US2585692A - Cushioning and corrective insole - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 12, 1952 w. M. SCHOLL 2,585,692

' CUSHIONING AND CORRECTIVE msoua Filed Sept. 1, 1949 Patented Feb. 12, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,585,692 CUSHIONING AND CORRECTIVE I NSOLE William M. Scholl, Chicago, Ill.

Application September 1, 1949, Serial No. 113,554

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in a cushioning and corrective insole, highly desirable for positioning in shoes and other articles of footwear to cushion the foot as well as lend corrective aid to the foot, although the invention will have other uses and purposes as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

In the past, many and various types of insoles and other foot corrective appliances for insertion in footwear have been developed, but in most instances such articles were solely for the purpose of cushioning the entire foot, or particularly adapted to correct some special affliction, lending no aid or giving no comfort to other parts of the foot outside that special affliction. These formerly known devices, when designed to form a cushion for the foot in walking, did just that; and when designed to correct a foot affliction such as a fallen arch, lent corrective support to that particular part of the foot and were L only supposed to be used when corrective support in that particular part of the foot was needed,

With these thoughts in mind, it is an important object of the instant invention to provide a cushioning insole of substantially a universal character usable equally as well, and also beneficially, with a normal foot as an afilicted foot.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a cushioning and corrective insole for an article of footwear, which insole underlies substantially the entire plantar surface of the human foot, and not only cushions the foot but lends corrective aid to portions of the foot that may require such aid, but in the event the foot does not actually require that aid, and is normal foot, the corrective feature of the appliance will be unnoticeable.

Thus, it is .a further object of this invention to provide a supporting insole for an article of footwear, highly desirable for adding to the comfort of a normal foot, lending corrective support to a weakened foot, and so maintain a normal foot in normal shape or condition, aid in strengthening a weakened foot, and an insole that is also designed to give corrected aid and support to an affiicted foot.

Still a further feature of this invention is the provision of an insole or similar appliance capable of giving relief to tired feet resulting from arch strain or other reasons, and to both remedy and relieve afflictions such as corns or callouses on the plantar surface of the feet, and at'the same time to afford relief and comfort to arthritic or gouty joints or displaced or malformed sesamoids.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a cushioning and corrective insole in which both the cushioning and corrective formations are of the same material.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantages of the instant invention have been above pointed out, others will become apparent from the following disclosures, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an insole embodying principles of the instant invention;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the structure of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view through the insole taken substantially as indicated by the line IIIIII of Fig. 1; and

Figure 4 is also an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line IV-IV of Fig. 1.

As shown on the drawings:

The illustrated embodiment of the instant invention is shown of a size and shape to completely fill the full inside form of the shoe or similar article of footwear. The device will accordingly underlie the entire plantar surface of the foot.

With reference more particularly to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the device embodies a layer or sheet 5 of cushioning material of a size to substantially underlie the plantar surface of a foot, except for the higher raised portion beneath the longitudinal arch. This heet 5 of cushioning material may satisfactorily be made of a cellular rubber material, and is preferably of foam latex. Many if not all of the cells or interstices in foam latex, which is manufactured by a whipping process rather than a raising process as is the case with commonly known sponge rubber, intercommunicate with each other and thus cause a shifting of air when walked upon so as to provide ventilation for the foot. In addition, foam latex is an exceedingly light material, a durable nonslipping material, and may be readily laundered if soiled. A satisfactory thickness for the foam latex is A; to /16 inch, although other thicknesses may be utilized depending upon circumstances.

Mounted on top of the sheet 5 is a pad-like element or part 6 which may be secured to the sheet 5 in any suitable manner, either by adhesive, or vulcanization. This element 6 is located in the proper position to lend support to the metatarsal arch of a foot, and as seen clearly in Fig. 4, provides at least a double thicknes of cushioning material beneath the metatarsal arch.

In order to lend corrective aid to the inner longitudinal arch, a second and considerably smaller sheet 1, preferably of the same material, is mounted partially over the sheet 5. As seen clearly in Fig. 3, the smaller sheet 1 flares outwardly and extends beyond the sheet 5 in an upwardly arcuate manner to underlie the inner longitudinal arch of the foot.

Over all the cushioning elements above described, a smooth cover 8 may be disposed, and this cover may satisfactorily be made of leather, fabric, or any other suitable material. Preferably before application to the cushioning parts, the cover 8 is embossed or preformed as at 9 and H! to receive in such formation the metatarsal supporting pad 6 and the longitudinal arch supporting sheet 1, respectively. By so preforming the cover, neither of these supporting elements are distorted or flattened by virtue of the application of the cover. Adhesive or any other suitable means or method may be utilized to attach the cover 8 in position.

In order to make the device better fit within a shoe, especially over the ridge commonly formed inside shoes by a welt inseam, such as a Goodyear welt inseam, it will be noted that forward of the 1.

longitudinal arch supporting element 1 the bottom layer 5 is skived entirely around this edge as indicated at I l' to provide a gradual reduction in thickness in this region to overlie the welt inseam of the shoe.

Likewise, the longitudinal arch supporting sheet I is preferably deeply skived as indicated at I2 on its exposed edge portion to cause the device to merge smoothly with the shoe upper in the region of the longitudinal arch. This same element 1 is also preferably skived as at l3 around its inner edge, such skiving being in the opposite direction to the skiving [2, or upon the opposite face of the sheet I, so as to cause the lift created by this additional sheet to slope gently upwardly rather than be uncomfortably abrupt.

It will be noted that when the device embodying principles of this invention is placed in a shoe or the like, a normal foot will rest comfortably upon the device and be cushioned during walking. No discomfort will be caused by the metatarsal supporting pad 6 or the arch supporting sheet I because these parts will merely gently contactthe respective portions of a normal foot and will be unnoticeable to the wearer. having a weakened longitudinal arch or a weakened metatarsal arch will be given a comforting support by these elements 6 and 1, and correctively aided by the support of these elements to enable these weakened portions to again become strong. It will thus be seen that a normal foot A foot may be maintained normal, and a weakened foot not only prevented from further weakening but actually given strength by the use of the appliance. In addition, it will be noted that a positive corrective aid will be given to a foot having a fallen metatarsal arch, a fallen longitudinal arch, or both. Notwithstanding the corrective aid the device may impart, the cushioning effect of the device will give relief to come, callouses, and similar afilictions on the plantar surface of the foot, and lend comfort to tender joints, misplaced sesamoids, and similar afflictions.

Further, it will be noted that the device is simple in construction, extremely light in weight, and

economical to manufacture and use.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

A corrective and cushioning device for free disposition in an article of footwear, including a sheet of relatively thin cellular latex of uniform thickness to be supported on the built-in insole of a shoe and being coextensive therewith, a smaller sheet of similar cellular latex material positioned over said first sheet in the region of the longitudinal arch of the foot and extending laterally well beyond'said first sheet, a substantially thinner cover over both said sheets, said cover overlying said first sheet and being curvately formed to overlie said second sheet in its lateral extension beyond said first sheet, said second sheet being deeply skived along the margin of said lateral extension and forming with said first sheet an angular edge along said arch portion, said first sheet resting flatly upon the insole of the shoe throughout the entire area thereof and said second sheet fitting intimately against the laterally vertical side of the shoe upper adjacent said arch portion, whereby said corrective and cushioning device conforms to the contour of the insole and arch of the shoe throughout all areas of engagement therewith.

WILLIAM M. SCHOIL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,630,135 Roberts May 24, 1927 1,984,576 Gordon Dec. 18, 1934 2,486,653 Hukill Nov. 1, 1949

Images