Adjustable footbeds for footwear

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11051577-B1
Application number	US-202016927489-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jul 13, 2020
Priority date	Jan 7, 2020
Publication date	Jul 6, 2021
Grant date	Jul 6, 2021

Abstract

A footbed having at least one of a thickness adjustment panel and a lateral adjustment fin, each configured to be moved between a first configuration and a second configuration, the first and second configurations providing different fits of a shoe into which the footbed is inserted.

First claim

We claim:

1. A footbed comprising:
a forward portion;
a rearward portion;
an arch portion;
a thickness adjustment panel; and
a lateral adjustment fin;
wherein the thickness adjustment panel is coupled to a lower surface of the footbed and configured to be translated between a first panel configuration having a first footbed dimension and a second panel configuration having a second footbed dimension different from the first footbed dimension;
wherein the thickness adjustment panel overlaps the forward portion of the footbed in the first panel configuration;
wherein the thickness adjustment panel overlaps the rearward portion of the footbed in the second panel configuration;
wherein the lateral adjustment fin is coupled to a lateral portion of the footbed and configured to be translated between a first fin configuration and a second fin configuration;
wherein the lateral adjustment fin is adjacent the forward portion of the footbed in the first fin configuration; and
wherein the lateral adjustment fin overlaps the arch portion of the footbed in the second fin configuration.

2. The footbed of claim 1 , wherein the lateral adjustment fin is either a unitary piece with the footbed and comprised of a deformable material or is hingedly coupled to the footbed, so as to be configured to fold between the first fin configuration and the second fin configuration.

3. The footbed of claim 1 , wherein the lateral adjustment fin is configured to slide or rotate between the first fin configuration and the second fin configuration.

4. The footbed of claim 1 , wherein the lateral adjustment fin is comprised of EVA foam or polyurethane foam.

5. The footbed of claim 1 , wherein the lateral adjustment fin comprises a size designation imprinted thereon or affixed thereto.

6. The footbed of claim 1 , wherein the lateral adjustment fin is detachable from the footbed.

7. A system for providing periodic adjustment to a dimension of a shoe comprising:
the shoe; and
a footbed configured to be placed inside the shoe, the footbed comprising:
a forward portion;
a rearward portion; and
a thickness adjustment panel;

wherein the footbed has a forward thickness and a rearward thickness;
wherein at least one portion of the thickness adjustment panel is permanently coupled to a lower surface of the footbed and the thickness adjustment panel is configured to be translated between a first panel configuration and a second panel configuration;
wherein the thickness adjustment panel overlaps the forward portion of the footbed in the first panel configuration;
wherein the thickness adjustment panel overlaps the rearward portion of the footbed in the second panel configuration;
wherein the forward thickness is decreased by a first extent from the first panel configuration to the second panel configuration;
wherein the rearward thickness is increased by a second extent from the first panel configuration to the second panel configuration;
wherein the thickness adjustment panel comprises at least one projection;
wherein the rearward portion comprises at least one depression; and
wherein, in the second panel configuration, the at least one projection is configured to be received at least in part into the at least one depression such that the second extent is nominal or less than the first extent.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the thickness adjustment panel is either a unitary piece with the footbed and comprised of a deformable material or is hingedly coupled to the footbed, so as to be configured to fold between the first panel configuration and the second panel configuration.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the thickness adjustment panel is configured to slide or rotate between the first panel configuration and the second panel configuration.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the thickness adjustment panel is comprised of EVA foam or polyurethane foam.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the thickness adjustment panel comprises a size designation imprinted thereon or affixed thereto.

12. A system for providing periodic adjustment to a dimension of a shoe comprising:
the shoe; and
a footbed configured to be placed within the shoe, wherein the footbed comprises:
a forward portion;
a rearward portion; and
a thickness adjustment panel;

wherein at least one portion of the thickness adjustment panel is permanently coupled to the footbed and the thickness adjustment panel is configured to be translated between a first panel configuration and a second panel configuration;
wherein the thickness adjustment panel at least partially overlaps the forward portion of the footbed in the first panel configuration;
wherein the thickness adjustment panel at least partially overlaps the rearward portion of the footbed in the second panel configuration;
wherein the thickness adjustment panel can be temporarily coupled in the first panel configuration; and
wherein the thickness adjustment panel can be temporarily coupled in the second panel configuration.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the thickness adjustment panel is either a unitary piece with the footbed and comprised of a deformable material or is hingedly coupled to the footbed, so as to be configured to fold between the first panel configuration and the second panel configuration.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the thickness adjustment panel is configured to slide or rotate between the first panel configuration and the second panel configuration.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the thickness adjustment panel is comprised of EVA foam or polyurethane foam.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the thickness adjustment panel comprises a size designation imprinted thereon or affixed thereto.

Assignees

• Fast Ip Llc

Inventors

• Cheney Craig
• Munger Seth
• Edwards Aislynn
• Bullock Danielle

Classifications

• A43B7/1469

  adjustable by selectively fastening or securing into multiple available positions · CPC title

• A43B7/1463

  with removable pads to allow custom fit · CPC title

• A43B17/006

  multilayered · CPC title

• A43B3/26 Primary

  adjustable as to length or size · CPC title

• A43B7/1465

  Human Necessities · mapped topic