Abstract: A one piece resilient and compressible pad having a generally oblong shape has a flat bottom surface with a rounded rear end, generally parallel longitudinal sides, a substantially straight forward end and rounded corners connecting the forward end to the longitudinal sides. The top surface of the pad is contoured with the forward end of the pad having a flat portion of maximum thickness and its heel end having a flat portion of lesser thickness. A sloping portion is provided between the two flat portions. The dimensions of the pad are selected so that when placed in a shoe with the heel end closely approaching the inside rear of the shoe, the flat portion of maximum thickness will underlie and protect the metatarsal and longitudinal arches.

Abstract: A felt pad having a beveled front end is produced from a workpiece having a flat bottom with an adhesive thereon covered with a strip of paper or the like and a straight front end. The apparatus includes a rotatable shaft having mounted thereon an abrasive wheel and a wire brush wheel including a cylindrical portion of the same diameter as the abrasive wheel abutting the abrasive wheel and a tapered portion extending toward the shaft axis. A shear plate provides a cutting surface with the abrasive wheel. The workpiece is mounted on a table and fed parallel to the shaft axis with its forward end also parallel thereto. The rotating brush bevels the front end of the pad and fuzz still attached to the pad is removed as it passes between the abrasive wheel and shear plate. A shroud surrounds the wheels and a suction is applied thereto to draw off the materials removed from the workpiece.