FOOT CUSHION

Abstract

The present invention relates to a foot cushion insert for the ball of a shoe. The insert may have a hemispherical shape having a substantially flat surface on the portion facing the shoe, beveled sides, and a recess in a portion of the surface facing the foot. Alternatively, the insert may haver a rhomboid shape and a U-shaped cut out on the side furthest from the heel of a foot. As another alternative, the insert may have a first layer for contact with the user's foot, wherein the first layer includes gel and a second layer for contact with the user's shoe, wherein the second layer includes EVA foam.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a cushion for a user's foot. Specifically, the present invention is directed to a cushion for a pregnant woman's foot. In particular, the present invention is to a foot cushion for wearing in a shoe, either attached to the foot or placed in the shoe. By having a cushion with the foregoing features, a user's foot may be cushioned with heretofore unrealized results.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

As is well known to all, a person's feet often become fatigued. This is particularly true if one's feet are malformed, if a person is overweight, or if a person has been on his feet for long periods of time. This is even more particularly so in the case of pregnant women. A wide variety of foot cushions are on the market adapted for being inserted into one's shoe. These have all met with limited degrees of success. There is therefore a great need in the art for a device that may be worn that cushions user's feet during prolonged periods of time on one's feet.

Accordingly, there is now provided with this invention an improved foot cushion effectively overcoming the aforementioned difficulties and longstanding problems inherent in cushioning feet. These problems have been solved in a simple, convenient, and highly effective way by which to cushion one's feet. More particularly, a new type of cushion is herein disclosed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of certain embodiments of the invention, a foot cushion insert for the ball of a shoe, may have a hemispherical shape with a substantially flat surface on the portion facing the shoe, beveled sides, and a recess in a portion of the surface facing the foot.

According to another aspect, the present invention may include, a foot cushion insert for the ball of a shoe, with a rhomboid shape and a U-shaped cut out on the side furthest from the heel of a foot.

According to yet another aspect of certain embodiments, the invention may include, a foot cushion insert for the ball of a shoe. The insert may have a first layer for contact with the user's foot, wherein the first layer includes gel, and a second layer for contact with the user's shoe, wherein the second layer includes EVA foam.

The foregoing Summary of the Invention is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure contained herein nor limit the scope of the appended claims. To the contrary, as will be appreciated by those persons skilled in the art, variations of the foregoing described embodiments may be implemented without departing from the claimed invention.

Additional objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description.

The apparatus of the present invention will be better understood by reference to the following detailed discussion of specific embodiments and the attached figures which illustrate and exemplify such embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects and features of the invention may be understood with reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention taken together in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side cut away view of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side cut away view of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side cut away view of another embodiment of the present invention

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following preferred embodiment as exemplified by the drawings is illustrative of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention as encompassed by the claims of this application. A cushion for feet is disclosed herein.

The apparatus 1, as illustrated generally in FIGS. 1-7 is a cushion for a user's foot. It can be made to releasably attach to one's foot, or alternatively, detachably mount in a user's footwear. For example, it can stick to a user's foot or a shoe sole with a weak adhesive, or it can remain in place in a user's shoe with a weak adhesive, or with an increased frictional substance, or with a combination of the two. In either case, it can be used multiple times after cleaning and drying.

As specifically illustrated in FIG. 1, showing a top view of an embodiment of the foot cushion, the foot cushion may be made substantially symmetrically of substantially a homogeneous gel and formed as an insert for the ball portion of a shoe. This embodiment of the present invention has a generally hemispherical shape. It has a substantially flat surface on the portion facing the shoe, beveled sides 1, and a recess 3 in the portion of the upper surface, that is, the surface facing the foot.

As shown in the side view of FIG. 2, the dimensions of the cushion can vary widely. For example, the general width (identified by ‘A’) may range from about 80 mm to about 90 mm and preferably range from about 80.9 mm to about 84.9 mm. The general height (identified by ‘B’) may range from about 37 mm to about 40 mm and preferably range from about 37.8 mm to about 39.8 mm.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, an alternative embodiment of the foot cushion of the present invention may be designed with specific chirality, that is, a specific design for the right foot (FIG. 3) and a specific design for the left foot (FIG. 4). These may or may not be mirror images of one another as different people may have one foot larger than the other. They may further have a rhomboidal shape with a tilt toward the outer side of one's foot. They are specifically designed for placement under the ball of one's foot. As a further feature of these embodiments, a cut-out portion 2 may be provided on the side of the cushion closest to the toes of one's foot, that is, on the side of the cushion furthest from the heel of one's foot. This cut-out portion may be in the general shape of a semi-circle and specifically in a “U” shape with parallel sides. The dimensions of these cushions can also vary widely. For example, the general width (identified by ‘A’) may range from about 70 mm to about 80 mm and preferably range from about 77.7 mm to about 78.7 mm. The general height (identified by ‘B’) may range from about 40 mm to about 55 mm and preferably range from about 52 mm to about 52.8 mm. The overall thickness may range from about 2 mm to about 5 mm and preferably range from about 2.5 mm to about 3 mm.

FIG. 5 is a side cut away view of another embodiment of the present invention. As shown therein, this embodiment may have more than one type of cushioning material. FIG. 5 illustrates a laminated foot cushion having two layers, an upper layer 4 in contact with a user's foot and a lower layer 6 in contact with the shoe. The upper layer 4 may be the same type of material previously explained with reference to FIG. 1, that is, a soft gel. The lower layer 6 may be made of EVA foam.

FIG. 6 is a side cut away view of another embodiment of the present invention. As shown therein, this embodiment may have a uniform cushioning material, for example, yet have different surface properties. The embodiment of FIG. 6 shows the foot cushion of the present invention having an upper surface 8 and a lower surface 10. The upper surface 8, which is in direct contact with the foot is substantially flat. The lower surface 10 includes multiple bumps or ridges 12. These bumps 12 may be spread across the lower surface in a specific pattern or, alternatively, in a random pattern. The bumps may range in size from about 2 mm in diameter to about 10 mm in diameter, and are typically in the range of about 6 mm in diameter. The height of the bumps may range in size from about 2 mm high to about 5 mm high, and are typically in the range of about 3 mm high.

FIG. 7 is a side cut away view of another embodiment of the present invention. As shown therein, this embodiment may have more than one type of cushioning material. FIG. 7 illustrates a laminated foot cushion having two layers, an upper layer 14 in contact with a user's foot, a lower layer 16 in contact with a user's shoe, and an intermediate layer 18. The upper layer 14 may be the same type of material previously explained with reference to FIG. 1, that is, a soft gel. The upper layer 14 may be the same type of material as the lower layer 16. Alternatively, the lower layer 16 may be of a different type of material. The intermediate layer 18 may be made of EVA foam.

Although, of course, anyone may use these cushions, the rapid weight gain of pregnancy and the relaxation of the ligaments on the foot bottom (and everywhere in the body) due to the hormones of pregnancy makes these designs particularly desireable.

Although the particular embodiments shown and described above will prove to be useful in many applications in general footwear and the podiatric art to which the present invention pertains, further modifications of the present invention will occur to persons skilled in the art. All such modifications are deemed to be within the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A foot cushion insert for the ball of a shoe, comprising a hemispherical shape having a substantially flat surface on the portion facing the shoe, beveled sides, and a recess in a portion of the surface facing the foot.

2. The foot cushion of claim 1, comprising gel.

3. The foot cushion of claim 2, having a width in the range from about 80 mm to about 90 mm.

4. The foot cushion of claim 3, having a width in the range from about 80.9 mm to about 84.9 mm.

5. The foot cushion of claim 2, having a height in the range from about 37 mm to about 40 mm.

6. The foot cushion of claim 5, having a height in the range from about 37.8 mm to about 39.8 mm.

7. A foot cushion insert for the ball of a shoe, comprising a rhomboid shape and a U-shaped cut out on the side furthest from the heel of a foot.

8. The foot cushion of claim 7, wherein the U-shaped cut out has parallel sides.

9. The foot cushion of claim 8, having a width in the range from about 70 mm to about 80 mm.

10. The foot cushion of claim 9, having a width in the range from about 77.7 mm to about 78.7 mm.

11. The foot cushion of claim 9, having a height in the range from about 40 mm to about 55 mm.

12. The foot cushion of claim 11, having a height in the range from about 52 mm to about 52.8 mm.

13. The foot cushion of claim 11, having a thickness in the range from about 2 mm to about 5 mm.

14. The foot cushion of claim 13, having a thickness in the range from about 2.5 mm to about 3 mm.

15. A foot cushion insert for the ball of a shoe, comprising:

a first layer for contact with the user's foot, wherein the first layer comprises gel; and

a second layer for contact with the user's shoe, wherein the second layer comprises EVA foam.

16. The foot cushion of claim 15, wherein the second layer comprises bumps having a diameter in the range from about 2 mm to about 10 mm in diameter.

17. The foot cushion of claim 16, wherein the bumps have a diameter in the range of about 6 mm in diameter.

18. The foot cushion of claim 17, wherein the bumps have a height in the range from about 2 mm high to about 5 mm.

19. The foot cushion of claim 18, wherein the bumps have a height in the range of about 3 mm high.

20. The foot cushion of claim 15, further comprising an intermediate layer between the first and second layers.