Footwear Cushion

Abstract

The present invention relates to a footwear cushion. The footwear cushion includes a base and a pad protruding from the base. A protrusion is provided for protruding from the pad and for supporting a foot. The pad may support three central rays of the foot and be located between the outer rays of the foot. The protrusion may support a transverse metatarsal arch of the foot.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a footwear cushion.

BACKGROUND

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

Sore feet is a common problem which affects most people at one time or another. Known footwear cushions or inserts may alleviate foot pain to some extent, but do not target specific problem areas of the foot.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a footwear cushion that supports the foot in these problem areas to alleviate pain.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a footwear cushion including:

• • a base;
  • a pad protruding from the base; and
  • a protrusion for protruding from the pad and for supporting a foot.

The protrusion may include a tear-drop shaped dome. The protrusion may rearwardly taper. The protrusion may be located in register with a fixed end of a central ray of the foot. In one embodiment, the protrusion may be located in register with three central rays of the foot. The protrusion may be located so as to raise the fore-foot in the footwear. The protrusion may support a transverse metatarsal arch of the foot.

The pad may support three central rays of the foot. The pad may be located between the outer rays of the foot. The pad may be located behind the metatarsal heads with a front portion of the base located in register with the metatarsal heads.

The base may taper rearwardly to facilitate insertion into high heel footwear. The base may define a convex portion to suit flat soled footwear.

The base may include adhesive for adhering the base to the insole.

The cushion may further includes pebbles extending from a front portion of the base to facilitate gripping with the foot.

The cushion may be molded and integrally formed from homogeneous resilient material. The material may be plastics or rubber material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows:

FIG. 1a is a plan view of a footwear cushion in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 1b is a side view of the footwear cushion of FIG. 1a;

FIG. 2a is a plan view showing a footwear cushion, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, aligned with a foot within footwear;

FIG. 2b is a side view showing the footwear cushion of FIG. 2a aligned with a foot;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a footwear cushion in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a dimensioned footwear cushion in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a footwear cushion 2 as shown in FIG. 1. The cushion 2 includes a base 4 for locating over an insole of footwear and a protrusion 6 protruding from the base 4. The protrusion 6 supports a transverse metatarsal arch of a foot 12 as shown in FIG. 2. The footwear cushion 2 is described in detail below.

Returning to FIG. 1a, the protrusion 6 is in the form of a tear-drop shaped dome, and rearwardly tapers to an apex 8. As can best be seen in FIG. 2a, the protrusion 6 is located in register with a fixed end of a central ray 10c of the foot 12. Furthermore, the protrusion 6 is located in register with ray 10d of the foot 12 and raises the fore-foot in the footwear.

Returning to FIG. 1a, the cushion 2 further includes a sulcus pad 14 protruding from the base 4 and from which the protrusion 6 protrudes. As can best be seen in FIG. 2, the pad 14 supports the three central rays 10b, 10c, 10d of the foot 12, and is located between the outer rays 10a, 10e of the foot 12 which are instead able to move more freely. The pad 14 is located behind the metatarsal heads 16 with a front portion of the base 4 located in register with the metatarsal heads 16.

As can best be seen in FIG. 1a, the base 4 defines a convex portion 18 proximal its rear apex to suit cushion insertion into flat soled footwear. In contrast, FIG. 3 shows a base 4 which tapers rearwardly to facilitate insertion into high heel footwear and which defines a concave portion 20 proximal its rear apex. The cushion 2 of FIG. 3 does not include a sulcus pad 14.

The base 4 includes adhesive for adhering the base 4 to the insole of the footwear. As can best be seen in FIGS. 1b and 4, the cushion 2 further includes rows of pebbles 22 extending from a front portion of the base 4 to facilitate gripping with the foot 12. The cushion 2 is molded and integrally formed from homogeneous resilient material such as plastics or rubber material.

The foregoing preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a footwear cushion 2 that supports the foot 12 in problem areas to alleviate pain.

A person skilled in the art will appreciate that many embodiments and variations can be made without departing from the ambit of the present invention.

In one embodiment, the protrusion 6 is located in register with the three central rays 10b, 10c, 10d of the foot 12.

The dimensions shown in FIG. 4 are in millimeters, and are by way of example only.

In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A footwear cushion comprising:

a base;

a pad protruding from the base; and

a protrusion for protruding from the pad and for supporting a foot,

wherein the base, the pad and the protrusion engage with and support different regions of the foot.

2. A footwear cushion as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pad supports three central rays of the foot.

3. A footwear cushion as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pad is located between the outer rays of the foot.

4. A footwear cushion as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pad is located behind metatarsal heads of the foot with a front portion of the base located in register with the metatarsal heads.

5. A footwear cushion as claimed in claim 1, wherein the protrusion includes a tear-drop shaped dome.

6. A footwear cushion as claimed in claim 1, wherein the protrusion rearwardly tapers.

7. A footwear cushion as claimed in claim 1 wherein the protrusion is located in registry with a fixed end of a central ray of the foot.

8. A footwear cushion as claimed in claim 1 wherein the protrusion is located in registry with three central rays of the foot.

9. A footwear cushion as claimed in claim 1 wherein the protrusion is located so as to raise the fore-foot in the footwear.

10. A footwear cushion as claimed in claim 1 wherein the protrusion supports a transverse metatarsal arch of the foot.

11. A footwear cushion as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base tapers rearwardly to facilitate insertion into high heel footwear.

12. A footwear cushion as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base defines a convex portion to suit flat soled footwear.

13. A footwear cushion as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base includes adhesive for adhering the base to an insole.

14. A footwear cushion as claimed in claim 1, further including pebbles extending from a front portion of the base to facilitate gripping with the foot.

15. A footwear cushion as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cushion is molded and integrally formed from homogeneous resilient material.

16. A footwear cushion as claimed in claim 15, wherein the material is comprised of a plastic or rubber material.

17. A footwear cushion as claimed in claim 1, wherein the protrusion is directly connected to both the base and pad.

18. A footwear cushion comprising:

a base underlying three central rays of a foot disposed between a pair of outer rays of the foot;

a sulcus pad carried by the base underlying a plurality of the three central rays of the foot; and

a transverse metatarsal arch support carried by the base extending outwardly of the sulcus pad longitudinally toward a heel of the foot having a portion underlying a fixed end of one of the three central rays of the foot.

19. A footwear cushion as claimed in claim 18, wherein the transverse metatarsal arch support comprises an elongate protrusion that overlies a portion of the sulcus pad.

20. A footwear cushion comprising:

a base underlying extending between a pair of outer rays of a foot and underlying three central rays of the foot that are disposed between the pair of outer rays of the foot;

a sulcus pad carried by the base underlying at least a portion of each of the three central rays of the foot; and

a transverse metatarsal arch support carried by the base that is elongate, underlies a plurality of the three central rays of the foot, and has a portion underlying a fixed end of one of the plurality of the three central rays of the foot.