A removable insole is provided which includes a layer of thermoplastic material, the thermoplastic material preferably including ethylene vinyl acetate and ethylene vinyl acetate modified by the addition of carbonyl groups. A custom-fitting insole is preferably produced by heating a substantially flat insole in a microwave oven until the thermoplastic material softens, placing the heated insole in a shoe, and having a person insert their foot into the shoe and walk around to form an impression.
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/308,091, filed Sep.16, 1994, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/093,282 filed Jul. 16, 1993,now U.S. Pat. No. 5,555,584, which continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/002,281 filed Jan. 8, 1993, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07/972,237 filed Nov. 5, 1992, now abandoned. The entire contents of these applications are incorporated herein by reference .
An insole insert for application into a shoe, and which is formed as a laminar material of various layers of paper, polymer, stranded thermoplastic or thermosetting material, foams of select consistencies and texture, in addition to a felt or microfiber type of upper layer, to add to the cushioning and softness of the insert, when applied. The insert, when subjected to heat and pressure, particularly pressure applied by the foot, conforms to the contours of the foot, and sustains such, even after prolonged usage after application into a shoe.
A method for making shoes comprises the stages of molding a base of the shoe according to a preset curve, folding the edges of the base outwards, folding the flaps of an upper outwards and of joining the upper to the base at the outer edge of the base. The method may also comprise stages of applying a thermoformable element on a first surface of the base, at least at the outer edge of the base and of applying a sole element, on at least a portion of a second surface of the base. A shoe obtained in this way, therefore, comprises a base, molded according to a preset curve and an upper attached to the base at the outer edge of the base by joining the flaps of the upper and the edges of the base which are folded outwards.
An article of footwear that includes a sizing system to allow the shoe size to be adjustable by the wearer. The article of footwear in the form of a shoe includes a sole, an upper extending from the sole, and a sizing member located within the upper, in which the sizing member is attached to the upper at the rear end of the athletic shoe. The sizing member includes an inner core, a separation feature, a fastening system, and locking feature. The inner core is substantially enclosed in a lining and the separation feature includes a plurality of perforations at the top of the sizing member. The sizing member enables a user to adjust the effective length of the shoe. The article of footwear may also include separable sockliner layers. This enables a user to adjust the effective height of the shoe. If an upper sockliner layer wraps upwardly at its sides and/or if the sizing member wraps substantially around the heel, removal of the upper sockliner layer 51 and/or the sizing element enables a user to adjust the effective width of the shoe. Also a method of adjusting the size of the article of footwear is disclosed.
A slipper for use by people with normal foot anatomy or with mild malady i.e., bunions, hammertoes and other bony prominences. The slipper is fabricated to have a mild rocker bottom sole with mild flexibility, allowing the wearer to roll through the gait cycle. A long firm medial counter, is in place, giving greater support and decreasing pronatory forces.
An article of footwear including an upper and a sole, which has an outsole for directly contacting a ground surface, and at least one element compression molded with the outsole. The at least one element is formed from a first material including at least 45% ethylene vinyl acetate, approximately 30% polyene elastomer, and approximately 20% synthetic rubber. A second material of the outsole is compatible for compression molding with the at least one element, and is less hard and less dense than the at least one element.
