A removable, three quarters length, innersole for an article of footwear, adapted to provide cushioning and/or support to a foot. Said innersole comprises a forward toe portion having a radius edge, a rear heel portion having a radius edge and an intermediate arch cushion portion between said toe and heel portions. The forward toe portion, the rear heel portion and said intermediate arch cushion portion are one-piece. The innersole being resilient. The innersole including a first flat bottom surface, a second upper surface having an intermediate arch portion whose contour is generally convex-shaped and a third concave-shaped surface extending from said bottom surface to said upper surface to define with said upper surface an arched projection extending upwardly from said bottom surface and outwardly at a distance about equal to or greater than the tangent of said toe radius edge and said heel radius edge. The arched projection defining a space beneath said third surface. The innersole permits said projection to resiliently deform into the space defined by said projection upon application of a load to said innersole to provide cushioning and/or support to an arch.
A body warmer for use in footwear is disclosed which is prevented from slipping in footwear and is capable of warming a desired portion accurately, and which includes an exothermic composition capable of generating heat in the presence of air, an air-permeable bag accommodating the composition, and an air-tight bag sealingly enveloping the air-permeable bag, the air-permeable bag being formed with a non-slip layer in at least a portion thereof.
A shoe sole having upper and lower layers movable relative to one another in a manner which promotes physiologically desirable movements of the subtalar joint of a shoe wearer's foot and thereby aids in the absorption of shock forces occurring when the shoe strikes the ground during a walking or running stride. The lower layer has an upper surface inclined downward and toward the lateral side of the sole, and a resilient intermediate layer separates the upper and lower layers. Application of weight to the hindfoot section of the upper layer at heel strike forces that section downward and laterally relative to the lower layer, placing the lateral edge of the upper layer in close proximity with a vertically oriented fulcrum formed in an upturned lip on the lateral side of the lower layer. Transfer of weight to the forefoot as the running or walking stride continues causes the forefoot section of the upper layer to move downward and laterally, and the upper layer simultaneously rotates about its point of contact with the fulcrum to return the hindfoot region to its original position. The inward rotation of the foot as the as the hindfoot section moves laterally also encourages the screw home function of the knee to improve its stability and injury resistance.
An orthopedic insert (2) includes a stiffening base part (4) and thereupon a shock-absorbing upper part (8) extending substantially over the entire insert (2). At least backwards from a point about 1/3 from the forward edge of it, the shock-absorbing upper part is substantially uniformly thick. The base part (4) is formed with an upstanding wall (6) round the heel portion thereof for keeping the heel cushion in place. On its underside the insert has regions (14, 16) with material removed under the longitudinal and forward arches of the user's foot. A method of manufacturing such an insert is also a subject of the invention.
An insole for a shoe made of foam resin containing fine bubbles, the thickness of which increases from the portion corresponding to the arch of the foot to the trailing end of the heel to give a slope on said insole, the bottom edge or corner of the heel is cut to provide cavities between the cut surface of the insole and the inner surface of the shoe to allow the insole to be deformed into said cavity due to the load on the insole for guarantee of cushion.
A shoe insert for adjusting the fit of a shoe on a person's foot. The insert is formed from resilient material and is secured within the heel area of a shoe. The insert is elongated and has a narrow central portion for engaging a person's heel between the heel bone and the achilles tendon, and a pair of enlarged lateral portions for engaging the sides of the heel. The insert also has a tapered thickness which decreases from a thick upper part toward a thin lower part of the insert.
