Shoe Insert

Abstract

A shoe insert for maintaining the shape and structure of a shoe. When placed in a shoe, the shoe insert applies pressure to the walls of the shoe, preventing the shape of the shoe from deteriorating over time. The shoe insert is made from a compressible form-fitting material that allows the shoe insert to form itself to the contours of a variety of shapes and sizes of shoes.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/963,350 filed 3 Aug. 2007, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a shoe insert, and in particular to a malleable form-fitting shoe insert that can adjust to fit various sizes and styles of shoes.

BACKGROUND

Shoetrees and shoe inserts have been used to maintain the shape of footwear for many years. When shoes sit idle without a firm foot substitute in place, they will naturally begin to fall out of shape and often become ruffled and wrinkled. Generally, a shoe insert solves this problem by occupying the front tip of the shoe to support the structure of the shoe. As such, a shoe insert is important for the long term care of the shoe, as it serves to reduce the amount of creases in the fabric of the shoe and helps to maintain the shoe's overall shape after continued wear.

As footwear designs have become more plentiful, so has the range of designs of shoetrees and shoe inserts available to support them. The market contains an assortment of shoetrees and shoe inserts of various shapes and materials, each typically designed for use with a specific shoe type. Among those materials are plastic, recycled formed paperboard, wood and/or plastic with spacer bar compositions, and molded tissue paper. Each of these materials have some disadvantages.

A shortfall of many currently used shoe inserts is that they are not capable of supporting a variety of shoe shapes and sizes. For example, recycled formed paperboard and plastic inserts are rigid and offer no compression that would allow them to form to the shape of a shoe. Pre-formed shoe inserts are custom molded and thus generally only fit the style of shoe they were packaged with. Wood and spacer bar shoe inserts are capable of achieving varying lengths, however the toe member they use for engaging the front portion of the shoe is fixed and has no compression to accommodate different toe boxes. Additionally wood and spacer bar shoe inserts require mechanical embodiments that are not easily engaged in the shoe and generally only accommodate loafer-style shoes and cannot be used with heels, flats, boots or sandals.

Another shortfall of many currently used shoe inserts is that they are not durable. For example, molded tissue paper inserts are made from thin tissue paper that decomposes rapidly after repeated insertion into a shoe. Recycled formed paperboard inserts are rigid and break easily. Likewise, hollow plastic inserts offer some compression but are prone to breakage after repeated use.

What is needed therefore is a shoe insert capable of use with a wide variety of shoe types.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is the objective of the present invention to provide a shoe insert that will accommodate shoes of a variety of shapes and sizes. It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a shoe insert that is both durable and reusable.

In one embodiment a shoe insert in accordance with the present invention includes a moldable, malleable, compressible, form-fitting material that allows the shoe insert to take on the shape of interior portions of a variety of shoes of different shapes and sizes.

In one embodiment the shoe insert includes a toe portion, a vamp portion and a rear portion that can be inserted into the toe portion of a shoe.

In another embodiment, the shoe insert includes a toe portion, a vamp portion and a heel portion, that create a malleable foot shape.

In a further embodiment, the shoe insert includes a toe portion, a vamp portion, a heel portion and a vertical portion in the shape of a foot and lower leg. The toe portion, vamp portion, and heel portion are made of a malleable material.

The features, functions, and advantages of the present invention will be readily understood upon a thoughtful deliberation of the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention can best be understood in connection with the accompanying drawings. However, no unnecessary limitations are to be construed by the terms used or illustrations depicted, beyond what is shown in the prior art, since the terms and illustrations are exemplary only, and are not meant to limit the scope of the present invention.

It is noted that the invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1B shows a top view of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1C shows a sectional schematic view of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2A shows a perspective view of a shoe, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2B shows top view of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2C shows a sectional view of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4A shows a perspective view of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4B shows a sectional view of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a shoe, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6A shows a perspective view of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6B shows a top view of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6C shows a sectional view of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a sectional view of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 8A shows a perspective view of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 8B shows a sectional of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 8C shows a sectional of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows a sectional view of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 10A shows a top view of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 10B shows a sectional view of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 11A shows a side view of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 11B shows a side view of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 12 shows a sectional view of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 13A shows a sectional view of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 13B shows a sectional view of a shoe insert, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following exemplary embodiments disclose shoe inserts that feature the use of a compressible, malleable, moldable form-fitting material. Polyurethane, polyurethane foam, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), thermo moldable foam, memory foam, rubber, a fabric sack filled with beads, PVC foam (polyvinyl chloride), EPE foam (polyethylene), latex foam, silicon gel, an antimicrobial material such as polyolefin, or some combination of these materials may be used to constitute the compressible, moldable material. The aforementioned list is merely illustrative, as other compressible, moldable materials are known and would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art. Likewise, the present invention is directed towards a shoe insert, and the word “shoe” is understood to refer to all footwear, including, but not limited to, dress shoes, casual shoes, pumps, flats, high heels, sneaker boots, sandals, wedge sandals, platform shoes, loafers, boat shoes, boots, slippers, sneakers, golf shoes, ballet shoes, and ballroom shoes.

Referring now in detail to the figures, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the several views, one exemplary embodiment is shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, which illustrates a shoe insert 100. The shoe insert 100 includes a vamp portion 104 that is connected to both a toe portion 102 and a rear portion 106. The shoe insert 100 is made of a unitary construction of a compressible, malleable, moldable form-fitting material, which allows the shoe insert 100 to occupy a toe portion of a range of shapes and sizes of shoes by forming to the contours it encounters. As shown in FIG. 1C, once the shoe insert 100 is inserted into the toe portion of a shoe, the toe portion 102 engages the toe portion of the shoe, and the vamp portion 104 engages the vamp portion of the shoe, allowing the shoe insert 100 to exert pressure on the walls of the shoe, maintaining the shape of the shoe. The rear portion 106 may have either a planar or an indented face. In exemplary embodiments, the shoe insert 100 may contain either a fragrance and/or an antibacterial.

Turning now to FIGS. 2A and 2B, which also illustrate that the shoe insert's 100 moldable, form-fitting material allow the shoe insert 100 to take on a variety of shapes. FIG. 2C further illustrates that the shoe insert 100 can accommodate a shoe of different shapes and sizes. FIG. 1C and FIG. 2C show that the shoe insert 100 is useful for, although not limited to, shoes with heels, as it can form to pointed toe shoes such as that shown in FIG. 1C, or rounded toe shoe, such as that shown in FIG. 2C, and is in neither case obstructed by the rising heel of the shoe.

Another exemplary embodiment is depicted in FIG. 3, which shows a shoe insert 300 that includes a vamp portion 304 that is connected to a toe portion 302 and a rear portion 306. The vamp portion 304, the toe portion 302 and the rear portion 306 are all made of a compressible, malleable, moldable form-fitting material, that collectively encompass a rigid member 308, which may have generally the same shape as the shoe insert 300. The rigid member 308 may be made of any solid material, including, but not limited to, metal, wood, plastic, cardboard, or stone. The combination of the compression provided by the vamp portion 304, the toe portion 302 and the rear portion 306, combined with the stability provided by the rigid member 308 allow the shoe insert 300 to be more sturdily inserted into the toe portion of a shoe, while maintaining a high degree of compressibility.

Another exemplary embodiment is depicted in FIGS. 4A and 4B which show a shoe insert 400 that includes a vamp portion 404 that is connected to a toe portion 402 and a rear portion 406. The vamp portion 404, the toe portion 402 and the rear portion 406 are all made of a compressible, malleable, moldable form-fitting material. The rear portion 406 includes a first aperture 200 that extends towards the toe portion 402. The first aperture 200 is joined by a second aperture 202, which extends from an upper surface of the first aperture 200, towards the vamp portion 404. These two apertures are useful in allowing a user to insert their finger into the shoe insert 400 to both push it into a shoe, and pull it out of a shoe. In an alternative exemplary embodiment, a single continuous aperture could be utilized. In yet another exemplary embodiment, a multitude of apertures could be utilized, allowing the user to grip the shoe insert 400 with multiple fingers.

Another exemplary embodiment is depicted in FIG. 5, which shows a shoe insert 500 that includes a vamp portion 504 that is connected to a toe portion 502 and a rear portion 506. The vamp portion 504, the toe portion 502 and the rear portion 506 are all made of a compressible, malleable, moldable form-fitting material. The shoe insert 500 also includes a rigid member 508 that extends outwardly from the rear portion 506, generally in a direction that is opposite to the toe portion 502. The rigid member 508 can serve as a rigid handle that allows for easier, more forceful insertion and removal of the shoe insert 500. The rigid member can be made of any on of a number of rigid materials, including, but not limited to metal, wood, plastic, cardboard, or stone. The rigid member 508 can be formed in many shapes, including, but not limited to a cylindrical rod, a rectangular rod, or any form that is designed to be easily gripped by a hand.

Another exemplary embodiment is depicted in FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C. These figures show a shoe insert 600 that includes a vamp member 604 that is connected to both a toe member 602 and a heel member 606. Shoe insert 600 is made of a unitary construction of a compressible, malleable, moldable form-fitting material, which allows the shoe insert 600 to occupy the toe portion and heel portion of a range of shapes and sizes of shoes, by forming to the contours it encounters. As shown in FIG. 6C, once the shoe insert 600 is inserted into a shoe, the toe member 602 engages the toe portion of the shoe, the vamp member 604 engages the vamp portion of the shoe, and the heel member 606 engages the heel portion of the shoe, allowing the shoe insert 600 to exert pressure on the walls of the shoe, maintaining its shape. As depicted by FIG. 6C, shoe insert 600 is useful for maintaining the shape of shoes that have a heel, such as loafers, pumps and running shoes.

Another exemplary embodiment is depicted in FIG. 7, which shows a shoe insert 700 that includes a vamp member 704 that is connected to a toe member 702 and a heel member 706. The vamp member 704, the toe member 702 and the heel member 706 are all made of a compressible, malleable, moldable form-fitting material, that collectively encompass a rigid member 708, which may have generally the same shape as the shoe insert 700. The rigid member 708 may be made of any solid material, including, but not limited to, metal, wood, plastic, cardboard, or stone. The combination of the compression provided by the vamp member 704, the toe member 702 and the heel member 706, combined with the stability provided by the rigid member 708 allow the shoe insert 700 to be more sturdily inserted into a shoe, while maintaining a high degree of compressibility.

Another exemplary embodiment is depicted in FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C, which show a shoe insert 800 that includes a vamp member 804, a toe member 802, a heel member 806 and an extension member 808. The vamp member 804, the toe member 802 and the heel member 806 are all made of a compressible, malleable, moldable form-fitting material. The extension member 808 may be made of any rigid material, including, but not limited to metal, wood, plastic, cardboard, or stone. The toe member 802 is directly connected to the vamp member 804 which form a front member 803. The front member 803 is connected to the heel member 806 through the extension member 808. When inserted into a shoe, the front member 803 of the shoe insert 800 will engage the toe portion of a shoe, while the heel member 806 of the shoe insert 800 will engage the heel portion of a shoe. Since the front member 803 and heel member 806 are both made from a form-fitting material, the shoe insert 800 is useful for, but not limited to, a variety of shoes with heels.

In another exemplary embodiment, the extension member 808 is movably affixed to the front member 803. The connection between the front member and the extension member may be a ball and socket joint, a hinge, or any other joint that allows for movement, such connections would be known to those skilled in the art. When the extension member 808 is free to move relative to the front member 803, it allows the heel member 806 to take adopt different vertical and horizontal positions as depicted by FIGS. 8B and 8C. This allows shoe insert 800 to accommodate a greater range of shoes, from flat-bottomed to heeled shoes.

Another exemplary embodiment is depicted in FIG. 9, which shows a shoe insert 900 that includes a vamp member 904 that is connected to a toe member 902 and a heel member 906. The vamp member 904, the toe member 902 and the heel member 906 are all made of a compressible, malleable, moldable form-fitting material, that collectively encompass a rigid member 908. Rigid member 908 is generally the shape of the collective form of the toe member 902 and the vamp member 904. The rigid member 908 may be made of any solid material, including, but not limited to, metal, wood, plastic, cardboard, or stone. Since the rigid member 908 resides in the toe/vamp portion of the shoe insert 900, it allows the shoe insert 900 to be anchored in the toe portion of a shoe, while leaving the heel member 906 in a position to be flexible. As such, the shoe insert 900 can be used to accommodate both flat-heeled and rising-heeled shoes.

Another exemplary embodiment is depicted in FIGS. 10A and 10B, which show a shoe insert 010 that includes a vamp member 014 that is connected to both a toe member 012 and a heel member 016. Shoe insert 010 is made of a unitary construction of a compressible, malleable, moldable form-fitting material. The heel member 016 includes an aperture 018. The aperture 018 facilitates the insertion and removal of the shoe insert 010 by providing a channel for air to flow, and by providing a grip for the user. In another exemplary embodiment the heel member may includes a plurality of apertures 018.

Another exemplary embodiment is depicted in FIGS. 11A and 11B, which show a shoe insert 110 that includes a vamp member 114 that is connected to a toe member 112, a heel member 116, and a vertical member 118. Shoe insert 110 is made of a unitary construction of a compressible, malleable, moldable form-fitting material, which allows the shoe insert 110 to occupy the toe portion, heel portion and lower leg portion of a range of shapes and sizes of shoes, by forming to the contours it encounters. As shown in FIG. 11B, once the shoe insert 110 is inserted into a shoe, the toe member 112 engages the toe portion of the shoe, the vamp member 114 engages the vamp portion of the shoe, the heel member 116 engages the heel portion of the shoe, and the vertical member 118 engages the lower leg portion of the shoe, allowing the shoe insert 110 to exert pressure on the walls of the shoe, maintaining its shape. As depicted by FIG. 11B, shoe insert 110 is useful for maintaining the shape of shoes that have a raised throat, such as boots or high-tops.

Another exemplary embodiment is depicted in FIG. 12, which shows a shoe insert 120 that includes a vamp member 124 that is connected to a toe member 122, a heel member 126 and a vertical member 128. The vamp member 124, toe member 122, heel member 126 and vertical member 128 are all made of a compressible, malleable, moldable form-fitting material, that collectively encompass a rigid member 204 that is of roughly the same shape as the shoe insert 120. The rigid member 204 may be made of any solid material, including, but not limited to, metal, wood, plastic, cardboard, or stone.

Yet another exemplary embodiment is depicted in FIG. 13A and 13B, which show a shoe insert 130 that includes a vamp member 134, a toe member 132, a heel member 136, a vertical member 138 and a collapsible extension member 206. The vamp member 134, toe member 132, heel member 136 and vertical member 138 are all made of a compressible, malleable, moldable form-fitting material. The extension member 206 may be made of any rigid material, including, but not limited to metal, wood, plastic, cardboard, or stone. The toe member 132 is directly connected to the vamp member 134 which form a front member 133. The heel member 136 is directly connected to the vertical member 138 which form a rear member 137. The front member 133 and rear member 137 are connected by the collapsible extension member 206, which provides support between the front member 133 and rear member 137 when the shoe insert 130 is inserted into a shoe. The collapsible extension member 206 may include the use of a spring-loaded rod contained in a hollow rod, a bracketed adjustable rod such as present in conventional umbrellas, or any other method of constructing a collapsible member that would be known to those skilled in the art. As depicted in FIGS. 13A and 13B, the collapsible nature of the extension member 206 will allow the user to adjust the distance between the front member 133 and the rear member 137. The capability to adjust the distance between the two pieces will allow the shoe insert 130 to fit a greater range of shoes. In another embodiment, the front member 133 and the rear member 137 would not be connected with anything and would remain as two distinct pieces, capable of separate insertion into a shoe.

Numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of structure and function. While the invention has been disclosed in several forms, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications, additions, and deletions, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts, can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and its equivalents as set forth in the following claims. Therefore, other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.

Claims

1. A shoe insert, comprising:

a body operable for insertion into an interior toe portion of a shoe, said body comprising a toe portion and a rear portion, said toe portion being connected to said rear portion via a vamp portion, said toe portion having a form-fitting end receivable within the interior toe portion of said shoe, said body formed of a compressible, form-fitting material, whereby said body is capable of supporting a variety of shapes and sizes of shoes.

2. The shoe insert of claim 1, wherein said form-fitting material is comprised of polyurethane.

3. The shoe insert of claim 1, wherein said body has a fragrance and an antibacterial incorporated therein.

4. The shoe insert of claim 1, wherein a rigid member of the approximate shape of said body is contained within said body.

5. The shoe insert of claim 1, wherein a surface of said rear portion comprises a first aperture extending towards said vamp portion, said first aperture comprising an upper surface which includes a second aperture, said second aperture extending from said upper surface generally towards vamp of said shoe, whereby a user can place their fingers in the respective apertures to push the shoe insert into the shoe, or pull it out.

6. The shoe insert of claim 1, wherein a rigid rear member extends substantially away from said toe portion.

7. A shoe insert, comprising:

a toe member comprising a compressible form-fitting material, said toe member having a rounded end suitable for installation into a toe portion of a shoe;

a vamp member comprising a compressible form-fitting material, said vamp member operable for supporting a vamp portion of said shoe; and

a heel member comprising a compressible form-fitting material, said heel member having a rounded edge suitable for receipt by a heel portion of said shoe, said shoe may be of varying sizes and designs.

8. The shoe insert of claim 7, wherein said vamp member, said toe member and said heel member are directly connected and form a single continuous body approximating a shape of a foot.

9. The shoe insert of claim 8, wherein said continuous body contains a rigid member of similar shape to said continuous body.

10. The shoe insert of claim 7, wherein said vamp member is directly connected to said toe member forming a single continuous front member, said heel member is connected to said front member through an extension member.

11. The shoe insert of claim 10, wherein said extension member is movably affixed to said front member.

12. The shoe insert of claim 8, wherein said toe member and said vamp member comprise a rigid body disposed generally in the center of said toe member and said vamp member.

13. The shoe insert of claim 8, wherein said heel member contains an aperture, whereby installation and removal of the shoe insert is made facilitated by said aperture.

14. A shoe insert, comprising:

a toe member comprising a compressible form-fitting material, said toe member having a rounded end suitable for installation into a portion of a shoe;

a vamp member comprising a compressible form-fitting material, said vamp member operable for supporting a vamp portion of said shoe;

a heel member comprising a compressible form-fitting material, said heel member having a rounded edge suitable for receipt by a heel portion of said shoe;

a vertical member comprising a compressible form-fitting material, said vertical member extending generally vertically from said heel member.

15. The shoe insert of claim 14, wherein said vamp member, said toe member, said heel member and said vertical member are directly connected, forming a single continuous body approximating a shape of a foot and ankle.

16. The shoe insert of claim 15, wherein said insert contains a rigid member of similar shape to said continuous body.

17. The shoe insert of claim 14, wherein said vamp member is directly connected to said toe member forming a single continuous front member, said vertical member is directly connected to said heel member forming a single continuous rear member.

18. The shoe insert of claim 17, wherein said front and rear members are connected through an extension member.

19. The shoe insert of claim 18, wherein said extension member is collapsible when opposing inward forwards are applied at both ends, thereby allowing for the distance between said front and said rear members to be adjusted.