Boots – shoes – and leggings – Insoles
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-31
2001-10-16
Patterson, M. D. (Department: 3728)
Boots, shoes, and leggings
Insoles
C036S091000, C036S092000, C036S145000, C036S173000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06301805
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to shoe insoles, and more particularly, to improved insoles particularly adapted for obese people.
According to an article “Demography, Obesity: A Growing Problem, ” The Futurist, October, 1999, approximately 22% of adults in the United States are obese, with obesity defined by the World Health Organization as a body mass index greater than or equal to 30 Kg/m
2
.
The inventors herein designed and executed an investigative gait and foot morphology study to define the gait biomechanics and foot morphology of obese men and women. It was discovered that obese people exerted more load under the arch and lateral side of their feet during gait in comparison with individuals having a body mass index less than or equal to 25 kg/m
2
. Approximately 36% of the obese women subjects provided varying degrees of pes planus (flat feet), while approximately 43% of the obese men subjects provided varying degrees of pes planus (flat feet). Further, the frequency of moderate fatigue or discomfort in the foot, leg and lower back exceeded 50% in the male and female population. Still further, overall gait speed tended to be slower than that for that part of the population having a normal weight, that is, a body mass index less than or equal to 25 kg/m
2
.
From this study, it was determined that:
a) obese people have wider feet and put more pressure on the mid-foot and forefoot portions;
b) obese people overpronate, tending to flatten or fall on the inside arch of the foot;
c) obese people have a tendency to walk with their feet wider apart, and this, in combination with the overpronation (flat feet), prevents normal foot motion during walking; and
d) obese people tend to roll their feet outward during heel strike, thereby introducing an extraneous motion to the foot, in contrast to normal weight people who do not roll their feet during heel strike. This increases the loading in the lateral arch region during gait.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an insole that overcomes the aforementioned problems.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an insole for obese people.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an insole which reduces lower extremity, back and foot pain for obese people.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an insole which cushions the total foot contact area from heel strike through mid-foot stance, and during toe off (propulsion) for obese people.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an insole which provides additional flexibility and cushioning for obese people.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an insole which provides control and substantial reduction of overpronation for obese people.
It is a yet further object of the present invention to provide an insole that provides a comprehensive arch and mid-foot support for obese people.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an insole that provides lateral foot support for obese people.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an insole that will accommodate multiple heel sizes for obese people.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an insole that positions the fat pad under the calcaneus for obese people.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an insole that is easy and economical to make and use.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a removable insole for insertion into footwear, includes a forefoot portion extending at least to metatarsals of a foot; a cupped heel portion including a relatively flat central portion and a sloped side wall surrounding the relatively flat central portion; a mid-foot portion connecting together the forefoot portion and the heel portion, the mid-foot portion including a medial arch portion defined by an extension of the sloped side wall, and the forefoot portion, heel portion and mid-foot portion formed from a unitary resilient material; and a shell that extends along an underside of the insole, the shell extending under the medial arch portion and the side wall, the shell having an opening beneath the relatively flat central portion of the cupped heel portion and a gap at a rearmost end of the shell so as to define flanges on opposite sides of the insole at the heel portion, and the shell being made of a flexible material that is stiffer than the unitary resilient material.
The sloped side wall extends to lateral and medial sides of the mid-foot portion, and the shell extends along an underside of the sloped side wall at the heel portion and the mid-foot portion.
The unitary resilient material extends out through the opening in the shell, and includes a recess at an undersurface thereat with a plurality of first protuberances in the recess, the first protuberances forming spaced apart spring walls and the first protuberances having lower edges generally coplanar with a lower surface of the heel portion. Preferably, the first protuberances have a generally cylindrical configuration. Also, the unitary resilient material includes a second recess at an undersurface thereof at the forefoot portion, with a plurality of second protuberances in the second recess, the second protuberances forming spaced apart spring walls and the second protuberances having lower edges generally coplanar with a lower surface of the heel portion. Preferably, the second protuberances have a generally cylindrical configuration. The first and second protuberances have a height and width, and the height of the second protuberances is less than the height of the first protuberances, and the width of the second protuberances is greater than the width of the first protuberances.
A top cover is secured to upper surfaces of the forefoot portion, mid-foot portion and heel portion.
Also, at least one pattern trim line is formed at the forefoot portion for trimming the insole to fit into smaller size footwear.
Lastly, the medial arch portion has a height greater than a remainder of the mid-foot portion, and extends approximately 40% of the distance from a medial side of the insole to a lateral side of the insole.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, footwear includes an outer sole; an inner sole connected to the outer sole, the inner sole including a forefoot portion extending at least to metatarsals of a foot, a cupped heel portion including a relatively flat central portion and a sloped side wall surrounding the relatively flat central portion, a mid-foot portion connecting together the forefoot portion and the heel portion, the mid-foot portion including a medial arch portion defined by an extension of the sloped side wall, and the forefoot portion, heel portion and mid-foot portion formed from a unitary resilient material, and a shell that extends along an underside of the insole, the shell extending under the medial arch portion and the side wall, the shell having an opening beneath the relatively flat central portion of the cupped heel portion and a gap at a rearmost end of the shell so as to define flanges on opposite sides of the insole at the heel portion, and the shell being made of a flexible material that is stiffer than the unitary resilient material; and an upper connected to at least one of the outer sole and the inner sole.
The above and other features of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description thereof which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
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patent: 2498624 (1950-02-01), Skinner
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patent: 4435910 (1984-03-01), Marc
patent: 5517770 (1996-05-01), Martin et al.
patent: 5638613 (1997-06-01), Williams
patent: 5960566 (1999-10-01), Brown
patent: 6038793 (2000-03-01), Kendall
patent: 6131311 (2000-10-01), Brown
Crane Laura J.
Foshee David
Howlett Harold
Xia Bin
Lipka Robert J.
Patterson M. D.
Shering-Plough Healthcare Products, Inc.
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