Shock-absorbing insole for use in a shoe

Abstract

A shock-absorbing insole includes an insole body having a heel portion with first upper and lower surfaces opposite to each other. The first upper surface has an inner peripheral edge region that defines a through hole which extends from the first upper surface to communicate with the first lower surface. A cushioning pad includes a heel-cushioning portion with second upper and lower surfaces and of a dimension substantially equal to that of the through hole, a plurality of spaced apart shock-absorbing posts extending downwardly from the second lower surface, and a peripheral anchoring portion that surrounds the heel-cushioning portion and that is superimposed upon the inner peripheral edge region when the heel-cushioning portion is brought to mate with the through hole such that the shock-absorbing posts extend through the through hole, and have lower ends flush with the first lower surface of the heel portion.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The invention relates to a sole structure, more particularly to a shock-absorbing insole which is adapted to be disposed in a shoe in order to cushion a foot and which is capable of relieving foot problems.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] A human foot generally includes a heel portion, a toe portion, and an intermediate arch portion between the heel and toe portions. The intermediate arch portion is substantially curved upward with respect to the heel and toe portions, thereby forming an inwardly bent portion and consequently resulting in a void under the intermediate portion of the sole of the foot. As a result, when a foot is disposed in a shoe, most of the weight is distributed on the heel portion and the toe portion that rest on the insole of the shoe.

[0005] It is noted that most shoes are provided with cushioning insoles for cushioning the foot. However, the conventional insoles are generally made of a foam material, and have a uniform thickness throughout the entire length thereof such that after a period of use, the portions of the insole corresponding to the heel portion of the foot get undesirably thinner due to weight concentration thereon, which in turn causes deformation and aching at the heel portion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The object of this invention is to provide a shock-absorbing insole for use in a shoe so as to cushion the sole of a foot in order to relieve pain and discomfort.

[0007] Accordingly, a shock-absorbing insole of the present invention is adapted to be disposed in a shoe, and includes an insole body, and a cushioning pad. The insole body has a heel portion with first upper and lower surfaces opposite to each other in a transverse direction. The first upper surface has an inner peripheral edge region that defines a through hole which extends from the first upper surface in the transverse direction to communicate with the first lower surface. The cushioning pad includes a heel-cushioning portion with second upper and lower surfaces opposite to each other in the transverse direction and of a dimension substantially equal to that of the through hole, and a plurality of spaced apart shock-absorbing posts extending downwardly from the second lower surface. The cushioning pad further includes a peripheral anchoring portion which surrounds the heel-cushioning portion and which is superimposed upon the inner peripheral edge region when the heel-cushioning portion is brought to mate with the through hole such that the shock-absorbing posts extend through the through hole, and have lower ends flush with the first lower surface of the heel portion. The shock-absorbing posts are capable of deforming when a foot treads on the second upper surface of the heel-cushioning portion so as to absorb shocks resulting from the treading action.

[0008] Preferably, the second upper surface of the heel-cushioning portion includes a central section, and an annular intermediate section which surrounds the central section and which is interposed between the central section and the anchoring portion. The central section is disposed at an elevation higher than the intermediate section such that the second upper surface of the heel-cushioning portion inclines gradually and downwardly from the central section toward the intermediate section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Other features and advantages of this invention will become more apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of this invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0010] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a first preferred embodiment of a shock-absorbing insole according to the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the cushioning pad shown in FIG. 1, illustrating how a plurality of shock-absorbing posts deform when a foot treads on the cushioning pad;

[0012] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the first preferred embodiment; and

[0013] FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a second preferred embodiment of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0014] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the first preferred embodiment of a shock-absorbing insole according to this invention is adapted for use in a shoe in order to cushion the sole of a foot of the wearer to relieve pain and discomfort, and is shown to include an insole body 10 made of a foam material with a first stiffness, and a shock-absorbing pad 20 made from an elastomeric material with a second stiffness different from the first stiffness.

[0015] As illustrated, the insole body 10 has a heel portion 11 with first upper and lower surfaces (11U, 11L) opposite to each other in a transverse direction. The first upper surface (11U) has an inner peripheral edge region (11R) that defines a through hole (11H) which extends from the first upper surface (11U) in the transverse direction to communicate with the first lower surface (11L).

[0016] The cushioning pad 20 includes a heel-cushioning portion 21 with second upper and lower surfaces 211, 210 opposite to each other in the transverse direction and of a dimension substantially equal to that of the through hole (11H), a plurality of spaced apart shock-absorbing posts 22 which extend downwardly from the second lower surface 210, and a peripheral anchoring portion 212 which surrounds the heel-cushioning portion 21 and which is superimposed upon the inner peripheral edge region (11R) when the heel-cushioning portion 21 is brought to mate with the through hole (11H) such that the shock-absorbing posts 22 extend through the through hole (11H), and have lower ends flush with the first lower surface (11L) of the heel portion 11. The shock-absorbing posts 22 are capable of deforming when a foot treads on the second upper surface 211 of the heel-cushioning portion 21 so as to absorb shocks resulting from the treading action.

[0017] The second upper surface 211 of the heel-cushioning portion 21 includes a central section (211C), and an annular intermediate section (211I) which surrounds the central section (211C) and which is interposed between the central section (211C) and the anchoring portion 212. The central section (211C) is disposed at an elevation higher than the intermediate section (211I) such that the second upper surface 211 of the heel-cushioning portion 21 inclines gradually and downwardly from the central section (211C) toward the intermediate section (211I).

[0018] Preferably, the inner peripheral edge region (11R) has an inner peripheral wall surface 23 extending from the first upper surface (11U) to the first lower surface (11L) so as to confine the through hole (11H). The shock-absorbing posts 22 cooperatively define an outer peripheral engaging surface which frictionally engages the inner peripheral wall surface 23 to permit snug-fitting of the shock-absorbing posts 22 in the through hole (11H). Each of the shock-absorbing posts 22 is hollow, and has a hexagonal cross-section.

[0019] FIG. 4 illustrates the second preferred embodiment of this invention. Unlike to the previous embodiment, the shock-absorbing posts 22 are solid and have a hexagonal cross-section.

[0020] When a human is foot is disposed in a shoe provided with a shock-absorbing insole of the present invention, the heel of the foot is supported by the cushioning pad 20 which absorbs shocks that result due to treading action of the foot over the cushioning pad 20.

[0021] With this invention thus explained, it is apparent that numerous modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. It is therefore intended that this invention be limited only as indicated in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A shock-absorbing insole adapted to be disposed in a shoe, comprising:

an insole body having a heel portion with first upper and lower surfaces opposite to each other in a transverse direction, said first upper surface having an inner peripheral edge region that defines a through hole which extends from said first upper surface in said transverse direction to communicate with said first lower surface; and

a cushioning pad including a heel-cushioning portion with second upper and lower surfaces opposite to each other in said transverse direction and of a dimension substantially equal to that of said through hole, a plurality of spaced apart shock-absorbing posts extending downwardly from said second lower surface, and a peripheral anchoring portion surrounding said heel-cushioning portion and superimposing upon said inner peripheral edge region when said heel-cushioning portion is brought to mate with said through hole such that said shock-absorbing posts extend through said through hole, and have lower ends flush with said first lower surface of said heel portion, said shock-absorbing posts being capable of deforming when a foot treads on said second upper surface of said heel-cushioning portion so as to absorb shocks resulting from the treading action.

2. The shock-absorbing insole as defined in claim 1, wherein said second upper surface of said heel-cushioning portion includes a central section, and an annular intermediate section which surrounds said central section and which is interposed between said central section and said anchoring portion.

3. The shock-absorbing insole as defined in claim 2, wherein said central section is disposed at an elevation higher than said intermediate section such that said second upper surface of said heel-cushioning portion inclines gradually and downwardly from said central section toward said intermediate section.

4. The shock-absorbing insole as defined in claim 1, wherein said inner peripheral edge region has an inner peripheral wall surface extending from said first upper surface to said first lower surface so as to confine said through hole, said shock-absorbing posts cooperatively defining an outer peripheral engaging surface which frictionally engages said inner peripheral wall surface to permit snug-fitting of said shock-absorbing posts in said through hole.

5. The shock-absorbing insole as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said shock-absorbing posts is hollow, and has a hexagonal cross-section.

6. The shock-absorbing insole as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said shock-absorbing posts is solid, and has a hexagonal cross-section.

7. The shock-absorbing insole as defined in claim 1, wherein said insole body is made from a foam material having a first stiffness.

8. The shock-absorbing insole as defined in claim 1, wherein said cushioning pad is made from an elastomeric material having a second stiffness different from said first stiffness.