which may
be adjusted by any of the adjustment mechanisms described above
with respect to FIGS. 1-7. It is noted though that in a kit form,
for example, the heel insert of FIG. 8 and the 3/4 insole of FIG. 9
can be formed into a set of fixed thickness inserts and insoles
that vary in 2 mm. In this instance the user would swap out the
entire insert or insole in the kit with another insert or insole in
the set when a change in heel-toe ramp angle is desired. The set of
insoles or inserts in these kits can be organized or identified by
their thickness by imprinting indicia (such as 2 mm, 4 mm, 6 mm,
etc.) on insert or insole; varying colors, and the like and
combinations thereof. Likewise left and right mirror images of each
of the inserts and insoles can be similarly identified. It is noted
that these identifying features could apply to all the embodiments
described herein.
[0053] A user may desire to gradually transition from footwear
having a steep heel-toe ramp angle as described above to footwear
having a lower heel-toe ramp angle using the insoles provided in
the disclosure. For example, a user with feet accustomed to the
steeper heel-toe ramp angle of a traditional running shoe may
desire to switch to a minimalist-type running shoe with less heel
support and elevation and a lower heel-toe ramp angle. However, the
minimalist type running shoe with the lower heel support places the
user's heel in a lower position than the user is accustomed to.
This lowered positioning may extend the Achilles tendon and the
calf muscle in a manner with which the user is not accustomed, and
posing the potential for injury. To reduce the potential for
injury, the user may find it easier to use an insole to help
gradually acclimate the foot, the tendons, the calf muscles, and
other muscles to their newer position. The user may also desire to
have more support or impact resistance in the heel during an
initial transition period wherein the user is more inclined to have
a heel-strike type foot-strike pattern, and have more support or
impact resistance in the mid-foot area after the initial transition
period wherein the user has adjusted to a mid-foot type foot-strike
pattern.
[0054] In other embodiments, the three-fourths insole 920 and heel
insert 820 may be completely formed to a specific heel thickness
and sold individually or as a kit. In these embodiments, the user
may completely replace the insole or heel insert to stepwise
increase or decrease the heel height dimension. Such inserts can be
in addition to an insert already provided within the shoe and can
be placed either above or below the provided insert. For example, a
user accustomed to a 12 mm heel-toe ramp reduction of 12 mm can
purchase footwear having a heel-toe ramp of zero mm (i.e., neutral
or minimalist) and insert an insert or insole having a 12 mm heel
thickness and after a period of time of adjustment replacing it,
for example, with one that is 10 mm, and repeating until the
desired height difference is achieved.
[0055] The insoles comprising regions of adjustable thickness may
be used to gradually acclimate a user to footwear with a different
heel-toe ramp angle. For transitioning from footwear with a steep
heel-toe ramp angle to footwear with a less steep heel-toe ramp
angle, the insole may be used with the footwear having the lower
heel-toe ramp angle and allowing the user to gradually reduce the
thickness of the heel to gradually reduce the relative elevation of
the toe and the heel. The gradual reduction of the relative
elevation of the toe and heel can also be achieved by adjusting
both the thickness of the heel region and the metatarsal
region.
[0056] Another way to transition from a steep heel-toe ramp angle
to a less steep heel-toe ramp angle would be to use one or more of
the insoles described above with footwear having the steeper
heel-toe ramp angle and allowing the user to gradually increase the
thickness of the metatarsal region to gradually reduce the relative
elevation of the toe and the heel while ambulating. The gradual
reduction of the relative elevation of the toe and heel can also be
achieved by adjusting both the thickness of the heel region and the
metatarsal region.
[0057] Also provided by the present disclosure is a method for
acclimating a user's foot from a first foot-strike pattern to a
second foot-strike pattern comprising providing an insole with a
heel region and a metatarsal region wherein at least a portion of
the heel region of a portion of the metatarsal region is a region
of adjustable thickness which changes in response to the rate of
force applied. The region of adjustable thickness being located at
a first location where the foot first strikes the ground during the
first foot-strike pattern. The user uses the insole with footwear
for a first duration of time sufficient for a user's foot to
acclimate to a second foot-strike pattern having a second location
where the foot first strikes the ground. For example, a user who
wishes to transition form a traditional type running shoe having
cushioning in the heel region to a more minimalist type shoe would
benefit from the initial placement of an insert comprising a
non-Newtonian material in the heel region. During an initial
transition period where the user is still inclined to have a
heel-strike type foot-strike pattern, the user may desire to have
more support or impact resistance in the heel region. Once the user
has acclimated to a minimalist type shoe which encourages a
mid-foot strike type of foot-strike pattern, the user may find that
impact resistance type cushioning is no longer needed in the heel
region. In some embodiments, the insert in the heel region
comprising a non-Newtonian material to provide impact resistance
may be removed once the user has transitioned from a first
foot-strike pattern (such as a heel-strike) to a second foot-strike
pattern (such as a mid-foot strike). In other embodiments, because
the user has transitioned to a second foot-strike pattern which is
a mid-foot strike, any insert in the mid-foot region may be
replaced with the non-Newtonian insert from the heel region to
transform the insole to one providing impact resistance during a
mid-foot strike foot-strike pattern.
[0058] From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous
variations and modifications may be effected without departing from
the spirit and scope of the disclosure. It is to be understood that
no limitation with respect to the specific embodiments illustrated
herein is intended or should be inferred.
* * * * *