FOOTWEAR INSOLE COVER
Two insoles or orthotic covers having a variety of anchoring and tensioning devices are adapted to multiple footwear designs to provide ergonomic support to the footwear user and to provide a surface to receive ornamental designs. The surface is viewable by the user and/or others and may be made of fabric or any other man-made or natural materials. The material may contain any combination of patterns, colors, or ornamental designs and is designed to protect the orthotic or insole, provide comfort to the wearer, coordinate with wearer's clothing or article of footwear, and enhance the appearance of the orthotic or insole. The cover may be comprised of a variety of anchoring and tensioning systems to attach the cover to the orthotic or insole within an article of footwear. The cover may contain one or more openings to accommodate a variety of shapes and sizes of orthotics and insoles.
This application claims priority to and incorporates by reference in its entirety U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/782,645 filed Mar. 15, 2006.
COPYRIGHT NOTICET
This application concerns footwear insoles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThere is a need for ergonomic insoles that do not clash with shoe or clothing designs. Likewise, due to the high cost of custom orthotics there is a need for a product that extends the life of the orthotic by providing protection for the orthotic or insole and additional comfort to the wearer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA cover having an aperture for inserting an orthotic insole. The cover utilizes a fastening device to secure the inserted insole within the cover. The covered insole is adaptably fitted into the foot-contacting surface of multiple footwear designs. The fastening device may include stretchable fabric, custom tailoring or a tensioning lace to secure the insole within the orthotic cover after insertion of the insole through the aperture and reducing the size of the aperture. The orthotic cover provides a surface to receive ornamental designs of the choosing of the user to be complimentary to the appearance of the shoe and clothing apparel.
Particular and alternative embodiments are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings.
Insoles having a removably attached cover and a variety of anchoring and tensioning devices are adapted to multiple footwear designs to provide ergonomic support to the footwear user and to provide a surface to receive ornamental designs. The surface is viewable by the user and/or others and may be made of fabric or any other man-made or natural materials. The material may contain any combination of patterns, colors, or ornamental designs and is designed to protect the orthotic or insole, provide comfort to the wearer, coordinate with wearer's clothing or article of footwear, and enhance the appearance of the orthotic or insole. The cover may be comprised of a variety of anchoring and tensioning systems to attach the cover to the orthotic or insole within an article of footwear. The cover may contain one or more openings to accommodate a variety of shapes and sizes of orthotics and insoles.
Other embodiments include a set of two insole or orthotic covers placed inside an article of footwear. The covers may be made of fabric or any other man made or natural materials. The material may contain any combination of patterns, colors, or ornamental designs and is designed to protect the orthotic or insole 28, provide comfort to the wearer, coordinate with wearer's clothing or article of footwear, and enhance the appearance of the orthotic or insole. The cover may be comprised of a variety of anchoring and tensioning systems to attach the cover to the orthotic or insole within an article of footwear. The cover may contain one or more apertures to accommodate a variety of shapes and sizes of orthotics and insoles.
An alternate embodiment of the covers 10 and/or 40 includes a body of material comprised of a flexible fabric such as Lycra or Spandex. The material having an edge, the edge spanning across the topside of the orthotic and extending to the underside of the insole. The covers 10 or 40 envelop the entire upper portion of the insole 28, extends to the underside of the insole 28, and further includes the elastic band (not shown) stitched into the inside of the covers 10 and/or 40. The band, when used, may be fabricated from elastic material such that the orthotic insole covers 10 and 40 can receivably envelop various sized insoles 28. The elastic band also engages the covers 10 and 40 close to and along the underside of the insole 28. The elastic periphery 50 is capable of elastically constricting about a user's insole 28 or orthotic insole. The covers 10 and/or 40 have sufficient expandability to be drawn over and to cover a sufficient portion of the underside of the insole 28, including the toe, ball, arch, and heel sections.
In other embodiments, any number of fastening or stabilizing-like devices may be used including but not limited to drawstrings, snaps, elastic bands, static, hook and loop fasteners (Velcro), magnets, buckles, adhesives, zippers, rivets, fusing, elastic type fabric (Lycra or Spandex), hooks, loops, a drawstring or an elastic binding, elastic type thread, and/or buttons.
An alternate embodiment includes a combination of a fabric upper and a skirt underside. The upper surface 12 may be comprised of any combination of natural or synthetic materials. The skirt is comprised of a flexible fabric such as, but not limited to, Lycra, Spandex or elastic. The skirt having sufficient expandability such that it covers a sufficient portion of the underside of the insole 28, including the toe, ball, arch, and heel sections. The skirt stabilizes, anchors, and tensions the upper. The skirt contains a circular opening or aperture 18 to permit insertion of an insole or orthotic. The upper surface 12 may be stitch-bonded, sewn, or surged to the skirt along an adjacent outer edge.
An alternate embodiment includes an insole or orthotic cover that comprises a first sheet that extends over the surface and periphery of the insole and a second sheet of which extends underneath the insole or orthotic. The second sheet is elastic, and thereby provides a tensioning force on the first sheet to keep the insole or orthotic cover taut over the insole or orthotic. The second sheet may be additionally secured under the insole or may extend wholly underneath the insole with appropriate openings providing for the insertion of the insole or orthotic.
An alternate embodiment includes a cover for an insole or an orthotic that comprises a top sheet and a skirt attached about the periphery of the top sheet. The skirt has at least one toe pocket, at least two side portions extending toward the rear from the toe pocket, and at least one heel pocket extending from the side portions to the heel. The skirt contains an adjustable draw cord or elastic band housed within a hem that is stitch-bonded, sewn, or surged within the skirt; the draw cord or elastic is used around the periphery to assist in keeping the cover in place.
An alternate embodiment includes a cover for an insole or an orthotic that includes a top sheet and a skirt attached about the periphery of the top sheet. The skirt has at least one toe pocket and at least one heel pocket. The top sheet is comprised of any number of natural or synthetic materials.
An alternate embodiment includes a removable cover comprised of a heat shrinkable synthetic or natural material that forms to the insole or the orthotic upon the application of heat.
An alternate embodiment includes a body of material comprised of an upper portion and an assembly of adjustable tensioning devices such as a cloth tensioning strap for spanning the distance between the cover opposing edge segments. When the cover is installed on an insole or orthotic, the strap, or tensioning device may, in one embodiment, be adapted to release and engage the drawstring's opposing segments through the first and second openings to draw the opposing edge segments toward each other.
An alternate embodiment includes a body of material comprised of an upper portion 12 secured by a plurality of transverse belts. The belts are secured to the upper by a variety of means. The upper may be comprised of any number of natural or synthetic materials.
An alternate embodiment includes a body of material comprised of a waterproof material.
While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment.
Claims
1. A footwear cover for an insole adaptable to fit within footwear comprising:
- a cover having an aperture for receiving an insole,
- wherein the insole is inserted into the aperture and is securably contained within the cover.
2. The footwear cover of claim 1, wherein the cover includes a cover surface to receive ornamental designs.
3. A footwear cover for an insole adaptable to fit within footwear comprising:
- a cover having an aperture for receiving an insole; and
- a fastening device;
- wherein the insole is inserted into the aperture and is securably contained within the cover by the fastening device.
4. The footwear cover of claim 3, wherein the fastening device includes a tensioning lace to restrict the size of the aperture after insertion of the insole.
5. The footwear cover of claim 3, wherein the cover includes a cover surface to receive ornamental designs.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 13, 2007
Publication Date: Sep 20, 2007
Inventor: Sarah K. Marion (Wenatchee, WA)
Application Number: 11/685,703
International Classification: A43B 13/38 (20060101);