U.S. patent application number 15/730656 was filed with the patent office on 2018-04-19 for heel insert.
The applicant listed for this patent is LEIF M. JENSEN. Invention is credited to LEIF M. JENSEN.
Application Number | 20180103722 15/730656 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 61902452 |
Filed Date | 2018-04-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180103722 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
JENSEN; LEIF M. |
April 19, 2018 |
HEEL INSERT
Abstract
The heel insert is an insert for an article of footwear, such as
a shoe or a boot. The heel insert includes a main body member
having an arcuate cross-sectional contour and defining a concave
inner surface and a convex outer surface. The concave inner surface
is adapted for contacting and supporting the wearer's heel, ankle
and Achilles tendon, and the convex outer surface is adapted for
contacting a rear, inner surface of the article of footwear. The
main body member has opposed top and bottom ends, with an inwardly
extending flange being formed on the bottom end. One or more
recesses or notches are formed in the flange. The main body member
is preferably formed from a high-density polyethylene hydrophobic
material with a thickness of about 0.5 mm.
Inventors: |
JENSEN; LEIF M.; (WASILLA,
AK) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
JENSEN; LEIF M. |
WASILLA |
AK |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
61902452 |
Appl. No.: |
15/730656 |
Filed: |
October 11, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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62409342 |
Oct 17, 2016 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 17/00 20130101;
A43B 23/088 20130101; A43B 7/14 20130101; A43B 3/0036 20130101;
A43B 13/22 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A43B 17/00 20060101
A43B017/00; A43B 7/14 20060101 A43B007/14 |
Claims
1. A heel insert, comprising a main body member having an arcuate
cross-sectional contour and defining a concave inner surface and a
convex outer surface, the main body member having opposed top and
bottom ends, an inwardly extending flange being formed on the
bottom end, and at least one notch being formed in the flange.
2. The heel insert as recited in claim 1, wherein the main body
member comprises a high-density polyethylene hydrophobic
material.
3. The heel insert as recited in claim 2, wherein the main body
member has a thickness of about 0.5 mm.
4. The heel insert as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one
notch comprises a plurality of notches.
5. A heel insert, comprising a main body member having an arcuate
cross-sectional contour and defining a concave inner surface and a
convex outer surface, the main body member having opposed top and
bottom ends, an inwardly extending flange being formed on the
bottom end, a plurality of notches being formed in the flange,
wherein the main body member comprises a high-density polyethylene
hydrophobic material.
6. The heel insert as recited in claim 5, wherein the main body
member has a thickness of about 0.5 mm.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 62/409,342, filed Oct. 17, 2016.
BACKGROUND
1. Field
[0002] The disclosure of the present patent application relates to
footwear, and particularly to a heel insert for an article of
footwear to protect the wearer from rubbing between his or her foot
and the rear interior of the article of footwear.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0003] Numerous conditions require people to use additional
insoles, orthotics, heel lifts and the like with conventional
footwear. Unfortunately, the usage of such inserts with
conventional footwear often results in additional rubbing between
the rear inner surface of the shoe or the like against the heel and
ankle of the wearer. Such rubbing can result in painful blisters,
calluses or sores, resulting in the wearer suffering from
discomfort and difficulty while walking. The additional rubbing may
also cause the material of the footwear to wear out at an
accelerated rate. Thus, a heel insert solving the aforementioned
problems is desired.
SUMMARY
[0004] The heel insert is an insert for an article of footwear,
such as a shoe or a boot. The heel insert includes a main body
member having an arcuate cross-sectional contour and defining a
concave inner surface and a convex outer surface. The concave inner
surface is adapted for contacting and supporting the wearer's heel,
ankle and Achilles tendon, and the convex outer surface is adapted
for contacting a rear, inner surface of the article of footwear.
The main body member has opposed top and bottom ends, with an
inwardly extending flange being formed on the bottom end. One or
more recesses or notches are formed in the flange. The main body
member is preferably formed from a high-density polyethylene
hydrophobic material with a thickness of about 0.5 mm.
[0005] These and other features of the present disclosure will
become readily apparent upon further review of the following
specification and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a heel insert.
[0007] FIG. 2A is a bottom view of the heel insert.
[0008] FIG. 2B is a bottom view of an alternative embodiment of the
heel insert.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the heel insert.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a side view of the heel insert.
[0011] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features
consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, the heel insert 100 has a substantially
curved contour, including a concave surface 105a and a convex
surface 105b. The heal insert 100 includes a posterior portion 120,
an opposing anterior portion 110, a first side portion 130 (shown
to the right in the configuration of FIG. 1) and a second side
portion 140 (shown to the left in the configuration of FIG. 1). As
best seen in FIG. 2A, the posterior portion 120 includes a flange
125a including at least one notch or recess 127a along an inner
edge of the flange 125a. The at least one notch or recess 127a is
configured for providing flexibility to accommodate variations in
shoe size. The at least one notch or recess 127a in flange 125a is
shown as having a substantially U-shaped contour in FIG. 2A,
although it should be understood that notch or recess 127a may have
any suitable contouring. For example, in the alternative embodiment
of FIG. 2B, notch or recess 127b is shown having a keyhole-shaped
contour.
[0013] As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, a top edge of the anterior
portion 110 may be beveled to facilitate foot insertion and
grasping of the heel insert 100 when the heel insert 100 is
positioned in or removed from the shoe. In use, the heel insert 100
may be vertically positioned within the heel portion of a shoe such
that the concave surface 105a supports and contacts the heel and
the lower portion of the Achilles tendon of the wearer, with the
convex surface 105b resting against an interior portion of the heel
of the shoe so as to substantially reduce, if not eliminate,
friction between the wearer's Achilles tendon and the interior
portion of the heel of the shoe.
[0014] The insert 100 may be made from any suitable type of smooth
and flexible material which will provide comfortable support for
the wearer, such as, for example, a high-density polyethylene
hydrophobic material, such as HDPE 2, having a thickness of about
0.5 mm. The usage of a high-density polyethylene hydrophobic
material, such as HDPE 2, allows heel insert 100 to be effectively
used in both wet and dry environments.
[0015] In use, the concave surface 105a of the heel insert 100 is
configured to contact and support the heel of the wearer's foot. As
such, the concave surface 105a is preferably smooth and relatively
friction-free in order to prevent calluses and/or blisters. The
convex surface 105b of the insert 100 may include a smooth or
roughened surface. A roughened surface, for example, would prevent
the insert 100 from slipping inside the heel of the shoe or boot.
It should be understood that the heel insert 100 may be
manufactured in a variety of different sizes.
[0016] The heel insert 100 may be used in conjunction with
conventional orthotics or lifts used in shoes to support and/or
protect the wearer's heel. The heel insert 100 may also be used
alone in the shoe by hikers, for example, to further protect the
heel. The flange 125a (or 125b in the embodiment of FIG. 2B), can
be tucked under the rear portion of a shoe lift, such as beneath
the wearer's heel. The heel insert 100 can protect the heel from
developing blisters and/or calluses, such as when the orthotics or
lifts cause excessive movement of the heel against the interior
portion of the heel of the shoe. As noted above, the heel insert
100 provides a smooth surface between the foot and the interior
portion of the heel of the shoe, thus aiding to prevent the heel
and the lower portion of the Achilles tendon of the wearer from
rubbing up and down against the inner wall of the shoe.
[0017] In use, the heel insert 100 can be vertically positioned in
the heel pocket of the shoe such that the flange 125a (or 125b in
the embodiment of FIG. 2B) is positioned under the rear portion of
a shoe insole or other orthotic device in the shoe. After the heel
insert 100 has been secured in the shoe, the wearer can insert his
or her foot into the shoe so that the heel portion of his or her
foot is positioned against the concave portion 105a of the insert
100. Although reference is made to a shoe in the above, it should
be understood that the insert can be used in any kind of footwear,
e.g., boots, skates, etc.
[0018] It is to be understood that the heel insert is not limited
to the specific embodiments described above, but encompasses any
and all embodiments within the scope of the generic language of the
following claims enabled by the embodiments described herein, or
otherwise shown in the drawings or described above in terms
sufficient to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and
use the claimed subject matter.
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