AN INSOLE OR UPPER FOR FOOTWEAR
The present disclosure relates to an insole including a lower layer, an upper layer and an intermediate layer arranged between the lower layer and the upper layer. The lower layer or base of the insole is a supporting layer designed to be placed, in use conditions of the insole, above a sole of an item of footwear. The upper layer is designed to be placed, in use conditions of the insole, in contact with a foot, with or without a sock, of a user. The intermediate layer includes natural feathers distributed uniformly and treated so as not to allow displacement thereof along the intermediate layer. The disclosure further relates to an upper of an item of footwear.
National Stage of International Application No. PCT/IB2017/050004, filed on Jan. 3, 2017, which claims the benefit of, and priority to Swiss Application No. 00002/2016 filed Jan. 4, 2016 and to Italian Application No. 102016000000186 filed Jan. 4, 2016.
TECHNICAL FIELDThis disclosure relates to an insole for footwear, an upper for footwear and an item of footwear including the insole or the upper or both.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTSIn one general aspect, an insole for footwear, an upper for footwear and an item of footwear including the insole or the upper or both, is disclosed. The insole and the upper can be used in all types of footwear, such as gym shoes, city shoes, boots, walking shoes, safety shoes, orthopaedic footwear, slippers, clogs, and so on.
Insoles for shoes are known. In operating conditions, the insole is positioned internally of the shoe, between the insole and the upper. The insole has the task of supporting and providing a rest base for the user's foot. Insoles known on the market are not breathable or are poorly so, and cannot optimally limit the formation of heat and sweat due to friction of the foot and therefore facilitate the formation of a moist environment in the shoe, in which the sweat of the foot stagnates and impregnates the insole. Excessive heat and the formation of sweat facilitate formation of onychomycosis and uric acids; this insanitary environment leads to the inevitable formation of bad odours or an ideal moist terrain for proliferation of mites with the development of allergies, infections or even diseases, with consequent uncomfortableness and risk to the foot resting therein. Notwithstanding the use of new materials and technologies, the problem of breathability has not been effectively obviated with a consequent stagnation of the sweat from the foot. Further, the foot is often in the conditions of being excessively cold or hot, according to the season. These conditions of heat excursions of the foot create physical unease and discomfort, as well as the unpleasant sensation of having a wet and damp foot due to the stagnation of the moisture which leads to the formation of bad odours, allergies, skin maceration, rheumatic conditions due to the long and continuous exposure of the sole of the foot to environments not perfectly dry or damp. In the light of the above, a purpose of the present disclosure is to obviate or mitigate one or more of the drawbacks encountered in the prior art. An aim of the present disclosure is to improve breathability and to reduce the formation of sweat on the foot. A further aim is to reduce the formation of a moist environment below the sole of the foot in contact with the insole. A further aim of the present disclosure is to improve the sensation of comfort for the user's foot. Yet a further aim of the present disclosure is to prevent formation of a moist environment internally of the shoe. An additional aim of the disclosure is to prevent the foot from being in conditions of heat stress, i.e. in conditions in which it is too cold or too hot. A further aim of the disclosure consists in enabling an improved sensation of comfort and ease of the foot and in contemporaneously improving the support of the foot. These aims and others, which will appear more clearly from the following description, are substantially attained by an insole, an upper and an item of footwear in accordance with what is expressed in one or more of the appended claims and/or the following aspects or embodiments, taken alone or in combination with one another or in any combination with any one of the appended claims and/or in combination with any one of the further aspects, embodiments or characteristics described below.
In a first general aspect, there is provided an insole including:
-
- a supporting lower layer, or base of the insole, designed to be placed, in use conditions of the insole, above a sole of an item of footwear,
- an upper layer designed to be placed, in use conditions of the insole, in contact with a foot, with or without a sock, of a user, and
- an intermediate layer arranged between the lower layer and the upper layer and including, in at least a portion thereof, natural feathers.
In a second general aspect, which can be in accordance with the first aspect or can be considered independently, there is provided an upper including, in at least a portion thereof, natural feathers. In an embodiment, the upper further includes a lower layer and an upper layer and the portion of the upper is substantially an intermediate layer interposed between the lower layer and the upper layer of the upper. In an embodiment, the natural feathers are distributed uniformly in the intermediate layer of the insole or in the portion of the upper. In an embodiment, the intermediate layer of the insole or the portion of the upper includes a plurality of cells, the natural feathers being housed in the cells, each cell being at least partly or completely separated from the adjacent cells in such a way as to prevent passage of feathers between the cells. In an embodiment, the intermediate layer of the insole or the portion of upper made of natural feathers includes loose feathers, the loose feathers being maintained in a respective position, optionally through use of glues or bonds or mechanical constrainment, so as to prevent displacement of the feathers along the intermediate layer of the insole or the portion of upper and prevent an uneven distribution of the feathers. In an embodiment, the intermediate layer of the insole or the portion of upper made of natural feathers includes stabilised feathers, reciprocally compacted feathers, or both. In an embodiment the upper is the upper of a boot. In an embodiment, the stabilised feathers, if present, reciprocally compacted feathers, if present, or both are treated by a stabilising process that includes bonding the feathers together with a bond having elastic properties. In an embodiment, the bond includes particles of glue, elastomeric filaments or both. In an embodiment, the natural feathers include a down, in particular goose down, duck down and/or feathers of other animals of the anatidae family, or mixtures thereof. In an embodiment, the intermediate layer of the insole or the portion of upper is substantially a layer of thermal insulation which enables thermal insulation and thermal stability of the foot in such a way as to maintain, in use conditions of the insole or the upper, an ideal constant temperature of the foot and to prevent formation of heat between the upper layer and the lower layer or between an environment external to the upper and the foot. In an embodiment, the natural feathers of the intermediate layer form minuscule air cells configured for preventing transmission of the heat between the upper layer and the lower layer and thermally insulating the foot so as to facilitate a greater recycling of air. In an embodiment, the intermediate layer of the insole or the portion of upper made of natural feathers is obtained by cutting a sheet or roll of material including natural feathers or down, or a mixture of feathers and down. In an embodiment, the insole or upper extends along a prevalent longitudinal direction, the intermediate layer of the insole or the portion of upper extending over a longitudinal extension alike to a longitudinal extension of the insole or the upper and/or of the upper layer and/or the lower layer of the insole or the upper. In an embodiment, the intermediate layer of the insole or the portion of upper is breathable, hygroscopic, or both and is configured for enabling air to circulate and the water vapour which forms not to stagnate in the insole or the upper or in the item of footwear, but to be released newly in the form of water vapour. In an embodiment, the intermediate layer of the insole or the portion of upper is configured for reducing formation and absorption of liquids, keeping the foot dry. In an embodiment, the intermediate layer of the insole or the portion of upper is coupled to the upper layer and/or the lower layer by gluing, sewing, heat-welding or heat-adhesion and/or any other method which enables coupling the upper layer to the intermediate layer and the lower layer. In an embodiment, the lower layer is impermeable to liquids. In an embodiment, the lower layer is permeable to liquids. In an embodiment, the upper layer and/or the lower layer are joined in a single integral element and/or are made in a single piece. In an embodiment, the insole or the upper further includes a lateral layer for containing the second layer; the upper layer and the lower layer are connected by the lateral layer. In an embodiment, the feathers are inserted internally of an integral element which includes an upper layer, a lower layer and a lateral containing layer. In an embodiment, the lower layer and/or the upper layer are made of one or more materials adapted and destined to realise insoles or uppers for footwear. In an embodiment, the lower layer and/or the upper layer are made of one or more materials having characteristics of rigidity and/or resistance to wear and/or insulation and/or breathability adapted to manufacture insoles or uppers for footwear. In an embodiment, the insole is removably housable in an item of footwear. In an embodiment, the insole or upper is fixed internally of the item of footwear and/or fixed by means of gluing, sewing, heat-welding, heat-adhesion, or a combination thereof. In an embodiment, the insole or upper is an integral part of the item of footwear. In a third general aspect, there is provided an item of footwear including an insole according to any one of the preceding embodiments. In an embodiment, there is provided an item of footwear including an upper according to any one of the preceding embodiments. In an embodiment, there is provided an item of footwear including an insole and an upper according to any one of the preceding embodiments. In a fourth general aspect, which can be in accordance with any one of the preceding aspects or embodiments, or can be considered independently, there is provided an insole including a main body and a foldable portion engaged to the main body of the insole, the foldable portion being configured for assuming at least the following configurations:
a substantially flat configuration wherein the foldable portion lies substantially coplanarly to a lie plane of the main body of the insole,
a folded configuration wherein the foldable portion lies substantially on a plane that is transversal or parallel to a lie plane of the main body of the insole.
In an embodiment, the foldable portion is configured for assuming at least a first folded configuration in which the foldable portion lies substantially on a plane that is transversal to a lie plane of the main body of the insole and forms with the main body of the insole an angle comprised between 60° and 150°, in particular comprised between 75° and 120°, even more in particular substantially equal to 90°. In an embodiment, the angle can be defined as the angle between an upper surface of the main body of the insole and an upper surface of the foldable portion, the upper surfaces being defined with reference to the normal-use orientation of the insole. In an embodiment, the foldable portion is configured for assuming at least a second folded configuration in which the foldable portion is folded with respect to the main body of the insole and lies on a plane that is substantially parallel to the lie plane of the main body of the insole; in the second folded configuration the foldable portion being configured for functioning substantially as a support portion of a heel of the foot of a user of the item of footwear, or heel-pad. In an embodiment, in the second folded configuration of the foldable portion, the angle is comprised between 270° and 360°, in particular comprised between 320° and 360°, still more in particular comprised between 350° and 360°. In an embodiment, the lower surfaces of the foldable portion and a portion of the insole defined in proximity of the connecting portion face one another, the lower surfaces being defined with reference to the normal-use orientation of the insole. In an embodiment, in the second folded configuration of the foldable portion, the angle is comprised between 0° and 60°, in particular comprised between 0° and 30°, still more in particular comprised between 0° and 15°. In an embodiment, the upper surfaces of the foldable portion and a portion of the insole defined in proximity of the connecting portion face one another, the upper surfaces being defined with reference to the normal-use orientation of the insole. In an embodiment, the foldable portion is in a single piece with the main body of the insole. In an embodiment, the insole includes a connecting portion interposed between the main body and the foldable portion and configured for connecting the main body of the insole to the foldable portion. In an embodiment, the connecting portion is also foldable relative to the main body of the insole and is configured for enabling an optimal bending of the foldable portion relative to the main body of the insole. In an embodiment, the foldable portion includes a main body having a first end and a second end that are reciprocally opposite, the foldable portion being engaged to the main body of the insole at the first end thereof, the foldable portion further including an appendage engaged to the main body of the foldable portion at the second end thereof, the appendage being configured for functioning substantially as an extension of the main body of the foldable portion.
In an embodiment, the appendage is further configured for assuming at least the following configurations:
a substantially flat configuration wherein the appendage lies substantially coplanarly to a lie plane of the main body of the foldable portion,
a folded configuration wherein the appendage lies substantially on a plane that is transversal to a lie plane of the main body of the foldable portion.
In an embodiment, the foldable portion includes a joint portion at the second end thereof, the joint portion being configured for connecting the main body of the foldable portion to the appendage. In an embodiment, the joint portion is also foldable with respect to the main body of the foldable portion and is configured for enabling excellent bending of the appendage with respect to the main body of the foldable portion. In an embodiment, the joint portion, the main body of the foldable portion and the appendage are in a single piece. In an embodiment, the main body of the insole, the connecting portion and the foldable portion are in a single piece. In an embodiment, the connecting portion, the main body of the foldable portion, the joint portion and the appendage are in a single piece.
In an embodiment, the appendage, in a folded configuration, is adapted to project externally of an item of footwear in which the insole is inserted. In an embodiment, the appendage has an information content visible in the folded configuration even when the insole is inserted internally of an item of footwear and when the item of footwear is worn by a user. In an embodiment, the foldable portion includes, at least at a portion thereof and in particular at least at a main body thereof, natural feathers or “feather textile” of the type described herein. In a fifth general aspect, there is provided an item of footwear including an insole according to any of the aspects or embodiments disclosed herein. In an embodiment according to at least the fifth aspect, the insole of the item of footwear is according to any one of the preceding aspects or embodiments. In an embodiment according to at least the fifth aspect, the item of footwear further includes an upper according to any one of the preceding aspects or embodiments, and in particular according to at least the second aspect. In an embodiment according to at least the fifth aspect, there is provided an item of footwear including an insole according to at least the first aspect and, optionally, to any one of the further previously-described aspects or embodiments, and an upper according to at least the second aspect, and optionally to any one of the further previously-described aspects or embodiments.
There now follows, by way of non-limiting example, a detailed description of one or more preferred embodiments, in which:
With reference to the accompanying figures, reference numeral 1 denotes in its entirety an insole according to the present disclosure. The insole 1 is destined to be used internally of an item of footwear for supporting and stabilising a user's foot. In the present description, the term “insole” is taken to comprise any support element and/or “underfoot” element destined to support the user's foot and to be interposed between the foot and any item of footwear. The term “insole” is taken to comprise both removable insoles and fixed and/or integral insoles of an item of footwear. In the present description, by “feather textile” is meant a material including and realised starting from natural feathers and having an appearance and/or characteristics and/or possibilities of use that are similar or alike to those of a textile. In the present description, by “natural feathers” is meant at least goose feathers, duck feathers, down, goose down, duck down and feathers and down of other animals in the anatidae family or the like, or any mixture thereof. The insole 1 has a lower layer 2, an intermediate layer 3 and an upper layer 4. The intermediate layer 3 is arranged between the lower layer 2 and the upper layer 4 and is realised as a material principally of natural feathers, as will be seen in greater detail in the following. The insole 1 extends along a prevalent extension direction. The intermediate layer 3 extends along the extension direction for a length that is substantially alike to a length of the lower layer 2 and the upper layer 4 (see
Claims
1. An insole or upper for footwear comprising:
- a lower or external layer;
- an upper or internal layer; and
- an intermediate layer arranged between the lower or external layer and the upper or internal layer comprising, in at least a portion thereof, natural feathers.
2. The insole or upper according to claim 1, wherein the natural feathers are distributed uniformly in said intermediate layer.
3. The insole or upper according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate layer comprises a plurality of cells, the natural feathers being housed in said cells, each cell being at least partly or completely separated from adjacent cells in such a way as to prevent passage of feathers between the cells.
4. The insole or upper according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate layer of natural feathers comprises loose feathers, said loose feathers being maintained in a respective position, by glues, bonds or mechanical members, so as to prevent displacement of the feathers within the intermediate layer.
5. The insole or upper according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate layer of natural feathers comprises at least one of: stabilised feathers, reciprocally compacted feather, and a feather textile.
6. The insole or upper according to claim 5, wherein said stabilised feathers, if present and said reciprocally compacted feathers, if present, are treated by a stabilising process that comprises bonding the feathers together with a bond, wherein said bond possesses elastic properties or wherein said bond comprises at least one of particles of glue and elastomeric filaments.
7. The insole or upper according to claim 1, wherein the natural feathers comprise down.
8. The insole or upper according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate layer is a thermal insulator, enabling at least one of thermal insulation and thermoregulation of a foot in such a way as to, in use conditions of the insole:
- maintain a predetermined temperature range of the foot;
- reduce the likelihood of excessive heat build-up;
- prevent transmission of heat between the upper or internal layer and the lower or external layer; and
- provide for entry of cooler or warmer air from outside of an item of footwear in which the insole or upper is inserted.
9. The insole or upper according to claim 1, wherein the natural feathers of the intermediate layer form minuscule air cells configured for preventing transmission of heat between the upper or internal layer and the lower or external layer and for thermally insulating the foot.
10. The insole or upper according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate layer is at least one of breathable and hygroscopic and is configured for enabling passage and circulation of at least one of air and water vapor, while maintaining the foot dry.
11. The insole or upper according to claim 1, wherein the lower layer is a supporting lower layer, or base of the insole, designed to be placed, in use conditions of the insole, above a sole of an item of footwear.
12. The insole according to claim 1, further comprising:
- a main body; and
- a foldable portion engaged to the main body of the insole, the foldable portion being capable of assuming at least:
- a substantially flat configuration wherein said foldable portion lies substantially coplanarly to a lie plane of the main body of the insole; and
- a folded configuration wherein said foldable portion lies substantially on a plane that is transversal or parallel to a lie plane of the main body of the insole.
13. The insole according to claim 12, wherein the foldable portion is configured for assuming at least a first folded configuration in which it lies substantially on a plane that is transversal to the lie plane of the main body of the insole and forms with the main body of the insole an angle (α):
- between about 60° and about 150°;
- between about 75° and about 120°; or
- about 90°.
14. The insole according to claim 12, wherein the foldable portion is configured for assuming at least a second folded configuration in which it is folded with respect to the main body of the insole and lies on a plane that is substantially parallel to the lie plane of the main body of the insole; wherein, in said second folded configuration the foldable portion is configured as an auxiliary support portion for a heel of a foot of a user of the insole.
15. The insole according to claim 12 wherein said foldable portion comprises a main body extension portion having a first end and a second end, reciprocally opposite, the foldable portion being an extension of the main body of the insole, at the first end thereof, the foldable portion further comprising an appendage engaged to the main body extension portion of the foldable portion, at the second end thereof, said appendage being configured so as to function substantially as a further extension of the main body extension portion of the foldable portion and being further capable of assuming at least one of:
- a substantially flat configuration in which said appendage lies substantially coplanarly to a lie plane of the main body extension portion of the foldable portion; and
- a folded configuration in which said appendage is configured to:
- lie substantially on a plane that is transversal to a lie plane of the main body extension portion of the foldable portion; project externally of an item of footwear in which the insole is inserted; or
- a combination thereof.
16. An item of footwear comprising an insole or an upper according to claim 1.
17. The insole or upper according to claim 7, wherein the down is goose down and/or duck down and/or down of animals in the anatidae family.
18. The insole or upper according to claim 11, wherein the upper layer is configured to be placed, in use conditions of the insole in contact with a foot, with or without a sock, of a user.
19. An item of footwear, comprising:
- a footwear sole comprising a bottom portion for contacting ground and a top portion opposite the bottom portion; and
- support means configured as an insole for the item of footwear, for supporting a foot of a user of the footwear disposed on the top portion of the footwear sole.
20. The item of footwear according to claim 19, further comprising thermoregulation means for maintaining an ambient temperature of the foot of the user during conditions of use of the item of footwear.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 3, 2017
Publication Date: Aug 20, 2020
Inventor: Dino BALLARINO (LIGORNETTO)
Application Number: 16/067,840