STABILIZING INSOLE AND METHOD FOR USING THE STABILIZING INSOLE

Abstract

A stabilizing insole has at least one pad that is mounted on an upper surface of a shoe sole. Each pad has an edge, at least one first surface and a second surface. Each first surface has a support surface. The support surface is formed on the first surface and is harder than the first surface. The second surface extends from the first surface. The at least one pad concentrates force applied by a person's foot at natural balance points so the user does not twist his or her ankle.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an insole, and especially to a stabilizing insole that can be mounted in one or more positions in a shoe to provide increased stability for a person wearing the shoe so the person is less likely to lose their balance, fall or turn their ankle.

2. Description of the Related Art

With the rise and increased interest in human engineering in society, shoes are a subject of human engineering as seen by air cushions in conventional soft-shoes and shapes of upper surfaces of soles to conform to people's feet. However, legs of almost every person are at least a slightly different length. Even slight differences in leg length can cause a person's joints to hurt especially in modern soft-shoes and conformal shoes. Often, a doctor attempts to correct bad posture with corrective shoes. However, the effect of wearing corrective shoes in correcting posture may not be obvious, and the price of corrective shoes is high.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a stabilizing insole and a method for using the stabilizing insole so people can wear comfortable shoes, and the stabilizing insole is inexpensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the present invention is to provide a stabilizing insole to make a shoe comfortable and keep a person from losing his or her balance and possibly falling or turning his or her ankle.

To achieve the foregoing objective, a stabilizing insole in accordance with the present invention has at least one pad that is mounted on an upper surface of a shoe sole. Each pad has an edge, at least one first surface and a second surface. Each first surface has a support surface. The support surface is formed on the first surface and is harder than the first surface. The second surface extends from the first surface and may slope down toward the edge of the pad. The at least one pad concentrates force applied by a person's foot at natural balance points so the user does not twist his or her ankle.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of a first embodiment of a pad for a stabilizing insole in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional side view of the pad in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of a second embodiment of a pad of a stabilizing insole in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a top view of a third embodiment of a pad for a stabilizing insole in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an operational top view of the pads in FIGS. 1 and 4 mounted in a shoe with a person's foot shown in the shoe;

FIG. 6 is an operational side view in partial section of the insole in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a slipper having the pads in FIGS. 1 and 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, a stabilizing insole in accordance with the present invention comprises at least one pad (10, 10a). The at least one pad (10, 10a) may be a heel pad (10), a ball and toe pad (10a) or both and is mounted on an upper surface of a shoe sole, and each pad (10, 10a) has an edge, at least one first surface (11, 11a, 11b) and a second surface (12, 12a), With further reference to FIG. 6, the heel pad (10) is oval and has a semi-oval first surface (11). The ball and toe pad (10a) is tongue shaped, corresponds uniquely to a right or left foot and has a front first surface (11a) and a rear first surface (11b). The front first surface (11a) corresponds to the ball and toe pad (10a) and has a concave rear edge. The rear first surface (11b) is formed on and protrudes from the concave rear edge. Each first surface (11, 11a, 11b) has a support surface (110, 110a, 110b). The support surface (110, 110a, 110b) is formed on the first surface (11, 11a, 11b) to support a corresponding ball and heel on a person's foot and is harder and may be slightly higher than the corresponding first surface (11, 11a, 11b). The support surface (110b) on the rear first surface (11b) protrudes up from the rear first surface (11b) to massage the yongquan, a Chinese pressure point between the first and second metatarsal near the arch to stimulate and maintain health of the kidneys. The support surface (110b) is regarded as a fulcrum to support the heel and the ball and toe on the person's foot to massage the yongquan. The second surface (12, 12a) abuts the at least one first surface (11, 11a, 11b) and slants away from the at least one first surface (11, 11a, 11b) to the edge of the pad (10, 10a).

The method for using the stabilizing insole in accordance wit the present invention comprises:

providing at least one pad (10, 10a); and

mounting the at least one pad (10, 10a) in a shoe corresponding to a user's heel or ball of a foot.

With further reference to FIG. 7, the at least one pad (10, 10a) may be formed on a pair of slippers and positioned to correspond to a user's heel or ball of the foot.

The at least one pad (10, 10a) supports a user's feet to decrease the area of force and form three support points so the user does not twist his or her ankle.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and features of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

1. A stabilizing insole comprising at least one pad and each one of the at least one pad having

an edge;

at least one first surface and each one of the at least one first surface having a support surface formed on the first surface; and

a second surface abutting the at least one first surface.

2. The stabilizing insole for poise as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support surface on each one of the at least one first surface is higher than the first surface.

3. The stabilizing insole as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support surface on each one of the at least one first surface is harder than the first surface.

4. The stabilizing insole as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second surface slants away from the at least one first surface to the edge of the pad.

5. The stabilizing insole as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one pad comprises a heel pad being oval and having a semi-oval first surface.

6. The stabilizing insole as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one pad comprises a ball and toe pad being tongue shaped, adapted for corresponding uniquely to a right or left foot and having

a front first surface corresponding to the ball and toe pad and having a concave rear edge; and

a rear first surface formed on the protruding from the concave rear edge and having a support surface protruding up from the rear first surface.

7. A method for using the stabilizing insole having at least one pad, the method comprising:

providing at least one pad having an edge; at least one first surface and each first surface having a support surface formed on the first surface; and a second surface abutting the at least one first surface and slanting away from the at least one first surface to the edge of the pad; and

mounting the at least one pad in a shoe.

8. The method for using the stabilizing insole as claimed in claim 7, wherein one of the at least one pad is a heel pad for a person's heel.

9. The method for using the stabilizing insole as claimed in claim 7, wherein one of the at least one pad is a ball and toe pad for a person's ball and toe of a foot.

10. The method for using the insole as claimed in claim 7, wherein the at least one pad is formed on a slipper.

11. The method for using the stabilizing insole as claimed in claim 8, wherein one of the at least one pad is ball and toe pad for a person's ball and toe of a foot.

12. The method for using the stabilizing insole as claimed in claim 8, wherein the at least one pad is formed on a slipper.

13. The method for using the stabilizing insole as claimed in claim 9, wherein the at least one pad is formed on a slipper.

14. The method for using the stabilizing insole as claimed in claim 11, wherein the at least one pad is formed on a slipper.