CUSTOMIZABLE SHOE INSERT

Abstract

An orthotic support insert is configured to be positioned within a shoe. The insert is formed of a cushioning material having a plurality of indicator lines.

Description

BACKGROUND

Current shoes come in standard sizes. However, people's feet are different in length, width and height, making it difficult for people to find a standardized shoe that fits correctly. Incorrect fit in a shoe can cause undesirable issues such as foot pain, calluses and blisters.

SUMMARY

An orthotic support insert is configured to be positioned within a shoe. The insert is formed of a cushioning material having a plurality of indicator lines.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic top plan view of an embodiment of an orthotic insert.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the orthotic insert of FIG. 1 having portions removed.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the orthotic insert of FIG. 2 having further portions removed.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the orthotic insert of FIG. 2 in a folded configuration.

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the orthotic insert of FIG. 4 positioned within a shoe.

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the orthotic insert of FIG. 4 positioned within a shoe.

FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of a side by side comparison of two shoes being worn by a user, one shoe having the orthotic insert of FIG. 4 positioned therein and one shoe without the orthotic insert of FIG. 4 positioned therein.

FIG. 8 is another side perspective view of the side by side comparison of two shoes being worn by a user of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a top view of the orthotic insert of FIG. 3 having further portions removed.

FIG. 10 is a side perspective view of a side by side comparison of two shoes being worn by a user, one shoe having the orthotic insert of FIG. 9 positioned therein and one shoe without the orthotic insert of FIG. 9 positioned therein.

DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an internal orthotic support insert or device 100 for positioning within an external device such as a shoe, sandal or the like. Support device 100 can be formed of a cushioning material and has a thickness from 1/16 inch to ½ inch. Based on a user's foot, shoe and preference, device 100 can be customized to lessen movement between the user's foot and the shoe. Device 100 includes a forefoot portion 102, a midfoot portion 104 and a hindfoot portion 106. Portions 102, 104 and 106 are bound by an indicator line 107 positioned about a perimeter of the device 100. In one embodiment, adhesive can be applied to one or more portions of device 100 to secure the device within a shoe.

The support device 100 further includes first and second extension portions 108A and 108B positioned on either side of the support device 100 and extending from the indicator line 107. The extension portions 108A and 108B can be folded or bent with respect to the indicator line 107 (about portion 102) to fit within a shoe and remove excess tolerance between a surface of a user's foot and an interior surface of a corresponding shoe. As illustrated, the extension portions 108A and 108B can be of a selected width to allow the extension portions 108A and 108B to be positioned to wrap on a top of the foot as the foot is positioned within a corresponding shoe. In one embodiment, the extension portions 108A and 108B are sized to fit along an inner surface of the shoe and wrap around so that the extension portions 108A and 108B contact one another. Insert 100 also includes side extension portions 110A and 110B that extend along a length of the insert 100 from the forefoot portion to the hindfoot portion 106. Furthermore, insert 100 includes extension portions 112A and 112B connected to hindfoot portion 106. In one embodiment, extension portions 112A and 112B are sized such to extend along an inner surface heel of a shoe and contact one another. A heel pad 114 connects with extension portions 112A and 112B. The heel pad 114 can be removed separately from the insert 100 and applied to a back of a shoe to reduce tolerance between the user's foot and the shoe.

In addition to indicator line 107, insert 100 includes a plurality of other indicator lines that are used to customize a shape of the insert 100 for a person's foot. In one embodiment, the indicator lines are perforated, partially cut and/or formed of a line of reduced thickness with respect to the remaining portion of the insert 100. The indicator lines accordingly assist a user in removing portions of the insert 100. As such, the plurality of indicator lines can be used as a guide to remove a portion of the insert 100 (e.g., through cutting) that may not fit within a corresponding shoe or is not desired by a user. Extension 108A includes indicator lines 120 and 122 that can be used to remove a portion of the extension 108A in order to customize insert 100. In like manner, extension 108B includes indicator lines 124 and 126 that can be used to remove a portion of extension 108B. In addition, a top indicator line 128 connects a top of extension 108A with extension 108B and a bottom indicator line 130 connects a bottom of extension 108A with extension 108B. Extension 110A includes an indicator line 132 extending along a length thereof and extension 110B includes a corresponding indicator line 134 extending along a length thereof. Moreover, the forefoot portion 102 includes indicator lines 140, 142, 144 and 146 and heel portion 106 includes an indicator line 148.

In one embodiment, the insert 100 can be provided in a rectangular sheet with indicator lines and/or other indicia applied thereto to assist a user in removing portions of the sheet and thus produce a modified insert 100 sized for a selected shoe. After removal of sections of the sheet, a customized insert is produced. For example, a user may only wish to position the forefoot portion 102 of the insert 100 within the shoe. Accordingly, the user can cut insert along indicator line 130 such that the only remaining portion of the insert 100 is the forefoot portion 102 and extensions 108A and 108B. Still further, the user can cut along indicator line 128 such that only a portion of the forefoot portion 102 remains, along with the extensions 108A and 108B. In a further embodiment, one or more of the extensions 108A and 108B can be removed from insert 100 by cutting them off along indicator line 107.

Alternatively, or in addition thereto, the user can cut along indicator lines 132 and/or 134 to alter a width of the insert 100. The insert 100 can further be cut along indicator line 148 such that only hindfoot portion 106, along with extensions 112A and 112B remains from insert 100. In a further embodiment, extensions 112A and 112B can be removed such that just hindfoot portion 106 remains. In other embodiments, insert 100 is cut along indicator line 107, leaving just the forefoot portion 102, midfoot portion 104 and hindfoot portion 106 remaining. Extensions 110A and 110B can be cut along indicator lines 132 and/or 134 as desired. Alternatively, the extensions 110A and 110B can be folded upwardly and used to reduce tolerance between a side of the user's foot and the corresponding shoe. In another embodiment, insert 100 can be cut along any of indicator lines 140, 142, 144 or 146 to reduce a height of the insert 100.

In order to customize insert 100, FIG. 2 illustrates a configuration 100-1, where insert 100 has been cut along indicator line 128 to separate a top portion of the insert 100. Additionally, heel pad 114 has been removed from insert 100. In FIG. 3, side portions 110 have been removed by cutting insert along indicator line 107 to produce another configuration 100-2. The insert 100 can be folded to produce a folded configuration that is shown in FIG. 4, which simulates the insert 100 being folded for positioning in a shoe.

Once a configuration is selected, the insert 100-2 can be positioned within a shoe 300 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. As illustrated, the insert 100-2 contacts a top inner surface of the shoe 300, a rear inner surface of the shoe 300 and a bottom surface of the shoe 300. In a further embodiment, the insert 100-2 can be configured to contact one or more side surfaces of the shoe. When a foot F is positioned within the shoe 300 as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, excess tolerance is removed between the foot F and the shoe 300, providing a more comfortable and snug fit between the insert 100-2 and shoe 300. An outer portion of the foot contacts the insert 100-2, causing the insert 100-2 to compress as the insert 100-2 is positioned between the foot and the inner surfaces of the shoe 300.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show side by side comparisons of shoes having an orthotic support device 100-2 positioned therein and not having a device positioned therein. In FIG. 7, the shoe 300 in the rear includes insert 100-2, whereas the shoe 302 in the front does not include support device 100-2. A smaller gap 310 is created in the rear shoe 300 between a heel of the user and a heel portion of the shoe 300 than a gap 312 created in the front shoe 302 between a heel of the user and a heel portion of the shoe 302. In a similar manner, FIG. 8 shows the foot in the rear including insert 100-2, whereas the shoe 302 in the front does not include insert 100-2. As a result, the shoe 300 in the rear has a smaller gap 320 between a top surface of the foot and an inner surface of a toe portion of the shoe 300 than a corresponding gap 322 between a top surface of the foot and an inner surface of a toe portion of the shoe 302. Given the reduced tolerance between the foot and shoe 300, a more comfortable fit is provided.

Insert 100 can further be adapted to other shoe styles. For example, FIG. 9 illustrates yet another configuration 100-3 that is cut along indicator lines 128 and 130, leaving only a central portion of forefoot portion 102 and extension portions 108A and 108B. Configuration 100-3 can be useful in an open toed sandal, such as that shown in FIG. 10. FIG. 10 illustrates a front shoe 400 with configuration 100-3 positioned therein, whereas a rear shoe 402 does not include configuration 100-3 positioned therein. In contrast to the foot in shoe 400, the foot in shoe 402 substantially falls forward such that portions of the toes of the foot are not positioned on top of the sole portion of the shoe.

Various embodiments of the invention have been described above for purposes of illustrating the details thereof and to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. The details and features of the disclosed embodiment[s] are not intended to be limiting, as many variations and modifications will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is intended to be interpreted broadly and to include all variations and modifications coming within the scope and spirit of the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

accessing cushioning material;

accessing a shoe;

removing a portion of the cushioning material to accommodate the shoe; and

positioning the cushioning material within the shoe such that at least a portion of the cushioning material will contact a top of a foot when the foot is positioned within the shoe.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein positioning includes at least a portion of the cushioning material contacting a heel of the foot when the foot is positioned within the shoe.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein removing a portion of the cushioning material includes identifying an indicator line in the cushioning material and cutting the cushioning material along the indicator line.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the cushioning material includes an adhesive to secure the cushioning material in place with respect to the shoe.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a thickness of the cushioning material is at least ⅛ inch.

6. In combination with a shoe, an orthotic insert, comprising:

a first portion including at least one of a forefoot portion, a midfoot portion and a hindfoot portion; and

a second portion including an extension connected with the first portion, the extension positioned along at least an inner surface of a side of the shoe.

7. The insert of claim 6, wherein the extension is positioned along an inner surface of a top of the shoe.

8. The insert of claim 6, wherein the second portion extends along a length of the first portion.

9. The insert of claim 6, wherein the second portion extends along a rear portion of the shoe.

10. An orthotic insert, comprising:

a foam layer including a forefoot portion, a midfoot portion and a hindfoot portion; and

first and second extension portions extending from opposed sides of the forefoot portion and sized such that, when inserted into a shoe, the first and second extension portions wrap around an inner surface of the shoe and contact one another.

11. The orthotic insert of claim 10, further comprising third and fourth extension portions extending from the hindfoot portion and sized such that, when inserted into a shoe, the third and fourth extension portions wrap around an inner surface of a heel portion of the shoe and contact one another.