U.S. patent number 3,730,169 [Application Number 05/122,035] was granted by the patent office on 1973-05-01 for shoe inner sole and orthopedic support.
Invention is credited to Theodore Fiber.
United States Patent |
3,730,169 |
Fiber |
May 1, 1973 |
SHOE INNER SOLE AND ORTHOPEDIC SUPPORT
Abstract
A shoe innersole having a laminated construction of an upper
leather-like layer, a center layer formed of an open-cell
polyurethane matrix filled with a combination of lattices so as to
be plastically deformable, and a bottom layer of a resilient rubber
material. The innersole deforms in conformance with the impression
of a wearer's foot so as to concurrently soften the foot fall by
supporting a larger area of the foot while providing a resilient
cushioning effect. In another embodiment, the innersole
incorporates an additional area which cups under and provides a
minor amount of support to the arch region of the wearer's foot. In
addition, the innersole is used by an orthopedic physician to
obtain a record of the actual pressure exerted by a foot in a shoe
for the purpose of prescribing or diagnosing the foot problems of a
patient.
Inventors: |
Fiber; Theodore (Wantagh,
NY) |
Family
ID: |
22400209 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/122,035 |
Filed: |
March 8, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
600/592; 36/154;
36/44 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F
5/14 (20130101); A61B 5/1078 (20130101); A43B
7/142 (20130101); A43B 7/22 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A43B
7/14 (20060101); A43B 7/22 (20060101); A61F
5/14 (20060101); A61B 5/117 (20060101); A61b
005/10 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/2R,2S,594,595,166.5
;264/222 ;36/43,44 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Howell; Kyle L.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A laminated cushioned innersole for insertion into a shoe or
boot, comprising an upper layer of a generally smooth low-friction
material, a bottom layer of a generally resilient material, and an
intermediate permanently deformable cushioned layer disposed
between said upper and lower layers in laminated co-extensive
relationship therewith, said deformable cushioned layer being
formed of lattices constituting an open-celled polyurethane matrix
and a latex filler material so as to facilitate permanent plastic
deformation of said cushioned layer to conform to the bottom shape
of the foot of a wearer while maintaining a cushioning effect.
2. An innersole as claimed in claim 1 wherein said upper layer
comprises leather having its upper surface adapted to be engaged by
the foot of the wearer.
3. An innersole as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bottom layer is
natural rubber.
4. An innersole as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bottom layer is
synthetic rubber.
5. An innersole as claimed in claim 1 wherein said upper layer is a
vinyl plastic material.
6. An innersole as claimed in claim 1 including adhesive means for
bonding said layers in said laminated relationship.
7. An innersole as claimed in claim 1 wherein said innersole
includes arch-support means positioned in the region adapted to be
engaged by the arch of the foot of the wearer.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to cushioned innersoles for shoes or boots
and, more particularly, a laminated innersole construction having a
plastically deformable interlinear layer adapted to conform to the
shape of a wearer's foot so as to provide orthopedic support
thereof while concurrently forming a cushion tending to soften the
wearer's footfall. Further, the innersole can be removed after use
to become a permanent record of the pressure areas of the foot for
use in diagnosis of foot ailments.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In order to provide a high degree a foot comfort when wearing shoes
or boots, various types and forms of cushioned innersoles have been
previously proposed and are currently widely distributed and
marketed. Among presently known innersoles of this type are those
which are adapted to be inserted into a boot or shoe and designed
to conform to the contour of the wearer's foot, thereby providing a
resilient cushion which will alleviate or minimize pressure
concentrations which may cause callouses or similar discomfiting
effects on the foot. Generally, the prior art laminated innersoles
include a center or interlinear cushioned portion formed from a
resilient material, generally constituted of a rubber or
sponge-like polyurethane, which will impart the cushioning effect
in response to the pressure of the wearer's foot by yielding and
then resiliently springing back upon removal of the foot from the
shoe or boot. The inherent resilience of these innersoles, although
providing a cushioning effect, is not suitable to permit the
innersole to permanently deform so as to adapt to the configuration
of the wearer's foot, thereby failing to provide for an orthopedic
support for the foot and particularly the ball area thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention obviates or ameliorates the disadvantages and
drawbacks encountered in prior art cushioned innersoles by
providing a novel and unique laminated cushioned innersole which is
particularly adapted to form a self-shaping, soft undercushion or
foot support for wearers having orthopedic walking problems. In
this connection, the present invention contemplates an orthopedic
laminated, cushioned innersole which in essence, for a shoe wearer
having an orthopedic problem caused by a too hard ball of the foot,
will replace the function of the fatty foot ball tissue which tends
to break up and be displaced during walking, thereby causing pain
and discomfiture to the wearer.
Essentially, the present laminated innersole is constituted of an
upper layer, preferably made of leather or a vinyl plastic, having
a smooth top surface along which the foot of the shoe wearer may
readily slide. An interlinear or center layer is adhesively
fastened or bonded to the lower surface of the upper layer, and is
formed of a deformable cushioning material such as, for example, an
open-cell polyurethane matrix having sponge-like properties which
is combined with a filler or interstice of lattices providing for
the plastic deformation of this layer so as to conform to the foot
shape pressing thereon. A bottom layer is adhesively fastened to
the interlinear cushion layer, and consists of a resilient layer of
a natural or synthetic rubber material having a generally
high-friction, non-skid lower surface adapted to engage the surface
of the shoe or boot to thereby prevent relative sliding motion
between the shoe and the innersole upon movement of the wearer's
foot, while concurrently affording sufficient cushioning effect to
soften the foot fall during walking.
Since the latex-filled polyurethane matrix of the center or
interlinear layer remains deformed in response to the pressure
exerted thereon by the wearer's foot even after removal of the foot
from the shoe, it is particularly adapted to provide an orthopedic
cushion support which remains particularly shaped to the
configuration of the wearer's foot. This, in combination with the
resilient bottom layer, will assure the constant and required
support for those portions of the foot which are in need of
cushioning, i.e., the ball of the foot.
Another aspect of the cushioned innersole according to the present
invention is that it may be fitted with an arch-support structure,
thereby facilitating the cushioning of the ball of the foot while
concurrently providing an arch support so as to simultaneously
alleviate more than one relatively common orthopedic problem.
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to
provide for an improved laminated, cushioned innersole for a shoe
or boot.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a laminated
innersole having an interlinear cushioned layer constituted of a
polyurethane matrix having a combined intersticed latex filler.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a
laminated, cushioned innersole having an interlinear layer of a
lattice-filled upon-cell polyurethane matrix adapted to permanently
deform in response to pressure from a wearer's foot so as to form
an orthopedic support while providing the desired foot cushioning
effect.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
laminated, cushioned innersole of the type described including an
arch-support structure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
These and other objects and many of the attendant advantages of
this 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
drawing, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a laminated
cushioned innersole according to the present invention;
FIG. 2a is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view along line 2--2
in FIG. 1 before deforming pressure has been applied thereto;
FIG. 2b is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view along line 2--2
in FIG. 1 after deforming pressure has been applied thereto;
and
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a laminated
cushioned innersole according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now in detail to the drawing, wherein like reference
numerals designate like or similar parts throughout the several
views, FIG. 1 illustrates an innersole 10 adapted to be inserted
into a shoe or boot (not shown).
The innersole 10 is of a laminated construction, consisting of an
upper layer 12, a center or interlinear layer 14, and a bottom
layer 16. All of the layers 12, 14 and 16 are bonded or fastened
together by means of a suitable adhesive positioned between each of
the layers.
As illustrated in FIGS. 2a and 2b of the drawings, the upper layer
12 is formed of a material which will facilitate the easy insertion
of a wearer's foot into the shoe and permit sliding thereof along
the length of the innersole 10. Layer 12 is preferably formed of
leather, vinyl plastic or any other material exhibiting similar
leather-like physical characteristics.
Center or interlinear layer 14 is essentially constituted of a
relatively heavier thickness of an open-cell or foamed polyurethane
having its matrix intersticed or filled with a combination of
lattices which will afford this layer a higher degree of
plasticity. When pressure is exerted upon this layer 14, by the
deforming pressure upon layer 12 caused by the weight of a wearer's
foot, the latex-filled polyurethane will plastically deform so as
to conform to the configuration of the foot. The deformation of
layer 14 will be essentially permanent, in effect, when the wearer
removes the innersole 10 contained in the shoe, an impression 18
which has been made on layers 12 and 14 will remain so as to form
an orthopedically accurate mold of the bottom of the foot.
The bottom layer 16 of the innersole 10 is preferably formed of a
resilient material which may be, for example, natural or synthetic
rubber, or any other material exhibiting rubber-like resilient
cushioning properties. This layer 16, when the pressure of the
wearer's foot on the innersole 10 is relieved will spring back to
its initial undeformed configuration, so as to constitute a
resilient cushion. As is evident, the rubber-like material of layer
16 forms a bottom surface 20 having a generally high co-efficient
of friction which will prevent the sliding of the innersole 10 in
the shoe or boot upon movement of the foot along the upper surface
22 of layer 12, thereby maintaining the required position of the
innersole within the shoe.
The permanent deformation of layer 14 in conformance with the
impressions thereon by the bottom of a wearer's foot provides an
excellent orthopedic mold showing the exact configuration of the
bottom of the foot. By advantageously combining layers 12 and 14
with a resilient bottom layer 16, which will cushion the foot fall
of the wearer of the shoe containing the innersole 10, a superior
cushioning support is provided for the bottom of the foot. This
support is particularly important and advantageous for users of the
innersole who are subject to orthopedic or foot problems evidenced
by an excessively hard ball of the foot. The laminated innersole
10, by employing a plastically deformable interlinear layer 14
permits the deformation of the innersole to correspond with the
impressions of the foot, while concurrently providing a desirable
cushioning effect on the foot, thereby softening the foot fall and
replacing the fatty tissue in the foot which is broken up and
displaced through walking, particularly in the foot ball area.
In the embodiment of FIG. 3 of the drawing, an innersole 24 is
illustrated which is essentially similar to the innersole 10 of the
embodiment of FIG. 1, by including an upper layer 12, interlinear
layer 14 and a bottom layer 16 made exactly like those in the
innersole of the previous embodiment. However, in this embodiment,
the innersole 24 includes an arch support member 26 which is
preferably interposed between layers 14 and 16. The arch support
member 26 may be formed of steel or similar suitable material
commonly used in forming supports for shoe wearers who are commonly
subject to this type of orthopedic problem. The arch support may be
one which is commercially available and has been previously
incorporated into the innersole 24, or alternatively may be made on
the basis of an orthopedic mold constructed by a physician and then
inserted into a laminated innersole in accordance with the present
invention.
The foregoing disclosure relates to only preferred embodiments of
the invention, and is intended to cover all changes and
modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for the
purposes of disclosure, which do not constitute departures from the
spirit and scope of the invention.
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