Footwear insole

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9451806-B2
Application number	US-201313912316-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 7, 2013
Priority date	Mar 1, 2010
Publication date	Sep 27, 2016
Grant date	Sep 27, 2016

Abstract

Embodiments provide an insole having a multilayered construction with openings and ribs sized, shaped, and positioned to provide desired areas of stiffness and flexibility. The multi-layered construction may include a chassis defining a support member opening and a support member covering the opening and positioned between the chassis and a cushioning layer. The chassis may define a plurality of apertures in the forefoot portion, which, in a direction from the forefoot end to the heel end, progressively increase in size to a point at which maximum flexibility is desired in the forefoot portion. The bottom of the support member may include protruding ribs that extend generally in a longitudinal direction from the midfoot to the heel, and include a straight middle rib, a medial side rib convex with respect to the middle rib, and a lateral side rib convex with respect to the middle rib.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An insole for an article of footwear, wherein the insole has a lateral side and a medial side, a heel end and a forefoot end, and a heel portion, midfoot portion, and a forefoot portion, the insole comprising:
a chassis extending from the heel end of the insole to the forefoot end of the insole and defining a support member opening extending from the heel portion to the midfoot portion of the insole;
a support member covering the support member opening of the chassis;
wherein the support member comprises a material that is more rigid than a material of the chassis;
wherein the support member has an upper surface configured to face in a direction facing a foot of a user wearing the article of footwear and a bottom surface opposite to the upper surface;
wherein the support member has
a central rib protruding from the bottom surface of the support member and extending generally in a straight line parallel to a longitudinal direction of the insole from the midfoot portion of the insole toward the heel portion of the insole;
a medial side rib protruding from the bottom surface of the support member, extending generally in the longitudinal direction from the midfoot portion of the insole toward the heel portion of the insole, being disposed medial to the central rib, and being convex with respect to the central rib; and
a lateral side rib protruding from the bottom surface of the support member, extending generally in the longitudinal direction from the midfoot portion of the insole toward the heel portion of the insole, being disposed lateral to the central rib, and being convex with respect to the central rib.

2. The insole of claim 1 , wherein the central rib, the medial side rib, and the lateral side rib extend into the heel portion of the insole.

3. The insole of claim 1 , wherein the central rib, the medial side rib, and the lateral side rib are each shaped as one of a semi-circle and a triangle when viewed in cross-section.

4. The insole of claim 1 , wherein the central rib protrudes from the bottom surface a distance greater than distances at which the medial side rib and the lateral side rib protrude from the bottom surface, such that a longitudinal center of the insole is more rigid than a lateral side and a medial side of the insole.

5. The insole of claim 1 , wherein the medial side rib protrudes from the bottom surface a first distance, the central side rib protrudes from the bottom surface a second distance, and the lateral side rib protrudes from the bottom surface a third distance; and
wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance and the second distance is greater than the third distance.

6. The insole of claim 1 , wherein the medial side rib is a first medial side rib and wherein the lateral side rib is a first lateral side rib; and
wherein the support member has
a second medial side rib extending generally in the longitudinal direction from the midfoot portion of the insole toward the heel portion of the insole, being disposed medial to the first medial side rib, being convex with respect to the central rib, and having a smaller radius of curvature than the first medial side rib; and
a second lateral side rib extending generally in the longitudinal direction from the midfoot portion of the insole toward the heel portion of the insole, being disposed lateral to the first lateral side rib, being convex with respect to the central rib, and having a smaller radius of curvature than the first lateral side rib.

7. The insole of claim 1 , wherein each rib of the central rib, the medial side rib, and the lateral side rib has a first end in the midfoot portion of the insole; and
wherein the first ends of the central rib, the medial side rib, and the lateral side rib are generally aligned in a direction laterally from the medial side of the insole to the lateral side of the insole.

8. The insole of claim 1 , wherein each rib of the central rib, the medial side rib, and the lateral side rib extends generally in the longitudinal direction from a first end at the midfoot portion of the insole to a second end at the heel portion of the insole;
wherein the second end of the central rib is closest to the heel end of the insole; and
wherein the second ends of the medial side rib and the lateral side rib are substantially equal distances from the heel end of the insole and farther from the heel end than the second end of the central rib.

9. The insole of claim 1 , wherein each rib of the central rib, the medial side rib, and the lateral side rib extends generally in the longitudinal direction from a first end at the midfoot portion of the insole to a second end at the heel portion of the insole;
wherein the second end of the central rib is farthest from the heel end of the insole; and
wherein the second ends of the medial side rib and the lateral side rib are substantially equal distances from the heel end of the insole and closer to the heel end than the second end of the central rib.

10. The insole of claim 1 , wherein each rib of the central rib, the medial side rib, and the lateral side rib extends generally in the longitudinal direction from a first end at the midfoot portion of the insole to a second end at the heel portion of the insole;
wherein the second end of the medial side rib is a first distance from the heel end of the insole;
wherein the second end of the central rib is a second distance from the heel end of the insole;
wherein the second end of the lateral side rib is a third distance from the heel end of the insole;
wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance; and
wherein the second distance is greater than the third distance.

11. The insole of claim 1 , wherein each rib of the central rib, the medial side rib, and the lateral side rib extends generally in the longitudinal direction from a first end at the midfoot portion of the insole to a second end at the heel portion of the insole;
wherein the second end of the lateral side rib is a first distance from the heel end of the insole;
wherein the second end of the central rib is a second distance from the heel end of the insole;
wherein the second end of the medial side rib is a third distance from the heel end of the insole;
wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance; and
wherein the second distance is greater than the third distance.

12. The insole of claim 1 , further comprising a cushioning layer extending from the heel end to the forefoot end of the insole on the same side of the insole as the upper surface of the support member.

13. An insole for an article of footwear, wherein the insole has a lateral side and a medial side, a heel end and a forefoot end, and a heel portion, midfoot portion, and a forefoot portion, the insole comprising:
a chassis extending from the heel end of the insole to the forefoot end of the insole and defining a support member opening extending from the heel portion to the midfoot portion of the insole;
a support member covering the support member opening of the chassis;
wherein the support member comprises a material that is more rigid than a material of the chassis;
wherein the support member has an upper surface configured to face in a direction facing a foot of a user wearing the article of footwear and a bottom surface opposite to the upper surface;
wherein the support member has
a central rib protruding from the bottom surface of the support member and extending generally in a straight line parallel to a longitudinal direction of the insole from the midfoot portion of the insole toward the heel portion of the insole;
a medial side rib pr

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Baker Brian D
• Peter Daniel W

Classifications

• A43B7/1435 Primary

  situated under the joint between the fifth phalange and the fifth metatarsal bone · CPC title

• A43B17/006 Primary

  multilayered · CPC title

• A43B13/141

  with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion · CPC title

• A43B7/1445

  situated under the midfoot, i.e. the second, third or fourth metatarsal · CPC title

• A43B7/144

  situated under the heel, i.e. the calcaneus bone · CPC title