Flow insole

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10010131-B2
Application number	US-201213363296-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 31, 2012
Priority date	Feb 2, 2011
Publication date	Jul 3, 2018
Grant date	Jul 3, 2018

Abstract

An insole which generates an air flow during use, which assists in cooling or warming the foot of a user is disclosed. In a first embodiment, air flow facilitated by said insole provides for convective heat transfer away from the plantar surface of the foot. The insole is intended for insertion into a shoe which is ventilated, preferably an athletic shoe with a ventilated upper. The bottom layer defines a plurality of ridges and a channel lining portion which together define a plurality of air channels. The bottom layer defines a heel recess in which a heel pad is situated. In a second embodiment, an insole which collects, retains, and heats and to a user's foot is disclosed. Said insole further comprises a middle layer of thermal reflective material secured to and coextensive with a top layer and a bottom layer secured to said middle layer.

First claim

We claim:

1. An insole which enables generation of an air flow to or from the plantar surface of the foot during use, said insole comprising:
a. a bottom layer having a top side and a bottom side, a heel portion and a toe portion, said heel portion on said bottom side defining a heel recess of sufficient depth and configuration so as to be adapted to receive a heel pad, said bottom side of said bottom layer further defining a plurality of ridges which protrude outwardly therefrom and extend essentially lengthwise from the heel portion to the toe portion, wherein said bottom layer further defines a channel lining portion, wherein adjacent ridges and said channel lining portions define air channels, whereby when said insole is placed adjacent the inside bottom surface of a user's shoe, a portion of the ridges contact the inside shoe surface, thus sealing said air channels against that surface and forming individual pathways in which air can travel from a first location to a second location within said air channels; and
b. a heel pad situated in said heel recess.

2. The insole of claim 1 , further comprising a middle layer having a thermal reflective barrier and having an upper surface and a lower surface, said lower surface of said middle layer secured to said top side of said bottom layer.

3. The insole of claim 1 , further comprising a top layer comprising a substrate for foot contact, said top layer secured to the top side of said bottom layer.

4. The insole of claim 2 , further comprising a top layer comprising a substrate for foot contact, said top layer secured to the upper surface of said middle layer.

5. The insole of claim 3 , wherein said top layer comprises a fabric that assists in thermal regulation of the foot.

6. The insole of claim 5 , wherein said fabric comprises jadeite.

7. The insole of claim 1 , wherein said bottom layer comprises an ethylene vinyl acetate (“EVA”).

8. The insole of claim 7 , wherein said EVA is thermally conductive, to help transfer the heat away from the foot.

9. The insole of claim 8 , wherein said EVA further comprises magnesium oxide.

10. The insole of claim 8 , wherein said EVA further comprises boron nitride.

11. The insole of claim 1 , wherein said heel pad is concave.

12. The insole of claim 11 , wherein said concave heel pad comprises inside heel ridges that protrude outwardly therefrom and extending essentially lengthwise and heel channel portions that are coplanar with said channel lining portions of said bottom layer, said inside heel ridges configured in a curvilinear shape and having a front end, a middle portion and a back end, wherein the thickness of said front and back ends of said inside heel ridges are greater than that of said middle portion of said inside heel ridges.

13. The insole of claim 12 , wherein said concave heel pad further comprises outside heel ridges which are essentially uniform in thickness.

14. The insole of claim 11 , wherein at least some of the air channels are in communication with said concave heel pad.

15. The insole of claim 1 , wherein said bottom layer further defines recesses which are located along said air channels.

16. The insole of claim 3 , wherein said top and bottom layers further define air vent holes which communicate from said top to said bottom layer.

17. The insole of claim 16 , wherein said air vent holes are conical in configuration and have a wider end and a narrower end.

18. The insole of claim 17 , wherein said wider end is adjacent said bottom side of said bottom layer and said narrower end is adjacent said top side of said bottom layer.

19. The insole of claim 1 , wherein said bottom layer has a hardness of about 45 Asker C±3.

20. The insole of claim 11 , wherein said heel pad has a hardness of about 45 Asker C±3.

21. The insole of claim 4 , wherein said top layer is 100% polyester and incorporates a phase change material.

22. The insole of claim 1 , wherein said bottom layer comprises polyurethane.

23. An insole which enables generation of an air flow to or from the plantar surface of the foot during use, said insole comprising:
a. a bottom layer having a top side and a bottom side, a heel portion and a toe portion, said heel portion on said bottom side defining a heel recess of sufficient depth and configuration so as to be adapted to receive a heel pad, said bottom side of said bottom layer further defining a plurality of ridges which protrude outwardly therefrom and extend essentially lengthwise from the heel portion to the toe portion, wherein said bottom layer further defines a channel lining portion, wherein adjacent ridges and said channel lining portions define air channels, whereby when said insole is placed adjacent the inside bottom surface of a user's shoe, a portion of the ridges contact the inside shoe surface, thus sealing said air channels against that surface and forming individual pathways in which air can travel from a first location to a second location within said air channels, said bottom layer being thermally conductive to help transfer heat away from the foot; and
b. a heel pad situated in said heel recess.

24. The insole of claim 23 , wherein said bottom layer comprises an ethylene vinyl acetate (“EVA”).

25. The insole of claim 23 , further comprising a top layer comprising a substrate for foot contact, said top layer secured to the top side of said bottom layer.

26. The insole of claim 25 , wherein said top layer comprises a fabric that assists in thermal regulation of the foot.

27. The insole of claim 26 , wherein said fabric comprises jadeite.

28. An insole which enables generation of an air flow to or from the plantar surface of the foot during use, said insole comprising:
a. a bottom layer having a top side and a bottom side, a heel portion and a toe portion, said heel portion on said bottom side defining a heel recess of sufficient depth and configuration so as to be adapted to receive a heel pad, said bottom side of said bottom layer further defining a plurality of ridges which protrude outwardly therefrom and extend essentially lengthwise from the heel portion to the toe portion, wherein said bottom layer further defines a channel lining portion, wherein adjacent ridges and said channel lining portions define air channels, whereby when said insole is placed adjacent the inside bottom surface of a user's shoe, a portion of the ridges contact the inside shoe surface, thus sealing said air channels against that surface and forming individual pathways in which air can travel from a first location to a second location within said air channels;
a middle layer having an upper surface and a lower surface, said lower surface of said middle layer secured to said top side of said bottom layer, said middle layer helping to capture and retain heat; and
b. a heel pad situated in said heel recess.

29. The insole of claim 28 , further comprising a top layer comprising a substrate for foot contact, said top layer secured to the upper surface of said middle layer.

30. The insole of claim 29 , wherein said top layer is 100% polyester and incorporates a phase change material.

31. The insole of claim 28 , wherein said bottom layer comprises polyurethane.

Assignees

• Lewis Paul
• Granger David Bradley
• Martinez Jacob
• Wynn William Sterling
• Implus Footcare Llc

Inventors

• Lewis Paul
• Granger David Bradley
• Martinez Jacob
• Wynn William Sterling

Classifications

• A43B7/06

  ventilated · CPC title

• A43B17/14

  made of sponge, rubber, or plastic materials · CPC title

• A43B17/006

  multilayered · CPC title

• A43B13/38

  Built-in insoles joined to uppers during the manufacturing process, e.g. structural insoles; Insoles glued to shoes during the manufacturing process · CPC title

• A43B17/102

  Moisture absorbing socks; Moisture dissipating socks · CPC title