Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CUSTOMIZABLE ARCH SUPPORT SYSTEM
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is related to and claims priority from prior
provisional
application Ser. No. 62/211,695, filed August 28, 2015, entitled "ADJUSTABLE
ARCH
SUPPORT SYSTEM", the contents of all of which are incorporated herein by this
reference and
are not admitted to be prior art with respect to the present invention by the
mention in this cross-
reference section.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to an insole arch support
system for use in
female designer shoes, but can also be used in men's and children's shoes.
More specifically, the
present invention relates to a customizable arch support system allowing the
wearer to personally
tailor the arch support to their specific foot arch height by selecting a
molded arch support insert
that best conforms to the wearer's unique foot arch.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Orthotic devices are typically contoured, plate-like structures which
fit in a shoe so as to
correct or control the position and function of the foot. These orthotic
devices are of a fixed
design once manufactured, and are no longer configurable once they are made.
Since the most
critical functions of the foot generally involve the heel and mid-foot
portions, a degree of rigidity
is required in these areas in order for the device to carry out its
biomechanical purposes. Hence,
many devices of this type have a rigid, inflexible plate or cap which extends
from the heel of the
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foot through the mid-foot, and sometimes generally extending to the metatarsal
heads, known as
the ball of the foot. Thus, they are typically only useful in flat or mostly
flat-soled shoes.
[0004] The construction of these devices often presents a problem from the
standpoint that this
makes the device too thick for use in many types of shoes. Particularly in the
area of women's
high-heeled shoes where the interior volume is extremely limited and the
rigidity does not allow
these devices to fit over the steeply contoured shape of women's high-heeled
shoes. A custom,
rigid orthotic device may become problematic when fitting into shoes having an
elongated shaft
or throat, such as boots. The additional thickness of the insole when using a
custom orthotic
device may limit the footwear designer's ability to maintain a sleek, thin,
fashionable look.
[0005] Further, any additional thickness applied to the interior volume f; o
lc of the shoe may
result in discomfort or injury. A custom device may be too wide or too narrow
to fit the wearer's
foot comfortably when inserted in the shoe. In particular, tightness of the
vamp of the shoe may
lead to nerve damage, injuring the wearer. To go without support of the arch
of the foot can
result in severe cramping of the abductor hallucis, which will draw in the
adjacent flexor
muscles, resulting in pain and inability to perambulate.
[0006] If the arch of the foot is not properly supported, a wearer may exhibit
none of the
traditional symptoms of over-pronation (foot posture) until presenting with
pain, which may be
in the knees or lower back. The source of discomfort may be hidden within the
foot, leading to
misdiagnosis and potential further injury. Of particular concern is a wearer
with an existing
injury that seems to resolve until using a high-heeled shoe, exacerbating the
injury and
prolonging length of treatment for relief.
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[0007] A fixed design, un-configurable custom orthotic would be prescribed;
however, the
needs of a recovering injury can change minutely or drastically, rendering the
cost of a custom
orthotic prohibitive to resolution if frequent changes are needed by the
wearer. Further,
conditions such as pregnancy may change the size and shape of a woman's foot
daily, making a
fixed design, un-configurable custom orthotic impractical, and potentially
harmful to the wearer.
[0008] Fashionable shoes may also be designed to have a narrow toe. If the
load of the body
weight is not distributed appropriately, with the aid of an appropriately
sized arch, the toes may
be compressed into the shoes by the weight of the body, which may lead to
permanent
deformation of the toes as they conform to their environment.
[0009] Accordingly, there exists the need for an orthotic insole having
minimal thickness and
still provides a solution for the variability of the arch in the foot among
different wearers, or the
changing need of a single wearer, while remaining fashionable in the field of
heeled shoes.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[00010] The present invention overcomes the problems cited above by providing
an insole,
which may be integral to the shoe or may be separate, and is configured to
removably attach an
arch support insert into a fastening system in the mid-foot arch portion of
the insole. A plurality
of arch support inserts are available such that the wearer may choose to use
the insole without an
arch support insert or fasten the appropriate sized and shaped arch support
insert to the insole.
Current additive manufacturing and 3D scanning technology makes it possible to
provide
affordable, completely customizable arch support inserts. An arch support
insert cover is
provided to protect the arch support insert from the wearer's bare feet.
Because the insole and
arch support contain a fastening means, the arch support insert remains
correctly positioned on
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the mid-foot arch of the insole during use in any type of footwear, including
women's high-
heeled shoes. A properly fitted insole with the insert attached will disperse
the weight equally
upon the bones and ligaments of the foot, giving balance to the wearer along
with improved
spinal health; hence, an overall positive impact on the body as a whole.
[00011] The customizable arch support system comprises a shoe insole that is
configured to
allow the addition of a removably attached arch support insert. A plurality of
differently sized
and shaped arch supports are provided to fit the specific arch in the wearer's
foot. A fastening
means is used to attach said arch support inserts to said insole of the shoe.
Covers are provided
that will be positioned above the insole and arch support insert in the shoe.
The arch support
insert is removably attached to the insole via a fastening means, preferably a
snap-type fastening
system. However, other fastening means may be used, such as hook and loop
fasteners, double-
sided adhesive tape, or other fastening means. The arch support insert is
available in a plurality
of arch configurations ranging from a low arch to a high arch, or individually
customized, so that
it may accommodate the specific wearer's arch.
[00012] The insole is thin when compared to other arch support systems while
remaining
configurable and still applicable to the steeply down-curved platform found in
women's
fashionable high-heeled shoes. A shank conforms to the curve of the shoe under
the heel and
arch of the foot, and provides structural integrity to aid in supporting and
distributing the
wearer's body weight from ball of the foot, through the arch, to the heel of
the foot. By selecting
an appropriate insert, this arch support system will result in a shoe insole
that inherently provides
greater body stability and balance to the wearer by distributing body weight
over the entire foot,
thereby lessening the pressure on the metatarsal heads, the ball of the foot
and the heel cup
within the shoe.
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[00013] The following preferred embodiment of the present invention describes
the position and
configuration and construction of the elements of the invention, which are an
insole, a snap-type
fastening system, an arch support insert and a cover. The insole is comprised
of several layers of
material and at least one female snap-type fastener to construct an insole
that conforms to the
curvature of a steeply down-curved arch typical in women's high-heeled shoes.
A shank is
located on a first layer of fiberboard and synthetic adhesive along the
centerline of the mid-foot
area. A preferably flexible cellulose board layer is then placed on top of the
first insole layer with
a synthetic adhesive layer, with at least one female snap-type fasteners set
into the material. The
layers are crimped and shaped to conform to the inside of the shoe. Then, a
layer of the synthetic
adhesive material is placed on the flexible cellulose board layer and a
microcellular urethane
cushioning layer(s) is placed on the synthetic adhesive layer that has been
configured and
adapted by cut-outs to reveal the female snap-type fasteners. The insole
layers may be made of a
variety of shock absorbing materials. U-shaped gel or polymer material pads
are adhered in the
heel portion of the insole and formed to cup the heel of the foot. The heel
cup may extend
upward into the shoe to reduce and customize the heel volume for narrower heel
widths. Finally,
after the shoe is constructed, a cover or sock liner of leather or synthetic
material, with circular
cut-outs to leave the at least one snap-type fastener exposed, is adhered to
the top of the insole
layers. This creates a cushioning insole that will accept attachment of the
arch support insert
while not taking up too much space within the tight confines of typical
women's fashion high-
heeled shoes.
[00014] The fastening means that attach the arch support insert to the insole
is preferably
comprised of a typical snap-type fastener system, further comprising an at
least one male snap-
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type fastener fitting into an at least one female snap-type fastener.
Alternately preferably, other
types of fastening systems may be used such as hook and loop fastening system,
among others.
[00015] The arch support insert is comprised of a compressible, cushioning
material molded to
conform to the arch of the mid-foot and at least one male snap-type fastener
permanently
attached to the bottom of the arch support insert. The compressible,
cushioning material is
preferably covered with a leather or lightweight synthetic fabric, possibly
with a layer of gel or
urethane foam between the cushioning material and the cover. Alternately
preferably, a leather,
or mesh material may be used to protect the compressible, cushioning material
from body oils
and other contaminants.
[00016] The arch support insert is preferably formed from ethylene-vinyl
acetate (EVA).
Alternately preferably, the arch support insert may be formed from
polyurethane (PU) foams,
silicone, nylon or Santoprene-brand thermoplastic vulcanizates (a
thermoplastic elastomer), or
similar materials. The arch support insert is molded to generally conform to a
human being's foot
arch in various arch heights and lengths. At least one male snap-type fastener
corresponds to at
least one female snap-type fastener located in the insole to removably attach
the arch support
insert to the insole of the shoe.
[00017] A cover is comprised of a durable material is structured and arranged
to cover or
envelope the arch support insert to protect the arch support insert from the
wearer's foot. The
material of the cover may be comprised of leather, canvas or other durable
material on top of the
arch support insert, and a flexible fabric, leather, or mesh-type material to
wrap around the arch
support insert and hold the cover in place. Alternatively, the cover may be
multiple pieces of a
durable material with the at least one male snap-type fastener located to
correspond to the
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matching at least one female snap-type fastener. The arch support insert may
be covered with a
top layer of durable material with no cover on the underside or sandwiched
between two layers
of durable material with the cover preferably stitched around the perimeter.
[00018] The arch support insert is available in many different sizes to match
a wearer's mid-foot
arch size. Among the many different sizes available, the insert will function
to support a low
arch, medium arch, high-arch, or be customizable to the wearer's specific
foot. A wearer will
simply select the arch support insert size that best fits their individual
foot, place the cover
around the arch support insert, and fasten the covered arch support insert to
the insole of the
shoe. Alternatively, the wearer will select the appropriate arch support
insert with the cover
already attached and fasten it to the insole of the shoe.
[00019] In an alternate embodiment, the insole is further comprised of
additional gel inserts, or
similar-type cushioning materials, that are located at the ball of the foot
and in the heel cup areas
for further cushioning within the insole of the shoe. Due to the nature of
women's high-heeled
shoes, more pressure is placed on the ball of the foot because of the steeply-
arched downward
curvature of the shoe from heel to toe. This causes the ball of the foot to
bear greater pressure
because of the intimate contact of the ball of the foot and the heel within
the shoe. By providing
a gel insert in the area of the ball of the foot and the heel cup combined
with the arch support
insert, less pressure will be applied to these areas while wearing a high-
heeled shoe, and such
pressure that is applied will be dispersed by the gel inserts.
[00020] A method of providing customizable arch support in fashionable women's
high-heeled
shoes comprising the steps of: selecting an arch support insert based on
wearer's particular arch
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in the mid-foot region, and attaching said arch support insert to an insole
using a snap-type
fastening system.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[00021] The particular objects and features of the invention as well as the
advantages will
become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the
accompanying
drawings in which:
[00022] FIG. 1 shows a top view of the shoe insole of the customizable arch
support system.
[00023] FIG. 2 shows a top view of the cover or sock lining exposing the
female snap-type
fasteners attached to the insole of the customizable arch support system.
[00024] FIG. 3A is a top view of the arch support insert of the customizable
arch support
system.
[00025] FIG. 3B is a bottom view of the arch support insert of the
customizable arch support
system.
[00026] FIG. 3C is a side view of the arch support insert of the customizable
arch support
system.
[00027] FIG. 3D is an alternate side view of the arch support insert of the
customizable arch
support system.
[00028] FIG. 4 is a top view of the customizable arch support insert system
with the arch
support insert fastened to the shoe insole.
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[00029] FIG. 5 is a cross section of the customizable arch support system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF BEST MODE AND PREFERED EMBODIMENTS OF
THE INVENTION
[00030] The foregoing and other objectives, features, and advantages of the
invention will be
more readily understood upon consideration of the following description of the
invention taken
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
[00031] Now referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a top view of one
preferred embodiment
of the shoe insole 100 of the customizable arch support system without an arch
support insert
attached, where the shoe insole 100 comprises at least one shank 108, where
the shank 108 is
encompassed within the shoe insole 100. The shank 108 is preferably configured
and arranged
so that it is imbedded and sandwiched between the layers of the shoe insole
100 of the
customizable arch support system. Preferably the shank 108 is constructed from
a metallic
material, such as steel. Alternately preferably, the shank 108 may be
constructed from aluminum.
Alternately preferably, the shank 108 may be constructed form carbon fiber.
Alternately
preferably, the shank 108 may be constructed from reinforced fiberglass.
Alternately preferably,
the shank 108 may be constructed from injected molded plastic. Alternate
material choices for
the shank will be obvious to those skilled in the art.
[00032] The shoe insole 100 preferably has a cushioning material 102 affixed
at the cushioning
material's edges with beveled foam and adhesive 104 to the upper surface and
positioned and
configured so that it will be located under the ball of the wearer's foot when
the shoe is on the
wearer. Alternately preferably, the cushioning material 102 may be integrated
into the
customizable arch support system by sandwiching the cushioning material 102
between the
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layers that make up the shoe insole 100 of the customizable arch support
system. Alternate
cushioning materials will be obvious to those skilled in the art.
[00033] As further shown in FIG. 1, the shoe insole 100 of the customizable
arch support
system preferably further comprises an attachment means, preferably female
half of snap
fasteners 106 configured and arranged such that they are located under the
arch area of the
wearer's foot. Alternately preferably, the attachment means may be the male
half of snap
fasteners. Alternately preferably, the attachment means may be the loop half
of a hook and loop
fastener system, such as Velcro. Alternately preferably, the attachment means
may be the hook
half of a hook and loop fastener system, such as Velcro. Alternate attachment
means will be
obvious to those skilled in the art.
[00034] As further shown in FIG. 1, the shoe insole 100 of the customizable
arch support
system preferably further comprises at least one cupped portion 110 located
under a wearer's
heel. In this preferred embodiment said cupped portion 110 is comprised of a
cushioning plastic
or polymer material. In this preferred embodiment, said customizable arch
support system
further comprises at least one cushioning means 102 under a ball of a wearer's
foot. In this
preferred embodiment, said cushioning means 102 is comprised of a gel
material. The cupped
portion 110 preferably comprises a cupped heel segment having an upper area
and a contoured
section 112, which transitions between the upper area and the upper surface
located under the
wearer's heel. Preferably, the cupped portion 110 is constructed using gel or
urethane foam.
Alternately preferably, the cupped portion 110 is constructed using injection
molded plastic
material. Alternate material choices for the cupped portion 110 will be
obvious to those skilled
in the art.
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[00035] As shown in FIG. 2, the shoe insole 200 of the customizable arch
support system
comprises a sock lining cover cut to expose the female half of the snap
fasteners, but without an
arch support insert attached. In this preferred embodiment, the lower surface
of the female half
of snap fasteners 206 are configured and arranged such that they are located
under the arch area
of the wearer's foot, and further extend from the upper surface to the lower
surface of the shoe
insole 200 of the customizable arch support system. Alternately preferably,
the arch support
insert can also be attached directly to the insole with the sock lining
covering the arch support
insert.
[00036] As further shown in FIG 2, a shaped and contoured edge portion 214 is
configured and
arranged so that the shoe insole 200 of the customizable arch support system
may have a tight fit,
with low tolerances, within the wearer's shoe, so that the shoe insole 200 of
the customizable
arch support system does not easily slide or move within the wearer's shoe.
[00037] As shown in FIG. 3A through FIG. 3D, four different views of the arch
support insert
352 which attaches to the shoe insole 100 of the customizable arch support
system. The arch
support insert 352 has an upper surface 354 preferably contoured to match the
arch of the
wearer's foot. The preferable curve of the upper surface 354 of the arch
support insert 352 can
be observed more clearly from either side, as in FIG. 3C and FIG 3D. The lower
surface 356 of
the arch support insert 352 is preferably contoured to match the inner shape
of the wearer's shoe
and the upper surface of the shoe insole 100 of the customizable arch support
system.
[00038] The male half of snap fasteners 358 are shown in FIG. 3B configured
and arranged on
the lower surface 356 of the arch support insert 352 so that they can be
removably attached to the
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female half of snap fasteners 106 on the upper surface of the shoe insole 100
of the customizable
arch support system.
[00039] As shown in FIG. 4, the customizable arch support system comprises at
least one shoe
insole 400, an arch support insert 452, where the arch support insert 452 is
removably attached to
the shoe insole 400 using at least one fastening means. In this preferred
embodiment, the
fastening means is preferably comprised of at least one connected snap 460.
The connected
snaps 460 shown in FIG. 4 are comprised of the fastened pair of snaps, being
the male half of
snap fasteners 358 as shown in FIG. 3B and the female half of snap fasteners
106 shown in FIG.
1. FIG. 4 further illustrates the shaped and contoured edge portion 414 which
is configured and
arranged on the lower surface of the shoe insole 400. Alternately preferably,
the fastening means
is comprised of a hook and loop fastening system.
[00040] As shown in FIG. 5, the customizable arch support system further
comprises at least
one cover 570, where the cover 570 is placed over the arch support insert 552.
Alternately
preferably, the cover 570 envelopes the arch support insert 552. In this
preferred embodiment,
the cover 570 is preferably comprised of a sheet of leather. Alternately
preferably, the cover 570
may be made of a sheet of light weight synthetic material. Alternate material
choices for the
cover 570 will be obvious to those skilled in the art.
[00041] As further shown in FIG. 5, the lower layer is comprised of the shoe
insole 500, further
comprising a shank 508, a cupped heel portion 510, and a cushioning portion
502. The arch
support insert 552 is removably attached to the shoe insole 500 by a fastening
means. The
fastening means used to removably attach the shoe insole 500 to the arch
support insert 552 is
preferably comprised of a snap mechanism 560. The arch support insert 552 is
preferably
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comprised of two bonded layers, a lower layer 576 made from a compressible
material with high
density and low compressibility, and an upper layer 574 made from a
compressible material with
low density and high compressibility. Alternately preferably, the arch support
insert 552 can also
made of one layer of compressible material. Alternately preferably, the arch
support insert 552
can be fabricated using additive manufacturing and 3D scanning technology to
customize an arch
support insert 552 to exactly match a wearer's mid-foot arch.
[00042] In other preferred embodiments, the compressibility of the upper and
lower layers of the
arch support insert 552 may be reversed, wherein the upper layer 574 is less
compressible than
the lower layer 576. In another preferred embodiment, the arch support insert
552 may have an
upper layer 574 made from urethane foam and a lower layer 576 made from a
polymer material.
In another preferred embodiment, the shoe insole 500 may be made from
fiberboard. In another
preferred embodiment, the shoe insole 500 may be constructed using an additive
manufacturing
process, commonly referred to as 3D printing, using a combination of shock-
absorbing materials.
In another preferred embodiment, the snap mechanism 560 may be affixed to the
arch support
insert 552 using synthetic tape. Alternate material choices for components of
the customizable
arch support insole system will be obvious to those skilled in the art.
[00043] Further, the present invention relates to a method of customizing the
arch support in a
heeled shoe preferably comprising the steps of: selecting an arch support
insert closely matching
a wearer's mid-foot arch 352, fastening the arch support insert into the
wearer's shoe, and
placing a cover 570 over the arch support insert. Alternately preferably, the
arch support insert is
positioned inside the cover prior to fastening the arch support insert into
the wearer's shoe.
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