Insoles Patents (Class 36/43)
  • Patent number: 9149021
    Abstract: An animal paw pad comprising a base having an enclosure, wherein said base has a first side and a second side disposed opposite of said first side. There can be a gel disposed inside of the enclosure. There can be at least one adhesive coupled to the first side, and at least one roughened section coupled to the second side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Inventor: Carol Marie Kerler
  • Patent number: 9131747
    Abstract: A shoe sole which assists in and enables correct walking. The shoe sole includes an outsole, a main midsole, a lower midsole and an upper midsole. The main midsole includes an inclined slope, a first extending section which is connected to the lower end of the slope, and a second extending section which is connected to the upper end of the slope. The first extending section is coupled to the outsole from a periphery of either an inward side or an outward side of an upper surface of the outsole. The lower midsole is disposed between undersurfaces of the slope and the second extending section and the upper surface of the outside. The upper midsole is coupled to upper surfaces of the slope and the first extending section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Inventor: Cheol Ho Yang
  • Patent number: 9107473
    Abstract: A foot support structure for an article of footwear or other foot-receiving device may include a first foot support portion disposed in a first orientation and a second foot support portion disposed in a second orientation different than the first orientation. A twist portion may extend continuously from the first foot support portion to the second foot support portion and twist from the first orientation to the second orientation A common face of the foot support member may extend over at least part of the first foot support portion, at least part of the second foot support portion and the twist portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua P. Heard, Alexandre Baudouin, Robert M. Bruce, John Hurd, James Molyneux
  • Patent number: 9060563
    Abstract: An arch support insole includes a basic body made from soft flexible material having a top surface, a palm support portion and an arch support portion, wherein the palm support portion has a rear part, a front part with a width gradually increased from said rear part, an arched lateral side conforming to an arch of human foot, a topmost planar surface and a curved side surface gradually descending from the topmost planar surface. The topmost planar area is spaced apart from the top surface of the basic body at 7 mm˜9 mm. The arch support portion surrounds the rear part and the curved side surface of the palm support portion, has an upwardly curved top surface with a topmost point which is spaced from the top surface of the basic body at 1 mm˜4 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Fusco Industrial Corporation
    Inventor: Chen-Yu Tsai
  • Patent number: 9055781
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a body balance device, which includes a main body made of a cushioning material. The main body includes a first metatarsal bone section, a fourth metatarsal bone section, and a foot heel section. The main body forms a primary adjustment structure located between the first metatarsal bone section and the fourth metatarsal bone section and a secondary adjustment structure located between the fourth metatarsal bone section and the foot heel section and corresponding to outside of the main body. Both adjustment structures are formed with a structure of through hole or cavity in which a soft material is selectively embedded to allow the human body to reach a balanced condition when standing or walking so as to improve the discomfort of bones and muscles caused by long standing or walking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Varithotics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tzann-Yuh Tzeng
  • Patent number: 9055783
    Abstract: A footwear article comprising a generally elongate sole for engagement with and support of the foot of a person, said sole having an upper surface, a lower surface, a first portion being for interaction with at least the heel region of the foot of the person and a second portion for interaction with at least the metatarsal region of the foot of the person; and a foot engagement means for securing the footwear article to the foot of a person. The footwear article being characterized in that a first portion of the sole includes a first material having a first material property and the a second portion of the sole includes a second material having a second material property; and said first portion and said second portion extend at least to the upper surface of the sole and first material property provides for dampening of load imparted to the foot of the person upon contact with a surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Inventor: David Fu
  • Patent number: 9055782
    Abstract: A shoe structure for foot strike energy dissipation employs compressible members each having an internal void containing a first working fluid. A set of mating compressible members are each connected to a related one of the first compressible members through a fluid conduit such that the first working fluid is transferred from the related compressible member to the mating compressible member responsive to compression induced by foot strike. Resilient structural members are placed intermediate the compressible members to deform responsive to compression of the foot bed induced by foot strike provide both energy dissipation and resilient recovery of the compression cylinders to their uncompressed state. A cavity contains a second working fluid that is transmissible between the compressible members responsive to compression of the foot bed. Cooling tubes are provided for energy dissipation of the second working fluid which bathes the compressible members, conduits and resilient elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Inventor: Kevin McDonnell
  • Publication number: 20150143713
    Abstract: A multi-function shoe pad is composed of a main body for a user's human sole to tread. The main body includes a hollow bulge integrally protruding toward a top side thereof and from a bottom side in such way that a chamber is formed below the hollow bulge. The chamber is deformable between a compressed state and an uncompressed state, so the hot air inside the chamber can exhaust and the cold air can be sucked into the chamber to enhance the air convection inside the user's shoe. Besides, the hollow bulge can allow the user's foot to tightly cling to the shoe to enable the shoe pad to be skidproof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventor: Hsien-Hsiung CHENG
  • Publication number: 20150143714
    Abstract: A foot balancing device includes a shoe insert, a main balancing element, three auxiliary force-transferring elements, and three auxiliary balancing elements. The main balancing element is provided in an arch region of the shoe insert and serves as a fulcrum on the shoe insert for the front part of the sole of one of the user's feet and the heel of the foot. The auxiliary force-transferring elements are provided in the arch region of the shoe insert so that the pressure center of the sole will displace along an ideal line. The auxiliary balancing elements are located forward of and on two lateral sides of the main balancing element respectively to support a transverse arch, inner arch, and outer arch of the foot respectively. Thus, the user's body weight can distribute evenly over the sole while the user is standing or walking, thereby preventing injury resulting from improper posture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventor: Tzann-Yuh TZENG
  • Patent number: 9027261
    Abstract: A motorcycle boot comprises a sole or tread (22), a rigid shell (20) and an upper (52) associated with the rigid shell; the upper has furthermore a base insole (54) formed by a plurality of tubular channels (56) which extend over most of the bottom surface of the sole (54) and allow the air to pass at right angles to their axis; the shell has at the front an air intake communicating with the front end of the tubular channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Alpinestars Research SRL
    Inventor: Giovanni Mazzarolo
  • Publication number: 20150121721
    Abstract: An insole improvement (100) is described which has, in the portion where the transverse arch of the foot is placed, an area provided with a concave surface (10) that fits the region of the user's foot arch so as to prevent the foot from slipping forward from the shoe, which generates pressure on the forefoot, in addition to providing support to the heel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventor: Lucas KNORST
  • Patent number: 9003679
    Abstract: An inner sole board having varying regions of flexibility is provided for use in an article of footwear. The inner sole board may include different materials along its length at different locations that vary its flexibility. An inner sole board is manufactured in an injection molding process requiring only one mold. The process includes a first step of providing a mold, a second step of providing an injection molding assembly, a third step of preparing an injection molding assembly and mold, a fourth step of injecting material into the mold, and a fifth step of establishing the dimensions of a first portion. During the injection molding process, the flow rate of at least one material may be controlled by a nozzle gate to control the shape and size of the flex zone it creates. In this manner, the inner sole board may be customized for a specific sport or individual.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim Baucom, Clifford B. Gerber
  • Patent number: 8997379
    Abstract: An inlay sole for shoes is made up of sole pieces of varying Shore hardness which engage with each other on abutting edges, the width of which corresponds to the thickness of the sole pieces, with matching sinuous projections and matching recesses. The projections form extensions which engage in backcuts in the recesses, the inlay sole being made of several layers of sole pieces assembled as above. The abutting edges are offset with relation to each other from layer to layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Bauerfeind AG
    Inventors: Holger Reinhardt, Ralf Lang, Michel Vanfleteren
  • Patent number: 8978169
    Abstract: A hazardous materials protective garment may use a two-stage evaporative cooling process to ease heat strain on the wearer of the garment. The garment may include an impermeable inner layer and a wicking outer layer. One or more reservoirs may be disposed interior to the inner layer for collecting condensed and/or unevaporated sweat. One or more pumps may move the sweat to the exterior of the impermeable layer for distribution in the wicking layer and evaporation from the garment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Inventors: Larry Berglund, Reed Hoyt
  • Publication number: 20150033578
    Abstract: The present embodiment is a footwear insert. In further detail the present embodiment offers an educational split graphic and split text system to assist a wearer in identification of left and right footwear. In addition, the present embodiment offers personal identification information related to the wearer of the inserts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventor: Lisa Ann Hodson
  • Publication number: 20150000158
    Abstract: A structure of a correction shoe pad includes a shock-absorber mounted at an outside portion of a pad body of a shoe pad, so that the shock-absorber mounted at the outside portion of the pad body provides support to effectively prevent situations, such as eversion and ankle sprain causing by shift of the center of the body weight of the user toward the outer side of the sole and also to provide effects of bandy leg and wear of meniscus of knee joints resulting from the shift of the center of the body weight of the user toward the outer side of the sole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: Jet Crown International Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Edmund Wang
  • Publication number: 20150000157
    Abstract: A new manufacturing method produces an insole that fits a user's foot properly and that is manufactured in a shorter time at a lower cost. The manufacturing method includes steps of: acquiring information on a user's foot by a foot printer; selecting a basic part 2 based on the acquired information; attaching various modification parts 3 to the selected basic part 2 arranged in a trial shoe 1; determining whether the trial insole including a combination of the basic part 2 and modification parts 3 is properly fitted to the user's foot in walking and standing statuses; repeating the steps from selecting to determining until the most fitting combination of the basic part and modification parts is determined; reproducing the determined trial insole in a three-dimensional CAD based on the most fitting combination; and manufacturing an insole by cutting out material based on the reproduced trial insole in the three-dimensional CAD.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: M-Support Limited Company
    Inventor: Yuichi HIKICHI
  • Publication number: 20150004429
    Abstract: A copper metal alloy, for use in making elements for promoting and/or stimulating vital energy comprises between 60% and 70% in weight of copper (Cu), between 16% and 24% in weight of silver (Ag), between 3% and 6% in weight of zinc (Zn), between 3% and 6% in weight of manganese (Mn) and between 0.5%> and 6%> in weight of germanium (Ge). Tin (Sn) in percentage comprised between 3% and 6% can also be provided for. Platinum (Pt) can also be provided for between 0.1% and 5% in weight. The alloy is used for making for example sheets in form of plates or strips which are associated to articles of various types.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: MEDIKA S.r.l.
    Inventors: Massimo Amenduni Gresele, Rodolfo Penna
  • Patent number: 8914995
    Abstract: A foot orthotic for use as an insole in footwear is made solely from a copper-containing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Orthotics Online Limited
    Inventor: Anthony Clive Andrews
  • Publication number: 20140352172
    Abstract: A combination insert-flat will allow a flat to be compressed to a thin insert which women will wear between their feet and heeled footwear discreetly and Comfortably, wherein the flat will adjust to fit in the high heel. When a wearer of the high heeled footwear desires a change out of the high heels, the person will take off their high heels and conveniently remove the insert-flat at which point they will unfold the insert into a flat. The wearer may place the flat on the user's feet and have a comfortable flat that will protect their feet from being bare foot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventor: SHENE SERLETIC
  • Publication number: 20140338220
    Abstract: A footbed for supporting a person's foot is formed with one or more voids which removes support beneath either at least part of the heel which is lateral to the midline of the heel and which does not extend medially of the midline, or beneath the medial process of the tuber calcanei, or a combination of the two. Such voids stabilise those parts of the heel which functionally form an abutment to support the medial and lateral longitudinal arches of the foot, in order to prevent pronation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: FootJacks Ltd
    Inventor: Mark Stern
  • Publication number: 20140325872
    Abstract: An insole having liquid therein may include a main body that has an enclosing layer covering an outer surface of the main body, and liquid is enclosed by the enclosing layer. In one embodiment, the liquid can be water or oil. The insole may also have at least one hole located at a predetermined position of enclosing layer to evenly distribute the pressure from the user's feet. A sealing edge is formed at an outer portion of the main body and a pressing portion is formed at a periphery of the holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: TAIWELL TECH. CO.,LTD.
    Inventor: Chin-Yu Huang
  • Publication number: 20140324396
    Abstract: A foot orthotic device is disclosed. More specifically described is an individualized foot orthotic device to correct and/or restore the ideal alignment and/or positioning of foot structures. The device is designed using a method and system that applies sequential pressure to regions on a plantar foot surface, and obtaining positional information about each region. Based on the positional information, an orthotic profile is determined, for design of one or more custom, individualized foot orthotic devices for a subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: J. Kevin Miller, Michael S. Latterman, Sue Ann Latterman
  • Publication number: 20140298680
    Abstract: A high heeled shoe and shoe sole insert are provided that are configured to provide relief from the forces on the foot created by walking in high heels. The shoe comprises a layered sole having an outsole, a midsole, and an insole. The midsole of the shoe comprises a cutout that is positioned over the metatarsal pressure point of the user's foot when positioned within the shoe. The cutout is filled with a shock absorbing material, such as Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam, and includes a layer of paperboard for further cushioning. The shoe sole insert similarly includes a metatarsal padded region and a medial longitudinal arch pad to provide a layer of cushioning above the midsole of a user's footwear. The present invention provides relief while wearing high heels by cushioning the user's foot in high pressure zones, thereby relieving the pressure and reducing injuries or soreness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventor: Joan Oloff
  • Publication number: 20140298682
    Abstract: The improved footwear system of the present application uses composite materials in the design of an advanced modular in-shoe foot orthosis and a new container assembly which includes a high performance energy storage and return element orthosis. The footwear system uses a method of manufacture incorporating a new last model. The advantages of the footwear system over standard issue combat boots include lower weight, improved treatment of lower extremity overuse injuries and reduction of the occurrence of such overuse injuries by protecting at-risk feet with advanced footwear which can be customized to meet the biomechanical needs as well as the specific activities of the wearer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicants: UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE, DIAPEDIA, LLC
    Inventors: Peter R. Cavanagh, Timothy B. Hurley, John J. Tierney, John W. Gillespie, JR.
  • Publication number: 20140298681
    Abstract: An orthotic shoe insert having a contoured body adapted to support a location of a wearer's foot between a heel and a medial arch, the body being constructed of a semi-rigid material and including a rear concave end and a forward extending and medial arch supporting edge. The body exhibits a three dimensional shape and perimeter defining outer profile adapted for being inserted into the wearer's shoe. Corresponding methods for forming an orthotic shoe insert can include either providing a thermoplastic material in an unformed lay-flat sheet of varying thickness and rigidity, then applying a heat source to the material to assisting in forming the material into a three dimensional shape including a concave rear and heel supporting end and a forward extending and medial arch supporting end. Other methods include pre-placing scrim layers within opposing surfaces of mating die halves and post-injecting a plasticized material in fluidic state in order to form the insert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventor: David Epstein
  • Patent number: 8844166
    Abstract: Insole (1) intended to be placed removably in a shoe (8), said insole comprising a long and thin body (2) and a vibrating device (4) embedded in said body (2), said vibrating device (4) comprising an electric accumulator (12), a control system (14) and a vibration generator (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Quo Vadis
    Inventor: Jean-François Jazdanian
  • Publication number: 20140259753
    Abstract: A foamed article is made by infusing the article of thermoplastic elastomer including a nonpolar component with a supercritical fluid, then removing the article from the supercritical fluid and either (i) immersing the article in a heated fluid or (ii) irradiating the article with infrared or microwave radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventor: NIKE, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20140259756
    Abstract: A multi-function ventilated insole is provided with an elastic airbag disposed within a heel and including upper and bottom layer sections; a check valve on the rear of the elastic airbag; two spaced channels each extending from the elastic airbag to a plantar arch portion, each channel including vent holes disposed from a front end to an intermediate portion, and a rear concealed tunnel extending to communicate with one outlet; a flexible main support in the top layer section; two spaced flexible auxiliary supports in the top layer section and contacting both sides of the main support; recesses on top of a front portion of the insole, each recess having a knob; a curve protrusion on the insole; a protuberance on the insole between the front ends of the channels; and a cavity on the insole between the protrusion and the protuberance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Wan-Fu Pan
  • Publication number: 20140259755
    Abstract: An arch support insole includes a basic body made from soft flexible material having a top surface, a palm support portion and an arch support portion, wherein the palm support portion has a rear part, a front part with a width gradually increased from said rear part, an arched lateral side conforming to an arch of human foot, a topmost planar surface and a curved side surface gradually descending from the topmost planar surface. The topmost planar area is spaced apart from the top surface of the basic body at 7 mm˜9 mm. The arch support portion surrounds the rear part and the curved side surface of the palm support portion, has an upwardly curved top surface with a topmost point which is spaced from the top surface of the basic body at 1 mm˜4 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Chen-Yu Tsai
  • Publication number: 20140259757
    Abstract: An arch support insole includes a basic body made from soft flexible material having a top surface, a heel support portion in form of crescent moon shape and projecting upward from the top surface and a palm support portion in front of the heel support portion. The heel support portion has two distal ends that gradually increase in thickness toward a center area thereof thereby forming a curved surface with an apex at the center area which is spaced from the top surface of the basic body at 5 mm˜9 mm and wherein the palm support portion has an upwardly curved top surface with a topmost point which is spaced from the top surface of the basic body at 1 mm˜6 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: FUSCO INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Chen-Yu Tsai
  • Publication number: 20140259752
    Abstract: Footwear, insoles, inserts, kits and methods effective for acclimating a user's foot to a different heel-toe ramp and/or foot strike pattern are provided. Footwear, insoles, inserts and kits of the present disclosure have a region of adjustable thickness which allows the user to gradually change the heel-toe ramp of the user's foot, and/or gradually adapt to a new foot-strike pattern. Regions of adjustable thickness may include a layered pad, inserts of varying thicknesses which may be used with the footwear or insert, or a material having a thickness which changes with the rate of applied force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Daniel D. Feldman
  • Publication number: 20140259751
    Abstract: A foot support system includes two or more pairs of insoles where each pair of insoles has physical properties different from the next pair of insoles, such as camber (side-to-side tilt). The user wears one pair of insoles for a set period of time before replacing it with the next consecutive insole in a serial order. Each pair of insoles has medial arches that are the same in height, that height varying from one pair of insoles to the next. Each insole comprises a base, a medial arch support, and a cover. Additional embodiments may include a heel cup for more secure fit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Glen Stevick, Chelsea Torgersen-Bell, Sibylle Scholz
  • Publication number: 20140259754
    Abstract: A ball-of-foot type shoe insert has two regions with different compressibility characteristics, illustratively created by using polyurethane foam of difference densities, in a front region which, when the insert is positioned in a shoe, will underlie the toes of a wearer, and a rear region which, when positioned in a shoe, will underlie the ball of the foot. The front region is less compressible so that the toes in combination with the insert fill-up the toe box, thereby preventing the foot from sliding forward so that the anatomical heel of the wearer fits naturally in the heel of a shoe that is too big for the wearer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Cara Lustik
  • Patent number: 8819962
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems are disclosed for conditioning a foot surface by contacting a foot surface with an article designed to contact foot surfaces for the purpose of abrading, moisturizing and otherwise conditioning a foot surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Inventor: Michele Candella
  • Patent number: 8819961
    Abstract: A footwear sole or an orthotic or combinations of both including a set of incrementally different inserts forming a progressive sequence. The progressive sequence includes inserts having corrective structures that are incrementally closer to a final corrective structure than a corrective structure of a previous insert in the sequence. The corrective structure of the inserts may change in one or more of shape, thickness and firmness of at least one portion of the at least one insert as compared to the previous insert in the sequence. Each of the inserts of the set is worn for a period of time in order of the progressive sequence as part of the footwear sole and/or orthotic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Inventor: Frampton E. Ellis
  • Publication number: 20140230273
    Abstract: IonSole fluid orthotic massaging insoles are a unique insole appliance made 1/16th inch thick utilizing glycerin gel infused with negative ion minerals; sealed in a pocket which forms the base of the product. The product is formed in the shape of a foot and is provided in multiple sizes with cut/trim lines to accommodate the adjustment of size to an individual foot. The pocket contains other seal points which cause the glycerin, infused with negative ion powder, to pulse around these points and stimulate the muscles on the bottoms of the feet. Walking or running action stirs up the negative ions and this along with the massaging glycerin, will help stimulate blood circulation and help reduce the stresses and forces on the bones, joints, and muscles of the feet. The feet will feel younger, and the foot fatigue will subside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventor: Joseph Welburn Evans, JR.
  • Patent number: 8800169
    Abstract: An orthotic is disclosed. The orthotic may include a cushioning layer configured to extend from at least the metatarsal region to the proximal heel region, the cushioning layer having a heel region with a protruding heel piece integrally molded as part of the cushioning layer. The orthotic may also include an outer shell layer fixedly coupled to the cushioning layer, the outer shell layer extending longitudinally from at least the medial cuneiform-first metatarsal joint region to the calcaneus bone region of the user, the outer shell layer configured to receive the protruding heel piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: MSD Consumer Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold A. Howlett, Bin Xia, Philip C. Yang
  • Patent number: 8776398
    Abstract: An absorbent footwear liner comprising an upper absorbent layer and a lower layer comprising an adhesive equal in size to the upper layer for adhering the liner to substantially the entire surface of a footbed for absorbing and dissipating moisture thereon and preventing foot slippage on a shoe footbed due to perspiration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Summer Soles, LLC
    Inventor: Shannon Michelle McLinden
  • Publication number: 20140182162
    Abstract: An insole for a shoe includes at least a plate of thermoplastic material and a heating element. The thermoplastic plate is fully customizable. Fully customizable soles for shoes with heating elements, and a method for obtaining insoles or soles, especially for winter shoes are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: Footbalance System Oy
    Inventor: Erkki Hakkala
  • Publication number: 20140182049
    Abstract: A cushion for supporting a user relative to a support surface is provided. The cushion has material with sufficient flexibility to deform under a weight of the user and sufficient resilience to return to its original state when the weight is removed. A supporting face contacts the support surface and is characterized by a plurality of points. The supporting face is contoured such that, when the cushion is in an unloaded configuration, a first subset of the plurality of points contact the support surface and a second subset of the plurality of points do not contact the support surface. When a user then sits on the cushion so that it is in a loaded configuration, at least some of the points in the second subset are displaced under the user's weight and contact the support surface. The cushion thus both bends and compresses to distribute the weight of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: Raft Global, LLC
    Inventors: Peter C. Prust, Allen Siekman
  • Patent number: 8753734
    Abstract: A toe tap for a tap shoe is characterized by a blunt forward edge which defines a platform for a dance to utilize during dance steps, particularly when the dancer elevates to an elongated pointe position with supported by the tips of the toes. The tap includes a base which has a rear edge extending toward the ball area of the dance shoe and side edges which extend between the front and rear edges. The tap further includes constant perimeter around the side and front portions and a lip extending upwardly from the base at the constant perimeter to enable the dance to execute shuffle and other dance movements with the medial and lateral portions of the foot. A projection further extends from the lip at the front edge. The projection has a flat surface co-planar with the blunt front edge of the base to define a larger platform for supporting the toe tips of the dancer's foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Ballet Makers, Inc.
    Inventor: Chang-Yen Tsai
  • Publication number: 20140157631
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes a footwear portion including a core including a plurality of plates. A first one of the plurality of plates is hingedly attached, at one or more edges of the first plate, to one or more substantially adjacent other plates in the plurality of plates. Each hinge hingedly attaching an edge of the first plate to another plate joins less than the entire respective hingedly attached edge to a corresponding one of the one or more substantially adjacent other plates and is integrally connected to the first plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Pinwrest Development Group, LLC
    Inventor: Mark D. Dodd
  • Publication number: 20140141675
    Abstract: A material that is capable of stopping high-speed projectiles but yet is sufficiently flexible for use in various applications, such as to be used in footwear to protect a person's feet, especially the bottoms thereof is achieved by an enhanced ballistic material formed from interleaving layers of a ballistic material and layers of a gel matrix material that remains relatively soft and flexible. The ballistic material layer may be high tensile strength synthetic or polymeric fibers that are arranged in a mesh weave. Preferably the gel matrix material is capable of investing the ballistic material, e.g., by having the gel matrix material fill the interstices of the fibers, which may be achieved through the use of heat and/or pressure. Furthermore, the combined material, i.e., the enhanced ballistic material, may be shaped, e.g., by molding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: Mitnick Capital LLC
    Inventor: Neal Ira Mitnick
  • Publication number: 20140137431
    Abstract: A sockliner for use in a shoe assembly designed to strategically distribute underfoot pressure and to facilitate air circulation within a shoe. The sockliner includes a base having a top face, a bottom face and a plurality of perforation holes positioned across the length of the base and extending therethrough. The sockliner further includes a plurality of ventilation grooves located along a peripheral edge of the sockliner designed to cooperate with the perforation holes to encourage air flow. The bottom face of the sockliner further includes a plurality of zones, each zone including a plurality of lugs which are strategically designed and located to support the weight of the wearer and provide cushioning to the wearer's foot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: BROWN SHOE COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: David L. Vattes, Ashley D. Stark, Steven Bacon
  • Publication number: 20140109438
    Abstract: A insole pad (1; 51) for placement on top of an inner sole of footwear and adapted in use to cover only an area of that inner sole that is substantially smaller than the human footprint. The insole pad (1; 51) includes a relatively thin, sheet-like body that has an upper surface (33) and a lower surface (41) and an outer periphery (25). The lower surface (41) has sticky or adhesive properties, and is interrupted by recessed areas arranged in a pattern (5; 55). The pattern (5; 55) is configured to include a plurality of channels combined to be at least intersecting or joining, so as to define a plurality of differently sized non-recessed lower surface areas. At least a portion of the channels vary in width, while the pattern has a varying density to provide high and low cushioning values in predefined areas A, B, C; G).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Inventors: Edwin Paul Hoogerbrugge, Bas Brongers, Joost Robert van Haasteren
  • Publication number: 20140109439
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a shoe insert having a raised heel creating a rigid inner sole extending from the heel to the end of the arch of the foot such that any athletic shoe can be modified for use as a weight lifting shoe by inserting the shoe insert. The insert is capable of being secured into any footwear, thus eliminating the cost of specific shoes for weight lifting activities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Inventor: Erik Barr
  • Patent number: 8695235
    Abstract: A soccer shoe absorbs and stores energy from the foot at foot-strike and return some of this energy to the object being struck. The shoe may also cushion the foot, leg and body; provide foot stability and motion control; reduce fatigue; extend the float time of a runner and increase the jump height of the wearer. The shoe is intended to absorb, store and return energy to the object struck, which would otherwise be lost using the existing shoe components and inserts. The shoe has a vertical component that extends around the periphery of the front of the shoe and another component (horizontal) that extends longitudinally from the front of the shoe towards the back of the shoe, at least to about the middle of the shoe, and preferably proximate the heel of the shoe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Inventor: J. Edward Perron, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20140090272
    Abstract: A heel stabilization device includes a plurality of bumps formed on a shoe midsole or a shoe pad at predetermined locations corresponding to a foot heel in order to alter the contact forces at the locations when the foot heel is put into contact with the shoe pad or the shoe midsole. Thus, when a human body is standing or walking, a balance condition can be achieved to improve the discomfort of human body caused by long standing or walking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: RAPHA SHOES INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: TSAN-YU TSENG
  • Publication number: 20140090274
    Abstract: A shoe insert liner or no-show sock configured to detachably adhere to an interior cavity of a shoe is provided. In one embodiment, the shoe insert liner includes a liner having an exterior surface and an adhesive bonded to at least a portion of the exterior surface of the liner. The liner includes a longitudinal portion, opposing first and second lateral portions extending in a first direction from opposite sides of the longitudinal portion, and opposing front and rear portions extending in the first direction from opposite ends of the longitudinal portion. Together, the longitudinal, lateral, front, and rear portions of the liner define an interior cavity and an opening configured to receive a user's foot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Inventor: Justin Arquilla